from
Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856)
NURTURE. The act of taking care of children and educating them: the right to
the nurture of children generally belongs to the father till the child shall
arrive at the age of fourteen years, and not longer. Till then, he is
guardian by nurture. Co. Litt. 38 b. But in special cases the mother will be
preferred to the father; 5 Binn. R. 520; 2 S. & R. 174; and after the death
of the father, the mother is guardian by nurture. Fl. 1. 1, c. 6; Com. Dig.
Guardian, D.