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From: "Lizzie Love" <>
Subject: Re: [TRIVVIES] Terms of Apprenticeship
Date: Tue, 10 Aug 2004 08:28:26 +0100
References: <20040809205553.63493.qmail@web11608.mail.yahoo.com>


Hi Rock, I was definitely a minor until the age of 21. (1963). My father
died when I was 16 and my small legacy from him was held by my two uncles
who invested it in government bonds. On being encouraged into an early
marriage at 18, the bonds were sold and the proceeds made over to my fiancee
for the deposit on a house. Although I was still a minor, I had to sign
papers connected with this. These papers were whisked in front of me by my
foster-father (a colleague of my father) who pointed at the place for me to
sign ... and were whisked away when the deed was done. So in some respect I
was competent to sell my property and/or make it over to another, but only
as one of several signatories. On marriage, my husband became my legal
guardian, and even when I was 21, as a wife I was not legally the owner of
anything.

Lizzie

Rock wrote:

> That is a surprise. I grew up on the folklore that girls were minors
until age 18 and boys until age 21. Wills from 16th-century Kent which I
have read suggested to me that it had always been that way. I often see it
stated that majority is indicated by the sale of property, minors not being
competent to buy or sell. My William Shipman did sell a parcel of land
which had been conveyed to him, the sale being about a year after the end of
his apprenticeship.
>


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