Gentility and the Planter Elite

WILLIAM BYRD II, Diary Entries (1709–1712)

Though Virginia planters like William Byrd II lived on the periphery of the British Empire, they emulated the manners and interests of Britain’s aristocratic class. Byrd was born in Virginia in 1674, but educated in London. When his father died, he returned to Virginia to manage the family lands that he inherited. Byrd’s diary reveals his efforts to cultivate gentility through the books he read, the behavior he exhibited, and the relations he nurtured with peers and subordinates. Byrd’s life demonstrates a growing self-consciousness among southern elites eager to fashion identities at the intersection of British and colonial cultures.

June 1709

15. I rose at 5 o’clock and read two chapters in Hebrew and some Greek in Josephus. I said my prayers and ate milk for breakfast. Captain C-l-t brought me some letters from England and offered me freight in his ship. He brought a parson with him, Mr. Goodwin. He ate his breakfast here and went away about 9 o’clock. I ate dry beef for dinner, and chicken. While we were at dinner Captain M-r-n came with some more letters. He brought me a coaler recommended by Colonel Blakiston. He brought me also some goods for my wife, to an extravagant value. My letters gave me a sad prospect of the tobacco trade in England. My wife continued very ill. I sent Tommy to Williamsburg to inquire for my letters. I took a walk about the plantation. I said my prayers and had good thoughts, good humor and good health, thanks be to God Almighty, only I feared I was going to have the piles.

16. I rose at 5 o’clock and read a chapter in Hebrew and a little Greek. I neglected to say my prayers and ate milk for breakfast. Mr. Bland’s boy brought me abundance of letters from Williamsburg, out of the men-of-war. I spent all the morning in reading them. My orders for being of the Council arrived among the rest. By these letters I learned that tobacco was good for nothing, that protested bills would ruin the country, that our trade with the Carolina Indians was adjusted in England, that my sister Braynes was in [prison by the cruelty of C-r-l-y], that my salary was in a fair way of being increased, that the College was like to be rebuilt by the Queen’s bounty, that there was a probability of a peace next winter. I ate mutton for dinner. While we were at dinner, Colonel Harrison, Mr. Commissary, and Mr. Wormeley came to see us, but would not eat with us. They likewise brought me some letters. Captain Wilcox dined with us. His people brought me a box of [ … ] from P-r-c-r. I walked about the plantation. Mr. Wormeley and I played at billiards and I won half a crown. I said my prayers. All the company went away. I had good health, good thoughts, and good humor, thank God Almighty.

17. I rose at 5 o’clock and read some Greek in Josephus and perused some of my new books. I said my prayers, and ate milk for breakfast. I settled my accounts. We expected some company but they disappointed us. I ate roast mutton for dinner. In the afternoon we rode to my neighbor Harrison’s where we stayed till the evening with Mr. [Gee]. Here I ate some apple pie. Mr. Harrison had the same bad account of tobacco in England and advised me to ship none by this ship. I promised to give no more than £12 per ton. He told me that several gentlemen were extremely in debt with Mr. Perry. In the evening we returned home, where we found all very well, thanks be to God Almighty. I said my prayers and had good health, good thoughts, and good humor, thanks be to God Almighty.…

25. I rose at 6 o’clock this morning and read two chapters in Hebrew and some Greek in Josephus. I said my prayers and ate milk for breakfast. I danced my dance. Tom S-d-s-n came from Falling Creek and told me the stone cutter was dead [w-l m-l-r]. I read some Latin and some news. I ate some bacon fraise for dinner. In the afternoon Mr. Bland’s sloop brought my things from aboard Captain M-r-n’s ship, which had received no damage. My man John got drunk, for which I reprimanded him severely. I walked about the plantation in the evening. I said my prayers and had good thoughts, good health, and good humor, thanks be to God Almighty.…

27. I rose at 5 o’clock and read two chapters in Hebrew and some Greek in Josephus. I said my prayers and ate milk for breakfast. I danced my dance. I made an invoice of the things that my wife could spare to be sold. I settled the accounts of protested bills. I ate mutton for dinner. My wife was in tears about her [cargo] but I gave her some comfort after dinner. Mr. Bland came with Henry Randolph to see me and soon after Mr. Harrison and his wife and daughter. They stayed till 7 o’clock and then went away. In the evening we took a walk [about] the plantation. I recommended myself to God in a short prayer. I had good health, good thoughts, and good humor, thanks be to God Almighty. Tom was whipped for not telling me that he was sick.

28. I rose at 5 o’clock and read two chapters in Hebrew and some Greek in Josephus. I said my prayers and ate milk for breakfast. The sloop came up with my things from Captain Browne with my goods which were not so much damaged as I expected. I was angry with the people for staying so long. They sailed away this morning with George the coaler to Falling Creek. I ate cold mutton and sallet for dinner. In the afternoon I read some news and some Latin and also some Greek in Homer. In the evening I took a walk about the plantation. I said my prayers. I had good health, good thoughts, and good humor, thanks be to God Almighty.

29. I rose at 5 o’clock and read only some Greek in Josephus, because I was hindered by Daniel who came last night from Williamsburg where the sea sloop is safe arrived, thanks be to God Almighty. Two of her men were pressed by the men-of-war, notwithstanding the proclamation. Wheat sold for about six shillings a bushel in Madeira and wine for £8 a pipe with the exchange. Captain Browne and Captain Collins came to see me. I said my prayers and ate milk for breakfast. I began to reap my wheat. I ate bacon and pork for dinner. In the afternoon Mr. Bland came to counsel the proper measures to be taken with the sloop and it was agreed he should go down to take care of the cargo and he went accordingly and was caught in a great shower of rain. Daniel behaved himself very foolishly. In the evening the rain hindered my walking and lasted above an hour. I said my prayers. I had good health, good thoughts, and good humor, thanks be to God Almighty.…

February 1711

5. I rose about 8 o’clock and found my cold still worse. I said my prayers and ate milk and potatoes for breakfast. My wife and I quarreled about her pulling her brows. She threatened she would not go to Williamsburg if she might not pull them; I refused, however, and got the better of her, and maintained my authority. About 10 o’clock we went over the river and got to Colonel Duke’s about 11. There I ate some toast and canary. Then we proceeded to Queen’s Creek, where we found all well, thank God. We ate roast goose for supper. The women prepared to go to the Governor’s the next day and my brother and I talked of old stories. My cold grew exceedingly bad so that I thought I should be sick. M. gave me some sage tea and leaves of [s-m-n-k] which made me mad all night so that I could not sleep but was much disordered by it. I neglected to say my prayers in form but had good thoughts, good humor, and indifferent health, thank God Almighty.

6. I rose about 9 o’clock but was so bad I thought I should not have been in condition to go to Williamsburg, and my wife was so kind to [say] she would stay with me, but rather than keep her from going I resolved to go if possible. I was shaved with a very dull razor, and ate some boiled milk for breakfast but neglected to say my prayers. About 10 o’clock I went to Williamsburg without the ladies. As soon as I got there it began to rain, which hindered about [sic] the company from coming. I went to the President’s where I drank tea and went with him to the Governor’s and found him at home. Several gentlemen were there and about 12 o’clock several ladies came. My wife and her sister came about 2. We had a short Council but more for form than for business. There was no other appointed in the room of Colonel Digges. My cold was a little better so that I ventured among the ladies, and Colonel Carter’s wife and daughter were among them. It was night before we went to supper, which was very fine and in good order. It rained so that several did not come that were expected. About 7 o’clock the company went in coaches from the Governor’s house to the capitol where the Governor opened the ball with a French dance with my wife. Then I danced with Mrs. Russell and then several others and among them the rest Colonel Smith’s son, who made a sad freak. Then we danced country dances for an hour and the company was carried into another room where was a very fine collation of sweetmeats. The Governor was very gallant to the ladies and very courteous to the gentlemen. About 2 o’clock the company returned in the coaches and because the drive was dirty the Governor carried the ladies into their coaches. My wife and I lay at my lodgings. Colonel Carter’s family and Mr. Blair were stopped by the unruliness of the horses and Daniel Wilkinson was so gallant as to lead the horses himself through all the dirt and rain to Mr. Blair’s house. My cold continued bad. I neglected to say my prayers and had good thoughts, good humor, but indifferent health, thank God Almighty. It rained all day and all night. The President had the worst clothes of anybody there.

7. I rose at 8 o’clock and found my cold continued. I said my prayers and ate boiled milk for breakfast. I went to see Mr. Clayton who lay sick of the gout. About 11 o’clock my wife and I went to wait on the Governor in the President’s coach. We went there to take our leave but were forced to stay all day. The Governor had made a bargain with his servants that if they would forbear to drink upon the Queen’s birthday, they might be drunk this day. They observed their contract and did their business very well and got very drunk today, in such a manner that Mrs. Russell’s maid was forced to lay the cloth, but the cook in that condition made a shift to send in a pretty little dinner. I ate some mutton cutlets. In the afternoon I persuaded my wife to stay all night in town and so it was resolved to spend the evening in cards. My cold was very bad and I lost my money. About 10 o’clock the Governor’s coach carried us home to our lodgings where my wife was out of humor and I out of order. I said a short prayer and had good thoughts and good humor, thank God Almighty.…

May 1712

22. I rose about 6 o’clock and read two chapters in Hebrew and some in Greek in Lucian. I said my prayers and ate boiled milk for breakfast. I danced my dance. It rained a little this morning. My wife caused Prue to be whipped violently notwithstanding I desired not, which provoked me to have Anaka whipped likewise who had deserved it much more, on which my wife flew into such a passion that she hoped she would be revenged of me. I was moved very much at this but only thanked her for the present lest I should say things foolish in my passion. I wrote more accounts to go to England. My wife was sorry for what she had said and came to ask my pardon and I forgave her in my heart but she seemed to resent, that she might be the more sorry for her folly. She ate no dinner nor appeared the whole day. I ate some bacon for dinner. In the afternoon I wrote two more accounts till the evening and then took a walk in the garden. I said my prayers and was reconciled to my wife and gave her a flourish in token of it. I had good health, good thoughts, but was a little out of humor, for which God forgive me.

William Byrd, The Secret Diary of William Byrd of Westover 1709–1712, ed. Louis B. Wright and Marion Tinling (Richmond, VA: The Dietz Press, 1941).

READING AND DISCUSSION QUESTIONS