How to Contribute
Information
to the
Encyclopedia
of Genealogy
Sponsored by Eastman's
Online
Genealogy
Newsletter
as well as by
GenQueries.com,
RootsBooks.com
and
RootsBooks.co.uk,
your online
genealogy
bookstores.
Socage (Free and Common)
Socage is a type of tenure whereby lands are held in consideration of certain services of husbandry (farming) performed for a superior, such as the lord of the manor. Free and common is the highest form of socage, being a tenure that is both certain and honorable. Conversely, tenure by either capite or Knights Service is certainly honorable, but can be quite uncertain.
Source: Black's Law Dictionary, 4th Edition.