Friday 31 March 2023

The Caldwell Baronetcy

The founder of this family in Ulster, 
JOHN CALDWELL (1603-39), a merchant in Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, was born at Preston, Ayrshire. By his wife Mary, daughter of Anthony Sweetenham, of Chester, he was father of

JAMES CALDWELL (c1630-1717), a merchant of Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, settled at Rossbeg, afterwards named Castle Caldwell, County Fermanagh.

He wedded, about 1655, Catherine, daughter of Sir John Hume, 2nd Baronet, and had issue,
Charles, (Lt-Col), (1702-17);
HENRY, his successor;
Hugh;
John.
He was created a baronet in 1683, being designated of Wellsborough, County Fermanagh.

Sir James, High Sheriff of County Fermanagh, 1was attainted by the Irish Parliament of JAMES II, 1689.

He was succeeded by his elder son,

SIR HENRY CALDWELL, 2nd Baronet, High Sheriff of County Fermanagh, 1693, a merchant at Ballyshannon, County Donegal.

Sir Henry died ca 1726, and was succeeded by his son,

SIR JOHN CALDWELL, 3rd Baronet, who wedded, in 1719, Anne, daughter of the Very Rev John Trench, Dean of Raphoe, and had issue,
JAMES, his successor;
Hume;
Henry, father of the 6th Baronet;
Catherine.
The second son, Hume, was a very distinguished officer in the Austrian service, and attained the rank of colonel. He was killed in a sally from the fortress of Schweidnitz, in 1762.

Sir John died in 1744, and was succeeded by his eldest son,

THE RT HON SIR JAMES CALDWELL, 4th Baronet (c1722-84), Deputy Governor of Fermanagh, 1752, High Sheriff of County Fermanagh, 1756, who being in the service of the Empress Maria Theresa, was created by that princess COUNT OF MILAN, in the Holy Roman Empire.
In 1766, Sir James, in passing through Vienna, having had an audience of leave of the Empress-Queen, Her Imperial Majesty, in a very gracious manner, charged him with a magnificent gold box, to present to the Dowager Lady Caldwell, mother of Colonel Caldwell, as a testimony of Her Majesty's gratitude for the signal services performed by that gallant officer. 
Sir James raised, in 1760, at his own expense, a body of Light Horse (20th Dragoons), comprising 250 men, which he commanded for some years, for the defence of the Kingdom of Ireland. 
This regiment was disbanded in 1763. Sir James is said to have declined a peerage as well as the position of chamberlain to the Empress of Germany.
He espoused, in 1753, Elizabeth, daughter of the Most Rev Dr Josiah Hort, Lord Archbishop of Tuam, by whom he had (with four daughters) three sons,
JOHN, his successor;
Fitzmaurice;
Josiah John.
Sir James was succeeded by his eldest son,

SIR JOHN CALDWELL, 5th Baronet (1756-1830), of Castle Caldwell, County Fermanagh, Count of Milan, Aide-de-Camp to the Viceroy of India, 1782, Governor of County Fermanagh, 1793; Lieutenant-Colonel, Fermanagh Militia, High Sheriff of County Fermanagh, 1798, Captain, Belleek Infantry, 1802.

He married, in 1789, Harriet, daughter of Hugh Meynell, and had two daughters, the elder of whom, Louisa Georgiana, wedded, in 1823, to Sir J W Hort Bt; and the second, to Sir John Colpoys Bloomfield, of Redwood, County Tipperary.

On his death, in 1830, his Holy Roman Empire Countship expired, and the baronetcy reverted to his cousin,

SIR JOHN CALDWELL, 6th Baronet (1775–1842), born at Quebec, Treasurer-General of Canada, 1810, who espoused, in 1800, Jane, daughter of James Davidson, and had issue,
HENRY JOHN, his successor;
Anne (1805-41).
Sir John was succeeded by his only son,

SIR HENRY JOHN CALDWELL, 7th Baronet (1801-58), who married, in 1839, Sophia Louisa, daughter of David Runwa Paynter, though the marriage was without issue.

The title expired on the 7th Baronet's death in 1858.



CASTLE CALDWELL, near Belleek, County Fermanagh, stands on an isthmus overlooking Lower Lough Erne.


It was built between 1613-19 by Thomas Blennerhassett on the 1,500 acre estate he acquired under the Plantation of Ulster.



The castle was purchased by James Caldwell in 1662.

Castle Caldwell ca 1830 (historic OS map)

First published in July, 2011.

10 comments :

Anonymous said...

Hi,
I am interested in Castle Caldwell and wondered if you know the date the black and white photograph (2nd from the bottom of your post) was taken?
Thanks,
S

Timothy Belmont said...

Hello S, Unfortunately I cannot be precise: between 1865-1914.

Anonymous said...

Many thanks.
S

Flossy Mack said...

My 4th Great Grandfather was Sir Audley Caldwell, born circa 1745, became Baron of Killeen, Co Tyone. He married Lady Sydney Simms. They had two sons.
Audley Jr became heir to the barony.
Henry, born circa 1770, my 3rd G Grandfather married Bridget Manning, had several sons and one daughter Catherine; the older ones: John; Charles Alexander few others; & sister Catherine immigrated to USA, NY and some up into NB, Canada circa 1812. Youngest son Robert remained in Tyrone as a teacher. Henry followed his sons to America.
I am interested in Sir Audley's father and forefathers; possible year of entering Ireland from Scotland; & was this part of the "Plantation of Ireland".
Can anyone tell me if descendants of Audley Jr are still in possession of the family barony/lands?

Unknown said...

Have visited the Castle several times since 2008, even climbing through the barbed wire. Basically in ruins now, only one parapet about 3 stories and several walls standing. There was talk of rebuilding back in 2009 but appatently funding was never found. Had my daughter photograph me in Co. Fermanagh tartan kilt atound the grounds. Went into Belleek for lunch at a pub and after way too many pints declared my birthrights to the Castle. It only got me a few giggles and a pint though. New email, soldiersrest@twc.com

Unknown said...

Reading Mervyn Busteed's book, Castle Caldwell, Life on a wesr Ulster Estate 1750-1800. Daughter bought it for me for Father's Day from an Irish library after to was taken out of circulation...love it.

Unknown said...

We are also related to Audley Caldwell. Trying to figure out the relation between him and Caldwell castle! Ptricia618@gmail.com

Denisea Cooper said...

I have found online from various ancestry websites that there were 3 more James Caldwells after Sir James Caldwell, 1st Baronet. I found that James Caldwell IV was born in 1692 at Castle Caldwell and was buried at Castle Caldwell in 1726. He had a son named Hugh Caldwell who was also born at Castle Caldwell in 1718 however, he died in America in Virginia 1769. I do not see this lineage in your account. Do you know if Hugh is the great-great grandson of Sir James Caldwell, 1st Baronet? Thank you!

Mel said...

Do you know how the original John Caldwell got his money what kind of merchant was he?

Anonymous said...

I also have him as a 4 th great grandfather. I also have a very old prayer book with the signature Catherine Caldwell , it’s a tiny , leather bound item & it’s got a little lock on the side of it .