This following definition is taken from a book titled "What did they mean by this", a dictionary of historical terms for Genealogists. Gentleman, gentlewoman: a person of affluence and gentility, or born to those of high station in the community, usually with a greater than average education, the so-called gentle-born, e.g., "In the 18th century, to be called a gentleman or gentlewoman was a great compliment". Jim Gray