Legal age in the American Old West?

Question: Legal age in the American Old West!?

What was the legal age in the American Old West!? When did they considered kids to be old enough to go off on thier own!?Www@QuestionHome@Com

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:

Well that's a good question!.

In the law it has always been 21!.!.!.but as you pointed out in the Old West, or any other frontier society, that's not always been observed!.

It would depend on the person!.!.!.if you were mature, could take care of yourself, knew how to shoot, ride, and not to insult a professional gunfighter sort of thing!. Probably about 16 or 17 but it would depend on the individual!. Sometimes younger!. Remember that in those days you had boys as young as 12 shipping out as midshipmen in the Royal Navy!.Www@QuestionHome@Com