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Date: | Thu, 8 May 2008 20:33:57 -0400 |
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During both the colonial and post-colonial period in Virginia, women who
were either single or widowed could make a will. Women could and did own
and inherit property, both real and personal, during both periods.
Barbara Vines Little, CG
Dominion Research Services
PO Box 1273
Orange, VA 22960
540-832-3473
[log in to unmask]
CG, Certified Genealogist, is a service mark of the Board for Certification of Genealogists, used under
license by board certified genealogists after periodic evaluation, and the board name is registered in the
US Patent & Trademark Office.
Judith Bailey Gabor wrote:
> (Hope this serves as a new topic)
>
> When were women allowed to make wills?
>
> This is an overly broad question. I am most interested in answers
> that apply to England and VA.
>
> I have seen wills made by women from 16th century England.
>
> In many cases, women were hog-tied because their husbands who
> predeceased them gave them only a life estate or until the widow
> remarried. If they didn't remarry, why would they need to make a
> will? Maybe for personal items.
> Spinsters often had outright ownership of land bequeathed them by
> their father.
>
> Some married women also had inheritances from an ancestor or deceased
> spouse that might be considered separate property.
>
> Hope some of you - Paul Drake maybe - can respond to my random
> thoughts above.
>
> Thanks, Judith B. Gabor
>
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