headright Definition
- 1a legal grant of land to settlers in the 13 colonies, typically given in exchange for paying for the passage of an indentured servant or a slave
- 2a legal right to receive a certain amount of property or money upon the death of the holder
Using headright: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "headright" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The headright system was used to encourage the settlement of Virginia.
Example
The headright of the deceased was passed on to his heirs.
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Summary: headright in Brief
The term 'headright' [hed-rahyt] refers to a legal grant of land given to settlers in the 13 colonies in exchange for paying for the passage of an indentured servant or a slave. It was also a legal right to receive a certain amount of property or money upon the death of the holder.