From "A Chesapeake family their slaves, A study in historical
archaeology" Anne Elizabeth Yentsch, Cambridge University Press. pp53-66
"In 1709 at age 21 (if his birth date was 1688 as written on the back of his
portrait by his daughter), young Charles CALVERT LAZENBY dropped his surname and entered
the British military as an ensign in the prestigious Grenadier Guards. He purchased the
position with funds obtained by selling Maryland lands given him by an older relative,
Charles CALVERT, the third Lord Baltimore. ...Charles CALVERT LAZENBY may have been
illegitimate, but even so his family took steps to ensure his well being. Baltimore knew
the advantages and disadvantages of military service, knew that many British officers
later assumed positions of power in the colonies, and knew that with training the young
man could usefully assist the Calvert family. Further, command was a family
tradition......In 1715, the third Lord Baltimore died at age 76, his son and heir,
Benedict CALVERT, Sr. died within a few short months. Charles CALVERT, the fifth Lord
Baltimore was but 15 years old at the time. His older!
cousin, who shared his name, was swerving in the Grenadier Guards, Frances NORTH, Lord
Guilford, was appointed guardian of the CALVERT children....In February 1719/20, Captain
Charles CALVERT was appointed Governor by his twenty-year-old cousin on the advice of Lord
Guilford and the privy council......Genealogists have not identified Captain CALVERTs
parents; some have assumed he was an illegitimate son of the third Lord Baltimore. A
careful reading of the Lowe correspondence reveals that his mother was the Countess
Henrietta who died c 1728. She is also called :Mother CALVERT." It is possible that
a further search of English records would clarify the relationship to the grandchildren of
the third Lord Baltimore and to the LAZENBY family. Like the CALVERTS, the LOWERS, and
the BORDLEY's, the LAZENBY's were a YORKSHIRE family, but until English records
can be mined for the maiden names of Margaret LAZENBY (wife of Henry) and that of the
Countess Henrietta, their kinship r!
emains elusive. When Charles CALVERT LAZENBY dropped his surname,
Charles CALVERT LAZENBY was simply following tradition. His possession of a middle name
was not, however, customary for most children born in the 1600's, but it was
traditional among the CALVERTS.....Positions in the prestigious Guards were most
expensive. In 1718, after serving in the war against France and Spain, Charles Calvert
purchased the office of lieutenant and so thereafter that of a captain....The reasons for
sending Captain CALVERT, however, were phrased on terms of his faithful, loyal service to
the king, his ability to make the interests of Province and Proprietary one, and his
intention to live permanently in Maryland....Initially, Captain CALVERT'S appointment
blocked the "maliciaous designs" of Col. Thomas BROOKE II, a converted
Protestant then serving as President of the Council, whose activities were seen by CALVERT
allies and loyal Council members as detrimental to the Proprietor.....One has only to read
carefully the Calvert correspondence to realize that!
financial assets were always of consideration when evaluating the marital merits of young
eligible women. Captain CALVERT knew that a good marriage was to his advantage. On
November 21, 1722, the rector of Queen's Anne's Parish married Captain CALVERT to
Maryland-born Rebecca GERARD for love, perhaps for money, or for other considerations.
Miss GERARD, an only child, inherited her father John GERARD's estate when he died in
1715. She lived with her mother, Elizabeth GERARD, on a plantation near Queen Anne's
Town in Prince George's County. Although her mother was still alive, control of John
GERARDs estate went to Captain Charles CALVERT upon the marriage. Aubrey LAND wrote that
the CALVERT's marriage in 1722 "enlivened the whole winter season with
entertainment for the new first lady' The next autumn, his mother (the Countess
Henrietta) accompanied by Mrs. John ROSS (Alicia) made preparations to sail for Maryland
where the family hoped "they will find the Governor and !
his Lady well."
There's more-maybe I need to check out the entire book from my Library.
Melissa Thompson Alexander
www.familytreemaker.com/users/a/l/e/Melissa-T-Alexander/
listowner: CECIL-L(a)rootsweb.com; KRUTSINGER-L(a)rootsweb.com
Edmonds, WA USA