During the early to mid 18th century the colony of Virginia had a small upper class of people with great wealth. Some people were also fortunate enough to be powerful businessmen with connections to England. The anonymous diary and the probate record of William Montague of Middlesex County, Virginia provides an extensive example of the life of a wealthy Virginian in Colonial America. The following paragraphs will provide insight on different aspects of the elite life; education, religion, home-living, the relationship between men and women, and the relationship between slaves and their owners.
Based on the Diary of a Wealthy Virginian It can be inferred that the man keeping the diary was able to enjoy the luxury of everyday life in Virginia…show more content… They were wealthy enough to have meats on daily basis like mutton, roast and beef, roast pork, roast chicken, and venison. As the man from the diary’s morning routine continued he would enjoy milk or boiled rice occasionally with fruit for breakfast. Wealthy Virginians also had the luxury of enjoying chocolate, sugar, wine, and cider unlike the common or poor people living in Virginia. They had very elaborate kitchens for this time period as revealed in the probate record of William Montague. The kitchen supplies included a skillet, kettles, a frying pan, pot racks, bowls, dishes, fine china, glasses and other cooking utensils as well as a table and chairs and even a Cyder House where alcohol was made (4-5). In addition to all the material items the Montagues had for eating and drinking, they had quite the collection of home furnishings which only the wealthy could afford. Overall the family had eight beds whereas the average family would only have one or…show more content… In addition to the whipping, some unusual punishments were exploited in the Diary of a Wealthy Virginian. On December 3, 1709 a slave boy named Eugene wet the bed for a second time, so the man made him drink a pint of urine as a consequence (4). After thoroughly examining these two historical documents it can be presumed that the life of a wealthy Virginian had its benefits and drawbacks. Wealthy families, especially men, of the 18th Century made education a priority, which in hand helped them with their businesses. All family members were able to enjoy a materialistic lifestyle with several valuables, expensive foods, and slaves doing work for them. The relationship between man and wife was quite different than it is today. While women were still able to enjoy the luxurious life, they had to constantly deal with being a possession of their husband and doing what he instructed. Finally comes the relationship between slaves and their owners which was full of abuse and cruel punishments. The Diary of a Wealthy Virginian and the Probate Record of William Montague provided specific and real examples of the life of a wealthy
