In a message dated 5/27/2000 7:57:50 PM Mountain Daylight Time, [email protected] writes: << Being a weaver , spinner at a living museum. The term spinster did apply to usually the youngest daughter being unmarried stayed home to take care of her older parents. >> In my research of WV families in the 1700s-1900s, most older parents (especially if one was widowed or widowered) moved in to the home of one of the children. I can't say what the practice was in the 1600s or 1500s. Records are sparse. But I spent quite a bit of time with a weaver at Williamsburg, Virginia, talking about practices and duties during the colonial and post-colonial days. Fascinating day. Diane