Dear Calvert Study Group,
One of "Wills" published by Vicki Kay mention a
Rev. Sampson Calvert. The Rev. Sampson and his
wife Mary had a troubled marriage. In fact, Mary
made the following statement while visiting their
friends the Morrisses:
"Whereas Mrs. Mary Calvert hath confessed in Court
that she called ye States and Keep'r of the
liberty of England rogues, Traytors & rebells in
the Mr. Nicholas Morriss his house, she saith at
Time of speaking such words she was in great
danger of her life being taken away by her husband
& she spoke those words to no other pend than to
have some some Magistrate or officer to secure her
from her husband." -November 21, 1653
The Court didn't buy Mary's plea for protection.
"The Court doth therefore order that ye said Mary
Calvert shall personally receive thirty stripes
upon her bare shoulders for this offense." The
Rev. Sampson tried to help his wife but to no
avail. The record continues,
"Yet not withstanding, upon Mr. Calvert's
petition, upon behalfe of his wife The Court doth
order that ye said Mr. Calvert shall pay upon all
demands and use of the County one thousand pounds
of Tob'co & Caske for ye Comuteing of ye Corporal
punishment to be inflicted oupon his said wife,
with charges of the Court".
Mr. Calvert paid the fine.
The laws of Virginia in 1653 were far different
than anything we can imagine today. When the
colonist first arrived at Jamestown, laws were
enacted of almost unbelieveable severity. Ever
person was required to attend a worship services
twice daily, on penality, for the first offense,
of the loss of one day's rations, for the second,
of a flogging, and for the third, of six months in
the galleys. Of course ther were no galleys in
Colonial Virginia and these laws were never
enforced.
The Rev. Sampson Calvert was elected minister of
the Elizabeth River Parish in Lower Norfolk County
at some point in time between 1645 and 1649. He
died in 1658. "Westmoreland County, VA. Records
1658, Deposition: Mary Calvert aged 36, widow of
Sampson Calvert, was sworn and examined." Sampson
would have been 55 years old if we born in 1603.
Whether or not Sampson and Mary Calvert had
children is not stated in the article on page 639
of Ella Foy O'Gorman's book -Descendants of
Virginia Calverts.
George Calvert
cybercat(a)ntr.net
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