This is a good stopping point, for now, with my research into the family of Robert and Sarah (Porter) Caldwell, who appear to be Scots-Irish, both born c1789/90 in Ireland, but Protestant settlers in Waterborough, Queens, New Brunswick, Canada by 1821.

I’m very pleased with all the clean up I’ve accomplished while piecing together their story and their family.

I commented several posts ago that it was too soon to try to jump the pond. At this point, though, no further clues as to their origins have been discovered in Canadian records.

I have no Scots-Irish ancestry myself, but my husband does, so a couple of years ago, I compiled a list of resources for Scots-Irish research. While most of my suggestions on that list were geared towards American records, one of the books, Researching Scots-Irish Ancestors by William J. Roulston, is a true gem for understanding and researching the Ulster Scots in Ireland from 1600-1800.

While perusing the book, hoping to find some online resources for Northern Ireland records relevant to the late 1700s, I discovered AncestryIreland with it page on The Scots In Ulster. There I learned of the 1796 Premiums for Growing Flax database. This particular database is useful for determining the counties where a surname was prevalent. It’s not really a census, unless one is lucky enough to have a flax grower as an ancestor in that time period.

I decided to check entries for Caldwell, Porter and Elkin surnames, given that Robert was a Caldwell, Sarah was a Porter and their son-in-law was Robert Elkin, son of Edward Elkin, born in County Donegal.

The results are inconclusive, but interesting and offer several parishes that might be worth further research.

Elkin – There were only two entries, one for Edward Elkin in Clonmany, Co. Donegal and George Elkin in Upper Movill, also in Co. Donegal. Since Edward was Robert’s father’s name and he had a brother George Elkin, there might be some family ties here. These are the only two Elkins that are in the database.

Colwell/Caldwell – There were a handful of entries. James Colwell in Loughgilly, Co. Armagh, Robert and William Caldwell in Killevy, Co. Armagh, Robert Caldwell in Ryelands, Co. Donegal, Robert Caldwell in Lower Fahan, Co. Donegal, Robert Caldwell in Dramachose, Londonderry and Robert Caldwell in Drumragh, Co. Tyrone.

Those are just the Robert Caldwells listed! There are quite a few other men listed, too, and they cover all six of the Northern Ireland counties in addition to County Donegal, but are in the same parish as the Elkins.

I also checked the Porter surname, but there are a ton of them! However, there were two Porters in Loughgilly, Co. Armagh where James Colwell was living and there were five Porters living in Lower Fahan, Co. Donegal where Robert Caldwell lived.

It’s a long shot, but my next approach might be to check for church/vital records for Loughgilly and Lower Fahan. If I was really lucky, a marriage record would pop up for Robert Caldwell and Sarah Porter, c1815. That would make my day!