I am puzzled about some information I have and I was wondering if anyone on the list could shed some light on the subject. Josephus Barber, b. abt. 1807, became a ward of the Orphans Court after the death of his father Samuel (DOD unknown). On August 5, 1823 he filed a petition to have a guardian named and it was granted. Pierce Smith was named. Zephaniah Barber (b. 1810) petitioned in 1825 "setting forth that he is a minor above the age of 14 years" and it was granted. John Perkins was named. Samuel Barber (b. unk) petitioned in 1830 and the guardian named was Pierce Smith. Would these brothers been made wards of the court if their mother was still living? Did they have to wait until they reached a certain age in order to petition for a guardian? What reason might there be that all three did not have the same guardian? If anyone could give me some insights as to the way the Luzerne County Orphans Court operated in the early 1800s I would be most appreciative. Thank you, Mary Jane Boyd Researching Barber, Carver, Howells, Jenkins, Phillips, Barnard, McCullock, Davis, Davies and John in Luzerne County