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NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



ence to and respect for his own rights and imposed many burdens 

 on woman, yet, regarding her civil claims as sacred, her legal rights 

 were never interfered with. 



All children were inheritors of the mother's clan. The child, 

 male or female, was son or daughter of its mother and not the 

 inheritor of the clan rights of its father or " mother's husband." 

 Thus, having no subdivisions of family branches, by the inter- 

 marriage of maternal or paternal descendants, purity of clan 

 descent was established and by this tribal law, nationality was 

 never lost. If a Mohawk woman of the Wolf Clan married a Seneca, 

 her children and their descendants would be Mohawks of the Wolf 

 Clan from generation to generation. 



To the mother only was given the care of her offspring during 

 infancy and childhood, the formation of its character and govern- 

 ment of its nature. During this time the father had no control or 

 authority over the children. On arriving at maturity the male 

 child became the companion of his father on the warpath and 

 hunt, and the female assumed her civil rights and home authority. 



If the wife possessed property and at marriage brought it to her 

 new home, it still continued her own and she could dispose of it 

 at her pleasure. 



By law of descent, the children, not being of the father's clan, 

 would not inherit from him either property or any title that he may 

 have held; to these the children of his sister or brother were heirs. 



Women negotiated all the marriages. There were cases when the 

 elders of the clan would be consulted and their judgment considered 

 but the last decision rested entirely with the mothers. The mother 

 was also responsible for the married life of her children. When 

 there were contentions it was her duty to judge upon them. If 

 peace could not be established she decided that a separation must 

 follow. As this was considered a disgrace her consent was not often 

 given. If possible the contentious parties would be persuaded to 

 reconciliation. If after several councils the separation was con- 

 sidered an absolute necessity, by cause of incompatibility of temper, 

 or refusal to recognize the marriage relation, a divorce was de- 

 clared. The wife returned to the home of her mother taking with 

 her her property and the children. She was held accountable in 

 law for the faithful discharge of her duty to her children. 



If any family had disputes of a domestic or financial nature the 

 "mother " with other members of her clan was called for advice. 

 By this convention of relatives the case was judged and the decision 

 of this domestic court was final. 



