Caulk Family Papers
Finding Aid
Boxes 47 - 49
The materials in this collection relate to the Caulk family of Talbot County, Maryland. The papers date from 1704 to 1961, although most are from the 18th and 19th centuries. The papers include receipts and invoices for all types of goods and services related to managing the Caulk farm and to the purchase and acquisition of their household and family needs including clothing, food, drink, medical services, burial plots, dishes, and furnishings. Some of the earliest materials are bonds, warrants, and indentures and are in poor condition, as are many of the early receipts and invoices.
The Caulk family has many branches. The materials in this collection are from the branch that descends from Peter Caulk, Sr. (1670 – 1727), Peter Caulk, Jr. (1700 – 1756), John Caulk (1732 – 1794), Major William Caulk (1777 – 1841), attorney William Caulk, Jr. (1815 – 1874), William H. Caulk, MD (1845 – 1926), and Howard Wright Caulk (1884 – 1958). (Birth and death dates for some of these individuals vary depending upon the source consulted.) “Locust Neck” between Broad Creek and Harrison Creek in what is now Bozman in Talbot County, Maryland was acquired by Peter Caulk, Sr. in 1703 and land was added on over the generations. Other place names associated with this collection are “Caulk’s Addition,” “Good Luck,” “Lostock,” “Caulk’s Lott,” “Larrimore’s Addition,” “Larrimore’s Lott,” “Sherwood Forest,” and “Dawson’s Composition.” (Spellings of these place names vary.)
The papers were reorganized into 2 series in 2023 as described in “Original Order of the Collection” in Box 47, Folder #2. The series are described below.
Acknowledgement letter - Scotti Oliver, Curator, Talbot County Free Library Maryland Room, to Robert J. Allen for donated documents from the Talbot County historic house “Sherwood Forest” (1994).
Series 1 – Papers. This series contains the bulk of the materials in this collection. The papers are organized chronologically and cover a wide range of subjects related to the Caulk family, including documents related to their farm, legal documents, and materials pertaining to their everyday life. Many of the materials in this series are invoices and receipts for items purchased for the farm or the family. However, this series also contains copies of wills, contracts and other legal documents.
Various household and business accounts, bills, and receipts (undated).
Plat (undated).
Fragments of plat of “Caulks Lott” by Risdon Bozman (undated).
Partial description of plat of “Lostock” (undated).
Indenture for purchase of “Lostock” by John Camper from John Lurkey and Elizabeth, his wife (1704).
Indenture for purchase of “Lostock” by Peter Calk (Caulk) from Ralph Dawson and Mary, his wife (1705).
Bond, John Kersey to William Arnet (1720).
Survey of “Good Luck” (1720).
Plat of part of “Lostock” (1733).
Bond, Kersey’s “Goodluck” (1735?).
“Lostock” Indenture Document.
Purchase of 31 acres, part of “Lostock,” by Peter Caulk (1736).
“Lostock” Land Record. Original sheepskin. Date not certain (1726 or 1737?).
Special warrant granted to Peter Caulk for land named “Venture,” which Caulk renamed “Caulk’s Lott” (1742).
Testimony that Joseph Borden is the eldest surviving son of Mathew Borden, Sr. (1749).
Power of Attorney from Mathew Borden to Risdell [sic] Bozman (1749).
Copy of 1673 marriage certificate of Mathew Borden to Sarah Clayton (1749).
Copy of 1679 warrant transferring “Bamshire” from John Hunt to Alexander Larramore (1756).
Plat of “Larramores Neck,” “Larramores Addition,” and “Caulks Addition” (1756).
Copy of boundary record for “Larramores Neck” (1756).
Copy of 1682 warrant transferring “Larramores Addition” from Richard Peacocke to Alexander Larramore (1756).
Copy of 1760 survey of “Larramores Lott” for Richard Mansfield by Risdon Bozman (1769).
Letter to Mathew Borden re: the estate of Richard Borden (1761).
Mathew Borden abstracts from public records of the Quakers on Rhode Island (April 14, 1761).
Mathew Borden deposition (April 17, 1761).
Mathew Borden deposition (2nd copy) (April 17, 1761).
Mathew Borden testimony (April 20, 1761).
Plat of “Laremore’s Neck,” “Laremore’s Addition,” “Laremore’s Lott” and “Bamshire.” (1762).
Fragment of letter to John Caulk (1763).
Letter to Thomas Chamyberlaine from Mathew Borden (1763).
Indenture between Mathew Borden and John Caulk regarding “Laremore’s Lott” (1763).
Plat of “Caulk’s Lostock” (also known as “Caulk’s Addition”) for John Caulk (1764).
Ejectment, Richard Mansfield v. James Barnes (1766).
Ejectment, Richard Mansfield v. John Cork (1766).
Plat of “Larrimore’s Lott Addition” prepared for John Caulk, defendant, and Richard Mansfield, plaintiff, with depositions of Anne Jones and Risdon Bozman (1766).
Bond. Patrick McQuary to John Caulk regarding “Lostock” (1767).
Copy of patent to Peter Caulk, Jr. for “Caulk’s Addition” (1768).
Copy of 1659 patent to John Anderson for “Lostock” (1769).
Resurvey, Land Commission Talbot Co. “Larrimore’s Lott Addition” John Caulk, Defendant. “Lostock” (1769).
Commission appointment to determine the boundaries of a tract of land called “Bampshire” (1781).
Indenture. John Caulk of Caroline County to John Caulk of Talbot County for part of “Lostock” (1788).
Thomas Lamboin bond to Shadrach Ludenum for “Larrimore’s Addition” (1789).
John Caulk’s will (1792).
John Kersey, Jr. indenture to Harrison Caulk for “Kersey’s Goodluck” (1795).
Deed of mortgage James Dawson to Mordecai Skinner (1806) and Robert Dawson to Mordecai Skinner (1801).
Receipts from E. P. Sparks for payment from estate of Col. William Caulk (1814), for rent paid by Catharine Miller to Mrs. Griffith (1828), and for county and state taxes (1849 and 1850).
Copy of indenture between Richard H. Battee and Thomas Stevens for “Norris Purchase” and “Phillip’s Lot” (1818).
Deed from James Tilghman to Artridge Stevens and Sarah Seth for “Lostock” (1819).
Copy of bond of James Tilghman, Alexander Hemsley, and John Tilghman, to Artridge Stevens and Sarah Seth for “Lostock” (1820).
Receipt from William Caulk to Thomas Dawson (1826).
Copy of agreement between Ann Wilson (later Caulk) and Samuel Wilson (1828).
Various household and business accounts, bills and receipts (1831 – 1833).
Receipts for medical services for William Caulk by Absalom Thompson, MD (1832, 1834 and 1837).
Deed from William Townsend to Alexander B. Harrison for “Sherwood Forrest” (1832).
Deed from Alexander B. Harrison and Eleanor, his wife, to Samuel Hambleton for “Sherwood Forrest” (1833).
Receipt from William Caulk to Anna Marie Tilghman for “Locust Neck” (1833).
Deed and agreement. Anna Marie Tilghman to William Caulk for “Locust Neck” (1833).
School and county tax receipts to William Caulk (1833 – 1835).
Various household and business accounts, bills and receipts (1834 – 1835).
William Caulk ensign appointment (1836).
Various household and business accounts, bills and receipts (1836 – 1837).
Deed from Samuel Hambleton to William Freeland for “Sherwood Forest” (1837).
Various accounts, bills and receipts between William Caulk and John Leeds Kerr (1837 – 1838).
Various household and business accounts, bills and receipts (1838 – 1839).
Deed from John Stevens to William Caulk for “Rattlesnake Point,” “Conjunction,” “Eason’s Lott,” “Eason’s Neck,” “Isle of Ray,” “Rick Neck Addition,” and “Martin’s Hope” (1839).
Judgements in the cases of William Caulk v. Richard Hughlett (1839) and William Caulk v. Richard Hughlett (1840).
Bond from William Caulk and Stephen Harrison to John Stevens (1839) and receipt for payment (1840).
Various household and business accounts, bills and receipts (1840 – 1841).
Various accounts, bills and receipts between William Caulk for services to the Harrison, Lowe, Caulk, and Grace estates (1840 – 1878).
William Caulk will (1841).
Accounts and receipts for William Caulk estate (1841).
Bill of sale from William Caulk to William Caulk, Jr. for horses, mules, cattle, and farming utensils from Locust Neck (1841).
Deed of manumission and bill of sale of slaves from William Caulk to William Caulk, Jr. (1841).
Various household and business accounts, bills, and receipts (1841).
Various household and business accounts, bills, and receipts (1843).
Note and receipt between William Caulk and the estate of John Leeds Kerr (1844).
Various household and business accounts, bills, and receipts (1844).
Receipts for purchase of slave boy called Martin by William Caulk (1845).
Various household and business accounts, bills, and receipts (1845).
Bill of Sale for two slaves (boy “Daniel” and man “Ned”) to William Caulk (1845).
Various household and business accounts, bills, and receipts (1846).
Ridgeway Equity suit receipts (1846 and 1848).
Survey of “Dawson’s Composition” for Eliza Skinner by Samuel Chamberlain (1847).
Indenture for “Dawson’s Composition” from Eliza C. Skinner to William Caulk (1847).
Indenture for “Dawson’s Composition” from Heber Chase and Eliza Chase to William Caulk (1847).
Extract of 1829 will of Royston A. Skinner (1847).
Various household and business accounts, bills, and receipts (1847).
Account ledger (1847 – 1852).
Receeipt between William Caulk and Eliza Skinner for hire of negro Henry Lawrence and purchase of land (1848).
Various household and business accounts, bills, and receipts (1848).
Bond of William Caulk, Joseph Caulk, and John W. Kemp to Eliza C. Skinner (1848) and two receipts for payments made by William Caulk to Eliza C. Skinner (1848 and 1849).
Various household and business accounts, bills, and receipts (1849).
Bond of William Caulk, John H. Caulk and William R. Lamdin to John C. Cozier for “Sherwood Forest” (1849).
Accounts of payments of bond by William Caulk to John C. Cozier for “Sherwood Forest” (1850).
Various household and business accounts, bills, and receipts (1850).
State, county, and school tax receipts (1850, 1853 and 1859) and Internal Revenue receipts (1864 and 1865).
Deed for “Sherwood Forest” from John N. Hambleton to William Caulk (1851).
Receipt for payment by William Caulk to the estate of O. Harrison (1851).
Various household and business accounts, bills, and receipts (1851).
Various household and business accounts, bills, and receipts (1852).
Various household and business accounts, bills, and receipts (1853).
Various household and business accounts, bills, and receipts (1854).
Receipt for William Caulk payment toward construction of the Broad Creek Neck church (1854).
Farm supplies ledger (1854 – 1858).
Various household and business accounts, bills, and receipts (1855).
Various household and business accounts, bills, and receipts (1856).
Deed and receipts for payment for “Feddeman’s Discovery” and “Calk Level” sold to William Caulk by Bennett and Sarah Baggs (1857 and 1858).
Various household and business accounts, bills, and receipts (1857).
Letter and envelope to Mary Caulk regarding consumption and letter from C. Baaker, MD attesting that the illness is curable (1858).
Various household and business accounts, bills, and receipts (1858).
Various household and business accounts, bills, and receipts (1859).
Various household and business accounts, bills, and receipts (1860).
Various household and business accounts, bills, and receipts (1861).
Various household and business accounts, bills, and receipts (1862).
Various household and business accounts, bills, and receipts (1863).
Various household and business accounts, bills, and receipts (1864).
Application by William Caulk for compensation for his slave, Daniel Allyon, who enlisted in the 7th Regiment, U.S. Colored Troops Co. 6 (1864).
Copy of last will and testament of Harriet Turner of Caroline County, MD (1865).
Various household and business accounts, bills, and receipts (1865).
Various household and business accounts, bills, and receipts (1866).
Deed from William Freyeland to John R. Hambleton for “Sherwood Forest” (1867).
Oyster grounds survey with plat by Charles E. Shanahan for William Caulk (1867).
Various household and business accounts, bills, and receipts (1867).
Oyster bed survey with plat by Charles E. Shanahan for William Caulk (1868).
Various household and business accounts, bills, and receipts (1868).
Notice of fence removal from William Caulk to John S. Ford (1872).
Orphans’ Court order of estate sale for the estate of William Caulk (1874).
Appointment of William Caulk Jr. as administrator for the estate of William Caulk (1874).
Estate of William Caulk ̶ Inventory (1874).
Estate of William Caulk ̶ Accounts (1874).
Estate of William Caulk – Distribution of his personal property (1875).
Estate of William Caulk – Deed of Settlement (1875).
Estate of William Caulk – Distribution of personal estate - 2nd and final account (1875).
Release to Dr. William Caulk, administrator, from Lidie E. Caulk and Mary V. George (1875).
Lidie Caulk vs. William Caulk – Notice to Prosecute Dower Claim (1876).
Lidie Caulk vs. William Caulk – Bill of Complaint (1876).
Lidie Caulk vs. William Caulk – Answers of William Caulk to Bill of Complaint (1876).
Lidie Caulk vs. William Caulk – Amended Bill of Complaint (1876).
Lidie Caulk vs. William Caulk – Answers of William Caulk to Amended Bill of Complaint (1876?)
Lidie Caulk vs. William Caulk – Replication of Lidie Caulk to the answers of William Caulk (1876).
Lidie Caulk vs. William Caulk – Rejoinder of William Caulk (1876?)
Lidie Caulk vs. William Caulk – Assessment of “Sherwood Forest,” “Locust Neck” and “Dawson’s Discovery” (1877).
Lidie Caulk vs. William Caulk – Copy of Commissioners Return (1878).
Lidie Caulk vs. William Caulk – Copy of Complainant’s Opening Argument (1878)
Lidie Caulk vs. William Caulk – Copy of Argument for Complainant by C. W. Powell, Esq (1878).
Lidie Caulk vs. William Caulk – Copy of Exceptions by Defendant (1878).
Various judgements (1876 and 1877).
Various accounts, bills, and receipts (1884 – 1921).
Agreement by Dr. William Caulk and wife to sell Turner property to Joseph H. Bernard (1890).
Contract between Dr. William Caulk and Turner Lumber Company to sell lumber on the “Sherwood Forest” farm (1990).
Contract between Dr. William Caulk and Walter L. Butler for sale by Caulk of sapwood on “Sherwood Forest” farm (1900).
Tax receipts (1901, 1907, 1919).
Letter to Dr. William Caulk from J. H. Covington regarding the Covey estate (1909).
Agreement between William Caulk and tenant/worker (1908).
Two Dr. William Caulk calling cards and one check to Preston Grace for oats (1911).
Bill from E. P. Sparks & Co. Funeral Directors and Embalmers for funeral and embalming of wife and baby (1913).
Letter from J. Frank Turner, attorney, to Dr. William Caulk (1914).
List of payments made for the personal property of Dr. William Caulk sold at auction and copy of ad for the auction (1922).
Deed from William Caulk to Samuel Hambleton for “Sherwood Forest” and deed from Samuel Hambleton to William Caulk and Howard W. Caulk for “Sherwood Forest” (1922).
Louise S. Caulk, William Caulk and Sarah A. Caulk to Howard W. Caulk for property on Chestnut Street in Saint Michaels and for the sale (1927).
Confirmatory Deed from Louise C. Hann (formerly Louise S. Caulk), Charles B. Hann, her husband, and William Caulk to Howard W. Caulk for property on Chestnut Street in Saint Michaels (1929).
Agreement by E. M. Wallace to build a 40’ boat for H. W. Caulk and two boat sketches (1933).
Deed for “Sherwood Forest” and property on Chestnut Street in Saint Michaels from Howard W. Caulk and Bessie B. Caulk, his wife, to Lee S. Gillis (1940).
Letter from Secretary of the Navy, Frank Knox, to Howard W. Caulk, Sr. confirming the death of Howard Wright Caulk, Jr. and administrative accounts for the estate of Howard W. Caulk, Jr. (1943).
Deed from Howard W. Caulk and Bessie B. Caulk, his wife, to Fred S. Lewis for “Sherwood Forest” (1946).
Three letters to Howard W. Caulk regarding sale prices of land in 1928 and 1933 (1948).
Deed from Bessie B. Caulk to Florence C. Allen and Harriett C. McIntosh for property in Saint Michaels (1958).
Deed from Bessie B. Caulk to Lee S. Gillis for property in Saint Michaels (1961).
Deed from Lee S. Gillis and Florence Marie Gillis, his wife, to Bessie B. Caulk and Florence C. Allen for property in Saint Michaels (1961).
Series 2 – Education. This series contains bills and receipts for school tuition and supplies. These are in chronological order and date from 1852 – 1864. This series also contains a letter of reference for Dr. William Caulk, a graduate of the University of Maryland Medical School, dated 1867. Some documents, bills and receipts related to education may be intermingled with the materials in Series 1.
William Caulk promissory note for Dickinson College tuition (1852) and Dickinson College Certificate of Scholarship for William Caulk (1854).
Four receipts (one undated) for tuition paid by William Caulk to St. Michaels Female Academy (1852 – 1864).
Three receipts for tuition and school supplies from Mr. Caulk to Ladies’ Literary Institute (1855-1856).
Receipt for tuition paid by Mr. Caulk for son William to Easton Academy (1859).
One bill (no date) and two receipts for room, board and instruction (1858 – 1859).
Receipt to William Caulk for instruction of daughters Carrie and Virginia (1858) and receipt for tuition paid by William Caulk for son William (1859).
Two bills to Caroline Caulk for tuition and various school supplies and expenses (1860 – 1861).
Two receipts for music instruction paid by William Caulk for daughter Carrie (1863 - 1864).
Letter of reference for Dr. William Caulk from N. R. Smith, M.D. (1867).
Story book issued by the Public Ledger (1916) and letter from Goldey College to day school students who have not returned (1937).