I am not sure about the term spinster, but have seen other marriage 
contracts.  The ones I have seen were much more recent, but the very fact 
that Elizabeth was acting on her own indicates that she did not have or need 
a guardian.  If she was under age 21, a guardian would have some control 
over her property and the guardian's name would appear in the document.  She 
seems to be an adult woman who controlled her own property.
Bonnie
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Lou Poole" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, May 31, 2010 5:45 PM
Subject: [VA-ROOTS] "Spinster" in 1670


> Was there a legal or at least formal definition of the term "Spinster"
> in 1670?  What I'm trying to get at here, is what was the age
> connotation of using the term "Spinster"?
>
> The following record comes from Surry County in 1670/1:
>
> "Whereas John Hunicut & Elizabeth Warren Spinster both of his County
> have contracted togeather to enter Marriage Sudainly & for ye. better
> clearing of all doubts & Scruples that May arrise as aspersions cast
> in ye. way to either of theire discreditts & for ye. pr:vention
> thereof I John Hunicut doe by these pr:sents before Marriage doe
> Alinate & make over unto ye. sd. Elizabeth Warren & to her heirs all
> such cattle Chattles & household goods as she stands possessed of by
> ye. divission made & by ordr. of ye. Courte att Southwarke as may More
> att large apeare as witness my hand ye 24th. febry. 1670 John Hunicut.
> Witnes hereunto Joh. Corker ye. Marke of Jane Warren (O)  Acknowledged
> in Cort ye 7th. Mar. 1670 & record.  13th. Teste GW" [Haun, Weynette
> Parks, Surry County, Virginia, Court Records, 1664-1671, Book II, p.
> 87.]
>
> If there was a legal definition in VA law at this time, I can't find
> it in Hening's.  And an Internet search yields nothing better than
> something like "an unmarried woman beyond the conventional age of
> marriage."
>
> The interpretation of that term is kind of important.  If Elizabeth
> Warren, Spinster, was over the age of 21 (actually over the age of
> 17-18) she was not the daughter of who everyone thinks she is.  She
> was the daughter of Thomas Warren of Surry County, but everyone seems
> to think that she was the daughter of Elizabeth (Spencer)
> Sheppard-Warren.  If she was over the age of 15-16 then it probably
> means that Thomas Warren was married to a second wife, prior to his
> marriage to Elizabeth (Spencer) Sheppard-Warren.
>
> Thanks in advance for any knowledgeable insight into this question.
>
> Lou Poole
>
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