Under Manx Common Law it was not possible to leave a quarterland farm by will unless it was a purchased property. It became an estate of inheritance & was bound to pass on death to the heir at law. THis was only changed in the late 19th century. On an intestacy the heir at law position remained until 1960.

Whenever a landowner tried to interfere with this there would be an inevitable lawsuit from the rightful heir.

The two usual methods of trying to get round it were the "sale & re-sale" which was in use from at least the 1730's, and more complex trusts. Mrs Wood of the Nunnery used one of these devices to disinherit her elder son Rev. Robert Heywood. She purported to sell the estates to Rev. William Bridson. After her death Rev. B. re-sold the properties to Thomas H.

There was a law-suit in my family in the Andreas Teares - Dan Whannalls, where John Teare (Beg) in his old age sold certain parts of his property to one Mylchreest, who re-sold them to the younger son. There was a law-suit resulting.

If you have never used the records in Lib. Plit. (Common Law Actions) you are in for a treat because there were quite a few juicy actions over the years.