Some sources have his date of birth around 1750 or so. It is not unusual for these dates to be off as most did not have good records of their births.

As with most records of years ago there are plenty of discrepancies in the records of James Caldwell too. There is a lot of mystery surrounding this James Caldwell. Exactly who was he? Where did he come from when was he born. Some say he was born in the 1750's in Virginia or Pennsylvania. How do we know for sure the information below is of him? I can not truly tell you. What was his middle name? Who did he marry? Who were his children and by which wife? He was a Revolutionary War Soldier.

http://revwarapps.org/w4150.pdf State of North Carolina Lincoln County.

Be it known that in order to obtain the benefit of the Acts of Congress of June 1832 before us John J Shuford, Nathaniel Edwards, Alexander Ward Acting Justices of the peace in & for the County aforesaid personally appeared James Coldwell an inhabitant of said County and after being before us duly sworn doth on his oath make the following declaration, namely, that early in the year of 1781 and as he the deponent now believes in the month of February he was called out in the defense of his Country as a drafted militia man for the term of three months. That he joined a company commanded by Captain John Ware [John Weir] attached to a Regiment commanded by Colonel William Graham joined to a division under the command of General Davidson [William Lee Davidson] who was killed [February 1, 1781 at Cowan's Ford].

1 - at the time the British Army under the command of Corn Wallis [sic, Cornwallis] crossing the Catawba River, that he continued to serve in the before mentioned Company through sometimes on detached parties watching the approach of the British Army in attempting to pass the Catawba River. The said company to which the said deponent belonged under the command of Captain Ware aforesaid fortified themselves in an Island on the Catawba River at the tucky suge forge [sic, Tuckaseegee Ford].

After the British Army had passed on through the Country, there were different detachments formed to suppress an insurrection of the people called Tories. Captain Ware's Company then forming part of the detachment which passed on to Charlotte Mecklenburg Court house and thence on to Rocky River which he the deponent, obtained a discharge from said Army having fulfilled the term for which he was engaged.

That in the fall in the same year A.D. 1781 as well as he the deponent now thinks in the month of [word written over and difficult to distinguish whether it was intended to be December or September] he was called out has drafted Militia man for the term of three months. That he joined a company commanded by Captain William Moore which was incorporated with an Army under General Rutherford [Griffith Rutherford] which marched in opposition to the British Army at Wilmington North Carolina.

2 - An insurrection of people called Tories in the adjacent Country he the deponent having fulfilled the term of three months for which he was engaged obtained a discharge from the Army then lying at Swans ferry on the Cape Fear River near Wilmington,

James Caldwell
Virginia, Historical Society Papers, 1607-2007
Name: James Caldwell
Event Type: Birth
Event Date: 14 Apr 1745
Event Place: Virginia, United States
Reference ID: Mss64c12761

James and his 3 brothers sold the land patent of Thomas to John Fish Jr and then the 2nd one to John Sloan. There was no mention of Thomas after 1775 and it is evident that he had died as HIS SONS had sold his land without Thomas' signature in 1782-1787.
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James Caldwell was born about 1750 in Virginia, and died about 1832 in North Carolina. Per Pension filed [p 9: On October the 11th, 1853 in Catawba County North Carolina, Mrs. Sarah Caldwell, 70,
filed for a widow's pension under the 1853 act stating that she is the widow of James Caldwell, a
revolutionary war pensioner at the rate of $24 per annum; that she married him January 1, 1828;
that he died July 3, 1837.]He came to North Carolina with two brothers, William aka Billy and Thomas, and their families. James had land grants in North Carolina.

James's wife's name is unknown at this time. They had two known children, John D. Caldwell (who married Millie Bandy), and Katie, who was scalped by Indians, though it's unclear when this happened. Katie married a man by the last name of Duncan; I don't know if her death occurred in Virginia or in North Carolina.

The new headstone was lovingly placed in this cemetery by Caldwell descendants in the area where an old stone was previously located. There are many Caldwells buried at Mt. Ruhama.

This information was taken from a book that was written by George W. Caldwell. Land Grants in N.C.
Caldwell, J. P. Iredell (1); 15 acres, 1894 Caldwell, James Iredell (3), Lincoln (1), Guilford (1), plus 1 grant in 1 other county; total 6 grants and 682 acres, 1780-1804.

James Caldwell
mentioned in the record of James Caldwell and Jien Boggs
Name James Caldwell
Event Type Marriage
Event Date 31 Aug 1795
Event Place Lincoln, North Carolina, United States
Gender Male
Spouse's Name Jien Boggs Some records show name to be Jan or Jean, Jeanie, Jenny, Jeany etc. Also he was married to Sarah Short at the end of his life.

Spouse's Gender Female
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James A Caldwell
North Carolina Estate Files
Name James A Caldwell
Event Type Probate
Event Year 1876
Event Place Lincoln, North Carolina, United States
Number of Names with File 1
File Name James A Caldwell
First Image Number 00813
Last Image Number 01012
Number of Images 200

Citing this Record
"North Carolina Estate Files, 1663-1979," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VH6X-55W : 12 March 2018), James A Caldwell, 1876; citing Lincoln, North Carolina, United States, State Archives, Raleigh; FHL microfilm 2,297,092.
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the portion below is added from the duplicate of James Caldwell
Life Sketch
The Genealogy of James Caldwell and His Descendants
By Ray Von Caldwell
Copyright, 1968, Newton, NC, Page 25

At this time, we know very little about our Pioneer James Caldwell. We do know that he received two land grants and he was one of eight Caldwell Heads of Families listed in the first census of the United States in Lincoln County, North Carolina, dated 1790. At that time his household consisted of: 2 free white males (16 years and above, including the head of the family), 3 free white males (under 16 years) and 3 free white females in the family.

James Caldwell and his two brothers, Billie and Thomas Caldwell, and their families came to North Carolina from Virginia sometime during the latter part of 1700 by pack horses and pitched camp. They settled on the head waters of Pinch Gut Creek, about five miles southeast of Newton, North Carolina. Later they moved about two miles east on Maiden Creek near the Joseph I. Caldwell homestead. Later he moved less than one mile on the head waters of Maiden Creek. Here, Pioneer James Caldwell, laid entry to 100 acres of land grant dated 1795. All three brothers built homes. James built near the center of the 100 acre tract. Billie built below the spring. Thomas built across the little branch to the south and all used water from the same spring.

On file in Raleigh, North Carolina at the State Land Grant Office, are copies of two land grants made to James Caldwell. The first of these land grants was entered on April 17, 1793 and approved August 3 1793 by the State of North Carolina for 100 acres to be surveyed by the Lincoln County Surveyor. This was accomplished on February 12, 1794. It reads in part, "State of North Carolina, Lincoln County, Surveyed for James Caldwell, one hundred acres of land in said County on the waters of Mountain Creek, joining Martin Miller, George Miller and John Burdine." Chain bearers for this tract of land were listed as William Caldwell and Thomas Caldwell.

The Genealogy of James Caldwell and His Descendants
By Ray Von Caldwell
Copyright, 1968, Newton, NC, Page 21, 23

The following pages are taken from the information written by George W. Caldwell.

James Caldwell and his two brothers, Billie and Thomas Caldwell, and their families came to North Carolina from Virginia sometime during the latter part of 1700 by pack horses and pitched camp. They settled on the head waters of Pinch Gut Creek, about five miles southeast of where Newton, NC, now is. Later they moved about two miles east on Maiden Creek near the Joseph I. Caldwell place, later moving less than one mile on the head waters of Maiden Creek. Here, James Caldwell, our pioneer, laid entry to 100 acres of land grant dated 1795. All three brothers built (homes). James built near the center of the 100 acre tract. Billie built below the spring. Thomas built across the little branch to the south, and all used water from the same spring.

On file in Raleigh, North Carolina, at the State Land Grant Office, are copies of two land grants made to James Caldwell. The first of these was applied for (entered) on April 17, 1793 and approved August 3 1793 by the State of North Carolina for 100 acres to be surveyed by the Lincoln County Surveyor. This was accomplished on February 12, 1794. It reads in part, "State of North Carolina, Lincoln County, Surveyed for James Caldwell, one hundred acres of land in said County on the waters of Mountain Creek, joining Martin Miller, George Miller and John Burdine." Chain bearers for this tract of land were listed as William Caldwell and Thomas Caldwell.

The second grant was entered January 20, 1795, approved May 10, 1795, and was surveyed November 6, 1795. It reads in part, "State of North Carolina, Lincoln County, Surveyed for James Caldwell a track of land containing one hundred acres in said County on the waters of Balls Creek and Maiden Creek joining William Caldwell's land." This is the land on which my direct lineage of ancestors, even including Grandfather David Hoyle Caldwell, were reared.

Thomas and family left sometime later and went back to Virginia. Billie moved to Georgia.

James, our pioneer, remained on the 100 acres as long as he lived. He had but two children that I (George W. Caldwell) ever heard of, John and Katie. Katie married a man by the name of Duncan. The Indians scalped her. I do not know if this was before they came to North Carolina or after she came here. John Caldwell married Millie Bandy in 1803 or 1804 (from the age of their children). My Grandfather, David Caldwell, was his (John Caldwell's) second child. He was born January 27 1806. John lived on with his father for a number of years. Then he bought a farm near Anderson Mountain (Little Mountain). He left his son, David, to care for his father, James Caldwell. James gave the 100 acres to David.

Just a few remarks concerning this history. I (George W. Caldwell) got some of it through my Grandfather David Caldwell, some of it from my parents and other aged people, some from my Grandfather's papers. I read John Caldwell's will some 40 years back and that is where I got the names of the eleven tribes of John and Millie Bandy Caldwell. I gathered some dates from the cemetery at Mt. Ruhama Church (in Maiden, NC). I knew Grandfather David (Caldwell) and all his grown children - also William (Billie) and family. He and Betty are buried at Mt. Ruhama. My Grandfather and Grandmother (David and Fannie Caldwell) and their children are also buried there.

Will of Pioneer James Caldwell
Book 34, Lincoln County Courthouse, Lincolnton, NC

State of N.C.
Lincoln County

Know all men whom it may concern that I, James Caldwell, of the State of N.C. bring far advanced in life and unable to attend to my domestic affairs and for the purpose of providing for myself the remainder of my time here, for an in consideration of an obligation, my grandson David Caldwell has this day given me for the purposes of maintaining me and my wife. I do hereby bargain, sell, and convey unto the said David Caldwell one black horse about 10 years old, 7 hear of cattle, 4 cows and 3 yearling calves, and thirty head of hogs. Which said property above described I do hereby warrant and defend unto the said David Caldwell, his heirs and assign as witness my hand.

James X Caldwell
His Mark
Oct. 1832

The Genealogy of James Caldwell and His Descendants
By Ray Von Caldwell
Copyright, 1968, Newton, NC, Page 27

Also recorded the same year is a transfer of deed for 100 acres of land, James (Caldwell) to David Caldwell and witnessed by John Caldwell (Son of James and Father of David) and Thomas Mays.

It might be interesting to note in the above "Will" that the wife of James (Caldwell) was still living because she was included in the obligation. Uncle George (George W. Caldwell) was quite sure that both James and his wife were buried at Mt. Ruhama Cemetery (in Maiden, NC) at a point marked with a stone marker with the letter J.C. inscribed. A large family marker has been purchase and place there by the Caldwell clan.

SOURCES

"The Genealogy Of James Caldwell and His Descendants"
By Ray Von Caldwell
Copyright 1968
Newton, NC

Thanks to Mike & Myra Caldwell Robinson for sharing the books
about the genealogy of the Caldwell & Robinson Families
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[p 9: On October the 11th, 1853 in Catawba County North Carolina, Mrs. Sarah Caldwell, 70,
filed for a widow's pension under the 1853 act stating that she is the widow of James Caldwell, a
revolutionary war pensioner at the rate of $24 per annum; that she married him January 1, 1828;
that he died July 3, 1837.]

[p 11, On October 6, 1853 in Catawba County North Carolina, David Barringer & Miles
Abernathy testified that they knew James Caldwell and Sarah Short (widow) prior to their
marriage and thereafter and that they lived together as man and wife after their marriage up to
the time of the death of James Caldwell.]

[p 14: On April 3 1855 in Catawba County North Carolina, Sarah Caldwell, 73, filed a claim for
her bounty land entitlement as the widow of James Caldwell, a revolutionary war pensioner; that
she married him in Lincoln County on January 1, 1825; that they were married by E. Connor, JP;
that her name prior to her marriage was Sarah Short (widow) and that her husband died July 3,
1837.]