Thomas Lyon Hamilton Sr. (abt. 1859)

Born about Jun 1859 in New York, New York, USA

Ancestors

Descendants

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Biography

The family is recorded twice in the 1900 Census for New York City. Firstly on June 5, 1900 in the borough of Queens, Ward 3, District 0659, the family is recorded living on Ashburton Avenue (now called 39th Avenue in the Bayside neighborhood). Thomas L. Hamilton, born June 1859 in New York of two parents born in Scotland, 40 years old, married 14 years, a builder living in his own home without a mortgage is listed as head of family. Also in the household are his wife Charlotte M., born November 1869 in Massachusetts of a father born in Scotland and a mother born in Massachusetts, 30 years old, married 14 years, and the mother of two children, both living. Children are Thomas L. Jr., born January or June 1889, aged 11, and Catherine L., born August 1889, aged 9 months. Servants listed at this address were: Ida Johnson, waitress, age 25, born in Sweden, Peter W. Brady, coachman, age 28, born in Sweden and Anna Fleet, cook, age 27, born in Sweden.

Just 13 days later, on June 18th, 1900, the family is also recorded in the 1900 Census for Manhattan, New York, district 0210. Here the family is listed as living on West 27th Street. The family data matches that for the record above except in the following particulars: Thomas's occupation is listed as carpenter and builder. Charlotte is listed as the mother of 3 children, with 2 now living, and her mother is recorded as born in Vermont. No middle initials appear for Charlotte or the children. Catherine is recorded as Katherine, and now listed as 10 months old. (So it would appear her birthdate is between August 6th and August 18th, 1889.) The servants included in this household are: Ida Anderson, age 22, born in Sweden, Emma Hansen, age 38, born in Sweden, and Thomas Dugan, a driver, age 23, born in Ireland. The family is listed as living in their own home with a mortgage.

The possible explanations for these two records are that the family either moved home between Jun 5th and 18th in 1900, or that they maintained two separate residences. I find the latter explanation more convincing, based on the two households having different domestic servants.

In the 1905 New York State census, Thomas' household is recorded in Manhattan. At this time only Charlotte and Thomas Lyon Jr. (plus a number of servants) are included in the household. Catherine is not recorded as residing with the family. The household living next door appears to be Thomas Lyon Senior's widow mother Margaret (age 67) and brother, Alexander (age 41). Both Thomas Sr. (age 46) and Alexander are listed as employers following the occupation of "builder." So it would seem likely that the brothers were in business together.

Sources

• 1900 Federal Census for the Borough of Queens, Ward 3, District 0659, in New York City
• 1900 Federal Census for the Borough of Manhattan, district 0210 in New York City
• 1905 New York State census for 11th Election District, Block 11, 9th Assembly District, Borough of Manhattan, New York.