Help with finding 3rd GGF and wife.

Question

I match with Ancestry DNA to Thomas Hugh Hamilton 1725-1829 m Jane McCracken.  I feel sure that my 2nd GGfather came from one of the sons.  It is indicated Thomas Hamilton 1762-1841 m Elizabeth Gwin Hamilton 1766-1824, is my Thomas Hamilton's father b 1794-1877.  The problem is all matches indicate half with each of the parents.  I only have the DNA to go by so is there a way to see why this half is indicated by matches?  I have a book of the family that states Thomas Hamilton 1794-1824 is truly my 2nd GGF.  Just need to see where he fits into this Hamilton family.

Comments

Thomas' pension application provides some information about his life: https://catalog.archives.gov/id/186074325

It states he was born in Chester, South Carolina. He lived in Giles, Tennessee for 13 years (abt. 1813-1826).

To learn more about his parents, you could research the Hamiltons living in Chester, SC and Giles, TN. Land records, probate records, etc. could yield information about his family.

Chester, SC records:
https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/results?count=20&placeId=191511&query=%2Bplace%3A%22United%20States%2C%20South%20Carolina%2C%20Chester%22

Giles, TN records:
https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/results?count=20&placeId=194874&query=%2Bplace%3A%22United%20States%2C%20Tennessee%2C%20Giles%22

His Wikitree profile is updated with information.

---

Thank you,

The pension application is definitely him.  His info on find a grave and also on Hiram Steele Hamilton,my G GFather,  death certificate says N. Carolina.  I do not know who put in the S. Carolina as state of birth.  His wife Ruthy Steele's family were in Statesville, N. Carolina.  She was a lot younger than him, and both families moved to Tennessee.  There is a book on the Steeles, and it mentions he had a knife wound from the War of 1812 on his arm.

My Ancestry DNA is matching to Thomas Hamilton, II 1762-1864 wife Elizabeth Gwin Hamilton 1766-1824.  Also up that Hamilton line.  "Just half is noted" on siblings.  I have been on this for years.

I appreciate your looking!

Jo

---

Thomas' birth in Chester, South Carolina is mentioned in his pension application. See: https://catalog.archives.gov/id/186074325?objectPage=55

South Carolina was mentioned in multiple places in the application. SC was mentioned as his place of birth on his 1850/60 census records.

The application contains 72 pages, so there is possibly other information that could be useful.

As Matthew Sullivan stated, you cannot rely on DNA matches with Ancestry Thrulines. "Paper" genealogy is needed to corroborate.

I requested an edit on his Find-a-Grave memorial to correct his place of birth.

I hope this helps!

---

I did go back through and found the note of Ruth Steele about him being born in S. Carolina.  Also found from one of the matching siblings the father may have been William. So I will be looking into these possibilities.

I am so ready to solve this puzzle.  Really good sources you suggested. Thank you and best wishes to you and family.  Jo

---

Do you have any help for me to navigate the sources you indicated in Chester and Giles?  I can only see to put the records to print.

Thank you,

Jo

---

Do you have a FamilySearch login? It's free to sign up and then you should be able to view what is available at those links. Does this help?

---

Thank you Julie, I just found the link to see all of the communication, and I see you really did fantastic work for me.  I wish I was more detailed.  You are so appreciated.  Jo

---

Thanks Jo! 

Answer 1

Sorry to answer a question with a question, but did he have more than one wife or married the sister of his wife?

Comments

I can't find that, but have certainly wondered.  Also had thought it was another brother and his wife is the sister of Thomas, II's wife.  Wikitree is showing the most DNA to Thomas Hamilton not the brother James.

Thank you for looking!!

Answer 2

Are you referring to Ancestry's Thrulines? Is that where you're seeing this connection? Keep in mind that Thrulines is not foolproof - the software is extrapolating based on your tree, your match's tree, and perhaps additional third parties' Ancestry trees. So it will only be accurate if all of those trees are accurate.

In other words, the DNA may suggest you have the same common ancestors as these matches, but the DNA alone cannot by itself tell you who those ancestors are. You need "paper" genealogy to corroborate.

I'm also unclear what you meant by "half with each of the parents"? Can you provide more detail?

Comments

So looking at all the thru line matches, siblings of my 3rd GGfather show half grand aunt or uncle. I understand what you are saying, but I am considering the amount of DNA too.  I look at anyone who has them in their tree and have spent many years on this.  I have a book so know up to this GGrandfather.  I have only found the family through DNA. Thank you for what you have noted.  I specifically called Ancestry years ago and asked that very question!  Jo