III.   Fund

A Simple Agricultural Estate, also known as an “Agricultural Estate” also known simply as an “Estate” is a type of Inferior Estate and Welfare Fund first formed through an act of Westminster in 1660 (12Car2. c.24) wherein the courts of wards and liveries and tenure in capite were abolished; and all tenure was simplified to common “socage” for rent; and new rolls for agricultural leases and manor rolls established. The new and simplified system of Agricultural Estates then provided the framework for land owners to claim ownership and control over the lesser estates of tenants, to enable the transfer of property away from the Anglican Church to private use and full commercial exploitation of the poor; and to lessen the power of the Church over exclusive administration of the poor.

In regards to Simple Agricultural Estates, also known as “Simple Estates”, Socage was defined as two primary types of Estates being “Freehold” and “Leasehold”:

(i) A Freehold Simple Estate is a form of land tenure when the lease is of an indeterminate duration, thus permitting it to be held for life, or transferrable to the owner’s “heirs and assigns”, or their lineal descendant, without the lease first reverting to the Lord of the land after the expiry of the lease period. Thus a Freehold Simple Estate is considered “Real Estate”; and

(ii) A Leasehold Simple Estate is a form of land tenure when the lease is of an determinate duration and reverting to the Lord of the land after the expiry of the lease period. Thus a Leasehold Simple Estate is considered “Personal Estate” and not “Real Estate”.

In regards to the term Socage:

(i) Contrary to the deliberately false references claiming the word of older “Saxon” and feudal provenance, the word Socage was first introduced into the English language in the 17th Century, through the artificial creation of a word derived from the Latin words soci and ago (hence “socage”); and

(ii) The etymology of the word from Latin soci meaning “we unite, join and associate” and ago “to act; or do; or perform; or manage” literally implies a pact, or covenant or agreement between two parties. However, in this context it is unequal being the Lord of the Manor and the Tenant or Renter; and

(iii) The presumed motive to falsely invent the provenance of Socage and to introduce a new form of tenure in the context of Simple Agricultural Estates is in part answered by the creation of Settlement Corporations and other forms of Corporations deriving their power from these collective Agricultural Estates, separate to the hierarchy of ecclesiastical estates and authority. Hence, it was needed by those seeking to establish the legitimacy of their land and nobility claims as part of the restoration of the monarchy after the English Civil War.