John O Hamilton (1794 - 1883)

Born 25 Aug 1794 in Valley, Armstrong, Pennsylvania, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Hannah (Gregg) Hamilton — married 27 Oct 1817 (to 20 Jan 1835) in Warsaw, Gallatin, Kentucky, United States

Descendants

Died 18 Dec 1883 at age 89 in Sparta, Gallatin, Kentucky, United States

Biography

John O Hamilton came to Ft Washington, where Cincinnati now stands, with his mother in December, 1795. His father John Hamilton Jr ([ Hamilton-5259]) had arrived at Ft. Washington in the spring of 1795 with John O's uncles Edward, David and Samuel. John O's enlistment in the War of 1812 was October 31, 1813 from Bracken County. discharge September 22, 1814. Published reports state "he made several trips to New Orleans on flatboats returning overland and carrying proceeds of his sales (largely in silver) in saddlebags, a long and dangerous journey in those days", and "here (Chatham KY) for a few years he was in general merchandising business".

John O Hamilton came with spouse Hannah (Gregg) and young son Oscar F from Bracken Co Ky to Owen Co KY in 1818. They arrived via barge down the Ohio River from Augusta (Bracken Co KY). John O is said to have stepped of the barge, traveled out into the brush and purchased his first land. This first purchase was near Sparta Owen Co KY on Eagle Creek called the Jump Off. ^[1]

The town of Sparta, which is located 9 miles south of Warsaw on Eagle Creek and KY 35 was once called Brock's Station. It had its origin in the spring of 1801/1802.

The banks of Eagle Creek were peculiarly suitable for the location of grist mills. It is said that more grist mills were located on Eagle Creek in the vicinity of Sparta than on any other stream its length in Kentucky. A man by the name of Burke kept a tavern in "Old Sparta" and here farmers, or traders, who were driving cattle, lambs, hogs or even turkeys to the port at Warsaw stopped for noonday meals or an overnight stay in order to rest their stock. The hospitable home of John O Hamilton was a pleasant resting place and stop over for many drivers.

After a short time John O found his original land purchase very marshy and far too many mosquitos abounded, so he purchased another tract on February 23, 1820 from Moses and Nancy Ray (430 acres, sum of ^[2]$1000) Gallatin County. Original parcel of May Bannister & Company, 22,283 acres location on the banks of Eagle Creek.

This land was on Boone road ^[3] and John O moved his family to the new location (three miles north of Sparta putting him in Gallatin Co KY) and remained on this with additional purchases - until his death n 1883 (his tombstone reads Dec 18). Five additional children were born to John and Hannah.

He transported his crops to Warsaw there they went to New Orleans by rivercraft. Sugar was rare and only served to the land owners, the slaves had molasses for sweetness. This was purchased in New Orleans after selling the tobacco and other grain. The cattle were driven to market on Cincinnati. Written material states John O had slaves and gave each child their personal slave. In research in Gallatin and Owen Co - one "Mortgage Deed" shows John O bought one female slave. Perhaps this statement referred to his father, John Jr as we know he owned slaves and left detailed instructions in his will as to their livelihood.

John O built the family home of bricks mad on the premises. The interior was of Honduras mahogany. A cabinet maker came to live with the family and made many pieces of furniture from the walnut and cherry on the land. A stately secretary was known to be in the home of John and Elizabeth Tompkins- Lexington Ky in 1998.

To ensure his children of a good education he built a school house, always known as the Hamilton School House (perhaps 1/4 or 1/2 mile) east of his farmhouse. The building remained there until the 1980s when it was demolished to make room for I 71. His children and those from adjoining farms received their early "reading and writing" in this building.

John O's wife Hannah [(Gregg-2691)] died in 1835, and in 1840 he married Grace Andrews (a school teacher born in CT). They were married in the First Christian Church Disciples of Christ by the Rev. Benjamin Tiller. Two children were born to this union. At a later date, Sarah Ann (Sallie) Hamilton (dau of John O) married the Rev. H. Wm. Tiller (son of Benjamin). The Rev. H. Wm. Tiller was the minister of the church a few years later. Research does not reveal the middle name of John O, but Oscar and Oliver were common names in the Hamilton family.

John O's eulogy states his time in the War of 1812 was served in Capt. Baker's Company of Mason County Volunteers to go to the relief of Fort Meigs, then beleaguered by the British and Indians. He was wounded in one of the skirmishes and never completely recovered. His time expired but he volunteered to to to the assault of Fort Madden, but this fort was found burned and abandoned, so he returned home.

Records list him as Lt. of the 28th Reg of Militia, Commonwealth of KY, October 31, 1813. He signed proofs in Warsaw , Gallatin Co KY on March 20, 1851 and May 24, 1854 that on these dates he was 56 and 60 years old, respectively , in support of his application then made for 160 acres U. S. Bounty land grants, which were issued in recognition of his services in the War of 1812. He also made application for U.S. Pension Aug 16, 1882 state his agen then as 78 years: that he volunteered as a private in Bracken Co KY Mar 20, 1813 in Capt John Baker's Co in Regiment of KY militia commanded by Col Boswell, for 6 months expiring September 16, 1813 and was discharged at Bass Island by Lake Erie and immediately volunteered again under Ensign Waller in the Regiment commanded by Col Logan and Gen Shelby and served until he was discharged at Malden: served in the infantry regiment. His original discharge was dated Sept 22, 1814 and was attached to his proof papers as Justice of the Peace in Gallatin Co KY. He was issued Certificate of U.S. Pension No 19,685 for $8 per mo as pension for service in War of 1812 in Nov 1872.

Sources

1. ↑ Chapter IV "Sparta" local library in Warsaw KY
2. ↑ One of our "Great Grandfathers" gave each child $1000 and a slave. It is never mentioned that John O. "owned" salves, but we know that his father did. It is possible that John O used his $1000 to move into this virgin territory.
3. ↑ named after Daniel Boone, as this was the route he traveled

• Hamilton, Early Kentucky Settlers, Bracken County (1797), Donna Jean (Hamilton) Cochrane, 1999
• Source: S-316698476 Repository: #R-896314635 Title: Ancestry Family Trees Publication: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members. Page: Ancestry Family Tree Data: Text: http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/AMTCitationRedir.aspx?tid=75649477&pid=121
• Repository: R-896314635 Name: Ancestry.com