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This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held in the Wilson Library at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in our reading room, and not digitally available through the World Wide Web. See the Duplication Policy section for more information.
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Collection Overview
| Size | 1 items |
| Abstract | The collection is a letter, 1851 July 27, from J. W. Calvert, Jr., (b. 1786?), St. Francis County, Ark., to his cousin, John L. Trone, Buckland, Prince William County, Va.. Calvert described life at various places on the western frontier of the United States. He mentioned teaming up with a partner in search of saltpetre for making gunpowder; helping transport munitions to the "northern frontier"; travelling to Arkansas, arriving around the first of January, 1810; hunting a variety of animals, including buffalo and bear; helping starving settlers find food; joining in military activities during the War of 1812 and the First Seminole War; working on quartermaster duty in New Orleans, where he became acquainted with Louisiana "governor" Pierre Derbigny; backwoods living conditions in the Mississippi River Valley; agricultural conditions in Arkansas; and news of various Calvert family members. |
| Creator | Trone, John L., fl. 1808-1851. |
| Curatorial Unit | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Historical Collection. |
| Language | English |
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Subject Headings
The following terms from Library of Congress Subject Headings suggest topics, persons, geography, etc. interspersed through the entire collection; the terms do not usually represent discrete and easily identifiable portions of the collection--such as folders or items.
Clicking on a subject heading below will take you into the University Library's online catalog.
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Biographical Information
J. W. Calvert, Jr., was born around 1786 in Virginia. In 1808, he helped transport munitions to the "northern frontier." He then travelled to the western frontier, reaching Arkansas Post around 1 January 1810. After living in the backwoods for some time, he joined the American military forces operating against the British and their Indian allies during the War of 1812 and during the First Seminole War. He also performed quartermaster work in New Orleans. He settled permanently in St. Francis County, Ark., in 1825. By 1833, he had cleared 60 acres of land. He married Sarah McDaniel (d. 1839) and, after her death, Nancy Davis (b. circa 1802). They had several children. By 1851, he owned 453 acres, 100 of which had been cleared.
Other members of the Calvert family mentioned in the letter were living in Arkansas and Ohio at the time it was written.
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Scope and Content
Letter, dated 27 July 1851, from J. W. Calvert, Jr., in St. Francis County, Ark., to his cousin John L. Trone at Buckland, Prince William County, Va. Calvert described life at various places on the western frontier of the United States after he left Virginia in 1808. He mentioned teaming up with a partner in search of saltpetre for making gunpowder; helping transport munitions to the "northern frontier"; travelling to Arkansas, arriving at Arkansas Post around 1 January 1810; hunting large numbers of animals, including buffalo, bear, wolves, deer, beaver, panthers, elk, wildcats, raccoons, and turkeys; helping starving settlers find food; joining in military activities during the War of 1812 and the First Seminole War; working on quartermaster duty in New Orleans, where he became acquainted with Louisiana "governor" Peter Derbene (Pierre Derbigny, narrowly defeated candidate for governor); backwoods living conditions in the Mississippi River Valley; agricultural and health conditions in Arkansas; and news of various Calvert family members.
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