Volume 14 , Issue 6

Colonial Virginia

In 1727 the population of colonial Virginia was about 150,000, a third being negro slaves, while a very large share of the remaining two-thirds were made up of redemptorists or their descendants.

Williamsburg, the capital, was no more than a straggling village, probably no larger than McDowell. Norfolk was a very small place, and Richmond was yet to be founded. The ruling element of the Virginia people did not like towns and did not encourage them. A county seat was little else than the little courthouse and jail, a tavern, and perhaps two or three dwelling houses and a church.

As in England, the people were grouped into classes. At the top of the social structure were the comparatively few planters, owning most of the land and wealth and consequently controlling the government. Next were the pretenders, or "half-breeds," really equal to the planters in birth and culture, but inferior in influence. They had enterprise and energy but not wealth. They were not regarded by the planters as on a par with themselves, yet by sheer ability often crept into their ranks.

Third was the yeoman, a free person, yet very poor and very often illiterate. Fourth were the indentured white servants, living in a form of bondage, usually to the planters. Fifth were the negroes,nearly all of whom were slaves to the same class.

As we mentioned earlier, the structure of society was aristocratic in a marked degree, with class terms in constant use. The planter and the pretender (to some degree were referred to as "gentleman." It was a mark of social rank. In theory, but not always in fact, the gentleman was a person whose ancestors had always been free. In actual use, the term was somewhat elastic, since any man who became a justice had a recognized right tot he title.

In court proceedings the yeoman, servant, or slave was mentioned according to his class. The freed servant became a yeoman, but it was not at all easy for him to pass still upward into the favored planter circle.

Agriculture on the planter system was the sole industry in Virginia. In Tidewater, the only well-peopled section, nearly ally he land was held in great estates, usually tilled by servants or slaves, although little tracts would be leased to yeomen. Tobacco was almost the sole money crop, yet some four was shipped to the West Indies.

In other words, the planter was to Virginia what the country squire was to England. His tastes were entirely rural and he had slight use for towns. he wanted land and in this new country he could gratify his desire. His great house was built remote from the public road and as far from neighbors as possible. The planter was dictatorial, yet he was generous, courteous, honorable, and high-minded. Their slaves lived in untidy cabins, subsisting mainly on corn bread and the flesh of razor-backed hogs.

As the King's proxy, the royal governor lived in much pomp and dignity. He was appointed by the king from among his British subjects, but his salary and perquisites of $10,000 a year came out of the colonial treasury. He was no figurehead. He would dodge the instructions of the king, and through is use of patronage he would often control the House of Burgesses.

The Governor's Council was the equivalent of our State Senate and also our Supreme Court. The members held office by appointment. The House of Burgesses was elective, each of the 36 counties of 1743 sending two members. The voting privilege was very much restricted. Even so late as 1829, more than two-fifths of the white male adults could not vote. In 1692 Virginia had established one post office for each county. For a letter of a single sheet, the postage was 4 cents for a distance of not more than 80 miles, and 6 cents for a greater distance. When there were two sheets, the rates were 7 cents and 12 1/2 cents. But until after 1738 there was only one weekly mail to Pennsylvania.

Education was not regarded as a matter of public concern. The well-to-do had their children educated by tutors, and there were some good schools taught by members of the clergy. College education was supplied by the one college of William and Mary at the capital and by the larger colleges of England. Planters of studious habits had a good library. The education of the mass of the people was quite neglected, except where some philanthropic person maintained in his own neighborhood and at his own expense what was then known as a free school.   |  View or Add Comments (0 Comments)   |   Receive updates ( subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

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