Inheritance Laws 1847

[Almond Tree]

If a man died in 1847 without making a Will and left a wife and two children over the age of 21 (son and daughter) does anyone know if his property would automatically pass to his son and ignore his wife and daughter?
Thanks

[cati]

Before the reforms of 1882 and 1925,  the English law of primogeniture automatically gave the oldest son the right to all real property, bypassing both the widow and any elder daughter

Cati

[Almond Tree]

Thank you.  I thought this was the case but it seemed so unfair, I couldn't believe it!

[cati]

Until the 1882 Married Women's Property Act, a married woman couldn't own anything in her own right: on marriage she and her property became the property of her husband!