My 4th Great Grandfather, John Hamilton, led an extraordinary life during one of Ireland’s most tumultuous eras. In 1998 he was the subject of a book by the author Dermot James detailing wonderfully his life and times:
John Hamilton of Donegal 1800-1884: This Recklessly Generous Landlord – published by the Woodfield Press.
It was at the height of my genealogy work that I discovered the book had just been published and was ecstatic that an ancestor of mine was the subject of an entire publication. I ordered a copy immediately from a bookshop on The Diamond in Donegal Town and waited three weeks for it to arrive to Australia. I was overjoyed to be able to take a brief respite from my research and sit and read information that I possibly would never have been able to gather personally – Dermot had done it all ! to be able to read a book detailing so well the life and times of your own ancestor was such a priviledge.
John Hamilton, the father of Mary Hamilton ( my 3rd Great Grandmother) inherited the family estate of Brownhall in County Donegal at the age of 18 but officially took possession at the age of 20. He was to become a landlord with a difference through times of extreme hardship for many in Ireland, Co Donegal being no exception, and was to become a legend renowned for his concern for the tenants on his lands and his overwhelming generosity towards them. During the great famine his tenants were never evicted from their homes as was the case for so many other poor folk, victims of their unsympathetic and often greedy landlords.
Contemporary photo of Brownhall House. The long offshoot to the right is the original house built by John Hamilton and Jane Crichton in 1697.
It will be a sheer joy to recount the outline of his life here; for those of you who wish to read more in detail I urge you to seek out and purchase a copy of the book itself. Last time I checked, a few months back, very few copies were currently in print with just one being offered on Amazon UK. You could always try The Four Masters bookshop in Donegal Town itself.
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My paternal grandmother was Mary Stewart Hamilton and my third Christian name is Hamilton .I have a copy of the relevant book by Dermot James (no relation) and I can very definitely trace the connection of our family with that of the Hamiltons of Brown Haall .Looking at Burkes Irish Family Records one sees a lot of Hamiltons but I have never got down to sorting them out . Regards
Hi. In 2003, my mom and I got to travel to Brownhall and visit with the relatives there several years ago. It was so nice to meet them. I was reading John Hamilton of Donegal 1800-1884: This Recklessly Generous Landlord during our trip around the island. It was an interesting way to learn about that part of the family and Ireland. We even stayed at St. Ernans. We live in California and still stay in touch with the Couer-Barron branch here in California.
Raymond Lugo is too modest — he is part of the Coeur-Barron clan here in California! Mary Hamilton married Frederick Augustus Courbarron (Isle of Normandy). One of their sons, Stanhope Frederick Hamilton Courbarron attended Ontario Agricultural College, then settled in Saskatchewan and married Agnes Whitlock. They had 4 children, including my grandfather, Frederick Herbert Hamilton Coeur-Barron (he changed the name) and Kathleen Barrett, Raymond’s great-grandmother.
Mary Hamilton is my 3rd Great Grandmother – her husband Frederick Courbarron was born on the island of Jersey in the Channel Islands, not the ‘Isle of Normandy’ as there is no such place, however his parents were both born in and emigrated from Normandy where the surname is found. Both are buried in Landulph cemetery in the south of England. Frederick Courbarron’s parents were farmers who emigrated from France to Jersey in the early 1800′s and their graves are still there today, my cousin has visited them though they have been neglected.
I descend from Stanhopes brother Augustus James. I have been aware of family in the States for years now and Raymond’s Mum visited here (Ireland) back in 2003 but unfortunately I was ill at the time of her visit and was unable to catch up with her. Nice to hear from you cousin!
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Thank you for the correction, Wendy. I was talking to my cousin Cheryl (Raymond’s mom) today about some things I recently found when going through boxes, including a small box inscribed from John Hamilton to Mary on one of her birthdays as a child. I will check the date. I got on line and was looking at my post and wondering “Why did I say Normandy?” Yes, it’s Jersey. And, thanks for all of your hard work on this wonderful site. Brent
No probs Brent – I will be doing some intensive updating of the Hamilton info over the coming weeks here and extending the family line information so be sure to drop in sometime and check it out.
So my great, great, great grandparents worked at Brownhall. Do you have any knowledge of / records about the servants or recommendations on where I might looked. They were Hugh Boyle (coachman) and Anna Sweeney (maid).
A long shot I realise, but I’m trying!
My niece believes that our great grands worked for the Hamiltons back in the day. Is there any information about servants in Dermot James’ work. If so, I would be interested in obtaining a copy, probably via Interlibrary Loan. TIA
I cannot help you on that one – I know of a children’s maid who followed them on their travels named ‘Biddie’ but have nothing that names any of the staff who worked in the house. I would suggest checking the census for the years your ancestors would have worked there – the census will have listed all the people in the house on the day it was done. Thats your best bet. It will also give their occupations in the house. Good luck!
I only have a maid named ‘Biddie’ who travelled with the family and who died while the family were staying in Germany. She is named in the book – however there is really no mention of other staff by name or what they did. I will check through the book for you anyway.
I have just begun reading “Sixty Years’ Experience as an Irish Landlord — Memoirs of John Hamilton, D.L. of St. Ernan’s Donegal” published by Digby, Long & Co. There is no publication date and the Introduction by Rev. H.C. White, B.A. is likewise undated. I have a photocopy, and the original is in the hands of one of my cousins, Gary Spencer. The book was given to “Fred H. Courbarron from his loving sister, Helen” and the inscription is dated “Feb. 1894.” Fred was my great-grandfather and the son of Mary Hamilton. If I find anything relating to staff, etc. I will post it.
Thank you!