Environmental History: Researching the Environment:

Caldwell Estate papers

The print version of the finding aid was compiled by Karen Cannell, New York State Archives.

Overview
Arrangement
Biographical Note
Content Description
Administrative Information
Use of the Collection
Related Information
Access Terms

Overview of the Collection

Repository:	Warren County Records Center and Archives
Sponsor:	Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Collection Number:	WCA_CaldwellEstate
Creator:	Caldwell family
Title:	Caldwell Estate papers
Dates:	1774-1900
Physical Description:	1 cu. ft. of textual records; surveys; maps
Summary:	The Caldwell family of New York State was a successful and influential family in both the Capital and Adirondack regions. The Caldwells were active in various industries and in possession of many land holdings. These papers consist of original Caldwell family records and those generated bysurveyors in their work to partition the estate of James Caldwell. The papers include an account book, deeds (copies aoriginals), surveys, and maps.

Arrangement

There is no apparent arrangement scheme for the material.

Overview

These papers consist of original Caldwell family records and those generated by surveyors in their work to partitthe estate of James Caldwell. The papers include an account book and deeds (copies and original), surveys, and maThe account book records payment of rent on Caldwell manor properties. Rent accounts include a lot number, sectioacreage, and payment records. Included with the accounts are records of improvements made by renters to propertiesundries purchased by renters, work done to a schoolhouse, gristmill operations and repairs, and payment for steamboat services and lumber. Also included are accounts of the William Caldwell estate.

Biographical Sketch

The Caldwell family of New York State was a successful and influential family in both the Capital and Adirondack regions. The Caldwells were active in various industries and in possession of many la holdings. James Caldwell was born in 1747 in Donegal County, Ireland. He immigrated to the United States in his early twenties with his older brother Joseph. The brothers settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where they worked for Francis Wade, an established merchant. Circa 1770, the brothers moved to Albany, New York, where they established their own mercantile business. In 1774, James married Elizabeth Barnes, the daughter of a Philadelphia military officer and merchant. The couple had eleven children, including a son William, born in 1776.

In addition to being a merchant, Joseph also worked as a teacher in the Albany area. During the Revolutionary War, the Caldwell brothers expanded their business and became suppliers for the milita They eventually operated as wholesalers and suppliers to regions north of Albany, including Canada. James also established tobacco mills in Albany and sold the products to buyers throughout northeaste New York and Canada. Throughout his lifetime, he owned thousands of acres of land in New York, Vermont, and Canada. In 1787, he purchased over 1500 acres of land on the western side of Lake George, N.Y. and became landlord to hundreds of local residents (at the time, this land was within the boundary of Washington County, but later became part of Warren County). He was instrumental in founding the town of Caldwell, which was renamed Lake George in 1963. The Caldwell family worked develop the area, establishing mills and promoting travel to the region. The family built a large home in Caldwell, which became known as the "Mansion House." James Caldwell died in February 1 1829.

After the death of his father, William Caldwell remained in the town of Caldwell, overseeing the family land holdings and investing in the Delaware Turnpike Company. Like his father James, William operated steamboats on Lake George. William Caldwell died in Albany, April 1, 1848.

William inherited much of his father's estate and the majority of his own holdings, in turn, were left to his daughter, Eliza and her husband John McGillis, who lived in St. Johns, Canada East (now know as Quebec). William also left some land to Catherine and Helen Beck, the daughters of his friend and colleague Theodric Romeyn Beck who ultimately managed the estate as executor. A codicil to Caldwell's will stated that any land not mentioned in the main will was to be divided among the th women and their spouses and heirs. This led to lengthy court proceedings and subsequent division of the land. Eliza and John McGillis had at least one son, also named William. Eliza Caldwell McGillis die in 1893 and after her death, her part of the estate was divided among her heirs.

Administrative Information

Custodial History
The custodial history is unknown.


Processing Information
This collection's description was created and enhanced as a part of the New York State Archives EnvironmenHistory Virtual Research Collection Project, 2004. The National Endowment for the Humanities provided funding for thisproject.

Use of Collection

Access Restrictions

There are no legal restrictions; however, repository staff will access all records and must approve all requests fo copies.



Available Alternate Formats
No other form exists.

Related Information

Related Material
The Caldwell records held by the Albany Institute of History and Art, Albany, N.Y.; the William Godwin correspondence and miscellaneous papers at the Carl H. Pforzheimer Library, New York, N.Y.; the James Caldwell papers at the New York State Library, Albany, N.Y.; and the Properties Records collection, the Deeds-Uncalled for papers, the Maps-Surveys (filed), and the Survey papers, Warren County Archives, Lake George, N.Y.; William Caldwestate file, Summary 316, Warren County Surrogate's Court, Lake George, N.Y.




Other Finding Aids
A partial index is available at the repository.

Access Terms

Corporate Names


Subjects
Partition of decedents' estates


Geographic Names
Lake George (N.Y.)


Genre/Form


Function




Personal Names
McGillis, Eliza Caldwell
Caldwell, James
Caldwell, William
Beck, Theodric Romeyn, 1791-1855

Container List

Dates	Contents	Box	Folder
1774	Indenture between estate of Robert Kennedy and John Jones for laon the west side of Lake George	979	2
1774	Letters Patent granting Robert Kennedy land on the west side of LaGeorge	979	5
1774	Letters Patent granting John Jones 200 acres on the west side of Lake George	979	7
1785	Indenture-John Jones, Barrack Master, Town of Sorel, Province oCanada and Udny Hay and James Caldwell for land on the west side of Lake George	979	1
1785/06/27	Notice regarding lands of Nova Scotian and other Canadian refuge(Clinton County, N.Y., along Lake Champlain)	979	6
1787	Indenture-Udny Hay to James Caldwell for 200 acres in Caldwell	979	15
1793	Lease-James Caldwell to Enoch Phillips for the Orchard Lot in Lo	979	10
1802	Lease-James Caldwell to Nathan Burdock for Lot in Caldwell Par	979	11
1802	Lease-James Caldwell to John Prosper re: north section of Lot 0	979	17
1808-1844	Miscellaneous accounts and letters regarding land and leases	979	4
1814-1860	Account/rent book	599
1818	Mortgage-Mathew Cole to James Caldwell for Lot 3 in the GarrisoTract	979	12
1818	Mortgage-Samuel Pike to James Caldwell for Lot 1 in the GarrisoGrounds	979	13
1819	Deed-Samuel Payne to James Caldwell for three lots in Caldwell	979	14
1821	Lease-James Caldwell to Samuel Payn for three lots in the townCaldwell	979	9
1822	Deed-John Stevens to James Caldwell for Lot 12 in the Town of Caldwell	979	16
1850-1852	Genealogy and survey notes; printed abstract of Supreme Court Commissioner's report regarding the partition of the Caldwell estate among Eliza Caldwell McGillis and Helen aCatherine Beck.	979	3
1851-1900	Mansion House accounts; notes from deeds; notice of pending acti Albany County Supreme Court; will of William Caldwell; copies of court orders; copy of final judgment	979	8