It was influenced by power, wealth,
life-style, educational level, and birth. These classes lived in
separate worlds; their paths did not cross each other. People
moved only within their own class. Each class had a separate
existence as well as a different life style from the other
classes. So each class developed a wariness of other classes.
However, there was much social mobility between adjacent classes.
At the top were the gentry, about 2% of the population. Their's
was a landed wealth with large estate mansions. They employed many
servants and could live a life of leisure. Their lady wives often
managed the household with many servants and freely visited
friends and went out shopping, riding, or walking. They conversed
with neighbors and made merry with them at childbirths,
christenings, churchings, and funerals. Gentlemen usually had
positions of responsibility such as lords of manors and leaders in
their parishes. These families often sent the oldest son to
university to become a Justice of the Peace and then a member of
Parliament. They also served as justices and as county officers
such as High Constable of their hundred and grand jury member.
Their social, economic, and family ties were at least county-wide.
They composed about 700 gentle families, including the peers, who
had even more landed wealth, which was geographically dispersed.
After the peers were: baronets (created in 1611), knights,
esquires, and then ordinary gentlemen.
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