woman child

The first statute that gave the father a power of appointing, was the 4 and 5 Philip and Mary, c. 8, which provides, under severe penalties, such as fine and imprisonment for years, against taking any maid, or woman child unmarried, being within the age of sixteen years, out of or from the possession, custody, or governance, and against the will of the father of such maid, or woman child, or of such person or persons, to whom the father of such maid, or woman child, by his last will and testament, or by any other act in his life time, shall grant the education and governance of such child.