"Focusing primarily on the seventeenth century, Gragg draws on wills, censuses, levy books, letters, sermons and journals to tell how Quakers on Barbados sought to implement their beliefs in a place ruled by a planter class that had built its wealth on the backs of slaves"--Provided by publisher.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 167-186) and index.

"From darkness to light" : the emergence of the Society of Friends in England -- "A little England" : the development of Barbados as England's most prosperous colony -- "Many people convinced" : establishing the Quaker community on Barbados -- "Amongst them called Quakers in this island" : the people attracted to the Quaker community -- "Kept in the heavenly awe of God" : the creation of a Quaker counter-culture on Barbados -- "Uncharitably pursued and anathematized with words, and execrations, and bitter invectives, by a base sort of phanatick people, commonly termed Quakers" : the Quaker critique of the dominant culture -- "Thou hast no right to reign over their conscience in matters of worship of the living God" : the Quaker challenge to slavery on Barbados -- "We are reduced to a very small number" : the decline of the Quaker community on Barbados -- Epilogue.

Description based on print version record.