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Anne Wolseley Calvert (d. 1679/80)

Anne (Wolseley) Calvert, the wife of Chancellor Philip Calvert, was one of the few women in the Calvert family to actually cross the Atlantic and live in Maryland, unlike her sister-in-law Anne Arundell, wife of Cecil Calvert, who spent her entire life in England. Anne Wolseley was born in England. She was the daughter of Sir Thomas Wolseley of Staffordshire, and came from a family of devout Catholics who had suffered persecution for their beliefs at home.

Anne Wolseley Calvert came to Maryland with her husband Philip Calvert in 1657. The Calverts led a good life in Maryland and lived in a large mansion. However, Wolseley Calvert still suffered, especially near the end of her life. She had a fondness for sweets, which her wealth allowed her to afford, but did not brush her teeth, as it was not a common practice at the time. She lost all but five of her teeth, making it very difficult to eat. At one point, she broke her left leg very badly, causing her to limp painfully for the rest of her life. When Anne died sometime between 1679 and 1680, she was malnourished and suffered from osteoporosis and arthritis.

Much of what we know about Anne Wolseley Calvert comes from the recent discovery of her coffin in the ruins of an old brick chapel in St. Mary's City, Maryland. Her skeleton was very well-preserved, providing many clues about Anne's life. She was a small woman, only about 5'3" tall. She must have been well-loved, as she was carefully buried in a shroud, with silk ribbons tied around her wrists. Scientists also found bits of rosemary, the herb of remembrance, sprinkled over her body. Her husband Philip, and a 6-month-old girl, likely Philip's daughter by his second wife, were buried next to Anne in a prominent part of the chapel.

 

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