repartiamento

A term encountered in Spanish-American grants signifying a partition of common property among the several owners. All the lands in the kingdom of Spain were divided into "territoria." The "territorium" was divided into "proprios," "solares," "ejidos," “pastos," "dehesas," and "monte." The "proprios" belonged to the town as its proper severalty. The "solares" belonged to their respective owners in severalty. The residue of the "territorium"-"ejidos," "pastos," and "dehesas"-was the com- munity property of the members of the community. When the necessity ceased, the system was changed and about the time of the discovery of America (1492). It was determined to reduce these community lands to private ownership. This was done through various officers and commissioners of the government. The act was never called or characterized as a grant or a concession, but as a partition among the owners of common property, giving to each his share in severalty. This act was called "repartiamento." Steinbach v Moore, 30 Cal 498, 501.