Extracted From:
  A LAW DICTIONARY ..., SIXTH EDITION, 1856
  by John Bouvier
  CHILDS & PETERSON, PHILADELPHIA

FREEHOLD, estates. An estate of freehold is an estate in lands or other real
property, held by a free tenure, for the life of the tenant or that of some
other person; or for some uncertain period. It is called liberum tenementum,
frank tenement or freehold; it was formerly described to be such an estate as
could only be created by livery of seisin, a ceremony similar to the investiture
of the feudal law. But since the introduction of certain modern conveyances, by
which an estate of freehold may be created without livery of seisin, this
description is not sufficient. 
   There are two qualities essentially requisite to the existence of a freehold
estate. 
   1. Immobility; that is, the subject-matter must either be land, or some
interest issuing out of or annexed to land. 
   2. A sufficient legal indeterminate duration; for if the utmost period of
time to which an estate can last, is fixed and determined, it is not an estate
of freehold. For example, if lands are conveyed to a man and his heirs, or for
his life, or for the life of another, or until he shall be married, or go to
Europe, he has an estate of freehold; but if such lands are limited to a man for
one hundred or five hundred years, if he shall so long live, he has not an
estate of freehold....

FREEHOLDER. A person who is the owner of a freehold estate.

FREEMAN. One who is in the enjoyment of the right to do whatever he pleases, not
forbidden by law. One in the possession of the civil rights enjoyed by, the
people generally.

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