On e reader, 1 finger keyboard ....
Yes, a female, not sharing her domestic living arrangements with a male, but of her own independent means is raising a child/children .... can be previously married, but marriage ended .... death/court determination of husband ....or divorce or a settlement made by husband on his separating from her .... to join a monastic order, or to cohabitate with another, or to remove out of the country to a place beyond the seas ....
Above is my paraphase of an unpublished paper prepared decades ago by one of my rellies now in his 90s - retired NSW archivist. He contends that the word Widow had a broad meaning until Queen Victoria's husband died .... so singlewoman with children had her own funds, but widow with children needed society to help provide funds. In both cases it was possible that no formal religious ceremony occurred or was recorded. And often such a register which we would, as family history buffs want to find, .......well ... cannot register an event that never happened...
ADD, now on proper puter with proper keyboard :
Well, errr ... my one finger typing let me down ... I should have added the words that I am now including:
In both cases if seeking to confirm a marriage for the female, we need to remember that it was possible that no formal religious ceremony occurred or was recorded. And often such a register which we would, as family history buffs want to find, .......well ... cannot register an event that never happened... and thus we will remain unsure of if the surname is her maiden surname or perhaps the surname she became known by...
JM