| Record Series | Book Of Dower |
|---|---|
| Index | Index |
| Sample of Records | View a sample record |
| Dates | 1821-1858 |
| Location | Warren County Records Storage & Archives |
| Format | Bound Volume, handwritten with (incomplete) index |
| Arranged | Chronological |
| Volume | 1 bound volume |
| Department | County Clerk |
| Legal Restrictions | None |
| Use Restrictions | Staff will access all records and must approve all requests for copies |
| Historical Background | A dower was a widows right to a one third share of her deceased husbands real property for the remainder of her life. An action of dower was commenced if the widow did not receive her assigned share within forty days of her husbands death. Dower actions could be brought in Supreme Court, Common Pleas, Surrogate or Court of Chancery. See Laws of 1787, Chap. 4 and Revised Statutes of 1829. The right of Dower was abolished after August 31, 1930. |
| Description of Record Series | Handwritten bound volume, 9"x13"x2" with self contained index (not complete). The volume itself contains 300 pages of which 55 pages contain handwritten information. The remaining pages are blank. All of the actions recorded in this book appear to have been brought before Surrogates Court. |
| Purpose of Record | To protect a widows right to one third of her husbands real property. A widow who was not assigned her dower could bring an action of ejectment; a petition to Supreme Court, common pleas or surrogate or a complaint to Chancery Court. |
| Other Formats | None |
| Finding Aids | Self contained index (incomplete); name index on computer; series locations on inventory database. |
| Related Series | Minutes of Courts, Common Pleas Papers, Surrogate estate case files (MF), Book of Wills. |
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Book of Dower
