Sounds a little like the shakers. I'm not an expert, but anyway they were a sect that toke in orphans since they didn't have children, and taught them crafts. they were famous for craftmanship infact. I was told that a comfortable but celebate life would probobly sound real good to a kid with no other options in those days when the world was less "civilized". I might add that this is a little off the subject even if I couldn't resist putting in my two cents.