lawful heirs
Defined in 3 dictionaries — Case Law, Ballentine's (1916), Black's (1910)
Definitions from Case Law
From 59 U.S. 202 - James Abbott and Hannah His Wife v. The Essex Company Tenants · 1855Most cited · 29 citing opinions
By 'lawful heirs of their own,' he evidently meant lineal descendants or 'issue.
Ballentine's Law Dictionary
James A. Ballentine · 1916
Those upon whom a descent is cast by the statutes of descent. See 70 Mich. 297, 14 Am. St. Rep. 500, 38 N. W. 249.
Black's Law Dictionary
Henry Campbell Black, M.A. · 1910
In a general sense, those whom the law recognizes as the heirs of a decedent, but in a special and technical sense, lineal descendants only. Abbott v. Essex Co, 18 How. 215. 15 L, Ed. 352; Rollins v. Keel, 115 N. C. 68, 20 S. E. 209; Co.nger v. Lowe, 124 Ind. 368, 24 N. E. 889; 9 L. R. A 165 ; Moody v. Snell, 81 Pa. 362,
Defined under Heir in Black's Law Dictionary.