Origins of the Hamilton Family
Out of all the families that came over to Ireland in the Plantation of Ulster, Hamilton was the most common surname. This Hamilton family can only certainly be traced back to round about the end of the 17th century, though they may have come to Ulster much earlier.
The furthest definite traceable member of this Hamilton branch is Robert Hamilton of Mintlone (now Monclone). A possible closely related Hamilton at a slightly earlier date is one Rosannah Hamilton, who married William Moody of Lisraw, Co. Armagh. The possible connection here being that one of Robert Hamilton Sr.’s daughters, Margaret, married another William Moody, also from Co. Armagh.
There is another possible related Hamilton family, maybe the same one as Rosannah's. This Hamilton family gives a possible trace up from Robert Hamilton Sr., though this can be achieved only by skipping a generation or two. The connection and reasoning behind it are this: Robert Hamilton Sr.’s son Robert Hamilton Jr., married Elizabeth or Beatrice Walkinshaw, the daughter of James Walkinshaw of Drumart, Co. Armagh. Another Hamilton also had dealings with James Walkinshaw. James Hamilton of Rock Hamilton (or Rockhamilton), near Newry, sold lands to James Walkinshaw, later Robert Hamilton Jr.’s father in law, in 1729. The mere fact that both Hamiltons, Robert Hamilton Sr. and James Hamilton of Rock Hamilton, could suggest some sort of relation between them. We can back this up further, though not confirm the connection, by looking at the Christian names on both James and Robert Hamilton Sr.’s sides of the family. We know that James Hamilton cannot be Robert Hamilton Sr.’s brother as he had a brother also named Robert, Robert Hamilton of Ballee, who died in about 1777. Let us temporarily assume then, that they are cousins. This is where we must skip one generation, going back from Robert Sr. to a potential grandfather. We know that James Hamilton of Rock Hamilton was the son of James or Hans Hamilton of Cavandugan (Cavandoogan) and grandson of Francis Hamilton of Tullybreech or Tullybrick. We now know that there were Francis’, James’, and Robert’s on this potentially related side of the family. All of these names can be seen on Robert Hamilton Sr. of Mintlorne’s side of the family. He had a sons called Francis, James and Robert. Keep in mind though, that as I have said many times before, that the connection between these two Hamilton families is not definite, though some sort of connection is highly likely.
If the above speculation were correct, one would be able to follow a virtually endless trace back to the very first Hamiltons! I will not detail the whole of this trace because of its uncertainty, but the general gist of it is this:
Francis Hamilton of Tullybreech (possible grandfather of Robert Hamilton Sr.) was the son of
John Hamilton of Hamilton’s Bawn (-04/12/1639), who was the son of
Rev. Hans Hamilton of Dunlop, Ayshire (-30/05/1608), who was the son of
Archibald Hamilton 5th Laird of Raploch, Lanarkshire
From here, the trace goes back through the Hamiltons of Raploch, then back through the Hamiltons of Cadzow and finally to the 13th century when Gilbert de Hamilton, son of William de Hameldone, was living.
The furthest definite traceable member of this Hamilton branch is Robert Hamilton of Mintlone (now Monclone). A possible closely related Hamilton at a slightly earlier date is one Rosannah Hamilton, who married William Moody of Lisraw, Co. Armagh. The possible connection here being that one of Robert Hamilton Sr.’s daughters, Margaret, married another William Moody, also from Co. Armagh.
There is another possible related Hamilton family, maybe the same one as Rosannah's. This Hamilton family gives a possible trace up from Robert Hamilton Sr., though this can be achieved only by skipping a generation or two. The connection and reasoning behind it are this: Robert Hamilton Sr.’s son Robert Hamilton Jr., married Elizabeth or Beatrice Walkinshaw, the daughter of James Walkinshaw of Drumart, Co. Armagh. Another Hamilton also had dealings with James Walkinshaw. James Hamilton of Rock Hamilton (or Rockhamilton), near Newry, sold lands to James Walkinshaw, later Robert Hamilton Jr.’s father in law, in 1729. The mere fact that both Hamiltons, Robert Hamilton Sr. and James Hamilton of Rock Hamilton, could suggest some sort of relation between them. We can back this up further, though not confirm the connection, by looking at the Christian names on both James and Robert Hamilton Sr.’s sides of the family. We know that James Hamilton cannot be Robert Hamilton Sr.’s brother as he had a brother also named Robert, Robert Hamilton of Ballee, who died in about 1777. Let us temporarily assume then, that they are cousins. This is where we must skip one generation, going back from Robert Sr. to a potential grandfather. We know that James Hamilton of Rock Hamilton was the son of James or Hans Hamilton of Cavandugan (Cavandoogan) and grandson of Francis Hamilton of Tullybreech or Tullybrick. We now know that there were Francis’, James’, and Robert’s on this potentially related side of the family. All of these names can be seen on Robert Hamilton Sr. of Mintlorne’s side of the family. He had a sons called Francis, James and Robert. Keep in mind though, that as I have said many times before, that the connection between these two Hamilton families is not definite, though some sort of connection is highly likely.
If the above speculation were correct, one would be able to follow a virtually endless trace back to the very first Hamiltons! I will not detail the whole of this trace because of its uncertainty, but the general gist of it is this:
Francis Hamilton of Tullybreech (possible grandfather of Robert Hamilton Sr.) was the son of
John Hamilton of Hamilton’s Bawn (-04/12/1639), who was the son of
Rev. Hans Hamilton of Dunlop, Ayshire (-30/05/1608), who was the son of
Archibald Hamilton 5th Laird of Raploch, Lanarkshire
From here, the trace goes back through the Hamiltons of Raploch, then back through the Hamiltons of Cadzow and finally to the 13th century when Gilbert de Hamilton, son of William de Hameldone, was living.
Hamilton of Mintlone
Robert Hamilton must have been born in about 1690 or earlier, for his children married in the 1730’s and 1740’s. He lived at Mintlone House, near Acton, in the county of Armagh. There are several different recorded spellings of Mintlone recorded, others being, Mintlorne, Muntlone and Mentlone. The current spelling is Monclone. Robert had by his wife Margaret, at least six children:
1. Francis Hamilton
2. James Hamilton
3. Robert Hamilton m. (marriage settlement - 23/10/1746), Elizabeth or Beatrice, the daughter of James Walkinshaw of Drumart and his wife Margaret Boyd
m. Esther Conyngham or Jane Dennington/Pennington
4. Elizabeth Hamilton m. John Ledlie
5. Mary Hamilton m. William Ledlie
6. Margaret Hamilton m. William Moody
Robert Hamilton's first wife was the daughter of James Walkinshaw (a merchant?). In a marriage settlement dated 23rd October 1746, the daughter Walkinshaw is recorded as Elizabeth. However, family records have her name as being Beatrice, not Elizabeth. This is further backed up by the fact that many Newton descendants are called Beatrice, one of them even being called 'Beatrice Walkinshaw Newton'. James Walkinshaw had six daughters so it could be that Robert married twice, first to a Elizabeth Walkinshaw and then to a Beatrice Walkinshaw. Of course though, his wife may have just preferred to have been called Beatrice.
A family legend says that one of Robert Hamilton's daughters, Margaret, was meant to be his only child by his first wife. However, Margaret being born 13 years after marriage, coupled with the fact that one of her siblings, James, is recorded in a marriage settlement dated 1770 suggests that this is not the case. It could be that Robert's wife died giving birth to Margaret.
The family legend also says that Robert Hamilton was very much in love with his first wife, and after her death he was devastated. Robert then slept with his window open for the next five years, in the hope that her spirit might come and visit him.
Robert Hamilton married secondly, supposedly about five years after his first wife's death, Esther Conyngham. Her parents are not known. The name Esther Conyngham may be incorrect, but Robert definitely married twice. Another possible second wife is Jane Dennington or Pennington. There are records of Hamilton children christened in Banbridge, not far from Mintlone. The first of these children is christened in 1760, not implausible given Margaret's birth date. There is also record of a Jane Hamilton born in 1763, which would fit. From his second marriage he had at least one child. Robert's children were:
By Beatrice/Elizabeth Walkinshaw:
1. Margaret Hamilton (14/01/1759-12/02/1829) m. (24/04/1778), Andrew, son of Henry Newton and Sarah Fraser
By Esther Conyngham or Jane Dennington/Pennington?:
1. Jane Hamilton (-15/02/1803) m. (marriage settlement - 29/10/1787), James Scott of Loughbrickland
By either wife:
1. James Hamilton of Philipsburgh, Co. Dublin m. (c.1770), Susanna Houghton
1. Francis Hamilton
2. James Hamilton
3. Robert Hamilton m. (marriage settlement - 23/10/1746), Elizabeth or Beatrice, the daughter of James Walkinshaw of Drumart and his wife Margaret Boyd
m. Esther Conyngham or Jane Dennington/Pennington
4. Elizabeth Hamilton m. John Ledlie
5. Mary Hamilton m. William Ledlie
6. Margaret Hamilton m. William Moody
Robert Hamilton's first wife was the daughter of James Walkinshaw (a merchant?). In a marriage settlement dated 23rd October 1746, the daughter Walkinshaw is recorded as Elizabeth. However, family records have her name as being Beatrice, not Elizabeth. This is further backed up by the fact that many Newton descendants are called Beatrice, one of them even being called 'Beatrice Walkinshaw Newton'. James Walkinshaw had six daughters so it could be that Robert married twice, first to a Elizabeth Walkinshaw and then to a Beatrice Walkinshaw. Of course though, his wife may have just preferred to have been called Beatrice.
A family legend says that one of Robert Hamilton's daughters, Margaret, was meant to be his only child by his first wife. However, Margaret being born 13 years after marriage, coupled with the fact that one of her siblings, James, is recorded in a marriage settlement dated 1770 suggests that this is not the case. It could be that Robert's wife died giving birth to Margaret.
The family legend also says that Robert Hamilton was very much in love with his first wife, and after her death he was devastated. Robert then slept with his window open for the next five years, in the hope that her spirit might come and visit him.
Robert Hamilton married secondly, supposedly about five years after his first wife's death, Esther Conyngham. Her parents are not known. The name Esther Conyngham may be incorrect, but Robert definitely married twice. Another possible second wife is Jane Dennington or Pennington. There are records of Hamilton children christened in Banbridge, not far from Mintlone. The first of these children is christened in 1760, not implausible given Margaret's birth date. There is also record of a Jane Hamilton born in 1763, which would fit. From his second marriage he had at least one child. Robert's children were:
By Beatrice/Elizabeth Walkinshaw:
1. Margaret Hamilton (14/01/1759-12/02/1829) m. (24/04/1778), Andrew, son of Henry Newton and Sarah Fraser
By Esther Conyngham or Jane Dennington/Pennington?:
1. Jane Hamilton (-15/02/1803) m. (marriage settlement - 29/10/1787), James Scott of Loughbrickland
By either wife:
1. James Hamilton of Philipsburgh, Co. Dublin m. (c.1770), Susanna Houghton
