Matthew Hamilton of Torrance

MATTHEW HAMILTON OF TORRANCE

Bogus Genealogy

FamilyCentral has identified Matthew Hamilton of Torrance as the grandson of James, Lord Hamilton, and his second wife Princess Mary, daughter of James II King of Scots, but this is nonsense. FamilyCentral: Matthew Hamilton

The Question of Identity

Matthew Hamilton of Torrance is the eldest son of Robert Hamilton of Torrance He had sasine of one fifth part of the lands of Bawormy and Little Park in 1536. [Lieutenant-Colonel George Hamilton, A History of the House of Hamilton (J. Skinner & Company, Edinburgh 1933), page 853]

Charter Witness

Matthew Hamilton of Torrance was a witness to charters in favour of his uncle Andrew Hamilton of Ardoch which were issued at the Colliegiate church of Bothwell on 18 December 1543. RMS 1546-1580: charters numbered 52-53 on pp. 12-13

Inquisition Post Morton

On 27 March 1550 Mattew Hamilton of Torrance was a member of the Assize which returned Elizabeth Maxwell as heir to her deceased great-grandfather Sir John Maxwell of Calderwood. It is very likely his son Robert Hamilton in Torrance who is noticed as a member of the same assize. Memoirs of the Maxwells of Pollock, i, document number 140 on pp. 293-94

Death

Matthew Hamilton may have died soon after 27 March 1550. His son Robert is certainly noticed as Hamilton of Torrance on 18 March 1558, when he served as a member of the assize with returned John Maxwell of Calderwood as heir to his deceased father Robert Maxwell of Calderwood Memoirs of the Maxwells of Pollock, I: document number 143 on pp. 195-6

Marriage

Matthew Hamilton of Torrance married a daughter of Muirhead of Lauchope. Historical and Genealogical Memoirs of the House of Hamilton George Hamilton identifies Matthew's wife as Jean Muirhead [Lieutenant-Colonel George Hamilton, The House of Hamilton (Edinburgh, 1933), page 853 for Matthew Hamilton of Torrance. See pages 850-58 for an account of the Hamiltons of Torrance]

Children

Matthew Hamilton of Torrance and his wife Jean Muirhead had five children:

1. Robert Hamilton of Torrance
2. James Hamilton of Torrance
3. Alexander Hamilton
4. Archibald Hamilton
5. Katherine Hamilton

Genealogy

1. Historical and Genealogical Memoirs of the House of Hamilton
2. Heraldry of the Hamiltons
3. Darryl Lundy's Peerage
4. Lieutenant-Colonel George Hamilton, A History of the House of Hamilton (J. Skinner & Company, Edinburgh 1933), 1167 pages