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. =====