Alexander P Hamilton b abt 1832 in Spain or South Carolina

Question

Alexander P Hamilton was my 2nd great grandfather and is my brick wall. 

It seems when he was living  he reported himself as being born in Spain, later his children report him as being born in South Carolina.   The earliest record I have of him is the 1855 NYS Census, living in Brooklyn and employed as a Ship Carpenter.   His wife was Elizabeth Hentz and they married around 1851.   Haven't been able to locate a marriage certificate.  

(1855) Census(Kings) Born in "Spaine"
(1860) Census(Flushing, Queens) Born in Pennsylvania
(1863) Civil War Draft Born in US
(1863) Civil War Draft Born in New York
(1870) Census(Kings) Born in Spain no records of AH after that
(1880) Census(NYC) AH missing, Elizabeth's status is "married" S. Ellsworth, Charles L Born in South Carolina

Information from wife Elizabeth
(1927) Death Cert(Elizabeth Hamilton) -  Name is Alexander Hamilton

Information from daughter Charlotte
(1871) Marriage Cert (Charlotte Hamilton and Henry Smith): Name is Alexander Hamilton
(1880) Census(Cincinnati, OH) - Born in Spain
(1900) Census(Brookville, Indiana) - Born in South Carolina
(1910) Census(Hamilton,Ohio) - Born in Spain
(1920) Census(Hamilton,OH) - Born in South Carolina
(1930) Census(Hamilton,Ohio) - Born in Spain

Information from son Frank L.

(1879) Marriage Cert (Frank L Hamilton and Ada A. Baker) -  Name is Alexander T
(1880) Census(NYC) - all born in England
(1900) Census(NYC) - Born in Germany
(1910) Census(NYC) - Born in NY
(1942) Death Cert(Frank L Hamilton) -  Name is Alexander Hamilton, born in US

Information from son Elmer

(1889)  Marriage Cert (Elmer Hamilton and Matilda Graef) -  Name is Alexander Hamilton
(1900) Census(NYC) - Born in South Carolina
(1910) Census(NYC) - Born in South Carolina
(1920) Census(NYC) - Born in South Carolina
(1922) Death Cert(Elmer Ellsworth Hamilton) - Born in US

Here is my tree on Ancestry:
http://person.ancestry.com/tree/71016325/person/40230705477/

Any help would be appreciated. 

Answer 1

Interesting in looking at his 1870 census: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-DC3Q-75S?i=1625&wc=92V2-C6D%3A518819101%2C518819102%2C519739101%3Fcc%3D1438024&cc=1438024  it appears that Spain was written in after the original census in a different handwriting.  Before that, it as a ditto mark.

In the 1860 census, that says he was b in Pennsylvania, there is a Horace(?) Hamilton on the same page born in New York.  https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9BSC-322?i=51&wc=QZ2C-P95%3A1589422212%2C1589432445%2C1589432506%3Fcc%3D1473181&cc=1473181

It is a mystery. . .