Prince Edward, Dec. 1, 1774
“Whereas my wife Delphia hath been a naughty, furious Housewife for some Years past, and hath invented, and reported certain Slanders, to the Prejudice of my Character, and hath often threatened to ruin me, which she hath in Some part effected; This is therefore to forewarn all Merchants and others, from crediting her on my Account, as I will pay no Debts of her contracting; and I do hereby forewarn all Persons from receiving at her Hand, any Goods or Chattels appertaining to me, as they will answer the fame at their Peril.” THOMAS COLDWELL
I received news of Thomas Coldwell’s “naughty furious Housewife” by accident, while I was looking for another Delphia in Virginia during the late eighteenth century. Though I have worked on various genealogical projects since then, my thoughts often turn to this incendiary, forked-tongued woman who caused such pain to her husband. I could not help wondering what he—Thomas Coldwell—had done to promote such behavior and what became of this miserable couple.
I checked order books from Prince Edward County, 1771-1781, for a possible suit brought against Delphia by her husband. Minutes from the March 1774 term record a “John Caldwell vs. John Caldwell” case, but the only instance of Thomas Caldwell appearing in court order books from that period is when he was delinquent on the repayment of a bond to William Griffin in January 1771.[1] Furthermore, I could only learn a few biographical details about Delphia. It turns out she was born to William and Mary Ballard, a Quaker family belonging to the Camp Creek Monthly Meeting in Louisa County, Virginia, on 1 May 1742 (1 Jul 1742 on the Quaker calendar).[2] The births of five siblings were recorded in the same family record: Thomas, 1735; Frances, 1737; Byram, 1740; Moorman, 1747; and David, 1750.
According to the SAR Patriot Database, Delphia Ballard married Thomas Coldwell in 1765. Though a marriage record doesn’t seem to be accessible online, the Last Will and Testament of William Ballard, dated 12 June 1792 at Bedford County, Virginia, refers to his sons Byrom Ballard and Barclay Ballard and daughters Francis Wilson, Mary McKinney, and Delphiah Caldwell.[3] Per the SAR database, Thomas Coldwell apparently moved his family to Washington County, North Carolina—land that would later become Hawkins County, North Carolina, and then Hawkins County, Tennessee—around 1775. Both Thomas Coldwell and Delphia Ballard Coldwell are buried in the Coldwell Family Cemetery in Surgoinsville, Hawkins County, though I can’t be sure how they reconciled their differences.[4]
To be continued.
[1] Prince Edward County, Virginia. County Order Book 5, Page 3.
[2] U.S. Quaker Meeting Minutes, 1681-1935; Virginia, Richmond City, Richmond and Cedar Creek Monthly Meetings; Minutes, 1729-1755; image 34/37 (Ancestry).
[3] The Edward Pleasants Valentine Papers, Vol. I; Ballard Family, Albemarle County Records; page 110.
[4] FindAGrave Memorials 146595712 and 128909670.
