I had not realized there were so many coats of arms linked to Caldwell lineages. :eek: I was hoping that you might be able to tell me a bit more about the families with whom these coat of arms are linked, and when these coat of arms were first issued.

The coat of arms predating the 1600s would be free of the taint that they were sold by King James VI during his reign (about 1603-1625) to prosperous merchants willing to pay coin simply for the status of being designated baronets.

The biggest surprise would come if any of these coats of arms were linked to knights. Knighthood was closely linked to Norman ancestry. By and large the Caldwells lack any link to Norman ancestry. There is, of course, mention of three Caldwell brothers and their father from near Toulon,said by some to be in France but in actuality then part of the Holy Roman Empire, possibly linked as knights to the Crusades, Inquisitions, or jihads, or alternatively, as refugees from such endeavors. It was Voltaire, I believe, who said it was neither holy, Roman, nor an empire.

I am uncertain whether the title "Sir" was conferred only on knights, or whether it also extended to baronets. I have seen reference to a Sir James (John?) Caldwell, owner of Castle Caldwell, Co. Fermanagh, Ireland. Was knighthood conferred on him? Or was he a baronet?

That is a question that I bet you know the answer to. You seem to be very knowledgeable about the Caldwells of North Ireland -- especially those of Co Fermanagh -- more so than any other contrbutor to this website.

For each officially registered coat of arms in Scotland, the Lyons Register in Edinburgh would have records that could answer these questions. I do not know what entity registers the British and Irish caldwell coats of arms.

Let me offer some constructive criticism. What you write would be of far greater value to everyone if you more often cited the references upon which you base your statements.

Take Barbara Randolph for example. A regular contributor. In her search to learn more about her roots, she has mentioned reading several of the books cited in these webpages. She has recently commented on the quality of research at this website.