antecessor

No one of these five sokemen belonged to his antecessor Wigot; every one of them might sell his land.

We read a good deal of men who were sub-commended to the antecessor of Robert Malet.

But we may especially note the epithet by which the witches are said to have first appealed to the Devil—Antecessor.

The grantee stepped exactly into the place of the antecessor; he inherited all his rights and all his burthens.

He inherited therewith any disputes as to the extent of the lands of the antecessor or as to the nature of his tenure.