CALVERT THE CALVERT FAMILY The Calvert family is said to have descended from a noble family in Flanders. The first information of the family was through John, from Flanders, France. He left a will, 1566, which does not mention his wife's name but three sons, Leonard, John, and William. The latter also left a will. Leonard Calvert, of Danbywiske, England (the earliest Calvert record in England is that of 1366, Margaretta Calvert [sic] found on Durham Manorial Rolls; old Yorkshire family). Leonard Calvert m--Alicia Crossland, dau--of John and Alice (Hawksworth) Crossland of Yorkshire, England. The family has been traced back to Roger de Crossland, early part of the 13th century. Sir John de Crossland, knighted in the 14th century. In the arms design is a Crusader's cross which form is incorporated with the Calvert Arms and constitutes part of the state of Maryland's Shield and Crest. As females usually carry no arms, Alicia inspired her son, George Calvert, to emulate them. Hence, the term of Heraldry, "Distaff" side of the family. Leonard Calvert became "Landed Gentry of Kiplin," not listed, however, as a Manor, but remained in the generations of the Calvert family until 1713. George Calvert, son of Leonard Calvert and his wife Alicia Crossland, was b--at a place called Kipling, Yorkshire, England. He was educated at All Saints College, Oxford, receiving the degree of A.B. in 1597 and M.A. in 1605. From 1602 to 1616 he held several important offices; and was also appointed one of the commissioners to go to Ireland to examine the condition of affairs there, listen to grievances and adjust them. He was elected to Parliament in 1620 and later reelected. In 1617 he was Knighted and became Sir George Calvert. In 1618 he was made one of the Secretaries of State through the influence and persuasion of his close friend, Sir Robert Cecil. Sir George held the position of Secretary of State under King James I, with a salary of 1,000 pounds and the usage for the first time of his coat of arms. In 1620, he became Lord Proprietor of the Province of Avalon, in Newfoundland, having purchased this colony from Sir William Vaughn. Calvert had been most interested in the American Colonies, and this purchase promised to fulfill his dreams. He had been a Provincial Councillor of the Virginia Company. He was created in 1625 Lord Baron of Baltimore, in Ireland. The Newfoundland venture failed because of the rigors of the climate. George, the First Lord Baltimore, returned to England and petitioned the King for territory adjoining that of the Virginia Company, and eventually a charter (very evidently of Calvert's drafting) for what is now Maryland was approved by the King. George Calvert m--first--November 22, 1604, Anne Mynne, b--Nov. 20, 1579, d--Aug. 12, 1622, dau--of George Mynne of Hertfordshire, d--1581, and Elizebeth Wroth, his wife, who d--1614, dau--of Sir Thomas Wroth of Durance in Enfield, Middlesex, and his wife, the Lady Mary Rich, a dau--of Richard, Lord (Chanclor) Rich, of Henery VIII's reign. Sir Thomas Wroth was at Court during the brief reign of King Edward VI, and that youthful monarch expired in his arms. His great great grandfather was Sir John Wroth, Lord Mayor of London in 1361. George Calvert, First Lord Baltimore, and Anne Mynne, his first wife, had issue the following: (1) Cecil Calvert, Second Lord Baltimore--of whom below; (2) Leonard Calvert, b--1606, who in 1635 was appointed by his brother First Governor of Maryland. Of him later; (3) Anne Calvert, m--about 1632, William Peasley, Esq.; (4) George Calvert, d--unm--in 1634; (5) Dorothy Calvert, m--James Talbott; (6) Francis Calvert, d--without issue; (7) Henery Calvert, d--unm--in 1635; (8) Elizebeth Calvert, d--unm--; (9) Grace Calvert, b--1614, m--Sir Robert Talbott.; (12) Philip Calvert, b--1626, d--1682; came to Md. in 1656 and was Chancellor for many years; in 1669 he was Deputy Governor of the Province; m--twice--but d--without issue. George Calvert, First Lord Baltimore, d--before the Md. Charter was signed, and it was to his son, Cecil Calvert, IInd Lord Baltimore, that Charles I handed it at last with his signature and the privy seal. Anne (Mynne) Calvert, d--in 1621. He placed with his own hands a monument to her: "A Woman Born to All Excellent Things-- Piety, Chastity, Prudence--Incomparable." She was buried at St. Mary's Church in an altar tomb in Hertingfordbury, Ireland. Her age was forty-two years. Page 106 Christi Visit our homepage at: http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~cbrogan Visit our genealogy pages at: http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~cbrogan/gen.html Country living at it's finest! http://www.onelist.com/subscribe/countrylife