Charter

Charter [fr. Charta, Lat.; chartre, Fr.], an evidence in writing of things done between man and man. Charters of the Sovereign are written instruments granting certain privileges or exemptions to any person or body politic (Jacob's Law Dict.) (see, e.g., the (English) Municipal Corporations Act, 1882, s. 210) or corporations; e.g., to 'chartered' banking or other trading companies [see 7 Wm. 4 & 1 Vict. c. 73, and (English) Chartered Companies Act, 1884 (47 & 48 Vict. c. 56)], or to a college or university [see (English) College Charter Act, 1871 (34 & 35 Vict. c. 63)], or to a City company, as the Apothecaries Company, whose charter, granted by James I., is cited in the (English) Apothecaries Act, 1815 (55 Geo. 3, c. 194). See LETTERS PATENT. The word also meant deeds and other documents of title belonging to private owners, Jacob's Law Dict.