1767 - From Virginia to New Jersey - Princeton
The following is excerpted [p.13] from Life and Times of Judge Caleb Wallace, Whitsitt, William H., which was Number Four of the Filson Club Publications [Louisville, Ky.], dated 1888; the "departure" therein referenced was from Wallace’s Virginia home to the College of New Jersey, now Princeton. Wallace was, by this time, about twenty-five years of age, which, by modern standards, was a late beginning for a "college education". It is probable, though, that, prior to this time, he had received no formal education. He did, in fact, proceed, not directly to the University at Princeton, but he instead spent some time in preparation in a "Grammar School" in Elizabethtown. This delay facilitated an overlap with the younger James Madison, whose own education was more precocious. Admission requirements, as quoted in "Life and Times", etc., p. 12, at the College of New Jersey, while appearing quaint by modern standards, would be even more daunting to today’s high-school seniors who will likely have experienced even less acquaintance with "the classics" of old. Whitsitt quotes, "None may expect to be admitted but such as, having been examined by the president and tutors, shall be found able to render Virgil and Tulley’s orations into English; to turn English into true and grammatical Latin; and so well acquainted with the Greek as to render any part of the four Evangelists in that language into Latin or English, and give the grammatical construction of the words."
"On the eve of Caleb's departure from Charlotte, recourse was had to the Rev. Robert Henry, who, for a period of fifteen years, had been the pastor of Cub Creek church; according to the custom of the times Mr. Henry supplied the youthful Wallace with a letter of recommendation to carry with him on his journey. Following is a copy of that document:"
" These are to certifie all Christian People to whom these Presents shall come, that I have been acquainted with Caleb Wallace, the bearer hereof since he was a Boy, and he hath always Sustained a moral Character, & is going from home Free from any publick Scandal or liable to any Church Censure known to me, and hath been a Partaker of Sealing Ordinances, and may therefore be received as a Member into any Christian Congregation or Society where Providence shall Order his Lot.
" Dated at Cub Creek in Charlotte County, Virginia, April 6th, 1767.
" ROBERT HENRY."
"The above is possibly the last piece of writing of any sort that Mr. Henry ever composed; he died on the 8th of May, 1767, just one and thirty days after it was dated and delivered. (Foote, 2, 52.) It was preserved with religious care by Mr. Wallace as long as he lived, and is now in possession of the Hon. Henry C. Wallace, of Lexington, Missouri."
Letters of introduction must have been important for a stranger from the southern colonies; while in attendance at the Grammar School, Caleb no doubt carried the following notice ("Life and Times", etc., p.14): "Elizabeth Town-1768, November 2nd. These are to certify that Caleb Wallace is a Regular Member of our Grammar School Society; and he now goes from us with a good Character, and We do hereby Recommend him to all Persons as an Agreeable Member of Society; of which the Seal hereunto affixed and our names Subscribed as Testimony. Signed by Order of the Society [Seal.] John Remmele, Pres’t. Lewis Boudinot, Clk."
Also, according to Dr. Whitsitt, writing in "Life and Times", etc., the following was found among Judge Wallace’s retained documents at the time of his death: "Whereas, CALEB WALLACE has been a member of the Society called Socialis Societas in Elizabeth Town, and during his residence among Us hath behaved himself as becomes a Christian and a Useful Member of that Society; and now is about to remove from Us; and We being willing to Testify the Regard and Affection we have for him, not only on the Account of his Publick Good Character, but his Personal Merit and Worth, Have Unanimously Voted that our Clerk do Present this Publick Testimony of our Esteem and Affection to him. Elizabeth Town, 4 Feb’ry, 1769. By Order of the Society.
Elisha Boudinot, Clk."
The College of New Jersey at that time apparently had a work-study program; this note appears in the Trustees Minutes, Vol. I, p. 170. "ordered that the Treasurer do pay Mr Wallace one of the Students the sum of thirty shillings in consideration of his good services as a transcriber of honorary Diplomas conferred this Commencement." It may be there is a genetic component to the talent for calligraphy. A Wallace descendant who resides in the Midway, Kentucky, vicinity is a practitioner and teacher of the art whose letters are treasured and displayed by their recipients because of their artistic composition as well as their content.
© 1998, Dennis Boyer
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