(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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