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An American Family History

Elizabeth Fry Daggett

During the 17th and 18th centuries an adult unmarried woman was considered to have the legal status of feme sole, while a married woman had the status of feme covert. A feme sole could own property and sign contracts. A feme covert was not recognized as having legal rights and obligations distinct from those of her husband and could not own any property. When a woman became a widow she became a feme sole again.

Elizabeth Fry Daggett (Doggett) was probably born in England. Some sources have her parents as Jonas and Frances Humphrey, of Dorchester.

She married William Fry. Their children and life together are described in detail in the section on William and Elizabeth Fry.

He left her a widow in 1642 and she inherited “his house & foure acres of land being his home lot. . . [and] The rest of [his] estate.” It was unusual at that time for a woman to inherit. If she had had sons, they would have inherited.

She married her second husband Thomas Daggett (Doggett) about 1643. Thomas was born in 1607 in England. His first wife died in Concord on June 23, 1642.

Elizabeth died about 1653.

Lady Day Before 1752 the year began on March 25th. Dates between January 1st and March 24th were at the end of the year, not the beginning.
Children of Elizabeth Fry Daggett
and William Fry
 

(from Historic Homes and Institutions edited by Ellery Bicknell Crane)

Thomas Doggett... married (second) Elizabeth Fry, widow of William Fry, of Weymouth, and daughter of Jonas and Frances Humphrey, of Dorchester. She was probably horn in England and died 1652, at Weymouth.

 

 

     

©Roberta Tuller 2012
tuller.roberta@gmail.com