Robert Caldwell

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Husband Robert Caldwell ¹

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           Born:  - County Derry, Ireland
     Christened: 
           Died: Autumn, 1799 2
         Buried:  - Hart's Log Cemetery, near Alexandria, Huntingdon Co, PA

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         Father: [Father] Caldwell (      -      )
         Mother: 

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       Marriage: 

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Wife

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           Born: 
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         Buried: 

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Children

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1 F Isabella Caldwell ²

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           Born: 20 Nov 1758 3
     Christened: 
           Died:  - Huntingdon Co, PA
         Buried: 

         Spouse: Thomas Coalman (      -      ) 3

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2 M Maj. David Caldwell ²

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           Born: 8 May 1762 2
     Christened: 
           Died: 28 Apr 1813 2
         Buried: 

         Spouse: Rebecca Dean (1770-Abt 1834) 2
           Marr: 13 Jan 1789 2

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3 M William Caldwell ²

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           Born: 20 Aug 1765 3
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 

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4 M Samuel Caldwell ²

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           Born: 
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           Died: 
         Buried: 

         Spouse: Elizabeth Dean (      -      ) 2
           Marr: 28 Nov 1797 3

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5 F Margaret Caldwell ²

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           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: 1807 - Knox Co, TN 3
         Buried: 

         Spouse: [Unk] Thorlton (      -1808) 3

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6 F Jane Caldwell ²

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           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 

         Spouse: James Thompson (      -      ) 3

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7 F Margery Caldwell ²

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           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: Winter, 1838-1839 3
         Buried: 

         Spouse: George Wilson (      -      ) 4

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8 F Mary Caldwell ²

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           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: 1808 5
         Buried: 

         Spouse: James Wilson (      -      ) 5

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General Notes: Husband - Robert Caldwell

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He was born of Scotch parentage. After arriving at manhood, he and his brother, Charles, emigrated to America, and for a time resided near Greencastle, Franklin County, Pennsylvania. In the summer of 1754 they left Greencastle to explore the upper Juniata Valley. They took the Tuscarora path, by the way of Burnt Cabins, Shade Gap, Black Log, Croghan's Fort (then a mere stockade), Jack's Narrows, and Standing Stone, and selected spots for homes for themselves and their families in what is now Porter township, Huntingdon County.
After constructing rude log huts they returned, and in the spring following (1755), with their families and all their worldly effects on pack-horses, made their way to their new homes, in what later came to be called Hart's Log Valley, and remained there unmolested until 1778, when the Indian troubles began.
Robert settled on the Little Juniata, near where the Barree Iron-Works were afterwards built. The land then taken by him extended along the south side of the river from Barree Station to the farm later owned by Samuel Neff's heirs.
There were no white women west of Aughwick at the time Robert and Charles brought their families to Hart's Log Valley.
The brothers and their families lived on the most friendly terms with the Indians until the Revolutionary war broke out, when the latter, instigated by the Tories, began to murder and plunder the settlers. Then these brothers became the sworn and determined foes of the "redskins," as the hostile natives were then termed, and were active participants in the struggle then inaugurated for the supremacy of the white race in the valley.
These men by their courage and kindness won the esteem of the natives who dwelt in their vicinity, and who for years were their only neighbors. They were always warned by some of these natives when danger from incursions of unfriendly Indians into the valley was imminent, and were therefore enabled to provide against impending peril and arrange for the protection of themselves and their families. They only forted once during the Indian troubles, and then for a short time only at the earnest solicitation of Logan, a chief among the Indians of the Juniata Valley, who in the dusk of the evening came to the house of Charles, and told Mrs. Caldwell, her husband being absent at the time, that the family must go to the fort at once, as the Kittanning Indians were on the war-path, and on a certain day would overrun the whole valley and plunder and murder all the white settlers found therein. With tears in his eyes he begged her to go at once, and not to tell who gave her warning; that the hostile Indians would kill him if they knew that he had told them of their plans. Mrs. Caldwell sent word to Robert's family, and commenced preparing for immediate departure. On the arrival of her husband, they at once started with their families and their stock for the fort, and were safely housed there when, on the day named by Logan, the war-whoop of the Kittanning Indians resounded through the valley, and plunder, rapine, and murder was the order of the day, and many of the settlers who had not sought safety in the forts of the valley were massacred and their homes pillaged and burned. This raid only lasted a short time, and after the Indians departed the families left the fort, and returning to their homes remained there, frequently in great danger, but they stood by their homes and firesides, and successfully defended them during the remaining years of the Indian troubles.

By his last will, dated Sept. 8, 1790, admitted to probate by the register of wills at Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, on the 19th day of October, 1799, he devised his lands, by lines run and settled in his lifetime, to his three sons.

1 J. Simpson Africa, The History of Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, PA: Louis H. Everts, 1883), Pg 411.

2 J. Simpson Africa, The History of Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, PA: Louis H. Everts, 1883), Pg 412.

3 J. Simpson Africa, The History of Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, PA: Louis H. Everts, 1883), Pg 414.

4 J. Simpson Africa, The History of Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, PA: Louis H. Everts, 1883), Pg 309, 414.

5 J. Simpson Africa, The History of Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, PA: Louis H. Everts, 1883), Pg 415.