Kinkead Caldwell and Sarah Kincaid

168. Kinkead Caldwell {a,b,c,f} was born 9 Aug 1769 in what was then Augusta County, Virginia (now Greenbriar Co, West Virginia), and died 19 Oct 1828 in Franklin County, Missouri. He is a son of Samuel Caldwell [336] and Ann Richardson [337]. He married 3 Mar 1788 in Augusta Co, Virginia,

169. Sarah Kincaid {b,c,f}. Sarah (also seen as Sarah Ramsey Kincaid, or as Sarah Kinkaid {f}) was born 25 Dec 1764 in Augusta County, Virginia (now Greenbriar Co, West Virginia), and died 8 Sep 1821 in Franklin County, Missouri. She is a daughter of Andrew Kincaid [338] and Mary ___ [339].

Kinkead was named after his father’s first wife, Ann Kincaid. The spelling of the name made no difference to them, it was spelled both Kincaid and Kinkead even within the same family, and in some cases is spelled differently even on the same document. Because he was often called “KK Caldwell”, we use the Kinkead spelling.

Mary Caldwell [21] knew of the line back this far, to Kinkead (though she apparently knew of him only as “KK”), and that they were Scots-Irish Presbyterians; although Mary thought that Kinkead was the original immigrant from Ireland. She said her (Mary’s) grandmother, [85] Charlotte McBride, owned at least one slave to do the housework.

They were farmers, and were Presbyterian. Kinkead and Sarah were both born in the Allegheny Mountains, in what was Augusta County at that time, later broken off as Greenbriar County. They were married by Rev. John McCue, one of the first Presbyterian ministers in the Augusta area.

They moved to Bourbon County, Kentucky sometime between 1788 and 1791, so we are uncertain where their first two children were born. They apparently moved around frequently in Kentucky, shown by the birthplaces of their children. This was common at that place and time, as the land was not very fertile and would support farming for only a few years. Some of these apparent moves may be due to breaking up large counties, e.g. part of Bourbon County later became Montgomery. Kinkead is shown on Montgomery County tax lists from 1792 to 1800, for land on Hinkston Creek, on the boundary between Montgomery and Bourbon. Daniel Boone also had land on Hinkston Creek, and lived there for a time around 1795.

They moved to Missouri (Louisiana at the time) in 1799 or 1800. Houck’s History of Missouri says they were in San Fernando de Florissant (then called St. Ferdinand, present-day Florissant) as early as 1799. They left Florissant about November 1800 to head further west; their daughter Lucinda was born in a covered wagon at a camp on the Missouri River.

They continued up the river in 1801, stopping for a while at Point Labadie, then further up river, settling near present-day Washington. Kinkead and Sarah settled in St. Louis County (now Franklin) in 1803, and were the first Americans in that county, on the edge of the frontier. They built a home a mile above the mouth of St. John’s Creek, and were granted 710 “arpens” of land by the Spanish governor. [The spelling “arpen” is unique to some Missouri land grant documents. The word is actually “arpent”, a French measure used in Louisiana, Missouri, and Canada. An arpent (area) is about 0.85 acre, so the Caldwell grant was about 600 acres.] They owned at least one slave -- there is a record in Missouri showing that Kinkead sold a female slave, who he had bought in 1801. At the time they immigrated, this area was part of Spanish Louisiana, and was ostensibly owned by Spain, but in 1800 a secret treaty transferred the Louisiana Territory back to France. The United States purchased the territory from Napoleon in 1803. The Lewis and Clark expedition passed through the Caldwell homestead in May 1804, and were said to have camped on his land. Daniel Boone had also moved to Missouri, and he lived only five miles north of the Caldwells on the other side of the river. They had lived close together before, probably knew each other, and it is likely that the Caldwells were one of many families that Boone talked into moving to Missouri. In 1804 the United States voided all Spanish land grants, and Kinkead along with many others was faced with losing his land. Kinkead signed a petition of protest on 11 Jan 1810, along with Andrew Caldwell (his son), James Caldwell (his half-brother), Andrew Kinkead (probably Sarah’s brother), and many others. There were many changes in the laws, and further arguments and surveys, until he received final confirmation of his land in 1823.

Kinkead served as a Captain in Company #8 of the Missouri Territorial Militia from at least 1806. He was appointed as Justice of the Peace for Labadie Township in St. Louis County in 1811, and performed several marriages, including that of his son Andrew. He was reappointed to this position on 9 Apr 1813, for four years. Missouri became a territory separate from Louisiana in 1812, with its own territorial legislature. Kinkead was elected as a representative from St. Louis County in 1814. He ran for the office again in 1818 but was not reelected. His half-brother James Caldwell was also elected to the Territorial Legislature, and became Speaker of the House from 1814 to 1821, and continued after Missouri became a state. Franklin County was separated from St. Louis County in 1818, and Kinkead became a Franklin County Judge in 1821. The first permanent town in the area was Washington Landing; Kinkead’s son John was the first to obtain a license to operate a ferry across the river at that place. The population of the county was almost 2000 in 1821.

After Sarah died, Kinkead married on 24 Mar 1824 Mary ___, widow of Samuel Clark. They were married by Lewis Williams, an “ordained minister of the gospel”. On 25 May 1825 they granted some of their land to Kinkead’s son Samuel.

Kinkead married a third time, 10 Aug 1828, Polly Cantly. Her family was among the earliest settlers in Franklin County. Kinkead became seriously ill only a month after this marriage. Dr Elijah McLean made 12 visits between 27 Sep and 19 Oct 1828, when Kinkead died. He did not write a will. His widow listed the items she was keeping (furniture, clothing and a cow), worth $127 ($2200 today). Each of the surviving children received $14. Because there was no will, the daughters’ shares went to their husbands.

Kinkead and Sarah had eleven children:

168.1. William Caldwell {b,f} was born 5 Dec 1788 in Virginia or Kenucky, and died 18 Sep 1804 in St. Louis Co (now Franklin Co) Missouri, age 15.

168.2. Andrew King Caldwell {b,c,f} was born 17 Dec 1789 in Virginia or Kenucky, and died 16 Mar 1847 in Franklin Co, Missouri. He married 28 Feb 1811 in St. Louis Co (now Franklin Co) Missouri, Margaret Patterson Daugherty [1296.3.6.2.1] (more commonly seen as Polly Patterson Daugherty), daughter of William Daugherty. Margaret was born 31 Aug 1791, and died 16 Mar 1847 in Franklin Co, Missouri. They were married by Andrew’s father.

168.3. Polly R. Caldwell {b,c,f} was born 31 Aug 1791 in Bourbon Co, Kentucky. She married 6 Nov 1817 in St. Louis Co (now Franklin Co) Missouri, Jesse McDonald, son of James McDonald (1772-1832) and Susana Parsley. Jesse was born 5 Jan 1796 in Kentucky, and died 23 Apr 1854 in Franklin Co, Missouri. He was a Justice of the Peace. His brother James marries Polly’s sister Jane.

168.4. Samuel K. Caldwell [84] {b,c,f} (1793 KY - 1880 MO) and Charlotte McBride are direct ancestors, separate page.

168.5. John Caldwell {b,c,f} was born 19 Dec 1794 in Clark Co, Kentucky, and died 1 Apr 1882 in Franklin Co, Missouri. He is occasionally seen as John Caldwell, Jr, to distinguish him from his uncle John [336.6]. He married 20 Oct 1829 in Boone Co, Missouri, Mary Ann Stockton (called Polly Stockton). Polly was born about 1811 in Kentucky. She did not know the exact date herself, giving this approximation in the 1860 census. One source has John’s death as 1862. John operated a ferry across the Missouri River at Washington Landing, the first to receive a license to do so (22 Aug 1822).
John and Polly had four children (first cousins to us):

168.5.1. Valentine Hunter Caldwell was born in 1831 in Missouri, and died in 1908, probably in Oregon or Washington. He married probably in Oregon, Susan Francis Grier. Susan was born in 1845 and died in 1904. Valentine moved to Oregon in 1852 with his aunt Jane (168.10) and her family.

168.5.2. Thomas H. Caldwell was born 1835 in Missouri. He moved to Washington or Oregon.

168.5.3. Seth A. Caldwell was born 1838 in Missouri. He married Mary Roach, and they moved to Washington or Oregon.

168.5.4. Samuel Kincaid Caldwell {f} was born 1844 in Missouri. He lived on the family farm in Franklin County. He built a new home there in 1883. Samuel later donated the property to the Missouri Department of Conservation -- the house is now home to the Franklin County Historical Society and Museum.

168.6. Robert Caldwell {b,c,f} was born 26 Oct 1796 in Clark Co, Kentucky. He married 23 Sep 1830 in Ralls Co, Missouri, Indiana Adams. Robert was the Postmaster of Washington (Franklin) Missouri.

168.7. Ann Caldwell {b,c,f} was born 15 Nov 1798 in Montgomery Co, Kentucky. She is not listed among the recipients of James’ estate, so may have died before 1828.

168.8. Lucinda Caldwell {b,c,f} was born 27 Nov 1800 in St. Louis Co (now Franklin Co) Missouri, and died 28 Jul 1854 in Franklin Co, Missouri. She married 26 Dec 1822 in Franklin Co, Missouri, Seth Chitwood. Seth was born 22 Jan 1795 in St. Louis Co, Missouri, and died 14 Apr 1842 in Franklin Co, Missouri. Lucinda was born in a covered wagon as her family was moving further west out of Florissant.

168.9. Annis Caldwell {b,f} was born 9 May 1802 in St. Louis Co (now Franklin Co) Missouri, and died at four months, 14 Sep 1802 in St. Louis Co.

168.10. Jane Caldwell (1804 MO - 1888 WA) had children and is expanded below.

168.11. Kinkead Caldwell Jr. {b,c,f} was born 22 Apr 1808 in St. Louis Co (now Franklin Co) Missouri. He married 22 Feb 1841 in Boone Co, Missouri, Polly Hall.

168.10. Jane Caldwell {b,c,d,e} was born 11 May 1804 in St. Louis Co (now Franklin Co) Missouri, and died 6 Mar 1888 in Ellensburg, Washington. Source {b} has Jane’s death as 1884 in Willamette, Oregon. She married 9 Jan 1831 in Missouri, James C. McDonald, son of James McDonald (1772-1832) and Susana Parsley. James was born 26 Apr 1807 in Kentucky, and died 15 Jun 1852 on the Oregon Trail. Source {b} has James’ death as 16 Oct 1852. James’ brother Jesse married Jane’s sister Polly. Their family name was originally McDonnell.
Our original notes from Rosine Spencer give Jane’s name as Virginia Jane Caldwell; this name is also seen in sources such as {c,e,f}, but we don’t know where it originally came from. Correspondence from a descendant of Jane says they have nothing recorded with this name, including Jane’s family Bible.

In 1852, Jane and James set out on the Oregon trail with their seven children, their nephew 168.5.1 Valentine Caldwell, and James’ brother William and his wife. James died of cholera on the journey in June, near Chimney Rock on the Platte River. His brother William died a week earlier, also from cholera. Jane continued on to Oregon Territory with the children, and is recorded in Oregon Donation Land Claim/Certificate #2206.
Jane and James had nine children (first cousins to us):

168.10.1. Jesse White McDonald was born 20 Dec 1831 in Newport, Missouri, and died 21 Apr 1917 in Ellensburg, Washington. He married twice (names of wives unknown). He had five or six children from the first marriage, and two more from the second.

168.10.2. Flavius S. McDonald was born 12 Nov 1833 in Newport, Missouri, and died 27 Jan 1915 in Talent, Oregon. He was married (wife unknown) and had one son.

168.10.3. Orval R. McDonald was born 23 Sep 1835 in Newport, Missouri, and died in Spokane, Washington. He was married (wife unknown) and had four children.

168.10.4. Warren R. McDonald was born 2 Jul 1837 in Newport, Missouri, and died 9 Aug 1844 in Newport, Missouri, age 7.

168.10.5. Mary Ann McDonald was born 27 Dec 1838 in Newport, Missouri, and died 11 Aug 1933 in Ellensburg, Washington. She was married twice, names of husbands unknown. There were no children from the first marriage; she had three children from the second marriage.

168.10.6. Susan Francis McDonald was born 18 Sep 1840 in Newport, Missouri, and died 22 Dec 1862 in Marion Co, Oregon. She was married (husband unknown) and had two children.

168.10.7. Lucinda McDonald was born 25 Jun 1842 in Newport, Missouri, and died 9 Apr 1845 in Newport, Missouri, age 2.

168.10.8. James Mathew McDonald was born 13 Dec 1843 in Newport, Missouri, and died 15 Dec 1939 in Ashland, Oregon. He was married (wife unknown) and had three children.

168.10.9. Fenton Robert McDonald was born 13 Dec 1847 in Newport, Missouri, and died 12 Dec 1938 in Spangle, Washington. He had no children.

Sources:

a. Kinkead is mentioned in most early Missouri histories
b. Rosine E. Spencer research notes and correspondence (much of it second-hand from E. Louise Vogel Spencer, and from Rosine’s aunt 20.1 Louisa F. Spencer)
c. “Kinkead Caldwell, Early Missouri Settler”, by Arthur B. Caldwell. St. Louis Genealogical Society Quarterly, Mar 1975.
d. Jane Caldwell’s family Bible, notes provided by a descendant
e. “Descendants of Samuel Caldwell”, freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~rootsr/Caldwell.htm
f. E. Louise Vogel Spencer, research notes and correspondence -- including a family group sheet, the information coming from Samuel E. Caldwell

Compiled by Bill Stupak. Last update: Aug 2010