Law of Coverture.

Colonial women who married ceased to exist, legally speaking, as separate persons. Single women maintained much greater control over their own property than did married women. Under the English common law doctrine of coverture, upon marriage the wife became covered by the husband; that is, she could not act in legal matters except in concert with her husband. While the law allowed them to act together, the husband controlled all legal affairs and was under no legal compulsion to consult his wife. A husband could even be found liable for the wrongdoing of his wife on the assumption that it occurred at his behest. In some instances husbands could be whipped for the wife's crime, including adultery.

Colonial Departures.

In the American colonies coverture was followed but with modifications, as in the case of dower rights. Under English law one-third of a...