The Social Origins of Early Quakerism

Abstract

Social Origins of Early Quakerism There have been several attempts to determine social origins of early Quakers, from casual observations of seventeenth century to more rigorous sociological analyses of twentieth. Pagitt, a contemporary, in an oft-quoted phrase, described them as the dregs of common people. Hallywell thought them Refuse of World, Persons of meanest Quality and lowest Parts and Education. Lord Saye and Sele claimed that Quakers tempted lower orders with dangerous doctrines. O how did this take with vulgar sort, he wrote shortly before Restoration, when they thought they should enjoy that liberty, as to be under no rule, no reverence to be given either to Magistrate or Minister, Parent or Master . . . and this was it that made it so easily embraced, and so suddenly spread it about Kingdom.' More recent findings have altered picture, but no consensus has been reached. Thus Cole in an article published in 1957 claimed that sect was drawn mainly from the urban and rural petite bourgeoisie: on contrary, claimed Vann over a decade later, percentage of Quaker gentry . . . was no lower than in population at large; and it was middle to upper bourgeoisie ... which was strikingly more prominent among early Quakers. The core of support for early Quakerism seems to have been yeomen and wholesale traders. debate continues and at least one historian still thinks that Cole's findings are more accurate gauge of early Quaker social origins.2