William Hamilton (antiquarian) facts for kids

William Hamilton was a Scottish historian and expert in old records. He lived a long life, from the 1630s until 1724. He was known for studying the history of families and places in Scotland.

About William Hamilton

William Hamilton was born in the 1630s. He was the son of William Hamilton of Wishaw, a place in Lanarkshire, Scotland. His family was quite large, and he was the third son. Eventually, he inherited his family's estate at Wishaw.

William Hamilton was very good at studying old things. He was an antiquarian, which means he loved to research and collect old objects, books, and records. He was also a genealogist, someone who studies family histories and how people are related. Other historians, like George Crawfurd, thought highly of his work. William Hamilton also supported Alexander Nisbet's important book on family symbols, called System of Heraldry, which came out in 1722. He passed away in 1724 when he was quite old.

His Writings

William Hamilton wrote a book called Account of the Shyres of Renfrew and Lanark. This book was a manuscript, meaning it was handwritten and not printed during his lifetime. After he died, the manuscript went to the Advocates' Library in Edinburgh.

Later, in 1832, his book was finally published. It was edited by William Motherwell. The book describes the main castles and large houses in the areas of Renfrewshire and Lanarkshire. It also shares information about the history of the local families who lived there.

His Family

William Hamilton was married twice. His first marriage was in 1660 to his cousin, Anne Hamilton. They had six sons and one daughter together.

In 1676, he married Mary Erskine. She was the daughter of Sir Charles Erskine. With Mary, William had five more sons and six daughters.

Two of his grandsons became notable:

• William Hamilton, a son from his second marriage, was the father of William Gerard Hamilton.
• Alexander, another son from his second marriage, was the grandfather of William Richard Hamilton.

The Belhaven Title

The Belhaven title is a special family honor that can be passed down. William Hamilton's grandson, Robert, was supposed to inherit the title of Lord Belhaven and Stenton. However, he did not officially use the title.

Later, Robert's eldest son claimed the title and became the seventh Lord Belhaven. His son, Robert Montgomery Hamilton, became the eighth Lord Belhaven and Stenton. In 1875, the title was given to a distant relative, who became the ninth Lord Belhaven and Stenton.