James Caldwell I (1755 - 1813)

Born 8 Jul 1755 in Cub Creek, Lunenburg, Virginia

Ancestors

Husband of Mary Elizabeth (Forrest) Caldwell — married about 1783 in Newberry, South Carolina [uncertain]

Descendants

Died 11 Jan 1813 at age 57 in Newberry, South Carolina, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Kim Richey [send private message]

Biography

James and his twin sister were born 08 Jul 1755, ^[1] "on the day of the battle of Monongahela, Braddock's unfortunate defeat," the third son of William Caldwell and Rebecca Walkup. ^{[2] [3]} He had a twin sister, Sarah. ^[4]

Note: Some accounts show a date of birth of 07 Aug 1755, which is probably a baptism date.

James grew up at the Caldwell Settlement in that part of Lunenburg County that would become Charlotte County in 1764. He removed with his widowed mother to South Carolina, settling in the Ninety Six District with his elder brothers John and William about 1770. ^[4]

Captain James Caldwell I served with South Carolina Militia during the American Revolution.

James Caldwell I is a DAR Patriot Ancestor, A018218.

He took no active part in the Revolution until 1780, after the siege of Charleston when he was appointed a captain of militia. He commanded a company under General Pickens in the 17 Jan 1781 Battle of Cowpens, was severely wounded, presumed dead, and left on the battlefield. His brother William, also in the battle, found him still alive and dressed his wounds. He served one term in the House of Representatives and did not seek re-election. He served as Sheriff of Newberry District from 1808-1812, and was a member of the Little River Presbyterian Church. ^{[2] [5]}

Note: Family tradition says that he was elected to take over his brother John's company after John was killed in 1781. ^[4]

James Caldwell married Elizabeth Forrest and their children were: ^{[6] [7]}

1. George Forrest Caldwell, b. 1794, m. Edna Brooks, d. 1834
2. David Robert Caldwell, b. 1811, m. Elizabeth Wardlaw
3. Elizabeth Caldwell, m. James Chiles
4. Frances Atwood Caldwell, m. Hugh Dickson
5. James Caldwell, Jr., m. Elizabeth Miller
6. John Caldwell, never married
7. Mary Ann "Polly" Caldwell, m1. ____ Young, m2. James Hunter
8. Rebecca Walkup Caldwell, m. James Sproull
9. Samuel Caldwell, m1. ____ Goulding, m2. R. W. Cothran
10. William Caldwell, m1. M. Creswell, m2. H. McDowell

Note: DAR Ancestor database contains an entry for a son Robert who married Janette McLeace, with a note for him that there is an error in lineage. ^[8]

Note: Researcher Anoni Muss believes that because James and Elizabeth named a daughter "Rebecca Walkup", James's mother's maiden name may have been Walkup and not Parks/Parque. ^[9]

Several unsourced genealogy sites show a date of marriage for James and Elizabeth of "about 1778," which would seem very early if they had a child born 33 years later in 1811. James and Elizabeth's great-grandson states that "Just after the close of the War he married Elizabeth Forrest, and was blessed with numerous progeny of sons and daughters, ten of whom grew to man and womanhood." ^[10] This would place the wedding in about 1783, and make an 1811 birth date seem more plausible.

James died 11 Jan 1813. He was first buried in the "Old Caldwell cemetery" about 1/2 mile east of the junction of State highway #56 & County highway #65 west of Silverstreet near Mudlick creek in Newberry County, South Carolina. His wife, Elizabeth Forrest Caldwell, was also buried there. Sometime later (date and by whom unknown) their graves were moved to Rosemont Cemetery in Newberry. ^[7] Their epitaphs read as follows: ^[1]

"Sacred t o the memory of Captain James Caldwell who departed this life Jan. 11, 1813 in the 58th year of his age."

"Sacred t o the memory of Mrs. Elizabeth F. Caldwell who died on the third day of October, 1822, in the 58th year of her age."

James died without a will. His estate was administered by his children; Elizabeth, William & Samuel Caldwell. Warrant of Appraisal was signed on 01 Mar 1813, and was recorded in Book G, pages 269 & 270 on Nov 18, 1819. The sale bill of the estate was recorded 18 Nov 1819 (Newberry Co. Court House - Book G, pages 271 & 272) The settlement of his estate was also recorded there on 03 Dec 1822." ^[7]

Enslaved Africans

James is enumerated with four slaves in the 1790 census, ^[11]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} Find A Grave: Memorial #45659974 for Capt James Caldwell (8 Jul 1755–11 Jan 1813), citing Rosemont Cemetery, Newberry, Newberry County, South Carolina, USA; Maintained by Michael Bell (contributor 46911790).
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} The Annals of Newberry, by John Belton O'Neall, LL.D. Charleston, S.C.: S. G. Courtenay and Co., publishers, 1859.
3. ↑ "The Caldwells of Mill Creek, Newberry," the Newberry Observer, 27 Apr 1887
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2} History of My Grand Parents and There (sic) Families, by Elizabeth Ann (Caldwell) Higgins, Newberry, South Carolina, Aug 1887.
5. ↑ Some Heroes of the American Revolution, by J. D. Bailey, Spartanburg: Band & White, printers, 1924, South Carolina Section, pp. 279-280.
6. ↑ Long Ago Tales, by David Carver Caldwell and Peggy Anderson Caldwell, Lulu.com printers, 2008, rev. 2016, p. 224-225
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1 7.2} History of the Brooks Family, Butler Family, Caldwell Family, and Descendants of Margaret Rebecca (Caldwell) Stallworth, by Thomas Arrington Stallworth, Chester, South Carolina: published by the author, 1992, pp. 175-176
8. ↑ Daughters of the American Revolution, DAR Genealogical Research Databases, database online, (http://www.dar.org/), "Record of Capt. James Caldwell", Ancestor # A018218.
9. ↑ 15. Genealogy.com: "Discrepancies Re: Caldwell Family of VA (Cub Creek) & SC (96 District)", by Anoni Muss, 28 Sep 2014.
10. ↑ Letter from Judge James Sproull Cothran of Greenville, South Carolina dated 26 Jun 1895 to Gilbert Cape(sp?) of Newchurch (sp?), Pennsylvania.
11. ↑ "United States Census, 1790," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHKN-35T : accessed 5 February 2019), James Caldwell, Newberry, South Carolina, United States; citing p. 77, NARA microfilm publication M637, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 11; FHL microfilm 568,151.

See also:

• Letter from John Rodgers to Elias Boudinot Caldwell, written about 1824/25, and reprinted in Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, Vol. 19, 1911, pp. 92-94.
• Letter from Thomas H. Pope III to Thomas A. Stallworth, Sr., dated 16 Nov 1992, concerning John Caldwell (1728-1781) and his brothers
• Virginia Soldiers of 1776, by Louis Alexander Burgess. Richmond, Va.: Richmond Press, 1927, pp. 939-942
• Caldwell Genealogy: James Caldwell, compiled by John A. Caldwell, 2001-17

Acknowledgements

• WikiTree profile Caldwell-859 created through the import of 3214733.ged on Sep 17, 2011 by Kim Richey.
• Edenfield Genealogical Society
• This person was created through the import of JDS_09_17_10.ged on 09 February 2011.