This is a blog run by the Host of The Heritage Hunter’s Podcast. A Host by the name of Dawn Piercy that will be going by the name “Mary Caulder Stewart“, maybe. Just a woman, with a goal to tell her ancestors stories with a non bias opinion! Why a fake name? At first it was due to not being comfortable enough with letting others know where I come from, who I come from. I wanted to hide in a hole or behind a mask. I wanted to stay small. But plans have changed. I am not scared of who I am and am comfortable enough now to launch!

Up above is Cawdor Castle. Cawdor Castle was once inhabited by the Caulder/Calder family, and was passed to the Campbell’s in the 16th century. Click the link above for more information.

My Great Grandmother, Minnie Belle Caulder aka Minne Belle Spiltorff Caulder aka Minnie Taylor. She was the first Calder/Caulder/Cawdor woman in a line of over 800 years of Calder men.

Cawdor, Scotland was land and title gifted to the first Caldor that came to the country from France by King Alexander II of Scotland. That man’s name was Hugo de Cadella “Thane of Cawdor”, born around 1235. (Click for Wikipedia)

My my DNA test results matching my family tree.

The name of Cawdor still connects the castle to Shakespeare’s play Macbeth. However, the story portrayed by Shakespeare takes extensive liberties with history. The historical King Macbeth ruled Scotland from 1040 to 1057, after his forces killed King Duncan I in battle near Elgin. Macbeth was never Thane of Cawdor, this being an invention of the 15th-century writer Hector Boece.[8] Moreover, Cawdor Castle did not exist during the lifetimes of Macbeth or Duncan, and it is never explicitly mentioned in the play. The 5th Earl Cawdor is quoted as saying, “I wish the Bard had never written his damned play!”(via Wikipedia-click above photo to learn more!)

After coming to America. The Calders mixed and married with Native Americans, and African Americans born in slavery and freed. The descendants walked the Trail of Tears, married into the Long Hair, Wolf Clan of the Cherokee Nation, Rappahonnock, and Pamunkey Indian tribes, as well a as some African Lines which are no closer than 6th great grandmother the last full blood.

Do you have a long line of men by a certain name?

~HHP, MCS/DP