Mortuary

In ecclesiastical law. A burial place. A kind of ecclesiastical heriot, being a customary gift of the second-best living animal belonging to the deceased, claimed by and due to the minister in many parishes, on the death of his parishioners, whether buried in the church yard or not. These mortuaries, like lay heriots, were originally voluntary bequests to the church in lieu of tithes or ecclesiastical dues neglected in lifetime. See "Soulscot." They were reduced to a certain amount by 21 Hen. VIII. c. 6. They were sometimes payable to the lord. Par. Ant. 470. The mortuary seems to have been carried to church with the corpse, and was therefore sometimes called corpse present. 2 Burn, Ecc. Law, 563. Anciently, a parishioner could not make a valid will without an assignment of a sufficient mortuary or gift to the church. 2 Bl. Comm. 427.

A burial-place. A kind of ecclesiastical heriot, being a customary gift of the second best living animal belonging to the deceased, claimed by and due to the minister in many parishes, on the death of his parishioners, whether buried in the churchyard or not. These mortuaries, like lay heriots, were originally voluntary bequests to the church In lieu of tithes or ecclesiastical dues neglected in lifetime. See ^ouL Scot. They were reduced to a certain, amount by 21 Hen. VIII. c. 6. They were sometimes payable to the lord; Paroch. Antiq. 470. The mortuary seems to have been carried to church with the corpse, and was therefore sometimes called corpse-present. 2 Bum. Eccl. Law 563. Anciently, a parishioner could not make a valid will without an assignment of a sufficient mortuary or gift to the church. 2 Bla. Com. 427. The crown of England was at one time entitled to certain perquisites in the nature of a mortuary on the death of a bishop; 2 Steph. Com. 726.

In English law. A customary gift claimed by and due to the minister in many parishes, on the death of his parishioners; a sort of ecclesiastical heriot.

Inecclesiastical law. A burial-place. A kind of ecelesiastical heriot, being a customary gift of the second best living animal belonging to the deceased, elaimed by and due to the minister in many parishes, on the death of his parishioners, whether buried in the church-yard or nof, 2 Bl. Comm. 425. Tt has been sometimes used in a civil as well as in an ecclesiastical sense, and applied to a payment to the lord of the fea. Paroch. Antiq. 470.

A customary gift due to the minister in many parishes, on the death of a parishioner.''

Originally, a gift left by a man on his decease to the parish church, a corse present; later, it was claimed as a due, a sort of ecclesiastical heriot.

1. A gift left by a man at his death to his parish church, for the recompense of his personal titlies and offerings not duly paid in his lifetime. 2. A kind of ecclesiastical heriot, being a customary gift claimed by and due to the minister in very many parishes, on the death of his parishioners. Like lay heriots, they were originally but voluntary tiequests to the church. It was usual, in ancient times, to bring the mortuary to church along with the corpse when it was brought to be buried, and thence it is sometimes called a corpse-present. Wharton.