Hallo Jack, You are looking at written information which is 300+ years old. Language has evolved. Both Miss and Mrs are short forms of Mistress. If you think of Charles II's time women were referred to as : Mistress Nell Gwynn, Mistress Elizabeth Pepys - no indication whether married or single. My feeling was that it was the 19 C when things became separate and that does seem to be the case according to this site. http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2011/11/what-are-mrs-and-ms-short-for/ 1702 is still in the reign of William III and 1705 is Queen Mary's time. In the 18C things were beginning to change, but this also of course goes along with literacy. Names and their spellings, began to settle with the new parish registers (early 19C, preceding obligatory registration in July 1837) If is is said that one was a spinster - then that would normally be the case. As for Mary Goffe - I have no idea! You could try to see whether there is an earlier marriage for her with a Mr Goffe who subsequently died! Jean Wood http://www.cheziris.eu/index.htm http://www.cheziris.eu/Duterrau.htm http://www.saintes-fleur-de-sel.fr/index.htm > From: jbee18@shaw.ca > To: Sussex-plus@rootsweb.com > Date: Thu, 22 Aug 2013 07:06:18 -0700 > Subject: [SXP] Richard Whitpaine of Hurtspierpoint about 1671 > > In researching the above gentleman I am wondering about the marital status > of the two women he married. According to the Sussex Marriage Index he > married Mary Goffe, "Mrs." in 1702, and then in 1705 he married Mary > Scrace," Mrs.". However when I search the index for the spouses names Mary > Scrace is shown as a spinster of Westmeston, and Mary Goffe is Mrs. of > Henfield. Is the" Mrs." an honourific because of their station or were both > of these women widows? > > Thanks, > > Jack > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to SUSSEX-PLUS-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message