First Fruits - Definition - Law Dictionary Home Dictionary Definition first-fruits

Definition :

First fruits, an incident to the old feudal tenures, being one year's profits of the land after the death of a tenant, which belonged to the king. Hence arose the claim of the head of the Church to the first year's profits of every clergyman's benefice; otherwise called annates or primati', transferred from the Pope to the Crown by 26 Hen. 8, c. 3, and from the Crown to the Church for the augmentation of poor livings, by 2 & 3 Anne, c. 11. The holders of benefices of a value not exceeding 50l. a year were freed from first fruits and tenths by 6 Anne, c. 44, and 6 Anne, c. 54. First fruits were paid on their value as compounded for under 26 Hen. 8, c. 3, by the then holders of preferments. But both first fruits and tenths were abolished by the First Fruits and Tenths Measure, 1926 (16 & 17 Geo. 5, No. 5). See BOUNTY OF QUEEN ANNE AND TENTHS.