Since widows were the only women within the Plymouth Colony allowed to hold any substantial amount of property, they were also the only women within the colony who could have their property taxed. The property of married women was turned over to their husbands upon their marriage, therefore, married women did not directly hold any property and could not be taxed.
All the women who were "rated for publick use" (paid taxes) by the government of the Plymouth Colony are widows owed from 12 to 9 shillings, payable in corn. The court tax records also show that widows were taxed fairly in relation to men. Men were usually taxed more than widows, because men generally owned more taxable property.
