Hi Robert, Perhaps this was spinster in the original meaning. The OED has: 1. a. A woman (or, rarely, a man) who spins, esp. one who practises spinning as a regular occupation. [Still in use in this sense in 1910, according to the OED citations: 1910 Contemp. Rev. July 31 She would be a famous spinster and needlewoman.] 2. a. Appended to names of women, originally in order to denote their occupation, but subsequently (from the 17th century) as the proper legal designation of one still unmarried. Two of the citations for the second of the above meanings are: 1564-5 in 10th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm. (1885) 27 Joan Lambe, widow of London, spynster. 1580-1 Ibid., Margaretta Tirrell spinster, alias dicta Margaretta Tirrell uxor Thome Tirrell. Cheers, Liz in Melbourne -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Robert Hillier Sent: Wednesday, 7 February 2007 9:02 AM To: [email protected] Subject: [OEL] Widow and spinster Idle curiosity on my part : What was meant by "Widow and spinster" in four entries in the early 18th C. in the Burial Register for the parish of Holnest , Dorset ? Here's an example : Agness BRIDLE "Wid: & Spinster" buried 1.3.1705/6 TIA, Robert Hillier, Poole, Dorset ==================================== WEB PAGE: http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~oel/ ARCHIVES: http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/index?list=OLD-ENGLISH ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message