CJ (#47) Cultural Dynamics (3) Social Class

Social class becomes the third distinct category that placed folks into separate groups.  During the time of our Cadwallader (JO-1), this category was an important aspect of their very existence.  Viewed in the context of previous post, the following is shown:

"Yeomen" verses "Gentlemen"; or those who work with their hands, and those who do no manual labor, defines this segmented society.  Mutual exclusive would be these categories, so that a genealogist could separate one individual from another by knowing which of these categories an ancestor resided.

The broad structure of this "social class" is shown in the following drawing:

Peerage to the poor organized the social groups accepted during the time of our Cadwallader Jones (JO-1).  "Catholic", "Monarchist", "Gentry", would classify our Cadwallader.  The rest of the Bahama accounts reflect the writings of another, "Protestant", "Republican", "Gentry" named Thomas Bulkley (BUL-1). [also spelled Bulkeley]  Our story continues!

A good reference for this is "The World We Have Lost, England Before the Industrial Age", by Peter Laslett, Charles Scribner's Sons, 1965.

CJ (#46) Cultural Dynamics (2) Government

The second item that separated individuals into different groups was "government".  The form or type of government that one believed to be the best to give your allegiance.  At this point in the life of our Cadwallader Jones (JO-1) it was the "Monarchists" verses the "Republicans".

A monarchy was the undivided rule or absolute sovereignty by a single person.  This had been the standard form of government throughout Europe.  It was called by most the "Divine Right of Kings".  A person who supported and followed this structure was called a "Monarchist".

Those individuals who felt that a government in which supreme power resides in a body of citizens entitled to vote and is exercised by elected representatives is called a "Republic".  These representatives were responsible to them (the citizens), and were governing according to  recognized law. 

These two distinct forms placed an individual into different camps.  Just like you could be a "Catholic" or "Protestant" (last post), but not both at the same time, you could be a "Monarchist" or "Republican".  This would form two different groups.

At this point in 1690, our Cadwallader Jones (JO-1) was a "Monarchist".  The majority of folks who occupied the Bahamas were "Republicans" and "Protestants".  A source of conflict for all yet to come.

More to come.