Joe, I think so since that is when you are of age to hold property. But I am not totally certain. Headright was an early term used to indicate that a holder of land first got it as a first planter --offered by the king to encourage settlement of the colony in the early days. It then went out of existence. My 1610 Paces were first planters at Jamestown VA and held headrights for just paying their own fares over. They also received headrights for paying the fares of several indentured servants, I believe. All were called headrights. I am not certain that term ever applied to NC. Betty\ On Sun, 28 Sep 2003 10:27:13 -0400 "Joe McDonald" <[email protected]> writes: > Betty, Does this mean 16 is the age for headright? > Joe > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Betty A. Pace" <[email protected]> > To: <[email protected]> > Sent: Sunday, September 28, 2003 4:12 AM > Subject: [RowanRoots] Legal Ages > > > > This applies to VA I know, but I would bet that it also applies to > NC. > > See below pasting. > > Betty Pace > > > > Subject: age of legal action > > I will post this again as it may help others analyize the records > they > > find. > > > > AGE OF LEGAL ACTION > > > > >From birth inherit > > Enumerated in census > > > > 12 years female witness documents > > > > 14 years male testify in court > > choose guardian > > be punished for a crime > > sign contracts > > act as executor > > bequeath personal by will > > marry > > > > 16 years be taxed > > muster into militia > > porcession land > > take possession of land holdings > > > > 18 years practice a trade > > > > 18 years female release guardian > > > > 21 years male release guardian > > devise land by will > > be taxed > > plead and sue in court > > be naturalized > > fill public office > > serve on jury > > vote > > > > > > These ages are for the colonies and for the states up to after > the > > Mexican War. There were some ethnic and/or religious groups that > did > > not follow these restrictions and found ways around them. The > Quakers > > did not allow public marriages. The Dutch along the Hudson in New > York > > had joint wills so the children were not taken away from a > surviving > > parent. In PA parents could be legal guardians of their own > children > > if the child was mentioned in their grandparents will(s) - there > are > > other exceptions. > > > > > > ===== > > > > > > ==== ROWANROOTS Mailing List ==== > > RowanRoots is a genealogy/history discussion list. Please stay on > topic. > >