The
myths and legends of Caldwell have been around many more years
than I. These myths have been propogated and perpetuated for much
too long, and have even become public record in documents belonging
to two-time Vice President John Caldwell Calhoun and Joseph Caldwell,
a founding member of Princeton University.
I
have seen four or five versions which all say basically the same
thing, that Caldwell is a French name; that Caldwells were Muslim
pirates; that Oliver Cromwell and Queen Elizabeth I are related
to Caldwell. If you have a version of this story that you don't
see here, please forward it to me so that I may include them here.
Version
One:
"ONE CALDWELL FAMILY HISTORY" by Mrs. Harold Walters
of New Ross, IN
"In
1400 there were two notorious brothers, pirates, named Barbarosa,
who controlled the Mediteranrarean..... for 20 years until they
were defeated by an African captain. Among those who escaped were
3 brothers, John, Alexander & Oliver, each who commanded a
vessel under the Barbarossas. They returned to their native France
and established a naval force..... Merchants hired them to protect
their fleets and as it was a benefit for France, they were paid
$20,000 by King Francis I. In 1425, Emperor Charles V of Germany
& also King of Spain was at war with King Francis, the brothers
sided with Charles the V..... They found favor with James V of
Scotland, who welcomed the brothers to Scotland in exchange for
troops he gave them land in Ayreshire, Scotland, which they purchased
from Bishop Douglas. The locality was noted for a spring of wells
of pure cold water, & the region was known as th "region
of cold wells". Hence the brothers became known as John of
cold well etc. and later John Caldwell etc.
Other
Versions
One | Two |
Three | Four
| Five