Joseph R. Wickes letter

Collection — Box: Multi 03

Identifier: MS-0067

Staff Only

Scope and Content Note

This collection contains a letter from Joseph R. Wickes to Miss Elizabeth Nicholson a teacher at a girl’s school in the home of Gen. Ringgold in Hagerstown, Maryland, dated January 26, 1829. The letter appears to concern legal matters particularly Miss Nicholson’s statement.

Dates

Creation: 1829 January 26

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 Note

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. Joseph died January 17, 1864.