Hamilton Family History

Posted By Wendy on February 27, 2010

The marriage of John Hamilton and Isabella Stewart was a significant union not only in terms of genealogical interest family-wise but in historical terms. Their marriage brought together two families who were influential in Ireland during the 18th century. The Hamilton’s of Brownhall – major landowners in Co Donegal and a branch of the family of the Ist Duke of Hamilton, and the Stewarts of Killymoon – pioneers of the Plantation of Ulster and influential figures in County Tyrone.

It is safe to assume that John and Isabella met through their fathers who were both military men of the time – Isabella’s father being Col. William Stewart and John’s father being Capt. James Hamilton with his own martial connection to the Creighton family of Col. Abraham Creighton, grandfather of the Ist Earl of Erne.

So it was from Killymoon Castle in Cookstown, County Tyrone, to Brownhall in County Donegal that young Isabella Stewart rode in horse and carriage to begin her life as Mrs John Hamilton. John and Isabella were married in 1770 and their children were:

1. James b.21.10.1771 – d.1805 (married Lady Helen Pakenham, sister of Thomas,Earl Longford)

2. Abraham b. 25.06.1773 – d.1861

3. Eleanor b&d – 1 June 1774

4. William Stewart b. 13.06.1775. Married in 1807 the Hon. Henrietta Blackwood, daughter of Hans, 3rd Baron Dufferin & Clandeboye of Co. Down.

5. John b 17.08.1777 – died in infancy

6. Henry b. 21.10.1778 – died in infancy

7. Henry Alexander b 30.09.1779

8. Dorothea b 16.09.1780

9. Robert b 20.02.1781 – stillborn.

The couple had a large family and Isabella was known as a very loving and fond grandmother to her many grandchildren. Below is a portrait of Isabella and her three grandchildren – John, Edward and Catherine Hamilton, thought to be painted at Brownhall.

This graveyard is at the end a of tiny, narrow country lane off the main road outside Ballintra and the Hamilton vault is over to the right of the cemetery. The last Hamilton to be buried in this vault was Sheila Marion Hamilton in 1976 – the vault had been unused for several generations at this time and it was by her own special request she was interred in it.

John and Isabella posed for a portrait which was painted by a renowned artist of the time (which for now escapes me though I have a print of the portrait) and the couple are shown sitting at a small table – this table still has pride of place in Brownhall house today. This painting was listed in Christie’s catalogue in the mid-1990’s – I do not know who owns this portrait today.

John Hamilton died in 1811 – Isabella died in 1832. Both are interred in the Hamilton vault in the now unused Drumholm graveyard just outside Ballintra. This was the site of the original Drumholm church and is accessed via a narrow lane off the main highway. The last Hamilton to be interred in this vault was Sheila Marion Hamilton in 1982(?). She made a special request to be buried in the vault which had not been used for several generations.

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Posted By Wendy on January 18, 2009

My 4th Great Grandfather, John Hamilton, was born in 1800 to James Hamilton and Helen Pakenham.

The couple were married in Dublin near to Helen’s family residence of Upper Merrion Street, she was the 6th child of Edward Micheal Pakenham, Ist Earl Longford and Catherine Rowley.

Her siblings were:

1. Elizabeth Pakenham: 1769 - 1851 m Henry Stewart of Tyrcallen, Co. Tyrone

2.Mary Pakenham: 1770 - 1787

3. Catherine (Kitty) Sarah Dorothea Pakenham: 1772 – 1831 m Arthur Wellesley Ist Duke of Wellington

4. Frances Pakenham: 1773 – 1774

5. Thomas Pakenham (2nd Earl Longford): 1774 – 1835 m Georgiana Emma Charlotte Lygon

6. Gen Sir Edward Micheal Pakenham: 1778 – 1815

7. Caroline Penelope Pakenham: 1780 – ? m Henry Hamilton

8. Maj. Gen. Sir Hercules Rowley Pakenham: 1781 – 1850 m Emily Stapleton

9. Capt. William Pakenham: 1782 – 1811

10. Henry Pakenham: 1787 – 1863 m Eliza Catherine Sandford

James Hamilton had inherited the estate of Brownhall from his father John and the couple took up residence after their marriage, though they divided their time between the estate in Co Donegal and Dublin. During their absence John’s brother Abraham and his family occupied the house of Brownhall.

The couple had three children:

1. John Hamilton: 1800 – 1884

2. The Rev. Edward Micheal Hamilton: 1802 – 1861 m Martha Anne Fortescue

3. Catherine Hamilton: 1803 – 1871 m Rev. William Henry Foster of Loughgilly

The marriage was tragically brief with James dying at the age of 30 in 1805. Helen died two years later and the care of the three children was taken over by Helen’s sister Catherine Wellesley (later Duchess of Wellington), their maternal grandmother Lady Longford and their paternal grandmother Isabella (Stewart) Hamilton. Within a short time the children were cared for full-time by the Pakenham family due to the advanced age of their much loved grandmother Isabella and the more beneficial surrounds of Dublin.

With John being the eldest (and heir to Brownhall ) his uncle Arthur Wellesley, then Chief Secretary for Ireland, took particular interest in his education and saw that he eventually attended Cambridge University in England. Through this John was granted his Degree after just 2 years due to a very old law which stated that direct male descendants of the Monarch could gain their qualification in a shorter time. John, of course, was descended from King Edward Ist .

John Hamilton would later recall with great affection and gratitude the loving environment into which he and his orphaned siblings were accepted into by his mother Helen’s family. His little sister Catherine, named for their mother’s sister, would grow to be extremely close to the woman later known as ‘Kitty’ Wellington – and she too in turn would be known by the name Kitty throughout her life.

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Posted By Wendy on January 18, 2009

Mary Rose was born 1804 at Calrossie, Ross and Cromarty, Scotland. Her parents were Major Hugh Rose and Arabella Margaretta Phipps.

In 1823, at the age of 18, Mary married 23 year old John Hamilton of Brownhall, Co. Donegal. John was a close friend of Mary’s brother and the two men had attended Cambridge University together.

Mary died at St Ernans House in 1854. St Ernans House was the family’s preferred residence and, while part of the estate, situated on a wooded island in the Donegal Bay.

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