Caldwell ancestors

	The Caldwells of Drumclamph	Irish Flag		Ulster Flag

My great grandmother was Eliza Caldwell She was born in Drumclamph Ardstraw, Co Tyrone
Her father was Nathaniel Caldwell (1772-1869).

Abercorn Estate Records

Nathaniel did not marry until he was 52 - about 1824

His daughter Eliza was not born until 1835.

She was his sole heiress
(Probably the men folk had gone to USA).

Nathaniel Caldwell -
photo taken by Young and Glass

Heritage Review No.4 Spring 2001 Early Photographs
14-page appendix lists over 400 professional
photographers and studios, including ‘Young and Glass’,
who operated in Carlisle Road Derry in 1878.


Eliza had another unwanted suitor - he abducted her on a horse to Laght Drumquin Co.Tyrone Her sweetheart - my grandfather Matthew H Smith 1827-1933 went after them and brought her back and married her - on 7 March 1853 at Mullaghcroy Ardstraw Co Tyrone. They had 12 children	Matthew and Eliza	Eliza in later life

I do not know precisely the ancestry of Nathaniel Caldwell born 1772. He was my great great grandfather. Some records say that he was Nathaniel Thomas which would make the people on the following page his ancestors I do not have further proof However the following facts apply to both my Caldwells and Caldwells who lived in the Drumclamph area in the centuries before:-

1. Drumclamph is a very small area geographically
2. They were Methodists - there was a big revival there in the18th C
3. They were farmers & tenants of the Abercorn estate

I have another Samuel Caldwell born after 1724 of Drumclamph Ardstraw Co Tyrone

Also Rev James Caldwell b abt 1783 married Isabella McAskie - they went to USA - see James & Isabella Caldwell Page

My guess:- Nathaniel Caldwell born 1772 was the grandson of James born 1685

1829 Freeholder’s Register for Co. Tyrone James & Samuel Caldwell of Belnalone and Thomas Caldwell of Drumclamph registered

Caldwells pre 1600 Irish Caldwells came from Stratton, Ayrshire, Scotland before 1600. They settled in Donegal Ireland. One

son, John, (1603-1639) married Mary Sweetenham in 1627. They lived at Enniskillen, Fermanagh, Ireland

Their son John (1630-1692) married Mary Holmes (1635-1691) in 1651 - they settled at Ballybogan Lifford Co Donegal

Son Joseph (1656-1730) married Jane McGhie in 1652 & continued at Ballybogan.He served in the Defence of Derry and died in 1730 and was buried on his farm in Ballybogan on 3 Sep 1730. They had 11 children 7 of which went to USA - see below

John F Caldwell (1682-1750) of Cub Creek, Lunenburg,Virginia
In 1727, John emigrated to America with his wife Margaret Phillips and three married sisters Elizabeth, Jane and Catherine and settled at Cubs Creek. Their area was known as the Caldwell Settlement John died in 1750
By then, he owned an enormous estate of more than 1080 acres

Andrew Caldwell (1692-1752) emigrated to Pequba Lancaster Co USA
& married Ann Stewart

In "OLD FREE STATE" by Bell it says that
Joseph and Jane McGhie also had 4 other sons.

Thomas, Robert, David & William (went to USA)

Daughter Margaret Caldwell married Robert McJunkin
and moved to Stewartstown Co Tyrone

Son George Caldwell (1690-) stayed at Ballybogan and married Jane Phillips,
sister of Margaret Phillips, who had married his brother John

In "Descendants of Daniel Martin" by Gee, it is suggested that after George died in Ireland his widow remarried to Thomas Dougherty and left Ireland, arriving in America 1727.

My Caldwell Ballybogan family - Amelia Caldwell born circa 1860 at Ballybogan & was the heiress
She was probably a descendant of either Thomas, Robert or David

She married Robert James Smith (1855-1942), son of Matthew H Smith & Elizabeth Caldwell - my great grandparents -
of Mullaghcroy House Castlederg Co Tyrone

See Caldwells of Drumclamph above

Picture is of Amelia Caldwell and her husband Robert James Smith 1855-1942.
Robert was known as RJ and was the brother of my grandfather Thomas Smith.

Ardstraw Parish is in West Tyrone near Donegal

Drumclamph is about 27 kms from Ballybogan

Co Tyrone, Ardstraw incl Drumclamph

And finally:- Two stories from the Internet:-

John CALDWELL who married Margaret PHILLIPS was born 01 Feb 1682/3 Donegal, Donegal, Ireland.
Parents were Joseph CALDWELL & Jane MCGHIE.
Joseph CALDWELL parents John CALDWELL & Mary HOLMES.
John CALDWELL parent was John CALDWELL born c. 1600 Prestwick, Scotland.
His father was William CALDWELL.
William CAULDWELL'S father was Alexander CAULDWELL who went to Scotland from France.
There were three brothers who went to Scotland. The brothers were Pirates

From Virginia Soldiers of 1776**
The Earliest Records of the Caldwells relate to three brothers, who lived near the boundary of France and Italy, at Toulon. The religious persecution of the Huguenots forced them to migrate across the country, and finally to Solway Firth, Scotland. They purchased land and sent to Toulon for their families.

On their land was a notably cold well; and it is supposed that neighbours designated them as John, Alexander and Oliver of the Cold-Well. The Family lived here, marrying with prominent families.

It is told that Elizabeth (Queen) was their Patron and friend.

Oliver Cromwell's mother was Anne Caldwell of Solway Firth.

Joseph, John, Andrew and David Caldwell accompanied Cromwell to the north of Ireland, where he became Lord Governor.

Cromwell kept the Caldwells in his interest, but when Charles II (the 2nd) was restored to his power, David, John and Alexander fled to America.

Joseph died in Ireland; Daniel remained there, but some of his children emigrated to America, and to Virginia, settling on the James River and elsewhere.

See Randolph Caldwell's Site for more Caldwell History

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