The key word int the quote is ALWAYS. Few rules are in the ALWAYS category. Similar to the words "never again." I have often found witnesses to be near neighbors, close friends, and assorted relatives. ================================ email screened by Norton AntiVirus 2002 ================================ ----- Original Message ----- From: "Eldon Wade" <ewade@cfl.rr.com> To: <SC-Genealogy-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, September 01, 2002 4:53 PM Subject: [SC] Clues to maiden names in deeds? > I picked up the below info from another list. Has anyone found this to > be reliable? It doesn't seem to work on the deeds I have for 1804-1825 > but then my WADEs don't seem to be predictable anyway. > > The following is from a Minnesota Genealogical Newsletter. > "In the lower left corner of most old deeds you will 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-half dower rights under the law. > Nothing you will ever use will give greater clues to maiden names". > > Thanks, > Eldon > mailto:ewade@cfl.rr.com > Researching: WADE, HAMES > > > > ==== SC-Genealogy Mailing List ==== > Need some help getting started with irc (INTERNET RELAY CHAT)? > Try: http://home.flash.net/~gen4m/ > >

Hi Helen, Thanks for the reply. Eldon mailto:ewade@cfl.rr.com Researching: WADE, HAMES -----Original Message----- From: Helen Harrell [mailto:hoh@netzon.net] Sent: Sunday, September 01, 2002 7:05 AM To: SC-Genealogy-L@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [SC] Clues to maiden names in deeds? The key word int the quote is ALWAYS. Few rules are in the ALWAYS category. Similar to the words "never again." I have often found witnesses to be near neighbors, close friends, and assorted relatives. ================================ email screened by Norton AntiVirus 2002 ================================ ----- Original Message ----- From: "Eldon Wade" <ewade@cfl.rr.com> To: <SC-Genealogy-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, September 01, 2002 4:53 PM Subject: [SC] Clues to maiden names in deeds? > I picked up the below info from another list. Has anyone found this > to be reliable? It doesn't seem to work on the deeds I have for > 1804-1825 but then my WADEs don't seem to be predictable anyway. > > The following is from a Minnesota Genealogical Newsletter. "In the > lower left corner of most old deeds you will 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-half dower rights > under the law. Nothing you will ever use will give greater clues to > maiden names". > > Thanks, > Eldon > mailto:ewade@cfl.rr.com > Researching: WADE, HAMES > > > > ==== SC-Genealogy Mailing List ==== > Need some help getting started with irc (INTERNET RELAY CHAT)? > Try: http://home.flash.net/~gen4m/ > > ==== SC-Genealogy Mailing List ==== To UNSUBSCRIBE Write SC-Genealogy-L-Request@RootsWeb.com Plain Text with just the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of letter Change the "L" to "D" if you have Digest Mode