The following transcriptions were submitted by
Boyd C. Roach Jr.
of Washington Co., PA for inclusion at the Genealogy
in Washington Co., PA web site in December 1998.
Boyd writes:
"Joseph Caldwell and Robert Caldwell were two of the sons of William
Caldwell and Jane Hazlett Caldwell. Joseph was my great-granduncle and Robert was my great-grandfather.
Joseph is mentioned in the following:
- Beers Biographical Record On-Line - Portraits (Joseph Caldwell
- P 1079)
- Crumrine - Peters Township
- Samuel MacMillan Manuscript A-B-C
- Beers Biographicical Record On-Line (Mrs. Elizabeth B. Caldwell
-P 1078) Joseph was her father-in-law.
On June 19, 1848, David Gibson, via deed, and wife sold to Robert
Caldwell and Joseph Caldwell a tract of land consisting of 136 acres, more or less.
On June 5, 1852,Joseph Caldwell, via deed, and wife Agnes sold their
portion of this 136 acres in Peters Township to Robert Caldwell for $2800.
Following is a copy of the Indenture between Joseph and Robert for the
136 acres and 70 perches, more or less.
Know all men by these presents, that Joseph Caldwell and Agness his
wife, of the Township of Peters, in the County of Washington, and State
of Pennsylvania, for and in consideration of the sum of twenty eight
hundred dollars to me in hand paid or secured to be paid, by Robert
Caldwell, of the Township, County, and State aforesaid, the receipt is
hereby acknowledged, hath granted, bargained, sold, remised and quit
claimed, and by these presents doth grant, bargain, sell, remise and
quit claim, unto the said Robert Caldwell, and to his heirs and assigns
forever, all that tract of land, whereon Enoch Young now lives, situated
on Brush Run, in the Township, County, and State aforesaid, formerly the
propertyof David Gibson, begining at a white oak on the line between
Arthur Hopper and Robert Moore, thence by land of the said Hopper South
sixty five degrees, West, one hundred and forty perches to a hickory,
thence by land of James Pollock, South six and an half degrees West,
thirteen and nine tenths perches to a white oak, South thirteen and an
half degrees East, seven and five tenths perches to a maypole, South
thirty six and three fourth degrees East, thirty two perches to a post,
South forty five degrees East, twenty one and eight tenths perches to a
post, North seventy and half degrees East, eight perches to a post,
South twenty five and an half degrees East, thirty one and two tenths
perches to a post and stump, thence by land of said James Pollock and
James Moore, South seventy nine and three fourth degrees East, forty
three perches to a white oak, South fifty four degrees east, thirty five
and nine tenths perches to a post in the middle of the Pittsburgh road,
thence along said road North forty four degrees East, four and three
tenths perches to a post, South nine and three fourth degrees East,
fifteen and six tenths perches to a post, in the middle of the
Georgetown road, thence along the middle of said road, North seventy and
three fourth degrees East, thirty and two tenths perches to a post,
thence by land of Joseph Denniston, North four and one fourth degrees
East, thirty six and two tenths perches to a post, North seventy two and
one fourth degrees East, thirty one and eight tenths perches to a post,
North five degrees East, seventy eight perches to a post, thence by land
of Robert Moore, North sixty seven and one half degrees West, eight and
eight tenths perches to a post, South forty five degrees West, eighteen
perches to a post, North sixty seven and one half degrees West, nine and
three tenths perches to a spanish oak, North, thirty seven degrees West,
seventy two and five tenths perches to the place of the begining,
containing one hundred and thirty six acres and seventy perches strict
measure, be the same more or less, together with all and singular, the
hereditraments and appertainances there into belonging, or in any will
appertaining and the revertions, remainders, rents, isues and profits
thereof, and all the estate right, title, interest, claim or demand
whatsoever, of me, the said Joseph Caldwell, either in law or equity,
of, in and to the above bargained premises; to have and to hold the same
to the said Robert Caldwell and to his heirs and assigns forever, in
witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands and seals the FIFTH DAY
OF JUNE A.D. one thousand eight hundred and fifty two
Signed sealed and delivered in the Joseph Caldwell
presence of us Agness Caldwell
JOHN BOWER
DAVID BOWER
Received the day of the date of the above
indenture of the above named Robert Caldwell,
the sum of twenty eight hundred dollars, it
being the consideration money in full, above
mentioned.
Joseph Caldwell
Washington County S.S.
Before me the subscriber one of the Justices of the Peace in and for the
said County, personally came the within named Joseph Caldwell and Agness
his wife, who in due form of law, acknowledge the within indenture to be
their act and deed, and desired that the same might be recorded as
such. The said Agness being of full age and by me examined separate and
apart from her husband, and the contents of the foregoing indenture
being first made fully known to her, declared that she did voluntarily
and of her own free will and accord, seal, and as her act and deed
deliver the same, without any coercion or cumpultion of her said
husband, in testimony whereof, I have hereunder set my hand and seal
this fifth day of June A.D. one thousand eight hundred and fifty two
John Bower JP
On December 23, 1872, Robert Caldwell (he died March 1, 1873) wrote up
his last will and testament which was probated March 13, 1874 by O. A.
Day, Register for Washington County.
I am sending a copy of this Robert Caldwell will, being a part of the
probation document.
THE COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA
WASHINGTON COUNTY, SS.
By the tenor of these Presents, I ................................
A. O. Day
...........................................................................
, Register
or the Probate of Wills and granting Letters of Adminis-
tration, in and for the county aforesaid.
Do Make Known Unto all men, that on the ...13th... day of ....March
A.D. 1873 ..at Washington, before me, was proved, approved and insulated
the last Will an Testmment of
.............................. Robert Caldwell Esq
........................................................................................
late of the county aforesaid,
deceased
a true copy whereof is to these presents annexed), having,
whilst ......he...... lived, and at the time of .....his...... death,
divers goods and chattels, rights and credits, within the said
Commonwealth, by reason whereof the approbation and insinuation of the
said last Will and Testament, and the committing, the administration of
all and singular the goods and chattels, rights and credits, which were
of said deceased, and also the auditing the accounts, calculations and
reckonings of said administration, and a final dismission from the same
to me are manifestly known to belong, and that administration, and of
all and singular the good, chattels, rights, and credits of said
deceased, or any way concerning....his... last Will and Testament, was
committed to................................Robert
Johnston.........................................................................
in the said Testament named, .....he ..... having first been qualified
well and truly to administer the
goods and chattels, rights and credits, of the said deceased, and make a
true and perfect inventory thereof, and exhibit the same into the
Register’s Office, at Washington, on or before the.....13th....
day of.....April.....next ensuing, and also a true and just account,
calculation, and reckoning of........
his.........adminisration upon...his...solemn....oath....to render at or
before the....13th....day of ......
March......in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and
seventy....four.... or when there-unto lawfully required.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal
of said Office, at Washington, the....13th....day of.....March....., in
the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventy.....four....
......A. O. Day.....................Register
I, Robert Caldwell of Peters Township in the County of Washington, and
State of Pennsylvania, being in sound mind, memory and understanding, do
make and publish this my last will and testament. As to such estate as
it has pleased God to witnest me with I dispose as follows. Viz.
First my will is that all my past debts & funeral expenses shall by my
executors hence after named, be paid out of my estate, as soon after my
decease as shall by then be found convenient.
Items I give devise and bequeath to my beloved wife Margaret Caldwell
all my household furniture, my buggy & buggy harness, one horse, two
cows, twenty-five head of sheep and have and to hold the same to her and
to her heirs and assigns forever. I also give & devise & bequeath to
her my said wife the house I now live in with the garden, the use of the
stable and barn and one third of the rising profits of all my farm, that
I purchased from David Gibson to have and to hold the samr during her
natural life.
Items--- I give devise and bequeath to my daughter Mary Bell Caldwell,a
tract of land, the house now stands on as forming lands with Robert
Moore and Dennistons, containing seventy acres more or less, the
division line to commence at a lot of ground I purchased from Pollocks
Estate, & James Moore, at the run where the line of said lot crosses,
and runs up said run till within fifteen rods of Robert Moores line,
then striking to Arthur Hoppers line fifteen rods up from the corners
adjoining Robert Moores line, to have and to hold the same to her the
said Mary B. Caldwell her heirs & assigns, to her and their use, &
behoof forever. I also give and bequeath to my daughter Mary B.
Caldwell at the death of her Mother, the house, with all the out
buildings which stands on said tract of landabove described, to her, her
heirs & assigns forever.
Item. I give and bequeath to my stepsons Robert H. Bell& John N. Bell
the west side of my farm (from the line specified in my bequeath-ment to
my daughter) adjoining lands of Arthur Hopper and James Matthews,
containing sixty-five acres more or less, with the appurtenancrs to be
equally divided between them, to have and to hold the said messuages or
tract of land above described, to them their heirs & assigns forever.
It is my request that they work together till one is able to buy the
other out. The remainder of my land about thirty-five acres, adjoining
Thompsonville, I allow my executor to sell as soon after my decease as
is convenient, if not sold in my life time.
Item I give devise and bequeath to my stepson James J. Bell one
thousand dollars to be paid when the land is sold.
My personal property that is not willed, I allow to be equally divided
between my stepsons Robert H. Bell and John N. Bell.
After all my debts are paid, I allow the balance of the money to be
equally divided between my wife Margaret Caldwell & my daughter Mary B.
Caldwell.
Lastly, I appoint my wife Margaret Caldwe, & Robert Johnston to be the
executrix & executor of my last will and testament.
In witness whereof, I Robert Caldwell testator heir to this my will set
my hand and seal this twenty-third of December AD one thousand eight
hundred and seventy-two.
Robert Caldwell (seal)
Signed sealed & delvird by the above named Robert Caldwell as & for his
last will and testament in the presence of us who have henceto
subscribed our names at his requesat as witnesses heretofore in the
presence of the said testator, and in the presence of each other.
David G. Moore
William C. Wright