social classes in colonial times
field hands
Africans were brought to America to work, mostly in agriculture. Most slaves worked in tobacco fields from dawn until dusk with Sunday as their day to rest. The field hands were the least fortunate of social classes. They had nothing, no money, no property, and they could not read or write.
House servants
These slaves were one step up from field hands. These men and women worked as cooks, laundresses, manservants, blacksmiths, coopers and any other job they had skills in. They had no time off and were watched with a careful eye. They could read and write and often taught their owners children how to.
free blacks
There were some free African men and women. Although they did not get treated the same and did not have equal rights as the white people, these Africans were allowed to own property, work in rather nice jobs, and contribute to their communities.
farmers
Most Americans either lived or worked on farms. The labor would come from their own families. Men, women, children, and their slaves would all work together on them farm.
middling
The "Middling Sort" or middle class had a larger role in society. They worked in businesses such as blacksmithing, silversmithing, printing, and millinery. They also worked as doctors, lawyers, and other professionals. They were not as rich as the gentry, but they had enough money to live comfortably.
Gentry
The gentry is the upperclass. They owned large amounts of land and many slaves, were very wealthy merchants and financers. Gentry men, or, gentlemen governed others and served as councilmen and were also ministers. Gentry women or gentlewomen always had the latest colonial fashion and were at the top of the social class.