Robert Hamilton of Torrance

ROBERT HAMILTON OF TORRANCE

FAKE GENEALOGY

According to FamilyCentral, Robert Hamilton of Torrance was born at Torrance in about 1538 and died in September 1597. FamilyCentral also say that he married Abigail Hamilton in about 1569 and that they had two daughters, Ellin (born about 1570), and Mary (born about 1575) but sources are not cited and no proof is offered. FamilyCentral: Robert Hamilton FamilyCentral goes on to misidentify Robert Hamilton of Torrance as the great-grandson of James, Lord Hamilton, and his wife Princess Mary but this is pure fiction. FamilyCentral: James Hamilton

THE QUESTION OF IDENTITY

Robert Hamilton of Torrance is thought likely to be the eldest son of Matthew Hamilton of Torrance Lieutenant Colonel George Hamilton says this of him: "Robert Hamilton of Torrance appears to have shared the estates with his brother James, as both are indifferently styled "of Torrence." He is probably the man identified as Robert Hamilton in East Torrance, who witnessed the the last will and testament of Allan Hamilton of Bogtoun on 15 October 1564. Robert Hamilton of East Torrance and Master James Hamilton of Peill were appointed as an overseers to Allan Hamilton's children" [National Records of Scotland, Commissary Records of Hamilton and Campsie, Testament Testament of Allan Hamilton in Bogton, reference CC10/5/1 folio 15]

Robert Hamilton of Torrance is noticed as a member of an assize on three occassions between 27 March 1550 and 28 June 1560. [See below] He was escheated in 1568 for being a member of the Queen's party [Lieutenant Colonel George Hamilton, The House of Hamilton (Edinburgh, 1933), see pages 850-58 for an account of the Hamiltons of Torrance] and in 1570 his house at Torrance was burned by an invading English army. Robert Hamilton of Torrance is last noticed on 4 June 1579, when he had his brother James were cited before the Scottish Privy Council. [Lieutenant Colonel George Hamilton, The House of Hamilton (Edinburgh, 1933), see pages 850-58 for an account of the Hamiltons of Torrance]

The Queen's Party

In 1568 Robert Hamilton of Torrance and his younger brother James were escheated for joing the Queen's Party. [Lieutenant Colonel George Hamilton, The House of Hamilton (Edinburgh, 1933), see pages 850-58 for an account of the Hamiltons of Torrance]

The Burning of the House of Torrance

Following the assassination of the Regent Moray by James Hamilton of Bothwellhaugh, at Linlithgow on 23 January 1570. Earl of Moray Queen Elizabeth I of England sent an army into Scotland to assist the Protestant Lords and lift the siege of the Castle of Glasgow. Marian Civil War The House of Torrance was set on fire as the English army, quite probably as they proceeded towards Glasgow. [Lieutenant Colonel George Hamilton, The House of Hamilton (Edinburgh, 1933), see pages 850-58 for an account of the Hamiltons of Torrance]

Death

A date of death has not been identified for Robert Hamilton of Torrance. He is noticed on 4 June 1579, when he had his brother James were cited before the Scottish Privy Council. His brother James appears to have succeeded him before 8 January 1593, when he gave Mungo Anderson a tak for the lands of Leclyok in the barony of Blantyre. Memoirs of the Maxwells of Pollock, i, document number 164 on pp. 321-22

Inquisitions Post Mortem

                   1

On 27 March 1550 Robert Hamilton in Torrance was a member of the Assize which returned Elizabeth Maxwell as heir to her great-grandfather Sir John Maxwell of Calderwood. It is very likely his father Matthew Hamilton of 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

                   2

He is noticed again on 18 March 1558, this time as Robert Hamilton of Torrance, 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. 195-96

                   3

On 28 June 1560 Robert Hamilton of Torrance also served as a member of the assize which returned John Maxwell as heir to his deceased father William Maxwell of Carnevedrick Memoirs of the Maxwells of Pollock, i, document number 144 on pp. 297-98

Evidence from the National Records of Scotland

                  1

13 November 1564 Robert Hamilton of Torrance is noticed in the witness list of a charter charter number 1224 on pp. 408-09

                   2

30 September 1566 Robert Hamilton of Torrance is noticed in the witness list of a charter charter number 1136 on page 376

Published Accounts of the Family

1. John Anderson, Surgeon, Licenciate of the Royal College of Surgeons, Edinburgh Historical and Genealogical Memoirs of the House of Hamilton; with Genealogical Memoirs of the Several Branches of the Family (John Anderson, Jun., Edinburgh, MDCCCXXV), pp. 386-88 for an account of the Hamiltons of Torrance
2. G. Harvey Johnston, FSA Scot., Heraldry of the Hamiltons with Notes on All the Males of the Family, Descriptions of the Arms, Plates and Pedigrees (W. & A. K. Johnston, Limited, Edinburgh and London, MCMIX), pp. 88-91 for an account of the Hamiltons of Torrance
3. Lieutenant-Colonel George Hamilton, A History of the House of Hamilton (J. Skinner & Company, Edinburgh 1933), 1167 pages.