JAMES CALDWELL (1787-1871) was born in County Antrim, Ireland, on February 8, 1787, the youngest child of William Caldwell (1751-1839) and Agness McPhilemy (1751-1833). In the late fall of 1788, shortly before he reached his second year, his parents immigrated to America with their four children – Sarah, Robert, Galbreath and James. Sailing from Larne, north of Belfast, with 360 other mostly Scotch-Irish Presbyterians, the Caldwells crossed the Atlantic on the ship “Irish Volunteer,” landing at Charleston, South Carolina, six or eight weeks later. From there they immediately pushed upstate to York County, where they settled on lands prearranged for the Presbyterian settlers before leaving Ireland. Here, James grew up and spent the entire balance of his long life sharing his talents and religious convictions with his neighbors and making a bountiful living from the fertile lands the Caldwells owned at Clark’s Fork, along Bullock’s Creek, in what became known as the Beersheba or Kings Creek section of the county.
In 1830, at the age of 43, James was married to Miss Sarah Turner Cain (1806-1886), age 25, a daughter of Hugh M. M. Cain and Martha Turner Allison of the same neighborhood. They became the parents of nine children, William (1831-1843), Martha Catherine (1833-1884), Robert Allison (1834-1916), Agness (1837-1838), Nancy (1839-1839), Margaret Ann (1840-1919), Hugh Gibson (1842-1865), William (1844-1908) and Nancy (1847-1876).
James Caldwell died at his York County home on November 24, 1871, at the age of 85. Sarah died fifteen years later, on July 1, 1886, at the age of 80. They are buried in the quiet country churchyard of Beersheba Presbyterian Church in York County.
James' obituary, as it appeared in the Yorkville Enquirer, gives interesting details of his life and character.
“Died, at his residence, in York County, S.C., on the 25th of November, 1871, MR. JAMES CALDWELL, in the 85th year of his age.
He was born in County Antrim, Ireland, Feb. 8th, 1887; in 1889, when he was two years old, he came to York County with his father and mother, two brothers, and one sister, all of whom are dead except one brother.
His father, Mr. William Caldwell, was a Presbyterian, an elder in Beersheba church, in which church his son, the subject of this notice, was a member fifty, and a ruling elder forty years. Both as a member and an elder he discharged his duties and enjoyed his blessed privileges as a faithful soldier of the cross. With him, to know his duty was to strive to perform it. He loved truth for its enlightening and sanctifying power. Even in old age, he possessed the docility of a child, always ready and even desirous of learning those scriptural truths upon which rest the hopes of the human family.
For several years previous to his death, age had destroyed his hearing to so great a degree as to interrupt his waiting upon the preaching of the word with profit; but he always manifested deep interest in religious conversation. He spoke freely, intelligently, and touchingly upon the mercy of God to sinners. The tears have often been seen stealing down his cheeks when speaking of God’s mercy to himself and family. “I thank God,” said he in his last days, “I have no pain.” I am just waiting his summons when he shall call me home; yet I shall wait patiently, and be submissive to his will; he has been extremely kind and merciful to me.”
He was a noble-hearted man; a kind, affectionate husband; a wise and good father; a tender and loving grandfather; a good, peaceable, and quiet neighbor; and a respectable citizen.
By his death, the congregation has sustained a great loss, the session has lost one of its oldest members and wisest counsellors, and his community one f its best citizens.
He leaves a wife and five children – two sons and three daughters – to mourn for him, but they do not mourn as those who have nothing to comfort them. His walk and conversation in early life; his sweet submission to the Lord’s will in his last days; his tender and affectionate advice to his family to prepare to meet him in heaven.
‘When the day of life is fled,
Where no farewell tear is shed,’
do comfort and support the heart, weeping under affliction.
May the Lord grant that his family, and we his survivors, may be followers of him, even as he was of our Lord Jesus Christ. -- J.H.D.”
I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live. –
John 11:25
Written and contributed by Robert Allison Ragan, a great-great grandson and family historian.
In 1830, at the age of 43, James was married to Miss Sarah Turner Cain (1806-1886), age 25, a daughter of Hugh M. M. Cain and Martha Turner Allison of the same neighborhood. They became the parents of nine children, William (1831-1843), Martha Catherine (1833-1884), Robert Allison (1834-1916), Agness (1837-1838), Nancy (1839-1839), Margaret Ann (1840-1919), Hugh Gibson (1842-1865), William (1844-1908) and Nancy (1847-1876).
James Caldwell died at his York County home on November 24, 1871, at the age of 85. Sarah died fifteen years later, on July 1, 1886, at the age of 80. They are buried in the quiet country churchyard of Beersheba Presbyterian Church in York County.
James' obituary, as it appeared in the Yorkville Enquirer, gives interesting details of his life and character.
“Died, at his residence, in York County, S.C., on the 25th of November, 1871, MR. JAMES CALDWELL, in the 85th year of his age.
He was born in County Antrim, Ireland, Feb. 8th, 1887; in 1889, when he was two years old, he came to York County with his father and mother, two brothers, and one sister, all of whom are dead except one brother.
His father, Mr. William Caldwell, was a Presbyterian, an elder in Beersheba church, in which church his son, the subject of this notice, was a member fifty, and a ruling elder forty years. Both as a member and an elder he discharged his duties and enjoyed his blessed privileges as a faithful soldier of the cross. With him, to know his duty was to strive to perform it. He loved truth for its enlightening and sanctifying power. Even in old age, he possessed the docility of a child, always ready and even desirous of learning those scriptural truths upon which rest the hopes of the human family.
For several years previous to his death, age had destroyed his hearing to so great a degree as to interrupt his waiting upon the preaching of the word with profit; but he always manifested deep interest in religious conversation. He spoke freely, intelligently, and touchingly upon the mercy of God to sinners. The tears have often been seen stealing down his cheeks when speaking of God’s mercy to himself and family. “I thank God,” said he in his last days, “I have no pain.” I am just waiting his summons when he shall call me home; yet I shall wait patiently, and be submissive to his will; he has been extremely kind and merciful to me.”
He was a noble-hearted man; a kind, affectionate husband; a wise and good father; a tender and loving grandfather; a good, peaceable, and quiet neighbor; and a respectable citizen.
By his death, the congregation has sustained a great loss, the session has lost one of its oldest members and wisest counsellors, and his community one f its best citizens.
He leaves a wife and five children – two sons and three daughters – to mourn for him, but they do not mourn as those who have nothing to comfort them. His walk and conversation in early life; his sweet submission to the Lord’s will in his last days; his tender and affectionate advice to his family to prepare to meet him in heaven.
‘When the day of life is fled,
Where no farewell tear is shed,’
do comfort and support the heart, weeping under affliction.
May the Lord grant that his family, and we his survivors, may be followers of him, even as he was of our Lord Jesus Christ. -- J.H.D.”
I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live. –
John 11:25
Written and contributed by Robert Allison Ragan, a great-great grandson and family historian.
JAMES CALDWELL (1787-1871) was born in County Antrim, Ireland, on February 8, 1787, the youngest child of William Caldwell (1751-1839) and Agness McPhilemy (1751-1833). In the late fall of 1788, shortly before he reached his second year, his parents immigrated to America with their four children – Sarah, Robert, Galbreath and James. Sailing from Larne, north of Belfast, with 360 other mostly Scotch-Irish Presbyterians, the Caldwells crossed the Atlantic on the ship “Irish Volunteer,” landing at Charleston, South Carolina, six or eight weeks later. From there they immediately pushed upstate to York County, where they settled on lands prearranged for the Presbyterian settlers before leaving Ireland. Here, James grew up and spent the entire balance of his long life sharing his talents and religious convictions with his neighbors and making a bountiful living from the fertile lands the Caldwells owned at Clark’s Fork, along Bullock’s Creek, in what became known as the Beersheba or Kings Creek section of the county.
In 1830, at the age of 43, James was married to Miss Sarah Turner Cain (1806-1886), age 25, a daughter of Hugh M. M. Cain and Martha Turner Allison of the same neighborhood. They became the parents of nine children, William (1831-1843), Martha Catherine (1833-1884), Robert Allison (1834-1916), Agness (1837-1838), Nancy (1839-1839), Margaret Ann (1840-1919), Hugh Gibson (1842-1865), William (1844-1908) and Nancy (1847-1876).
James Caldwell died at his York County home on November 24, 1871, at the age of 85. Sarah died fifteen years later, on July 1, 1886, at the age of 80. They are buried in the quiet country churchyard of Beersheba Presbyterian Church in York County.
James' obituary, as it appeared in the Yorkville Enquirer, gives interesting details of his life and character.
“Died, at his residence, in York County, S.C., on the 25th of November, 1871, MR. JAMES CALDWELL, in the 85th year of his age.
He was born in County Antrim, Ireland, Feb. 8th, 1887; in 1889, when he was two years old, he came to York County with his father and mother, two brothers, and one sister, all of whom are dead except one brother.
His father, Mr. William Caldwell, was a Presbyterian, an elder in Beersheba church, in which church his son, the subject of this notice, was a member fifty, and a ruling elder forty years. Both as a member and an elder he discharged his duties and enjoyed his blessed privileges as a faithful soldier of the cross. With him, to know his duty was to strive to perform it. He loved truth for its enlightening and sanctifying power. Even in old age, he possessed the docility of a child, always ready and even desirous of learning those scriptural truths upon which rest the hopes of the human family.
For several years previous to his death, age had destroyed his hearing to so great a degree as to interrupt his waiting upon the preaching of the word with profit; but he always manifested deep interest in religious conversation. He spoke freely, intelligently, and touchingly upon the mercy of God to sinners. The tears have often been seen stealing down his cheeks when speaking of God’s mercy to himself and family. “I thank God,” said he in his last days, “I have no pain.” I am just waiting his summons when he shall call me home; yet I shall wait patiently, and be submissive to his will; he has been extremely kind and merciful to me.”
He was a noble-hearted man; a kind, affectionate husband; a wise and good father; a tender and loving grandfather; a good, peaceable, and quiet neighbor; and a respectable citizen.
By his death, the congregation has sustained a great loss, the session has lost one of its oldest members and wisest counsellors, and his community one f its best citizens.
He leaves a wife and five children – two sons and three daughters – to mourn for him, but they do not mourn as those who have nothing to comfort them. His walk and conversation in early life; his sweet submission to the Lord’s will in his last days; his tender and affectionate advice to his family to prepare to meet him in heaven.
‘When the day of life is fled,
Where no farewell tear is shed,’
do comfort and support the heart, weeping under affliction.
May the Lord grant that his family, and we his survivors, may be followers of him, even as he was of our Lord Jesus Christ. -- J.H.D.”
I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live. –
John 11:25
Written and contributed by Robert Allison Ragan, a great-great grandson and family historian.
In 1830, at the age of 43, James was married to Miss Sarah Turner Cain (1806-1886), age 25, a daughter of Hugh M. M. Cain and Martha Turner Allison of the same neighborhood. They became the parents of nine children, William (1831-1843), Martha Catherine (1833-1884), Robert Allison (1834-1916), Agness (1837-1838), Nancy (1839-1839), Margaret Ann (1840-1919), Hugh Gibson (1842-1865), William (1844-1908) and Nancy (1847-1876).
James Caldwell died at his York County home on November 24, 1871, at the age of 85. Sarah died fifteen years later, on July 1, 1886, at the age of 80. They are buried in the quiet country churchyard of Beersheba Presbyterian Church in York County.
James' obituary, as it appeared in the Yorkville Enquirer, gives interesting details of his life and character.
“Died, at his residence, in York County, S.C., on the 25th of November, 1871, MR. JAMES CALDWELL, in the 85th year of his age.
He was born in County Antrim, Ireland, Feb. 8th, 1887; in 1889, when he was two years old, he came to York County with his father and mother, two brothers, and one sister, all of whom are dead except one brother.
His father, Mr. William Caldwell, was a Presbyterian, an elder in Beersheba church, in which church his son, the subject of this notice, was a member fifty, and a ruling elder forty years. Both as a member and an elder he discharged his duties and enjoyed his blessed privileges as a faithful soldier of the cross. With him, to know his duty was to strive to perform it. He loved truth for its enlightening and sanctifying power. Even in old age, he possessed the docility of a child, always ready and even desirous of learning those scriptural truths upon which rest the hopes of the human family.
For several years previous to his death, age had destroyed his hearing to so great a degree as to interrupt his waiting upon the preaching of the word with profit; but he always manifested deep interest in religious conversation. He spoke freely, intelligently, and touchingly upon the mercy of God to sinners. The tears have often been seen stealing down his cheeks when speaking of God’s mercy to himself and family. “I thank God,” said he in his last days, “I have no pain.” I am just waiting his summons when he shall call me home; yet I shall wait patiently, and be submissive to his will; he has been extremely kind and merciful to me.”
He was a noble-hearted man; a kind, affectionate husband; a wise and good father; a tender and loving grandfather; a good, peaceable, and quiet neighbor; and a respectable citizen.
By his death, the congregation has sustained a great loss, the session has lost one of its oldest members and wisest counsellors, and his community one f its best citizens.
He leaves a wife and five children – two sons and three daughters – to mourn for him, but they do not mourn as those who have nothing to comfort them. His walk and conversation in early life; his sweet submission to the Lord’s will in his last days; his tender and affectionate advice to his family to prepare to meet him in heaven.
‘When the day of life is fled,
Where no farewell tear is shed,’
do comfort and support the heart, weeping under affliction.
May the Lord grant that his family, and we his survivors, may be followers of him, even as he was of our Lord Jesus Christ. -- J.H.D.”
I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live. –
John 11:25
Written and contributed by Robert Allison Ragan, a great-great grandson and family historian.
Family Members
Children
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William Caldwell
1830–1843
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Martha Catherine Caldwell Meek
1833–1884
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Robert Allison Caldwell
1834–1916
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Agness Caldwell
1836–1838
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Infant Daughter Caldwell
1839–1839
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Margaret Ann Caldwell McElwee
1840–1919
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Hugh Gibson Caldwell
1842–1865
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William McGill Caldwell
1844–1908
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Nancy Caldwell Thompson
1847–1876
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