Biography
Co-Founder of Princeton College. Murdered by British soldiers at Elizabethtown, New Jersey. seventh child

Early Graduate of Princeton College-1759.
Shot by a sentinel at Elizabethtown Point, NJ., 24 Nov. 1781

This couple is buried at the Presbyterian Church at Elizabethtown, NJ.

James Caldwell graduated from Yale University in 1759; he was ordained minister in 1762 by the Presbyterians. He was killed by an American traitor named Morgan at Elizabethtown, NJ. N. J. Morgan was reputed to have been paid by the British for this assasination. Rev. James Caldwell was said to have conducted services with a loaded pistol on each side of his Bible. He served as a Chaplain in the Revolution in Col. Elias Drayton's Regiment of New Jersey.

James was one of the founders of Princeton University. He was described as a militant clergyman during the Revolutionary War. He graduated from Princton in 1759 and was ordained to the Presbytery of New Brunswick, New Jersey in 1761. He became pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Elizabeth. The loyalists offered a reward for the capture of this patriotic clergyman. His church, used as a hospital during the war, was burned in 1780. On 7 June 1780, Mrs. Caldwell was killed by a stray British bullet during an invasion. James was shot and killed on 24 Nov 1781 by an American sentry in a dispute over a package James was carrying. The sentinel was later tried and sentenced to death for the shooting.

A son of James and Hannah Ogden Caldwell, John E. Caldwell, was educated in France under the sponsor ship of General Lafayette. Two other sons led in founding the Siberian colonization and gave the name to Caldwell, Siberia.

In 1846, a monument was erected in Elizabethtown, New Jersey in memory of Rev. and Mrs. James Caldwell.
Facts
  • 14 Apr 1724 - Birth - ; Cub Creek, Lunenburg (Charl
  • 24 Nov 1781 - Death - ; Elizabethport, Essex Co. (Union
Ancestors
   
Joseph Alexander Caldwell
9 Jan 1657 - 3 Sep 1730
 
 
John Caldwell
9 Jan 1683 - 6 Oct 1750
  
  
  
 
James Caldwell D.D.
14 Apr 1724 - 24 Nov 1781
  
 
  
 
   
  
  
 
Family Group Sheet - Child
PARENT (M) John Caldwell
Birth9 Jan 1683Ballyogan of Record
Death6 Oct 1750 Cub Creek, Lunenburg (Charl
Marriage4 Jan 1704to Margaret Phillips at County Derry, Ireland
FatherJoseph Alexander Caldwell
MotherJane Mcghee (Mcghie) Caldwell
PARENT (F) Margaret Phillips
Birth
Death1746
Marriage4 Jan 1704to John Caldwell at County Derry, Ireland
FatherLIVING
MotherLIVING
CHILDREN
MJohn Caldwell
Birth20 Mar 1715IRE
Death30 Oct 1795Maury Co. TN
Marriage1746to Jane Kennedy at Old Cub Creek Church, VA
MRobert Caldwell
Birth6 Jun 1719Cub Creek, Lunenburg (Charl
Death30 Jul 1806Danville, Mercer Co. (Boyl, KY
Marriage1754to Mary LOGAN
MJames Caldwell D.D.
Birth14 Apr 1724Cub Creek, Lunenburg (Charl
Death24 Nov 1781Elizabethport, Essex Co. (Union
Marriage14 Mar 1763to Mary Hannah Ogden
MWilliam Findley Caldwell
Birth1 Feb 1704
Death1761
Marriage1727to Rebecca PARKS (PARQUE)
MThomas Caldwell
Birth10 Apr 1706Co. Donegal, Ireland
DeathJan 1770Cub Creek, Lunenburg (Charl
Marriageto Mary Jane Parks
MDavid Caldwell
Birth7 Jul 1709Co. Donegal, Ireland
Death1769Cub Creek, Lunenburg (Charl
Marriageto Mary Dudgeon
FMargaret Caldwell
Birth16 Mar 1712Co. Donegal, Ireland
Death1791Danville?, KY
Marriage2nd husband - m. 1738to William Rogers at Lunenberg Co. VA
Marriage1st husbandto James Mitchell
Family Group Sheet - Spouse
PARENT (M) James Caldwell D.D.
Birth14 Apr 1724Cub Creek, Lunenburg (Charl
Death24 Nov 1781 Elizabethport, Essex Co. (Union
Marriage14 Mar 1763to Mary Hannah Ogden
FatherJohn Caldwell
MotherMargaret Phillips
PARENT (F) Mary Hannah Ogden
Birth
Death
Marriage14 Mar 1763to James Caldwell D.D.
FatherLIVING
Mother?
CHILDREN
FMarie Caldwell
Birth29 Sep 1779
Death5 Apr 1850
Marriageto Robert S Robertson
FMargaret Phillips Caldwell
Birth25 Jan 1764
Death3 Jan 1831
Marriageto Isaac Canfield
MPhillip Caldwell
Birth
Death
MJohn Dickenson Caldwell
Birth29 Jan 1765
Death11 May 1766
FHannah S Caldwell
Birth20 Sep 1767
Death20 Feb 1825
Marriageto James R Smith
MJohn Edward Caldwell
Birth2 Feb 1769
Death9 Mar 1810
Marriageto Ms. Van Wyck
MJames Baxter Caldwell
Birth8 Jan 1771
Death12 Feb 1826
Marriageto unk
FEster Flynt Caldwell
Birth26 Oct 1772
Death1844
Marriageto Rev. Robert Finley
MJosiah Flynt Caldwell
Birth23 Aug 1774
Death1859
Marriageto Mariah McGruder
MElias Boediant Caldwell
Birth3 Apr 1776
Death31 May 1825
Marriageto ?
FSarah Caldwell
Birth12 Jun 1778
Death25 Aug 1826
Marriageto John S Vrendenburgh
Descendancy Chart
James Caldwell D.D. b: 14 Apr 1724 d: 24 Nov 1781
Marie Caldwell b: 29 Sep 1779 d: 5 Apr 1850
Margaret Phillips Caldwell b: 25 Jan 1764 d: 3 Jan 1831
John Dickenson Caldwell b: 29 Jan 1765 d: 11 May 1766
Hannah S Caldwell b: 20 Sep 1767 d: 20 Feb 1825
John Edward Caldwell b: 2 Feb 1769 d: 9 Mar 1810
James Baxter Caldwell b: 8 Jan 1771 d: 12 Feb 1826
unk
Ester Flynt Caldwell b: 26 Oct 1772 d: 1844
Josiah Flynt Caldwell b: 23 Aug 1774 d: 1859
Elias Boediant Caldwell b: 3 Apr 1776 d: 31 May 1825
?
Sarah Caldwell b: 12 Jun 1778 d: 25 Aug 1826