Thomas Hamilton I (abt. 1705 - 1763)

Born about 1705 in Province of Massachusetts Bay

Ancestors

Husband of Jane (McCraken) Hamilton — married 16 Oct 1735 in Edgartown, Dukes, Massachusetts Bay Colony

Descendants

Died 4 Mar 1763 at about age 58 in Tolland, Hampden, Province of Massachusetts Bay

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Biography

Thomas was born about 1705 and he died on March 4, 1763, in Tolland, Massachusetts.^[1]

He was the son of James Hamilton (1670-1735) and Rebecca Stewart (1681-1759).

He married Jane McLean on October 16,1735, in Edgartown, Massachusetts.

Children include:
John Hamilton 1736-1790
Thomas Hamilton 1740-1820
Henry Hamilton 1743-1817
James Hamilton 1744-1824
Samuel Hamilton 1749-1776
Sarah Hamilton 1768-1768
Robert Hamilton, d. 1824

Thomas Hamilton was an early settler of Tolland, believed to have built the first house on West Granville Road in Tolland. It was the first house on the south side of the road, a Colonial two-story type with several barns.

Thomas Hamilton was a Weaver by trade. He sold his land in Martha's Vineyard and left there about 1737-38 and settled in that part of Granville, Mass which in 1810 was incorporated as the town of Tolland, was living in Tolland as early as 1754. He died there in 1763 and was buried in the private Hamilton cemetery on land owned by members of that family in the eastern part of the town where they settled and built their homes. This now is on the main road leading east and west Route 57 from West Granville to Tolland Center. It is stated the Hamilton's were large land owners……There were three houses not far apart in 1857 the one farther east was occupied by Daniel Hamilton. Jonathan a short distance west and James a little farther west. The cemetery was on the south side of the highway and on the property owned by James Hamilton. Most of these houses went down before 1900. (Per Handwritten Material from Granville Historical Library)

Burial

Inscription:
Here lies the body of Mr. Thomas Hamilton who died March ye 4, 1763 in the 66th year of his age. 'Behold and see as you pass by, As you are now so once was I. As I are now so must you be, Prepair for death & follow me."

Gravesite Details:
1763 Thomas Hamilton is earliest marker in Hamilton Burial Ground. Only Ten stones remain. There were about 75 stones, but many were carted away to build a wall around a house on the property.

Sources

1. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/152948652/thomas-hamilton: accessed April 9, 2024), memorial page for Thomas Hamilton (1705–4 Mar 1763), Find a Grave Memorial ID 152948652, citing Hamilton Cemetery, Tolland Center, Hampden County, Massachusetts, USA; Maintained by George Harger (contributor 46996937).

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