Claud Hamilton of Shawfield

Claud was born between 1575 and 1585,[lower-alpha 1] probably at Paisley, near Glasgow, Scotland, his parents' habitual residence. He was the third son[lower-alpha 2] of Claud Hamilton and his wife Margaret Seton. His father was at that time only a younger brother of James Hamilton, 3rd Earl of Arran but would later be created 1st Lord Paisley. His father's family descended from Walter FitzGilbert, the founder of the House of Hamilton,[4] who had received the barony of Cadzow from Robert the Bruce.[5]

Claud's mother was a daughter of George Seton, 7th Lord Seton,[lower-alpha 3] by his wife Isobel Hamilton.[7] Both parents were Scottish and seem to have been both Catholic. They had married in 1574 at Niddry Castle, West Lothian, Scotland,[8][9] which belonged to the Setons.

Several of his siblings died in their infancy or childhood.[14] Six reached adulthood[15] and are listed in his father's article.

Being named "of Shawfield" seems to imply that his father gave him Shawfield, in the northern tip of modern South Lanarkshire, near Rutherglen, as appanage. Paul (1904) explains "Shawfield, co. Linlithgow",[14] but there seems to be no Shawfield in that county. In 1579 the Scottish privy council decided to arrest his father and his uncle John. They were besieged at Hamilton and then escaped to England and even France. Claud and his mother seem to have staid behind in Scotland. His father returned in 1586 and was created Lord Paisley in 1587.

At the age of 18 Claud Hamilton was made a gentleman of the privy chamber to the young King James VI of Scotland.[16] As King James was brought up as a Protestant, Hamilton must at that time have become a Protestant as well. Roger Aston, who served in that function from 1578 to 1612, Master Gray, who served from 1584 to 1612, and Philip Herbert, who served from 1603 to 1641, were some of his colleagues. The exercise of this office would also imply that he moved to London in 1603 at the union of the crowns. Claud Hamilton was probably paid a fixed salary until 1604 when James decided to cut cost and pay "diet" instead, meaning that he would only pay days on duty.[17]

At Paisley in 1602 Sir Claud married Janet Hamilton, the only child of Robert Hamilton of Leckprevick and Easter Greenlees, Lanarkshire, Scotland.[18] Due to this inheritance Hamilton was also called "of Leckprevick".[19] Leckprevick and East Greenlees are both in the north of South Lanarkshire, the former near East Kilbride, the latter near Rutherglen.[20]

Claud and Janet had six sons:[21]

• William (c. 1604 – 1662)
• Alexander (born after 1605), died young
• Robert (died 1657)
• Claud
• James, died unmarried
• George, died unmarried

—and three daughters:

• Margaret, married John Stewart of Methven, an illegitimate son of Ludovic Stewart, 2nd Duke of Lennox, who was an abusive husband.[22] She later married Sir John Seton of Gargunnock.[23]
• Grizel, married William Baillie of Lamington[24]
• Janet, named in her mother's will together with her two sisters

In an alternative view, Claud Hamilton married Mary Hamilton, daughter of Robert Hamilton of Elieston or Illieston in West Lothian[25] (unless her husband was Claud Hamilton of Toon) The Hamiltons of Elieston were a Catholic family, and Lauder of Fountainhall recorded that there was accommodation in the house for a priest.[26]

The flight of the earls in September 1607 cleared the way for the Plantation of Ulster.[27] Like his eldest brother James and his next brother George Hamilton of Greenlaw and Roscrea, Claud was an undertaker in the plantation. However, he must not be confused with Claud Hamilton of Clonyn, who was an undertaker in County Cavan. Claud Hamilton of Shawfield was granted the small proportions of Killeny and Teadane (or Eden).[28] A small proportion in the Fews precinct in County Armagh was granted to "Claude Hamilton".[29] It seems not to be known which Claud Hamilton this was.

The small proportion of Teadane was in County Londonderry on the boundaries of Coleraine and Loughinsholin baronies.[30] At the time the Loughinsholin barony was in County Tyrone but it became in 1613 part of the new County Londonderry.

In 1618 and 1619 Hamilton built a castle on his land.[31] This castle stood near the village of Donemana which probably was part of the Killeny proportion. The site is perhaps that now occupied by the ruin of the Earlsgift Castle.[32] The name Killenny now refers to a townland in the Donaghedy Parish of the Strabane Lower barony. This townland is 225 acres big and lies south of Donemana on the right bank of Burn Dennett.[33]

It is sure that Claud Hamilton was a knight, but it is not known when this honor was bestowed on him. It seem that it is in the context of the plantation of Ulster that he is called "Sir Claude" (sic) for the first time.[34] He might of course have been knighted much earlier.

Some of his papers are held by the University of Edinburgh among the Laing manuscripts. These include estate papers relating to Ireland and Scotland, a lengthy inventory detailing fabrics, a taylor's bill from 1614, and bill for hats, pewter, and other items.[35]

These bills detail costume accessories for his family and his brother Frederick, bought in London, including; a "white satin piccadill with two laced bands of the newest fashion for a young woman", a "fine satin picadell for Phredrik of the newest fashion", with "two pair of worset stockings meet for a large young woman's leg", and "thirty yards of flowered taffeta or some other bonny stitched [embroidered] stuff for his daughters". A waistcoat of crimson taffeta was bought at the Sign of the Horse Shoe in the Old Exchange.[36]

Claud Hamilton was appointed to the Privy Council of Ireland on 11 February 1613.[37][38][39]

His wife died in September 1613.[40]

Sir Claud Hamilton of Shawfield died in Dublin on 19 October 1614.[41] The Laing papers contain a letter that describes the event in detail.[42] Robert Maxwell, an Anglican priest and Dean of Armagh, was called to his bedside because he was skilled as a physician.[43] Sir Claud Hamilton, constable of the Fort of Toome, also was there.[44] Claud Hamilton of Shawfield predeceased his father who would die in 1621 and his mother who would die in 1616.[45] Administration of his estate was granted to his eldest son William only 15 years later on 29 November 1629.[46]

Sir Claud Hamilton of Shawfield (died 1614) is sometimes confused with Sir Claud Hamilton (died 1640), constable of the Fort of Toome, and with Sir Claud Hamilton of Clonyn (died before 1618), father of Sir Francis Hamilton, 1st Baronet, of Killock.[47] According to James Balfour Paul:

"He is confounded by Lodge with Sir Claud Hamilton of Castle Toome, in the county of Antrim, eldest son and heir of Sir Claud Hamilton of Cocknogh, and brother of Archibald Hamilton, Archbishop of Cashel 1640 to 1659. It was this Sir Claud who, by privy seal, dated at Westminster 6 October 1618, was made Constable of the Castle or Fort of Toome on the surrender of Sir Thomas Phillips. By his first wife he had no issue. He married, secondly, Anne, daughter of Sir Henry Colley of Castle Carbery, in the county of Kildare, and had a son Robert, who died an infant, and three daughters. He died, 5 June 1640, at Roscrea in the county of Tipperary, and was buried in the monastery there. (Funeral entry, Ulster's Office.) He is not to be confused with Sir Claud Hamilton, second son of Sir Alexander Hamilton of Innerwick, who was granted the lands of Clonyn, otherwise Taghleagh, in the county of Cavan, by patent dated 23 June 1610, and died vita patris before February 1618. He married Jane, daughter of Robert Lauder of the Bass, and left, with other issue, Sir Francis Hamilton of Killagh, otherwise Castle Hamilton, co. Cavan, who was created a Baronet of Nova Scotia 29 September 1628."[48]