Margaret Brainard Hamilton (1902 - 1985)

Born 9 Dec 1902 in Cleveland, Cuyahoga, Ohio, United States

Ancestors

Wife of Paul Boynton Meserve — married 13 Jun 1931 (to 1938) in Cuyahoga, Ohio, United States

Died 16 May 1985 at age 82 in Salisbury, Litchfield, Connecticut, United States

Biography

Margaret Hamilton is Notable.

Margaret Hamilton is a screen actress best known for her portrayal of the wicked witch in the Wizard of Oz. She was born to Walter J. Hamilton, and Jennie (née Adams), in Cleveland, Ohio. Before she turned to acting exclusively, her parents insisted that she attend Wheelock College in Boston, which she did, later becoming a kindergarten teacher.

In 1939, Hamilton played the role of the Wicked Witch in The Wizard of Oz, creating not only her most famous role, but one of the screen's most memorable villains. The Wicked Witch of the West was eventually ranked No. 4 in the American Film Institute's 2003 list of the 50 Best Movie Villains of All Time, making her the top ranking female villain.

Hamilton married Paul Boynton Meserve on June 13, 1931. While her acting career developed, her marriage began failing; the couple divorced in 1938. They had one son, Hamilton Wadsworth Meserve (born 1936), whom she raised on her own. Hamilton's early experience as a teacher fueled a lifelong interest in educational issues. Hamilton served on the Beverly Hills Board of Education between 1948 to 1951. She died in her sleep in 1985.

Birth

Ohio, U.S., Births and Christenings Index, 1774-1973 Name: Margaret Brainard Hamilton Gender: Female Birth Date: 9 Dec 1902 Birth Place: Cleveland, Cuyahoga, Ohio Father: Walter J. Hamilton Mother: Jennie M. Adams FHL Film Number: 1852605

Marriage

Cuyahoga County, Ohio, U.S., Marriage Records and Indexes, 1810-1973 Name: Margaret B Hamilton Marriage Date: 13 Jun 1931 Form Type: Marriage Age: 28 Gender: Female Birth Year: abt 1903 Birth Place: Cleveland, Ohio Father: Walter J Mother: Jennie M Adams Spouse: Paul B Meserve Spouse Age: 28 Spouse Birth Year: abt 1903 Spouse Father: Frank W Spouse Mother: Alice B Wadsworth

Census Records

1910 Federal Census (Cleveland Ward 21, Cuyahoga, Ohio, United States):

Household Role Gender Age Birthplace

Walter Hamilton Head M 45 Ohio

Jennie M Hamilton Wife F 45 Ohio

Dorothy Hamilton Daughter F 16 Ohio

Gladys Hamilton Daughter F 14 Ohio

Edwin Hamilton Son M 11 Ohio

Margaret Hamilton Daughter F 7 Ohio

Louise Andrews Servant F 23 Hungary

Mary Yohrman Servant F 24 Hungary^[1]

1920 Federal Census (Cleveland Ward 19, Cuyahoga, Ohio, United States):

Household Role Gender Age Birthplace

Walter J Hamilton Head M 55 Ohio

Jennie Hamilton Wife F 55 Ohio

Gladys Hamilton Daughter F 24 Ohio

Edwin J Hamilton Son M 21 Ohio

Marguerite Hamilton Daughter F 17 Ohio^[2]

1930 Federal Census (Cleveland (Districts 251-500), Cuyahoga, Ohio, United States):

Household Role Gender Age Birthplace

Walter Hamilton Head M 63 Ohio

Marguret Hamilton Daughter F 27 Ohio

Lillian Mcintyre Servant F 39 North Carolina^[3]

Death

Connecticut Death Index, 1949-2012 Name: Margaret H Meserve Race: White Occupation: ACTRESS Marital Status: Divorced Birth Date: 9 Dec 1902 Birth Place: Ohio Address: SMITHFIELD Residence: New York Death Date: 16 May 1985 Death Place: Salisbury, Connecticut Age: 82 Years Spouse: Paul Father's Surname: Hamilton State File #: 11543

Obit

U.S., Newspapers.com Obituary Index, 1800s-current Name: Margaret Hamilton Gender: Female Death Age: 82 Birth Date: abt 1903 Birth Place: Cleveland Marriage Date: 1938 Residence Place: Gramercy Park Death Date: Abt 1985 Death Place: Connecticut Obituary Date: 17 May 1985 Obituary Place: New York, New York, USA Spouse: Paul Meserve

Sources

1. ↑ "United States Census, 1910," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:ML85-1GN : accessed 23 May 2015), Walter Hamilton, Cleveland Ward 21, Cuyahoga, Ohio, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 318, sheet 6B, family 134, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 1,375,187.
2. ↑ "United States Census, 1920," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MD1F-XPW : accessed 23 May 2015), Walter J Hamilton, Cleveland Ward 19, Cuyahoga, Ohio, United States; citing sheet 11B, family 273, NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 1,821,370.
3. ↑ "United States Census, 1930," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X43X-MPR : accessed 23 May 2015), Walter Hamilton, Cleveland (Districts 251-500), Cuyahoga, Ohio, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 0354, sheet 3B, family 24, line 82, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 1772; FHL microfilm 2,341,506.

• https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0002121/bio
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margaret_Hamilton
• "Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-2013," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2Q75-YZX : accessed 23 May 2015), Paul B Meserve and Margaret B Hamilton, 13 Jun 1931; citing Cuyahoga, Ohio, United States, reference ; county courthouses, Ohio; FHL microfilm 1,901,663.
• "Pedigree Resource File," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/2:2:SP38-Z9F : accessed 2015-05-23), entry for Walter Jones /Hamilton/.
• "Ohio, County Births, 1841-2003," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X6MB-WJM : accessed 23 May 2015), Margaret Brainard Hamilton, 09 Dec 1902; citing Birth, Cleveland, Cuyahoga, Ohio, reference , county courthouses, Ohio; FHL microfilm 1,852,605.
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/3146/margaret-hamilton: accessed May 10, 2024), memorial page for Margaret Hamilton (9 Dec 1902–16 May 1985), Find A Grave: Memorial #3146; Cremated, Ashes scatter