Did the Maryland colony have class structrue in colony?

Answer 1

Absolutely. British Gentlemen and their wives a total of 34 persons at the top and then:

• Two Catholic Priests followed by:
• The personal servants and entourage of those 17 English Gentlemen.
• A few craftsmen and tradespeople who were free Englishmen and their wives.
• About a dozen skilled and competent soldiers of fortune loyal only to the Governor.
• A single Anglican Lay Minister to care for the spiritual needs of the Anglican majority.
• About 100 semi-skilled people serving a fixed period as indentured servants which included about a dozen women.
• Perhaps 75 convicts including a dozen women who had been sent along as unskilled labor who were called Redemptioners. They had an uncertain future but were not serving a life sentence. Instead they could expect thei freedom in ten to 15 years depending on the whim of the Governor. their good behavior and their contribution to the colony.

That was the pecking order and upward mobility was limited with the top two tiers absolutely closed.