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Frederick Calvit
Born Mar 23, 1747 Prince George Co. VA
Died by Jan 16, 1791 Natchez District

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Mother

SPOUSE	CHILDREN
Mary Elizabeth Montfort m. 1770 NC b. Dec 20, 1755 Prince George Co. VA d. Dec 1805 MS?	Mary Elizabeth b. Dec 30, 1771 Wautauga Settlement NC d. Mar 19, 1809 Calcasieu, Rapides Parish, La. Terr.	William b. ?NC d. after 1816? ?Franklin Co. MS	Lucretia b. Aug 6, 1778 NC d. after Feb 1804
	Rachel [orphan] b. after 1782 d. after 1790	Montfort or Mumford b. after 1782 Natchez Dist. d. after 1816 ?Adams Co. MS	Alexander Hamilton "Sandy" b. Jun 17, 1784 Natchez Dist. d. Jan 7, 1836 Brazoria Co. TX (Mexican)
	Frederick Joseph b. after 1784 Natchez Dist. d. after 1816 ?Adams Co. MS
Mother Mary Dean was the daughter of William Dean who died in Natchez on Mar 6, 1791. She was a widow when Anthony Calvit died by 1762. About 1782 she made a 2,000 mile journey down the Mississippi River with her husband and three of her children to Natchez to settle. Sons William and Joseph arrived in Natchez later.
Frederick Calvit married Mary Elizabeth Montfort in 1770.
According to Calvit family history, twelve families started together down the turbulent Tennessee River. Among them were Daniel and Mary Dean Calvit Higdon, their son Jeptha, and two of her other sons-and Joseph's brothers-Frederick and Thomas Calvit, from her first marriage to Antoine (Anthony) Calvet. With Frederick were his wife and several young children. The trip was dangerous, especially at the rapids at Muscle Shoals. On the rafts travelling with the Calvit's and Higdon's were the Green, West, Smith, and White families, and their heads "became some of the most important men in early Mississippi" [given as reference: McBee, David Smith, 22-23; Harmon, Good Inheritance, 176-77]. A total of 13 families were recorded by Spanish authorities as arriving in May 1782 from Tennessee, and the record was signed by Grand-Pré on Jul 6, 1782. No Calvit or Higdon names were recorded. It is possible they arrived later or were included in the 11 members of the James White family.
Photo of a Map showing the Route of the Donelson Expedition on display at the Tennessee State Museum.
The Calvit family may have come from the Watauga settlement. There is an account from the Cumberland Settlement that founder James Robertson saved the life of a person who had been scalped. He had learned the procedure from a doctor who had done the same for a soldier he commanded named Frederick Calvit, in his thirties, in the Watauga Settlement in NC in 1777.
Frederick was likely the one who signed the 1777 Petition of Holsten Men, on page 6 just above the name of James Robertson, founder of the Cumberland Settlement [Tuller, p.6].
Brother Joseph Calvit served in the Illinois regiment of VA troops and left in 1782, about the time he and brother Frederick came to Natchez. He married Cidia or "Sydney" nee Adair (1799 Ga.-1885) in Jefferson Co. MS in Jun 7, 1817. She remarried in Feb 1822. As Joseph's widow, she applied for a pension in 1830. Frederick also served in the war and received a Revolutionary War claim for at least three years of service.
Two Calvit brothers and their stepfather Daniel Higdon were in Natchez by Jul 17, 1783 when William Dewitt and a William Rawlings gave a declaration that a horse race was fixed, that is, "two of the Calvits Sons in Law to Higdon Did Bett on Cobbs horse which horse Higdon who was Father in Law to the two Calvitts & one of the Judge's gave the race in favour of Cobb's horse" [MDAH Microfilm roll no. 5618 p. 3.65]. A Russell Jones also filed a suit against the same Arthur Cobb, objecting to the judges of the race who were "Messr. Brocus and Higdon" [McBee, p. 309-10]. The judge would be Frederick's stepfather Daniel Higdon, and the brothers possibly Joseph and Frederick. Higdon died in Mar 1785.
On Jun 21, 1784, brother William Calvit sued his stepfather Daniel Higdon for $922 owed on a bond [McBee, Natchez Court Records, Book G, p. 323].
Present in the Spanish Census of 1784 in the sub-district of Santa Catalina (St. Catherine Creek) are the families of brothers Joseph Calvit, Frederick Calvit, Thomas Calvit and William Calvit.
On Mar 1, 1785 mother Mary, aged about 62, gifted "all my goods, chattels and property, real and personal" to her son, William's stepbrother, Jeptha Higdon. Court record [Clarke III, Appendix 6, citing McBee, Book A, p. 245].
Stepfather Daniel Higdon had died by Jan 5, 1787 when William's mother, "Mary Higdon, widow ... mortgages her whole estate" to pay for 35 year old negro Rosa, native of America. She declared she could not write [McBee, Book D, p. 139]. On the same date she did the same "for payment of $735, due and owing to Don Juan Vauchere, merchant" which was recorded received by Vauchere on Mar 10 [McBee, Book A, p. 37].
Brother William received a Spanish grant dated Mar 15, 1788 for "800 acres on Sandy Creek, 18 mi. east of Fort, all sides vacant". In 1804, "Anthony Calvet, one of the heirs" of William Calvet, decd., claimed the land [McBee, Natchez Land Claims, Book C, p. 420].
"Frederick Calvet" received a Spanish grant dated Mar 15, 1788 for "500 acres, 12 mi. from Fort to north" [McBee, Natchez Land Claims, Book B, p. 382].
Map of the Natchez District as it may have looked between 1779 and 1799.
On Aug 18, 1788 stepbrother Jeptha Higdon, aged about 25, bought a "new negro" from Thomas Irwin for $500, $100 Jan 1789 and $400 Jan 1790. He signed with an X. On the same day, brother Frederick Calvit also bought a "new negro" from Irwin at the same price and terms, with Frederick signing. William Calvit bought several negroes, two mortgaged, on the same day from Irwin, and he also signed his name. Full payment for these negroes was received from William's brother[?] Joseph Calvit by May 12 1795, suggesting that William had died by then [McBee, Book B, p. 57].
On Sep 1, 1788, stepsister Louisa Higdon married John Wylie. According to Diocese of Baton Rouge [La.] Catholic church records, "John Wily" married "Elisabeth Higdon" in New Feliciana on Sep 1, 1788. Generally, the parents of each are recorded, but the Church record says "not given" for each [Diocese of Baton Rouge, Catholic Church Records, vol. 2, p. 725].
New Feliciana was in what became in 1810 Feliciana Parish (see present day map for location). It borders Mississippi south of Natchez.
In a letter dated Mar 2, 1790, from Carlos de Grand-Pré, Natchez, to Governor Don Estavan Miro, the amount of tobacco was reported by growers of Natchez. Brothers Frederick produced 10,100 lbs, William 10,000 lbs, and Thomas 7,000 lbs. [MDAH, website].
On Mar 18, 1790, a Spanish grant to John Ford of "700 arpents 18 miles east of the Fort [of Natchez], on Cole's [Creek]" that bordered the land of William Calvit was claimed, noting that the file containing information, such as the date of the original grant, is "missing" [McBee, Natchez Court Records, Book B, p. 400].
In 1790 brother William surveyed land on the Big Black River and built a house and planted peach trees [Terr. Papers of MS, Natchez].
On Jan 16, 1791, the Last Will and Testament of Frederick Calvit, dated Sep 22, 1790, was opened. It named his wife, his brother Thomas, Thomas "Marston" Green, and John Bisland as executors. Son William was listed as an heir in the will but not listed in the Feb 1804 land claim by heirs that included younger sons Joseph and "Montfort" [McBee, Book B, pp. 81, 382].
A Jan 18, 1791 inventory of the estate of "Frederick Calvitt, decd." late of [Adams Co.]" included the 600 arpent plantation and five male slaves, 2 "wenches", 2 children, oxen, cattle and horses [McBee, Book B, pp. 81-2].
On Sep 23, 1791, brother Thomas Calvit, as executor of the will of Frederick, deceased, sued Arthur Cobb because Frederick had lent him a horse "for the purpose of knowing if he could run" and it was returned "in bad condition" and died a month afterward. By Jul 14, 1792, no ruling had yet been reached because of the "evidence being so contradictory" so two more arbitrators were added by Gayoso to the three already assigned to the case [McBee, Book F, pp. 260-4].
After Frederick died, his widow married John Roberts (?-1802?) who had three children of his own on Apr 22, 1790, the day he arrived on a flatboat from Virginia "with family of three" [MDAH, rootsweb]. They lived as a family with six children in the Villa Gayoso part of the Natchez District [Adams Co., 1792 Census].
Frederick owned 300f [arpents] situated on the "River Mississippi" (see volume 4, page 270 of an 1807 deed record for the "Legal representatives of Frederick Calvit"). According to the deed, there was an order for survey of the land on Jul 26, 1792 which was after he died [American State Papers, vol. 1, register B, p. 895].
The 1792 Census of the Natchez District was translated from the Spanish handwritten records. Located in the Second and Sandy Creek subdivision were two "Calvet" families: "Guillermo" or William owned 1500 arpents, with 8 white persons and 4 slaves. "Juan" or John did not own land but his household had 6 whites and no slaves. In the subdivision of Villa Gayoso (now in Jefferson Co. and Franklin Co.) there was a "Juan Roberts" not owning land or slaves, with 8 white persons [himself, widow Mary Calvit and 6 children].
On Oct 18, 1792 an "Inventory of property of James Smith, decd." showed that "Widow Calvit" [mother Mary] and her son Joseph Calvit, owed money to the estate for "blacksmith work" (James was the eldest son of John Smith) [McBee, Natchez Court Records, Book D, p. 150].
In 1792-3, daughter Lucretia married a James Stewart born in 1767 in Cape Fear NC. In Feb 1804, "Lucretia Stewart and James Stewart" were listed among the heirs and legal representatives of Frederick, deceased, claiming the 500 acres "12 mi. from Fort to north" [McBee, Book B, p. 382].
On Dec 19, 1795 brother William's wife Phoebe sued William for cruelty and selling her slave without her consent, stating that "during her twelve years of marriage she had received nothing from him" [McBee, Book E, p. 202].
In 1799, daughter Mary Elizabeth Calvit married Samuel Levi Wells II in Natchez. In Feb 1804, "Elizabeth Wells and Levi Wells" were listed first among the heirs and legal representatives of Frederick, deceased, claiming the 500 acres "12 mi. from Fort to north" [McBee, Book B, p. 382].
On Aug 18, 1801, Phoebe, divorced from Frederick's brother, William Calvit, but living on the lot he gave her at 311 Jefferson St in Natchez, "entered into an antenuptial contract with Ebenezer Dayton" [Stanfill, pp. 329-332]. In 1806, she was identified as Phoebe Dayton in a court case involving ownership of the Natchez lot.
Son William Calvit married Elizabeth Spires on Aug 14, 1809 in Adams Co., Miss. Terr. Her father John Spires gave his consent according to the certificate [Miss. Marriages 1802-1819, last entry on p. 121, ancestry.com].
There are 3 Calvit households in the 1816 Franklin Co. MS Census, all on page 5: On line 16 is: William Calvit, in a household of 7 family members [probably Frederick's son]: including his wife Elizabeth Spires, 3 sons under age 21, 2 daughters under age 21 and a slave. On line 19 of the same page: John Calvit, in a household of six members [probably the son of Frederick's brother William who died in 1799]. On line 21, there is a household headed by Thomas Calvit with a male [Thomas] and female [wife Mary?] over age 21 with no children and no slaves. This is likely Frederick's younger brother Thomas who lived until 1821. [Rowland, 1816 Franklin Co. Census].
On Dec 18, 1814 in Adams Co. son Alexander Calvit married "Mrs. Barbara M. Wood" who signed the certificate in Washington [Miss. Marriages 1802-1819, last entry on p. 295, ancestry.com].
In the 1816 Adams Co. MS Census, on page 6 (line 20), there was a household headed by son "Montfort Calvit" with: 2 adult males [Montfort,?], 1 adult female [wife?], 3 children under 21 years old, and 7 slaves. On page 5 (line 16), there was a household headed by son "Alexander Calvit" with: 1 adult male [Alexander], 1 adult female [wife Barbara], 3 children under 21 years old, 1 free colored person, and 10 slaves. On line 9 of page 6 was the single male son "Frederick J. Calvit" with no slaves [MDAH, 1816 Adams Co. Census].
Son Alexander was an early settler in colonial Texas and a sugar planter. His Evergreen Plantation lay where the town of Clute, TX, was later built. He served as a First Lieutenant and Aide-de-Camp at the Creek War of 1813-1814. He was one of the earliest settlers in Mexican Texas, going on Stephen F. Austin's mission. As a member of the Old Three Hundred, in 1824 he received some land in what are now Brazoria and Waller Counties. He married Barbara Mackall Wilkinson by 1816 when their daughter was born in Washington, Miss. Terr. They had a daughter born in 1821 in Louisiana. They also had a son named William Frederick Calvit who may have died in infancy in 1817 [geni.com, Wikipedia, ancestry.com].
SOURCES: Adams Co. Mississippi Genealogy & History Network, "1792 Census for Natchez District (under Spanish Government control)", 2009, 1792 Census. American State Papers, Documents, ... of the Congress of the Unitied States, ... 1789-1809, vol. 1, Gales and Seaton, Washington DC, 1832, register B, p. 895. Aymond, Greg, Holloway Family of Holloway Prairie, internet website, Dec 1999. "Franklin County, MS 1810 Census", abstract from Gillis book, rootsweb website. Documents ... , US Congress, 1815-24] "John Holloway, 1851", File H-3, on p. 208 of "The MS Cains", website. Clarke, J. Calvit III, Appendicies to Joseph Calvit and his Family in Mississippi, Appendix 6, "Land and Property in the Calvit/Higdon Families", website. Clarke, J. Calvit III, The "I" In History: ... The Calvet's from France to the American Frontier, Jacksonville Univ. Expanded Paper Presented to the Annual Meeting of the Florida Conference of Historians, Tampa, FL, Mar 2005, website. Diocese of Baton Rouge Department of Archives, Catholic Church Records, vol. 2 (1770-1803), Baton Rouge LA, p. 725. Historic Natchez Foundation, William Calvit estate inventory and appraisal, 1800, William Calvit Probate File, Box 10, Adams Co. MS Probate Records. McBee, May Wilson, comp., Natchez Land Claims, 1767-1805, Greenwood MS, 1953, v. 2, Book B, p. 382, Book C, p. 420. McBee, May Wilson, comp., Natchez Court Records, 1767-1805, Greenwood MS, 1953, v. 2, Book A, pp. 37, 39, Book B, pp. 57, 81-2, 382, Book C, p. 113, Book D, pp. 36-7, 51, 150, 288, 400, Book E, p. 186, Book F, pp. 261-4, Book G, p. 323. Franklin Co. Genealogy & Hustory Network, Franklin Co. Mississippi Marriages, website. MS Dept. of Arch. & Hist. (MDAH), Jackson MS, rootsweb, Americans Arriving in Spanish-Held Natchez 1780-1790. MS Dept. of Arch. & Hist. (MDAH), microfilm no. 5618, roll 3, various doc. MDAH, Adams Co. MS 1816 Census, Territorial Census 1801-1816, website, microfilm. MDAH, Franklin Co. 1816 Census in "Territorial Censuses", website, microfilm. MSGW, Franklin Co. MS, website, http://www.msgw.org/franklin/settlfms.html, ref. Lambright, W.W., History of Franklin Co. MS. Rowland, Dunbar, "1816 Census for Franklin Co. Miss.", taken from The Official and Statistical Register of the State of Mississippi,Centennial Edition, 1917, rootsweb website. Stanfill, Latayne Colvett, Colvett Family Chronicles, History of the Colvett Family of Tennessee, 1630-1990, Glendale CA, 1991. Tuller, Roberta, "1777 Petition of Holston Men", in An American Family History, website, Amazon Services, 2020. USGenWeb, Early Southwest Miss. Territory, "Natchez District 1792 Spanish Census Index", website. USGenWeb, Franklin Co. Mississippi, "Franklin County Mississippi Early Settlers", website.