THE CALDWELL FAMILY:
A BRIEF HISTORY
John Caldwell, (born circa 1742) was a successful businessman in the production of linen near the town of Ballymoney, County Antrim, in the northern part of Ireland. John, his wife, Elizabeth Calderwood and their 12 children lived on an estate called Harmony Hill, in the hamlet now known as Balnamore. Three of their children, Eleanor, Andrew and James Washington, died early in life at Harmony Hill. Information on three other children, Mary, Margaret, and Elizabeth is sparse. One son, William Alexander, became a successful businessman in South Carolina.
John, Sr. and two of his sons, John Jr. and Richard, were involved in an organization for greater autonomy for the Irish. The Caldwell, though Protestant – Presbyterians – befriended many local Catholics. Together, inspired by the American success in 1783 against the British and the French Revolution of 1789, they joined with the “United Irishmen,” as they were called, and rebelled against the British in 1798. The Crown aggressively and quickly put down the Revolt. An eviction notice was served on John Caldwell and the Harmony Hill Estate was burned to the ground.
Both Johns (father and son) and Richard, (1778-1812), the most prominently active, were put in jail and faced execution. The father came to an agreement with the British Viceroy of Ireland, Lord Cornwallis, whereby his whole family would leave Ireland for America.
Richard left in September 1798. John, Sr. hired a ship, -“Peggy”- to take other family members and “hundreds of Irish Radicals” to America in May 1799. Somewhere on the Atlantic Ocean, French pirates stopped the Caldwell’s ship. It was released after the pirates were convinced that the Irishmen hated the English as much as the Frenchmen did. The fact that John, Jr. was a Mason like the pirate captain was also a factor in their release.
The Caldwells first settled in the Flushing section of Queens County, NY and Water Street in Manhattan. They operated a store selling wines, groceries, dry goods and other merchandise.
In 1802, John Caldwell purchased about 50 acres from William Denning for $12,500. The houses flanking both sides of this house (# 21 which we also own and will be restoring, and # 31, which we do not own) were part of the purchase. “Here am I at length by the goodness and mercy of my God, on this the first day of April 1803 comfortably settled, with my four daughters, on my own estate at Blooming Grove, Orange County, NY.” he wrote in the family bible. Sadly, not long after writing these words, John Caldwell died (he is buried in the backyard along with about 4 generations of Caldwells). Unable to find Liberty in his homeland, he found Liberty and Freedom for his family in America.
John, Jr. (1768 -1850) and Andrew James (1782-1862) operated a general store, a flourmill, and a leather tanning businesses in Salisbury Mills. John, struggled financially with his business ventures, but was noted for his honesty in paying off his debts and was known throughout the area as “Honest John” Caldwell. He was instrumental in founding the Orange County Fair, which has been an annual summer attraction here since 1841.
Andrew helped build a schoolhouse that was used until 1880 when it was replaced by a more modern (two-room) schoolhouse in Salisbury Mills. He was also influential in establishing Washington’s Headquarters in Newburg as the first publically operated historic site in the United States.
Richard harbored his dislike of England like many of the United Irishmen and became a Captain in the US Army during the War of 1812 with England. He joined an attack force that was planning a march against the English into Canada. However, he caught pneumonia and died after giving his clothes to some of his troops during a winter storm on Lake Chaplain in upstate New York.
Catherine (1775 -1856) was the primary resident of our house for approx. 40 years. She was first married to James Parks, described as an English sea captain by one author and as a lawyer by another. After Mr. Parks died, Catherine married John Chambers, an active United Irishman and a bookseller in Dublin and New York City.
When Catherine died, our house was deeded to her brother Andrew‘s son, Richard Caldwell (1818-1901). Richard and his wife, Sarah, were instrumental in having the monument erected in Salisbury Mills in memory of those who fought in the war of 1812 and the Civil War, 1861- 1865.
A nephew of Sarah Caldwell, Oscar M. Bate (18?? -1944), inherited the house and his estate sold it in 1952 to the Lathrop family from Rockland County. The Sheridans (Gene Sheridan and his lovely bride, Carmela Turco) bought the house from the Lathrops in September 1998 and converted it – with loving care – into the beautiful Bed and Breakfast you see today!
