Alexander Hamilton (abt. 1834 - 1911)

Born about 17 Oct 1834 in Camden, New South Wales, Australia [uncertain]

Descendants

Died 10 Apr 1911 at about age 76 in Goulburn, New South Wales, Australia

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Biography

Alexander’s and Lydia’s registrations of several of their children's births, was the subject of some controversy in 1865:^[1]

LOCAL AND PROVINCIAL

GOULBURN QUARTER SESSIONS.

The sittings of this court were continued on Wednesday before Judge Meymott.

MAKING A FALSE REGISTRY.

Alexander Hamilton (on bail) was charged with having, on the 21st June last, at Goulburn, unlawfully and wilfully made a certain false statement to the registrar of births, deaths, and marriages respecting the birth of a child, namely that he had on the 12th March, 1863, been married to Lydia Boyton, whereas he was not so married.

The prisoner pleaded not guilty, and was undefended.

The crown-prosecutor having stated the case, called Selwyn John Pembroke who deposed: I am clerk to Mr. Alexander the registrar of births, deaths, and marriages; the document produced was drawn up by me on the 21st June last from instructions given by defendant; he said the child was born at Spring Valley, on the 27th May, 1865; he said he was married on the 12th March, 1863, at Tarago; he said he had two female children before this; he said his wife's name was Lydia, that her maiden surname was Boyton; he signed his name to the paper.

C. S. Alexander deposed: I am district registrar of birth, deaths, and marriages for the district of Goulburn; when I cam from dinner on the 21st June I saw prisoner in the office with other men; Pembrooke handed me a statement referring to a birth; I said it was all right; prisoner was standing there and heard me say this; the document was furnished for the purpose of informing me of the necessary particulars; I registered the birth in accordance with the document handed me by Pembrooke; the parents marriage is stated to have been at Tarago, on the 12th March, 1863; had such a marriage taken place at Tarago it would in the ordinary course be registered ; there is no entry in the books of any such marriage.

Lydia Watt deposed: I am a married woman; my maiden name was Lydia Winter Boyton; I have been living four years with prisoner; I was confined of a male child on the 27th May; it was afterwards named Alexander; prisoner was its father; prisoner left home on the 21st June for the purpose of having the birth registered; I have not been married to prisoner.

This was the case for the crown.

His Honor referred to the Registry Act, and pointed out that it had not been proved that the form used had been supplied by the registrar general.

Mr. Alexander, recalled, deposed: I received the book produced from the registrar-general; the form produced corresponds with the form in the book supplied by the registrar-general.

The prisoner was found guilty.

Lydia Watt being questioned by his Honor said that she had been married about seven years; her husband had received a sentence of ten years on the roads. His Honor asked both parties if they were willing to marry if they could lawfully do so; and both replied that they were. His Honor said that they had best inquire whether Watt were dead, and if so get married. The prisoner was then sentenced to one month's imprisonment in Goulburn jail.

As at 1866, Alexander is recorded as being a freehold owner at Spring Valley^[2] and it is presumed that Lydia and their children are also at that location. (Spring Valley is a locality south-west of Goulburn, approximately half-way between Tarago Lagoon near the Federal Highway and Springfield to the east.)

Lydia died in 1885, less than six months after the birth of their youngest daughter, Elizabeth. Both Alexander and Lydia are buried at Komungla (Bangalore) General Cemetery although the precise location of their plot is unknown.

Sources

1. ↑ LOCAL AND PROVINCIAL. (1865, September 23). The Goulburn Herald and Chronicle (NSW : 1864 - 1881), p. 4. Retrieved January 13, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article100827287
2. ↑ LIST OF PERSONS (1866, February 10). The Goulburn Herald and Chronicle (NSW : 1864 - 1881), p. 6. Retrieved January 13, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article100870017

• Possible births:

1. NSW BDM 2869/1834 V18342869 45B and 31/1834 V183431 47 to parents Alexander and Catherine
2. NSW BDM birth of HAMILTON, ALEXANDER, reg. no. 943/1842 V1842943 26A, to parents ALEXANDER and CATHERINE

• NSW BDM death 5584/1911 at Goulburn showing father Alexander and no mother's name
• OBITUARY. (1911, April 11). Goulburn Evening Penny Post (NSW : 1881 - 1940), p. 4. Retrieved January 13, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article98812524, mentioning age of 75 years, suggesting birth around 1836
• Find A Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 02 June 2019), memorial page for Alexander Hamilton (1834–10 Apr 1911), Find A Grave Memorial no. 199652953, citing Komungla (Bangalore) General Cemetery, Komungla, Goulburn Mulwaree Council, New South Wales, Australia ; Maintained by Peter Jones (contributor 49245532) Find A Grave: Memorial #199652953

Acknowledgements

• WikiTree profile Hamilton-1940 created through the import of Jones Family - 1 Aug 2011.ged on Jul 31, 2011 by Peter Jones. See the Changes page for the details of edits by Peter and others.