CHAPTER XI
CAPT. CHARLES HAMILTON, SON OF PATRICK
HAMILTON OF KILLETER
Charles Hamilton was appointed Ensign in
Colonel Dubourgay's Regt. of Foot 1716; Lieut. in Col Richard Lucas's Regt. of
Foot (now 38th of South Staffordshire Regt) 1722; Lieut. In the 10th
Dragoons (10th Hussars) when three new troops were raised for it in
1726; Capt. in 1743; retired before 1754.
The 10th Dragoons were raised in 1715, Humphrey Gore being
the first Colonel. Charles Churchill
(son of Charles Churchill, brother of the Great Duke of Marlborough) became in
1723 the next Colonel. Richard Viscount
Cobham succeeded him in 1745, and Sir John Mordaunt became Col. In 1749. Charles Hamilton describes himself in his
will, dated in 1781, as "late a Capt. of a troop in a Regiment of Dragoons
commanded by Sir John Mordaunt."
Cobham's Dragoons fought with distinction at Culloden (16th
April 1746), Charles Hamilton serving with the regiment, and in May and June of
that year was stationed at Forfar in charge of his dragoons during which time
James Wolfe (then A.D.C. to General Hawley and afterwards the Hero of Quebec)
had considerable official correspondence with him which illustrates the
unpleasant character of the work in hand – namely hunting of rebels and seeking
for arms, cattle and other property of the rebels. There are three letters from James Wolfe to Charles Hamilton
published in the "Life and Letters of James Wolfe" by Beckles
Willson, 1909; and in all of them the writer states that the Duke of
Cumberland, to whom Charles Hamilton's letters had been shown, was well
satisfied with the way in which his duties had been carried out.
The approval of his commanding officer did
not, however, save him from trouble arising out of this discharge of his
duties, for we find that legal proceedings were taken against him in the Court
of Session in Scotland in July, 1746, by one Thomas Ogilbie, a merchant of
Dundee, he then being quartered in the town of Forfar, because he had caused
cattle to be turned out of Ogilbie's lands to make room for the horses of his
Dragoons; and because he had taken possession of the mansion house of Cowl in
the occupation of David Ogilbie; and, in the quaint language of Scots law, had
"rouped his whole household furniture, horses, cattle, and other movables
and had intimated a sale of all his growing crops." The Complainer Thomas Ogilbie and his tenant
David were admittedly rebels, and Charles Hamilton in his defence stated that
he was merely carrying out his orders in taking their property. This did not avail him in the eyes of the
judges, and at the first hearing, the case was decided against him – perhaps
the fact of his being a southroner (sic) was not in his favour. He then brought an appeal, when he had
assistance of the Crown lawyers – the petition for appeal being prepared by the
Lord advocate – with the result that the proceedings were dropped, and his expenses
were paid by the Treasury. The petition
for appeal brought out the fact that at the first hearing it was assumed that
he had put the money obtained at the "roup" or sale of the
Ogilbie's goods into his own pocket,
the truth being that he distributed it all among his Dragoons.[1]
Charles Hamilton mentions his house at
Montpelier Row, Twickenham, in his will and directs that he is to be buried at
Teddington Churchyard. He bequeathed
his house at Twickenham and other property to his nephew Thomas Hamilton
"of Annsbrook in the Kingdom of Ireland," and expresses a wish that
someone in the family would live in his house.
He also mentions his grand-nephew William and grand-niece Angel,
children of his nephew Thomas.
Charles Hamilton died on the 7th
January 1784, aged 90 years, and was buried at Teddington on the 13th
January 1784. His will, which is dated
25th March 1781, was proved in the Court of Prerogative on the 13th
January 1784. It is observed that Sir
Patrick Hamilton, who was a nephew of Charles Hamilton, died at Twickenham on
the 22nd August 1780 – probably at the latter's house.
In the "Memorials of
Twickenham", by the Rev. R.S.Cobbett, M.A., the following particulars are
given of Montpelier Row where Chas. Hamilton lived: - "About the year
1720, Capt. Gray, who possesses an estate at Twickenham, built on a part of it
a row of houses called Montpelier Row, and for the convenience of the
inhabitants he erected in 1727 a "small neat chapel". Montpelier Row, which contains about twenty-four
houses, intersected about two-thirds of the way down by Twickenham chapel, has
frequently supplied residences for persons and families of distinction, some
few of which may be here mentioned. The row runs at right angles to the river
on the south side of the Richmond Road exactly opposite North End House to
South End House at its lower termination." "At the end of the last century Capt. Charles Hamilton
inhabited No. 12"
[1] See Hardwicke Papers, Vol. DXLII, papers relating to Scotland, 1745-1752 Brit Museum Additional MSS. 35890