In a message dated 9/13/02 7:52:46 PM Eastern Daylight Time, writes: << << Record date 1863 Surname SAWYER Given name Frank A. Residence: Worcester Record type: Guardianship Trying to trace parents of this Framk A. Also relationship of guardian to Frank A. >> Richard, Don't assume that Frank's mother is dead, she may be, but she may be the "guardian" in that record. The rights of women have changed since 1863. Does anyone on the list care to summarize for us why women had to apply for guardianship of their children upon the death of their spouse? I'm not sure I know. Each time I have found the mother as the guardian it was with in two years of the death of the childen's father. John

Women in History! Women were {and still are to some extent} considered second class citizens and not entitled to hold office, have money, own property, etc. In the early times, any probably bestowed on a woman by her father or other person, was summarily taken over by the husband/brother, etc. In the case of the husband dying and minor children were involved, the mother did have to petition the court for guardianship of her children. Some of the time she was unsuccessful, be it if she had enough money to care for them, etc. Also, this can work in another way. If the remaining parent was remarrying, often times, the new spouse didn't want the children from the previous marriage. Regards, Alison Franks Archivist, Rawson Family Association ----- Original Message ----- From: <GENTRIE@aol.com> To: <MAWORCES-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Saturday, September 14, 2002 7:12 PM Subject: Re: [MAWORCES] Probate lookup SAWYER > In a message dated 9/13/02 7:52:46 PM Eastern Daylight Time, writes: > > << << Record date 1863 > Surname SAWYER > Given name Frank A. > Residence: Worcester > Record type: Guardianship > Trying to trace parents of this Framk A. Also relationship of guardian to > Frank A. >> > Richard, > Don't assume that Frank's mother is dead, she may be, but she may be the > "guardian" in that record. The rights of women have changed since 1863. Does > anyone on the list care to summarize for us why women had to apply for > guardianship of their children upon the death of their spouse? I'm not sure I > know. Each time I have found the mother as the guardian it was with in two > years of the death of the childen's father. > John > > > ==== MAWORCES Mailing List ==== > Have you visited the ARCHIVES lately? > http://www.rootsweb.com/~maworces/wo-gen.htm > --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.386 / Virus Database: 218 - Release Date: 9/9/2002