“Last Wednesday afternoon Mrs. Jane E Calvert, relict of the late George W Calvert, died at her residence on Sixth street, between Market and Court. She had been in poor health for several years, but the messenger of death came suddenly at last, and she expired before any of her friends could reach her bedside. She was in her 57th year, and her trouble was consumption of the bowels.”
“The deceased was a native of England, born in London, in May 1826. her maiden name was Callow. She came to this country and settled in Portsmouth at an early age, her first husband being John C Reed, a former well-known resident of this city. But one child was the result of this union, Mrs. Sallie Reed Stephenson, whose terrible death from scalds, upon the ill-fated boat Sidney1, in March last, is still remembered. Reed dying in 1856, his widow, 1859, was united in marriage to George W Calvert, who died August 5th, 1874, leaving no issue.”
“Mrs. Calvert was an intelligent woman, the center of every social or intellectual circle, and was gifted with a rare conversational power that attracted all who were within the sound of her voice. Endowed with uncommon executive ability, since the death of her last husband she has managed her large estate with highly gratifying results, and always displayed a business tact and perception of affairs not often met within women. She was a remarkable lady in many respects, and had drawn about her a host of friends who are grieved at her death.”
“The funeral took place from the All Saints’ Church yesterday afternoon, at 4 o’clock, the Rector, Reverend HL Badger, officiating. The obsequies were carried out in every particular as requested by the deceased in her will, and a large audience of friends were present to pay their last respects to the memory of the dear departed.”2
Burial Receipt for Jane E Calvert at Greenlawn Cemetery
- The Sidney is a steamboat first built in West Virginia between 1880 and 1881. On March 10, 1881, a breach in the steam line scalded fourteen people and killed four others
- Death of Mrs. Jane E Calvert. (1882, August 5). Portsmouth Times, p. 2.
