I recieved this from a friend today. Source Minnesota Genealogical Newsletter "In the lower corner of most old deeds you find two to four witnesses. The first one is always from the husband's side, the next two from the wife's side. That is to protect her one-hald dower rights under the law. Nothing you will ever use will give you greater clues to maiiden name." I have a couple of 1860 deeds from Pennyslvania and apparently this prevailed there. Is this a uniform practice throughout our early history? Pauline Blanchard