I have a family reference in Indianna. My ggggrandfather died leaving second wife and 4 young girls and older son (teen) from 1st marriage. He died in October. The girls were warded out in November. Next fall the older son was warded out til he turned 18. I researched the reasons and came to this conclusion: They lived on a farm. The girls were warded out to neighbors (men who agreed to be financially responsible for them as in food and clothing) I do not know if they lived at home or with the neighbors. I think the wife and older son tried to farm the next year but could not make it on their onw, so he was warded out the next fall. She returned to her birth place in KY and after about 4 years came back to get the girls. This was an early form of welfare to make sure the children did not starve and does relate to women's rights and who could sign as being legally responsible. If you are researching orphan's court records, try looking at deeds to locate your ancestor and/or deeds of men mentioned as "warders". You often find they are related or neighbors. Marti Wethington