Joseph R. Wickes papers
Scope and Contents Note
This collection contains the papers of Col. Joseph Wickes. Many of the papers are legal documents from his law practice while there are also various financial records. The collection has been organized alphabetically by subject. As Maryland was a slave state there are numerous documents dealing with the inventory, sale, and hire of enslaved African Americans. As well as legal dealings with free African Americans. There is a contemporary compiles Wickes family genealogy at the end of the collection.
Dates
- 1672-1865
Access restrictions
Collection is open for research.
Publication rights
Copyright has not been assigned to Washington College. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Archives and Special Collections. Permission for publication is given on behalf of Washington College as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the researcher.
Biographical Information
Col. Joseph R. Wickes (1788-1864) was born in Kent County to Joseph (1759-1822) and Mary Piner Wickes (1764-1823) decedents of Major Joseph Wickes (approximately 1620-1692) who emigrated from England in 1850 to the Eastern Shore. Joseph graduated Washington College in 1810, he studies law under James Houston who became a U. S. District Court Judge. He passed the bar in 1810. Joseph fought in the war of 1812 at Caulk’s field, during the war he gained his rank of Col. He became a prominent citizen in Kent County, unlike other lawyers at the time he did not pursue politics but resumed his law practice. On November 21, 1821 he married Elizabeth Caroline Chambers (1800-1872), daughter of Ezekiel Chambers of the Board of Visitors & Governors of Washington College. Together they had several children including Joseph A. Wickes (1826-1915) who followed his father into law and became a judge. The Wickes were a prominent and wealthy family in the area and were slave owners, several of the documents in this collection deal with the legalities and economics of enslaved African Americans. Joseph died January 17, 1864.
Extent
6.25 Cubic Feet (13 boxes)
Language of Materials
English
Physical and Technical Access Restrictions
None.
Custodial history
Unknown.
Acquisition information
Unknown.
- Title
- Finding Aid to the Joseph R. Wickes Papers
- Author
- L. Sheldon
- Date
- 2020
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Description is in English.
Repository Details
Part of the Washington College Archives & Special Collections Repository
300 Washington Avenue
Chestertown MD 21620