Daily AncestorGuardian
A guardian is a person legally responsible for a minor or for an adult unable to manage their own affairs, usually appointed by a court.
A guardian is legally responsible for someone who cannot act for themselves, most often a child whose father has died. Courts appointed guardians to manage a child's inheritance, even when the mother was living.
A guardian appears in court minutes, bonds and accounts. Guardians were frequently relatives, so the name can be a lead to an uncle or grandfather.
As seen in a recordHeading of a guardian's account
Saml. Ross, guardian of Wm. Hart, a minor
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Daily Ancestor. "Guardian." Dictionary of Old Record Words. https://dailyancestor.com/dictionary/relationships/guardian. Last checked 2026-10-01.