The Hamilton Family

Elizabeth (Hamilton, Read) Ferguson

Father: James Hamilton

Mother: Anne (Waring) Hamilton

Married (1st): Paul Read on 27 November 1732 in Comber, county Down, Ireland
A marriage settlement was dated 21 November 1732.

Paul was born in 1702-7, near Derry, county Londonderry, the son of Rev. William Read. He graduated from Trinity College Dublin B.A. in 1727 and M.A. in 1732. Paul was appointed rector of Leckpatrick, county Tyrone on 25 January 1730. Paul died on 21 February 1742 and was buried at Strabane, county Tyrone. His will was dated 23 February 1739 and proved in 1743.

Alumni Dublinenses p694 (ed. G. D. Burtchaeli and T. U. Sadlier, 1935)
READ, PAUL, Pen. (Mr Blackall, Derry), Apr. 28, 1724, aged 21; s. of William, Clericus; b. near Derry. Sch 1727. B.A. Vern 1728. M.A. Vern. 1732. B.D. and D.D. Vern 1747.

Bready Ancestry Chapter 7
In January 1731 Paul Read, son of the Reverend William Read was instituted rector of Leckpatrick. He was another graduate of Trinity College, Dublin, gaining his B.A. in 1728 and his M.A. four years later. He married Elizabeth Hamilton and they had three children, Paul, Anne and Mary. He died on 21 February 1743 and was buried in the old graveyard at Patrick Street, Strabane, where his gravestone still survives. Following his death, his widow remarried, her second husband being John Ferguson, a surgeon. Interestingly this man’s father was a Presbyterian minister, as were two of his brothers, one of whom ministered in Strabane. According to Canon Leslie, one of the former glebe fields in Leckpatrick is known as Read’s Park, having probably been reclaimed by him.

Journal of the Society for the Preservation of Memorials of the Dead Vol. 1 p244 (1892)
Strabane Churchyard.
“Here lyeth the Body of the Rev. PAUL READ, Rector of the Parish of Leckpatrick, who departed this life on the 21st day of February in the year 1742, in the 36 year of his age.”

    [En. Fellow, T.C.D.]

Transcripts of memorials of deeds, conveyances and wills Memorial No: 91241 film 008093169 image 478
No 91241: To the Register appointed by Act of Parliament for the Publick Registring of all Deeds Conveyances Wills and so forth
A MEMORIAL of the Last will and Testament of Paul Read Clke late Rector of the Parish of Leckpatrick in the County of Tyrone Deceased by him in his Lifetime Duly Signed Sealed published and Declared on the Twenty third Day of February one thousand Seven hundred and Thirty Nine Among other things Reciting that by a Deed of Settlement by him made the Twenty first day of November one thousand hundred and Thirty two before his Intermarriage there was a power reserved to him to Charge his Estate then Settled with the Sum of Five hundred pounds by any Deed to be by him made or by his last Will and Testament He the Sd Testator by his said Will Charges the said Estate with the Sum of Five hundred pounds and orders that the same Shall be Raised thereout in Such Manner as is Consistent with the other Charges upon the Same mentioned in the sd Settlement with all Convenient Speed by Mortgages of Some part of the Estate or otherwise the said sum or so Such thereof as Shall be Sufficient to be applyed to the payment of his personal Debts and the Remainder thereof if any he gives to his Wife Elizabeth to be by her Divided among her Children or Such of them as Shall Survive her as She Shall think proper and Reciting also that by his said Marriage Settlement it is provided that in Case his Estate should descend to one Son and that he should Leave two Other Children sd Estate should be charged with the sum of one thousd five hundred pounds for portions or provision for the said two children to be Divided among them in Such Manner as the said Testator Should Appoint. In Pursuance of the said Power he Orders and appoint that Eight Hundred pounds part of the said one Thousand five hundred pounds Should be paid to his Eldest Daughter Mary and Seven hundred pounds to his Youngest Daughter Ann to be paid at Such times and in Such Manner as by the said Settlement is Directed and Reciting allso that whereas all his Real Estate as allso his personal Estate that is to Say the Lands of Longfield by the said Settlement are Limitted to his Eldest Son in Fees and after his Decease to such other Son or Sons as Shall happen to Survive as they Shall be in Seniority of Age and priority of Birth and to the heirs of them Severall and Respective bodys Subjects to the Changes and Incumbrances in the Said Settlement Contained and failing Such Issue Male to his own Right heirs his will is that in Case his son Francis Should Dye without Issue that all his said Lands and Real Estate Should Descend and go to his Daughters Mary & Ann and to their heirs Equally to be Divided among them Share and Share aLike and upon the Determination of that Estate he Leaves and bequeaths all the said Real & personal Estate to Alexander McAuley of the City of Dublin Esq and Francis Hamilton of Stewartstown their heirs and assigns To the following uses that is to say to Receive the Rents Issues and profits of the said Estates for the use of his Wife for Life Remainder to his brother Isaac for Life and to his heirs Chargeable with the Sum of one thousand pounds to be equally Divided among his Brothers and Sisters Walter Thomas Elizabeth Mary and Sarah Remainder to his Brother Walter Read and his heirs Remainder to his Brother Thomas Read and his heirs Remainder to his Sister Elizabeth Read and her heirs Remainder to his Sister Sarah Macartney and her heirs Remainder to his sister Idie & her heirs He appoints his wife the said  Elizabeth Gardian to his Children Directs that his Son Francis Shall Live with her untill his Excrs Shall think proper to Send him abroad that his Daughters Shall Live with his said Wife untill they attain the age of Fifteen years and During that time that they Shall Share Such Maintenance as She Shall think proper and in Case his Son the said Francis Shall Dye before he attains the age of Twenty one years He gives his said Wife all the Rents of his said Estate and allso of his Lands of Longfield So long as his Daughter Shall Live with her after the Severall Charges in his Marriage Settlement and of his said Will he appoints his said Wife who since Intermarried with John Ferguson late of Arabane in the County of Tyrone Apothecary Deceased The said Alexander McAuley the said Francis Hamilton and the Reverend Mr. Paul Read fellow of Trinity Colledge near Dublin Execrs, which said Will was Executed by the said Testator Paul Read in the presence of the Reverend Mr. John Hamilton of Charlestown in ??? Clke the Reverend Mr. William Hamilton Clke and Thomas Gilliaghan then Servant to the said Paul Read but since Deced both of Strabane aforesaid, and this Memorial was Executed by the said Elizabeth Ferguson otherwise Read Widow & one of the Legatees of the said Paul Read in presence of the said Wm Hamilton and of Edward Morris of Strabane aforesaid Gent this Tenth Day of April one thousand Seven hundred and Forty Nine - Elizth Fergusonseal - Witness Present Will Hamilton Edward Morris - William Hamilton above named Aged upwards of Sixty years or thereabouts Came this day before me and made Oath that he is a Subscribing Witness to the Will whereof the above is a memorial and Saw the same duly Signed Sealed Published and Declared by the said Paul Read as and for his Last Will and Testament and Deposeth that he this Dept is also a Subscribing Witness to this Memorial and Saw the same duly Executed by the above named Elizabeth Ferguson otherwise Read Widow of the said Paul Read and Deposeth that the name William Hamilton Subscribed as a witness to the said Will and memorial is this Dept proper hand writing - Will Hamilton Sworn before me at Strabane in the County of Tyrone this 10th Day of April 1749 by virtue of a Commission to me Directed out of his Maties Court of Exchequer in Ireland for taking Affidavitts in the said County and I know the Deponent Wm Brown Being present the Subscribing Justices of the peace for the County of Tyrone - Will Hamilton John Hamilton

Children: Married (2nd): John Ferguson

John was baptised on 12 April 1701 in the Prebyterian church, Drumbo, county Down, the son of Rev. Andrew Ferguson and Sarah Waugh. He was a surgeon and apothecary, of Strabane, county Tyrone. He died before 10 April 1749 when he is described as deceased in a deed signed by Elizabeth. John was buried in Strabane churchyard. His will was dated 28 November 1748 and proved in 1750.

The International Encyclopedia of Surgery vol 5 p700 (ed. John Ashhurst, 1889)
A surgeon named John Ferguson, of Strabane, writing in 1734 to Mr. Cheselden, Surgeon to Chelsea Hospital, describes a case of penetrating wound with protrusion of the spleen, three and a half ounces of which he ligatured and cut away after the wounded man had had his spleen protruding twenty-four hours; the patient recovered from the operation. In reference to this case, Ferguson, in his note to Cheselden, says, “for though you have taken the spleen out of a dog without any remarkable inconvenience, yet it has never been attempted I know of in a human body.”

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London vol 18 pp425-7 (1736)
III. A Letter from Mr. John Ferguson, Surgeon, to William Chiselden, Esq; Surgeon to Chelsea College, F.R.S. &c. containing an Account of the Extirpation of part of the Spleen of a Man.
  SIR,     Strabane, Feb. 18. 1734-5
THOUGH I have not the Honour to be known to you, I make bold to trouble you with the following Case, which lately happen'd in my Practice. I imagine it uncommon; for though you have taken the Spleen out of a Dog, without any remarkable Inconvenience; yet it has never been attempted, that I know of, in a human Body. I assure you the Affair is literally true, and, if required, could have it attested by several who were Eye-witnesses. As I believe you to be a Gentleman that is curious, and fond of any Discovery that is new, I flatter myself you will not be offended with the Freedom I now take; and that if you think this worth your Notice, you will be pleas'd to favour me with your Opinion of it, and whether you have known such a Case happen before. This will add to the Obligations I acknowledge myself under to you, for the Benefit I have already received from your Writings, which I greatly esteem, and am with the greatest Respect, Dear SIR,
      Your most obedient, humble Servant,
         John Ferguson.
ON the 5th of January last, I was called to Thomas Conway, who had received a Wound with a Skane or great Knife, which went through the muscular part of his Fore-Arm, and into the Left Hypochondrium; it was 24 Hours after he had receiv'd the Wound before I saw him (living 12 Miles distant from me). I found the Spleen out at the Wound, and that what by pressing and thrusting of it with the Fingers, endeavouring to return it into its Place, which they that were about him could not accomplish, and by being so long exposed to the Air, it was quite cold, black and mortified. I consider'd that cutting away the mortified Part, must be attended with the greatest Danger, and was, to me, an unprecedented Case; yet that the Patient must inevitably die, if it was not done: I therefore made a Ligature with a strong wax'd Thread above the unsound Part, and cut off three Ounces and a half of the Spleen: Notwithstanding the Ligature there was a pretty large Artery that sprung with great Violence, which I immediately tied up; and, after bathing all the Parts with warm Wine, I return'd the remaining part of the Spleen into its Place, leaving the Ends of the Threads out of the Wound, to draw them away by when they should digest off, which they did on the 10th Day, and came away with the Dressings: I dress'd the Wound with Digestives, and the Abdomen was stuped twice a Day with an emollient Fomentation, and after stuping it was always malaxated with an emollient Liniment, which he told me always gave him Ease. What he most complain'd of, was that he could not make Water, for which I every Day gave him a Carminative Clyster, which kept his Belly from swelling and always when the Clyster came away, he got some Water made along with it: This Symptom went off on the seventh or eighth Day. He is now perfectly well recover'd, following his Business, and finds no Inconvenience from the want of the Part of the Spleen which he lost. The Wound through his Arm was also quickly cured.

Children: Death: 17 November 1778, at Jervis Street, Dublin, county Dublin, Ireland
Irish Genealogical Abstracts from the "Londonderry Journal," 1772-1784 p91 (Donald M. Schlegel, 2001)
673 - Tues., Nov. 17, 1778
Dublin.
Died: ... in Jervis st., Mrs. Elizabeth Ferguson, relict of the late Dr. Ferguson and mother to the Lady of Sir Edward Loftus, bart.

Sources:

Francis Hamilton

Birth: 1709, in Lisburn, county Antrim

Father: James Hamilton

Mother: Anne (Waring) Hamilton

Education: Trinity College Dublin, obtaining a B.A. in 1730, M.A. in 1733 and D.D. 1751
Alumni Dublinenses p361 (ed. G. D. Burtchaeli and T. U. Sadlier, 1935)
HAMILTON, FRANCIS, Pen. (Mr Clark, Lisburn), Apr. 27, 1726, aged 16; s. of James, Clericus; b. Lisburn. B.A. Vern 1730. M.A. Æst. 1733. B.D. and D.D. Oct. 22, 1751.

Married: Sarah (Waring) Lambert

Sarah was Francis's first cousin.

Children: Occupation: Clergyman. Francis was appointed vicar of Dundalk, and rector of Dunbin, both county Louth, on 13 July 1754, and Treasurer of Armagh in 1773.

Armagh Clergy and Parishes p44 (James B. Leslie, 1911)
Treasurers.
1773—Francis Hamilton, coll. and installed July 29 (D.R.)
He was son of James H., and was born at Lisburn, and ent. T.C.D. as a Pensioner April 27, 1726, aged 16 ; B.A. 1730 ; M.A. 1733; B.D. and D.D. 1751 (Reg. T.C.D.). He was C. Donaghenry, 1736; C. Ballyclog, 1744; C. Youghal, 1746-'53; R. Dundalk, Dunbin, Drumglass, and Tullaniskin from 1754. He resigned Drumglass and Tullaniskin on being appointed Treas., but continued to hold Dundalk and Dunbin. He resided in Dundalk. He died in 1783, and his P. Will, dated 7 Aug., 1780, was proved 29 Nov., 1783. Directs Edenderry, Lavaghary and Ballymagown in the Manor of Carbrackbeg and Co. Armagh, held on lease of 28 June, 1737, for 959 years and "left to me by my stepmother, Jane Hamilton, of Downpatrick, deceased," to be sold; £500 to eldest dau. of Sir Edw. Loftus, Bt., by his wife Lady Anne; plate to "my niece Lady Loftus"; coffee pot to wife of Rev. Dean Dobbe; £500 to Rev. Robert Berkeley, D.D., R. Midleton, Co. Cork, and his youngest son Rev. Wm. B.; portrait of Sir Kenelm Digby to Lord Clanbrassil; £200 to Cath. Braddell, maid to my late wife; servant, Thomas Merrin; books to Rev. Thomas Caulfield, R. Killyman; residue to Sarah Howard, dau. of Robert H., of Dominick Street, Dublin, by his wife Sarah. Executor said Robert Howard, who got probate. Witnesses :—Jn. Richardson, Jn. Harlow.
p127
Ballyclog.—(Co. Tyrone.)
Curates.
1744—Francis Hamilton, Lic. Sep. 7. See Dundalk.

p227
Donaghhenry.—(Co. Tyrone.)
Curates.
1736—Francis Hamilton, Lic. Jan. 24 (D.R.) See Treasurers.

p278
Dunbin.—(Co. Louth.)
Rectors or Prebendaries.
1754—Francis Hamilton, D.D., coll. R. Dunbin July 13, and inst. V. Dundalk (q.v.) same day (D.R.)

p282
Dundalk.—(Co. Louth.)
Vicars.
1754—Francis Hamilton, D.D., inst. July 13 on pres. of James, Viscount Limerick (D.R.); d. in 1783. See Treasurers.

The Gentleman's and London Magazine April and May 1754 p260
PROMOTIONS:
May 22. Francis Hamilton, D.D. to the Vic. of Dundalk, and Rect. of Dunbin, together with the Rectories of Drumglass and Tullamiskin, Dio. Armagh.

Notes:
Belfast News-Letter 5 November 1869 p3
The Rev. James Hamilton was twice married; by his second wife, Jane Leslie, he had no issue; by his first wife, Anne Waring, he had one son and one daughter. The daughter, Elizabeth, married a Mr. Read; the son was the Rev. Francis Hamilton, Vicar of Dundalk, whose will is dated Aug. 7th, 1780. He married Sarah Waring, widow of Montague Lambert, Esq, and had issue one daughter, Catherine.

Death: 16 November 1783

Buried: in St. Nicholas churchyard, Dundalk, county Louth, Ireland
Journal of the Society for the Preservation of Memorials of the Dead Vol. VII No. 2 of Part 1 (1907)
Flat limestone slab: -
Here Lyeth the Body of the Revd Doctor Francis Hamilton Rector of this Parish who departed this life the 16th Day of November 1783 aged 74.

Will: dated 7 August 1780, proved 1783

Sources:

James Hamilton

Birth: 1674/5, in Frankford, county Armagh, Ireland

Father: Francis Hamilton

Mother: Elizabeth (Echlin) Hamilton

Education: Trinity College Dublin
Alumni Dublinenses p362 (ed. G. D. Burtchaeli and T. U. Sadlier, 1935)
HAMILTON, JAMES, Pen. (at Lisburn), Feb. 9, 1693-94, aged 18; s. of Francis, Generosus; b. Francford

Married (1st): Anne Waring in 1708

Children: Married (2nd): Jane Leslie

Jane was the daughter of Charles Leslie and Jane Griffiths. She was known as "Vinegar Jane". Jane and her brothers, Robert and Henry, were great friends of Jonathan Swift who often visited them at their home at Castle Leslie. One of Swift's verses inscribed in their guestbook reads:
The Rough Guide to Ireland p332 (Paul Gray, 2011)
Here I am in Castle Leslie
With rows and rows of books upon the shelves
Written by the Leslies
All about themselves.
Jane's will was proved in 1741.

Occupation: Clergyman
James was of Tullybrick and Castlehill, county Down. He was rector of Knock and Killileagh at he time of his death.

Notes: James should not be confused with another Reverend James Hamilton who was rector of Knockbreda and Dundonnell in county Down. That James was married to Elenor Wachob. His will is dated 12 January 1711, and he was buried on 11 April 1713 although the will was not proved until 27 November 1731 (

Death: 1729-30

Buried: Knock burial ground, near Belfast, county Antrim, Ireland
Belfast News-Letter 5 November 1869 p3
   THE KNOCK BURYING GROUND.
  TO THE EDITOR OF THE BELFAST NEWS-LETTER.
  SIR—In the old graveyard at the Knock, about two miles distant from Belfast, I lately discovered a curious mutilated and defaced tombstone; and as the inscription, which can be tolerably well made out, connects the stone with a family long known in this part of Ulster, I considered that, perhaps, a short notice of it might interest some of your readers who care for antiquarian matters of the kind. The stone is a large flag of the red Castle Espie limestone, which takes a polish equal to marble. The stone is semicircular-headed, and the inscription, which is on a sunken panel in the lower part, reads thus:–
“INTER CANCELLOS CORAM HOC
MARMORE SUB SPE RESURRECTIONIS
JACENT EXUVIÆ REVERENDI JA
HAMILTON L.L.B. RECTORIS
KNOCK ET KILLILEAGH F
FRANCISCI HAMILTON DE
ARM ET ELIZABETHÆ
EJUS HUIC ECCLESIÆ
PASTOR PRÆFUIT GREG
ERTUS ET EGENIS.”

  The lower end of the stone is broken away, as is also one side of the inscription, cutting the ends off some of the lines, so that the legend is incomplete. However, a renewed examination might make something more out of the latter part. This Rev. James Hamilton was the second son of Francis Hamilton, Esq., of Tullybrick, in the County of Armagh, and his wife, Elizabeth Echlin. As the inscription states, the Rev. James Hamilton was rector of the parish of Knock at the time of his death, which event occurred about 140 years ago, as his will, which is dated September 4th, 1729, was proved April 23rd, 1730. He lived at Castle Hill, County Down, and also held the townland of Tullybrick (now Tullybrick Hamilton), near Armagh, which townland was sold, together with others, by his nephew, Hans, in 1730, to Bishop Stearn, and now forms a portion of the estate of Stearne's Charity. The Rev. James Hamilton was twice married; by his second wife, Jane Leslie, he had no issue; by his first wife, Anne Waring, he had one son and one daughter. The daughter, Elizabeth, married a Mr. Read; the son was the Rev. Francis Hamilton, Vicar of Dundalk, whose will is dated Aug. 7th, 1780. He married Sarah Waring, widow of Montague Lambert, Esq, and had issue one daughter, Catherine.

The Latin inscription roughly (the Latin inscription is missing the ends of some lines, so the translation is not totally coherent) translates as:
"Between these rails / marble hoping for resurection / lies the remains of Reverend Ja. / Hamilton L.L.B. Rector / Knock and Killileagh F / Francis Hamilton of Arm[agh] and Elizabeth / Her to this church / During Pastor Greg / ??? and fall."

Will: dated 4 September 1729, proved 23 April 1730

Sources:
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