Thomas Hamilton I
- Our
First Scotsman
Thomas HAMILTON I was born in Scotland in 1725, arriving by ship,
probably in New York. While it is difficult to trace, somewhere he met and
married Jane McCRACKEN, and they had four children, Elizabeth, James, Thomas
II, and Robert.
We can best learn about Thomas Hamilton I travels from the Revolutionary War
Pension Application #S 32301 made by his son Thomas Hamilton II many
years later.
Sumner County
State of Tennessee
(August term of the County Court
for said County 1832)
On this the 15th day of August 1832
personally appeared in open Court before the Justices of the said Court for
the County of Sumner now sitting Thomas Hamilton a resident of said County of
Sumner and State of Tennessee aged seventy the 24th day of December 1832 who
being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following
Declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the Act of Congress passed June
7th 1832 -
That he was born in the state of New
Jersey, Sussex County in 1762 - that he has no record of his age - it was
destroyed while travelling to this country -
That he was removed from the state of
Pennsylvania to the county of Guilford in the state of North Carolina when
quite an infant by his parents and remained in that County until sometime in
the month of August 1780 when he became subject to military duty -
He was placed on the muster roll and
was attached to the company commanded by Capt. Arthur Forbus - the company
commanded by Capt. Forbus at the requirement of the government volunteered to
perform a tour of duty for the term of three months. They rendouvyed
(sic) and were mustered into the service under Col. John Paisley at Guilford
Court House in the state of North Carolina, and then marched to the south and
joined General Davidson's army at a place called Blackjack Camps; from that
were detached off on duty, and marched from place to place for some months as
a scavaging (sic) party until they were reunited to the army in South Carolina
- at this time the company to which he was attached was commanded by Capt.
James Wilson - a call having been made for volunteers. Applicant in
company with William Gamble and Hugh McCrory and others to reenforce (sic)
Col. Davie's troup of horse, and marched to Col. Davie's Camp on the Calaughby
River from whence they marched back to headquarters at New Providence where he
was regularly discharged from the army.
On his return to his residence in
North Carolina he volunteered and joined Capt. David Gillespie's company of
mounted dragoons - during this service he acted as a spy and pilot in
different places through the counties of Guilford and Orange until the 14 day
of March 1781 when Capt. John Paisley with his command marched to the place
where the battle of Guilford was fought - on that day he was on guard and
ordered to that post by Gen. Greene himself in person - after the battle of
Guilford, Capt. Gillespie's by the command of Col. Paisley reconnoitered
through the counties of Chatham, Randolph etc. in order to suppress the spirit
of disaffection that prevailed in those counties and in pursuit of Col. Fannon
one of the most troublesome officers belonging to the enemy until the year
1781 when he was ordered out under Gen. Rutherford marched in the direction of
Wilmington and intercepted the enemy at Raft Swamps and forced them to retreat
into Wilmington. From whence he returned to his place of his residence
in the county of Guilford and stood in readiness until the next call which was
made in March 1782 - He then volunteered under Col. Edward Gwin to take a rout
(sic) after Col. Fannon and drove him from the country - He acted as a spy
under Col. William Washington. He entered the service of the United
colonies in August 1780 and remained with little or no interruption from that
time til the year 1782 - Gen. Morgan, Col. Harry Lee, Col. Billy Washington,
Gen. Billy Smallwood, and Col. Gwin regular officers in the Revolution - He
received a discharge from Capt. Arthur Forbus for the first term of service
which has been lost or mislaid - he states the names of Peter Ketring and
Thomas Clendening who can testify as to his character for veracity and their
belief of his services of the Revolution -
He hereby relinquishes every claim
whatever to a pension or security except the present, and declares that his
name is not on the roll of the aging in any state.
Sworn and subscribed to
Thomas "X" Hamilton
The pension was granted (Certificate 13723) in Tennessee to commence on March 4,
1832, but was issued on June 7 1833, at the rate of $45 per annum. The
pension was transferred to Illinois from September 4, 1836 to December 19, 1836.
Also noted in the file is that he died February 14, 1841.
It is not certain when Thomas Hamilton I left North Carolina but looking at the
birth dates of his grandchildren gives us a clue. His oldest son James had 10
children and between the births of his third child Elizabeth Hamilton on
December 27, 1786 in North Carolina, and Thomas Hamilton on April 10, 1789 in
Sumner County, he left North Carolina. His second son Thomas HAMILTON II
had 11 children and all were born in Sumner County, Tennessee starting in 1784.
His third son Robert had 6 children and all were born in Sumner County starting
in 1792. If I were to hazard a guess, I would think that Thomas Sr. left North
Carolina with at least his two youngest sons (and wives?) before 1783, with the
older brother James leaving in 1787/88, and Elizabeth and her husband moving
also.
His son Thomas HAMILTON II was born in New Jersey and died in Gallatin
County, Illinois.
We have a copy of his will dated one day before he died:
In the name of God Amen
Thomas Hamilton of the State of Illinois
and county of Gallatin being in a low state of health but in sound mind and
memory believing that God is about to remove me from time to eternity do make
this my Last Will and Testament to wit.
Article the First I give and bequeath my
soul to God who gave it.
Article the Second I give and bequeath
my forty acres of land where I now reside to my daughters Ann Hamilton and
Patsy Hamilton and also I give and bequeath to my daughter Patsy Hamilton my
bay mare. I give and bequeath to my daughter Patsy one brown cow and one Pidy (sic)
cow and calf and I give and bequeath to my daughter Ann the oldest of my
speckled cows and I give and bequeath to my son Andrew Jackson the youngest
one of my speckled cows. I give and bequeath to my son Andrew Jackson all any
claim of the blacksmith tools and also one steer and I give and bequeath to my
son Thomas Hamilton two steers one White and the other Black and also I give
and bequeath to my son Jackson and my two daughters Ann and Patsy all my hogs
to be equally divided also I give and bequeath to my son Andrew Jackson
Hamilton my wagon and also all of my pork and corn to be for the benefit of my
family that now reside with me. I give and bequeath to my Grandaughter
Elizabeth Marshal one feather bed and I give and bequeath to my grandaughter
Polly Hamilton one feather bed and I also give and bequeath to my daughter
Elizabeth Pearson one dollar to give and bequeath to my daughter Nancy Pankey
one dollar and I give and bequeath to my daughter Eupha Hayes one dollar and I
give and bequeath to my son Brown Hamilton one dollar. I give and bequeath to
my son William Hamilton one dollar. I give and bequeath to my daughter Jane
Webb one dollar.
In Witness there of I do cause my name
to be set this 13th day of February 1841.
Thomas Hamilton
Witness Andrew Jackson Hamilton, Edward
Hamilton
Proven approved and recorded this 20th
day of February 1841 before me.
Leo White P.J.
Hamilton Index
