Archives of Maryland
(Biographical Series)

William Calvert (ca. 1642/43-1682)
MSA SC 3520-200

Biography:

BORN ca. 1642/43 in England; perhaps illegitimate.
IMMIGRATED: in 1661 as a free adult from England.
RESIDED: in St. Mary's County.

FAMILY BACKGROUND.
FATHER: Leonard Calvert (ca. 1606-1647).
MOTHER: possibly Anne Brent.
UNCLE: Philip Calvert (1626-1682).
UNCLE AND GUARDIAN: Cecilius Calvert, 2nd Lord Baltimore (1605-1675).
SISTER: Anne (1644-ca. 1714), who married first, Baker Brooke (1628-1678/79), second, Henry Brent (?-1693), and third, Richard Marsham (?-1713).
FIRST COUSIN: Charles Calvert, 3rd Lord Baltimore (1637-1714/15).
MARRIED in 1661/62 Elizabeth, daughter of William Stone (ca. 1603-ca. 1659/60). Her brothers were Thomas (ca. 1635-1676); Charles; Richard (?-1767); and John Stone (ca. 1648-1697). Her sisters were Mary; Catherine. CHILDREN. SONS: Charles (1662-1733), who married first, Mary, daughter of Robert Howson, of Stafford County, Virginia, and second, Barbara, daughter of Martin Kirke; William (1666-?); George (1668-after 1739), who married Elizabeth Doyne; and Richard (1670-1718). DAUGHTER: Elizabeth, who married in 1681 James Neale (1650-1727), son of James Neale (ca. 1615-1684).

PRIVATE CAREER.
EDUCATION: literate, had considerable schooling.
RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Catholic.
SOCIAL STATUS AND ACTIVITIES: second generation provincial officeholder; Esq. on arrival; received extensive preferment as a member of the proprietary family.
OCCUPATIONAL PROFILE: placeman; planter.

PUBLIC CAREER.
LEGISLATIVE SERVICE: Lower House, St. Mary's County, 1663-1664, 1666; Upper House, special writ 1669 (Aggrievances), 1671-1674/75, 1676- 1682 (died during the 4th session).
OTHER PROVINCIAL OFFICES: attorney general, 1666-1669; secretary and judge of Probate, 1669-1670, 1673/74-1682; Council, 1669-1682; justice, Provincial Court, 1669-1682.
LOCAL OFFICES, alderman, St. Mary's City, 1668-1671.
MILITARY SERVICE: colonel, by 1679; commander of foot, St. Mary's County, 1681.

WEALTH DURING LIFETIME.
LAND AT FIRST ELECTION: at least 9,000 acres inherited from his father.

WEALTH AT DEATH.
DIED: on May 26, 1682; drowned while trying to ford the swollen Wicomico River.
PERSONAL PROPERTY: TEV, £981.2.2 sterling (including 12 slaves, 8 servants, 28 books, and 1 sloop); FB, 8,044 pounds of tobacco. LAND: ca. 1,400 acres.

Source: Edward C. Papenfuse, et al. A Biographical Dictionary of the Maryland Legislature, 1635-1789.  Vol. I. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1979). 191.
 

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