Coffs Harbour: sometimes it rains sometimes it pours

JOSEPH CALDWELL (1773-1835) First University President. Born New Jersey. Graduate Princeton, 1791. Taught in small local school; accepted tutorship at Princeton, 1795; became professor of mathematics and Presiding Professor at U.N.C., 1796. In 1804 he was chosen first president of the University and elected a trustee, a post which he held thirty-one years until his death. He resigned as president in 1812, but continued to hold the chair of mathematics. At his successor's resignation in 1816 he again became president and remained in office until his death. In 1831 he was authorized to build an observatory, the first college building of its kind in the United States. Caldwell County was named for him when it was formed in 1841.

A short biography:
http://docsouth.unc.edu/caldwell/bio.html

There was a John Caldwell who founded the Moravian Church in Scotland at Ayr in 1765. He was of about the right age to have been the father or grandfather of our Allan Caldwell. Seeing that Allan called his first son John - that is likely to be his father's name. However there were a lot of John Caldwell's in Ayr.

http://www.fife.50megs.com/john-caldwell.htm
The above link is to a story about the Moravian Chapel at Ayr.

About the collapse of the Moravian Church in Britain:
http://www.ccel.org/ccel/hutton/moravian.vi.iv.html#fnb_vi.iv-p7.2

Plenty of information on the Moravian Church in the USA but precious little about Scotland:
http://www.awesomegenealogy.com/moravians.shtml

No, it doesn't look like we were Moravians but the story of John Caldwell's life is quite interesting:

(I am very appreciative of the following information supplied by Lorraine Parsons the Archivist of the Moravian Church records in London)

"
Thank you for your enquiry concerning your family research of the Caldwell family. The Moravian Church at Ayr closed during the First World War and we do hold a few of their records, some of which were unfortunately damaged by fire during an air-raid in the Second World War at the site of the former HQ of the British Province of the Moravian Church in Fetter Lane, London. The surviving collection mainly consists of a few records produced after John Caldwell died, and some earlier deeds of the properties in Ayr.

John Caldwell remained the minister at the Moravian Church in Ayr only until 1767. Here are a few details taken from John England's "Short Sketch of the Work carried on.......in the West of England and South Wales" (1888), about Caldwell who was born on 16 July 1733 in Procless, Co. Antrim (Northern Ireland). There were no Moravian Churches in Great Britain or Ireland at the time of his birth, and the first church was only established in Dublin in 1746. The Moravian Society at Ballymena was established c. 1750, and the Moravian congregation at Gracehill was finally settled in 1765. Caldwell was one of John Cennick's (a preacher who established most of the Moravian Churches in Ireland between 1746 and 1755) earliest converts, so would have been a member of one of the Moravian societies or congregations in N. Ireland.

A decision in the General Synod of the Church of 1764, resolved that Caldwell should make an attempt to establish a Moravian Church in Ayr, particularly as some of the families at Gracehill had originally come from Ayr. He left Gracehill on 6 May 1765, sailing from Donaghadee to Portpatrick, walking thence to Ayr, where he arrived on 10th May, but there is no mention of a wife or children, so he may have married later. There is a note that he was also invited to attend the Provincial Synod at Fulneck (near Leeds) in 1766, so he set out on foot from Ayr on 14th July, and reached the Moravian settlement at Fulneck on the 26th, having walked 225 miles! He returned to Ayr after the Synod by way of Durham, Newcastle, Edinburgh, Leith and Glasgow, reaching his home on 9th September having walked 288 miles. He left Ayr on 4 November 1767, and then briefly made a visit to Zeist in Holland, where the Directing Board of the Brethren then resided.

Caldwell also helped to establish the Moravian Church in Devonport (previously known as Plymouth Dock). In April 1768, he left London for the West, and travelled, in most part, on foot through Somerset, Devon and Cornwall, preaching as he went in Salisbury, Bristol, Bath, Frome, Kingswood, Malmesbury, Tytherton, Exeter, Tavistock, Bideford, Bickington, Bessick, Redruth, Gwennap, Penzance, St. Ives, Camelford, Trevalga, Peylane, Hassenford, Kingsbridge and other places. Again, there is no mention of a wife or children, but having preached in Wiltshire on the way down, he may have even met his future wife there. He reached Plymouth on 8 July 1768, and with the consent of the Church established a Moravian society which later became a congregation at Devonport. He stayed there until 1776, when he received a call to minister elsewhere. Again, there is no mention of a wife or children, despite the fact that it mentions the wife of Rev. John Ockerhausen who was sent down to assist him in 1769. As the children of your Allan Caldwell were baptised at St Quivox from 1776, it does appear unlikely that he was the son of John, but we have no proof when John Caldwell married yet.

During his lifetime, Caldwell was a minister at the following Moravian congregations: Ayr from 1765, Devonport from 1768, Pudsey (near Leeds) from 1776, Wellhouse (Yorkshire) from 1781, Gomersal (Yorkshire) from 1788, Pudsey from 1793, Leominster (Herefordshire) from 1799, Dukinfield (near Manchester) from 1804, and at Leominster again from 1809 until 1816. This information obtained from "An Index to Moravian Ministers....in the British Province of the Moravian Church" (1998) also states that Caldwell first married Mary Christine Bryant who was born on 29 March 1741 in Lynham in Wiltshire, so he may have married her at one of the congregations he ministered after he left Devonport in 1776. It also states that he later married a Elizabeth Bullock, after Mary Bryant died. Caldwell died on 15 January 1817 and was buried on 20 January at the Moravian Burial Ground in Leominster. There are some details about his death and funeral in the Congregation Diary for Leominster, which also notes that his widow, Sr. Elizabeth Caldwell moved to the Moravian settlement at Fairfield after his death.

Caldwell remained in Ayr only until 1768, but it may be possible that if he did have any children, then they could have moved to Ayr when they became adults. We have no record of any other "Caldwell"s who were also Moravian ministers.

You may be able to obtain more details about John Caldwell's life from the records of the other Moravian Churches where he was a minister, such as the marriage and birth registers. We hold the records of Leominster Moravian Church, which were only deposited here a couple of years ago, so have not been damaged by fire. These records include the Church Book, Catalogues of Members, and Congregation Diaries. The Church Books provide detailed information about members of the congregation including their date and place of birth, the date of reception and confirmation to the congregation, the date they took their first sacrament and other relevant information such as dates of death. The Catalogues are similar in that they provide lists of congregation members, but are usually much less detailed in other information they provide about individuals. Written by the minister, the Congregation Diaries record the everyday activities and events that occurred in the congregation as well as including details of services, memoirs and obituaries for deceased members and, for certain years, memorabilia, which give a synopsis of the years main events and details of baptisms, marriages and burials.

I checked the Church Book and some of the Catalogues for Leominster Moravian Church between 1799-1835, but there were no "Caldwells" or "Cauldwell"s listed in any of these. So, it appears that with the exception of his wife, none of his family moved to Leominster when he was appointed minister, although any children of his would have been adults by this time.

We also hold the remaining records of Devonport Moravian Church, which were also damaged by fire during the SWW, but the Congregation Diaries have been restored by a conservator, many of which are now legible. The records of Pudsey Moravian Church, and some of Gomersal Moravian Church are now kept in the Moravian settlement at Fulneck (near Leeds), along with the archives of Fulneck Moravian Church. The records of Dukinfield Moravian Church are held at the Moravian settlement in Fairfield (Manchester). The Moravian Church at Ayr was part of the Irish District in the British Province, and so there may be some relevant details held with the archives at Gracehill Moravian Church in Northern Ireland, but there was no mention of "Ayr" within the descriptions of records in their catalogue. There could be references to "Caldwell" in the Gracehill records for the period before he originally left for Ayr in 1765.

We have catalogues of the records held at Fairfield, Fulneck and Gracehill. After searching these catalogues, the only document with "Caldwell" in the description recorded in the catalogues was a letter of application for admission to the Sacrament in Fulneck from a Elizabeth Caldwell, dated December 1790. There were Moravian schools at Fulneck and Fairfield, where minister's children were often sent to be educated, so any of his children could have attended these schools. Please let me know if you would like any contact details for any of these other archives.

The Moravian Church has always had a good relationship with the Presbyterian Church. I believe that the work of the Moravian Church in Ayr was actually taken over by the Presbyterians, as was some of Moravian missionary work in Australia.

I'm sorry I haven't been able to confirm that John Caldwell is related to your Allan Caldwell, but hope that this information has been of some use to you. Brief enquiries are answered free of charge, but unfortunately as the only member of staff working in the archives and library, time constraints mean that more in-depth research cannot be undertaken. However, as a charitable organisation, we do welcome any donations which can be made towards the Archive Heritage Fund. The fund supports the conservation work required on many of the archives and books, some of which were fire-damaged in the Second World War. Please do hesitate to contact me if you have any queries or would like more details about this fund.

The library is open to the public for their own research. If you or someone else who may be able to research this on your behalf, get the opportunity to visit London in the future, please contact me to arrange an appointment.

Best wishes.
Lorraine Parsons
Archivist
Moravian Church - British Province

Moravian Church Archive and Library
Moravian Church House
5-7 Muswell Hill
London
England
N10 3TJ

Tel: 020 883 3409
Fax: 020 8815 0105
Website: www.moravian.org.uk
"

I am very grateful to Christie from The Readers Room Gracehill Ballymena Co Antrim for the following information:

Procless, I think you mean “Procklis”

Try this website: http://www.proni.gov.uk/geogindx/parishes/par117.htm

The parish of Drumnaul is near Gracehill but more associated with the village of Randalstown, about 7 miles away.

"
SB="Single Brother"

Caldwell/Cauldwell Notes 25.1.1993

Information in my possession:

Caldwell, John SB Presby b Procless, Drumaul, Co Antrim 5os/16ns July 1733.
Hasse notes say that he heard Cennick for the first time in August 1748, when he was 15 years old and was for three quarters of a year in deepest mental distress until he obtained peace in March 1749 at Grogan when Br Pugh read the memoir of a child who had died recently in the area. He was received into the congregation at Gloonen 25th March 1755 and went to Holy Communion when he was 22 years old.

He went to live in the S Brethren's House in Gloonan. Was soon employed in keeping Class Meetings for the youths, and in July 1759 (26 years old) was commissioned to preach at out-preachings in the country. His first sermon in public was 15th July. In October 1759 he was accepted as an acoluth. In 1760 went to Single Brethren's House in Ballindery to assist Br Horne. In 1761 went to Drumargon to assist Br Brampton and in 1763 to Cootehill to help Br Zander. In 1765 to Ayr. (Congregation officially constituted in 1778).

In 1767 he visited UEC Zeist, and stayed four months. Ordained a deacon there on March 1768. After a short stay in London, he went on a preaching tour as commissioned by the UEC to the West of England, Wilts and Somerset. After preaching in different places he took up his abode at Plymouth Dock, rented a school house and preached in it and other places. At P&S Cock in spite of much opposition. (sic)(?) Then a house was taken in South-side Plymouth for gospel meetings, and for a Labourer's dwelling.

John Caldwell married Mary Christine Bryant (born 29th March 1741) on 9.7.1772 (marriage details from Benharn). She died 5.5.1796. He married (2) Elizabeth Bullock on 8th February 1797. He died Leominster 15th January 1817. (see Gemein Nach 1819 1.7 p160 MS Mem in London, Hasse Vol 3.6)

According to a Fulneck catalogue 1.1.1790 in London. Mary Caldwell had been a Quaker, there is a daughter also noted. In the same catalogue there is an Elizabeth Caldwell, great girl, born Devonport May 11, 1775. (Caldwell was minister there 1768-76).

From Gracehill Records

Robert Caldwell, farmer, born 14.10.1709, Procless, Drumaul Parish, Presbyterian, married brother. Received 25.3.1755 at Gloonen.

Margaret Caldwell, m Sister. Born October 1715, Ballymenagh (sic). Received 25.3.1755 at Gloonen.

John Caldwell, weaver, s brother, born 5os/16ns.7.1733 at Procles, Drumaul. Presbyterian, rec'd 25.3.1755 at Gloonen. Acoluth 1759. Went to Scotland 1765 (as preacher) see Moravians in Scotland with England Sketches.

Elizabeth Caldwell, s sister, Gloonen, born 1.5.1745 Killybegs, Procles, received 6.11.1765.

Robert and Margaret seem possible parents of John - Elizabeth could be younger sister, but more searching is necessary in Gracehill records.

Note about Drumahl Society at Grogan nr Randalstown

Br Bohler writes in 1752. Here is also a chapel of stone, with a little vestry: it is let to Br Cennick for 18 years at the rate of 40/- per annum. Congregation settled 14.10.1759.

A small Sisters' House which had been established was disbanded in 1765, the inmates going to Ballinderry and Gracehill. Br Hartley mentions having seen the ruins of these buildings in 1805 when he went to Drumahl to preach in a barn.

John Caldwell served:
Ayr 1765-7; Devonport 1768-76; Pudsey 1776-?80 (Mary Christine was made an Acoluth 12.6.1779); Bedford ad interim 23.9.1790-May 1781; returned to Fulneck 14.5.1781; Mirfiled 15.7.1781-2.7.1788 (daughter Mary Benigna died Mirfield 18.9.1782); Gomersal 2.7.1788 (John was taken very ill here); 2nd time Pudsey 8.4.1793 (mary Christine died 5.5.1796); he went to Leominster 1797-99; Haverfordwest 179-1805
"

My interest in the Caldwell's of New Carlisle has been a curiosity brought about that a Charles Caldwell settled in Sydney Australia and was known to have been born in New Carlisle Quebec.

This is my original research information:

Charles Campbell Caldwell b approx 1812 New Carlisle Quebec (Mariner - labourer at death) d 22/9/1874 Graham Street Sandridge Victoria (Informant Alfred Caldwell, grocer, son). Family went to Victoria and later returned.
Married 3/2/1842 @ St Andrews Church Sydney to Margaret Jane Symington (b approx 1817 at Dungamon, Tyrone) d 15/10/1891 @ 86 John Street, Pyrmont, Sydney (Informant CH Caldwell 82 Castlereagh Street, Sydney)

NSW BD&M reference numbers: m 42 Page 397 No 3605 Vol 74
Children:
Margaret Jane b July 1843 m John Annan Moodie 16/7/1866 Sydney
Page 728 N0 5323 Vol 45
Caroline b 1845 m "Blundell" Page 728 No 5654 Vol 45
Sarah A b 1847 Page 728 No 6068 Vol 45
Male died unnamed
Charles Henry (probably born in Victoria)
Alfred William b 1852 Victoria m Elsie Grey Mathers (Sandridge Vic) (son Alfred William b 1882 - before going to North Queenland (Mackay 1884?)) another son: Hiram Charles (Bowen 1884) + nine others

There is a thought that Charles Campbell Caldwell may have operated paddle steamers on the Murray River "with two of his brothers" but I don't think this is credible for this family.

The following references are listed in an attempt to bring a fair amount of data on the New Carlisle, Quebec Loyalist Caldwell's on to the same page:

"NO. 355 CALDWELL FAMILY NOTES

VOL. 10 SPEC 96-02-11
SPEC 96-02-18
SPEC 96-02-25
SPEC 96-03-03

Notes from various sources on the origin, descent and accomplishments of the noted Caldwell family, U.E.L. of New Carlisle.

Ref.: Caldwell Name and Family; The Claim of Robert Caldwell, U.E.L.; New Carlisle Family Charts and Notes; Petition of 1809;
Caldwell sons and their families; Papers of Miss F.M. Cooke; Belleek Ware; The Silver Spoon; Letter of 1908; References in "GASPE OF YESTERDAY"; Proclamation of Land Grant; Sketches of Normand Desjardins; Arms and Crest; Caldwell Manor; Caldwell Hotel."
www.geocities.com/Athens/ Forum/5443/annett/number350_400.htm

Link to Caldwell connections to the Cooke family in New Carlisle:
http://www.rootsweb.com/~ukdevon/williamcooke.htm

"NO. 107 CHARTER PARTY OF SCHOONER "ALBION"

VOL. 3

The Boyle brothers and their brother-in-law, Richard Annett charter Capt.Thomas Caldwell's schooner "ALBION" in 1827.

Ref.: The schooner destined for the whale fishery in the River and Gulfof St. Lawrence.

NO. 149 SALE OF THE SCHOONER "CALDWELL" - 1797.

VOL. 4 SPEC 86-03-25

James and Andrew Caldwell of New Carlisle sell on of many Caldwell builtships.

Ref.: This 35 ton schooner was built at New Carlisle in 1791; Detailsof her hull and rigging; Felix and Oliver O'Hara; Ronald McDonald; Names ofa dozen Caldwell shops."
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Forum/5443/annett/number100_149.htm

"Robert CALDWELL, U.E., (1735-1825) born in County Antrim, Ireland. Came to America in 1761; farmed at White Creek, Charlotte County; then the Province of Vermont. He was imprisoned for 2 years by the Rebels for refusing to swear allegiance to the Rebel cause. He joined General Burgoyne's army at Skeenborough, and found his way into the King’s Royal Rangers of New York. CALDWELLl’s unit was disbanded at Montreal in 1783, and he joined his wife and children at Camp Machiche. He came to Carlisle in 1784.

CALDWELL built a log house in 1784 - his first in Carlisle. In 1798, it became the first place of worship, holding services for Presbyterians, under the missionary the Rev. John Wadell. Here baptisms, marriages and funeral ceremonies were held until the first Knox Presbyterian Church was built. The house was also used as a courthouse and had the first known "whipping post" erected, where justice was served.

The original ‘CALDWELL House’ still stands today and may be viewed as part of the Hamilton House Museum’s display of artifacts and memorabilia to the long history which the Loyalists and their descendants brought to New Carlisle.

Robert CALDWELL was a highly esteemed New Carlisle businessman, farmer and Justice of the Peace. Free Grants of town and country lots. His wife was Sarah H. TODD; they were married in Ireland and had five children. Both died New Carlisle."
http://www.uelac.org/education/Chapters/LOYALISTS%20OF%20CHALEUR%20BAY%20-%20GASPESIA.html

These ships appear to have a Caldwell connection there are others built at New Carlisle or Baie-des-Chaleurs that may also be associated. It appears that the New Carlisle Caldwell family were ship builders and ship owners:

"Compiled from the Canadian Ship data base,
David McDougal SPEC 1982, David Lee, The Robins in the Gaspé 1766-1825.

Sailing ships built in the Gaspé

Place Ship Name Date Type Tonnage Owner
New Carlisle Caldwell 1791 Schooner 41
New Carlisle Fame 1804 91 (McD)Caldwell; John, Andrew, Robert jr
New Carlisle Martha 1810 Schooner 52 (McD)CALDWELL,James
New Carlisle Hibernia 1812 Schooner 40 (McD)CALDWELL,John
New Carlisle Caldwell 1817 Schooner 41
New Carlisle Effort 1819 Schooner 71 (McD)CALDWELL, Andrew, James, Robert
Baie-des-Chaleurs Albion 1825 Schooner 42 McD CALDWELL, Robert and Andrew
New Carlisle Minerva 1827 Schooner 75 McD CALDWELL, Robert and James
Baie-des-Chaleurs Spartan 1827 Schooner 51 McD Caldwell, James; Billingsly, Richard
New Carlisle Bachelor 1830 Schooner 69 McD CALDWELL, Thomas, Edward, Hugh,Mathew
New Carlisle Phoenix 1833 Schooner 51 McD Caldwell, John Todd; Dobson, Charles
New Carlisle Belinda 1842 Schooner 60 McD Caldwell, Henry and James; Hall, Amos
New Carlisle Comalo 1856 Brigatine 95 McD CALDWELL, James Jr, Sr "
http://www.rocher-perce.org/garrett/History/Sailing.htm

"Transcription of the Letter of Andrew and Sarah Beebe Caldwell to Adin Beebe, 23 Sep 1809

Andrew and Sarah Caldwell of New Carlisle, Bonaventure Co., Quebec wrote this letter to Sarah's uncle, Adin Beebe, in Niagara--near St. Catharines--Ontario with the primary purpose of determining the living and economic conditions in the Niagara area, in anticipation of a possible move there because of the "Rachad State of the Districk of the Gaspe." [There is an indication on the original transcription that the letter was dictated to Amasa Beebe by Andrew and Sarah.]"
http://www.chaleurgenealogy.beyondgrandmasattic.com/CaldwellLetter.html

CALDWELL Died, of consumption, at the house of Mr. Isaac Wylde at Guysborough, ..Mr.
Joseph Caldwell, a native of Bay of Chaleur, province of Lower Canada, son
of the late Andrew Caldwell of that place, aged 20. (Date not given).
(C.P. Sat 8 Jan 1831)
www.chebucto.ns.ca/Recreation/GANS/colonial_patriot.pdf

Another link to NewCarlisle history:
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Forum/5443/h_g/heritage.htm

Biography of Sir John Caldwell, Receiver General of Lower Canada who held (amongst other things) the seigneury of Gaspe & Foucalt:

http://www.caldwellgenealogy.com/forum/cgi-bin/config.cgi?noframes;read=1789

"At his father’s death in May 1810 Caldwell entered into possession of almost all his assets – one of the few exceptions being the seigneury of Lauzon, which was bequeathed to his young son Henry John. The distribution had been made according to a hand-written will, unsigned and undated; the only other one dated from 1799, when Henry’s wife was still alive. As his son was just nine, Caldwell continued to manage Lauzon. At this time he owned Belmont and was the recognized seigneur of Gaspé and Foucault; in 1803 he had bought the seigneury of Saint-Étienne."

I hope to put links and commentary here as I find references to the traders out of Ayr in the late 1600's. I know that there was a considerable trade between Ayr and Ireland about this time. The Caldwell family of Castle Caldwell were descended from a John Caldwell of Prestwick who was listed as a defender of Enniskillen. I have information from wills showing that several Caldwell's were Merchant Burgess' of Ayr and in one case noted that he was involved in Cotton and Tobacco. There are connections to Straiton and Dalmellington as well.

The following link is to a Milliken family research note. No Caldwells are mentioned but they were present and were contemporaries. There is a "[Ayr] Kirk Session of Elders and Deacons: Robert Colvil" and a "Robert McKawell in Maybole" mention. Not Caldwells perhaps but it can be noted that the surname Muir is spelled variously throughout the Milliken source records.

Milliken family merchants in Ayr and associated persons:

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~alanmilliken/Research/ScottishRecords/Ayrshire/Ayr.html

Milliken reference to James of Ayr:

"[5] John Muir, planter in Barbados
February 1650: [Barbados] Execution of King’s charter by Charles Dalrymple skipper of Ayr who sailed to Barbados in the James of Ayr and returned with 5,000 weight of tobacco “bought in by John Muir planter”, Dalrymple’s disposal of the tobacco resulted in an action being brought against him in the burgh court early the next year by his partners Alexander & John Osbourne, William and Robert Kelso and Andrew Leslie.
[Ayr Burgh Records, Ayr Public Library (APL), B6/12/9]"

Placeholder for link to Milliken site: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~alanmilliken/

Note links to Ireland and to tobacco trade. Ayr was eclipsed by Glasgow in the tobacco trade but probably had a good early start before Glasgow "took over".

Link to John Caldwell of Ayr's connection to the "James of Ayr" (34 years later)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/legacies/immig_emig/scotland/s_sw/article_1.shtml

"When the James finally sailed for the Carolinas, in August 1684, she did so in the company of the Charles of Port Glasgow.

The James was lost on the coast of Carolina. Her captain survived and was back in Ayr by the beginning of November 1685."

John Muir is mentioned in both references.

Years ago micro-computers (as they were then known) went through a frenzy of development. Hardly installed the latest and greatest when you discovered that it was already made obsolete by a new model that was even better. You could either just hang on and drive your obsolete model for a few years or spend the farm keeping up with the race. Everybody "knew" that the more mhz the better and Intel helped by sequentially naming its processors. The "386" was better than the "286" and the "486" was better still.

Eventually the power of computers hit a plateau. The plateau existed at the point where the computers were generally powerful enough for small commercial business needs. Further development was in graphics and additional memory and hard disk space. Something the average small business did not need for general commercial purposes. Consequently we had the absurdity of a multi-million dollar industry being driven by children's needs to have real-time high resolution graphics for gaming purposes.

Many was the bewildered look on a loving parent's face when their child convinced them that the computer that was being purchased to "help them with their homework" really needed the fastest processor and highest performing graphics card and multi-blaster sound system!

They say that being an expert at pool is a sign of a mis-spent youth. Well I became quite well versed in computers in their early days - perhaps because I bought too many. It became obvious to me that the "386" was the first really usable business computer. The "486" refined this and the 33DX model was a gem for its time. Our firm bought 8 of them and I think they were main-line for as long as 7 years before they were replaced. For the first time we managed some real pay-back on our computer investment.

Again Intel recognised this by changing the subsequent naming of its processors to "Pentium" the "I" and "II" etc and after a while the processor speed has been downplayed.

Simply selling by upping the clock speed and sequentially numbering a product eventually runs out of puff when the technicalogical ceiling starts to loom. This is when the marketing gurus come in and start fiddling with product names and industrial designers introduce fashionable packaging rather than real innovation.

In a rather roundabout way I have come to my point:

Is the camera market running out of "puff" with the more and more megapixel stuff? Is the lens/mp combination getting to the point where the average user is now quite happy with the results achieved?

I think it may well have done so. I always maintained that people bought their first computer from a point of ignorance but that they were much better informed the next time around.

Likewise with cameras. Buy a small cheap digital the first time and then upgrade to a mid-level when confident to do so. Find that the images are more than satisfactory - why then go any further?

Even if you try a more up-market camera your are not likely to get significant improvement unless willing to invest some time practising and refining skills. Some will do this however the vast bulk just want a small cheap camera that will produce the happy family snaps that they want to take.

Just checking dpreview regularly will show that new cameras on offer are increasingly refining products rather than technical jumps. I think 8mp (even as little as 2-3mp will do) is more than enough for a casual user. (Many are happy with their camera-in-a-phone consequently 8mp is a real conceit).

The market is maturing: Canon went D30 (competent camera) to D60 (bigger sensor) to 10D (sorted many of the control logistics in a better body) to 20D (refinement - bigger sensor, further control logistic improvement and other small advances). Where do they go from here? More mp? (nice but hardly necessary for most). Better body? (getting harder to improve on near perfection). Better control layout? (ditto). Smaller? (they are working on it but the lens mount will eventually become the difficult bottleneck point).

Look forward to something other than "mp" being the sales pitch; confusing model numbering; many niche camera varieties; "fashionable" styling - especially at consumer level; and more and more attempts to lock-in consumers to proprietary items such as lens-mounts, accessories and batteries. There even may be "price wars" to achieve this "lock-in".

We live in "interesting times". I would like a 20D but am happy with the 10D as it is one of those "plateau" products that resolved most of the niggles of the D60 and was arguably the camera that "made" the DSLR acceptable. The 20D is a further refinement, but just that: a refining model of what was already a fine camera.

Further progress will become increasingly harder and can be shown by the fact that dpreview talks mainly about firmware updates these days rather than new "killer" model cameras.

Not far from Coffs Harbour is the small valley town of Bellingen - famous for its monthly markets and a lazy Saturday

One of the cynical quotes that surrounds the proposition that "greed is good" is that of "There are only two things that motivate people: Greed and Fear".

The corollary is that if you can control your life so that you are in a position where others cannot use your greed and fear as motivating forces then you have life itself worked out.

You are then at peace with yourself.

I don't know who were the ancestors of Alan Caldwell or of Janet Guthrie but I have had a guess using hte IGI data avialable to try and bridge the gap. There are several possible Janet Guthrie's but I have eliminated most to come up with the most likely possibility. The family name sequence seems to indicate a connection to the possible ancestors of Alan Caldwell.

The John shown here as the husband of "Jean" could well be the John Caldwell who founded the Moravian Church at Ayr in 1765.