On 7/19/2012 1:23 PM, Al Adams wrote:
> Can someone give me an idea of the age requirement for a guardian?
>
> Robert Adams' Will was proved in Goochland County in June 1740.
>
> Then I have this from an unknown source and not the original court documents that "Sarah, daughter of Robert, chooses Richard Randolph, Gent, her guardian at the July 1740 Court"
>
> Sarah's mother was still alive.  Why would Sarah have needed a guardian?  Does this mean that she was under age 18 or 16 or some other age?
>
> Thanks
> Al Adams
>
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Al,

The record you have means that Sarah was under 18, but above the age 
that she could choose her guardian.  This is true for both genders 
although the male age of majority 21 rather than 18.  Each group was 
allowed to choose their own guardian at about age 14 (females) and 16 
(males).   If you don't know who Sarah married, you might want to check 
and see if there is a connection to Richard Randolph or a near male 
relative of his.  The exact probate rules for any time period in 
colonial Virginia can be found in Hening's Statutes.

Marilyn Jackson

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