Posted by Mike Shaffer on July 04, 2000 at 18:08:44:
In Reply to: Re: Re: Re: PART ONE... posted by Elyse on July 03, 2000 at 22:44:30:
It wasn't just common knowledge, but apparently was common in most legal dealings as well in those days. Wives shared in estate settlements equally with children and in many cases the finances or property was held in trust by the male executor of the estate who saw to the surviving wifes welfare...depending upon the size of the estate. Folks moving west just took the known laws and legalities with them. In the westward expansion women were often left to fend for themselves...many did so most admireably, and I have to believe it was these pioneers that helped to change not just laws but viewpoints. I believe it was Tell Sackett in one of the novels that said the west was "...tough on horses and women." Well, judging by the number of men it swallowed without a trace, I'd say it was pretty tough on everyone.
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: PART ONE...