General Notes

Arrived in America 10 December 1727 at New Castle, Delaware, going then to Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. About 1742 moved to Lunenburg County (now Charlotte), Virginia where they were joined by relatives, forming what is known as the "Caldwell Settlement" for many years.  John Caldwell was the first Justice of the Peace, commissioned by King George ll, for that sector. Founder and elder of First Presbyterian Church of Virginia at Cub Creek. Supposed to have come to Newcastle Delaware on 10 DEC 1727.

Born in Lifford Parish of Ballycogan, County Donegal in 1683. John and Margaret were married in County Derry, Ireland on 4 Jan 1704. In 1727, John, his wife, four sons and a daughter, emigrated to America along with three married sisters and their husbands (Elizabeth and James Moor, Jane and Alexander Ritchey and Catherine and John Dudgeon). They arrived at New Castle, Delware aboard the ship EAGLE'S WING. The family went first to Lancaster Co., PA. in an area known as Chestnut Level. In approx. 1738 they moved to Lunenbeerg (now Charlotte) County, VA. It was known as the Caldwell Settlement on the Cub Creek area of Virginia. Some genealogy gives the date for the family migration to Virginia as about 1749, but it is duly recorded that the Cub Creek Church, which celebrated its 250th anniversary in 1986 was founded by James Caldwell in 1738.  Captain John Caldwell died 6 Oct 1750 at Cub Creek, Virginia. At the time of his death, he owned a vast estate on Cub Creek and Lawes Creek of about 1080 acres. He is buried with his sons William, Thomas and David and most likely his wife who must have preceded him in death, not being mentioned in his will.

Elder in church of Rev. John Thompson. Very active in church affairs in the "back parts" of VA. (Wilson's "Tinkling Spring" p. 41-45). Rev. John Thompson settled Buffalo Community in 1744 in Amelia Co. VA (now Prince Edward), adjacent to Lunenberg.

Will dated 26 Nov 1748 gave 500 acres each to sons Thomas, David, and Robert on the east side of Cub Creek.

Records show that Capt John and Margaret brought their five oldest children, William with wife Rebecca, Thomas with wife Mary Jane, David perhaps with wife Mary, Margaret with husband James, and son John to America with them. Their two youngest children, Robert was born in PA, and James at Cub Creek.

Also immigrating with them were his sisters Elizabeth, Jane, Catherine, and brother Andrew (Andrew abt 1718).




In the reign of James I a branch of the family went to Ireland and settled in Country Anthrim. It was from this branch that John Caldwell was descended, his father being Sir David Caldwell, of the north of Ireland. The original Hugunal name was Colville, which in the lapse of time became Anglicized into Caldwell or Cauldwell. There were three political refugees of that name, one of whom was killed while attempting to escape from France while defending the cause; one escaped to England and one to the North of Ireland. From these brothers have sprung all the Caldwells of the British Isles and their numerous descendants in the United States.  John Caldwell and his brothers landed at New Castle, Delaware, December 10, 1727.