Mortmain was the policy of insisting that land and property was continued to be owned after the death of its owner. Mortmain, in a phrase, was known as a “dead man’s clutch.” Its purpose was to undo religious trusts and deprive them from the institution that received them, often so that the English could take property away from the [[Roman Catholic Church]]. | Mortmain was the policy of insisting that land and property was continued to be owned after the death of its owner. Mortmain, in a phrase, was known as a “dead man’s clutch.” Its purpose was to undo religious trusts and deprive them from the institution that received them, often so that the English could take property away from the [[Roman Catholic Church]]. |