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 > > To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe, please see the instructions > at > http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-roots.html To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe, please see the instructions at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-roots.html