From: steven@stevengibbs.me.uk   
      
   On 15/10/2023 23:30, J. P. Gilliver wrote:   
   > I'm looking at a 1678 record, but I've seen later:   
   >   
   > The record uses "singleman" and "singlewoman". I find these terms   
   > excellently clear! When - and why - did the more obscure terms come into   
   > general use? (I can see "spinster" has some sort of romantic image of a   
   > young woman spinning away [I don't know what batcheling might be!].)   
      
   I occasionally find "spinster" and "singlewoman" both used in the same   
   set of parish records, particularly marriages. I've worked out that   
   "singlewoman" applied to a woman who had already had an illegitimate   
   child. (Mainly 18th century, my data is all Bedfordshire.)   
      
   Steven   
      
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