I am not sure, but I think I remember reading that guardians were expected to be male. I think this is a carry-over from the way of thinking toward bastardy bonds then. Some male had to be responsible for underage children to make sure they were provided for and did not become a burden on the state. Lisa ----- Original Message ----- From: "Kelli Jeffrey" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, July 08, 2003 10:19 PM Subject: [HANCOCK-L] Guardianship > Hello All, I am hoping that someone can help explain something to me. > Can anyone help explain how Guardianships were done in the early 1800s and > why a mother had to go to court to be named the Guardian of her own > children. > I have a document from 1851, Todd Co. Ky. that shows that Benjamin > Hancock died before July of 1851. None of his family stepped forward to be > executor of the estate so the court stepped in Oct. 14, 1851 and seized it. > In June 1852, Preston L. Yancy was named, Guardian for the two youngest > children, James Monroe and Dabney Hancock, which were minors. > America M. Hancock was the mother and alive at the time. Why wasn't > she named Guardian or why did she even have to be named that, since it was > her children. > Preston L. Yancy was also the Plaintiff in the court cases following > involving the sale of the estate. > > > Alan Jeffrey > > > ==== HANCOCK Mailing List ==== > Questions about this list? Feel free to contact > the listowner for help at: > <[email protected]> >