CHAPTER XIII
CAPT. JOHN HAMILTON AND HIS
DESCENDANTS.
John Hamilton[1], the eldest son of the Rev. Nicholas
Hamilton (Chap XII), served in the 5th Foot; Ensign 31 Aug 1776;
Lieut. 21 Jan 1779; Capt. 18 Oct 1793; Paymaster 9 Jan 1799; retired 2 Dec
1813; died 1829. His
great-great-grand-daughters, the Misses Hamilton, (see footnote 2 to Chap XV) who reside at Folkestone, have a
portrait of him in oils as a young man in the uniform of his regiment. His war services were: - served in the
American War of Independence, and was taken prisoner[2];
served in the expedition to Den Helder in 1799; embarked with the left wing of
the 1st Batt. 5th Foot, 9 Dec 1805, at Ramsgate with the
forces under Lord Cathcart destined for the defence of Hanover. The transport was wrecked off the Texel, and
all the troops on board were made prisoners by the Dutch. He was soon afterwards liberated (by
exchange); expedition to Buenos Ayres under Brigadier-Gen Robert Crawford
1806-7; expedition to Portugal 1808; actions of Rolica and Vimeira; operations
in Spain under Sir John Moore; Battle of Corunna; expedition to Walcheren 1809;
embarked in May 1812, for the Peninsula and landed in Lisbon, but soon
afterwards returned to England and never rejoined his Battalion. He married Catherine (who died in 1844), da.
of John Spring, Esq., of Dingle, Co. Kerry and Mary his wife.
The following were their children:
(1)
Nicholas, of whom later, (See Chap XIV);
(2)
John Spring, of whom later (See Chap XV)
(3)
James Bunbury; served in the 5th Foot; Ensign 25 September 1809;
Lieut. 23 July 1812; Halfpay, 10th Dragoons, 18 December 1828;
Captain 2 December 1844; Major 4 Sept 1860; Adjutant Bristol Recruiting
District 1844 to 1860. Married Margaret
Fetherstonhaugh; died s.p. at Clevedon, Somersetshire, 1868. War service: - Served in the Peninsula. Present at the Battle of Salamanca. Carried Queens's Colour; was slightly wounded (Ensign W. Pratt, whose
sister his brother John married, carried the regimental colour,
and was seriously wounded.) Medal and
clasp;
(4)
William Hamilton; served in the 5th Foot; Ensign 10th
Sept 1803; Lieut. 7 Aug 1804; Capt. 27 Sept 1809. War service: - Embarked with
the left Wing of the 1st Batt. 5th Foot 9 Dec 1805, at
Ramsgate with the forces under Lord Cathcart, destined for the defence of
Hanover. The transport was wrecked off
Texel, and all troops on board were made prisoners by the Dutch. He was soon afterwards liberated (by
exchange). Took part in the Expedition
to Buenos Ayres under Brigadier-General Robert Crawford 1806-7. Attack on Buenos Ayres, and all skirmishes
before that place. Expedition to
Portugal 1808; Actions of Rolica and
Vimiera; Operations in Spain under Sir
John Moore; Battle of Corunna;
Expedition to Walcheren 1809; At
siege of Flushing; died at Deal, Kent,
of the Walcheren fever on 1st Oct 1809.
(5)
Richard, of whom later (See Chap XVI)
(6)
Thomas Talbot, of whom later (see Chap XVII)
(7)
Catherine, ob s.p. 1879
(8)
Elizabeth, ob s.p. at Lisbon[3]
(9)
Mary, of whom presently;
(10)
Louisa, of whom presently.
Mary Hamilton m. Major Bullivant, 5th
Foot, and had two sons: John Bullivant, in Holy Orders, Rector of Pytchley,
Northants, who m. his cousin Elizabeth Laughlin, and had three children – John
Bullivant, Alice Bullivant and Mary Bullivant.
Louisa Hamilton m. Edward Laughlin, and
had the following children:-
(1)
Edward Laughlin; Ensign 41st Regiment; served in the Crimean War; an
afterwards in Holy Orders; twice married; ob 1883;
(2)
Frederick Laughlin, in Holy Orders, m. Elizabeth Clarke and had several
children, including Adam Clarke Laughlin, in Holy Orders, Sec. in India to
S.P.G.;
(3)
Catherine Laughlin, m. James Powell;
(4) Elizabeth
Laughlin m. her cousin the Rev. John Bullivant.
[1] It seems this may be the first generation to reside on the mainland? C.F.B.H.
[2] One wonders what part was played during that war (on the other side) by his cousin John Hamilton who emigrated to America (see Chap VIII) !! C.F.B.H.
[3] Possibly while visiting her father and brothers who were serving nearby at that stage of the Peninsula campaign. C.F.B.H.