'A major contribution to our understanding of the early modern family.' - Katherine French, SUNY-New Paltz'Amy Erickson has produced a rich and finely nuanced study of women and property in early modern England. ... This is an important work and its conclusions with regard to both theory and practice should modify facile stereotypes still present in the literature on women and the family in early modern times.' - Gender and History'An impressive study ... a scholar of the first rank.' - Germaine Greer, The Guardian'Extremely stimulating.' - Antonia Fraser, The Times

• Part 1 Background; Chapter 1 Introduction; Chapter 2 Law, society and documents; Part 2 Maids; Chapter 3 Upbringing; Chapter 4 Inheritance; Chapter 5 Portions and marriage; Part 3 Wives; Chapter 6 The nature of marriage settlements; Chapter 7 Marriage settlements in the Court of Chancery; Chapter 8 Marriage settlements in probate documents; Part 4 Widows; Chapter 9 Widows of men who made wills; Chapter 10 Widows of men who did not make wills; Chapter 11 How lone women lived; Chapter 12 Lone women's wills;