The Caldwells and many other Irish families came to America under what was known as the "Bounty Act. " This act was passed by the General Assembly of South Carolina on July 25, 1761, to encourage poor European Protestants to colonize South Carolina. The large majority of the immigrants coming into South Carolina from 1761 to 1773 were Presbyterians from Ireland. Applicants under this act had to certify that they were Protestants and thus entitled to the benefits of the act. The benefits of the act were free ship's passsage plus the right to petition for a grant of land from the Colony of South Carolina. Also each person who received a land grant was given a cash allowance for the purchase of tools, supplies, and materials for constructing a dwelling. The exact amount of the allowance is unclear in the history records but one source reports that it was ten pounds in gold coin. The formula or method of distributing the land is not clearly described in the Council Journal entries, but it seems that a man and his wife were granted as much as 150 acres plus 50 acres for each child under the age of 15. Single persons over the age of 15 were considered adults and were usually granted 100 acres. The ship's manifest listed by name only the head of the household and single persons over 15 .
With the members of his church facing rising rents, poor crops, and a constant struggle to provide for their families, the Rev. William Martin, a Presbyterian Minister, gave a sermon urging his flock to leave Ireland and accompany him to South Carolina. The Rev. Martin explained to them the provisions of the " Bounty Act " passed by South Carolina in 1761 and over 400 families decided to seize this opportunity to own land. In 1772 a group of five ships, organized by Rev. Martin, left the seaport town of Larne, Ireland, with 1200 passengers bound for South Carolina. These ships were the James and Mary, Pennsylvania Farmer, Lord Dunluce, Hopewell, and Free Mason. The James and Mary sailed first in August and arrived in Charles Town, South Carolina, in October 1772. When the James and Mary arrived an outbreak of smallpox on board the ship resulted in the entire ship's passengers and crew being quarantined aboard ship anchored off Sullivan's Island in the Charles Town Harbor until early December. I could not find any record of how many people died during the quarantine. The other four ships did not sail until October 1772 to allow the farmers time to harvest their crops. These four ships did not arrive until late December.
The ship Pennsylvania Farmer arrived in Charles Town, South Carolina, on December 19, 1772. Aboard were Robert Caldwell, granted 450 acres, Robert Caldwell 100 acres, William Caldwell 100 acres, and Ann Caldwell 100 acres. Family history says that the Caldwells were from Antrim County in Northern Ireland. One account that I read said our Caldwells were from the area of Antrim County near the town of Ballymena just north of Belfast. This Caldwell family is listed as being aboard the ship Pennsylvania Farmer in Jane Revill's book Original List of Prostestant Immigrants to South Carolina 1763-1773. Also genealogist Leonardo Andrea in his manuscript on the Caldwell family states in paragraph 7 titled " South Carolina Journal, " that Robert Caldwell was granted 450 acres, Robert Caldwell Jr. 100 acres, William Caldwell 100 acres, and Ann Caldwell 100 acres. South Carolina Council Journal 37, pages 15 through 35 contains the minutes of the meeting of January 6, 1773, where Robert Caldwell and his family were granted land. While I have no concrete proof that the Robert Caldwell and family of Newberry County are the same Caldwell family that arrived on the ship Pennsylvania Farmer, all evidence indicates that they are the same family. Both Leonardo Andrea, a Caldwell descendant, and Jane Revill in her book indicate that this is the same family. The first United States census was held in 1790 and we find our Robert Caldwell Jr. residing in Newberry County, South Carolina . . . .
There were 86 people aboard the ship Pennsylvania Farmer, listed by name, who applied for land under the Bounty Act. The following information on the land granted to Robert Caldwell and his family was copied from the South Carolina Council records dated 6 Jan. 1773:
276. Robert Caldwell 450 ac Pl.Bk. vol. 13 p.485; 6 Jan 1773; to Robert Caldwell: in Berkly Co. on Beaver Dam Creek, branch of Saludy River; bd'd vacant land; sur 14 Feb 1773
323. William Caldwell 100 ac Pl,Bk. vol. 13 p. 485; 6 Jan 1773; in Berkley Co. on branch of Rocky Creek, waters of Saludy; bd'd Robert Caldwell, vacant land,; sur. 15 Feb 1773
324. Robert Caldwell 100 ac Pl.Bk. vol. 13 p.484; 6 Jan 1773; in Berkeley Co. on Dudley Creek, a branch of Saludy River; bd'd John Jinkens, Joseph Spence vacant land; sur 12 Feb 1773
325. Ann Caldwell 100 ac P.F. 261; 6 Jan 1773; on branch of Wateree Creek; bd'd John Thompson, Hugh Smith; sur 10 June 1773
Under the terms of the " Bounty Act " Robert Caldwell Sr received 450 acres, 150 acres for he and his wife plus 50 acres each for his six children under 15. Robert Jr., William, and Ann were over 15 and thus each received 100 acres in their own name. The six children of Robert Sr. who were under 15 were Joseph, Mary, John, James, Elizabeth, and Nancy.
https://www.geni.com/people/Robert-Caldwell-Sr/6000000013070570701
