The only reason why a childless Barbrey had managed to stay in Barrowtown after the death of her husband was due to part of the Widow's Law, which forbade anyone from kicking a Lord's Wife from the Castle after its demise. As women would often outlive men, the new Lord would often expel the widow, reducing her to poverty. Should the Lord die, his closest relatives had an intrinsic interest to get rid of the Lord's sons and daughters so they could claim the Lordship. In this case, it meant having the mother as a regent was essential. However, after the law was passed if there were no living children and a clear heir, the woman oftentimes took control of the lordship until her death.