WARDSHIP - Eng. law. Wardship was
the right of the lord over the person and estate of
the tenant, when the latter was under a certain age.
When a tenant by knight's service died, and his heir
was under age, the lord was entitled to the custody
of the person and the lands of the heir, without any
account, until the ward, if a male, should arrive
at the age of twenty-one years, and, if a female,
at eighteen. Wardship was also incident to a tenure
in socage, but in this case, not the lord, but the
nearest relation to whom the inheritance could not
descend, was entitled to the custody of the person
and estate of the heir till he attained the age of
fourteen years; at which period the wardship ceased
and the guardian was bound, to account. Wardship in
copyhold estates partook of that in chivalry and that
guardian like the latter, he was required lib.
