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
>
> ______________________________________
> To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe please see the 
> instructions at
> http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html
>
>

______________________________________
To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe please see the instructions at
http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html