: Thanks for answering. I live in Newport Beach. How
: exciting, a Caldwell historian in California. One more

Venice Beach, here.

: thing I didn't mention, my sister, Judy, was given a
: bible from my grandmother, Sarah Snyder Thompson,
: because she was the oldest granddaughter. My
: grandmother had received it from her grandmother,
: Sarah Caldwell Snyder (daughter of Robert Caldwell b.
: 1819). We all thought that was exciting until we read
: in the bible that Sarah had received it from her
: grandmother. That would be Robert Caldwell's mother or
: Mathilda Smith's mother. I would love to find out who
: Robert's parents were. He lived in so many counties
: that it makes it tough. I just found a will listing
: for a Robert Caldwell in Westmoreland County who died
: in 1893; hopefully it might shed some light.

There was also a Robert who lists as an Innkeeper in Westmoreland in the 1850 census.

In the Will of Joseph Caldwell - 1802 Westmoreland County, PA, Will Book No. 1, page 167 lists a Robert, who would be a brother to my ancestor, John, in the same Will. If I remember right, I got this Robert's date of birth (1759) from his sister, Mary's, line - same with the marriage. Robert was the oldest of the eight children, three of which were boys.

Joseph and his wife, Jane McGrew were Quakers, so I would guess they would raise the children in that faith. Though some of the children and their famlies would remain Quaker, not all did. My line, for example, went Presbyterian with, I think, John, which is why I think that Joseph became Quaker to marry Jane.

It's interesting to note that Jane's family had also been Presbyterian prior to the early 1700s, and I think that her father or grandfather may have made the conversion.

: Unfortunately, though, they usually just tell
: descendants and not anything about parents.

: Do you have any old photos of your Caldwells? I have a
: photo of my Robert and his daughter Sarah. Maybe we
: could see if there is a family resemblance.

The photo below is of James Lennon Caldwell, born in 1869 in Iowa. His father, James, along with two brothers, Levi and Nicholas, were early settlers to Iowa in 1855 coming from Ohio. James Lennon would be 2nd great grandson of Joseph, and great granson of John, who left Westmoreland for Ohio in 1808.