Michael D.Heath-Caldwell M.Arch.

1784

James Caldwell of Nantwich about 58 years old

James Caldwell of Linley Wood – 25 yrs old

Elizabeth Caldwell of Linley Wood – 29 yrs old

In 1784 and 1785 James is recorded as living in a house at No 8 Red Lion Square, owned by Thomas Sparrow.  In 1785 James is recorded as living at 3 King Street, Newcastle.

Memoirs of Anne Marsh-Caldwell

We had a story to that effect; my father, a remarkably handsome man – (he was like Fulk Greville in his youth) - was riding down a lane separated by a hedge from the garden at Allerton, Mr Pott’s, where my Mother and my Aunt, the two Miss Stamfords, were. “What a handsome young man!” cries my Mother. “He has a very handsome horse.” Says my Aunt.

8^th June 1784.

James Caldwell marries Elizabeth Stamford

James's marriage to Elizabeth Stamford, in 1784, is said by Anne to have brought a fortune of £20,000.  Elizabeth must have thought him a man of promise, as presumably, when they married, he had little fortune of his own, however by the end of his life, the value of their fortune had increased to £70,000.

If this is a draft of a letter from James to Elizabeth it would be 1783/84

Presumed to be a letter to James Caldwell. Could be a draft?

Will you acquit me of taking an unfair advantage of your goodness if I should be encouraged from those kind lines which I found enclosed with the [sermon?] to open a correspondence I am extremely desirous to establish. If there is anything unreasonable in the wish, forget that I ever formed it, and receive this letter as the tribute of my gratitude and of my friendship.

It seems almost necessary that I should write, if it was only to apologise for those parts of my behaviour at N-bar[?] which occasioned you so much trouble. You will perhaps laugh at me when I tell you that the sensations I experienced in that ever to be remembered Wednesday were more [exquisite?] than any I had felt before. It was not for want of exertion, that I was so much apprized.

I proved my fortitude to the utmost, and had the mortification to find it unable to afford me any material assistance. The recollection of the past, however, has not any longer a power to make me unhappy.

If you could read my heart at this moment, you would not only be convinced that those unpleasant looks, (as Jane terms them) are entirely done away, but that every idea which brings my dear friend to my remembrance is accompanied with a delight and satisfaction which is not easily expressed. The time may possibly arrive when I shall be able to give you by something more than profession; that my affection and regard will be as lasting as it is sincere, and that I shall ever consider my own happiness as most compleat, when I am obliged with an opportunity of contributing in any degree to yours.

I have not lately seen any of my friends from Newcastle but they have endeavoured to make a pretty sufficient recompense for this disappointment by sending me some comfortable pacquets. Last night I had a whole folio from Jane. She complains &c &c.

As this is a first epistle I will forbear to make it along one, when you have indulged me with an assurance that I am not doing wrong. I shall not be so ready to promise for any moderation.

Once more let me entreat you to accept of my best love. The prospect of our encreasing friendship affords me in contemplation the highest enjoyments, and though the advantages on your side can by no means to equal to those derived from it on mine, yet the pleasure of sincerity may be reciprocal. From this consideration I will presume to urge you to write soon. It is more than a common interest which I now take in all your concerns, and my heart will ever be open to receive, and preserve faithfully, whatever relates to, or affects you.

Memoirs of Anne Marsh-Caldwell

I will go on with the account of my Father, which has been interrupted, presently.

Today I will endeavour to paint my Mother. She was of middle stature, and in her youth, I believe, had been very slender and of a beautiful figure, but I only recollect her very full in the figure. Her complection was rather olive. She had no colour; her features, with the exception of the most beautifully formed nose that I ever beheld, could scarcely be called regular. She had high cheek-bones, brows a little too low, and eyes placed rather too deep; her mouth not noticeable for its form, but with an expression of sweetness and affection such as surely no other mouth ever expressed.

The whole countenance had a most charming affect taken together – so much sense, sweetness and humour surely never were expressed. Its predominant expression however was a sweetness, or rather a tenderness quite unrivalled. She must have been thirty nine when I was first old enough to remark her – so that I could never have an idea of what she had been in her bloom, when I believe from traditional accounts she must have been excessively admired.

Both my Father and my Mother came together like the hero and the heroine of an old novel, the observed of all observers in their own circle and the breakers of hearts by scores.

She was the daughter of Thomas Stamford of Derby by Sarah Crompton, daughter of Abraham Crompton of Chorley Hall, I believe, but as there was a Crompton of Chorley Hall and another of the family lived at the large red house standing at the end of the town of Chorley, I do not know which was my Mother’s grandfather.

The Cromptons were, and are, a numerous house – the foundation of the tree is a noble one, the man designated in the family as the “ejected minister.” He was the rector of St Wallbrooks, Derby, and was ejected then in Charles II’s time, when so many ministers surrendered their cures for conscience’s sake. His sons were bankers at Derby and I suppose made large fortune for those days.

One branch of the family is settled at Woodside, near Thirsk in Yorkshire, which the present man, now a baronet, Sir Samuel Crompton, and his father represented in Parliament.

Another branch is settled in the neighbourhood of Huddersfield and is very wealthy – another in the neighbourhood of Needswood Forest. The John Cromptons were the Chorley Hall branch. From them came the Abraham Crompton who sold Chorley Hall, first cousin to my Mother, with Mary and Kitty his sisters – Mary, a woman of extraordinary beauty and still living, marred Peter, heir of another branch of the Cromptons of Derby – he having inherited the estates of his elder brother, who died in a melancholy way, victim of an overwrought mind, as it appears, and by his own deed. He threw himself into the water…

Peter lived some time at Derby after his marriage, but said in his usual quaint way, “He would leave it when he found two fools – one who would buy his house dear – and another who would sell him one cheap.” He found the required characters and removed to Eton House in the neighbourhood of Liverpool, where his family still reside.

An Aunt of my Mother’s, Rebekah Crompton, lived at Duffield, near Derby with a Mr Cope, a connection by marriage of the family, how nearly I cannot now remember. His heirs are the Cope Sherbrookes of the present day. One of the Miss Copes married William Smith the Member for Norwich, who is in this way remotely connected with us.

With what regret do I now look back dimly on all the old traditions of the time past handed down to us by my Mother and my Aunt of this large family and connections of the Cromptons, to which they belonged.

I remember Eliza once saying in joke to my Mother that she reminded her of the Lady Mary Oddley in “The Spectator, who had an uncle killed at Edgehill – a cousin here and a cousin there – and whose little daughter innocently asked her Father why he never told them of any of his relations! – My Father had no relations to tell us of.

He achieved honour; his qualities – (perfectly astonishing to me when I consider his extraction and means of education) gave him such a place that he was immensely looked up to as if he had been nobly born, or something quite in a rank above them all, by these connections of my Mother’s; equally to the credit of all parties; of his, who could win such golden opinions, and of those who could thus honour merit and genious without the additional advantages of wealth or name.

My Mother when she married received a moderate fortune from her father, perhaps two or three thousand pounds – but by various inheritances from these rich collateral relations coming in with many others as next of kin to old uncles and aunts who died without wills and of some on her father’s side who made wills, my Father must have had £20,000 more or less with his wife, of which he had the complete disposal, and happily possessing the Scotman’s prudence and perseverance, and with a great decernment into things, though his health and his temper (temperament ?) indisposed him from absolute money?

Getting, he gave so good an account of his stewardship in his respect that he must had died worth between £60 and £70,000 – perhaps more, if my brother’s property was fairly estimated.

My Mother was indeed an exemplary, generous, devoted wife. She loved her husband – she adored and reverenced his fine understanding and great abilities. She loved his infirmities of body, for he often suffered much from a defective nervous system. She palliated and concealed from herself any little causes of discontent which a temper too irritable and hasty at times might give. She tended him, she soothed him – she assisted him – she was his all – his nurse, his comforter – his rest – his joy – and in return he gave her his young man’s first love, his faithful undivided heart, his immaculate constancy – his was as the love of an archangel, imaginative, tender, strong, holy. He deserved to possess a woman’s heart – and few such hearts have ever been blessed mortal man by their possession. What an influence did this holy perfect conjugal relation exercise on us?

Wedgwood Archives

30-22561

30 October 1784

Note which reads as follows:

Sir

By the Bearer you receive £136:11:8 the sum desired.
I am for Messers Sparrow & Caldwell

Sir your most obedient servant

Huimmereton

Newcastle       30 Oct 1784

Wedgwood Archives

30-22562

17 December 1784

Note which reads as follows:

Sir

By the bearer you receive one hundred pounds being one years interest of £2,000 due to Mr Wedgwood from Mr John Smallwood of Drayton and received from him on Monday last.  You will be pleased to send a receipt for the same, Messers Sparrow & Caldwell having given Mr Smallwood one.

I am Sir

for Messers Sparrow & Caldwell

your most obedient servant

Huimmereton

Newcastle  17 Dec 1784