Individual Details

Find A Grave Memorial# 81942633
At the age of sixteen she was married to John Walkup, a marriage arranged by her father and the groom, who was fifty two years old. Four months after the wedding, Rebecca was a childless, penniless widow. In 1724 she married William Caldwell in Ireland. William had been schooled in Scotland at an early age and was considered educated, a man intensely proud of his heritage and possessing charm and tremendous physical strength. William and Rebecca came to America in 1727 with the Caldwell family and had children born in Pa. and Va., Margaret in 1728, Eleanor, Rebecca 1738, John 1740 [killed by a Tory in 1781], William Thomas 1748 [married Elizabeth WILLIAMS], Martha in 1730 [1750-1802, married Patrick CALHOUN, 1770, mother of John Caldwell CALHOUN, Southern Statesman], Sarah and James 1755, Elizabeth 1757, David Robert 1760.

The cemetery at Cub Creek Church in Va. is an acre of land conveyed by William Caldwell for that purpose 4/2/1751.
When William Caldwell died in Va. in 1761, leaving Rebecca with so many young children, he stipulated that slave SAMBO be her possession until her death.

Within the next ten years the entire family had moved to South Carolina and shortly thereafter the Revolutionary War was started."

"A story of heroism concerning widow Rebecca Parks Walkup Caldwell: 'During the Rev. War a Tory by the name of Bloody Bill Cunningham swept through the western side of Newberry Co., S.C.

On the Caldwell farm a Negro slave gave the alarm that the Tories were coming. James Creswell, afterward to become Col. Creswell was at the Caldwell home at the time. The father of James Creswell was the Rev. James Creswell who was killed by Cherokee July 1776. Because James Creswell was so openly hostile to the Tories Rebecca Caldwell had to think fast. She told her daughter (Elizabeth) to hide, and dressed James in the clothes of Elizabeth. She ordered horses to be saddled for herself and her "daughter". As the Tories approached the homestead Mrs. Caldwell was seen calling out, "Betsy, come along I am in a hurry". Out walked Creswell, hiding his face under the bonnet. He and Mrs. Caldwell mounted in the presence of the Tories and rode away on a pretend visit to Mrs. Neely.

The Tories searched the area for James Creswell and found Elizabeth in hiding. In retaliation they carried away most of the Caldwell household belongings. One of the Tory remarked about the long strides the pretender had taken to approach and mount the horse.

Rebecca Caldwell died in 1806 at the age of ninety-nine.'"

"In the 98th year of her life, Rebecca Park Walkup Caldwell conceived of a plan for a family reunion and wanted every person of the family connection present. When she told her family of her wish the reply was that there was no house that could accommodate such a crowd. Her reply was, 'I have all my children near me except those in Abbeville, William, James, Elizabeth, Dr. Martin, and Sally, John Moore and Eleanor. You all do not live in excess of five miles in a circle with all your children and grandchildren in adjoining districts. None lives so far that they can't find welcome in their family's homes nearby. William, James and David, build me a snug shelter, in case of rain, for a dining hall, and a smaller one for the children to play. I shall never meet them again on earth. I am now 98 years old and will be happy if you would give me this pleasure before I die.' "
"Her plans were carried out. Rebecca died one year after this reunion. She is thought to be buried with her son John who was killed by William Cunningham. That burial site is on the former grounds owned by John Caldwell between Mudlick Creek and Little River, Newberry Co., S. C."

The will of Rebecca Park WALKUP CALDWELL enumerates the following legatees:
Will of Rebecca Parque Walkup Caldwell:
1.To my daughter, Elinor Moore, a cow and a calf, bed and furniture;
2.To my daughter Rebecca East, one yellow bay mare and one cow and all household furniture not given to your sisters;
3.To my daughter Margaret Richey, bed and furniture;
4.To my daughter, Elizabeth Gillam, bed and furniture;
5.To my grand daughter, Sarah Martin, fifteen pounds sterling;
6.To my grand daughter, Rebecca Graves, one bed and furniture;
7.To my grand daughter, Rebecca Moore, one bed and furniture;
8.To my grand daughter, Rebecca Caldwell, one bed and furniture;
9.To my son James, all of my land, stock, sheep and wagon;
10.All my slaves and remainder of my property to be divided equally among my eight children:
Margaret Richey
Martha Calhoun
Elizabeth Gillam
Elinor Moore
Rebecca East
William Caldwell
James Caldwell
David Caldwell
If any of my children die before me that their share be given equally to their children.

Birth	1707	Ireland
Death	1806	Newberry County, South Carolina
Marriage		William Findley CALDWELL

Spouse	William Findley CALDWELL (1704 - 1761)
Child	John Caldwell (1738 - 1781)
Child	Jennet Caldwell (1739 - 1822)
Child	Eleanor Caldwell (1746 - )
Child	Rebecca Caldwell (1747 - )
Child	William Thomas Caldwell (1748 - 1814)
Child	Henry Caldwell (1752 - )
Child	James Caldwell (1755 - 1813)
Child	Ann Elizabeth Caldwell (1757 - 1851)
Child	David Caldwell (1759 - 1855)