<P> In the United States, daughters currently inherit on average more than sons . In the past, however, the eldest son was favored in matters of land inheritance . During the Colonial Period, the eldest son inherited twice more than the other sons in the northern colonies (these inheritance laws were modelled on Mosaic Law), and in the southern colonies there was a rule of male primogeniture . </P> <P> In northern Ghana, a region where male primogeniture predominates, rich households favoured sons over daughters . It is likely that first born sons would have been preferred as they would inherit the wealth and therefore have higher reproductive prospects . </P> <P> In recent times inheritance in the western world has generally been egalitarian despite parents showing favoritism towards daughters and later - born sons . In parent - son relationships, mothers usually show favouritism towards the first son and fathers to later born sons however these tendencies have lost much of their importance with regards to inheritance . </P> <P> Customs of ultimogeniture among farmers has been explained as a consequence of postponing retirement so they do not feel "dethroned" early by their eldest son . This line of thinking has been linked to the preeminence of lastborn siblings in popular myth and folklore around the world . As a consequence, in some cultures that practice male preimogentiure there are ambiguous, contradictory feelings towards last born sons . </P>

When the head of the family died what happened to the land and movable property