Title: Colonial Women ***
Headings: Colonial Women
Colonial Women
Colonial Women

Content: When a Colonial woman married her legal identity virtually disappeared. The legal existence of the woman was suspended during the marriage. Any property or goods including livestock and money left to a married woman in a will also was owned by the husband. A husband owned whatever belonged to his wife, except for personal items such as clothes and jewelry. Children legally belonged to their fathers. Married women had fewer rights than unmarried women or widows. Married women: Could not make a will without the explicit consent of her husband. Could not buy property
Could not make a contract
Could not sue or be sued in court


Colonial Women - the Puritans
The Puritan Colonial women were some of the first Europeans to settle in North America. The Puritans practised strictness and austerity in their religion, lifestyle and conduct and women were expected to abide by these rules.