Hello, List, especially Larry and Doreen, and Alice,
My Caldwell connection is through my great-grandmother Elizabeth
Margaret Caldwell, born May 21, 1850 in Philadelphia, and always called
Margaret. Her father was Edward, mother (or stepmother) was Elizabeth.
Edward was a jeweller, silversmith, or something like that. Family
legend is that the Caldwell ancestors were living in Philly at the time
of the Revolutionary War. In 1863, when civil war started getting close
to Philadelphia, my Margaret's mother (or stepmother) took her to
Ontario, Canada, to be out of harm's way. The next seven years of
Margaret's life are a blank.
In 1862, Arthur Little of Norval, Ontario, age 18, slipped across the
border and joined the 25th New York Artillery, and spent nearly 4 years
fighting for the Union in Louisiana. He returned to Canada in the fall
of 1865.
In 1870 Margaret Caldwell married Arthur Little, in Cramore, Ontario. I
have no information on how they met, or where, or why Margaret was still
in Canada instead of going back to Philadelphia to her family, or what
she was doing still (or again) in Canada 5 years after the war. It's a
complete blank.
Margaret and Arthur had 13 children: William (my grandfather), Arthur
Jr, Edward, Charles, Sarah Jane, Grover Cleveland, John, Margaret,
Robert, Howard, and Clara. Two babies, both named Elizabeth, died in
very early infancy.
In 1882, September 11, Arthur was baptized by "J.W. Caldwell of
Kentucky." A week later on Sept 18, Margaret was baptized by J.W.
Caldwell of Kentucky. This information is written by Margaret in her big
family bible. Unfortunately she does not say who J.W. Caldwell was,
doesn't say "my uncle" or "my cousin," does not even say
"Reverend" J.W.
Caldwell, and gives no first name for him. So I don't know.
Margaret and Arthur were very active in the Grand Army of the Republic
for the rest of their lives.
I am completely stumped, no idea how to get at these Caldwells. I know
that relatives were still living in Philadelphia some time in the early
1950s. I vaguely remember Grand-Aunt Clara going there for a visit at
that time, and this is confirmed by her daughter, who remembers the
visit but none of the details.
I hope this rings bells for somebody. Some of you mentioned they had a
J.W. Caldwell in their family file. Is it possible to figure out if he
had a brother or cousin in Philly? Did J.W.'s family come from there?
What a puzzle.
Renee