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Historical notes on the Drumclamph Caldwells

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Records show Caldwells at Drumclamph from 1683 onwards:-

 

James 1683-1755, settled at Drumclamph, Manor of Derrygoon, Parish of Ardstraw
He was buried at Scarvagherin Graveyard.

He had 2 known sons James & Samuel & 2 daughters married to John Thornton & a John Simpson

This James 1683-1755, son of James and Catherine Hume Caldwell was a land proprietor in Drumclamph Co Tyrone and had an extensive linen business.
On one occasion, prior to his death he was visited by three men who told him they wanted "exemption money". (blackmail) for which he would receive protection from lawlessness.

James paid the men and after the men departed his son James 1724-1804 said "Father, I never will pay that", to which he replied, "Well, my son, you will regret it if you don't".
After the father died the son refused to pay for protection. Soon, the servants were reporting that the oxen had been driven over a precipice, wild dogs had killed the sheep and the servants were being intimidated.
James
abandoned the linen business and went to America 1769

(Was this James Caldwell 1724-1804 of Wheeling Ohio Co W Virginia?  James married Elizabeth Alexander in 1752. They emigrated in 1769 & he was active in the defence of Fort McHenry in 1777)

James 1683-1755 made a will registered in 1753. It said:-

To son James per marriage settlement to Elizabeth Alexander

To son Samuel leases of Drumclamph from Earl of Abercorn, one half freehold of
Lower Crew, Magheracreggan, one third of Kilreal, Magheracreggan in the Manor of Hastings, alias Castlegore, near  Castlederg, barony of Omagh, one half of the furniture and the bleaching green.

Elizabeth Alexander

 
:
1
3/02/1732
from Hugh Edwards of Castlegore to James Caldwell of Drumclamph Distiller for £300:-

 

71 acres of the townland of Killreal for & during the natural lives of him the said
James Caldwell and of his
two sons James and Samuel Caldwell
for £300 at the yearly rent of £5
payable half yearly by equal moieties with 12 pence a lb receivers fees
and as duties
1 spangle of good sufficient saturable linnon yarn at 6 doz to the lb
or
4 shillings in lieu thereof 2 old barrels of good oats and the straw thereof or 14 shillings in lieu thereof.

 

Letters from Abercorn Agents

07/02/1748 Jo Colhoun, Strabane to Earl of Abercorn

 

James Caldwell of Drumclamph the younger holds a quarter of Ballynaloan
where he has a bleach green some years past and
Robert Caldwell’s family in Cavandoragh who are very industrious and growing rich  are making a bleach green in their own land about half a mile as I think on the same water above James’s green.
James thinks fixing that green in Cavandoragh will both lessen and abuse the water coming to his.
I have viewed the two greens, and do think it cannot much hurt the lower green.

 

25/02/1748  James Earl of Abercorn, London to Mr Colhoun

 

I have two letters from James Caldwell about his bleach yard.
It will be best to defer making the other at Cavandoragh till I come, unless they can agree in the meantime
.

 

17/04/1753  Will of James Caldwell of Drumclamph in Ardstraw - executors 2 sons - to be buried in Scarvagherin burying place

 

To son Samuel lease on farm from Earl of Abercorn at Drumclamph and ½ renewable lease of the farm Brockless made to testator by Oliver McCausland of Strabane.

Also ½ of the freehold of 71a of the Lower Third of Kilreal in Manor of Hastings held by renewable deed forever from Hugh Edwards late of Castlegore

And all my stock and debts to son James Caldwell and a cow besides that given him by his marriage settlement with Elizabeth Alexander

To sons-in-law John Simpson  2½  & John Thornton 5/3  

Bleaching green of Bellenalone with forge belongs to 2 sons

To son Samuel ½ tin furnace etc

 

1756 Abercorn Papers - Survey of Strabane Manor

 

Drimclamph Mr Samuel Caldwell’s Division

Best Arable and Meadow                     20a 0r 00p @11/-                    £11.00.00
Coarse do & best pasture                     17a 2r16p @ 6/-                      £  5.  5   7
Heathy pasture & bog                            4a 3r 24p @ 6d                              2.  6
By road                                                  0a 3r 21p                               ________
Content                                                43a 1r 21p                              £16.08.01

½ the first distinction is good land, the rest is cold & springy & part of the second has been laboured but is very indifferent ground.
The rest of it l
ies virgin ground & though arable is very wet and sour.
The third yields little pasture but is nearly run out &
partly reclaimable - the whole farm may be much Improved

 

Abercorn Agents’ Letters

18/03/1758 James Hamilton, Crosh to Earl of Abercorn, London

 

Samuel Caldwell of Drumclamph has by exchange given up his holding there to one Charles Moor.

 

18/04/1758

 

Charles Moor lived on a freehold of Samuel Caldwell’s which is in Lady Ross’s estate.
He has a very fair character and in good circumstances.
Samuel Caldwell has bought cloth for some time, has whitened it, with his brother James who lives in Lower Ballynaloan and has built a mill, and made other improvements
on the way.

 

12/10/1762

From James & Saml Caldwell of Drumclamph to William Edie of Killydart Lieut John Stewart & Mary Stewart his mother the 71 acres at Killreal plus land at Bruckglass

08/03/1765 James Hamilton, Strabane to Earl of Abercorn

 

A Dissenting Clergyman named Joseph Caldwell of Ballinalone and Robert Caldwell of Cavandoragh are each of them desirous of becoming tenants in place of James Caldwell of Ballinalone
– Robert for to fix a son there to carry on the linen business.
There is a very good house on the farm, and a cloth mill.
James Caldwell requires £60 for it on a profit rent of £8.10.0.

 

06/04/1765 James Earl of Abercorn, London to James Hamilton Esq., Strabane

 

I allow James Caldwell of Ballynalone to dispose of his farm to any good tenant that will settle upon it immediately, and be likely to keep up the very good buildings that are upon it

 

1777  Abercorn Estate Map

 

Drimclamph No Caldwell - Charles Moor has only 21a 3r 10p

 

1838-57 and 1839-43 Abercorn Rent Roll

 

Drumclamph           Thomas (Nathaniel)

 

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