This was on the Orange County, NC list and since so many TN residents had NC ties, thought I would post here just for information purposes. It does explain a lot and it might help other researchers. Nina MORTON T. Hi List, I've already post privately to Thomas but, then I realized that maybe all would like to know what the legal tie ups were. I am interpreting, from "North Carolina Research" by Helen Leary , C.G, F.A.S.G. pg. 35 Rules of Distribution of Intestate Inheritances. ( Now, this doesn't really apply to Thomas' case because there was a will) But it does explain what a woman was entitled to. The widow of a deceased man, who filed for it, was given one third of her deceased husband's real estate for her natural life. At her death, it returned to "HIS" heirs at law. The widow also received one third of the personal property after the estate's debts had been paid. The eldest son (during the days of primogeniture) inherited ALL the land under the rule of primogeniture. If there were no sons, then it went to the daughters but only as "Joint tenants", or co heiresses. The daughters could not divide the property or sell their parts independently. The COULD sell to each other or jointly sell to a third person, or to the oldest brother or sister. There is more concerning children if a child had died leaving issue before the father died. But, mainly, the point is, women could not own real property in their own right, unless it was put in trust for them or their husband or oldest son, etc. This of course, included slaves, as slaves were considered real property pre-emanicpation. So, most men left their slaves and land to the husband's of their daughters, knowing that eventually the grandchildren (or heirs of the daughter and her husband would inherit that property. If the daughter became a widow, then her third dower right has held as property of her new husband, but she had to consent to sell it and was supposed to be examined privately as to her wishes on the subject. This also applied to her first husband (in the dower right) Many times a father would make sure that his daughter was not left without support in case of a derelict husband. He would leave her slaves or property, in trust of a bank/trustees, not to be touched by her husband. I can't tell you how much having this book helps me with all kinds of genealogy problems. It is as important to a researcher doing work in NC as the "Handy Book" for Genealogist's is/was.