Archive for the 'Colonial Virginia social & legal history' Category

‘Til death do us part: Elizabeth Wilke Spencer Man & the inviolability of probated wills

• September 26, 2009 • Comments Off

Posted in Colonial Virginia social & legal history, Colonial Virginia source documents


Sir William Blackstone meets Hening’s “Statutes” / The disparate status of single & married women / Virginia Statutes supercede English law (the probate process in 17th century Virginia)

• September 21, 2009 • Comments Off

Posted in Colonial Virginia social & legal history


The will of Edward Dale (d. 2 Feb 1695/6) & its anomaly / how “femes covert” and children may serve as executors of a will; Dale and Carter’s matching deed & the principle of ownership in colonial VA

• September 18, 2009 • Comments Off

Posted in Colonial Virginia genealogy, Colonial Virginia social & legal history, Colonial Virginia source documents