The two transcribed deeds that I posted a couple of days ago concerning Robert Caldwell/Colwell provided proof of the names of his children plus the husbands of his daughters and pointed to a son who predeceased him, but left a daughter Sarah Ann Caldwell.

From that information, plus additional land deeds, vital records, censuses and newspaper notices, it is possible to create a family sketch.

Robert Caldwell was born in Ireland, c1790. It has been posited that he hailed from County Donegal, which today is part of the Republic of Ireland, but cut off from the country by the counties of Northern Ireland. However, back in the 18th and 19th centuries, all counties were part of Ireland with many Scots settling in the area that is today Northern Ireland.

Because Caldwell is a Scottish and Northern Irish surname, it is very possible that Robert Caldwell’s family was part of the group known as Ulster Scots – resident of Ireland, but whose origins were in Scotland.

More on Robert’s possible Irish origins will be discussed in a future post.

Robert married Sarah Porter, believed to be his only wife, c1814, in Ireland. I have yet to come across an online tree that provides Sarah’s maiden name, but proof is extant. The death certificates of both Mary Jane and Susan name their parents as Robert Caldwell and Sarah Porter.

Based on the consistent birthplaces listed in Canadian census records, Robert and Sarah with sons Joseph and James, arrived in Canada between 1819 and 1821, when their third son, Robert, was born in New Brunswick.

Robert died on 11 September 1874, which may be why his 1870 deed was recorded on 16 September 1874. His gravestone is found in Cox Point Road Cemetery, Cox Point, Queens, New Brunswick, Canada and is shared with wife Sarah.

Sarah, per the extant census records, was born c1789, also in Ireland and consistently appears to be about a year older than her husband. She died on 4 March 1885.

Children:

1. Joseph, born c1815, Ireland; died 21 June 1887, Queens, New Brunswick, Canada; married Mary Ann Brown, c1842
2. James, born c1819, Ireland; died 10 December 1877, Queens, New Brunswick, Canada; unmarried in 1861 and his heirs on 8 April 1879 were his siblings, who sold Lot 13 to their brother, Joseph Caldwell [Queens, New Brunswick, Canada Deed Book volume S2:318-319]
3. Robert, born c1821, New Brunswick, Canada; died 24 January 1883, Waterborough, Queens, New Brunswick, Canada; married (1) Ann Milray, 20 December 1851, Waterborough, Queens, new Brunswick, Canada (2) Annie Day, c1861
4. Sarah Ann, born 2 March 1823, New Brunswick, Canada; died 1911; married Robert Elkin, 15 August 1844, Queens, New Brunswick, Canada. Robert was born in 1817, County Donegal, Ireland, per the inscription on his gravestone.
5. Mary Jane, born 5 July c1826, New Brunswick, Canada; died 14 March 1915, Mars Hill, Aroostook, Maine [90 years, 8 months, 9 days old at death]; married George Langley, c1844
6. William, born c1831, New Brunswick, Canada; died after 1861, when he is enumerated as single and living with his brother, James, next door to their parents’ home in Waterborough; married Barbara Eleanor (MNU), c1857. Their only child, Sarah Ann, was born c1859 and lived with William’s parents.
7. Susan, born 15 November 1832, New Brunswick, Canada; died 15 September 1925, St. John, New Brunswick, Canada; married William Reid, about 2 November 1875, date of the marriage bond
8. Elizabeth, born June 1835, New Brunswick, Canada; died after 1911 census, possibly Waterborough, Queens, New Brunswick, Canada, where she lived at the time; married David Phillips, 12 November 1864, Waterborough, Queens, New Brunswick, Canada

Coming up will be family sketches for each of Robert’s and Sarah’s children, but first will be a short discussion on Robert’s possible Irish origins and his FAN club.