I have found a public record from Montgomery Co but the question may apply to all counties in Tennessee: The record stated: "Guardian Bond. Ephraim Drake guardian to Judith Adeline Drake, Susanna Cypress Drake, James Ford Drake and Polly Drake. 19 Jan 1813." Question: I assume that Ephraim Drake was the parent to all of the above named since an Ephraim Drake named his son James Ford Drake and three unnamed daughters in his will, proved 1817, in Davidson Co. If the above record is the same Ephraim and it now lists his three daughters, would a parent ever have been named "guardian" in a public record and, if so, for what reason? Could it have been after the death of the other parent?