Robert Caldwell1

b. circa 1778, d. 5 October 1856
BirthCircacirca 1778 Robert Caldwell was born in North Carolina circa 1778.2 
Marriage20 Feb 1800 He married Jane Lowrey on 20 Feb 1800 in Washington County, Virginia.3 
Court Record7 Dec 1839  Robert was one of the trustees who on behalf of the Methodist Episcopal Church purchased 2 acres of land in late 1839 for the purpose of building a church. The land was acquired from Bartholomew and Lydia Neel for $10.4 [and fronts on present day Zion Church Road near Rt. 58] 
Cens-18502 Sep 1850  The first federal census to name all members of the household was enumerated in 1850. Robert, at age 72, was recorded farming land in Washington County valued at $1,400. Enumerated with him were: Mary A. (37), Martha (35) and Dorcas (29). Jesse Caldwell was recorded as the adjacent household.2 
Death5 Oct 1856 Robert died of pleursy on 5 Oct 1856 in Washington County.5,1 
Probate Recd8 Nov 1856  Robert's estate was inventoried, appraised, and sold under the direction of Jesse H. Caldwell, the administrator, on November 8th 1856 although the record was not admitted to court until March 7th, 1857. Purchasers at the sale included Robert L. Greer, Joseph Tester, John L. Caldwell, Jacob Miller, J.A. Caldwell, Adam Musser, John Roe, John Keys, J.H. Caldwell, Francis Catron, Joseph Foster and James Miller.6 
  In addition to the children listed below Robert was probably the father of Jesse Harvey Caldwell. It is also likely the Martha enumerated in Robert's household in 1850 (and on that basis included on the list of children below) was the Martha Caldwell who married John S. Caldwell in 1853. 

Research Comment:

Robert's father was stated to be James Caldwell in the Washington County death register data submitted at Robert's death by his daughter Dorcas Foster. However this information appears to be incorrect. Robert was likely the son of an older Robert Caldwell whose 1806 will left his estate to sons Robert and James with Robert indicated as executor.

On April 13th, 1804 Robert Caldwell, Sr. purchased 30 acres and 45 poles of land on the South Fork of the Holston River. Then on January 19th, 1808, a year and a half after the death of Robert Caldwell Sr., the same parcel was sold by Robert Caldwell and Jean [Jane], his wife. Since there were no intervening transactions, it is likely this 1808 sale represented the younger man selling land inherited from his father. A similiar transaction also occured in 1810 where Robert and Jane sold a tract of 28 acres purchased by the older Robert Caldwell in 1806. See the Any Caldwell page for information on these and other early Caldwell records.7,8

Related Links and Images:

The 1850 Washington Co., Virginia census listed Robert as the head of household number 868. Follow the link to see who lived nearby.

Family

Jane Lowrey
Children
Last Edited4 Sep 2013

Citations

  1. [S2268] Research of Tom Colley, Hanceville, Alabama; Mr. Colley cites the Washington County, Virginia death register entry for Robert Caldwell, d. 05 Oct 1856, age 79y, affection of breast, s/o James Caldwell, farmer, consort of Jane Caldwell, reported by daughter, Dorcas Foster.
  2. [S367] Robert Calwell [Caldwell] household, 1850 U.S. Census, Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., 67th District, p. 125 (stamped), dwelling 868, family 868, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Apr. 2010. Robert Calwell, 72, farmer, real estate worth $1,400, b. NC; Mary A. 37; Martha 35; Dorcas 29; all 3 born VA.
  3. [S4] D.E. Brown, Marriages of Washington Co., VA 1781-1853, p. 10.
  4. [S3184] Connie Miller research, e-mail address, provided by Miller to D. Powell May 2013. Mrs Miller provided a transcription of the Washington Co., VA Deed dated 7 Dec. 1839 and recorded 14 Oct. 1841 whereby Bartholomew Neel and Lydia, his wife, sold Robert Caldwell, Francis Ketron, Christopher Ketron, John Larimore, Richard E. Sharp, Jacob Miller, Robert H. Rhea, James Keys and James L. Sharp, as trustees for Zion Church, 2 acres of land on the waters of the South Fork of the Holston River for the purpose of building a place of worship for members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
  5. [S3] Moore and Stephens, Washington Co., VA Birth and Death Records, p. 173. Robert Caldwell, 79, d. 5 Oct. 1856 of plurasy, s/o James Caldwell and wife, spouse of Jane Caldwell; rept by Dorcas Foster, daughter.
  6. [S2146] Jack Hockett, Washington Co. VA Will Book 14 1856-1859, abstracted, p. 25, as abstracted from Washington Co., VA Will Bk 14: 136.
  7. [S2163] Jack Hockett, Washington Co., Virginia Deed Book 3, 1802-1808, p. 44, abstracting Deed Bk 3:174. Hugh Neely & Mary, wife to Robert Caldwell, Sr. for $90, 30 acres and 45 poles, part of a larger tract granted to sd Neely by patent and bounded... black locust North bank of the South Fork of the Holston River.. other land of sd Robert Caldwell, Sr and land of Robert Edmondson.. cor Andrew Russell... white oak south side of the blue spring road. Deed dated 13 Apr 1804 and recorded 21 Aug. 1804.
  8. [S2411] Tom and Jane Colley, Washington Co., Virginia District Ct. Deed Book B, 1801-1840, p. 90, abstracting Deed Bk B:184. Robert Caldwell and Jean, his wife to Mathew Brown & Thomas McSpedden for $250, 30 acres and 45 poles... black locust North bank of the South Fork of the Holston River.. other land of sd Robert Caldwell, and land of Brown & McSpedden... south sd Blue Spring Rd.. Hugh Neely.. bank of river.. up river. Deed dated 19 Jan 1808 and recorded 4 May 1808. [Jean released dower 18 Oct. 1808; she could not travel to the courthouse, see p. 228]
  9. [S2393] Jonathan K. Smith, "Genealogical Abstracts From Reported Deaths - The Nashville Christian Advocate 1883-1884", abstracts transcribed by Laurel Baty, David Donahue Memorial Tennessee Records Repository - Davidson Co., TN (http://www.tngenweb.org/records/davidson/ : accessed Apr. 2010), Margaret (Caldwell) Greer obituary (abstract); Dec. 20, 1884 issue.
  10. [S6] Thomas Colley, Washington Co. VA Marriages 1853-1880, p. 45. Record abstracted as: John Lowrey Caldwell, 53y, sgl, b. WCV, farmer, s/o Robert & Jane Caldwell AND Elizabeth Butt, 30y, wid, b. Augusta Co., VA, d/o John & Susan Maden [sic]; date: 27 Apr 1854.