Background
Author: Nev. Ramsden
The Hamilton family of Whitehaven
There is one common spelling variation for the Hamilton family - that is Hambleton. Both names are used in the Whitehaven registers
In common with many of the early Whitehaven merchant families the Hamiltons were inclined to the non-conformist religions, thus making attempts at their family history difficult. Where are the records for these Hamilton families during the period 1670 to 1700? There is evidence to show that at least one Whitehaven family had connections with Ireland.
It is quite likely that John Hamilton born circa 1615 and Thomas Hamilton born circa 1600 were both members of the same Hamilton family.
"In early 1673 a Thomas Addison succeeded George Williamson in what Thomas Tickell (who had an eye on the job for himself) regarded as Williamson's most profitable appointment, Receiver for the Hearth Tax for Cumberland and Westmorland. He began to purchase collieries in and around Moresby in 1674. He married as his first wife the daughter of David Hamilton, and William Kirkby, Surveyor of the coast of Cumberland and Lancashire stood as godfather to their first child. Thomas Addisons brother Henry was a customs waiter and a third brother John settled in Maryland in 1677 and from there freighted tobacco to Whitehaven."
"Thomas Addison had owned a malt making business since at least 1666, when the court book records Addison and his father-in-law, David Hamilton, frequently suing tenants at the court for arrears of payment for malt. Addison was also the local agent of the excise farmers and was able to coerce local innkeepers into buying his product “...and the great motive to oblige them is that he clears their excise for this rate, otherwise they are hourly troubled by their tormenting guagers and terrified with great fines.""
Snippets taken from:- Sir John Lowther and Whitehaven, 1642-1706, The Relations of a Landlord with his Estate. by Christine Churches, 1990
Whilst David Hamilton senior, the son of Thomas Hamilton, was a very successful business man in Whitehaven he was unsuccessful in having children that survived their childhood. Therefore his business interests devolved via his daughter Isabell(a) to her husband Thomas Addison.
David Hamilton junior is a mystery; was he the son of David senior, or some other member of the Hamilton clan? He had five children in Whitehaven, three sons & one daughter - then disappeared from view. David snr. had at least two wives, the first known, Ann who died in 1635, could have been the mother of David jnr., the second wife Ellenor bore all for of his known children, and there were no survivors other then Isabell(a).
There was a second Hamilton family in Whitehaven originating with a John Hamilton who was born circa 1615. This family also had Merchant members, but their other occupations were as Mariners and Doctors. The last male member of this group was the soldier Anthony Hamilton who eventually died back home in Whitehaven in 1830.