Really

I didn't know that!

gosh someone interesting in the family.
Kerry
Kerry it may of course mean she was just a dressmaker but if it was cover or lady of the night then it would explain why she wasnt married!
she seemed to earn enough money to be head of the household
mind you in her later years would she still be 'dressmaking' i suppose the younger man might like a more expereinced woman to show him the art of how to make dresses
sometimes though these dressmakers would have several illegitimate children - this was not the case of Sarah
so weigh up both sides and what do you think
added - sometimes there were a lot of dressmakers living in the one household, the equivalent to the modern day brothel
again Sarah seemed to be practising dressmaking alone
did your family have lots of pretty dresses ?