Daily AncestorCovenant
A covenant in a deed is a written promise by one party, such as the seller's promise that he owns the land and will defend the buyer's title.
In American deeds the full covenants were for seisin, for the right to convey, against encumbrances, for quiet enjoyment, and almost always of warranty; in many states warranty became the only one in practical use. Other covenants restrict use, such as not building a fence above a set height.
Some property covenants run with the land and bind later owners. Covenant was also the name of a common-law lawsuit for breach of a sealed promise.
As seen in a recordWarranty deed, 1800s
and the said Wm. Bell doth covenant that he is lawfully seized of the premises and will warrant and defend the same
How to cite this page
Daily Ancestor. "Covenant." Dictionary of Old Record Words. https://dailyancestor.com/dictionary/legal-land/covenant. Last checked 2026-10-12.