Maiden Names and Dower Right: Documenting your Female Ancestors

Maiden Names and Dower Right: Documenting your Female Ancestors In countries with English influence, marriage historically resulted in women giving up their maiden names and losing many of their legal rights. This program will introduce the concepts of couverture, dower right, and other legal principles that may influence records of your ancestors. It will also guide you through navigating those records to learn more about your female ancestors’ lives.