Date of Award
5-2026
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts (MA)
Department
History
Committee Chair/Advisor
Dr. Lee Wilson
Committee Member
Dr. Caroline Dunn
Committee Member
Dr. Josh Catalano
Abstract
This project examines women who appeared in the Chancery Court of Maryland from 1669 to 1679. This thesis used the Archives of Maryland Online and the volume of proceedings of the Chancery Court. Across the three chapters, I argue that historians have largely ignored these proceedings, and that women did not appear in court out of empowerment but rather out of legal duty and requirement. I examined how these women appeared in both their legal status and the types of positions they held. This included the life cycle women typically followed from wife to widow to remarriage. They also appeared as witnesses, guardians and heirs.
Recommended Citation
Cole, Emily A., "Women in the Chancery Court of Maryland from 1669 to 1679" (2026). All Theses. 4751.
https://open.clemson.edu/all_theses/4751
Included in
Legal Commons, Social History Commons, United States History Commons, Women's History Commons