Posted By:	Sandy Caldwell
	Email:
	Subject:	Lt. Gov. John Caldwell of Kentucky
	Post Date:	July 08, 2005 at 17:13:55
	Message URL:	http://genforum.genealogy.com/caldwell/messages/5626.html
	Forum:	Caldwell Family Genealogy Forum
	Forum URL:	http://genforum.genealogy.com/caldwell/

Having done some extensive research into the life of Lt. Gov. John Caldwell who is my gggg-grandfather, I am now sharing some of the details of his life with other Caldwell researchers and historians. John Caldwell, the eldest son of Robert Caldwell and Mary Logan, was born September 22, 1758 in Charlotte County, Virginia. Just before moving to Kentucky with the rest of the Caldwell family, John Caldwell married Judith Smith on August 6, 1781 in Charlotte County, Virginia. Judith Smith, born 1765, was the daughter of John Smith and Ann Neasum. At the time of their marriage, John Caldwell was the legal guardian of Judith Smith. After moving to the Nelson County, Kentucky area, John Caldwell pursued military, business, and political interests and rose to a position a great prominence in the early days of Kentucky. He started his military career as a private but rose to the rank of Major General in 1793. Most notably, Major General John Caldwell along with 350-400 men under his command served under Anthony Wayne in the Battle of Fallen Timbers. Among Ohio historians, the Battle of Fallen Timbers that took place on August 20, 1794 about 11 miles south of Toledo where a force of over 2,000 Indians were soundly defeated in one hour is very much celebrated as the beginning of the State of Ohio. The overwhelming defeat of the Indian tribes in this battle cleared the way for the settlement and eventual Statehood of Ohio in 1803. Before Kentucky became a State, John Caldwell represented Nelson County in the 1787 and 1788 Constitutional Conventions that were held in Danville, Kentucky. When Kentucky became a State in 1792, Washington County was formed from Nelson County and the land occupied by the Caldwell family fell into the newly formed Washington County. However, John Caldwell was elected as the 1st Senator of Nelson County in 1792 before Washington, County was formed. In 1796, John Caldwell was elected to the House of Representatives, representing Washington County, Kentucky. In 1796, General John Caldwell along with Reverend Terah Templin, led a group of settlers to the western part of Kentucky from Washington and Nelson Counties to settle in the western most part of Logan County. This part of Logan County later formed Christian County, Kentucky. On July 16, 1798, John Caldwell of Christian County was appointed by President John Quincy Adams to serve as a Commissioner. A Commissioner was to provide for the valuation of lands and houses, and for the enumeration of slaves in their jurisdiction. The election of 1801 was a joyous occasion in the Caldwell family for John Caldwell was elected Senator representing Livingston, Henderson, Muhlenburg, and Ohio Counties and his brother, Robert Caldwell was elected Senator representing Madison County. The election results appear in the November 6, 1801 edition of the Kentucky Gazette. At some point during 1803, John Caldwell made the decision to run for office of Lieutenant Governor in the upcoming 1804 election. On July 31, 1804, a letter from John Caldwell to the citizens of Kentucky appeared in the Kentucky Gazette, announcing his intentions of running for this office. John Caldwell won the 1804 election and became the 2nd Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky but he was the first Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky to be elected by popular vote. Lt. Governor John Caldwell and family were residents in Livingston County, Kentucky (formed from Christian County) at the time of his death on November 9, 1804 in Frankfort, Kentucky. The 1804 Livingston County, Kentucky tax list shows John Caldwell with 600 acres, 10 blacks, 7 horses, 2 white males 21+, and 1 white male 16+. John Caldwell and his wife Judith had four children, three sons and a daughter. On May 1, 1809, Caldwell County, Kentucky was formed from Livingston County, Kentucky. Caldwell County, Kentucky was named for Lt. Governor John Caldwell, a man who had dedicated his adult life to serving the citizens of Kentucky. In 1831, the Kentucky Legislature erected a monument to honor Lt. Governor John Caldwell in Frankfort, Kentucky. On August 3, 1808, Judith Caldwell, the widow of General John Caldwell, married Alexander Johnston. The marriage ceremony officiated by Rev. Terah Templin. The Livingston County, Kentucky 1809 tax list shows Alexander Johnston with 200 acres entered and surveyed in his own name and 200 acres on Livingston Creek entered in the name of John Caldwell. Poor Judith, this must have been a very unhappy marriage since she left Alexander Johnston prior to February 28, 1810. Alexander Johnston posted an ad that appeared in the February 28, 1810 edition of “The Farmer’s Friend” published in Russellville, Kentucky stating his wife Judith had left him to live with friends and he would not be responsible for any of her debts. The 200 acres of John Caldwell does not appear with Alexander Johnston in the 1810 Livingston County, Kentucky tax list. Alexander Johnston must have died that year as well. In August and September of 1810, Alexander Johnston, a Revolutionary War veteran who was advanced in years transfers his estate to his children, Mary and Thomas, in return for his care. No records have been found to exist for Judith Caldwell Johnston after 1810 so it is likely that she died in this year. The motion of Hiram McDaniel on July 19, 1819 in Livingston, Kentucky, certified that Robert S. Caldwell, Terah T. Caldwell, Nancy Ross, and John Caldwell were the proper and only heirs of John Caldwell, deceased, with satisfactory proof made that he died without any last will and testament. The children of John and Judith Caldwell remained in the Livingston County, Kentucky area until the War of 1812 when they went their separate ways. Robert Smith Caldwell, born July 1, 1783 Robert Smith Caldwell, the eldest, was assigned 56 acres from his mother on April 1, 1805 on the same day she was appointed administrix of the estate of her deceased husband. Later that year, on July 30, Robert Smith Caldwell married Mary “Polly” Shelby with the ceremony officiated by Rev. Terah Templin. Mary Shelby, born April 26, 1785 in North Carolina, was the daughter of Moses Shelby and Elizabeth Neel. In March of 1807, Robert S. Caldwell served as Ensign in the 24th regiment of the Kentucky militia. Moses Shelby, Jr. was the Captain of this regiment. On May 14, 1810, he took the oath prescribed by law to take the list of taxable property in Captain Moses Graham’s company. He also served as Constable of Livingston County, Kentucky after posting a bond of $500 on August 27, 1810. Between 1811 and 1813, Robert Smith Caldwell and his family moved to Mississippi with the Shelby’s. Robert Smith Caldwell and Mary Shelby had the following children: 1. John Shelby Caldwell, born August 25, 1806 in Livingston County, Kentucky and died January 1874 in Sabine Parish, Louisiana. He married Matilda Cook, born 1820 in Mississippi and died 1882 in Sabine Parish, Louisiana. They are both buried in the Victoria Cemetery in Sabine Parish, Louisiana. 2. Elizabeth Penelope Caldwell, born May 11, 1809 in Livingston County, Kentucky and died April 4, 1862 in Madison County, Mississippi. She married Aaron Lovett Neel in Claiborne County, Mississippi on December 20, 1827. 3. Jane E. Caldwell, born March 27, 1811 in Livingston County, Kentucky. She married (1) C. B. Howard on September 30, 1831 in Claiborne County, Mississippi and (2) Capt. Ravel and moved to Texas. 4. Minerva S. Caldwell, born July 13, 1813 in Claiborne County, Mississippi. 5. Julia S. Caldwell, born September 2, 1815 in Claiborne County, Mississippi. Married Marcellus Branch on October 7, 1835 in Madison County, Mississippi who married her sister Mary after her death. 6. Moses S. Caldwell, born September 9, 1818 in Claiborne County, Mississippi and died March 6, 1832 at age 14. He is buried in the Pisgah Cemetery in Claiborne County, Mississippi. 7. Robert Seaton Caldwell, born October 21, 1820 in Claiborne County, Mississippi and died August 4, 1824. He is buried in the Pisgah Cemetery in Claiborne County, Mississippi. 8. Mary L. Caldwell, born 1824 in Claiborne County, Mississippi. She married (1) Peter Ragan and (2) Marcellus Branch. 9. Susan A. Caldwell, born October 3, 1827 in Claiborne County, Mississippi. She married Joseph B. Elam. They moved to Sabine Parish, Louisiana. After moving to Claiborne County, Mississippi, he served in Lt. Col. Neilsons company in the Mississippi militia and in Capt. Francis Woods’s company and served as reinforcements after the Battle of New Orleans. His regiment was under the command of General Andrew Jackson. Robert Smith Caldwell died August 10, 1830 in Claiborne County, Mississippi. After his death, Mary Shelby Caldwell along with her daughters Julia, Jane, Mary, and Susan moved from Claiborne County, Mississippi to Sabine Parish, Louisiana. Mary Shelby Caldwell died on June 1, 1847 and is buried in the Victoria Cemetery in Sabine Parish, Louisiana. Her tombstone reads Mary Shelby, consort of R. S. Caldwell, died June 1, 1847, age 64. Her will was made May 3, 1847, naming son John Shelby Caldwell as executor. An inventory of the estate shows 109 acres of land and buildings, 6 slaves, livestock, cash, notes and 2/3 interests in a cotton gin, all with a value of $7,072.28. Nancy Caldwell, born circa 1786 Nancy Caldwell, the only known daughter of John and Judith Caldwell, married Jeremiah Walker on May 8, 1805 in Livingston County, Kentucky. The ceremony was officiated by Rev. Terah Templin. On October 8, 1805, Jeremiah Walker was appointed Jailer of Livingston County, Kentucky. He removed 352 acres of certificate 1163 on November 5, 1805. The 1810 Livingston County, Kentucky census listing for Jeremiah Walker shows 1 white male between 16 – 26, 1 white female between 16 – 26, and 2 white females under the age of 10. Nancy Caldwell and Jeremiah Walker witnessed several land transactions on behalf of the Franklin Academy along with General John Caldwell. These land transactions were recorded in Livingston and in Washington Counties, Kentucky. Jeremiah Walker does not appear on the Livingston County, Kentucky tax lists after 1812. In 1809, Jeremiah Walker signed a petition in Washington County, Mississippi, regarding the pre-emption rights of the settlers to public lands. Jeremiah Walker died prior to 1819 since the estate record of John Caldwell in Livingston County, Kentucky dated July 19, 1819 listed Nancy Ross as a heir of John Caldwell. John Caldwell, born 1788 John Caldwell is a bit of a mystery. He turned 16 in 1804, which would place his birth year in 1788. What became of this son is not known with certainty. There was a John William Caldwell, a teacher and Constable of Claiborne County, Mississippi who died in 1833. Interesting to note this John William Caldwell was one of the administrators of the estate of Robert Smith Caldwell. A one-time fee of 10% was paid to John William Caldwell for settling the estate. Perhaps further research will be able to confirm if this John William Caldwell is the brother of Robert Smith Caldwell and son of General John Caldwell. Terah Templin Caldwell, born March 23, 1793 The youngest child of John and Judith Caldwell and apparently the only son to remain in Kentucky, Terah Templin Caldwell, served in the War of 1812. He was a private in Captain James Cooke’s company, 6th regiment in Kentucky. After the War of 1812, Terah Templin Caldwell returned to the Washington County, Kentucky area. He married Harriet Smith on July 15, 1819 in Washington County, Kentucky. Harriet Smith, born August 8, 1800, was the daughter of James Smith and Mary Edelin. (Note: this Smith line is unrelated to the Smith line of his mother) Terah Templin Caldwell and his wife, Harriet, raised a family in Washington County (later Marion County), Kentucky. Their children were: 1. Nancy Caldwell, born about 1820 in Washington County, Kentucky. She married Hillsborough Bidwell, born 1817. In 1870, this family was residing in Davies County, Kentucky. Hillsborough Bidwell died in 1902 in Owensboro, Kentucky. 2. Mary J. Caldwell, born about 1822 in Washington County, Kentucky. She married (1) John McBride, born about 1804 in Kentucky and died before October 16, 1860. This family moved to Missouri and settled in Boone County circa 1854. His will was probated in Boone County, Missouri on October 16, 1860 and provided expenses to cover moving his wife Mary J. McBride and her three children to Marion County, Kentucky. After moving back to Marion County, Kentucky, Mary J. McBride married (2) Francis P. Smith at her residence on January 24, 1865. Francis P. Smith was born about 1828 in Knox County, Kentucky and was a resident of Adair County, Kentucky at the time of their marriage. This was a second marriage for both the bride and groom. 3. John Robert Caldwell, born 1824 in Washington County, Kentucky. Married Cecilia “Margaret” Columbia Gough, born 1847 in Marion County, Kentucky on May 30, 1865 in Marion County, Kentucky. This family later moved to Missouri. He had a son named John Robert Caldwell, Jr. 4. Elizabeth Caldwell, born 1826 in Washington County, Kentucky and died 1882 in Marion County, Kentucky. She did not marry and willed the remainder of her inheritance bequeathed to her from her uncle, Felix Smith, to her brothers and sisters. To her brother, James, she willed her buggy. 5. James Smith Caldwell, born January 3, 1829 and died September 8, 1885 in Marion County, Kentucky. He married Emily Jane Abell on September 30, 1859 in Marion County, Kentucky. Emily Jane Abell was born 1836 and died October 3, 1881 in Marion County, Kentucky. 6. Lucy Ann Caldwell, born 1831 in Washington County, Kentucky. She married William Fenton, born 1839 in Lancaster, England on February 2, 1864 in Marion County, Kentucky. William died prior to February 8, 1876 because Lucy married Henry A. Cissell at St. Augustine’s church in Lebanon, Kentucky on this date. Lucy died prior to July 14, 1882. 7. Matilda Caldwell, born November 25, 1833 and died September 12, 1897 in Marion County, Kentucky. She married James Abell on May 12, 1857 in Marion County, Kentucky. James Abell was born January 15, 1809 and died November 1, 1876 in Marion County, Kentucky. Both are buried in the Holy Name of Mary Cemetery in Marion County, Kentucky. 8. Sarah Caldwell, born August 23, 1834 and died September 3, 1852 in Marion County, Kentucky. She did not marry and died at a rather young age. She is buried in the Holy Name of Mary Cemetery in Marion County, Kentucky. 9. William Caldwell, born 1836 and died January 3, 1918 in Marion County, Kentucky. He married Nancy Bland on January 24, 1860 in Marion County, Kentucky. Nancy Bland was born in 1838 and died in 1903 in Marion County, Kentucky. Both he and his wife are buried in the St. Augustine Cemetery in Lebanon, Kentucky. Each of the children named above received a distribution of $1,454.95 from the estate of their uncle, Felix Smith, with the exception of Sarah who was not living at the time of his death. Lucy Ann and Elizabeth Caldwell received an additional bequest of a $1,500 trust each. After living a quiet life as a farmer, Terah Templin Caldwell died in Marion County, Kentucky on December 1, 1868 and is buried in the Old Holy Name of Mary Cemetery. He is buried next to his wife, Harriet Caldwell, who died on December 14, 1852. Through his children, the descendants of General John Caldwell are numerous and the current generation of descendants of General John Caldwell spans coast to coast. May his pioneering spirit live on in each of them.