Until 1869, all lands of inheritance (which you had not personally bought) automatically passed on death to the Heir at Law. There were ways round this, basically by selling your property to a trusted friend or neighbour and buyiung it back again a short time later. The heir at law was one person, the eldest son or if he was dead, his eldest son or failing sons eldest daughter. If a branch died out, each property passed back to the line it came from. Certain articles were corbes and passed to the eldest son and some also to eldest daughter. This died out by 18thc.
In 1869 they passed Wills Act which meant you could leave property to whoever you liked, as long as yoy made a will. If you died intestate, the old rules carried on and the heir got all the land. The law of heirship was abolished in 1960, and now on intestacy (unless a sole next of kin) means (a) the land is sold and money divided up, or (b) property partitioned by agreement. The rule about the land going back to the correct side was also abolished.

Some fairly noteworthy cases followed after 1869, notably the disinheritance of his brother and large family by William Christian of Ronaldsway and Ballachurry Andreas, left to a cousin Crellin of Orrisdale KM. \More recently Kirby Park estate was left by Mr Drinkwater away from his daughter to his nephew. I cannot remember all the questions, but this is the bassic position.

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