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 > > To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe, please see the instructions at > http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-roots.html > . > 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 To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe, please see the instructions at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-roots.html