Mary Dudgeon was born about 1730 probably in Pennsylvania. Her parents were John Dudgeon and Catherine Caldwell. They were probably from County Derry or County Antrim, the two northern counties of present day North Ireland.  In 1727 the family immigrated to America with a large family group. The group consisted of John & Margaret Caldwell, their five children, their two brother-in-laws,(John Dudgeon) and their families :Moore Richey and Mr. Dudgeon and Margaret's sisters family, the Daughertys. . They landed at New Castle Delaware on Dec 10, 1727

John Caldwell was the leader of the group and settled them in Chestnut Level, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. It is found in Drumore Township in the southern portion of the county near the Susquehanna River.

About 1734, the large family group moved to Lunenberg Virginia. They formed a settlement on Cub Creek known as Caldwell Settlement. There a Presbyterian Church was established, chiefly through the influence of John Caldwell. Cub Creek is claimed to be the oldest Presbyterian Congregation in Virginia. It is in present day Charlotte County. A plaque marks the location of the church. Most of this information is written about in a number of documents. Two were found in the Logan County, KY library: one entitled Family History, Caldwell, and the other simply titled Caldwell. Footes Sketches of Virginia 2nd Series, page 50 gives 1738 as the date of the settlement at Cub Creek.

Mary Dudgeon married David Caldwell, son of John and Margaret about 1745. He was born in Ireland in 1709 according to the Ancestral File Pedigree Chart from the Web. David and Mary were first cousins. David was at least 37 years old by that time. The information on this family came from a Caldwell bulletin board on the web. We will try to get source information. It stated that David was born July 7, 1708 in Donegal, Ireland. Donegal is the northern most part of present day Erie, just west of North Ireland.

Ten children of David and Mary Caldwell are listed below. All are noted from the web source and Family History, Caldwell.

1. John Caldwell born 1759 wed 1) Dicey Mann & 2) Jane Neely
2. William Caldwell wed Susannah Chinn
3. David Varner Caldwell born 1753 wed Phoebe Mann
4. Mary Thankful Alice Caldwell wed 1) Beverly Mann & 2) Abraham Smith
5. Margaret Caldwell wed Thomas Epperson
6. Jane (Jeane) Caldwell wed 2)Robert Lumkins We don't know the first husband.
7. Robert Caldwell wed Hannah Willis
8. James Caldwell wed Angeline Isham
9. Sarah Caldwell wed John Owens
10. Thomas Caldwell born 1769

The web source goes on to note David Caldwell served as Justice of the Peach, Charlotte County, VA. His Will is found on page15, Book 1 of Charlotte County, dated 14 Oct 1765, probated 6 Mar 1769. It mentions wife, Mary, and children, John, David, William, Thomas, Robert, James, Margaret, Sarah, Mary, and Jeane.

The handwritten family history simply titled Caldwell mentioned above also mentions the same will. However, there are quotes picked up from the will. First the phrase "I give to my son John 150 pounds, 30 pounds each year to defray my son Charles in learning". This calls into question two items. John must have been an adult, at least 16 and probably older in 1765 when the will was written. Therefore he must have been born by or before 1749. That would match his being listed as the oldest. Charles is not listed in the first source nor in the list of children in the will. Is this an eleventh child or a different name for one of the sons listed?

The second phrase from the will noted in Caldwell: " I do order that my well beloved wife Mary keep possession of the place willed to my youngest son James during her natural life or widowhood, but should she marry and her husband will give good security to my executors that he will school and bring up my children in a Christian manner, he may keep possession of said place until the above James comes of age." This tells us that David felt strongly about education and Christian training. It does raise a question about the inclusion of Thomas in the will. He could have been born just before or after the death of his father, but why is his name included in the web list. Was his name added after 1765? Or was he older than James and his birth year incorrect?

David Caldwell was buried at Cub Creek Presbyterian Church along with his bothers William Caldwell, Thomas Caldwell and his parents John and Margaret Caldwell. The church no longer stands.But the Cemetery does.

Caldwell goes on to note that Mary moved in 1784 to Kentucky and settled near Danville in Caldwell Station. Many of the Caldwell's settled there. Danville is currently the county seat of Boyle County but Boyle County did not exist until after 1840. Danville was right on the dividing line between Mercer county and Lincoln County. Indeed Caldwells are found in both.

The Filson's Map of Kentucky 1784 has a point near Danville marked "Caldwell's Station". We have a copy of the map and Caldwell's Station is due west of Danville on the Salt River. They had been there a few years. The History of Kentucky 1884 by Butley & Perrin states in their Bio Sketch of Charles Caldwell on page 745 that Robert Caldwell moved from Virginia to Danville area in 1781. Robert is listed as Mary & David's seventh child. It is possible that the whole family moved together in 1781. We also have David Varna's son David who reported on the 1850 census that he was born in Kentucky in 1782.

Mary Caldwell died in Mercer County in 1820. Her will can be found in Mercer County, KY Will Book 6, p 301, 1820.

If you know the answer please CONTACT US.

1. When and Where in Ireland was she born?

2. What are the correct names and birthdates of all their children?

3. Where was Mary buried?

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Doc; gsdud010
Date created: 10/21/1999
Date edited 3/8/2014
Date edited 8/6/2023