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Archiver > LONDON > 2001-05 > 0990836790


From: Eve McLaughlin <>
Subject: Re: [Lon] feme couecte
Date: Sat, 26 May 2001 01:26:30 +0100
In-Reply-To: <F25N9WBYShdmhznOxbk00005115@hotmail.com>



>There was recently a site given for translation of Latin legal terms.
>Needless to say, I did not make a note of it - and, naturally, something
>unfamiliar came up in an 18th century will. Does anyone know the meaning of
>"feme couecte", in connection with a bequest to a
>daughter?

That is actually feme couverte (covered woman), meaning a married woman.
And often the phrase is used when there are problems in the marriage.
{Pre 1880, leaving money to a married woman meant that it went straight
into the pockets of the husband, who could spend it on slow horses and
fast woemn. So prudent fathers made provision for any legacy to go to
trustees (or a brother) to hand to her in small sums, when the man
wasn't looking. She would not get the capital while she was feme
couverte

--
Eve McLaughlin

Author of the McLaughlin Guides for family historians
Secretary Bucks Genealogical Society

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