Ancient Maps of Renfrewshire and Ayrshire may be of interest in locating Caldwells. These may be located at libraries, such as the following: British Library, Cambridge University Library, Glasgow City Archives, Glasgow University Library, McLean Art Gallery and Museum, Greenock, Mitchell Library, Glasgow, National Library of Scotland, Paisley Central Library, Scottish Record Office, Watt Library, Greenock.
Bon vivant, raconteur, and surveyor John Watt, b. about 1687, measured the lands of vatious noblemen in Renfrewshire. In 1732, he was responsible for surveying plans of Port Glasgow and surrounding areas. Most of his surviving work is now held in Birmingham and includes plans of estates, farms and divisions of mosses, especially in central Renfrewshire. In the second half of the 1700's, Charles Ross of Greenlaw drew county maps of Renfrew, Lanark, Dunbarton and Stirling, as well as many estate, road and commonty plans. At the very end of the 18th century, Renfrewshire was surveyed by John Ainslie, the leading cartographer of the day, whose four-sheet map was a high point in Renfrewshire's mapping. based increasingly on a limited number of original surveys.
A partial listing of Maps
1596 PONT, Timothy - BARONEE OF RENFREW
c1640 GORDON, Robert - Barony of Ranfrew
1654 BLAEU, Joan - PRAEFECTURA/ RENFROANA/ Vulgo dicta/ BARONIA/ THE BARONIE OF/ RENFROW
[1725] MOLL, Herman - The Shire of/ RENFREW. with/ CUNINGHAM The/
North Part of ye Shire of Air
[1748] Kitchin, Thomas - A Map of/ RENFREW/ SHIRE
1754 ROSS, Charles A/ MAP/ of the COUNTY/ OF/ RENFREW
c1758 WATT, James (junior) Unititled manuscript map of Renfrewshire
c1770 ANONYMOUS A MAP/of the/SHIRE/of/RENFREW
1777 ARMSTRONG, Mostyn John COUNTY/of/Renfrew
1778 KITCHIN, Thomas and BARBER, J. RENFREW/SHIRE,/from the latest/AUTHORITIES./
1800 AINSLIE, John MAP/of the/COUNTY/of/RENFREW/
[1807] BROWN, Thomas (publisher) New and/Accurate Map/of/RENFREW SHIRE/...
1808 THOMSON, John (publisher) RENFREW
1812 AINSLIE, John MAP/made out for/JOHN WILSON/ESQRS./Agricultural Report of the/COUNTY OF RENFREW/by John Ainslie/1810
1818 LIZARS, William & Daniel (engravers) MAP/OF/RENFREWSHIRE./
1826 THOMSON, John RENFREW-SHIRE
1829 LOTHIAN, John RENFREW
c1832 MURPHY, William (engraver) RENREW S.
1836 KNOX, James MAP/of the/BASIN OF THE CLYDE/including/RENREW SHIRE/ ...
1838 BLACKWOOD, William (publisher) RENFREW SHIRE
1838 JOHNSTON, William and Alexander Keith RENFREW-SHIRE ...
1839 LIZARS, William Home (engraver) GEOLOGICAL MAP OF/RENFREWSHIRE/and north part of/AYRSHIRE
1842 LAWSON, John Parker RENREW SHIRE
c1846-47 JOHNSTON, William and Alexander Keith JOHNSTON'S/Map of the County of/RENFREW/...
1848 BLACK, Adam and Charles RENFREW
1854-56 FULLARTON, Archibald RENFREW SHIRE
1857-60 ORDNANCE SURVEY ORDNANCE PLAN/OF THE PARISH OF/ ___/IN THE COUNTY OF/RENFREW
1858 PHILIP, George RENFREW SHIRE
1862 [LIZARS, William Home (engraver)] RENFREW SHIRE
1863-64 ORDNANCE SURVEY Renfrewshire