Re: Caldwell Anglo-Saxon Origins 3d revision Pt. 2
Re: Caldwell Anglo-Saxon Origins 3d revision Pt. 2
[This revision corrects errors and expands on 2d edition, part 2:]
The Black Forest, or Schwarzwald, borders on Switzerland on the south, on the Neckar River to the East and on France to the West. Look at any atlas and you will see that the Rhine River begins near the Baths (artesian wells) of Calw and flows north through Germany to the Netherlands, disgorging into the sea that reaches to Southeast England. Asked where they came from, would travelers from the Baths of Calw have had their answer translated from German into Old English, Caele Welle?
Bertha of Calw, 12th century sister of Pope Victor II, has been linked as kin of Sir Adam Mure of Rowallan, Scotland. (http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb. com/~jamesdow/s064/ f100336.htm). Possibly she was known among those speaking Old English as Bertha frae [from] Caeld Welle.
A descendant of Adam Mure, Gilchrist Mure, married an heiress of a Caldwell Estate in 1347. For the next five hundred years, the Estate was known as the Mure of Caldwell Estate. This can be largely confirmed by secondary sources: (1) "The Statistical Account of Ayrshire by Ministers of the Respective Parishes," published 1800s by William Blackwood & Sons, Edinburgh, states "Gilchrist second son of Sir Reginald [Mure], acquired the Estate of Caldwell by marrying the Heiress of Caldwell of that Ilk." (See posting here, 3/6/02. David Caldwell, Manitoba) (2) Burke's Landed Gentry states Gilchrist More acquired the estate of Caldwell in Ayrshire and Renfrewshire through marriage with the heir of Caldwell, of that ilk. (http://www.burkes-peerage. net/sites/common/sitepages/page13b-may.asp, From Caldwell To Tasmania).
Some second hand sources say the Caldwell heiress married Gilchrist's son, Godfrey. In Barry Robertson article, "The Caldwell Mystery," posted here on 2/23/02, Barry Robertson cited The History of Neilston (1910) by Doctor David Pride, who wrote that the Caldwell Estate came to the Mures through the marriage, in 1347, of a Godfrey Mure to the heiress of Caldwell, she being of That Ilk. Robertson also noted: "It seems that the Lady of Caldwell did not own all of the estate - a younger male branch of the family held Little or Wester Caldwell the area surrounding the present Hall of Caldwell, including the area later to become the golf course. Little Caldwell did not come into the Mure possession until towards the end of the 17th century.")
William M. Metcalfe, D.D. (1840-1916), authored "History of the County of Renfrew, With a Map of the County," 1905, Paisley: Alexander Gardner. Copies can be found at the LDS Family History Library in Salt Lake City and at various universities. He wrote: "Godfrey Muir is the first who is designated of Caldwell." (p. 105) He states that the estates of Caldwell in the counties of Ayr and Renfrew were acquired at the close of the fourteenth century by a marriage with the heiress of Caldwell of that ilk, then a family of some note, having given a Chancellor to Scotland in 1349. (p. 105) Metcalfe cited as his sole source "The Selections from the Family Papers Preserved at Caldwell, 1696-1853," edited by William Mure. Glasgow: [printed by W. Eadie for Maitland Club]. no. 71 (part I) [hereinafter, "The Caldwell Papers").
I decided to do a little investigation. Gilchrist Mure was born 1301 in Cowdans, the second son of Sir Reginald Mure. The webpage of the Muir Society states that Sir Reginald Mure (1267-1329) served as Chamberlain in 1329. (http://www.geocities.com/clanmuir/) The position of Chamberlain is just beneath Lord High Chancellor. When Sir Reginald Mure died, the Cowdans Estate passed to Gilchrist Mure, who thereafter became Lord Cowdans. The Cowdans Estate lies just a few miles northeast of the Caldwell Estate. Upon Gilchrist's marriage to the Caldwell heiress, Gilchrist became the landlord, or Laird, of the Caldwell Estate. While others may have referred to him as Lord (Laird) Caldwell, he was not so described in those terms when Sir William Mure prepared the family tree more than four centuries later.
Gilchrist's first son, Godfrey Mure, was born in 1352. Sir William Mure referred to him as "of Caldwell," perhaps because Caldwell was his chief residence. Godfrey's son, John Mure, was born in 1390, at the Mure of Caldwell Estate. There are numerous websites containing this information. I relied upon http://www.chesebro.net/wgf120. html#I35940. John Mure, b. 1390, is the first Mure of Caldwell whom Sir William Mure designated Lord Caldwell. Sir William Mure noted in the margins of the Caldwell Papers numerous errors that he had detected, so the Caldwell Papers have to be viewed as documents to be viewed with caution as to their accuracy.
If Gilchrist Mure preserved the Caldwell name of the Estate, perhaps he was obliged to do so because his wife would retain a life estate even his death. Alternately he may have done so in the belief that the Caldwell maternal line was of equal value, or at least a source and symbol of power, either by reason of blood relationship to an important person (for example, William Caldwell, then Prebendary of Glasgow and appointed Lord High Chancellor of Scotland, beginning in 1349, or in expectancy that he would acquire a privileged position in a social hierarchy. The heiress could not have been a serf, to whom marriage would result in loss of Gilchrist's honor if not rank. She had to have been a woman of noble or illustrious birth. As was true for most medieval marriages, Gilchrist likely did not expect a long life together with his wife. Lineage, not marriage, was the fundamental social unit of his time. Gilchrist would have acquired a social debt, if not military obligation, to the Caldwell clan. If Gilchrist died young, his clan would have been obliged to support the Caldwell heiress and her minor children. The head of the Caldwell clan would have been able to exert some influence over its "son-in-law." The church would require the consent by the heiress and her close relatives to any alienation of the Estate, even if Gilchrist sought to donate all or portion of the Estate to a monastery or abbey. Children by such marriage would be expected to marry other Caldwells past the 4th degree of cousins, as authorized in 1215 by the Lateral Council (reducing prohibited range from 7th to 4th degree).
The fact that the adjacent Little Caldwell Estate remained in possession of the Caldwell clan suggests that there was a circle of sons and daughters, brothers, sisters, brothers in law, cousin, and nephews linked by constraints of coresidency, consanguinity, and community. In view of the Church's insistence that marriage was indissolvable, except for prohibited degree of consanguinity or crime, the Church made it easy for Medieval nobles to obtain dissolution if the genealogical evidence showed such prohibited consanguinity. For a society dependent upon inherited wealth, undisputed genealogy would have been of utmost importance in winning the battle to maintain a way of life. Use of the Caldwell crest would have aided in showing lines of consanguinity.
At the time of Godfrey Mure's birth in 1352, Sir William Caldwell was still Lord High Chancellor, and one of the most eminent nobles in Scotland. (see, Samuel Cowan, author of "The Lord Chancellors of Scotland," W. & A.K. Johnston Limited, 1911, vol.1, at p. 163.) William Caldwell was appointed Chancellor in 1349 and served until 1354, when he died. Cowan reports that William Caldwell presided over Parliament held at Dundee, where the Estates discussed the ransom of King David, who had been imprisoned for 11 years. Lord Chancellor Caldwell pleaded for payment of the ransom, but the nobles allied themselves with France, and invaded Berwick, then held by the English. The Scots, led by Baliol, were defeated. When Caldwell's successor stepped in as Chancellor, the ransom was paid after Baliol's defeat. Cowan writes that there are no documents describing the official duties of the Chancellor. He ranked below the High Steward but above the Chamberlain. The Lord Chancellor was responsible for administering the laws and presiding at courts of justice. p. 6. The position was usually given to the most learned and scholarly men of the time and most influential with the King. p. 11 Up to the Reformation, the Lord Chancellors were usually Catholic Prelates. p. 12. Many had university training in France or Italy. p. 6.
Although the Mures never adopted the surname "Caldwell," use of the title Lord Caldwell likely led to widespread adoption of the Caldwell surname by people who worked, resided, or were tenants, of the Estate. For example, at the time that Rev. David Caldwell's parents, Andrew and Martha Caldwell migrated to America in 1725, an Allan Caldwell, baptized 1680, was a tenant in possession of a farm at Hall of Caldwell near Lochwinnoch under a 19 year lease. He married Margaret Clerk on February 7, 1709/10 (the ambiguity is due to the calendar new year under the old Julian calendar then in effect in England began on March 25, but on January 1 in Scotland under the Gregorian calendar), in Lochwinnoch, daughter of Alexander Clerk. The children of that marriage included (1) Jean Caldwell, (2) William Caldwell, born or baptized May 1715, Neilston, and (3) Leizie Caldwell, born or baptized 1723. His second wife was Janet Fulton . He married her on December 24, 1724 in the Hall Of Caldwell. The children of that marriage included (1) John Caldwell, born or baptized Feb 20, 1727/28, an ummarried shoemaker at the Caldwell Hall, (2) Allan Caldwell, born or baptized Sep 7, 1729, an unmarried farmer at Biggart, Beith, and (3) Thomas Caldwell, born or baptized September 5, 1731, a mason and wright at the Hall. Thomas "begat" (rebuilt) the Caldwell Manor House. He was unmarried according to the Cairn Of Lochwinnoch. Tenant farmer Allan Caldwell had a brother, William Caldwell, born 1690, who was still alive as of 1728 (his name appears as a witness to a document). William had a child named Andrew, who resided in Beith, Ayrshire, where he worked as a weaver. (Source: http://www.ayrshireroots.com/Genealogy/Surnames/Caldwell/Desc%20Thomas%20Caldwell%201600.htm) Although this Andrew likely was born about the same time as the Andrew Caldwell who migrated to America with Martha in 1725, the fact is that this Andrew worked in and remained in Beith, and could not be the father of Rev. David Caldwell (1725-1824). For more information about the Allan Caldwells of Lochwinnoch, contact Mairi Frew at Mairifrew@aol.com. He posted the descendants of Thomas Caldwell, b. 1600, through Allan Caldwell, b. 1630, his son, Allan, b. 1660, grandson, Allan, b. about 1680, Lochwinnoch, and ggrandson, Allan Caldwell, b. 1729. David Caldwell of Manitoba posted at caldwellgenealogy.com on 2/28/02 a list of hundreds of Caldwells in Ayrshire for the period 1590-1748.
Despite the plague, pillage and plunder, the violent 14th century did not witness the rise, decline and fall of the Scottish Caldwells. Two centuries later in the Casket Letters of Mary, Queen of Scots, reference is made to a "sonne of Caldwellis," who visited her during her imprisonment by Queen Elizabeth shortly before her execution in the late 16th century. The purpose was not to socialize but to ask Mary to confess. Casket Letters is the name generally given to eight letters, and a sequence of irregular sonnets, all described as originally in French, and said to have been addressed by Mary, Queen of Scots, to the earl of Bothwell, between January and April 15661567." (Id.) The letters were reportedly found in Bothwell's chambers, but the lords could never produce the original copies. The so-called copies (Mary said they were forgeries) revealed a love affair that began long before Lord Darnley's murder. The implication is that there was a Caldwell of great importance, likely of the nobility. No currently published genealogical story refers to this Caldwell or his Estate. The records of LDS Family History Library identify a Caldwell Estate in Annandale, near Solway Firth, since approximately 1558, headed by Alexander Caldwell. (His descendants has been posted on line and are said to include the original Cub Creek Caldwell clan in Virginia).
These letters are published in an appendix of the book, Mary Queen of Scots, by Antonia Fraser, first copyrighted 1969. They are discussed in C. Ainsworth Mitchell, The Evidence of the Casket Letters, Historical Association Pamphlets, 1927, and M. H. Armstrong-Davison, The Casket Letters, 1965. A detailed analysis of the Casket Letters, aka the Silver Casket Letters, can be found in a reproduction online of a 1911 encylcopeia (http://86. 1911encyclopedia. org/C/CA/ Casket_Letters.htm) " In Antonio Fraser's biography, entitled "Mary, Queen of Scots," she appends a copy of the Casket letter that mentions Caldwellis.
The view that Caldwell surname in Scotland is of Danish-Viking lacks the support of any historic document. The genealogical website. http://www.cproots.com/surnameorigins/namesak/namescaldwell.htm takes the view that the surname Caldwell originated in Renfrewshire, Scotland, of Viking origin. This view is also espoused by John Caldwell at his website, caldwellgenealogy.com.
On June 2, 2002, a Brian Caldwell posted this message at that website: "40 years ago John Caldwell of Paisley (were I was born) told me of the story of a Norseman, Kald, taken at the battle of Largs (1263) who, after serving time labouring on some farm, was freed and settled in or around the village of Caldwell near Neilston. There being artesian wells thereabouts he was know as Kald of the Well. With the anglicanization of names this became Caldwell, similar but unrelated to Coldwell, a common name in England. Caldwell is not that common in England and the largest concentration appears in Lancaster where a significant number of Irish settled. Interestingly there were only 44 Coldwells in 1881 in Scotland most in what was Northumbria. Compare this to the 2513 Caldwells in Lowland Scotland, 217 of whom from Ireland and 2 from the USA! In Nouthumberland itself there were only 4 Caldwells versus 47 Coldwells."
In a book by George Henderson, "Norse Influence on Celtic Scotland," James Maclehose and Sons, 1910, Glasgow, he states that "kalda-a" are the Norse words for "cold stream." James B. Johnston, B.B., "Place Names of Scotland," Neill & Co., 1892 Edinburgh, at p. 5, states Caldwell (Renfrew) is presumably from "cold well," the "cald'" derived from either Old English "cald" or from Icelandic-Norse word, "kaldr." The Calder River near Glasgow derives its name from the Norse language.
Hugh MacDonald, "Ramble Around Glasgow," ca. 1850's, contains this passage, excerpted from George Crawford's "A General Description Of The Shire Of Renfrew Including An Account Of The Noble And Ancient Families, Who, From The Earliest Times, Have Had Property In That County, And The Most Remarkable Facts In The Lives Of Distinguished Individuals : To Which Is Added, A Genealogical History Of The Royal House Of Stewart, And Of The Several Noble And Illustrious Families Of That Name, From The Year 1034 To The Year 1710 : [collected from our public records, chartularies of monasteries, and the best historians and private mss.," published in 1710, by George Crawfurd ; and continued to the present period, by George Robertson. Paisley : H. Crichton, 1818 (Paisley : Printed by J. Neilson) 512 leaves : ill., facsims. (2 folded), maps (folded). which can be found online at http://www. geocities. com/ Heartland/ Meadows/5209/ ram181.htm#neil: "
"The origin of the name of Neilston is a favourite subject of speculation, and has been accounted for in various ways by local etymologists. Certain parties derive it from an imaginary general of the Danish monarch Haco, named Neil, who, flying from the fatal field of Largs, was overtaken here and put to death. Over his grave a tumulus, according to the custom of the age, was erected, and called Neilston, from which, according to this theory, the locality ultimately received its name. Others find its origin in a stone erected over a supposed Highland chief, name Neil, who was killed (for the purpose, we suspect) at the battle of Harlaw, in the reign of Malcom III. Unfortunately for these specious derivations, an ancient document, the "Chartulary of Paisley Abbey," mentions that in 1160, many years before the Danish invasion or the insurrection which was terminated at Harlaw, Robert de Croc of Crocstown, assigns the patronage of "Neilstoun" to the monks of St. Mirren's, on condition that masses should be regularly said for the benefit of his soul. This leaves us still out at sea in our etymological speculations on this momentous question, where we must probably be content to remain, unless we adopt the shamefully simple solution that Neilston may have received its name from some individual 'rejoicing in the Celtic cognomen of Neil, who may have resided here at some period, and left his name as a legacy to the locality."
John Caldwell (o2tan@venicebeach.com) reasons that each occupant would have called any artesian well in his native language. Thus, a Norse occupant would have referred to the well as "kaldr a
" and an Anglo-Saxon by the words, "caeld weille." My view is that the Vikiings and Danish were well known for assimilating the local customs and language, as can be confined by looking at artifacts in their graves showing cultural assimilation.
Scot resident Barry Robertson has posted a detailed article about the origin of Caldwell at caldwellgenealogy.com, called "Caldwell Mystery." He suggests the Gaelic word "kelt" for wood. He acknowledges the speculative character of this explanation.
Tom Caldwell turned to alliteration. He wrote on 6/27/02: "Gault means 'pertaining to the lowlands,' from the Gael "gallda" (PH Reaney 'A Dictionary of British Surnames' p 142). This is reinforced by Galdwallys Castle in Speyside which is associated with one Freskin who had Ayrshire connections. Galdwallys Castle is easily found by a web search. Consequently this castle was established by the Lowland Welsh. Naturally Galdwallys is such a short step from Caldwallys/Caldwalls that one must be driven to suspect a connection." I particularly liked this argument, because it bore the indicia of plausibility based on drawing reasonable inferences from verifiable facts.
2002 © David Caldwell