General Notes

Thomas Vernon made the surveying voyage to Pennsylvania with William Penn in 1681 and returned later that year to England. He and his brothers were among the first to obtain property in the newly acquired land. Land Titles in Delaware County Records the Three Vernon Brothers purchase of 625 acres each in March 1681. Randall Vernon purchased a further 829 acres in 1711 and 1712. Robert Vernon purchased a further 330 acres in 1684.

Thomas Vernon, Quaker, is particularly tormented during the late 1600's, having his stock driven off his estate and other property taken from him at will. Consequently, it is quite easy to understand the settlement of these Vernons in the New World. (VV June 1974 p 14)The inscription on the monument at the ruins of Caldwell Settlement states that Rev. John caldwell, ancestor of John C. Calhoun of South Carolina and Dr. Joseph Caldwell, First President of the University of North carolina, waited on the Presbyterian synod of Philadelphia in 1738 for permission to settle in Virginia. He was also the ancestor of Dr. David Caldwell, founder of Caldwell College of Greensborough, N.C., and educator of Governors of N.C., as well as Generals for the South in the Civil War. Dr. David died at the age of 97. I visited this site on two occasions, the last being in 1970. The Synod applied to Governor Gooch, and permission was granted in Williamsburgh on Nov. 4, 1738. Rev. John and his followers purchased 20,000acres along both sides of Cub Creek, which was then in Old Brunswick county.