In reply to a query on Christmas Day seeking information on Charles Merit
Calhoun, I have misplaced the query but may have information on this Calhoun
family. A cousin who researched our Calhoun ancestors wrote:
It is a family legend that three Calhoun brothers came from Scotland to
America at a date that is uncertain. As was common to that time, they became
separated and owing to the lack of facilities for communication, they lost track on
one another.
One of the brothers made his home on the south shore of Lake Ontario, in
Wayne County, New York, on what was later known as the Ridge Road. This brother
was the father of Joel Calhoun. When another brother, John Calhoun, an officer
during the Revolutionary period, was sent to old Fort Oswego to inspect it,
he heard of another Calhoun family and sent word that he would like to meet
them to see if they could trace any relationship. Our ancestor, being radically
opposed to John's political views, refused to visit him and so perhaps lost
the opportunity to learn more of the Calhoun family.
Joel had four brothers, Reuben, Levi, Charles and Paul, and two sisters,
Laura, who lived on the homestead and the other who married a man by the name of
Carter and lived in Michigan. They had two sons who later made their homes in
the South.
Joel was born on August 14, 1800 and died February 11, 1844. He was married
to Perlina Barton on March 4, 1824. Perlina was born on October 21, 1803 at
Cambridge, Washington County, New York., She was the daughter of Sally Cole
Barton, who, after the disappearance of her husband, was married to a John
Culver and their children were Carl, Eben, Emily, Sarah, Alfred, Marcella, Hattie
and Louis.
Joel and Perlina had a family of five boys and three girls: Caleb, Eunice,
Charlotte, Charles, Albert, Ellen Maria, Percival and Horace Carter.
Please contact me if you have information on this family.
Pat Calhoun