Benedict's Letter to Merchant John Alexander

 

Benedict Swingate Calvert's Letter

Mt. Airy, June 14, 1784

We purchased this letter from an antiquarian book site a few years ago.  In it, Benedict states, "I am greatly in want of some good Spirits for Sir. Robert Eden who I expect in a day or two.  Shall be obliged to you if you will buy for me ten gallons,  and send it by the bearer with a small box of Imported Candles.  I shall be obliged to you for the amount of the above articles that I may contrive you the money.  The family joins me in Compliments to Mr. Fitzgerald and I am Your Very Humble Servant, Benedict Calvert."

Baronet Robert Eden, who was the last Royal Governor of Maryland, lost his position during the American Revolution of 1776 and returned to England. He was married to Benedict's half-sister, Caroline Eden, which had continued the Eden-Calvert alliance before the Revolution.  Benedict is writing the letter to Mr. John Fitzgerald, who was a wealthy merchant in Alexandria, Virginia, and who had also been George Washington's aide-de-camp during the Revolutionary War.  Of course, Benedict and George Washington shared grandchildren and George Washington raised two of them:  Nelly Parke Custis and George Washington Parke Custis.   Here are a few more photos of the letter.  

This is the back of the letter where another hand has written Benedict's. name and the date.  You can also see where the sealing wax was.

And here is another page of the letter where he wrote the address after he folded the letter.  It was mailed to "Colonel John Fitzgerald, Merchant in Alexandria," with writing in the lower left corner that, I believe, names the person with whom he is sending the letter, "Mr. Alex Soaper."

Calvert Family Photos Early Twentieth Century

Below you will find Calvert photos from around 1916/17 to 1951.  I believe all of these were kept by Uncle Bill which he gave to my father at some point.  The photo below is especially precious because our great-grandfather, Joseph L. Calvert, is in the photo.  You can also see Martha, Willard and Roy in their much younger days.

Cottage at the Farm/1929 or 1930

First Row:  Joseph L. Calvert, Helen Grace Calvert, Roy L. Calvert, Jr., Roy L. Calvert Sr., Willard R. Calvert

Second Row:  Uncle Harry Calvert, Martha E. Calvert, Mary Jane Calvert, Uncle "K," Roy Klose, Welford Calvert

Here's another precious photo.  Not sure where it was taken.

Thanksgiving, 1951

First Row:  Barbara A. Mallam, Margaret Ann Calvert, Jane Louise Mallam

Second Row:  Joseph K. Calvert (1/2), Roy L. Calvert, Sr., Helen G. Calvert

Third Row:  Jeanetta Calvert, John H. Mallam, Martha E. Mallam

Fourth Row:  Roy L. Calvert, Jr., Willard Rigg Calvert II, Margaret E. Calvert, Willard R. Calvert

Unfortunately I don't see Ralph in the photos I posted today but I will be posting more photos in the coming weeks.  Hope you enjoy them!

Benedict Swingate Calvert 1

 Here is a Wikipedia article on Benedict that has some good information.  However the supposition that he is descended from Melusina de Schulenberg, Countess of Walsingham, is wrong.  Uncle Bill had letters from Benedict's descendants through his son George that point instead to Princess Amelia, daughter of George II, as being Benedict's mother.  These are in files that my father got from Bill that I then obtained.  I'm wondering if anyone else heard stories about Benedict?

Remembering our Ancestors

I've purposely made this blog private for the time being.  I have only invited Calvert family members who are descended from Roy L. Calvert Sr. and Helen Rigg Calvert.  I hope to post some of the information I find from my work on Ancestry.com and other web sites as we go along.  You will see pictures on the blog of George Calvert, First Baron Baltimore and Benedict Swingate Calvert, our fourth great-grandfather.  I have also posted links to St. Mary's City and Rosaryville State Park where Benedict's home, Mt. Airy, still exists.  I hope we all can enjoy the site.  

Greetings

Greetings to all those interested in the genealogy and history of the Calvert family.