According to Albion's Seed by David Hackett Fischer, literacy in VA during
the 17th century depended upon your station in life. Among the gentry,
almost 100% were literate. They educated their children with private
tutors. Below that rank, the figure of literacy declines:
Status of Father Male Female
High 100% 100%
High Middle 87 80
Middle 80 17
Lower Middle 44 20
Lower 50(?) 5.3 (I suspect the first figure for males is wrong
since it is higher that the figure for the lower middle class...but that's
what Fischer says.)
According to Fischer, the prevailing attitude of the gentry was that it was
"better be never born than ill-bred (i.e., unschooled)" if you were of the
elite class. However, for other classes, the attitude of the gentry was: "I
thank God there are no free schools nor printing...for learning has brought
disobedience and heresy, and sects into the world, and printing has divulged
them, and libels against the best government. God keep us from both!" This
attitude was in place in England (southeastern part) long before slaves were
brought into VA in large quantity.
Fischer says that the libraries of the gentry sometimes rivaled the
libraries of colleges. But the yeomanry owned fewer books and servants
owned nearly none.
I think the idea that the first son would be educated the most is likely. I
base this opinion on the research of my own line. In a collateral line of
mine, the Scarboroughs, Edmund Scarborough and his second son, Edmund, came
to VA about 1633. Edmund I's first son, Charles, was in college in London
(Caius College). Charles (the first son) was christened in Dec 1615 in
London, graduated from Caius College in Cambridge in March 1633/1634 at
17/18 and graduated from A.M. of Caius College in 1639. He was the
physician for King Charles II, James II and William III. Because Edmund II
accompanied his father, it doesn't appear that he went to college (he was
two years younger than Charles). He may have been self-educated after
coming to VA because he advanced in station to Lt. Colonel and served as
Speaker of the House of Burgesses, was a merchant with several vessels
traveling between Massachusetts, MD, VA and England (and possibly SC). He
was the largest land owner in VA at the time and a fierce competitor in
ensuring his self-interest. (He moved the line between MD and VA to maintain
his property in VA...the line was changed after vigorous protest by the
Governor of MD. Nor was he friendly towards Native Americans who referred
to him as the "Conjuror".
As far as colleges in the Americas, the College of William and Mary was the
second college established in the Americas in 1693 so the gentry did not
have to send their sons to England.
Cynthia McDaniel
-----Original Message-----
From: Research and writing about Virginia genealogy and family history.
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of nelhatch
Sent: Wednesday, December 03, 2008 12:03 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [VA-ROOTS] A question re: education........
HATCHER website: http://hatcherfamilyassn.com
HALL DNA project: http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~nhatcher/hall/HDNAtest.htm
"If you can't stand the skeletons, stay out of the closet" - Val D Greenwood
I have a question (or two) about the customs in the 1600s regarding the
education of one's sons.
For a man of above average means, was it the norm to educate one's sons in
England? Or might only the eldest son be given this type of education?
What would the age of a young man have to be to enter college? I believe one
would graduate college in that time period at about the age of 18? Is my
thinking correct on this?
Thanks for any input on this!
Nel Hatcher
To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe, please see the instructions at
http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-roots.html
To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe, please see the instructions at
http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-roots.html
|
