MYTHS BUSTED:
The John Caldwell in
this profile DID NOT
have sons named Joshua, Henry, Andrew
or Samuel, nor daughters named
Catherine, Elizabeth, Mary, Isabella or Jane.
Those children belong to a John Caldwell who died in 1747 Somersett County, MD
who married Mary Orr.
John Rodgers (son of the Wm. Rodgers & Margaret
Caldwell ) in an 1825 letter to his cousin Elias Caldwell in Washington, DC
listed the children of John and Margaret (Phillips) Caldwell when he stated:
"Our grandfather's children
were Win. , Thomas, David & Margaret, John, Robert & James. "
John Rodgers as a nephew / grandson had first hand knowledge of
his ancestry.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
John Caldwell born 9 January 1683 in Ballyoogan, Lifford Parish, Donegal, Ireland, died 6 October 1750 [1] in Cub Creek, Lunenburg County, VA. with burial in the Cub Creek Cemetery, married Margaret Philips on 4 January 1703 in Derry, Ireland.[1] He wrote his will on the 26 Nov 1748, and it wa sprobated on the 3 Apr 1751 at the Lunenburg Co., VA court.
Margaret Philips was born 6 September 1685 in Derry, Ireland; most likely died prior to 1750 as she was not mentioned in her husbands Will.
John Rodgers, son of William & Margaret (Caldwell) Rodgers, at the age of 79 in his 1825 letter to his cousin Elias B. Caldwell, a U.S. Supreme Court clerk wrote the following about his Caldwell family history:
Our grandfather emigrated from Scotland to Ireland
soon after King William's conquest of that place. Our grandfather John Caldwell
was born in Ireland & was there married to a Margaret Phillips (our grandmother)
He remained there till they had five children at which time he got three of his
brothers-in law to come to America with him (to wit) Moor, Richey & Dudgeon. All
of whom I well remember, & one brother- in-law who married his wife's sister
whose name was Dougherty, grandfather of my wife and Thomas Dougherty formerly
Clerk to the lower house of Congress and of course known to you. These set sail
together and landed in Delaware the very day that King George the Second was
proclaimed there. [Arrived in America 10 December 1727 at New Castle,
Delaware] From thence they got up the country to a place in [Lancaster
County,] Pennsylvania then called Chestnut Level. Our grandfather, naturally
of an enterprising spirit, explored the country Southwesterly from a place in
Virginia now Albermarle County to which he moved and was soon followed by all
[of] his kindred. There he lived for some years; There our grandfather died and
his oldest son and my mother, his only daughter, were married. They and their
companions moved with him to Roanoke River and the fine lands there explored the
country Westwardly till he and his followers fixed on a fine level watered spot
not 30 miles outside any inhabitants to which place him and his sons and
brothers-in-law moved about the year 1742 or 3.
They were soon after
joined by other friends mostly from Ireland or Pennsylvania until they formed a
little connected Settlement which was known and always called Caldwell
Settlement for thirty years after. Our father was the first Justice of Peace and
his oldest son the oldest militia officer that was ever appointed under King Geo
2nd. [1]
The children of John F. Caldwell and Margaret Philips were:
1. William Findley Caldwell born 1 February 1704 in County Donegal, Ireland; died in that portion of Lunenberg that became Charlotte County, VA. with burial in Cub Creek Cemetery. Inherited 400 acres of land from his father. Williams Will dated Dec 22, 1758 proved April 17, 1761 married Rebecca Parque (Parks) abt 1725 in Ireland. Williams widow (Rebecca) moved to South Carolina.[1]
2. Thomas Caldwell born 10 April 1706 in County Donegal, Ireland; died before Sep 1747 in that portion of Lunenberg that became Charlotte County, VA.[1] with burial in the Cub Creek Cemetery. In Sep 1747 his wife Mary Jane (Parks) Caldwell appeared in court and relinquished her Executrix and William Caldwell was appointed. His death prior to his fathers is reinforced by his not appearing in his fathers 26 Nov 1748. [4]
3. David Caldwell born 7 July 1708 in County Donegal, Ireland; died in 1769 Charlotte County, VA. with burial in the Cub Creek Cemetery. Will dated Oct 19, 1765 proved March 6, 1769. David married Mary Dudgeon abt 1730 in Augusta, Virginia. David's widow moved to Kentucky. [1]
4. John F. Caldwell born 20 March 1715 in County Donegal, Ireland. Moved to South Carolina where he died. [1]
5. Margaret Caldwell born 1722 in Ballyoogan, Lifford Parish, in County Donegal, Ireland; died about October 1791 ( Findagrave some family files suggest Bedford County, VA. and others Mercer County, KY.); married 1st) William Rogers who died in1750 Lunenburg Co., VA. 2nd) James Mitchell of Lunenberg County, Virginia. about 1751.[1]
6. Robert Caldwell born 6 June 1731 in Lancaster, PA.; died in 1808 Boyle, Kentucky [1] Inherited 600 acres of East side of Cub Creek from his father. Married Mary Logan 1755 in Virginia.
7. James Caldwell born 18 April 1734 in Lancaster, PA., died 1781 Elizabeth Point, New Jersey Inherited 500 acres on Cub Creek from his father married Hannah Ogden 1754
[1] Virginia Historical Magazine, Jan 1911, v 19, pages 92 - 94 John Rodgers 1825 letter to Elias B Caldwell of Washington City a U.S. Supreme Court clerk:
Dear Sir:
I acknowledge the receipt of your letter
of March 18th and thank you for the information therein contained. You can� not
conceive what feelings crossed my brain when I heard of so many of my kindred
according to the flesh well in this world and to human appearance not forgetful
of the next, the accounts you give me of many of my dear people are truly
pleasing to me as I am now eldest of all our family & have from my youth up,
been very curious in collecting all the information I could obtain from my
oldest relations with regard to our ancestors. I will give you a short sketch of
what I know on that subject. It may afford you some amusement in your leisure
hours.
Our grandfather (John Caldwell who married Margaret Phillips)
emigrated from Scotland to Ireland soon after King William's conquest of that
place. Our grandfather John Caldwell was born in Ireland & was there married to
a Margaret Phillips (our grandmother) He remained there till they had five
children at which time he got three of his brothers-in law to come to America
with him (to wit) Moor, Richey & Dudgeon. All of whom I well remember, & one
brother- in-law who married his wife's sister whose name was Dougherty,
grandfather of my wife and Thomas Dougherty formerly Clerk to the lower house of
Congress and of course known to you. These set sail together and landed in
Delaware the very day that King George the Second was proclaimed there. From
thence they got up the country to a place in Pennsylvania then called Chestnut
Level. Our grandfather, naturally of an enterprising spirit, explored the
country Southwesterly from a place in Virginia now Albermarle County to which he
moved and was soon followed by all [of] his kindred. There he lived for some
years; There our grandfather died and his oldest son and my mother, his only
daughter, were married. They and their companions moved with him to Roanoke
River and the fine lands there explored the country Westwardly till he and his
followers fixed on a fine level watered spot not 30 miles outside any
inhabitants to which place him and his sons and brothers-in-law moved about the
year 1742 or 3.
They were soon after joined by other friends mostly from
Ireland or Pennsylvania until they formed a little connected Settlement which
was known and always called Caldwell Settlement [5]
for thirty years after. Our father was the first Justice of Peace and his oldest
son the oldest militia officer that was ever appointed under King Geo 2nd.
Within 25 miles of that place in that neighborhood I was born and in it was
married and had six children before I moved to Kentucky in the year 1781. Our
grandfather's children were Win., Thomas, David & Margaret, John, Robert
& James. My father (William Rodgers) and grandfather
(John Caldwell) both died in October 1750, just 14 days apart. My
mother (Margaret Caldwell Rodgers) married a man by the name of James
Mitchell. She had five children by each husband. Two of her daughters died in
Virginia. The rest all came to Kentucky & have numerous families. Her son Robert
(Rodgers) died in Kentucky. William, Thomas and David (his three
Caldwell uncles) are all buried in the same graveyard with their father.
David's widow and all the family moved to Kentucky. Uncle John went to South
Carolina and died there. Uncle William's widow and all that family went also to
So. Carolina. Our friend J.C. Calhoun is a son of the 2nd daughter of that
family. I enjoy as good health as a man in his 79th year has any good reason to
expect or look for, for which I ought to be very thankful to the Great Giver of
all blessings. My kindred in this section of the Country are all well as far as
I know.
I am sorry to hear of your declining state of health but hope you
will be enabled by grace Divine to bear it without murmuring though. Remember me
to your wife & dear children and to your brother Josiah and family. I greet you
all as dear relations and although I shall never see any of you in this world. I
hope to meet you at a future day in a far happier place.
How vain are All
things here below, yet I feel a desire to hear from you all often whilst I do
live. On looking over what I have written I see a good many blots & blunders
which you will readily excuse. Farewell.� Farewell.'
From your
affectionate cousin,
John Rodgers
[2] Per Colonial Men and Times: Containing the Journal of Col. Daniel Trabue the letter from John Rodgers was dated Nashville, Tenn. May 11, 1825 to his cousin Elias Boudinot Caldwell, of Washington City. (a Supreme Court clerk.)
[3] A well researched and documented profile on John Caldwell and Margaret Phillips, parents of the Margaret Caldwell who 1st married William Rogers and 2nd married James Mitchell.
[4] At a Court continued and held for Lunenburg County, VA, the third day of April, 1751
In the name of our Eternal and Almighty God, who
formed the Universe by the word of His power, and governs it by the dictates of
His wisdom, I, John Caldwell,
of Cub Creek in VA, being in health of body, sound memory and
full of tranquility, for which I adore the Divine goodness of God. However, not
knowing how soon or how suddenly my change may come, I ordain and declare this
to be my last will and testament. In the first place, I must humbly resign my
immortal spirit into the hands of my most Merciful Creator, beseeching him to
receive it into the number of His elect through the merits of Jesus Christ.
Then, as for my perishing body, I entreat it may be committed to its kindred
earth without poor needless expense, with a firm persuasion that my Redeemer
lives and shall stand on earth at the last day. I most earnestly recommend my
fatherless children to the care of the most Merciful Providence of God, to guard
them from the wiles of the crafty and the oppression of the powerful and so to
direct the conduct of their lives that they receive to themselves His
everlasting blessing and protection. Then as for the estate which it has pleased
God to bless me, by his permission,
I dispose thereof in the following
manner: (1st) My firm intention is that the few debts which may be owing at the
time of my death, be punctually paid and speedily discharged, and as I have
taken an honest care in my lifetime to pay all that were considerable, I desire
that no appraisement be made but an inventory taken of all my personal estate
and left in the power of my executor for the use and support of my children that
shall be under age at my decease.
Imprimis: I leave and bequeath unto my
son, William Caldwell, four hundred acres of
land whereon he now lives with all the improvements thereunto belonging to him
and his heirs forever, and also twelve pounds ten shillings in cash, and also my
great Bible.
I also leave and bequeath to my son, John
Caldwell, four hundred acres of land known by the name of Flag
Springs, and empower my executor to sell and make a title to said land for the
use of John Caldwell, as said executor thinks proper. I likewise leave and
bequeath to my son, John Caldwell, one hundred acres of land where my mill now
stands, together with the mill and all improvements thereunto, to be let, rented
or sold at the discretion of my executor for the use of said John Caldwell.
I also leave and bequeath to my son, James Caldwell,
five hundred acres of land whereon I now live, with all improvements thereunto,
belonging to him and his heirs forever.
I also leave and bequeath to my
son, David Caldwell, five hundred acres of
land lying on the East side of Cub Creek, being part of one thousand and eighty
acres by estimation more or less, being part of the aforementioned one thousand
and eighty acres, beginning at the mouth of Lease Creek, thence up Cub for
quantity, to him and his heirs forever.
I also leave and bequeath to my
son Robert Caldwell, six hundred acres of
land lying on the West side of Cub Creek, part of it being of the aforementioned
one thousand and eighty acres, and the remainder being three hundred acres
adjoining the aforesaid land lying on Walkers Branch, to him and his heirs
forever. I also order and empower my executor to sell and title the remainder of
the aforesaid thousand and eighty acres of land lying above the mouth of Walkers
Branch adjoining John Short, for the use and support of my children that shall
be under age at the time of my death.
I also leave and bequeath to my
three sons, Viz: John, Robert and James Caldwell, all my horses, geldings, mares
and colts, to be divided amongst them at the discretion of my executor, and for
the due performance of this my last will and testament , I hereby revoke all
former wills by me made at any time, and do declare and ordain this to be my
last will and testament. Witness my hand and seal this
26th day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and
forty eight.
Signed John Caldwell
Witnesses Present: William Rogers George Moore John
McNeese
At a court continued and held for Lunenburg County, the third day
of April, 1751. The within written last will and testament of John Caldwell,
deceased, was exhibited in Court by David Caldwell, executor, therein made oath
therto according to law, and the same was proven by oaths of all the witnesses
thereto and ordered to be recorded, and on the motion of the said executor, who
have first together with sureties, entered into bond and acknowledged same.
Certificate was granted him for obtaining a probate of the said will in due
form. Test: Clement Reed, C.L.C. Truly recorded Test: Clement Reed, C.L.C.
A-Copy test: John L. Yates, Clerk
[5] "The story of Cub Creek may be said
to commence 11 April 1738 when the Donegal Presbytery (Lancaster, Penna.)
approved the supplication of John Caldwell "in behalf of himself and many
families of our persuasion who are about to settle in the back parts of Virginia
desiring that some members of the Synod may be appointed to wait upon that
government to solicit their favour in behalf of our interest in that place". (1)
John Caldwell, an elder in the Chestnut Level Presbyterian Church in Lancaster
County, Penna., is the recognized founder of the Cub Creek Congregation, in
which movement he was ably assisted by Andrew and Thomas Cunningham, along with
14 others who purchased land, then in Brunswick County from Richard and William
Kennon."
Footnotes: (1) Records of the Presbyterian Church in the United
States of America, embracing the Minutes of the General Presbytery and General
Synod, 1706-1788, pg 138-139. (2) The 17 founders were David John and William
Caldwell and William son of John Caldwell; Andrew and Thomas Cunningham; Thomas
Daugherty; Richard Dudgeon, James Franklin, William Fuqua, William Hardwick;
David and James Logan; Alexander McConnel, Israel Pickens, John Stewar, and
Thomas Vernon as noted in Elizabeth Venable Gaines: "Cub Creek and Congregation,
1738-1838, p. 93."
On May 30, 1738, the Synod of Philadelphia wrote:
"To
the honourable William Gooch, Esquire, Lieutenant Governor of the Province of
Virginia, the humble address of the Presbyterian ministers convened in Synod,
May 28, 1738, &c. May it please your honour, we take leave to address you in
behalf of a considerable number of our brethren who are meditating a settlement
in the remote parts of your government, and are of the same persuasion with the
Church of Scotland. We thought it our duty to acquaint your honour with their
design, and to ask your favour in allowing them the liberty of their
consciences, and of worshipping God in a way agreeable to the principles of
their education. Your honour is sensible that those of our profession in Europe
have been remarkable for their inviolable attachment to the Protestant
succession, in the illustrious house of Hanover, and have upon all occasions
manifested an unspotted fidelity to our gracious sovereign King George, and we
doubt not but these our brethren will carry the same loyal principles to the
most distant settlements where their lot may be cast, which will ever influence
them to the most dutiful submission to the government which is placed over them.
This we trust will recommend them to your honour's countenance and protection,
and merit the free enjoyment of their civil and religious liberties. We pray for
the Divine blessing upon your person and government, and beg leave to subscribe
ourselves your honour's most humble and obedient servants."
The Virginia
House of Burgesses, on November 1, 1738 wrote into law the Act establishing
Frederick and Augusta Counties out of Orange County territory west of the Blue
Ridge, thereby facilitating a new religious policy for the Scots Presbyterians
settling in that region.