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Joseph
Caldwell
Joseph Caldwell was born in Northern Ireland about 1737. He probably was the older brother of James Caldwell. By the early 1770s, the Caldwells were in Albany and advertizing their grocery items in the newly published Albany Gazette. At that time, their grocery was located in the house of John Visscher on Market Street.
During
the War for Independence, he lent financial support
to the crusade for American liberties. In January
1778, he petitioned to be excused from military duty
because he was "the schoolmaster." At that time, two assistants were teaching with him. Caldwell supplemented a teacher's income by continuing to sell groceries - even petitioning the city council for permission to build on to the Market House in 1786.
In
1779, his modest home was located in the second ward.
Over the next decades, he relocated several times
within the Albany area. In 1790, the census showed
he was living in Watervliet near the Manor House.
In 1799, he was living on Maiden Lane but in business
in Watervlier with Isaac Mark. In 1802, Caldwell
purchased a lot on Steuben street and took up more
permanent residence there. His name appeared in the
first city diretories as a teacher at 25 Steuben
Street. In 1822, his residence was at 4 North Pearl
Street.
Like
his brother, he was a member of the Albany Presbyterian
Church. Later, he was a founder and officer of the
United Presbyterian Church.
Joseph
Caldwell lost his wife, Rebecca, in 1808. He died
in June 1822 at age eighty-five. He was called "a respectable citizen."
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Sources: The life of Joseph Caldwell is CAP biography number 7510. This profile
is derived chiefly from community-based resources.
By Stefan Bielinski, Colonial Albany Social History Project [http://www.nysm.nysed.gov/albany]
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