George Hamilton of Greenlaw and Roscrea

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The Honourable Sir
George Hamilton
Diedbetween 1631 and 1657
Spouses
  • 1. Isobel Leslie
  • 2. Mary Butler
ChildrenJames
Parents

Sir George Hamilton of Greenlaw and Roscrea (died between 1631 and 1657) was an undertaker in the Plantation of Ulster. Born and bred in Scotland, by 1611 he had moved to Ireland with his Scottish wife to occupy his plantation grant. In 1630 he married his second wife and moved to Roscrea in southern Ireland, which his father-in-law, Walter Butler, 11th Earl of Ormond, leased to him in lieu of dowry.

Thomas Carte (1736) in his Life of James Duke of Ormonde confused Hamilton with his nephew Sir George Hamilton, 1st Baronet of Donalong, leading to the belief that Mary Hamilton, the duke's sister and mother of Antoine Hamilton, the author of the Mémoires du Comte de Grammont, stayed at Roscrea when it was captured by Owen Roe O'Neill in 1646 during the Irish Confederate Wars.

Family tree
George Hamilton with his two wives, his parents, his homonymous nephew with whom he is often confused, and other selected relatives.[a]
James
2nd Earl
c. 1516 – 1575
Châtellerault		Margaret
Douglas		George
Lord Seton
1531–1586
James
3rd Earl
1537–1609		John
1st Marquess
Hamilton
1540–1604		Claud
1st Lord
Paisley
1546–1621		Margaret
Seton
d. 1616
James
1st Earl
Abercorn
1575–1618		Isobel
Leslie		George
of Greenlaw
& Roscrea
d. bef. 1657		Mary
Butler
James
2nd Earl
d. c. 1670		George
Hamilton
1st Baronet
c. 1608 – 1679		Mary
Butler
d. 1680		James
Hamilton
d. 1659
Legend
XXXSubject of
the article		XXXEarls of
Abercorn		XXXEarls of
Arran		XXXMarquesses
of Hamilton

Birth and origins[edit]

George was born between 1575 and 1590,[b] probably at Paisley, Scotland, the fourth son of Claud Hamilton and his wife Margaret Seton. His father was on 24 July 1587 created Lord Paisley.[1][2] His paternal grandfather (died 1575) had been James Hamilton, 2nd Earl of Arran in Scotland and Duke of Châtellerault in France. His father's family descended from Walter FitzGilbert, the founder of the House of Hamilton,[3] who had received the barony of Cadzow from Robert the Bruce in the 14th century.[4]

George's mother was a daughter of George Seton, 7th Lord Seton.[1][5][c] His parents had married in 1574 at Niddry Castle, West Lothian, Scotland.[5][7] Both sides of the family were Scottish, Catholic, and supporters of Mary, Queen of Scots. His father and his father-in-law had both fought for her at Langside in 1568. George was one of six siblings.[citation needed] See James, Claud, and Frederick.[d]

First marriage[edit]

Between 1602 and 1609 Hamilton married Isobel Leslie, his first wife. She was Scottish, the widow of Robert Lundie of Newhall in Fife. Their marriage date is constrained by her first husband's death in October 1602 and a document of 1609 that mentions her as Hamilton's wife.[8][9] Isobel was the second daughter of James Leslie and his first wife, Margaret Lindsay. As her father predeceased her grandfather, Andrew Leslie, 5th Earl of Rothes, her father never succeeded to the earldom but was known by the courtesy title "Master of Rothes". The Leslies were Protestants, but her grandfather fought for the Queen at Langside.[10] Neither of Isobel's marriages produced surviving children.[e]

Plantation of Ulster[edit]

Main article: Plantation of Ulster

The flight of the earls in 1607 cleared the way for the Plantation of Ulster.[13] Like his elder brothers James and Claud, George was an undertaker in the plantation. In 1610 he received a "proportion" of land in the Strabane "precinct",[14] which corresponds to the modern baronies of Strabane Lower and Strabane Upper. His eldest brother, James, 1st Earl of Abercorn, was the chief undertaker in this precinct.[15] By 1611 Hamilton had, according to the Carew Report,[f] moved to Ireland and was living on his Irish lands with his wife and family. The report calls him a knight.[17][18] When his elder brother Claud (of Shawfield) died in 1614,[19] George took, in addition to his own, charge of Claud's proportions Eden (formerly called Teadane) and Killiny.[20][21]

According to Nicholas Pynnar's survey in 1619,[22] Hamilton owned Largie, a middle proportion (1,500 acres), and Derrywoon, a small proportion (1000 acres).[23] Largie lay between the proportions Strabane and Donalong,[24] which belonged to his eldest brother. Hamilton had built a stone house and bawn as well as a village on Largie.[25] The modern villages of Artigarvan and Ballymagorry stand on it. There is a townland called Greenlaw next to Ballymagorry.[26] Derrywoon lay further south on the lower River Derg. Hamilton had built a bawn as well as a village on it. Derrywoon includes the modern Baronscourt estate.[27] Jointly with Sir William Stewart, Hamilton owned a middle proportion called Terremurearth, Tirenemurtagh, or Moynterlemy that had in 1611 belonged to a certain James Hayg.[28]

Second marriage and child[edit]

In 1630 Hamilton married as his second wife, Mary Butler, 6th daughter of Walter Butler, 11th Earl of Ormond.[29][30] The dowry was fixed at £1,800.[30] However, Ormond had difficulties to pay and in 1631 he agreed to let Hamilton enjoy the manor, castle, town, and lands of Roscrea for a duration of 21 years as a part payment of the dowry.[31]

George and Mary had an only surviving child:[32]

  1. James (died 1659), who never married[33][34]

Roscrea attacked[edit]

On 5 June 1646 Owen Roe O'Neil with the Confederate Ulster army defeated the Covenanters under Robert Monro in the Battle of Benburb.[35] O'Neill then marched south to Kilkenny as directed by Rinuccini, the papal nuncio.[36][37] Leinster and Munster were treated as enemy territory.[38] On 17 September 1646, O'Neill attacked and captured Roscrea where Hamilton's family lived. The Ulstermen spared them but put everybody else to the sword.[39][40] On 18 September, Rinuccini overturned the Confederate government in a coup d'état[41] with help of the Ulster Army, which Owen Roe O'Neill had marched to Leinster.[42] O'Neill then menaced Dublin in November 1646.

Death and timeline[edit]

Hamilton died between 1631 and 1657,[31][43] probably in the early or mid 1640s.[44] When O'Neill took Roscrea, Hamilton was therefore probably already dead, otherwise he might have been absent for some reason. He was survived by his son James, who would, however, die unmarried in 1659.[34]

Timeline
As his birth date is uncertain, so are all his ages. Italics for historical background.
Age Date Event
0 Estimated 1582 Born[b]
20–21 24 Mar 1603 Accession of James VI and I, succeeding Elizabeth I[45]
21–22 15 Oct 1604 Sir Arthur Chichester appointed Lord Deputy of Ireland[46]
23–24 Betw. 1602 & 1609 Married Isobel Leslie[47][48]
24–25 4 Sep 1607 Flight of the earls: Hugh O'Neill, Earl of Tyrone, and Rory O'Donnell, Earl of Tyrconnell, left Ireland.[49]
31–32 19 Oct 1614 Elder brother, Claud Hamilton of Shawfield, died.[50]
32–33 2 Jul 1615 Oliver St John, appointed Lord Deputy of Ireland[51]
42–43 27 Mar 1625 Accession of Charles I, succeeding James I[52]
47–48 1630 Married Mary Butler as his 2nd wife[29]
48–49 16 Apr 1631 Was granted Roscrea for 21 years[31]
50–51 18 Feb 1633 Father-in-law, Walter Butler, 11th Earl of Ormond, died.[53]
50–51 3 Jul 1633 Thomas Wentworth, later Earl of Strafford, appointed Lord Deputy of Ireland[54]
58–59 23 Oct 1641 Outbreak of the Rebellion[55]
60–61 13 Nov 1643 James Butler, 1st Marquess of Ormond appointed Lord Lieutenant of Ireland[56]
63–64 5 Jun 1646 Battle of Benburb[57]
63–64 17 Sep 1646 Wife (or widow?) spared at the taking of Roscrea Castle.[58]
63–64 Betw. 1631 & 1657 Probably died in the early or mid 1640s[31][43][44]

Notes and references[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ This family tree is partly derived from the Abercorn pedigree pictured in The Complete Peerage,[59] and from the description of the Abercorn genealogy.[60]
  2. ^ a b Born after his eldest (1575) and before his youngest brother (1590)
  3. ^ Numbered as the 5th Lord Seton by James Balfour Paul.[6]
  4. ^ George's father's article gives a list of all the nine siblings.
  5. ^ According to Lodge (1789) Hamilton married as his first wife Isabella Civico from Bruges in Flanders and had a daughter Margaret.[11] However, Cokayne (1902 explains that Lodge confused George with John, his elder brother, who lived in Flanders and whose daughter Margaret indeed married Sir Archibald Acheson.[12]
  6. ^ A survey made of the progress of the plantation by George Carew, 1st Earl of Totnes, in 1611[16]

Citations[edit]

  1. ^ a b G. E. C. 1910, p. 2. "James Hamilton, Master of Paisley, s. [son] and h. ap. [heir apparent] of Claud (Hamilton), 1st Lord Paisley [S. [Scotland]] by Margaret, da. of George [Seton], 6th Lord Seton [S.] was ..."
  2. ^ Paul 1904, p. 39, line 17. "The Abbey of Paisley was erected into a temporal barony, and he was made a peer of Parliament under the title of Lord Paisley 24 July 1587."
  3. ^ }Chisholm 1910, p. 878, line 9. "... the first authentic ancestor is one Walter FitzGilbert. He first appears in 1294–1295 ..."
  4. ^ Paul 1907, p. 341, line 12. "At a later but uncertain date he received the barony of Cadzow from King Robert ..."
  5. ^ a b Burke & Burke 1915, p. 54, left column, line 69. "He [Claud Hamilton] was b. [born] 1543 and m. [married] 1 Aug. 1574 Margaret, dau. [daughter] of George 5th Lord Seton. She d. [died] before 18 Feb. 1616."
  6. ^ Paul 1904, p. 39, line 24. "He [Lord Paisley] died in 1621, having married ... Margaret, daughter of 5th Lord Seton ..."
  7. ^ Paul 1911, p. 590, line 19. "Margaret, married at Niddry Castle, on 1 August 1574 (contract 15 and 16 June 1574), to Lord Claud Hamilton, fourth and youngest son of James, second Earl of Arran ..."
  8. ^ Paul 1910, p. 296. "4. Isabel, married ... Robert Lundie ... styled of Newhall. He had no issue, and died abroad in October 1602 ... Before 1609 she married, secondly Sir George Hamilton of Greenlaw ..."
  9. ^ Paul 1904, p. 43. "His wife, on 24 February 1609, was Isobel Leslie, who is named as his wife at that date in an edict of executry to her sister Agnes Leslie, both being daughters of James Leslie, master of Rothes."
  10. ^ Hewitt 2004, p. 429. "Rothes fought at the queen's side at Langside ..."
  11. ^ Lodge 1789, p. 110. "Sir George Hamilton of Greenlaw, and Roscrea, in the county of Tipperary, Knt. married first Isabella of the family of Civico of Bruges in Flanders, by whom he had one daughter Margaret, who became the first wife of Sir Archibald Acheson of Gosford, Bart, ancestor to Sir Archibald, Viscount Gosford."
  12. ^ G. E. C. 1902, p. 334. "... Margaret, da. [daughter] and h. [heir] of the Hon. Sir John [not George] Hamilton (2d s. [son] of Claude, 1st Lord Paisley ..."
  13. ^ Moody & Martin 2001, p. 153, line 5. "The flight of the earls' left Ultser leaderless and the government jubilant."
  14. ^ Manning 2001, p. 149, line 17. "... the Hamiltons continued to receive royal favour ... and grants of land in Ulster in 1610."
  15. ^ Brewer & Bullen 1873, p. 77, line 3. "The Precinct of Strabane.—The earl of Abercorn chief undertaker ..."
  16. ^ Dunlop 1904, p. 616. " At the same time [1611], in order to obtain precise information as to the actual state of affairs, instructions were given to Lord Carew to make a personal survey of the plantation."
  17. ^ Hill 1877, p. 527. "Sir George Hamilton, Knight, a proportion of land, resident with his wife and family."
  18. ^ Brewer & Bullen 1873, p. 77, line 18. "1611 ... [line 18] Sir George Hamilton, Knt., a proportion of land, resident with wife and family."
  19. ^ Paul 1904, p. 40."... but he [Claud] died in Dublin 19 October 1614."
  20. ^ Hill 1877, p. 531. "Sir Claude Hamilton, Knt., deceased, left his land in charge with Sir George Hamilton."
  21. ^ Brewer & Bullen 1873, p. 410, line 1. "(127.) Sir Claud Hamilton, dec. [deceased], left this in charge with Sir Geo. Hamilton. Upon this 2000 ac. [acres], called Eden and Killiny, is a bawn of lime and stone ..."
  22. ^ Brewer & Bullen 1873, p. 392. "A brief view and survey made in several places, in the counties within named, between 1 Dec. 1618 and 28 March 1619, by me Nichollas Pynnar, &c., by virtue of a commission under the Great Seal of Ireland, dated 28 Nov. 1618 ..."
  23. ^ Hill 1877, p. 290. "Grant to Sir George Hamilton, Knight, The middle proportion of Largie alias Cloghogenall, and the small proportion of Derriewoon."
  24. ^ Manning 2001, p. 149, line 20. "... Sir George Hamilton of Greenlaw got 12,400 statute acres at Largie between Strabane and Dunalong"
  25. ^ Brewer & Bullen 1873, p. 409, line 33. "(125.) Sir Geo. Hamilton, 1,500 ac. [acres], called Largie, otherwise Cloghogenall."
  26. ^ Hunter 2018, p. [1].
  27. ^ Brewer & Bullen 1873, p. 409, line 42. "(126.) Sir Geo. Hamilton, 1,000 ac. [acres], called Derry Woone."
  28. ^ Brewer & Bullen 1873, p. 410, line 12. "(128.) Sir Geo. Hamilton and Sir Wm. Steward have jointly 1,500 ac. [acres] called Terremurrearth, otherwise Moynterlemy."
  29. ^ a b Burke & Burke 1915, p. 1550, left column, line 84. "6. Mary, m. [married] Sir George Hamilton, of Roscrea."
  30. ^ a b Manning 2001, p. 150, line 20. "The marriage agreement between Hamilton and Walter ... [it] is dated February 14th, 1630 (new style) and in it Walter agreed to pay Hamilton a marriage portion of £1,800."
  31. ^ a b c d Manning 2001, p. 150, line 31. "... in a deed dated April 16th, 1631, [Walter] granted the manor, castle, town, and lands of Roscrea ... for 21 years ..."
  32. ^ Manning 2001, p. 150, line 17. "... Mary, daughter of Walter, 11th earl of Ormond, by whom he had an only son, James, who died without issue in 1659."
  33. ^ Paul 1904, p. 43, line 30. "(i) James, who died unmarried, his will being proved 2 February 1658-9 ..."
  34. ^ a b Manning 2001, p. 150. "... Mary, daughter of Walter, 11th earl of Ormond, by whom he had an only son, James, who died without issue in 1659."
  35. ^ Cusack 1871, p. 317. "... encamped at Benburb. Here, on the 5th of June A.D. 1646 he [Owen Roe O’Neill] won a victory ..."
  36. ^ Hayes-McCoy 1990, p. 197. "He [Owen Roe O'Neill] listened to the nuncio's plea, 'quitted the opportunity of conquest in Ulster' and marched south."
  37. ^ Coffey 1914, p. 178. "Now seemed the time to follow up the victory of Benburb and subdue the whole North of Ireland; but it was not to be for letters from the Nuncio caused O'Neill to withdraw from the North and move South ..."
  38. ^ Coffey 1914, p. 182, line 3. "... the Ulster army quartering in Leinster much injured that province ..."
  39. ^ Sergeant 1913, p. 145, line 21. "For some reason, when the rebel leader Owen O'Neill took Roscrea, Tipperary, the home of the Hamiltons, in September 1646, and put the inhabitants to the sword, he spared Lady Hamilton and her young children—to which act of clemency we owe, incidentally, the Memoirs of Gramont, Anthony then but newly born."
  40. ^ Carte 1851, p. 265. "... after taking Roscrea on Sept. 17, and putting man, woman, and child to the sword, except sir G. Hamilton's lady, sister to the marquis of Ormond ..."
  41. ^ Dunlop 1906, p. 530, line 33. "On September 18 Rinuccini entered Kilkenny in triumph ... It was a most successful coup d'état ..."
  42. ^ Casway 2004, p. 854, left column, line 27. "By the end of August 1646 O'Neill had directed his forces to Kilkenny to support the position of the nuncio ..."
  43. ^ a b Paul 1904, p. 43, line 23. "He died before 1657."
  44. ^ a b Manning 2001, p. 150, line 36. "... died of natural causes in the early to mid 1640s."
  45. ^ Fryde et al. 1986, p. 44, line 1. "James I ... acc. 24 Mar. 1603 ..."
  46. ^ Fryde et al. 1986, p. 168, line 46. "1604, 15 Oct. / 3 Feb. / Sir Arthur Chichester, L.D. [Lord Deputy]"
  47. ^ Paul 1910, p. 296. "4. Isabel, married ... Robert Lundie ... styled of Newhall. He had no issue, and died abroad in October 1602 ... Before 1609 she married, secondly Sir George Hamilton of Greenlaw ..."
  48. ^ Paul 1904, p. 43. "His wife, on 24 February 1609, was Isobel Leslie, who is named as his wife at that date in an edict of executry to her sister Agnes Leslie, both being daughters of James Leslie, master of Rothes."
  49. ^ Clarke & Edwards 1976, p. 195. "… he [Tyrone] joined Tyrconnell and Maguire and their followers at Rathmullan and sailed for the Continent on 4 September 1607."
  50. ^ Paul 1904, p. 40."... but he [Claud] died in Dublin 19 October 1614."
  51. ^ Fryde et al. 1986, p. 168, line 33. "1615, 2 July /30 Aug. /Sir Oliver St John, L.D. [Lord Deputy] (aft. Lord Grandison)"
  52. ^ Fryde et al. 1986, p. 44, line 16. "Charles I. ... acc. 27 Mar. 1625 ..."
  53. ^ Edwards 2004, p. 231, right column, line 57. "He [Walter Butler] died on 18 February 1633 and was buried in the Ormond family tomb in St Canice's cathedral ..."
  54. ^ Fryde et al. 1986, p. 168, penultimate line. "1633, 3 July / 25 July / Thomas Wentworth, viscount Wentworth (e. of Strafford, 1640) L.D. [Lord Deputy]"
  55. ^ Warner 1768, p. 6. "... the twenty-third October [1641] ... seized all the towns, castles, and houses belonging to the Protestants which they had force enough to possess;"
  56. ^ Fryde et al. 1986, p. 169, line 4. "1643, 13 Nov. / 21 Jan. 1644 / James Butler, 1st m. [marquess] of Ormond, L.L. [Lord Lieutenant] (appd by K. Charles I)"
  57. ^ Duffy 2002, p. 114. "When the latter [O'Neill] scored a surprise victory at Benburn, on 5 June 1646, over the Ulster Scots led by General Robert Munro, it seemed that the confederates were in sight of victory ..."
  58. ^ Carte 1851, p. 265. "... after taking Roscrea on Sept. 17 [1646], and putting man, woman, and child to the sword, except sir G. Hamilton's lady, sister to the marquis of Ormond ..."
  59. ^ G. E. C. 1910, p. 4. "Pedigree"
  60. ^ Paul 1904, pp. 37–49. "Abercorn Genealogy"

Sources[edit]

Also: https://archive.org/details/completebaroneta02coka

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