# Biographia Hibernica/James Caldwell

Sir JAMES CALDWELL,
Was descended from a family which came over from Ayrshire, in Scotland, in the beginning of the seventeenth century, he was settled at Ross Bay, afterwards called Castle Caldwell, in Fermanagh. He was created a baronet June 23, 1683. At the Revolution his services were of the highest importance, as appears by the following case enclosed in a petition to King William.
The State of the Case of Sir James Caldwell, Bart.
That he staid in Ireland in all the late troubles at and near Enniskillin till the end of the year 1689, and raised and maintained a regiment of foot and two troops of horse, at his own charge, and kept the same at the great passes at Belleck and Donegal, between Conaught and the province of Ulster, which was of such consequence, that it hindered communication between the enemies in the said province of Conaught (which were very numerous) from joining or recruiting those besieging Londonderry.
That the said Sir James Caldwell was besieged with a detached party from Colonel Sarsfield, of about the number of two thousand foot, and three troops of dragoons, about the 3rd of May, 1689, and was forced to send to Enniskillin, Castle Hume, and other neighbouring garrisons, for relief which came on the 8th of May, and joined the forces, which Sir James Caldwell had, who then fought the enemy near Sir James’s house, and routed them, killing about a hundred and twenty, took seventy prisoners two cannon, many small arms, and about forty horses, from the enemy.
​That the said Sir James Caldwell also placed his son Hugh Caldwell in the garrison of Donegal, over three companies of foot, and a troop of horse, being the next garrison to Londonderry the protestants were possessed of, which was of such consequence, that if the enemy had been masters of it the whole country about Enniskillin must have submitted to them.
That the said Hugh Caldwell had several offers of money and preferment from the Duke of Berwick to surrender the place, but always told him he would defend it to the last; as appears afterwards by the defence he made against the Duke, who attacked him with fifteen hundred men, burnt some part of the town, but was beaten off with considerable loss, which Colonel Luttrel can give an account of; as also of the said Sir James’s vigilant and faithful behaviour in the defence of that country.
That the said Sir James Caldwell went in an open boat from Donegal to Major-General Kirk by sea, forty leagues, on the most dangerous coast on that kingdom, not having any other way to have communication with him, to acquaint him with the condition of that country, to which he was then a stranger, and to get arms and ammunition from him, which were greatly wanting to arm the naked men in the country. Some time after, the said Sir James Caldwell was sent back with Colonel Wolsely, Colonel Tiffany, Colonel Wynne, and some ammunition, by the said major-general, who then gave the said Sir James a commission to be colonel of foot, and a troop of horse independent, as by the said commissions will appear; that within four or five days after they landed their men were forced to fight Lieutenant-General Macarty, and obtained a great victory against him, as has been heard.
That the said Sir James met Duke Schomberg when he landed at Carickfergus, and staid the siege of that place; and afterwards went to Dundalk with the Duke, and staid that campaign with him, till about a week before he decamped, which the now Duke Schomberg will certify. That the said Sir James Caldwell expended in money, arms, provisions, and other necessaries, to support those troops, which were raised for the king’s service, and what he lost by the destruction of his town, houses, iron mills, stud of horses, and stock of black cattle, and other essential losses, amounted to about ten thousand pounds.
That the said Sir James’s second son also suffered very much, by cattle and provisions taken from him by our own army at Bally Shannon, for the maintenance of that garrison, without which they could not have sustained.
That the said James Caldwell had, after the campaign at Dundalk, a regiment of dragoons, and a regiment of foot quartered in his house and town of Belleek, which did him much damage, and destroyed many things, which he, with so much difficulty, saved from the enemy.
That also the said Sir James Caldwell’s daughter, Elizabeth, conveyed several quantities of powder from Dublin, by his commands, to Enniskillin, and other garrisons thereabout, to the hazard of her life, as may appear by my Lord Capel’s report, upon a reference to him.
The truth of the above statement was supported by ​various documents from the lord-lieutenant and other officers of the king. His majesty, in recompence of his services, bestowed upon him in custodiam, for seven years the whole of the forfeited Bagnal estate, then let for 8000l. per annum; at the end of which time it was to be restored to the Bagnal family, and Sir James was to be otherwise provided for. He died in 1717.