Lauren and Members, Here's the legal age info. Hope this helps others. Ann "Virginia court records abound in instances where fathers named their children 'of age' as early as 15 and 16...At 14 a male could marry, sign contracts, choose his guardian, bequeath personal property, apprentice himself." Misconceptions Concerning 'Legal' Ages. Edgar MacDonald. Virginia Historical Society, Magazine of Virginia Genealogy. Vol. 25. Number 3. August, 1957,52 "Age 14 for males." "Table 6-3, Ages of Legal Action" Arlene Eakle and Johni Cerny, Editors, The SOURCE A Guidebook of American Genealogy, Salt Lake City, Utah, 1984), 186