USA > North Carolina > Sketches of North Carolina, historical and biographical : illustrative of the principles of a portion of her early settlers > Part 23
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satisfactory history may be found in Hodge's Constitutional His- tory of the Presbyterian church.
Mr. Caldwell's appointment as a missionary was renewed next year by the Synod. Philadelphia, May 20th, 1765. " In conse- quence of sundry applications from North Carolina for supplies, the Synod appoint Messrs. Nathan Kerr, George Duffield, William Ramsay, David Caldwell, James Latta, and Robert McMordie, to go there as soon as they can conveniently, and each of them to tarry half a year in those vacant congregations, as prudence may direct." The Presbytery of New Brunswick held a meeting in Philadelphia, and took the necessary steps preparatory to the or- dination of Mr. Caldwell ; and received a call from the churches of Buffalo and Alamance for his ministerial labors. July 5th, 1765, at Trenton, New Jersey, he was ordained to the full work of the gospel ministry, and dismissed to join the Presbytery of Hanover ; and as the congregations making the call were under the care of that Presbytery, he was directed to make known to it his deter- mination respecting the acceptance. He proceeded forthwith to Carolina, and entered upon his labors as minister of the two con- gregations ; was a corresponding member of Hanover Presbytery at its meeting at the Red House, Caswell county, June 4th, 1766. He neither joined the Presbytery at that time, nor accepted the call of the two churches ; and it was not till the 11th of October, 1767, he was received as a member, and not till the 3d of March, 1768, that the installation services were performed, in compliance with a request made the preceding fall. The Rev. Hugh McAden of the Red House, preached the installation service, and performed the services prescribed by the form of government. In the latter part of the year 1766 he was married to Rachel, the third daughter of Rev. Alexander Craighead, the minister at Sugar Creek, and became a housekeeper in that part of his congregation then within the bounds of Rowan county, previous to the formation of Guilford from Rowan and Orange, the place of his residence till his death, in 1824.
As the congregations had promised him but two hundred dollars salary, he felt the necessity, from the first, of making provision for his family, and accordingly purchased a small farm, on which through life he depended in part for the comforts of his household. He commenced, too, at his house a classical school, which, with some few short interruptions, he continued till the infirmities of age disqualified him for the duties of teacher. This was the second classical school of permanence, and perhaps the first in usefulness,
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in the upper part of Carolina ; that in Sugar Creek being probably the first ; and that of Mr. Pattillo, in Granville, being the third. Delighting in the employment of teacher, having a peculiar tact for the management of boys, and being thorough in his course of instruction, his school flourished, and was the means, during the long period of its continuance, of bringing more men into the learn- ed professions than any other taught by a single individual or by a succession of teachers during the same period of time. Five of his scholars became Governors of States; a number were promoted to the bench, of whom were Murphy and McCoy ; a larger num- ber, supposed about fifty, became ministers of the gospel, of whom were Dr. McCorkle, of Thyatria, Dr. Matthews, of New Albany, Indiana, Dr. Brown, of Tennessee, and many others that were shining lights ; a large number were physicians and lawyers. Of those whose names have been mentioned as eminent, most, if not all, received their entire classical education from him, and the ministers of the gospel, in addition to that, their theological edu- cation ; so that, for a time, his school was academy, college, and theological seminary. The number of students attending was generally from fifty to sixty ; and, assembled from different parts of the State, put his powers of government to the test. These must have been extraordinary ; as it is not recollected by any of his family, or any of his pupils living, that any student was ever expelled, or sent away for improper conduct. His students loved, reverenced, and obeyed him. And such was the impression made upon the minds of those under his discipline, that an instance was known of a student, with whom the Dr. was compelled to be very severe, in after life riding more than two hundred miles, for the sole purpose of revisiting the scenes of his school days, and once more taking the Dr. by the hand.
There were frequent times of revival in his school. An aged minister told Mr. Caruthers that himself and nine of his schoolmates became pious while under his tuition, and all entered the ministry. The influence of Mrs. Caldwell over the students was great, and all in favor of religion ; on that subject she was their confidant and adviser. Intelligent, prudent, kind, and conciliating, she won their hearts and directed their judgments, and the current saying through the country was, " Dr. Caldwell makes the scholars, and Mrs. Caldwell makes the ministers." Multitudes will rise and call her blessed. The Rev. E. B. Currie, still living, speaks of her as a wonderful woman to counsel and encourage, having felt in his own case her extraordinary power, while a member of the
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school. A precious revival took place under the ministrations of Rev. James M'Gready, who visited the school, and was the happy means of leading many to Christ.
In addition to the numerous labors belonging to his multiplied callings, the condition of his people turned his attention to the practice of medicine. There being no physician in the neighbor- hood, or within many miles, the sick turned their attention to their minister, in the double capacity of physician for the soul and for the body. He procured some books and read carefully ; a physician by the name of Woodsides came and resided a year in his family, and practised in the congregations ; at his death Mr. Caldwell came in possession of his books ; Dr. Rush, who was a college mate, was his correspondent through life ; with these ad- vantages, his patience and perseverance triumphed, and in all the common diseases of the country he became celebrated, and also in some of much greater difficulty. He continued the practice of medicine till his fourth son was prepared to take his place ; and then, except in very special cases, he declined further service.
The Rev. E. B. Currie, one of his pupils, says, " Dr. Caldwell's life was rather a life of labor than of study; and when we con- sider that he had a large school, which he attended five days in the week ; two large congregations which he catechised at least twice in the year four communions, which always lasted four days each, besides his visiting the sick, frequently preaching in vacant congregations, etc., etc., we can see there was not much time left for study ; but he was a close student when opportunity offered." During the first sixteen or eighteen years of his minis- try he studied closely. Retiring to rest at ten, and rising at four, he redeemed time for regular and protracted study. His library being destroyed during the war, and his public duties increasing, as his strength decayed, he was of necessity, rather than inclina- tion, less studious in the latter part of his life. That he might preserve his health, he was strictly temperate in eating and drink- ing, and always kept some work of manual labor of importance ready, to exercise himself every day, when not called from home.
At a meeting of Hanover Presbytery, held at Buffalo meeting- house, March, 1770, a petition was prepared for Synod, asking for a Presbytery for Carolina and the South. This petition was grant- ed in May, and the Rev. Messrs. Hugh McAden, Henry Pattillo, James Criswell, David Caldwell, Joseph Alexander, Hezekiah Balch, and Hezekiah James Balch, were constituted a Presbytery by the name of Orange, to meet at the Hawfields ; and the Rev,
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Henry Pattillo, the pastor, to open the Presbytery with a sermon. This Presbytery has flourished greatly, its congregations are nu- merous, and at the present time there are three Presbyteries in the State of North Carolina, in the bounds occupied by this, besides those in South Carolina which, for a time, were reckoned as be- longing to its bounds.
Dr. Caldwell and Mr. Pattillo were near neighbors for a few years. Whether Mr. Pattillo taught school during the five or six years he preached at the Hawfields, is not distinctly known ; that he did after his removal, and for a long time, is well known ; and, also, that his circumstances required him to have a greater income than his salary. The probability is that he pursued a course similar to that pursued by Dr. Caldwell. The famous Regulation battle, May 16th, 1771, took place in the region lying between their respective fields of labor. Both congregations were deeply and generally involved in the troubles that brought the contest, and partook fully of the spirit that prompted the re- sistance, and were sharers in the battle. Of the part that Mr. Pattillo took we have no account left, either in manuscript or tra- dition ; but from his after history, which is well known, we feel at no loss to conjecture. Dr. Caldwell sympathized with his congregations in their troubles, and in their resistance. That such men as Pattillo,and Caldwell were the ministers of four large congregations, which embraced the space of country in which the principal localities of the Regulation difficulties are found, entirely forbids the idea that the Regulators, as a body, were untaught and savage, or unprincipled men. The congregations of these men read their Bibles, heard no indifferent preaching on the Sabbath, and had committed the admirable formulary-the Shorter Cate- chism of the Westminster Assembly, which they were taught to believe, and to reduce to practice ; and if they read few other books, and seldom saw a newspaper, it is evident they understood the laws of Nature and the laws of God, and were ready to defend the privileges and rights which the king's officers trampled on then, but all the world concedes now.
When the governor was marching against the encampment or gathering of the Regulators, with the evident intention of giving them battle, the cool calculating mind of Caldwell clearly saw that the probability of success was entirely with the governor. With him were officers that had seen service, and some field ordnance, and men that had been disciplined ; on the other side, the side of his friends, was courage, a sense of oppression, confidence in the
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right of their cause, and a belief that the governor would not attack them, and could not beat them if he did,-but no discipline, no field ordnance, no experienced military officer, not even a com- mander-in-chief, or a council of commanders,-every man obeyed whom he chose, and few chose to command.
Dr. Caldwell visited both parties, for the purpose of proposing terms of accommodation, and was treated with respect by Tryon. On the morning of the battle he had an interview with both, still hoping to prevent the effusion of blood ; and warned by an old Scotchman, who understood the movements in the governor's line, he had left the ranks of the Regulators but a few moments before the firing began. There were many brave spirits from the con- gregations of Buffalo and Alamance, in that battle, whom no remonstrance could drive from the ranks and fortunes of their fellow Regulators. That the loss of that battle was not owing to want of courage, may be argued from the spirit displayed by the people of these congregations during the war which, in a few years, succeeded.
The battle was lost to the Regulators, and in the murderous executions that followed, there was evidence that some, at least, of the Regulators, knew how to die like men and Christians. It is by no means improbable that the proportion of such in the camp, was equally as great as in the prison. That there were unprincipled men among the Regulators is well known, and was regretted then as much as criticised now ; but that the mass were men of principle and morals, true friends of their country, and lovers of liberty and law, there is less doubt now than there was then. If living in log cabins, with none of the luxuries of life, makes men vulgar, and lawless, and ignorant, then these men were all their enemies charged upon them, and merited neither success nor sympathy. But if devotion to principles and country makes men patriots, then the graves of the Regulators are the bed of the " Sons of Liberty."
The executions being finished, and the oath of allegiance be- ing administered, the governor left the country in triumph, trust- ing to the binding force of an oath to preserve the peace and quiet he vainly supposed were established in the State. His trust in the binding influence of the oath was not misplaced, for these men had knowledge, and they had a conscience ; they dreaded the judgment of Him who has said that liars shall not have a portion in the heavenly inheritance. When the national Declara- tion of Independence was made, and the war of the Revolution
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was begun, then commenced, in the counties of Orange and Rowan, and those formed from them to break up the influence of the Regulators, the contest in many a brave man's mind between his love of liberty and his sense of obligation. By his oath he had saved his property, and perhaps his life ; by his condition his heart was with his countrymen. Must he serve his king or join with his countrymen ? Here the patriotism and cool calculation of Dr. Caldwell manifested itself. He argued with his people that alle- giance and protection were inseparable ; that as the king had not protected them from the rapacity which had driven them to rebel- lion on a former occasion, and was not able to assert his authority over the country now, their oath of allegiance, which had been exacted by force, was no longer binding. The independent State of North Carolina demanded their services, and the Congress of the United Colonies called for their aid ; to fight for the king would be to resist the established government. With some the argument was satisfactory ; they took up arms and served through the war ; others remained neutral ; and some few took arms for the king. The active tories were from another race of people in Orange.
By the erection of the county of Guilford, in 1770, from the counties of Orange and Rowan, the congregation of Buffalo em- braced the centre, and had the county-seat within its bounds, a few miles from the residence of Dr. Caldwell. Guilford Court-house will be known as long as the history of the American Revolution is read ; and the sufferings and bravery of the four large congre- gations of Eno, Hawfields, Buffalo, and Alamance, can never be unknown while constancy and bravery are admired. These con- gregations were the scene of the plunderings of the hungry, needy, irritated army of Cornwallis, after he had burned his baggage and lost the object of his pursuit, and found himself far from his stores, and in an enemy's country. The detail of plundered houses, in- sulted women, and murdered men, is too sickening to be dwelt upon. The catalogue of sufferings would fill a volume. And of these Dr. Caldwell had his full share. His house was plundered, his library and valuable papers destroyed, his property stolen, and he himself, watched for as a felon, passed nights in the woods in a secret place. He heard the roar of the battle of Guilford Court- house, and rejoiced in the consequent retreat of Cornwallis. But his joy was mingled with sorrow, for the victory was purchased with the blood of some of his people. But with the retreat of Cornwallis, the savage warfare between whigs and tories raged more violently for a time, and then came to an end ; and the dis-
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tressed congregation of Dr. Caldwell had a respite from the horrors of war.
It is a fact worthy of observation, that the track of the armies through North Carolina, previous to the battle of Guilford, em- braced the residence of the Scotch-Irish, and Scotch families, and put to the test the solemn asseveration in the two declarations that the cause of independence should be defended at the cost of " life, fortune, and most sacred honor." How far Dr. Caldwell was prepared to vindicate that pledge, can be seen in the extended account of his trials and sufferings, given by Mr. Caruthers. Slow to engage in warfare, timorous in provoking bloodshed, when the warfare and the battle came he stood his ground pre- pared to suffer, with his flock, the last extremity, and escaped captivity and death only by the special providence of God. Many and many a time did the British and tories lie in wait for him, and watch his house, and make sudden visits, and use false pre- tences to draw him from his hiding-place ; and once so well was the story feigned, that the prudence and foresight of his wife was overreached, and the hiding-place discovered. But God pre- served him in all emergencies, that God in whom he put his trust, and when the enemy were rejoicing that now, at last, he was discovered, they found his rude shelter deserted.
After the peace, Dr. Caldwell's labors as teacher and preacher returned upon him with increased weight. Though by his own vote in the convention of 1776, which formed the constitution of the State of North Carolina, and drew up the Bill of Rights, he could not be a member of the legislature without laying down his ministerial office, his influence with political men was rather in- creased, and his unobtrusive opinions carried great weight with all that knew him. Pattillo was member of the first Provincial Congress, in 1775, and Caldwell of the State Convention, in 1776. It is a matter of tradition that he drew up the 32d article : " That no person who shall deny the being of God, or the truth of the Protestant religion, or the divine authority either of the Old or New Testament, or who shall hold religious principles incom- patible with freedom and safety of the State, shall be capable of holding any office or place of trust or profit, in the civil depart- ment within the State." The preceding section disqualifies preachers of the gospel for the legislative functions, in virtue of their office. The convention of 1835, to amend the constitution, changed the word " Protestant" in the 32d section to " Chris- tian."
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Dr. Caldwell harmonized with the paper drawn up by Dr. Ephraim Brevard, in the fall of 1775, which probably he never saw ; both felt that anti-protestant belief in religion was anti-republi- can, and therefore not to be encouraged ; both desired freedom of conscience for all Protestant denominations ; neither asked any reprisals on the denomination that had been the favorite of the crown, and the State religion of the colony ; neither desired any privileges for their own; both desired that the Protestant religion should be the religion of the State, and that all denominations should be equally free from all disabilities and all patronage, fully believing that religion would support itself.
While Dr. Caldwell sought public favor neither for himself nor his family, public favor sought them. When the present system of district courts went into operation, there were many applica- tions to the judge, for the office of clerk of Guilford county. On the day of opening the court, public expectation was high, from the number of candidates, and the uncommitted silence of the judge. Calling to Lawyer Cameron, then at the bar, now Judge Cameron of Raleigh, he requested him to act as clerk that day, and also to see if Dr. Caldwell was on the ground. To both of these requests, Mr. Cameron assented ; and finding the old gentleman in the midst of a circle of his friends, he introduced him to the judge's room. After a kind salutation from his former pupil, the Dr. was surprised by the inquiry, " Have you a son qualified for the office of clerk of this county ?" After some reflection, he replied that he thought not, as none of them had been educated in prospect of such em- ployment. After some persuasion from the judge, he agreed "to go home and look them over, and give him word the next day." As not a word of this was public, expectation was higher than ever, as the applicants saw Mr. Cameron act as clerk, and not a single intimation from the judge who should fill the office. The next morning, the Dr. appeared at the judge's room, and entered with one of his sons ; saluting the judge, and turning to his son, " Here, judge, I have done the best I could." McCoy conferred on him the office ; and neither the judge nor the county have had cause to regret the appointment.
During the last war, when a draught was called for from Guil- ford, and the attempt to meet the demand by volunteers was likely to fail from the great reluctance of the citizens to go to the sea- shore of a neighboring State, whose fame for healthiness ranked no higher than Norfolk did at the time, Dr. Caldwell, by request, addressed the people in the court-house. Through infirmity, he
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was carried to the magistrate's bench ; and having preached from the words, "He that hath no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one ;" with all the infirmities of age upon him, he produced such a feeling among the young men, that the required list was immediately filled out. This was patriotic in him, who, knowing the horrible evils attending armies, was opposed to the war in the commencement ; but in its advancement, remembered that he was a citizen of the United States, and that he must stand or fall with his country.
Dr. Caldwell knew what affliction was from experience, for God saw it not best that his laborious servant should fulfil his ministry without sharp trials. And in choosing his afflictions, the Lord his Saviour proportioned their measure to his usefulness and influence, sending upon him as bitter a cup as could probably have come to him, without the ingredients of sinfulness or death. First, a daughter of superior endowments and liberal education, gave evidence that reason had lost its dominion ; and all the skill of his friend Rush could not bring it back to its throne. Then a son, and then another son, was added to the list by a mysterious providence. The venerable parents bowed in submission ; and in meekness and parental fondness watched over these erratic, yet not harmful children. They never recovered the right use of their reason. The son that preached for a time at Rocky River, was splendid in his ruins.
When the University of North Carolina went into operation, he declined being considered a candidate for the Presidency. As a mark of their respect for his character and usefulness, the trustees conferred upon him the degree of D.D., at an early stage of their proceedings, when a spirit, not the most friendly to religion, was exercising a temporary influence in their councils.
Dr. Caldwell continued his pastoral services till about the year 1820 ; often, from weariness, on his return home, requiring assist- ance to dismount, and being carried into his house. On the 25th of August, 1824, he literally fell asleep, to wake no more till the Resurrection, his earthly pilgrimage having continued a period lacking only about seven months of a hundred years. He went to his grave like a shock of corn fully ripe.
One of his sons was for many years pastor of Sugar Creek, the congregation of his grandfather Craighead; and one of his grand- sons for a term of years ministered to the same congregation. " The seed of the righteous is blessed."
Mrs. Caldwell survived her husband less than a year; and de-
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parted in the exercise of a good hope, through grace, of everlasting life. Her remains were laid beside those of Dr. Caldwell. A marble slab marks the place of sepulture of this venerable pair, near Buffalo church, the place in which they had so often wor- shipped God.
There is an interesting tradition connected with the family of William Paisley, of Alamance. The well-attested facts and dates respecting Mrs. Paisley, mother of the Rev. Samuel Paisley, as received from the son, are-That she used to say that she had no recollection of ever seeing father, mother, brother, or sister ; that it was understood that the Indians killed her father, and that her mother died soon after him ; that Mr. Smith and Mr. Clack used to say, the Indians had the child; that she never spoke of her captivity ; that she was reared and educated by the Rev. James Davenport, of Pennington ; that she went to school to a Mr. Ches- nut, an Englishman, about twenty miles from Philadelphia ; that William Paisley became acquainted with her there, and gaining her affections, he took her to Philadelphia, where they were married by Rev. William Tennant, in the year 1763, in her 20th year; that they went to Princeton, and lived there till after the birth of their eldest son, and then removed to North Carolina. The tradition in Jersey about this lady is-That the Rev. James Davenport, whose wife's maiden name was Paine, was from New England, and settled first on Long Island, in New York, and from thence removed to Pen- nington, New Jersey, and was pastor of the church there for many years ; that he obtained the child from the Indians, gave it the name of Deliverance Paine, and reared it carefully as his own.
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