NCCATAWB-L Archives

Archiver > NCCATAWB > 2007-10 > 1192625285


From:
Subject: [NCCATAWB] Dower Renouncements
Date: Wed, 17 Oct 2007 08:55:29 -0500
References: <BAY109-DAV18B8A5C1EF45ED885892F6979D0@phx.gbl>
In-Reply-To: <BAY109-DAV18B8A5C1EF45ED885892F6979D0@phx.gbl>


16 October 2007, NEIL MARY HARBINSON wrote:
> Can anyone tell me what a Dower Renouncement is about? I found Jan 22, 1819 by Catherine House, Susannah Spencer And Christina Seabolt before John Willfong J.P. 1819 acknowledged book 28 page 716 I do not have this book it was sent to me by another Seabolt researcher. We are not sure what this means? I know that Johann Frantz Rinck's will was settled about this time frame. These were three of his daughters.

Under existing 1819 law, a married woman could not own property in her
own name, but she was entitled to a certain share, called dower, of the
real estate owned by her husband. Whenever her husband sold real estate,
the law required that she formally acknowledge that she was renouncing
any claim to her dower in that particular piece of land. This
acknowledgment is relinquishment of dower.

You are referring to Lincoln County deed book 28, p. 716. The original
deed book is at the Lincoln County Register of Deeds Office. A microfilm
is available at the North Carolina State Archives and is also available
for rent from the Family History Library.

Yes, the 50 acres sold belonged to the estate of Johann Frantz Rinck
also known as Francis Ring. The deed clearly states "their undivided
part of 50 acres of Francis Rinch's estate." The deed was executed on 30
September 1817. Rinck/Ring's daughters were married women, therefore,
the law required that they renounce their claim to any part of the land
before the sale could be completed. The married daughters renounced
their dower interests on 22 September 1819 before Justice of the Peace
John Wilfong, and the deed was then registered and recorded in deed book
28, p. 716.

Kathy Gunter Sullivan

This thread: