National Guardianship Association has a good description of what is a guardianship.
http://www.guardianship.org/what_is_guardianship.htm
Now about the probate files ...
NGA as it is known by the abbreviation describes Guardianship of the Person and Guardianship of the Estate pretty much accurate what are in probate files.
In SAMPUBCO site, the records are indexed and listed under two groups, guardianships and probate files.
Why two groups? Guardianship records are separated depending on the county where the record originated. Guardianship group usually contains guardianship letters, accounts, reports. Probate Files has files of "Minor" or "guardian" containing ORIGINAL records.
Now what can you find in these records?
The number UNO is the birthdate of the child! This is very useful when it comes to where there are literally no county or state birth records. Useful since more than 90 percent of them are in the states where there are no government birth records.
Then the relationship is stated more than anything else in the letters. Petitions for guardianship contain more information about family relationships.
Here are eamples:
Example #1
Written out petition (Case 1836-83, Westchester County, New York)
Example #2
Written out petition statement showing relationships and age of the minor (New London District, Connecticut, Case #2367)
Example 3
Petition showing relationship (New London District, Connecticut Case #2476
Example #4
Printed Letter granting guardianship, showing birthdate and relationship (Allegany County New York, Guardianship Letters, volume 4, page 148
Now, what are you missing out (especially those who scream brick walls)? What is worse? The microfilms of these records at Family History Library show appalling little to no research of these records, that is guardianships and probate files. Too new when the rolls are at least 35 years old. AND the SAMPUBCO analytic reports show almost no visitors to check out the index lists of both types.
Until then...
David
