Campbell v. Browder
Campbell v. Browder
Opinion of the Court
delivered the opinion of the court.
The only question presented in this cuse is, whether a married woman under the age of twenty one years can make a will by which she disposes of real estate. Infants at the age of twelve if females, and fourteen if males, might, by the common law, make a valid will of personal estate. Under the English statute of wills, 34 and 35 Henry VIII., ch. 5, sec. 14, persons under the age of twenty-one years were restrained from disposing- of their real estate. This was also the rule of the common law, and is very generally adopted in the statutes of the several States of this country. See Jarmon on Wills, 2 Am. ed., by Perkins, p. 28. This seems to be conceded by counsel in the argument furnished us, but it is maintained that by the act of 1869-70, Code, 2486ft et seq., and especially by the proviso to the 6th section of said act, such po.wer is conferred. We do not so understand the purpose of said act. The section referred to is somewhat involved in obscurity. It is as follows: “The provisions of this - act, except the provisions of the third section of this act, shall apply to and embrace only such femes eovert, or married women, as ha\Te abandoned their husbands, or who may refuse to live with 'or cohabit with their husbands, or whose husbands may be non compos mentis, insai-e or of' unsound mind; and also, to such married women or femes covert Avhose husbands may fail or refuse to cohabit with, or have abandoned such married women or femes covert; Provided, that all married women or
The circuit judge so held, and we affirm his judgment.’
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.