I posed this question recently to a history list. It is my understanding that a male could be much less than 21 and have his name on a land patent. Here are copies of some of the responses. > According to George Webb, The Office and Authority of a Justice > > of Peace (Williamsburg, 1736)a person was considered "of age" under > > differentcircumstances. On page 188 he wrote: > > "At Common Law, every Person under the Age of One and Twenty Years is an > > Infact; but this holds only in Civil Causes, for in Criminal Matters the > > > > Law regards the Age of Discretion, which is 14 Years. Co. Lit.1.3. f.405 > > > > "And in Cases Civil there are several Exceptions, as, The Age for a Man > > to > > marry, is 14, and for a Woman 12. Hob.225. > > "An Infact of 17, shall take Administation, or prove a Will, in his own > > Right; for then the Power of Administrator, or Executor, during > > Minority, > > ceaseth. Vaughn, 93. > > "And whatever Act he doth, which was his Duty to do, as giving Release > > upon > > receiving all Money due, Paiment of just Debts, &c. shall bind him. Co. > > 5. > > Rep.27. > > "Above 18, may bequeath Slaves, by Will in Writing. 1 Geo. 2. cap. 11. > > "And in divers other Cases, whereby by Special Law, or Custom, an Infant > > > > shall be bound, as tho' he were of full Age. > > "Surety of the Peace is grantable to or against an Infant, tho' under 14 > > > > Years of Age. Dalt. 269. > > "An Infant of 14 Years may commit Forcible Entry, or Detainer, for which > > he > > may be fined; and he shall find Sureties for his Good-behaviour; But he > > shall suffer no Imprisonment, nor Corporal Pains, for Breach of any > > Penal > > Law, wherein an Infant is not expressly named; yet, he shall forfeit the > > > > Penalty of a Penal Law, and so may lose his Goods. Doct. & Stud. p. 147, > > > > 148. > > "An Infant above 18, may be a Disseisor with Force, and may be > > imprisoned > > for the same. 22 Edw. 4, cap. 9. > > "In all Cases of Treason, or Felony, Infancy is no Plea, but the > > Offender, > > tho' under 14, shall be liable to the Punishments by Law inflicted for > > such > > Offence, if it appear that he had Knowledge of Good and Evil. Dalt. > > 350." > > There are other circumstances when a person is considered "of age", > > for example, orphan boys were appearenticed until age 21 and girls to > > age 18. > > If I remember correctly, anyone 14 or older could witness legal > > documents.>>> > > > > I have tried to recall where I saw it, but I believe someone could acquire > land or property in their name at almost any age, but had to be 21 in order > to sell it in their own name. I recall seeing an 8-year-old girl on the > personal property tax records for VA/Sussex that enumerated slaves left to > her by her grandmother. These slaves had previously been taxed to her > father, but he had died and this was the first tax year following his > death, > so that portion of the estate was still unsettled. It was the only year she > appeared. Have also seen land patents issued to men I am sure were minors > at > the time of issuance, but do not recall seeing land sold by a minor without > a co-seller (such as a guardian) who was of age. Does this seem right? The > 1736 standard doesn't seem to address this in particular. > > I think that because a person could legally sign contracts at age 14 he > could probably purchase land as well. >