Joseph R. Wickes papers

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.