ANCIENT

Old i that which has existed from an indefinitely early period, or which by age alone has acquired certain rights or privileges accorded in view of long continuance. -Ancient deed. A deed 30 years old and shown to come from a proper custody an_d having nothing suspicious about it is an "ancient deed" and may be admitted In evidence without p,to of of its execmtion. Havens v. Seashore Land Co., 47 N. J. Eq. 365, 20 At!. 497; Davis v. Wood, 161 Mo. 17, 61 S. W. 695.-Ancient demesne. Manors which. in the time of William the Conqueror were in the bands of the crown, and are so recorded in.the, Domesday Book. Fitzh. Nat. Brev. 14, 56; Baker v. Wich, 1 Salk. 56. Tenure in ancient demesne may be pleaded in abatement to an action of ejectment. Rust v. Roe, 2 Burr. 1046. Also a species of copy bold. which differs, however, from common copyholds in certain privileges, but yet must be conveyed by surrender, according to the custom of the manor. There are three sorts: (1) Where the lands are held freely by the king's grant; (2) customary freeholds, which are held of a manor in ·ancient demesne, but not at the lord's will, although they are conveyed by sur• render, or deed and admittance; (3) lands held by copy of court-roll at the lord's will, denominated copyholds of base tenure.-Ancient house. One which has stood long enough to acquire an easement of support against tbe adjoining land or building. 3 Kent, Comm. 43"[; 2 Washb. Real Prop. 74, 76. In England this term is applied to houses or buildings erected before the time of legal memory, (Cooke, Incl. Acts, 35, 109,) that is, before the reign of Richard I., although practically any house is an ancient me uage if it was erected before the time of living memory, and its origin cannot be proved to be modem.-Ancient lights. Lights or windows in a house, which have been used in their present state, without molestation or interruption, for twenty years, and upwards. To these the owner of the house has a right by prescription or occupancy, so that they cannot be obstructed or.closed by the own.er of the adjoining land which they ma_y over-_ look. Wright v. Freeman, ·5 Har. & J. (lfd.) 477; · Story v. Odin, 1!2. Ma . 160••'I: A.111. Dec. 81.--Anc:le:nt, readings. Readmga or lectures 11pon the ancient English;statntes. for- [s. 74]