Hi there according to my dictioary a spinster is an unmarried woman especially one past the normal age of marriage or one not expected to marry so maybe she had a ailment like a bad leg ,only one eye or was deaf this is quite often a reason why they were not expected to marry.

I don't know if the term 'spinster' in 1841 was any different from the term 'spinster' in the 21st Century. I was married in 1984 and as I had not been married before the term 'spinster' is on my marriage certificate. I have all my limbs etc!! I think broadly speaking the term 'spinster' is just one that means the fact that the woman is unmarried at the time of the marriage, the same as a man is termed 'bachelor' if he is unmarried.

These words need to be judged in the context they are used :-

So in the Legal context of BMD's etc :-

With parental consent they were able to marry from age of 14 and 12 , over 21 no parental consent required , under Hardwicks Marriage laws of 1753 (?)

Spinster in its general sense just means status of female unmarried- its opposite being batchelor. ( other recorded status would be widower or widow, and occasionally divorced)

In the context of a Novel /Film etc :-

Spinster seems to often imply or be used with, an older female !

Hi Bonnie
I'm sure you are now fully acquainted with the description Spinster - I married one as well !!
I'm more interested in the Eliza Baldwin who married Richard Nelmes. I have an Eliza Baldwin in my family tree baptised 3.7.1825 Abenhall with parents James and Ann. I have this Eliza as marrying a John Bennett 31.5.1846 Abenhall (see this web site parish records) and one of the witnesses was Charlotte Baldwin and Eliza happens to have a sister Charlotte. This Eliza is not related to me but is connected as her brother George baptised 15.11.1829 Abenhall married a Jane Burris 16.2.1851 Abenhall they had 6 children and one of them - Lucy married Timothy Marfell. I have incidentally, been unable to find John Bennett and Eliza in the 1851 Census and I hope "Slowhands" will swiftly put this right !!
Jim

Bonnie
Further to the question of the age of a spinster, I have just looked at the Parish Record for the marriage between Richard Nelmes & Eliza Baldwin that took place in Newland 1841. The significant thing here regarding the age is that whilst she is described as a spinster, which is a name given to any unmarried female regardless of age, the parish record also states "Full Age", which means - I think - over 21, i.e. born in 1820 or before.

I have 72 Nelmes in my Family Tree, but to put that in context, I also have 1463 Marfells, 314 Meeks, 294 Baldwins & 486 Brains. Most of the Nelmes information comes from my 3rd cousin with maiden name Nelmes, who also has a grandmother who was a Marfell. She has undertaken extensive research into the Nelmes family. I happen to be meeting her in London on Tuesday. If you can let me know further information about yourself before then via my email link such as parents, grandparents etc. I will ask if she has any information that might help in your researches. We will be meeting with another lady whose grandmother was a Marfell and great grand parents were a Marfell & a Baldwin, so she has done extensive research into the Baldwin Family.
Jim

Hello Bonnie. I have traced my ancestors back to about 1650 around the border of Bucks and Oxon (Ickford, Shabbington, Great Haseley, Great Milton.

Wondering if there may be a connection.

Peter Nelms
Australia