The Caldecotts were a landed family, members of which were scattered in various parishes during the sixteenth century in Berkshire and Oxfordshire. Indeed, the name occurs under various old spellings as Calcott, Coldcot, and Coldicot. A William de Caldecote was in 1303 Incumbent of Long Buckby, Northamptonshire (see Bridges’ ‘History of Northamptonshire,’ p. 547, Vol I). A Sir Thomas Callcott, knight, was killed at Poitiers in 1356 (from M.S., in the handwriting of Mr. C. M. Caldecott, in my possession). There is a village and castle in South Wales named Caldecott, and several villages and hamlets in Warwickshire and adjacent counties. From one of these most probably the family originally derived their name.
In the Leicestershire Visitation in 1662, and confirmed by a pedigree preserved in the College of Arms, the family descent begins with a Thomas Calcott, of Caldecott House, near Abingdon, Berkshire. He was succeeded by a son, Thomas Calcott, of the same place. He was succeeded by a two sons, the first named Thomas, of Peasemore, Berkshire, who left a son William. The other brother of the above Thomas Calcott bore the name of John Calcott, of Chislington and Ipsden, Oxfordshire. The gentleman was succeeded by his second son, Thomas Calcott, of Barrow and Whitwell, Rutland. He was twice married. In the year 1617 he purchased the Manor and Advowson of Catthorpe, Leicestershire. He was for several years in the Commission of the Peace for that county, and died at the age of 80, in 1645, at Catthorpe, and was buried there. He was followed by his second surviving son, Thomas, who was the first to assume the present spelling of the name ‘Caldecott.’ Born at Catthorpe in 1628, he appears to have resided there all his life. He became High Sheriff of Leicestershire in 1664 and 1665, and one of the Magistrates for the county from the Restoration. He died at Catthorpe in 1703 at the age of 76, and was there buried. He was succeeded by his eldest son, Thomas Caldecott, who was born at Catthorpe in 1652. He resided some time at Northampton, then he came to Rugby, but retired to Catthorpe, where he died in 1720, aged 68, and was there buried. It was this gentleman who, I presume, established the legal business at Rugby, which I am attempting to describe. He had a son, Thomas Caldecott, of the Middle Temple, barrister, and was baptised at Northampton in 1685. He was residing at Leicester in 1708, and died at Catthorpe in 1760, aged 74, and was there buried. He was succeeded at Rugby by his second son, who is called ‘William Caldecott of Rugby.’ He was baptized at Leicester in 1713, and died at Rugby in 1777, aged 64 years, and was buried in the Old Parish Churchyard, Rugby.
It was during the lifetime of the above two worthies, Mr. Thomas Caldecott and Mr. William Caldecott, that the first Mr. Thomas Harris, some time previous to 1730, became a partner of assistant in the firm. This Mr. Thomas Harris came from Middlesex, and shortly after residing in Rugby married Miss Judith Boughton, daughter of Edward Boughton, Esquire, of Cawston. He and his wife resided in the house in the Market Place, Rugby, erected in 1730, which was a gift (I was informed by the late Mr. Edmund Harris) to Miss Boughton from her father on her marriage to Mr. Thomas Harris. Here this legal business has since been conducted.
The above Mr. Thomas Harris died on the 28th of April, 1781, in the 76th year of his age, and was buried May 2nd in St. Andrew’s Churchyard, Rugby. This gentleman was followed by his son. Mr. Thomas Harris, who was born June 4th, 1741, in ‘Boughton House,’ and was educated at Rugby School. He carried on the legal business in connection with Mr. John Caldecott, who was a son of the before mentioned Mr. William Caldecott. He died December 11th, 1800, aged 59 years, and was interred in St. Andrew’s Churchyard, Rugby.
Mr. John Caldecott about this time gave up following the legal profession, and went to reside at Holbrook Grange, where he died in 1839, aged 87 years, and was interred in the south aisle of Newbold-on-Avon Church, where there is a tablet to his memory. He was the founder of the Chapel-of-Ease at Long Lawford. At the west end of this building over the window are the arms of Mr. John Caldecott impaled with those of his second wife. This lady survived her husband, dying on the 4th September, 1845.
The above Mr. Thomas Harris was succeeded by his son, Mr. George Harris, who was baptized November 15th, 1783. He was educated at Rugby School, being entered there in January, 1791, during the Headmastership of Dr. Thomas James. After leaving school he was articled to Mr. John Caldecott, and after the death of his father, Mr. Thomas Harris, in 1800, succeeded to the family practice. Mr. George Harris married, 1808, Miss Christabella Chambers, the only daughter of Admiral Chambers, who was at that time residing in the house – since enlarged and partly rebuilt – now known as Northfield House, on the Newbold Road, Rugby, and long after the residence for many years of Mr. David Buchanan, the distinguished cricketer and Old Rugbeian.
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