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William S. Hamilton (1804 - 1885)

William S. [uncertain] Hamilton
Born in Blount, Tennesseemap
Ancestors ancestors
Husband of — married 29 Feb 1828 in Livingston County, Kentuckymap
Husband of — married 9 Jul 1863 in Perry, Illinois, United Statesmap
Descendants descendants
Died at age 81 in Ellsworth, Pierce, Wisconsin, United Statesmap
Problems/Questions Profile managers: Jared Stiffler private message [send private message] and Melanie Armstrong private message [send private message]
Profile last modified | Created 19 Aug 2012
This page has been accessed 1,126 times.

Contents

Birth

William S. Hamilton was born on 10 May 1804 in Blount, Tennessee, son of John J. Hamilton (~1783 - ~1847) and Elizabeth Susan (Baugher) Hamilton (~1787 - ~1810).

Siblings

Marriage

1st Wife

William (23) married Nancy Armstrong (~19) (~1808 - ~1847) on 29 Feb 1828 in Livingston County, Kentucky.

Children

2nd Wife

William (59) married Sophia Jacobs (~27) (1836 - ~1876) on 9 Jul 1863 in Perry, Illinois, United States.

Death

William died on 4 Jun 1885 in Ellsworth, Pierce, Wisconsin, United States aged 81.

Life Sketch

William S. Hamilton[1][2] was born in 1804, in Tennessee.[3][4] The first record we have for William is his marriage to Nancy Armstrong in 1828, Livingston county Kentucky.[5] They were married on Leap day, February 29. Nancy's mother signed permission on the back of the marriage record. Together William and Nancy raised a large family. First in Kentucky, and later in Southern Illinois (after 1838). Their children were born in both locations. William is located in census records in 1830[6], 1840[7], and 1850[8]. In 1850, the first year census records contain information on names of entire household, wife Nancy is missing. There is no further record of Nancy. She likely passed prior to 1850.

In 1860 William can not be found in the Federal census. By now, his children are adult and either starting families of their own, or working as domestic servants and Farm laborers in other family units living in Illinois.

We find record of William again in the Civil War. He served with the 31st Illinois Infantry Regiment, along side his son Aquilla. Family lore (and other Internet sources) indicate he lied about his age to be young enough to join. The regiment took part in the battle of Belmont (with future General Grant commanding) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Belmont before again facing battle at Fort Donelson https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Fort_Donelson However this battle proved costly to the Illinois 31st, losing 260 men killed or wounded. Among the wounded was William's son Aquilla, who lost his arm as a result. William was discharged after the Battle of Fort Donelson for medical reasons and concluded his military campaign.

On July 11, 1863, Perry county Illinois there is marriage for a William Hamilton and Sophia Jacoby (sic).[9] The very next entry in the records is for a marriage between Bazil Jacobs and Nancy A Hamilton[10] which took place July 5 1863. Bazil and Sophia are siblings. Nancy A Hamilton is William (1804)’s daughter. It is quite possible this William Hamilton married to Sophia Jacobs is William (1804) with a second wife after being discharged from the Civil War. The couple appear in the 1870 census[11] neighbors to Bazil and Nancy A Jacobs. Bazil and Sophia's brother John is also a nearby neighbor. There is a ten year difference in age in the 1870 census record for William. The birth year in the 1870 census is 1815 whereas the birth year for this profile is 1804. However we do have knowledge that William had lied about his age in order to Join the Union in the Civil War so the discrepancy could be because of this reason.

The 1870 census also lists a William Harmon in the household of William and Sophia. He is son to Martha Hamilton and John Harmon. Martha Hamilton is likely a half-sister to William. There are 2 records in the 1850 census that could both be her. One in the household of Adam Foster and Matilda (Hamilton) Foster in Perry 1850, and the other in the household of William R. Costellno and Margaret (Hamilton) Costellno in Jackson county (who are neighbors to the Harmon family). Both entries have the same name and birth location but there is 1 year difference between them. Matilda Foster and Margaret Costellno are likely half-sisters to William as well. Matilda is buried near Woods L Hamilton’s family plot in Pinckneyville, along with Adam Foster.

The 1865 Illinois State census (Perry county)[12] has a record for William Hamilton neighbor to Aquilla Hamilton and John Jacobs. William's household contains one male aged 60-70 and one female aged 30-40. Because all of William's children had left home by then it is likely this is William and Sophia.

In 1876 William's daughter Nancy died in a buggy accident. He then moved to Wisconsin where several of his sons had moved in years prior. Sophia is not with him in Wisconsin. It is possible she also passed in 1876. The couple of William and Sophia can't be found in the 1880 census for Perry Illinois.

We don't find record of William again until his death in 1885.[13]

Research Notes

The FamilySearch profile[14] for William lists Benjamin Hamilton Jr and Nancy Wallace of Ripley county Indiana, as his parents. Benjamin and Nancy aren't listed as parents for this profile. There are no sources to validate the claim.

Benjamin and Nancy Wallace did have a son named William H. Hamilton, but he was born in 1794 and had a different family (wife's name Elizabeth McDonald) and they were living in Indiana in 1850, the same year as William of this profile is in Jackson county Illinois. It is possible that there could be two different Williams from the same set of parents but it seems doubtful unless other sources for this claim exist to corroborate it.

William’s sons John and Samuel married individuals (Mary Huddleston and Sarah Junkman) who were both from Ripley county. It is a curious connection as John's marriage is in the 1850's but Samuel's is in the 1870s. Both were married in Pierce county Wisconsin. There is no public evidence these families had any contact prior to Wisconsin.

An alternative ancestry for William has been provided by a tree made by Leona Hamilton[15], who is a grand daughter to William's oldest son John Lapley Hamilton. This tree suggests William's parents are JJ Hamilton and Susan Baugher. It also lists several siblings for William, and a 2nd wife for JJ with the name Ann Lisenpay.

This theory is supported by primary source documentation. Many of the siblings for William can be found in the record, living close by William Hamilton and/or associated families that all moved from Western Kentucky to Southern Illinois in the early 1800's. Also there is record of marriage in Blount county Tennessee for John Hamilton and Elizabeth Baugher. Additionally, Elizabeth had many siblings, 2 of which married sons of Samuel Cunningham Woodside. The Woodside family descending from Samuel is one of the associated families that moved with the Hamilton's to Southern Illinois.

The following illustrates the close connections these families had on their arrival in Southern Illinois [16]

"In persuence of an order of the presbytary of Kaskaskia directed by Rev'd Cyrus Riggs the with Rev'd CC Riggs to assist him attended on the twenty ninth day of June AD 1844 at the Four Mile Pairie and considered it expedient to organize A Presbyterian church wher upon A discourse being delivered the following persons presented certificates Vis William Hamilton Nancy Hamilton Mary Kimzey Jane Brown Ann Hamilton and Julina Woodside and Woods L. Hamilton & the following being received on examination Vis John Hamilton Polly Matilda Foster James C. Kimzey Nancy J Hamilton & Jane Kimzey all united in the church relation by assenting to and signing the following covenant vis"..."

The first church elders for Galum Presbyterian were John Hamilton and William Hamilton. They are likely William (1804) and his father John. The "Ann Hamilton" in the above transcript is likely John's 2nd spouse. Polly Matilda (Hamilton) Foster is likely a daughter to John and Ann.

The 1810 Livingston federal census[17] shows several Hamilton households that are probably all brothers and neighbors to 2 Woodside families (Samuel and Robert). They are Patrick, Anthony L, David L, John, and William Hamilton. One page over is Woods M Hamilton. Another likely brother. Anthony was married to Elizabeth Woodside, daughter of Samuel Cunningham Woodside who appears on the same 1810 census page. The John Hamilton household does not list a wife or children, but is the right age to be William's father. It is possible John moved from Blount Tennessee to Livingston Kentucky ahead of his family.

Patrick Hamilton has a find a grave memorial[18] with information about him. He was married to Esther Unknown, and she is no longer in Patrick's household as of 1810. The Find a Grave memorial also lists Anthony L Hamilton as a brother to Patrick, and both as sons to a William Hamilton (1750-1800). Nancy F. (Hamilton) Woodside is listed as daughter to Patrick and Esther. Nancy's marriage[19] was signed by John Hamilton (likely this profile's father) as Patrick passed prior to her marriage.

Woods M. Hamilton indicates he was the youngest male in a family with 8 older brothers and one younger sister in a biography he wrote before he died.[20] This biography associates Woods with 8 male siblings, one named Patrick who had ties to Southern Illinois. In addition it indicates his family moved from Virginia around 1790 to Sevier and Blount Tennessee and then Livingston county around 1800. Also of interest, Woods' father died when the family first arrived in the county, and his mother about 4 years later. Likely suspects for father to Woods are William 1750-1800 and wife Elizabeth Unknown (not Elizabeth Hubbard who married a different William Hamilton who died in 1811). His biography indicates both parents died shortly after arrival to Livingston. William and Elizabeth Hamilton are the only Hamilton couple that is known to have both husband and wife die close to 1800 in Livingston county. There is also a Livingston county tax record for an Eliza Hamilton in 1801 and 1804. This is consistent with the narrative provided in the Woods Hamilton biography, as it indicates a woman as head of household.

The 1820 census[21] records for Livingston county indicate only 3 Hamilton households present. Jno (Johnathan), Wilo (possibly Willy), and Anthony L.:

Jno has several children of the right age for one to be William(1804) and is the right age to be the same John Hamilton from the 1810 census. Wilo has no children or spouse and is too young to be the same William Hamilton from the 1810 census. There is a marriage record for a William Hamilton married to Sarah Moore[22] in 1821 that is possibly for this William. There are a couple of trees on Ancestry that have him as the son of Patrick Hamilton. He lived past the 1880 census, where parent POB is included in the data. It indicates his father was born in South Carolina and mother in Tennessee.

Jno is neighbor to Alex (Alexander) Armstrong, who is the father of Nancy Armstrong, who married William Hamilton only 8 years later. Additionally, William's brother Samuel B. Hamilton married Ann Armstrong, sister to Nancy, in 1829. The close proximity of these two families and intermarriages between them indicate a strong possibility that John Hamilton is the correct father for William and Samuel. William's POB as Blount county Tennessee also corroborates this theory.

There are two John Hamilton's in the area. One aged 70-80 who was married to Martha Armstrong (William's father in-law's sister) in Caldwell county, and the one aged 30-40 neighbor to Alexander Armstrong in Livingston county.

The John Hamilton married to Martha Armstrong is possibly related to William (1750-1800). Tax records for 1800 Livingston show 4 Hamilton's paying taxes in the county: William Sr, William Jr, Elliot, and John. This is before the formation of Caldwell county. The John Hamilton in this tax record has a spouse named Mary, and he died around 1806-7. He was a third John Hamilton in this area. He is also possibly related to this Hamilton family. There is a Power of Attorney agreement between this John Hamilton and Elliott Hamilton in 1806.

The short biography from Woods M Hamilton indicates the likely possibility that this line of Hamilton's immigrated from Virginia through Sevier and Blount county Tennessee before arriving in Western Kentucky. The most likely county in Virginia for this family is Augusta county.

On Going Research

There are two land grants in White County Illinois for a William Stevisen Hamilton.[23] Their date of survey is 1836-7 but both were conveyed in July of 1838. There is record for the sale of these land grants in 1839 by William S. Hamilton and wife Sarah S.[24] There is also record of William S. Hamilton and wife Sarah S. selling land in 1847 Perry County Illinois.[25]

The possibility these records are for this William Hamilton would have ramifications for the understanding of his children. If they are for this profile, it would indicate William's first spouse Nancy Armstrong likely passed prior to 1839. Children born after this date to William (using the 1850 Census for reference) could possibly indicate a different mother than Nancy.

The possibility that this profile does not have the middle initial "S" is also a consideration. There are several land deeds in Perry county for a William S. Hamilton, but also several where there is no middle initial. In addition, there appears to be a William "L" Hamilton "Clerk of Session" in 1844, found in the early Galum Presbyterian Church records.[26] The source is a typed reproduction, and it is possible it is not accurate. The original record would be necessary to confirm it isn't a miss-transcription.

It should be noted that William's son Samuel lists his mother's name as "Nancy" on his marriage license, and Nancy Armstrong is listed as the name of his mother on his death certificate. Samuel was born in 1841. It is unlikely (but possible) that Samuel had in accurate information about his mother's identity.

The third possibility is that there were two William S. Hamiltons who were contemporary in Southern Illinois (and very likely cousins).

Other Hamilton residents of White and neighboring Wayne county Illionois in the early-mid 1800s are likely brothers to the father of this profile. They include Woods M, Anthony L, and Mordecai Hamilton. Whether one of them are the parents to a William S. Hamilton who is cousin to this profile (with the same name) is an important line of research.


Sources

  1. https://archive.org/details/1840-1830census/page/39/mode/2up?q=Hamilton
  2. https://www.ancestrylibrary.com/imageviewer/collections/9048/images/007654155_00201?pId=1317893
  3. Pension document listing POB as Blount county Tennessee https://www.ancestry.com/mediaui-viewer/tree/89489294/person/78008030153/media/45c3177b-738d-4be0-951b-3ed76a685cd6
  4. Obituary, Ellsworth Wisconsin "DIED-In the town of Ellsworth, June 4, 1885, William Hamilton, father of John, Jasper and Samuel Hamilton, aged 81 years and 24 days. The deceased was born in Tennessee, May 10, 1804. He lived there until 1838, when he moved to Illinois. In 1876 he came to Ellsworth where he has since resided with his sons. The funeral was held last Friday at 10 o'clock, after which the remains were interred in the Town Cemetery."
  5. "Kentucky Marriages, 1785-1979", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F44P-LZT : 11 May 2022), Wm. Hamilton, 1828.
  6. "United States Census, 1830," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHP1-QBG : 20 February 2021), William Hamilton, Salem, Livingston, Kentucky, United States; citing 3, NARA microfilm publication M19, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 39; FHL microfilm 7,818. William shown neighbor to James Thompson. Williams son Aquilla married his daughter Jane
  7. "United States Census, 1840," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHBD-XCW : 2 March 2021), Wm Hamilton, Perry, Illinois, United States; citing p. 73, NARA microfilm publication , (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll ; FHL microfilm . William shown neighbor to Woodside's and Armstrong's in Perry county Illinois
  8. "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M85B-V42 : 20 December 2020), William Hamilton, Jackson, Illinois, United States; citing family , NARA microfilm publication (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.). William with family in 1850. Wife Nancy not present.
  9. William Hamilton and Sophia Jacoby (sic) marriage https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C9BG-W35Q-T?i=544&cc=1803970&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AQ28Z-GRKB
  10. Nancy A and Josiah Bazil Jacobs marriage https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C9BG-W35S-3?i=545&cc=1803970
  11. 1870 Census record neighbor to daughter Nancy Armilda "United States Census, 1870", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M6H5-47H : 29 May 2021), Wm Hamilton, 1870
  12. 1865 Illinois state census https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939V-R9CR-S?i=19&wc=M8D2-CJM%3A146061001%2C146096201&cc=1803971
  13. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/40158957/william-hamilton
  14. https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/K87Q-4RS
  15. Image on profile for John J Hamiltonhttps://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Hamilton-30107
  16. https://www.ancestry.com/mediaui-viewer/tree/79136806/person/42397894726/media/25a33b32-5a1d-47d0-9a1d-ddf8c2ae8b18?_phsrc=hJl324&_phstart=successSource (from a historical history of Pinckneyville on a page titled Galum Presbyterian Church)
  17. United States Census, 1810," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XH2P-HL9 : accessed 21 January 2022), Patrick Hamilton, Smithland, Livingston, Kentucky, United States; citing p. 158, NARA microfilm publication M252 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 7; FHL microfilm 181,352.
  18. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/97282446/patrick-hamilton
  19. Nancy F Hamilton marriage certificate John Hamilton signed for https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C9B2-G7CL-J?cc=1804888
  20. Biography for Woods M Hamilton http://www.cumberland.org/hfcpc/minister/HamiltonWoodsMcCowan.htm
  21. United States Census, 1820," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHGC-9KF : accessed 21 January 2022), Jno Hamilton, Salem, Livingston, Kentucky, United States; citing p. , NARA microfilm publication , (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll ; FHL microfilm .
  22. https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/43283:2089?_phsrc=hJl587&_phstart=successSource&gsfn=William&gsln=Hamilton&ml_rpos=1&queryId=db77644d57f5b08bfc1ef4c2f1b2f0a5
  23. Webpage: "Illinois Public Domain Land Tract Sales Database Illinois State Archives" https://apps.ilsos.gov/isa/landSalesSearch.do (Note middle name "Stevison" clearly written on original documents)
  24. William S Hamilton and Sarah S (wife) 1839, bk C pg 621 https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSTM-37CN-K?i=357&cat=232345
  25. 1847 Perry county Illinois Deed book C, pg. 640-1 https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSLR-SYQT?i=304&cat=231567
  26. "Galum Presbyterian Church, 1844-1934" pg. 6 "Clerks of Session" Website: https://archive.org/details/galum_presbyterian_church/page/n5/mode/2up?q=Hamilton&view=theater
  • William Craig and others to William S. Hamilton, Perry county Deed book C, pg 638 https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSLR-SY2S?i=303&cat=231567 Also on same page, From Andrew Dickinson, real estate agent, William S. Hamilton bidding 20$ at public auction for land of Alexander Craig's estate. Presley P. Hamilton (son of Woods M Hamilton) Guardian for minor children.
  • Source: Gadbury, Robin, E-mail correspondence with Melanie Armstrong. Privately held by Armstrong, [(E-ADDRESS) FOR PRIVATE USE,] Robin Gadbury [(E-ADDRESS) FOR PRIVATE USE,] to Melanie Armstrong, e-mail<; privately held by Armstrong, [(E-ADDRESS) FOR PRIVATE USE

*Source: WikiTree, E-mail correspondence with Melanie Armstrong. Privately held by Armstrong, [(E-ADDRESS) FOR PRIVATE USE,] WikiTree [(E-ADDRESS) FOR PRIVATE USE,] to Melanie Armstrong, e-mail<; privately held by Armstrong, [(E-ADDRESS) FOR PRIVATE USE,].

Acknowledgements

  • WikiTree profile Hamilton-3317 created through the import of armstrong.ged on Aug 18, 2012 by Melanie Armstrong. See the Changes page for the details of edits by Melanie and others.




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It may be possible to confirm family relationships with William by comparing test results with other carriers of his Y-chromosome or his mother's mitochondrial DNA. However, there are no known yDNA or mtDNA test-takers in his direct paternal or maternal line. It is likely that these autosomal DNA test-takers will share some percentage of DNA with William:

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Hamilton-28498 and Hamilton-3317 appear to represent the same person because: The updated birth and death dates/locations come from William’s obituary
posted by Jared Stiffler

H  >  Hamilton  >  William S. Hamilton