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Borrowstounness and District
Appendix II. The House of Hamilton


Nos. 1 and 6-14 of the undernoted are more particularly referred to in Chapter II.

1. Walter Fitz-Gilbert—Walter, the Son of Gilbert.

2. David Fitz-Walter Fitz-Gilbert succeeded his father probably before 1346, and carried on main line of Hamilton. David was one of the Barons in the Parliament of Scotland when the succession to the Crown was settled on John, Earl of Carrick, and his successors. His seal is reported to be still attached, and around the shield are the words—"Sigill David Filii Walteri." Date of death indefinite.

3. David Hamilton, his son and heir, is said to be the first of the family who formally took the surname. He was alive in 1381, but date of death indefinite. One of his sons was the ancestor of the Hamiltons of Bathgate.

4. John, or as he became Sir John of Cadzow, succeeded his father before 1392. Three years after he granted the lands of Bawdriston or Balderston to Adam Forrester of Corstorphine.

5. James Hamilton of Cadzow is named son and heir to his father, Sir John, in a writ in 1397 granting him the lands of Kinneil. Died before 1440.

6. James Hamilton, the eldest son succeeded, and was first to take prominent place in Scottish history. Became the first Lord Hamilton.

7. James, second Lord Hamilton and first Earl of Arran, son of the preceding by the Princess Mary. A Regent during part of minority of James V. Died about 1529.

8. James, second Earl of Arran, succeeded his father while a minor. Governor of Scotland during minority of Queen Mary. Duchy of Chatel-herault in France granted the Earl. Died, Hamilton, 1574 or 1575.

9. John, afterwards first Marquis of Hamilton, third son of preceding. Advanced in Royal favour. Advised the King, James VI., in all matters of sport. A staunch Protestant. Died, April, 1604.

10. James, second Marquis, succeeded his father at 15. Attended King James VI. on his visit to Scotland, 1617. Created a Peer of England and a Knight of the Garter. Died suddenly at Whitehall, March, 1625.

11. James, third Marquis and first Duke. Succeeded father at age of 19. Became intimate with Charles I. Sent by King to put down disturbances over Laud's Service Book. Executed at Westminster, 1649.

12. William, second Duke, brother of the preceding. Mortally wounded at Battle of Worcester, 1657.

13. Anne, Duchess of Hamilton in her own right, succeeded her uncle. Married William, Earl of Selkirk. King Charles II. bestowed on William the courtesy title of Duke of Hamilton for life. The Duke and Duchess did much to extend and develop Bo'ness.

14. James, Earl of Arran, fourth Duke of Hamilton, eldest son of Duchess Anne and Duke William, succeeded five years after his father's death, which occurred in April, 1694, his mother not conveying the titles and lands to him till then. He was then forty-one. Duchess Anne long survived her husband, and even outlived her son by four years. James had an eventful career. He was created Duke of Brandon, and was killed in the celebrated duel with Lord Mohun in 1712.

15. James, fifth Duke of Hamilton and second Duke of Brandon, succeeded his father when about ten years of age. He was three times married. He died, aged forty, in March, 1743.

16. James, sixth Duke of Hamilton, succeeded his father at the age of nineteen. In 1755 he received the Order of the Thistle from George II. He died in England, January, 1758.

17. James George, seventh Duke of Hamilton, succeeded at the age of three. In 1761, by the death of Archibald, Duke of Douglas, the young Duke became the male representative and chief of the House of Douglas. His guardians asserted his right to the Douglas and Angus estates, and this led to the well-known "Douglas Cause." The House of Lords, however, in February, 1769, decided in favour of Mr. Douglas, son of Lady Jane Douglas or Stewart, sister of the Duke of Douglas. The young Duke of Hamilton died the same year, at the age of fourteen.

18. Douglas, brother of the preceding, succeeded as 8th Duke at the age of thirteen. He had as a tutor Dr. John Moore, father of Sir John Moore, the hero of Corunna. The Duke came of age in 1777, and raised a regiment of foot, the 82nd, which distinguished itself in the American War. He put forward the claim that he was entitled to be summoned to Parliament as the Duke of Brandon, and the claim was upheld. Was invested with the Order of the Thistle in 1786. He died at Hamilton, 2nd August, 1799, without issue, and was succeeded by his uncle. The Duke was married in 1778 to Elizabeth Anne, daughter of Peter Burrcll, of Beckenham in Kent. It was DouglaB who presented the Rev. Robert Rennie with the living of Bo'ness parish. It would seem to be this Duke, who, shortly after his marriage, presented to the town what Dr. Rennie describes as the elegant building, said to be an exact model of Inveraray House, at the head of the harbour. The ground floor was intended for a prison, the second floor for a court room, and the attic storey for a school. The original intention was not carried out, and the building was in 1795 going to ruin. Any rooms in repair were at that time being used as granaries. If the original intention with respect to the use of the building had been carried out, the Doctor says the house would have been highly useful and ornamental to the place. The building collapsed nearly thirty years ago, owing to the mineral workings below. Its tower, however, remained, but was taken down about 1889. A shaft was then opened beside it and material taken down to build up a secure foundation. Thereafter the tower was rebuilt, and still stands securely. At the front is a panel containing the Hamilton coat of arms.

19. Archibald, ninth Duke of Hamilton, uncle of the preceding, succeeded at the age of fifty-nine. He inherited large estates in England both from his mother and his grandmother. Before succeeding to the Dukedom he was for a time M.P. for the county of Lancaster. He died in England 16th February, 1819, and was buried at Lancaster beside his wife, who died before he succeeded to the dukedom. She was the fifth daughter of the sixth Earl of Galloway by his second marriage. They had two sons and three daughters. The sons were Alexander, who succeeded as tenth Duke, and Archibald, for long M.P. for Lanark—an eloquent speaker and a strong opponent of the Administration of Pitt. He exerted himself greatly in the cause of burgh reforms, and died unmarried in 1827.

20. Alexander, tenth Duke, succeeded his father when 52 years of age. He was fond of the fine arts, and spent several years on the Continent in their study. Like his father, he was for a time a Member of Parliament. In 1806, however, he was called to the House of Lords under the title, Baron Dutton. He was named Ambassador to Russia, but resigned office on a change of Ministry. Nevertheless, he travelled largely in Russia and Poland. He died in August, 1852, at the age of 85. The Duke married his cousin, second daughter and co-heir of William Beckford, Font Hill, Gifford, Wiltshire. They had a son, who succeeded, and a daughter Susan.

21. William Alexander Anthony Archibald, eleventh Duke of Hamilton, born February, 1811, succeeded at the age of 41, and died in Paris in July, 1863.' In 1843, he married the Princess Mary of Baden, youngest daughter of the reigning Grand Duke of Baden, and the cousin of the late Emperor Napoleon III. They had issue, two sons and one daughter.

The volume of the marriage celebrations of Duke William and the Princess Marie has a few references to Kinneil. There was a great gathering and procession at Hamilton of all the tenantry. Kinneil tenants joined the procession at Larkhall, but no names are given. The battalions from the different parishes in which the Ducal Estates were situated were marshalled and each placed under a Leader. The tenants from each parish wore a distinguishing plant in their hats. Each Leader carried a flag on which was inscribed the name of his parish in gold letters. Kinneil men all woro a sprig of holly in their hats, and they were led by Robert Rutherford, Esq. This gentleman, it would seem, was the Mr. Rutherford, W.S., Edinburgh, who was the Edinburgh agent for the Estate at that time. The tenants were all on horse-back—1500 horsemen altogether. Over 2500 were entertained to dinner in different halls in Hamilton. There was a deal of speech-making, but there is no reference to any orator from Kinneil. The Duke, however, specially thanked the Kinneil men for their presence.

22. William Alexander Louis Stephen, the elder son of the preceding, succeeded as twelfth Duke in 1863 at the age of 18. He was maintained and confirmed by the Emperor Napoleon III. in the title of Due de Chatelherault in France, 20th April, 1864. He died in 1895, aged 50. The Duke was well-known in sporting and racing circles. He married, in 1873, Mary Montague, eldest daughter of the seventh Duke of Manchester. They had a daughter, Mary Louise, of Brodick Castle, Arran. She was married on 14th June, 1906, to James, the Marquis of Graham, eldest son of the Duke of Montrose.

There were great festivities and rejoicings at Hamilton and elsewhere on the Ducal estate on the coming of age of the twelfth Duke, which occurred 3 years after his succession. These also have been preserved in an interesting volume. His mother, the Princess Marie, Duchess of Hamilton, was held in great affection and esteem, and shared conspicuously in the enthusiastic congratidations. The day of-the great event was Monday, 12th March, 1866. Bo'ness held high holiday, and the town was gaily ornamented at various parts with flags. In the afternoon a dinner took place in the Town Hall atj which the tenantry, with the gentry of the neighbourhood and the Harbour Trustees of Bo'ness were present. About 100 gentlemen sat down to dinner, during which a band of music performed. The chair was occupied by Mr. Turnbull, Kinneil, supported by James Webster, Esq., Staneacre, Hamilton ; the Rev. Mr. Mackenzie and others. Mr. John Begg, Kinneil Ironworks, and Mr. Alexander Kirkwood, farmer, Hainings, discharged the duties of croupiers.

The health of the young Duke was proposed in eulogistic terms by the chairman, and was received by the company with the utmost enthusiasm and drank with all the honours. The Rev. Mr. Mackenzie proposed the health of Her Highness the Duchess of Hamilton. The toast met with a warm and enthusiastic reception.

The foresters and workmen on the estate were entertained to a supper and ball at Kinneil House, while £32 was given to be distributed among the poor. The sum of £15 was given the "old residenters" of Bo'ness, and £5 to the band,

23. Alfred Douglas, thirteenth Duke, son of Captain Charles Henry Douglas Hamilton, R.N., succeeded his kinsman, the preceding Duke, at the age of 33, having been born 6th March, 1862. He is the premier peer of Scotland, heir-male of the House of Douglas, Hereditary Keeper of Holyrood House ; late Lieutenant R.N.; claims the Dukedom of Chatelherault. On 4th December, 1901, His Grace married Miss Nina Poore, youngest daughter of Major Robert J. Poore, Wilts. The heir to the Dukedom, the Marquis of Douglas and Clydesdale, was born 3rd February, 1903. There are several other children. In the autumn of 1903 the Duke and Duchess and the infant Marquis of Douglas and Clydesdale paid a private visit to Kinneil House, and there met and entertained their agricultural tenantry. On 17th July, 1908, however, they paid their first public visit to the town, and were presented by the Town Council with an address of welcome. They were most heartily received. The visit coincided with the Annual Children's Festival and the Crowning of the School Queen, Her Grace the Duchess performing the latter ceremony. That same day they entertained the members of the Town Council and representatives of the local public bodies at luncheon in Kinneil house.

In 1911 the Duchess graciously gifted to the town of Bo'ness a Nurses' Home.

The Arms of the Hamilton Family (as recorded in the Lyon Register) are:—

Quarterly.—1st and 4th Grand Quarters Counter-quartered, 1st and 4th, Gules, Three Cinquefoils Ermine; 2nd and 3rd Argent, a Lymphad Sable Sails Furled Proper Flagged Gules ; 2nd and 3rd Grand Quarters, Argent, a Man's Heart Gules Ensigned with an Imperial Crown Proper, on a Chief Azure of Three Stars of the First.

Greats.—1st, on a Ducal Coronet an Oak-tree Fructed and Penetrated . Transversely in the Main Stem by a Frame Saw Proper, the Frame Or for Hamilton ; 2nd, on a Chapeau Gules turned up Ermine a Salamander in Flames Proper, for Douglas, Supporters.—Two Antelopes Argent, Armed, Gorged, with a Ducal

Coronet, Chained and Unguled Or. Mottoes.—Through : Jamais Arriere.


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