THE JAMES HAMILTON FAMILY OF
THE COUNTIES OF TYRONE AND DONEGAL
with links to Clegg of Fermanagh
By Robert E. Clegg - January 2002
An outline of the Hamilton Family follows below. Although
mainly from Tyrone and Donegal counties, there are links with
the Clegg family in Fermanagh.
[James Hamilton's Last Will & Testament is available to view
and print, see below with Viewing and
Printing tips are HERE]
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Generation No. 1 |
| 1. |
(FATHER OF JAMES)
HAMILTON He
married (UNKNOWN) Notes for (FATHER OF JAMES) HAMILTON:
A book titled, "THE FAIR RIVER VALLEY - Strabane
through the Ages", published in the year 2000, by "The
Ulster Historical Foundation", ISBN # 0-901905-96-8 has
lots to say about the Hamilton Family. It relates that
James Hamilton, Sr. was the Agent for Abercorn (The Earl
of Abercorn) and though it does not give an exact range of
dates it seems that James Hamilton, Sr. served as Agent
beginning in about 1767, or earlier, and served until
about 1800. The book states James Hamilton, Sr. was
succeeded by his son, James Hamilton, Jr. Unfortunately,
the book is not specific enough on the dates the two James
Hamilton Agents served as agent for Abercorn. The earliest
date found in the book referring to James Hamilton, Sr. as
agent is July 1767 and it is on page 105. If we assume
that the James Hamilton, agent, named in 1767 was
thirty-five years of age, he would have been born in 1732.
His first born, the James Hamilton, Jr., could then have
been born in about 1752, or slightly later, and the next
generation could come along in the period 1772 to 1777.
Harriet, using the age stated in the 1850 U. S. Federal
Census for Crawford County, Arkansas, was born in about
1785. The 1850 U. S. Federal Census for Crawford County,
Arkansas and the 1860 U. S. Federal Census for Crawford,
Arkansas each list her as age sixty-five. I believe her
age stated in her Van Buren, Arkansas obituary is not
correct. The age given as sixty-five in 1850 fits best and
that age will be used until proven otherwise.
It is not definitely known if the James Hamilton, Sr.,
Agent for Abercorn, is the father of Harriet Hamilton or
if James Hamilton, Jr. was the father of Harriet. The
father of Harriet may have even been a third James
Hamilton. It seems that through the years every male
Hamilton always named one of his male children, "James".
It is, thus, very confusing.
The book states and implies that Rev. Stewart Hamilton,
appointed rector of Tyrone, was the brother of James
Hamilton, Jr. The James Hamilton, father of Harriet, makes
numerous bequests in his "Last Will and Testament" to his
brother, his sisters, his children and grandchildren, and
his nieces and nephews. Of all these people, he does not
mention the name, James Hamilton, Jr. or Rev. Stewart
Hamilton. However, Rev. Stewart Hamilton is named as a
co-executor of his Will with a person that appears to read
"Major Murray". James Hamilton's daughter, Maria, was
married to a person named "Murray" and I suppose one could
consider it normal to name a son-in-law as a co-executor
with a son. Therefore, this causes one to possibly believe
that the person referred to in the book as "James
Hamilton, Jr." was, most probably, the father of Harriet
and her five siblings. The mystery question is: Why did
James Hamilton, Jr. not make a bequest to his brother,
Rev. Stewart Hamilton? Could the Rev. Stewart Hamilton
have been an uncle instead of a brother? If so, the puzzle
fits together nicely. The reference to Rev. Stewart
Hamilton being the brother of James Hamilton, Jr. can be
found on page 126 of the book.
It must be remembered that authors of books are not always
absolutely correct - they do make mistakes. |
| |
Children of (FATHER HAMILTON
and (UNKNOWN) are: |
| |
2. |
i. |
JAMES HAMILTON,
d. March 20, 1837, Camus Parish, Tyrone, Ireland. |
| |
|
ii. |
WILLIAM HAMILTON. |
| |
|
iii. |
JANE HAMILTON, b.
Bef. September 29, 1814; d. Aft. March 21, 1821; m.
UNKNOWN. |
| |
|
iv. |
ELIZABETH
HAMILTON, b. Bef. September 29, 1814. |
| |
|
v. |
SARAH HAMILTON,
b. Bef. March 21, 1821; m. (UNKNOWN) PODDAR. |
| |
|
vi. |
STEWART HAMILTON,
b. Unknown.
Notes for STEWART HAMILTON:
The Rev. Stewart Hamilton is not named as a beneficiary in
the "Last Will and Testament" of James Hamilton, Jr.
However, he is named as a co-executor with a Major Murray,
who is probably the son-in-law of James Hamilton, Jr.
Stewart Hamilton has been included as a child of James
Hamilton, Jr. for the reason that the book, "THE FAIR
RIVER VALLEY - Strabane through the Ages", refers to
Rev. Stewart Hamilton as the brother of James Hamilton,
Jr. This reference is made on page 126 of the book.
|
|
Generation No. 2 |
| 2. |
JAMES HAMILTON
((FATHER OF JAMES)) died March 20, 1837 in Camus Parish,
Tyrone, Ireland. He married (UNKNOWN).
Notes for JAMES HAMILTON:
This James Hamilton will be referred to as James Hamilton,
Jr. for the reason it is the manner in which the book, "THE
FAIR RIVER VALLEY - Strabane through the Ages", has
referred to the son of a senior Hamilton, who was the
Agent for Abercorn (The Earl of Abercorn), who was
succeeded by his son of the same name.
It is believed the two James Hamilton's in this database
are the same two mentioned in the above referenced book.
A copy of the Last Will and Testament of this James
Hamilton is in the possession of Robert E. Clegg of
Victoria, Texas. In viewing the will it appears from the
bequests made to various members of his family that James
Hamilton was a man of considerable wealth.
In viewing the marriage contract of Harriet Hamilton and
George Austin, dated 17 August 1805, James Hamilton is
mentioned as having been formerly of Grange in the County
of Tyrone, Ireland but now of Langford, County Somerset in
that part of the kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
called England. This statement coincides with the fact
that James Hamilton, Jr. succeeded his father, James
Hamilton, Sr; therefore, there was no need for Hamilton,
Sr. to continue living in Ireland near the Abercorn
properties. If James Hamilton, Jr. is to be considered as
the father of Harriet, why is he residing in England in
1805 rather than in Ireland where his presence was needed
so as to be near the Abercorn properties? This is
difficult to understand.
James Hamilton is listed on the Family Page as having died
in Camus Parish, County Tyrone, Ireland. I failed to make
note of the source of this information. The source will be
entered when again found.
This James Hamilton may or may not have been the Agent for
the Earl of Abercorn as discussed in the book, "THE
FAIR RIVER VALLEY - Strabane through the Ages",
published in the year 2000, by The Ulster Historical
Foundation, ISBN # 0-901905-96-8. The book mentions that
James Hamilton, Jr. succeeded his father, James Hamilton,
Sr., as Agent for Abercorn (The Earl of Abercorn). This
succession took place in the 1790's or the very early
1800's.
James Hamilton detailed his many bequests made to the
various family members. In every bequest made, he named
the person and the relationship of that person to him, but
he did not name the Rev. Stewart Hamilton, who the book
states is his brother. Why?
|
| |
Children of JAMES
HAMILTON and (UNKNOWN) are: |
| |
i. |
THOMAS HAMILTON |
| |
ii. |
JOHN HAMILTON |
| |
iii. |
GEORGE HAMILTON |
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iv. |
MARIA HAMILTON |
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v. |
WILLIAM HAMILTON |
| |
vi. |
HARRIET HAMILTON,
b. Abt. 1785, England; d. August 19, 1867, Van Buren,
Crawford, Ar.
|
| 3. |
WILLIAM HAMILTON
((FATHER OF JAMES)) He married (UNKNOWN). |
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Children of
WILLIAM HAMILTON and (UNKNOWN) are: |
| |
i. |
CHARLOTTE
HAMILTON, b. Bef. September 29, 1814. |
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ii. |
JANE HAMILTON
(II), b. Bef. September 29, 1814. |
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