You all might be interested in the book, "Women and the Law of Property in
Early America," by Marylynn Salmon. It traces the gradual expansion of
women's rights in the law prior to the Revolution until 1830. Well worth
finding.

On Thu, Mar 26, 2020 at 1:06 PM Frank Murray <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> I have seen some where the wife's father did not for whatever reason want
> the son in law to own the property.--some due to dislike of son in law.  I
> have also seen where the daughter (s) were always left the home w/ smaller
> land amounts so the woman would always have a place to live.  I have seen
> where several unmarried daughters lived in the home.
>
> On Thu, Mar 26, 2020 at 12:35 PM Ralph E Mann <[log in to unmask]>
> wrote:
>
> > It also protected the property from the husband's liabilities--business
> > failures, etc. It was often a tactical move in a mercurial economy.
> >
> > Ralph Mann
> >
> > ________________________________
> > From: Discussion of research and writing about Virginia history <
> > [log in to unmask]> on behalf of Ron Roizen <
> [log in to unmask]
> > >
> > Sent: Thursday, March 26, 2020 10:12 AM
> > To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
> > Subject: Re: Land titles
> >
> > Hi!  I've seen this too, in property documents way back when in my little
> > town of Wallace, Idaho.  One thought is that it may have insured and
> > hastened the transfer of property to the wife upon the husband's death.
> > Ron Roizen
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Discussion of research and writing about Virginia history <
> > [log in to unmask]> On Behalf Of Leland Ness
> > Sent: Thursday, March 26, 2020 8:44 AM
> > To: [log in to unmask]
> > Subject: [VA-HIST] Land titles
> >
> > Hi there,
> >
> > I have several questions that have arisen in the last several decades of
> > my local history quest, but I figure I will start with the easiest.  It
> is
> > probably one that many subscribers will know off the top of their heads.
> >
> > In researching land titles at the local courthouses for the period
> > 1890-1920 I often find that ownership is listed solely in the name of the
> > wife of a married couple.
> >
> > I guess this could be interpreted as evidence of an early "woke" and
> > progressive Virginia, but I suspect the reason is more prosaic.  Real
> > estate taxes were levied regardless of who technically owned the
> property,
> > but perhaps there were benefits in the event of bankruptcy? Or perhaps
> > intestate death?  Did they not have joint tenancy with rights of
> > survivorship?
> >
> > Any thoughts on why a married couple would put their house in the name of
> > the wife only in that period?
> >
> > Many thanks
> >
> > Leland Ness
> >
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-- 
___________________________

John D. Metz, Ph.D.
Deputy for Collections and Programs
Library of Virginia
Richmond, Virginia 23219

T. 804.692.3607
F. 804.692.3594
www.lva.virginia.gov

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