Person talk:Mary Payson (9)

Doesn't necessarily mean mother is dead [6 March 2018]

A child choosing a guardian can signify many things, but the death of the mother may not, in fact, probably is not, one of them.

First of all, when a child was 14 they were allowed to choose their own guardian. The guardian is strictly an overseer of their property which as minors they are too young to take ownership of. Paraclete b. 1774, was over 14 in 1791.

Second, some of it depends on who they were inheriting from. In some cases, the mother had died, they were named in their grandfather's will, and they needed a guardian who was not automatically their father. Or, if their father was dead, as in this case, their mother was not always their guardian. Or if their mother was their guardian, and remarried, if they were over 14, they might choose another guardian so she wasn't encumbered as she entered her new marriage.

Third, the source you created is Source:Mathew, Linda L. Gleanings from Rhode Island Town Records, but your source citations specifies Source:Mathew, Linda L., "Gleanings from Rhode Island Town Records" which is clearly not identical (quotes on the title). However, it appears according to worldcat that there are three similar sources, the the title should include a town name (see here).

--Jrich 03:21, 7 March 2018 (UTC)