One of the challenges to understanding the documents left by
our ancestors is understanding the law at that particular time and place.
I was privileged to hear Judy G Russell The Legal Genealogist, speak at an all-day seminar in February of
this year. To most of us, law seems like a pretty dry and dull subject but Judy
makes it lively as she reminds us how pertinent and valuable it is to our
genealogy.
In some places and times, women were not permitted to
inherit land.
In some places and times, a widow’s children were given to
her husband’s family to raise.
Why wasn’t the eldest son mentioned in the will? Perhaps the law of primogeniture guaranteed
the he automatically inherited the land; and the will merely distributed other
property. Don’t assume that he was dead.
Why wasn’t the wife mentioned in the will? If the law of dower was in place, it may mean
only that he intended to leave her only what the law of dower allowed. Again, don’t assume that she was deceased or
divorced.
Did you know? I
certainly didn’t. Here are a few
resources:
FamilyTreeWebinars – Ms. Russell has done several of these
And check state archives for information on statutes and
legislation.
Sometimes we don’t know what it is that we don’t know.
interesting post
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