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Archiver > Dutch-Colonies > 1998-06 > 0898145690


From: Roy Freborg <>
Subject: [Fwd: spinster]
Date: Wed, 17 Jun 1998 21:54:50 -0700


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Nancy Lohbrunner asked about the word "spinster."

The Oxford English Dictionary says that from the 17th century on,
spinster was the proper legal designation for a woman who had never been
married.

I know it was in use as recently as 1974 because a single friend of mine
bought a house that year in California and all the legal documents
called her "Spinster."

As for "in law," I have often seen it in wills describing what I would
call a "step" relationship, but I can't recall having seen the reverse.

--Wendy Freborg

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From: (MRS NANCY N LOHBRUNNER)
Date: Thu, 18 Jun 1998 00:39:17, -0500
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Subject: spinster
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In early NY records sometimes I have seen daughter-in-law used
instead of stepdaughter and vice versa. Did "spinster" always mean
spinster as we know it?

Thank you,

____
Nancy Lohbrunner


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