James Caudy facts for kids

James Caudy (1707 – March 15, 1784) was an American frontiersman, a brave explorer and settler, and a landowner. He lived in the Ridge-and-Valley Appalachians in what was then the Colony of Virginia. Today, this area is West Virginia.

Caudy was born in the Netherlands. He moved to the Thirteen Colonies in the 1730s. He made his home in the Cacapon River valley, near what is now Capon Bridge in Hampshire County. James Caudy was known for helping to create important travel routes in the area. He even hosted George Washington twice at his home. Washington visited him during a land survey trip in 1748 and again in 1750.

Caudy also fought in the French and Indian War. He is famous for a story where he supposedly defended himself from Native American fighters at a rock formation called Caudy's Castle. This place is now named after him. Caudy died in 1784 and was buried on his land near Capon Bridge.

Early Life and Family

James Caudy was born in 1707 in the Netherlands. He likely came to the Thirteen Colonies through Prince George's County in Maryland during the 1730s. While in Prince George's County, Caudy married his first wife, Mary Hutchinson.

Settling in the Virginia Frontier

Around 1738, James Caudy and another frontiersman, Joseph Edwards, bought large pieces of land along the Cacapon River. They were among the first European families to settle in the Cacapon River valley. Caudy and his family settled on about 358 acres (145 hectares) near what is now Capon Bridge. At that time, this area was part of Orange County.

Caudy's land was located south of Edwards's property. Today, U.S. Route 50 (also known as the Northwestern Turnpike) roughly follows the line between their old land parcels.

Building Important Roads

George Washington (pictured) stayed overnight at Caudy's cabin during a surveying expedition in 1748, and surveyed land for Caudy when he returned to the Cacapon River valley in 1750.

As early as 1741, James Caudy was involved in planning and building roads in what is now Hampshire County. In 1742, a court ordered a road to be built from Caudy's land to a mill near Winchester. A wagon road was built that year connecting Winchester to Caudy's property.

By 1744, this road was extended from Caudy's land to the North River. This route eventually reached the North Branch Potomac River and connected Winchester with Cumberland, Maryland.

In 1742, another wagon road was ordered to be built from Caudy's land to the South Branch Potomac River. In 1743, a road connecting Winchester and Moorefield passed through Caudy's land. This road used a shallow crossing in the Cacapon River.

Because Caudy's home was on this important route, it became a stopping point for travelers. In April 1748, George Washington and George William Fairfax stayed overnight at Caudy's log cabin. They were returning from a surveying trip. On April 12, 1750, George Washington even surveyed some land for Caudy, using white oak trees as markers.

Caudy worked with John Stewart to plan and build more roads in the region. They were respected for their efforts.

The French and Indian War

The Legend of Caudy's Castle

James Caudy single-handedly fended off Native American fighters within the craggy recesses of a rock formation (pictured), pushing them into the Cacapon River below. This formation was later known as Caudy's Castle.

According to local stories, James Caudy was a skilled "Indian fighter." One famous legend tells how Caudy was being chased by Native American warriors. He pretended to run away, leading them up a path toward a tall, rocky cliff overlooking the Cacapon River. This path became very narrow, turning into a rocky ledge.

In the story, Caudy waited for his pursuers inside the rocky parts of the cliff. The narrow spaces on the cliff's ledges only allowed people to pass one at a time. As the warriors came through these narrow spots, Caudy is said to have used the long barrel of his rifle to push them, one by one, off the cliff into the Cacapon River below. Other stories say he used this trick on this rock many times. This rock formation was later named "Caudy's Castle," and it is still known by that name today.

Caudy's War Service

During the French and Indian War, Caudy stayed on his property along the Cacapon River. He strongly defended his home. He likely also sought protection at Fort Edwards, which was to the north. Caudy's home may have been strengthened like a fort and was known as "Coddy's Fort."

Caudy also served as a drummer in the militia led by Michael Cresap, a frontiersman from Maryland.

In 1755, Caudy hosted George Washington again. He provided Washington with a large amount of grass seed, which was probably grown in one of Caudy's fertile fields called "Caudy's Meadow." Washington sent payment for the grass seed to Caudy through James Wood, who founded Winchester, Virginia.

Later Life and Passing

A West Virginia state highway historical marker commemorating Caudy's defense from Native American attack at Caudy's Castle. The marker is located along West Virginia Route 127 near Forks of Cacapon.

By 1761, Caudy married the widow of James McCoy. Caudy wanted to own McCoy's land, but another man, John Capper, claimed he had bought the property before McCoy died. This led to a disagreement between Caudy and Capper. The dispute was settled by Thomas Fairfax, 6th Lord Fairfax of Cameron in November 1762. Lord Fairfax gave about 165 acres (67 hectares) to Caudy and the rest of the land to Capper.

James Caudy never learned to write in English. He signed his last will with an "X" mark in 1784. Caudy passed away on March 15, 1784. He was buried on his property, south of what is now Capon Bridge. Local stories say he was buried with a Native American on each side of him. Another story says he was buried with his horse.

Caudy's burial site is on land now called Hartford Bealer farm. In the 1930s, a local Boy Scouts troop took care of the site, planting shrubs. By 1976, four posts marked Caudy's grave. In 2002, the Capon Bridge Ruritan Club cleaned up the site and put a white fence around it. They also bought a marble marker and placed it there on November 15, 2003. You can see the burial site from Christian Church Road.

Marriages and Children

James Caudy's first marriage was to Mary Hutchinson in Prince George's County, Maryland. James and Mary had five children:

• David Caudy (who passed away in November 1782), married Martha Hiett
• Ann Caudy Dulany, married a Mr. Dulany
• Margaret Caudy Wood, married Daniel Wood
• Mary Caudy Kinman, married Samuel Kinman
• Sarah Caudy Hancher, married John Hancher

By 1761, Caudy had married the widow of James McCoy.