James Caldwell (clergyman)
| James Caldwell | |
|---|---|
|
Artist's depiction of Caldwell at the Battle of Springfield | |
| Born |
April 1734 Charlotte County, Virginia, U.S. |
| Died |
November 24, 1781 (aged 47) Elizabethtown, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Occupation | Clergyman |
| Spouse(s) | Hannah Ogden |
| Children | 9 children |
| Parent(s) | John Caldwell and Margaret Caldwell |
James Caldwell (April 1734 – November 24, 1781) was a Presbyterian minister who played a prominent part in the American Revolution.
Biography
Caldwell was born in Cub Creek in Charlotte County, Virginia, the seventh son of John and Margaret Caldwell, who were Scots-Irish settlers. He graduated from the College of New Jersey (later called Princeton University) in 1759 and, though he inherited 500 acres (2.0 km2) in Cub Creek, became pastor of the Presbyterian church in Elizabethtown, New Jersey. He was an active partisan on the side of the Patriots, and was known as the "soldier parson". His church and his house were burned by Loyalists in 1780.
While Caldwell was stationed with the army in Morristown, his wife Hannah was killed by British gunfire under disputed circumstances during the Battle of Connecticut Farms in what is now Union Township, an act which Union County immortalizes on their county seal to this day.[1] His wife had been at home with their baby and a 3 year old toddler. As the British moved into Connecticut Farms, Hannah Caldwell was shot through a window or wall as she sat with her children on a bed.
Caldwell, who fought in the Battle of Springfield, was killed on November 24, 1781, by an American sentry in Elizabethtown, New Jersey, when he refused to have a package inspected. The sentry, James Morgan, was hanged for murder on January 29, 1782 in Westfield, New Jersey, amid rumors that he had been bribed to kill the chaplain. There were nine orphaned children of Hannah and James Caldwell, all of whom were raised by friends of the family.
Legacy
- A monument to Caldwell in Elizabeth, New Jersey was dedicated in 1846.
- Three towns, known collectively as The Caldwells are named for James Caldwell:
- James Caldwell High School in West Caldwell also carries his name, as does James Caldwell Elementary School in Springfield, New Jersey.
- Hannah Caldwell Elementary School in Union, New Jersey, which carries his wife's name.
References
For the date of the murder, see New Jersey Supreme Court, case number 37028, New Jersey State Archives, Trenton, NJ