Sole Trader petitions were filed at the county level where the married woman lived. Off hand I can't remember whether it was a Court record or a Recorder's record. "Book A" indicates she filed to withdraw her request within a months of originally filing for the status. As I recall, Sole Trader petitions did not specify the nature/reason for wanting the status. A married woman was not required to specify why she wanted to be "sole trader." It appears that Elizabeth filed as a precautionary measure and withdrew her request when the "danger" to her and her family had passed. It might be worth your while to pursue Superior Court records for John W. BOSLER during that particular time frame. In 1850s California, there were a number of difficulties regarding land ownership. Mr. BOSLER may very likely have been a responsible honest man who got caught up in a dicey land issue, such as attempting to establish a homestead on rancho land. In order to find out what was going on at the time, you will need to do a bit of cross-referencing -- Recorder's Office land deeds, Superior Court records, and local newspaper mentions. Depending on the county, the latter [newspaper mentions] may not exist, but the other records would. It's also possible there might be a record in the "Miscellaneous Records" in the Recorder's Office. "Book A/Page 15" simply means that it was a very early legally recorded document in whatever county the request occurred in California. Hope this helps, Anita C. Monterey County Margaret A, Wooden wrote: > Many thanks to all who answered the "Sole Trader" question. Very > interesting. I do know that her husband JOHN W. BOSLER, was a butcher. > This Bk A is where? Is it available to researchers? Is there someone > that would be willing to find what kind of business she was withdrawing > from? Thanks again, NORCAL people are wonderful. Margaret in NW > California > > On Mon, 22 Mar 2010 10:30:27 -0700 mwooden <mwooden@juno.com> writes: > >> Need some help, please. I have run across the following and would >> like >> someone to find out what information is connected with this file: >> ELIZABETH JANE BOSLER, husband John, 14 Aug 1852 withdrawn her sole >> trader, Bk A pg 15. This is listed under "Separate property of >> married >> women and Sold Traders 1850-1930." Was Elizabeth in business? Was >> she >> separating from her husband John? Several questions come to mine as >> I do >> not know what "sole trader" means. Thanks. Margaret in NW >> California >>