SIR JAMES CALDWELL
William R. Young’s Fighters of Derry Their Deeds and Descendants: Being a Chronicle of Events in Ireland during the RevolutionaryPeriod 1688-1691 (published by Eyre and Spottiswoode, London, 1932) is a unique and unrivalled source for tracing 17th century Plantation of Ulster ancestors. This book names and, in many cases, provides biographical detail of 1660 “Defenders” and 352 officers of the “Jacobite Army”.
‘Defenders’ refers to all those people who were named in contemporary sources and accounts as playing an active or supportive role in the successful Williamite campaign of 1689 to 1691. The Williamite War in Ireland, 1689-1691, was, in effect,the struggle for the English throne between the deposed James II, the last Catholic monarch of the three Kingdoms of England, Scotland and Ireland who had the support of Louis XIV of France, and William of Orange with the backing of the English Parliament.
The successful Williamite campaign included the defence of Derry during the Siege of 18 April to 31 July 1689; the harrying of Jacobite forces in Connaught and Ulster by locally raised regiments operating out of Enniskillen throughout 1689; victories at the Battle of the Boyne on 1 July 1690 and the Battle of Aughrim (County Galway) on 12 July 1691; and the final Irish surrender of Limerick on 23 September 1691.
This book records the following information:
Defender 956. SIR JAMES CALDWELL, Baronet, Castle Rossbeg, Enniskillen. His father, John, a member of the old Ayrshire family of Stratton, near Prestwick, had come to Fermanagh early in the 17th century. His son James had been a successful merchant in Enniskillen. In 1662 he acquired by purchase from the Blennerhasset owners, the original grantees, the estate and castle of Hasset, the name of which he altered to Castle Rossbeg, that of the townland. He was created a baronet in 1683, and was resident at the castle at the time of the revolution.
From the beginning of the revolution Sir James was one of the most prominent of the county gentry in aiding and assisting the Enniskilleners in their preparations for resolute resistance. He raised a regiment of foot, which he commanded in person, and two troops of horse commanded by his two sons, Captains Hugh and John. With this force he operated from Ballyshannon to Donegal town during the siege of Derry. Before the investment of Derry he had interested himself to some purpose in procuring supplies of powder and ball for the Northern garrisons, the greater part of which was purchased from Mr Mathew French, of Dublin.
Defender 958: CAPTAIN HUGH CALDWELL
Defender 959: CAPTAIN JOHN CALDWELL, both commanding troops of horse raised by Sir James [their father], with which they did good service, especially Captain John, who repulsed the Duke of Berwick’s attack on Donegal Castle.