There was a tremendous sense of social distinctions in the planter class. The first questions any Virginian from that social level asked was," Who are your people, and where is your land?" The answers to those questions, told everyone within hearing who the person was. It was as definitive as dogs sniffing each other. This was still true when I was a boy in Gloucester. GW definitely understood from whence he was starting, and knew where he wanted to go, just as Lonny spells out. -- Stephan Stephan A. Schwartz 932 North Oriole Drive * Virginia Beach, Virginia 23451 Schwartzreport: http://www.schwartzreport.net Personal Website: http://www.stephanaschwartz.com On 8 Dec 2005, at 14:35, Lonny J. Watro wrote: > I must agree with Jurretta on some accounts also. Because I believe > that GW > himself felt he was below others of his day. He was a younger son of a > second wife. To class of people he lived among that in and of > itself made > him less important and of a lower class than even his eldest half > brother. > So there was a certain "pecking order" even among the Viginia > planter class. > > Lonny J. Watro > > To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe, please see the > instructions > at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe, please see the instructions at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html