Ruth is a professional genealogist and historian. She probably knows what she is talking about. Betty Pace --------- Forwarded message ---------- From: ruthkeysclark@myfamily.com To: PACE-L@rootsweb.com Date: Wed, 14 Feb 2001 07:09:54 -0800 Subject: [PACE-L] Colonial property rights of women and legal age Message-ID: <20010214150954.EAIH142.mta09.onebox.com@onebox.com> Noted with interest the discussion regarding property right of females and the legal age for involvement in various legal transactions. The first editon of Val Greenwood's book covers this topic well giving the legal age for both male and female. Males could inherit propertuy at any age, could claim property later on but could not sell property until they were 21. His discussion is excellent and I would suggest you study it. I can send this table of legal age to any who are interested. Female rights varied some in the colonies -- after the Revolution they are more uniform. Unlike PA and NY, the South enforced strictly the dower rights of women as divorce was very very rare. Many males left home and never returned however thier wives could not legally own and pass along to their children property unless court action was taken to permit it. Women could not do business without the consent of their husbands. Husbands owned their wives property and also their clothing, time and talents. Women could not take in laundry without their husband's permission. The two books I have found very useful, I have posted previously : Women and the Law of Property in Early America by Marylynn Salmon and Inheritance in America from Colonial Times to the Present by Carole Shammas, Marylynn Salmon and Michel Dahlin. Ruth Keys Clark, Kansas ________________________________________________________________________ Get your own free email, set up a MyFamily site at http://www.MyFamily.com ==== PACE Mailing List ==== Be sure to check the Pace Family Genealogy Forum at http://genforum.com/pace/ and the Pace Network at http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~pace (New address!) ________________________________________________________________ GET INTERNET ACCESS FROM JUNO! Juno offers FREE or PREMIUM Internet access for less! Join Juno today! For your FREE software, visit: http://dl.www.juno.com/get/tagj.