Various spellings of Stanhope
Stanape, Stanup, Standhope, Stanhop, Stanop, and Stannup
Middlesex County, Massachusetts was created on May 10, 1643. The county originally included Charlestown, Cambridge, Watertown, Sudbury, Concord, Woburn, Medford, Wayland, and Reading.
Estate inventories give us a glance into the home life of Colonial Americans through their possesions.
Hannah was left a widow when Stephen died. On January 6, 1702/03, she bought part of the Appleton farm from James Brewer and Caleb Johnson. It was between Lake Cochituate and Cochituate brook. Her descendants lived there until after the revolution.
In 1718 Martha (Jennings) Dadmun and her children were living with her.
Old Style Calendar
Before 1752 the year began on Lady Day, March 25th,. Dates between January 1st and March 24th were at the end of the year. Old Style (O.S.) and New Style (N.S.) are used to indicate whether the year has been adjusted. Often both dates are used.
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.
