Linnea et al - I just recently got an example which may suggest the reasons for some other cases: 1845, Berks County. Catherine Frank petitions saying that her husband Daniel left her a widow with seven children, and would the court appoint guardians for the four who are minors under 14. Two who are minors over 14 (the oldest one I assume was no longer a minor) signed their own petitions, same date. The same man, who was not a relative as far as I know (though I have not really looked into it) was appointed guardian for all six of them. Now I know that at this point their father had been dead at least three years and maybe more. But I happen to know they had been collectively left part of a large and complicated estate in Lancaster Co, and I suspect that the reason they needed a guardian now was to look after their interests in that matter. I suspect he was a lawyer or at least someone who would know more about such matters than their mother would. It is my understanding that the mother could be guardian of minors unless/until she remarried, in which case one was appointed, but if she needed or wanted help she could ask for it. Jan Linnea Miller wrote: > > At 11:48 4/28/99, der@redrose.net wrote: > >Hi Helen, Donna and Linnea, > > > >> Hi Helen and Donna, > >> > <snip> > When children chose guardians in those days > >( those who were over 14, under 21), did they usually choose a family > >member, or could it just be a good friend? I can't help but wonder why > >Hermanus chose this Jacob RUDY, if he were a relative or whatever. It > >might provide me with some clues to this family. > <snip> > > > >Donna > > > >Donna > >~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > > Oftentimes it is a relative who is appointed guradian for these minor > children. But I have also seen "prominent" people in the area also being > appointed guardians - the name coming to mind is Valentine Schauffler (of > Bethel twp) who is shown to be guardian for quite a number of children > during his time (including some Stroh minors.) He served in the Revolution, > becoming an officer, was a large land owner, and was elected to the State > Legislature. So far, I have found no family connection to him. > > Most children did have guardians appointed when their father died, even > though the mother was still living. I must ask was this just the convention > of the time or was it a law? > > Thanks. > > -Linnea > > ==== PALEBANO Mailing List ==== > Found any good sites lately? We'd sure like to know about them!