John S. Caldwell1,2

b. 16 December 1805, d. 20 December 1867
FatherJames Caldwell3 d. bef 23 Aug 1807
MotherElizabeth Steele4
Birth16 Dec 1805 John S. Caldwell was born on 16 Dec 1805 in Virginia.5,6 
Ward20 Jul 1824  William Steel was named John's guardian on July 20th, 1824 in Washington Co., Virginia. This was the same day William submitted a settlement record as administer of the estate of James Caldwell.3 
Cens-18301830  The 1830 federal census, recorded the year before John married, enumerated John as the head of his household. Two men were indicated in the 20-29 year old bracket (John + ?) and 1 woman was indicated in the 50-59 year old bracket.7 [possibly John's widowed mother] 
Marriage5 May 1831 John married Margaret McConkey, daughter of John McConkey and Jane Sharp, on 5 May 1831 in Washington County.8 
Exec-Devisee1837  John's uncle William Steele died in 1837. He named John as his executor and left him two slaves with the admonition John was not to sell them and was to care for them. William Steele left the bulk of his estate to John's children and in particular William left his land to John's son William S. Caldwell.9 
Guardian27 Apr 1846 On 27 Apr 1846 John S. Caldwell and Robert H. Rhea were named guardians of the children of James Rhea. The 4 boys, William L., Jacob H. and Joseph M. were old enough to chose their own guardians. The 4 girls, Nancy, Eleanor, Margaret and Catherine were younger and the court chose their guardians for them. 
WidowedMay 1848  John was widowed when Margaret died in May, 1848. 
Cens-185011 Sep 1850  Two year later John, at age 44, was enumerated on the first federal census to record all members of the household. His entry indicated that he was a farmer and that he owned land valued at $4,500. Ten children lived with him: James 19; William 17; John 16; James [Jane] 14; Elizabeth 12; Robert 10; ___ [Satina] 8; Samuel 7; David 5 and Andrew 3.10 
  The two youngest children, David and Andrew, died of dysentery within a week of each other in the late summer of 1854. 
Guardian23 Jan 1855  In January 1855 John was named guardian of his 6 "infant" [underage] children. This probably coincided with the death in March 1854 of the children's maternal grandmother Jane (Sharp) McConkey whose will remembered the children of her deceased daughter Margaret Caldwell.11,12 
Marriage29 Dec 1853 He married Martha Caldwell on 29 Dec 1853 in Washington County, Virginia.13 
  Martha may have been the daughter of Robert Caldwell.  
Cens-186028 Jul 1860  John and Martha added 3 children to the family in the 6 years between their marriage and the 1860 census. In the summer of 1860 John (53) and Martha (44) were recorded with John, 25, Jane, 23, Elizabeth, 21, Robert, 20, Samuel, 17, Thomas, 5, Sarah, 3 and Charles, 1. In addition, 84 year old Elizabeth Calwell [John's mother] made her home with the couple.14 
Death20 Dec 1867 John died in Washington County, Virginia, probably on 20 Dec 1867 although an error prone copy of an old Washington County death register reported the date as October 20th.5,4 
Burial He was buried at Rock Spring Cemetery in Washington County, Virginia, with both Margaret and Martha.5 

Related Links and Images:

Monument to John S., Margaret and Martha Caldwell. The second image is a close-up of John's side of the monument. Note the spelling of the surname
Other interments in Rock Spring Cemetery
The 1850 Washington Co., Virginia census listed John as the head of household number 1196. Follow the link to see who lived nearby.

Family 1

Margaret McConkey b. 16 Oct 1803, d. May 1848
Children

Family 2

Martha Caldwell b. 20 Oct 1816, d. 27 Mar 1892
Children
Last Edited28 Dec 2013

Citations

  1. [S6] Thomas Colley, Washington Co. VA Marriages 1853-1880, p. 102. "William Buchanan Edmondson, 22y, sgl, b. & resid Washington Co., VA, farmer, s/o John & Margaret Edmondson AND Jane Sharp Cauldwell, 24y, sgl, b. & resid WCV, d/o John S. & Margaret Cauldwell; 13 Dec. 1860."
  2. [S6] Thomas Colley, Washington Co. VA Marriages 1853-1880, p. 46. "Samuel T. Caldwell, 24y, sgl, b. & resid WCV, farmer, s/o John S. & Margaret Caldwell AND Margaret Ann Edmondson, 21y, sgl, b. & resid WCV, d/o Jno L. G. Edmondson; 15 Nov. 1866."
  3. [S28] Gerald H. Clark, Guardian Bonds Washington Co., VA, p. 19. William Steel named guardian of John Caldwell, orphan of James Caldwell dec'd. Bond: $2,000; surety; Hugh Berry, Patterson Fletcher and Robert E. Lowery.
  4. [S2268] Research of Tom Colley, Hanceville, Alabama; citing Washington County, Virginia death register entry for John S. Cauldwell: d. 20 Oct 1867, age 61y, s/o James & Elizabeth Cauldwell, married, Informant: son (unnamed).
  5. [S2] Catherine McConnell, High On A Windy Hill, p. 206. Stone reported to read: John S. Cauldwell, 16 Dec. 1805-20 Dec. 1867.
  6. [S367] John S. Caldwell household, 1850 U.S. Census, Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., 69th District, p. 150 (stamped), dwelling 1196, family 1196, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Oct. 2007, image 165 of 289. Household includes: John S. Caldwell, 44, farmer, real estate valued at $4,500; James 19; William 17; John 16; James [Jane] 14; Elizabeth 12; Robert 10; Sa__ 8; Samuel 7; David 5; Andrew 3; all b. VA.
  7. [S578] John Caldwell household, 1830 U.S. cens., Washington Co., Virginia, p. 239 (added script), viewed online at Ancestry.com, April 2010. Household includes: 2 M 20-30; 1 F 50-60.
  8. [S4] D.E. Brown, Marriages of Washington Co., VA 1781-1853, p. 13. John S. Caldwell and Margaret McConkey marr 15 May 1831 by Stephen Bovell.
  9. [S695] William Steel will (1837), Washington Co., Virginia Will Book 7: 209.
  10. [S367] John S. Caldwell household, 1850 U.S. Census, Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., 69th District, p. 150 (stamped), dwelling 1196, family 1196, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Oct. 2007, image 165 of 289. Household includes: John S. Caldwell, 44, farmer, real estate valued at $4,500; James 19; William 17; John 16; James [Jane] 14; Elizabeth 12; Robert 10; ___[Satina] 8; Samuel 7; David 5; Andrew 3; all b. VA.
  11. [S28] Gerald H. Clark, Guardian Bonds Washington Co., VA, p. 51. John S. Caldwell named guardian of John M., Satina T., Samuel T., Jane S., Elizabeth L. and Robert J. Caldwell, children of said John S. Caldwell and Margaret his wife, deceased.
  12. [S745] Jane McConkey will (recorded 1854), Washington Co., Virginia Will Book 13: 139. Jane's will was written 6 Oct. 1853 and recorded March 27, 1854. She named her nephew David O. King as her executor.
  13. [S6] Thomas Colley, Washington Co. VA Marriages 1853-1880, p. 46. Entry abstracted as: John S. Caldwell and Martha Caldwell, 29 Dec. 1853 by John E. Harris. [no further info provided]
  14. [S234] John S. Caldwell household, 1860 U.S. cens, Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., Western district, p. 144 (original script), dwelling 1071, family 1028, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Sept. 2009. Household includes: John S. Caldwell, 53, farmer, owns land valued at $4,500 and personal property worth $2,500; Martha, 44; John, 25, owns pers. prop of $250; Jane, 23, spinster; Elizabeth, 21, spinster; Robert, 20, farmer; Samuel, 17; Thomas, 5; Sarah, 3; Charles, 1; Elizabeth Calwell [sic], 84; all b. VA.
  15. [S28] Gerald H. Clark, Guardian Bonds Washington Co., VA, p. 31. John S. Caldwell named guardian of his son William S. Caldwell; bond $1,000 with surety Robert H. Rhea.
  16. [S3] Moore and Stephens, Washington Co., VA Birth and Death Records, p. 173. David Caldwell, 9, d. 7 Aug 1854 of dysentery, s/o John S. & Margt Caldwell.
  17. [S3] Moore and Stephens, Washington Co., VA Birth and Death Records, p. 173. Andrew Caldwell, 7, d. 12 Aug 1854 of dysentery, s/o John S. & Margt Caldwell.
  18. [S3] Moore and Stephens, Washington Co., VA Birth and Death Records, p. 18. Thos F. Caldwell, b. 26 Mar 1855 to John S. and Martha Caldwell.
  19. [S163] Martha Caldwell household, 1880 U.S. Cens., Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., Holston District, ED 100, p. 50B (original script), dwelling 430, family 430. Sept. 2009. Household includes: Martha Caldwell, 63, wid; Charles C., 21, son, farm laborer; Sarah M., 23, dau; Marion, 19, son, farm laborer; Elizabeth L., 41, dau; Jane S. Edmondson, 42, dau-in-law, wid; Margaret E. Edmondson, 16, dau; Wm B. Edmondson, 13, son, farm laborer; all b. VA, all parents b. VA.