CHATTEL (Norm. Fr. goods, of any kind). Every species of property, movable or im movable, which is less than a freehold.
In the Grand Couturnier of Normandy it is de scribed as a mere movable, but is set in opposition to a fief or feud; so that not only goods, but what ever was not a feud or fee, were accounted chattels; and it is in this latter sense that our law adopts it. 2 Bla. Com. 285.
Real chattels are interests which are an nexed to or concern real estate : as, a lease for years of land. And the duration of the lease is immaterial, whether it be for one or a thousand years, provided there be a cer tainty about it and a reversion or remainder in some other person. A lease to continue until a certain sum of money can be raised out of the rents is of the same description ; and so in fact will be found to be any other interest in real estate whose duration is lim ited to a time certain beyond which it can not subsist, and which is, therefore, some thing less than a freehold. A lease giving the exclusive privilege for a term of years of boring and digging for oil and other min erals is also a chattel; Brown v. Beecher, 120 Pa. 590, 15 Atl. 608.
Personal chattels are properly things mov able, which may be carried about by the owner ; such as animals, household stuff, money, jewels, corn, garments, and every thing else that can be put in motion and transferred from one place to another ; 2 Kent 340; Co. Litt. 48 a ; 4 Co. 6 ; In re
Gay, 5 Mass. 419; Brewster v. Hill, 1 N. H. 350.
Chattels, whether real or personal, are treated as personal property in every re spect, and, in case of the death of the owner, usually belong to the executor or adminis trator, and not to the heir at law. There are some chattels, however, which, as Chancellor Kent observes, though they be movable, yet are necessarily attached to the freehold: con tributing to its value and enjoyment, they go along with it in the same path of descent or alienation. This is the case with deeds, and other papers which constitute the muniments of title to the the shelves and family pictures in a house; and the posts and rails of an enclosure. It is also under stood that pigeons in a pigeon-bouse, deer in a park, and fish in an artificial pond go with the inheritance, as heirlooms to the heir at law. But fixtures, or such things of a per sonal nature as are attached to the realty, whether for a temporary purpose or other wise, become chattels, or not, according to circumstances; Mitch. R. P. 21. See Fix TURES ; 2 Kent 342 ; Co. Litt. 20 a, 118; 12 Price 163; 11 Co. 50 b ; Bacon, Abr. Baron, etc. C, 2; Dane, Abr. Index ; Com. Dig. Biens, A.