Deed, dated 1311, England (Yorkshire).

(65 x 130 mm) Document on parchment in Anglican cursiva  in Latin. Single side. Concerning lands in Snaith and Cowick (Conuryk), Yorkshire, granted to Alicia, wife of Alex, son of Juliane of Snaith, to hold for the term of her natural life. A typical medieval life grant, ensuring the wife’s maintenance and security in landholding.

Historical Commentary

This deed, dated 1311, illustrates the way medieval Yorkshire families managed land and inheritance. The named places — Snaith and nearby Cowick — lay within the marshy lowlands of the Ouse, an area controlled in part by Selby Abbey and later the Percy family. The arrangement records a life estate: Alicia, wife of Alex (whose mother Juliane is also identified, as well as a Thomas and Jacob), was given legal possession of these lands for her lifetime.

Such life grants were common as a means of providing for women, especially widows, since they could enjoy the profits of the land but not alienate it permanently. After Alicia’s death, the property would revert to Alexi or his heirs, keeping the estate within the family line.

The careful genealogical reference (“son of Juliane of Snaith”) reflects the importance of clear lineage in landholding and suggests this family held some local standing in the 14th century.