Second Lord Baltimore Cecilius CALVERT

1605 - 1675  (70 years)

• Name	Cecilius CALVERT
  Title	Second Lord Baltimore
  Birth	8 Aug 1605
  Christening	2 Mar 1606	Bexley, Kent, England
  Gender	Male
  Name	Cecil CALVERT
  Name	Cecill CALVERT
  Will	22 Nov 1675
  Death	30 Nov 1675	Holborn St. Giles-in-the-Fields, London, England
  Burial	2 Dec 1675	Holborn St. Giles-in-the-Fields, London, England
  Probate	3 Feb 1676
  Title	First Lord Proprietor of MD
  Notes	(1) thePeerage.com: Cecil Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore was baptised on 2 March 1605/6 at Bexley, Kent, England. He was the son of Sir George Calvert, 1st Baron Baltimore and Anne Mynne. A settlement for the marriage between him and Hon. Anne Arundell was made on 20 March 1627/28. He died circa December 1675. He was buried on 7 December 1675 at St. Gile's-in-the-Fields Church, London, England. His will (dated 22 November 1675 and 28 November 1675) was probated on 3 February 1675/76. He was heavily fined (or 'mulcted') by the Parliamentary party, though he is not known to have actually fought for the King. He succeeded to the title of 2nd Baron Baltimore, of Baltimore [I., 1625] on 15 April 1632. He has an extensive biographical entry in the Dictionary of National Biography. (2) The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, International Genealogical Index ®, Copyright © 1980, 2002, data as of February 22, 2009, Batch No.: C130921, Dates: 1565 - 1718, Source Call No.: 0992672, Type: Film, Printout Call No.: 6900199, Type: Film, Sheet: 00 CECILL CALVERT Male Event(s): Christening: 02 MAR 1605 Bexley, Kent, England Parents: Father: JOHN CALVERT Mother: ANNE MINNE (3) Maryland Marriages and Genealogies, 1634-1820, Maryland Genealogies, Volume 1, The Calvert Pedigree, Page 132, © The Generations Network, February 22, 2009: THE CALVERT PEDIGREE (In Vol. I, p. 276 of the Maryland Historical Magazine mention is made of a pedigree drawn up by Benedict Leonard Calvert for the antiquary Thomas Hearne, and published in his Diary. As there have been many erroneous statements about the family, it is here reproduced.) This Pedigree was drawn up and written (with his own Hand) by the Honble Benedict Leonard Calvert, Esq., who gave it to me on Mond. Sept 1, MDCCXVIII. Tho. Hearne. [Note by compiler: The following portion of this pedigree, which is chart form, has been reformatted by the compiler so that it can be included here.] Cecil Calvert . . . Ld. Baltemore to whom Maryland was granted, June 20, 1632. [He married] Ann, his wife 2 daughter of the Ld. Arundell of Wardour, and Count of the Sacred Roman Empire, by wch all her descendants, Male and Female are Counts and Countesses. [Children, in addition to Charles, shown below, were Elizabeth and Ann. The information relating to Charles is as follows:] Charles, Lord Baltemore, Son and Heire. Married four wives. Died Feb. 20, 1715, buried at St. Pancras, near London, aged 77. [He married, first] _____ Darnall, dyed in Childbed. [He married, second] Jane Sewall. . . . [He married, third] Mary Banks, widow. [He married, fourth, Margarett Charletton who survived him.] (4) Nicklin, John Bailey Calvert, "The Calvert Family," in Maryland Marriages and Genealogies, 1634-1820, Maryland Genealogies, Vol. 1, The Calvert Family, pp. 138-139, © The Generations Network, February 20, 2009: CECIL CALVERT . . . second Lord Baltimore, b. Aug. 8, 1605; baptised March 2, 1606, at Bexley, Kent; d. Nov. 30 (buried Dec. 7), 1675, at St. Giles-in-the-Fields, Middlesex. He entered Trinity College, Oxford, in 1621 and to him, on June 20, 1632, the grant of Maryland was issued. Although he was never able to visit his province, Lord Baltimore was the real founder of Maryland. He was a member of Parliament in 1634 and married, March 20, 1627/8, Anne Arundell, daughter of Sir Thomas Arundell, Lord Arundell of Wardour Castle (a Count of the Holy Roman Empire), by his second wife, Anne (the widow of one Thurgood), daughter of Miles Philipsin, of Crook in Westmoreland, by his wife, Barbara, sister of Francis Sandys of Conished in Lancashire. Lady Anne Arundell died July 23, 1649, aged 34 and was buried at Tisbury, in Wiltshire. ISSUE: i. Anne, evidently d. y. ii. Mary, b. 1630; d. s. p. 1663; m. c. 1650, Sir William Blakiston of Gibside, Durham (d. 1692). iii. George, b. Sept. 15, 1634; d. June 6, 1636. iv. Elizabeth. . . . v. CHARLES, b. Aug. 27, 1637 . . . , third Lord Baltimore. (5) Faris, David, Plantagenet Ancestry of Seventeenth-Century Colonists, Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1996, pp. 49-50: Children . . . of Cecil Calvert, by Anne Arundell: i. GEORGIANA CALVERT, born Aug. 1629, died in infancy. ii. MARY CALVERT, born 18 July 1633, died aged two weeks. iii. GEORGE CALVERT, born 15 Sep. 1634, died 6 June 1636. iv. FRANCES CALVERT, born November 1635, died 27 Dec. 1635. v. ANN CALVERT, born 9 Oct. 1636, died 6 May 1661. vi. CHARLES CALVERT, born 27 Aug. 1637, 3rd Lord Baltimore, Lord Proprietor of Maryland, Governor of Maryland for his father 1661-75, and for himself 1676, and again 1679-84; deprived of the Province at the Revolution of 1689; named in the fabricated plot of Titus Oates, but not arrested; Brig. Gen. 1696, Major Gen. 1704; died testate aged seventy-seven on 21 Feb. 1714/5, buried St. Pancras, Middlesex; married, first, about 1660 MARY DARNALL died in childbed in Maryland; second, about 1666 JANE (LOWE) SEWALL, died 19 Jan. 1700/1; third, MARY (BANKES) THORPE, died 13 Mar. 1710/11; fourth, MARGARET CHARLETON, died testate 20 July 1731. One son by first marriage. Three children by second marriage. . . . vii. MARY CALVERT, born 30 Nov. 1638, died 24 Sep. 1671 s.p.; married WILLIAM BLAKISTON, Knt., Baronet, of Gibside, Durham. viii. CECILIUS CALVERT, born 23 Feb. 1639/40, died 4 Feb. 1640/1. ix. ELIZABETH CALVERT, buried 16 Jan. 1711/2. (6) Archives of Maryland (Biographical Series): Cecilius Calvert, 2nd Lord Baltimore (1605-1675). Biographical Profile BORN: on August 8, 1605, in Kent County, England; first son. RESIDED: in England, never immigrated to Maryland. FAMILY BACKGROUND. FATHER: Sir George Calvert, 1st Lord Baltimore (1578/79-1632). MOTHER: Anne Mynne (1579-1622), daughter of George Mynne. BROTHERS: Leonard Calvert (ca. 1606-1647); George Calert (1613-1634); Francis Calvert; Henry Calvert; and John Calvert (1618-1618/19). HALF BROTHER: Philip Calvert (1626-1682). SISTERS: Anne Calvert, who married William Peasley; Dorothy Calvert; Elizabeth Calvert; Grace Calvert (1614-?), who married in 1631/32 Sir Robert Talbot, of Carton, England; and Helen Calvert (1615-1655), who married James Talbot, of Ballyconnell, Ireland. MARRIED in 1627/28 Anne Arundell (?-1649), daughter of Sir Thomas Arundell, of Wardour, England. CHILDREN. SONS: George Calvert (1634-1636); Charles Calvert, 3rd Lord Baltimore (1637-1714/ 15), who married first, ca. 1650 Mary, daughter of Ralph Darnall, of Loughton, Herefordshire, England, second, in 1666 Jane Sewall (?-1700), widow of Henry Sewall (?-1665) and daughter of Vincent Lowe, of Denby, England, third, in 1701 Mary Thorpe (?-1710), and fourth, Margaret Charleton (?-l731), daughter of Thomas Charleton, of Hexham, Northumberland, England. DAUGHTERS: Anne Calvert; Mary Calvert(1630-1663), who married ca. 1650 Sir William Blakiston, of Gibside, Durham, England; and Elizabeth Calvert. PRIVATE CAREER. EDUCATION: literate; entered Trinity College, Oxford University, 1621. RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Catholic. SOCIAL STATUS AND ACTIVITIES: succeeded his father as Lord Baltimore in 1632 and settled Maryland, the charter for which George Calvert had first obtained from the king. OCCUPATIONAL PROFILE: colonial investor and entrepreneur. PUBLIC CAREER. PROVINCIAL OFFICE: proprietor of Maryland, 1632-1675. OUT OF COLONY SERVICE M.P., 1634. STANDS ON PUBLIC/PRIVATE ISSUES: became increasingly disenchanted with the Jesuits and their adherents in the late l630s and early 1640s; skillfully lobbied in England with the merchant community and Puritan government to save his colony during the years of the English Civil War and Commonwealth government; shrewdly distributed patronage in colony to maintain support among Protestants as well as Catholics; active promoter of religious toleration. WEALTH AT DEATH. DIED: On November 30, 1675, in Middlesex, England; size of estate unknown. Source: Edward C. Papenfuse, et al., A Biographical Dictionary of the Maryland Legislature, 1635-1789. Vol. I, A-H. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1979. * * * Cecilius Calvert, 2nd Lord Baltimore (1605-1675). Founding of Maryland - Educational Project for Elementary and Middle School Students; Maryland Public Television and Maryland State Archives (January-February 2003); written by Maria A. Day, MSA Archival Intern Cecil Calvert was still a young man of 26 years when his father Sir George Calvert, Lord Baltimore, died. When his father died, he became the Second Baron of Baltimore. He also inherited the colonies and lands owned by his father. King Charles I approved a request from George Calvert to establish a colony called the Province of Maryland ("Terra Mariae") in 1635. But the Calvert family received the Charter of Maryland after George Calvert died. Now it was up to Cecil Calvert to establish and govern the new colony. Cecil was well educated, but he had did not have his father???s years of experience at governing colonies. No one knew what kind of leader Cecil might turn out to be when the King named him Lord Proprietor of Maryland. But Cecil was a wise leader. He invited sons of Catholic and Protestant families to sail to Maryland and establish the new colony. Each of these men brought their wives, children and servants with them to the New World. He wanted to join them in the voyage, but had to stay in England. He was concerned that no one would be able to keep the King???s support for Maryland if he left the country. He sent his brother, Leonard, on the voyage and made him the colony???s first Governor. Before Leonard sailed for Maryland in March 1633, Cecil gave his brother a set of instructions to help him with the colony???s government. This document, called "Instructions to the Colonists by Lord Baltimore," became the basis of Maryland???s laws. Cecil wanted to make certain that Catholics and Protestant were treated fairly under the new system of government. He allowed Catholics to practice their religion. Cecil said that Catholics and Protestants should not be allowed to argue with each other about their beliefs. Cecil was Catholic and knew about the problems that Catholics and Protestants might have in living in the same town. He also advised the colonists about the layout of properties in their first town and about communications with the colonists in Virginia. Cecil governed Maryland from his home in England. He lived with his wife Anne Arundell and their children. Cecil was never able to visit his colony because of the social and political problems in England. The English Parliament had so many disagreements with King Charles I during the seventeenth-century, that they fought a civil war against him (1642-1649). The war influenced events in Maryland since the government of England was divided between those supporting the King and those supporting Parliament. Cecil wanted to make sure the Maryland colony would be protected no matter which side won the civil war. He made friends in Parliament, but he continued to support King Charles I for as long as he could. Meanwhile, a Parliamentary supporter named Richard Ingle attacked St. Mary???s City in 1645. Ingle and his men took many of Maryland???s government and Catholic leaders prisoner. It took Cecil and Leonard Calvert almost one year to take control of Maryland again. But Leonard died in 1647, and the colonists needed a new Governor. In 1648, Cecil commissioned a Protestant named William Stone to go to Maryland as the new Governor. Cecil???s choice of a Protestant was very important to Parliamentary leaders in England. This was Cecil???s way of convincing Parliament that he was loyal. Parliament allowed Cecil to remain the Proprietor of Maryland. On April 2, 1649, Cecil gave Governor Stone a new law to be voted on by the Maryland Assembly. This law is often called the "Act of Toleration," but Cecil???s name for the law was "An Act Concerning Religion." The Assembly most of the Act of Toleration???s parts into law. The Act gave colonists freedom to worship any Christian faith, so long as they were loyal to Cecil Calvert and the civil government. But a second civil war in England caused Cecil to loose [sic] control of Maryland again. From 1652 to 1655, Puritan Commissioners from the English Parliament fought against Governor Stone and his followers. The Commissioners forced Governor Stone to resign in 1655. This time it took Cecil two years to win back control of Maryland. People in Maryland enjoyed peace in the years following the restoration of Cecil???s title, Lord Proprietor of Maryland. Cecil sent his son, Charles Calvert, to be Maryland???s Governor in 1661. He told his son to keep the Act of Toleration as law for the good of Maryland. Freedom of religion was important to help the Maryland colonists to live together in peace. Cecil died in 1675, after governing Maryland for forty-two years. (7) Bibbins, Mrs. Arthur Barneveld, The Beginnings of Maryland in England and America, Baltimore, MD: Norman Remington Co., 1934, pp. 33-36: Maryland with its corn fields, its shining peaceful rivers- To a great Englishman of the seventeenth century, that vision held more allure than the court of kings. In the year 1628, Cecilius Calvert stood in the great ivied castle of Wardour with his exquisite young bride, stood there and watched his father, George Calvert, leave with his impressive retinue for his colony in Newfoundland. Cecihus must have felt lonely and a little wistful; he must have felt envious. For with his father was going the rest of the family, it being Calvert's plan to settle permanently in the New World. Only the bridegroom, Cecilius, was left behind with his young wife, the Lady Anne Arundel. It is from the latter that one of Maryland's counties later received its name-and to the Lady Anne he may have confided that lingering dream of his, to quit his English residence and to live with his father in America. It was a dream, however, which remained only that. He never answered it-the call of greener, newer fields, the lure of around-the-corner-for Calvert, at 27, had developed into a harrowed, care-ridden young man, destined never to behold that far-off country; a young man balked and beset at every turn by his enemies, yet bravely governing and organizing his province and carrying it to an unparalleled success. Ivy-Covered Ruins Wardour Castle, Wiltshire, home of Cecilius' bride, where he courted her and later went to live, is shown in photographs secured by Mrs. A. B. Bibbins, of Baltimore, soon after her discovery of George Calvert's home at Kiplin, in Yorkshire. Here it was that Cecilius later received the Maryland charter, here their son, Charles, was born. In an address by Mrs. Bibbins she states that "Wardour succumbed to the fierce siege of the parliamentary forces in 1643 . . . and the present venerable castle was erected in 1778." The ruins of old Wardour are covered with Virginia creeper sent from Maryland, and here, too, is an old hornbeam tree which came to Wardour from Maryland over two centuries ago. Here too the royal Stuart bed saved from the ruins, with the old Saxon Wassail cup in front. Cecilius himself-as a person and not a personage-is a shadowy figure hidden behind the glow of his achievements; a figure seen but mistily through the lavender haze of yesterday. But he could not have ruled Maryland so well, this man with the grave face, the analytical eyes, had he not been wise and just, resourceful, a man of integrity and character. The tributes of such historians as Chalmers, McMahon and Dr. William Hand Brown, respectively, are as follows: ". . . while fanaticism deluged the empire, he refused his assent to the repeal of a law which in the true spirit of Christianity, gave liberty of conscience to all." ". . . The character of Cecilius, the founder of Maryland, has come down to us identified in his acts and in the language of historians with religious liberty and respect for the rights of the people." ". . . He owed his triumph to neither violence, fraud nor intrigue, but to the justice of his cause, and his wisdom, constancy and patience." Cecilius Calvert was born in 1606; named for his father's friend and one-time patron, Sir Robert Cecil; and was baptized and confirmed in the Church of England. He never held public office, nor did he turn to statesmanship, his interest lying overseas in his new province. It was in June, 1632, that the charter for the American province, promised to his father, was issued to the 26-year-old Cecilius at the former's death-making him the first Lord Proprietary of Maryland. His power, however, to make laws and levy taxes was subject to one limitation-it could be exercised only with the "advice, assent and appropriation of the freemen of the same province, or the great part of them, or of their delegates or deputies," who were to "be called together for the framing of laws when and as often as need shall require" by the Lord Proprietary. That clearly established a genuine democracy, almost unheard of at that time. It was soon converted into a representative democracy, but the political rights of Marylanders were herein recognized and Maryland became the pioneer in the fight for political freedom. A Just Ruler And from the first, Cecilius proved himself to be a wise and just ruler, though one beset by difficulties. In his letters of instruction to his first settlers, he wrote, referring to himself in the third person: ". . . he would not have failed to have come himself in person with them this first yeare, to have beene partaker with them in the honor of the first voyage thither, but that by reasons of some unexpected accidents he found it more necessary for their good, to stay in England some time longer, for the better establishment of his and their right." And in the term "unexpected accidents" lies the whole story. Probably no administrator of a province ever was beset by more difficulties, continuing almost to the end of his 40 years' proprietaryship. Ruled by jealousy, his enemies strove to upset his claims and to disturb his authority in the New World, so that he was forced to remain in England and combat their activities. They charged at the very outset that his charter was too liberal; they charged that his expedition was being fitted out to convey nuns to Spain, and that it was for the purpose, so, of conveying troops out of England. The expedition was so delayed that it, was not until 1633 that it finally set sail in the Ark and the Dove. In its Protestant company-led by Leonard and George Calvert, Cecilius' brothers-were also a number of Roman Catholics and two Jesuit priests-an example of Calvert's advocacy of religious freedom. But no sooner had the settlers landed in the tranquil countryside than opposition flared afresh; members of the old Virginia Co., their charter annulled, objected to Cecilius' activities in Maryland. Chief of these was William Claiborne, of Kent Island in the Chesapeake. The thought of Calvert's regulation of trade and "encroachment" on what he considered his territory frenzied him, and the impetuous hot-head later landed Cecilius in a pretty set of difficulties. So strained were relations between Virginia and the Marylanders that Calvert's instructions advocated diplomacy, but cautioned the newcomers, nevertheless, not to anchor under the guns of the Virginia fort at Point Comfort. ". . . that they avoid any occasion of difference with those of Virginea and to have as little to do with them as they cann this first yeare, that they connive and suffer little injuryes from them rather than to engage themselves in a publique quarrel with them, which may disturbe the business much in England in the Infancy of it. . . . That they be not persuaded by the master or any other of the shipp (this referred to an arrival on the Virginian coast) in any case or for any request whatsoever to goe to James Towne, or to come within the command of the fort at Poynte-Comfort, unless they should be forct unto it by some extremity of weather, which God forbidd . . . but that they come to anchor somewhere about Accomacke." The papers of Calvert, now in the possession of the Maryland Historical Society, have come down through the years as extraordinary examples of sagacity and diplomacy. He suggested to the settlers in the first paragraph that "on their voyage to Maryland they be very carefull to preserve unity and peace amongst all the passengers on Shipp-board, and that they suffer no scandall nor offence to be given to any of the Protestants, whereby any just complaint may hereafter be made, by them, in Virginea or in England, and for that end, they cause all Acts of Roman Catholique Religion to be done as privately as may be, and that they instruct all the Roman Catholiques to be silent upon all occasions of discourse concerning matters of Religion." Plots Are Hunted The instructions also provide for the tactful seeking of information concerning plots against Calvert, and for notification of the expedition's arrival to be made to William Claiborne, inviting him to confer on future trading arrangements. Full instructions were given for the laying out of the colony; for the planting of corn; for a military organization, and the like. As indicated in a letter written on April 25, 1638, by Governor Calvert to Cecilius, the Indians were friendly, Cecilius' instructions as to trading with them and establishing friendly relations having been carried out. Leonard Calvert wrote, re- ferring to the purchase of certain goods for Cecilius: "I am sure my Brothyer Porttobacco, now Emperor of Paskattaway, will assist me in it as much as he can, for he is much your friend and servant and hath expressed himselfe to me to be so and giveth you many thancks after his Indian fashion for your guift sent him by Mr. Lewger. He hath within this two yeares stept into the Empire of the Indians by killing his eldest brother, the old Emperor, and enjoyeth it yet with peace through the good correspondencie he keepeth with me which aweth his Indians from offereing any harme unto him. . . . I had procured a red bird and kept it a good while to have sent it to you but I had the ill fortune to loose it by the negligence of my servant who carelessly let it out of the cage." Claiborne Rebellious Friendly though the Indians remained, the settlers met a resourceful, rebellious firebrand in Claiborne, who refused to render allegiance to Baltimore. Although his claim of priority of title had been disallowed in England by the Lords Commission of Plantations, he continued rebellious and after much dissention [sic] finally raided Maryland fitting out a sloop which sailed up the Pocomoke. It was captured by Calvert's ships, after what passed in those days for a hot exchange of shots, killing the captain of Claiborne's ship and two of the crew. A few days later, Claiborne renewed his aggressions, finally arousing the displeasure of his principals in London, who recalled him and sent out George Evelyn in his place. And now a number of fresh difficulties arose for Cecilius and his brothers-particularly Leonard, whom he had made governor. Efforts of the Jesuits to obtain lands for themselves resulted in Cecilius' withdrawal from the deputy governor the power to grant any land to ecclesiastical bodies, thus showing he was no Catholic zealot. To this day in Maryland, no religious body may acquire land of any extent without legislative action, nor can any minister be admitted to the legislature. Bad News Apace That accomplished, the Lord Proprietary-who received bad news as fast as one ship could follow another across the sea-was forced to turn his attention to one Richard Ingle, a sea captain and violent anti-royalist, who was making difficulty in Maryland. Raider and pirate, he stole the very locks and hinges off the doors; the great silver seal of the province vanished under his light, thieving fingers . . . until, with the aid of Governor Berkely, of Virginia, he was subdued. In 1647, Leonard Calvert died, and in 1648 Cecilius sent out a Protestant governor in answer to charges that Maryland was "a hotbed of popery." The following year the famous Maryland Act of Tolerance, providing for religious freedom, was passed by the assembly. In a lecture at the Johns Hopkins University, Clayton Colman Hall declared that "Lord Baltimore, in causing freedom of religious belief to be established by law in Maryland, was in advance of his age." During the following years, Cecilius experienced difficulties with Parliament and the Puritan Party, now in power, but when Charles II succeeded to the throne his rights were recognized and for 15 years, at last, he enjoyed comparative peace. It was in 1675 that Cecilius Calvert died, leaving his title and his estates to his son, Charles, the third Lord Baltimore.
  Person ID	I18295	Frost, Gilchrist and Related Families
  Last Modified	17 Apr 2024

  
  

  Father	First Lord Baltimore George CALVERT,   b. Between 1578 and 1579, Kipling Hall, Catterick, Yorkshire, England d. 15 Apr 1632, London, England (Age ~ 54 years)
  Mother	Anne MYNNE,   b. 20 Nov 1579, Hertingfordbury, Hertfordshire, England d. 8 Aug 1622 (Age 42 years)
  Marriage	22 Nov 1604	St. Peter's, Cornhill, Banffshire, Scotland
  Family ID	F8157	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Anne ARUNDELL,   b. Abt 1615   d. 23 Jul 1649 (Age ~ 34 years)
  Marriage	20 Mar 1628
  Children	1. Third Lord Baltimore Charles CALVERT,   b. 27 Aug 1637   d. 20 Feb 1715 (Age 77 years)
  Family ID	F8165	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	17 Apr 2024