Frederick Hamilton (soldier) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Frederick Hamilton
Ruin of the castle built by Frederick Hamilton at Manorhamilton.
Born	c. 1590
Died	1647
Spouse(s)	Sidney Vaughan
Children	Gustavus & others
Parent(s)	Claud Hamilton, 1st Lord Paisley Margaret Seton
Relatives	7th Lord Seton (grandfather) Frederick Hamilton (grandson) 2nd Viscount Boyne (grandson)

Sir Frederick Hamilton (born around 1590, died 1647) was a brave Scottish soldier. He fought in big wars in Germany for Sweden, and in Ireland, Scotland, and England for a group called the Covenanters. He is famous for building Manorhamilton Castle in County Leitrim, Ireland. His son, Gustavus, later became the first Viscount Boyne.

Early Life and Family Roots

Frederick was born in Scotland around 1590, likely in a town called Paisley. He was the youngest of five sons of Claud Hamilton and his wife Margaret Seton. His father was known as the 1st Lord Paisley.

The Hamilton family was very old and important in Scotland. They were part of the House of Hamilton. Frederick's mother, Margaret, was the daughter of George Seton, 7th Lord Seton. Both his parents were Scottish.

Land in Ireland: The Plantation

Frederick and his brothers were part of a big plan by James VI and I called the Plantations of Ireland. This plan involved giving land in Ireland to Scottish and English settlers.

In March 1620, Frederick was given land in northern County Leitrim. This land had been taken from the O'Rourke clan. Over the next 20 years, he gained even more land, growing his estate to a huge 18,000 acres.

Marriage and Children

On May 20, 1620, Frederick Hamilton married Sidney Vaughan. She was a wealthy heiress, meaning she inherited a lot of money and land. Sidney was the only child of Sir John Vaughan, who was the Governor of Londonderry.

Frederick and Sidney had three sons and one daughter:

• Frederick: He died before 1646 while fighting in Ireland.
• James of Manorhamilton: He died in 1652. He married his cousin Catherine.
• Gustavus: Born in 1642, he later became the 1st Viscount Boyne.
• Christiana: She married Sir George Munro in 1649.

Fighting for Sweden

In November 1631, Frederick joined the Swedish army. He had likely become a Protestant by this time, as the Swedes would not have accepted a Catholic soldier. He became a colonel, leading a Scottish-Irish regiment.

His regiment fought in Germany for 15 months during the Thirty Years' War. They were part of General Tott's army and fought near important rivers like the Elbe and the Rhine. After a few years back in Ireland, he tried to rejoin the Swedish army in 1637, but it didn't work out.

Life and Wars in Ireland

Around 1638, Sir Frederick built Manorhamilton Castle in northern Leitrim. The town of Manorhamilton grew up around this castle.

Frederick was involved in a long legal fight over land in Leitrim with Tirlagh Reynolds. Even though court orders sometimes favored Reynolds, Frederick continued to fight for his land.

During the Irish Rebellion of 1641, Manorhamilton Castle was attacked many times. But it was strong and remained standing. Frederick fought for the Scottish Covenanters to keep the Irish Confederates out of northern Ireland.

On July 1, 1642, Frederick's forces attacked the town of Sligo. They burned part of it, including Sligo Abbey, a religious building. This was to get back at the O'Rourke clan for stealing cattle. A local story says that some of his men got lost in the fog on their way back. A guide on a white horse led them, but tricked them into falling off a cliff. This legend is in a short story by Yeats.

Fighting in Scotland

In September 1643, a ceasefire was agreed in Ireland, but Frederick and the Covenanters didn't accept it. So, the war continued in Leitrim and Ulster. However, after 1643, Frederick left Ireland and went to Scotland.

In Scotland, he became a colonel in the army of the Solemn League and Covenant. This army was fighting against King Charles I. Frederick fought in Scotland and northern England. His sons, Frederick and James, likely took his place leading his regiment in Ireland. Sadly, his son Frederick was killed.

On June 5, 1646, the Covenanter army lost the Battle of Benburb to the Confederates. After this defeat, they left Leitrim and southern Ulster.

Death and Legacy

In 1647, Sir Frederick was about 57 years old. He left the army and moved to Edinburgh, Scotland. He died there later that year, not very wealthy. He hadn't received much payment for his military service from the English parliament.

His son James took over his estates. However, James had two daughters, and so Manorhamilton Castle passed out of the Hamilton family. In 1652, the castle was burned by Ulick Burke, 1st Marquess of Clanricarde, who was leading the royalist forces. The castle then became the ruins we see today.

Images for kids

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  Ruin of the castle built by Frederick Hamilton at Manorhamilton.