The old law of inheritance made the sons the preferred heirs.

Only when there was no son could the daughter inherit if at all.

The responsibility of that heir, however, was often made commensurate with his inheritance.

He must financially care for the near relatives--the father and mother first, the sister and brother next, the uncles and aunts and cousins not to be forgotten.
=Present Demands of Kinship.=--The existing statutes make it incumbent upon any man in receipt of income beyond his own immediate needs to do what is possible to prevent his near relatives from requiring aid from the general public.

The custom of all charitable organizations when appealed to for aid for individuals, or for a family, is to ask, "What can your relatives do for you ?" The pressure upon those connected even by marriage to help relatives privately, and so reduce public relief, is often very severe.