Thomas Hamilton of Torrance

THOMAS HAMILTON OF TORRANCE (aka THOMAS HAMILTOUNE, LORD OF TORRENS)

On 6 February 1416 Thomas Hamilton of Torrance (aka Thomas Hamiltoune, Lord of Torrens) sold certain annualrents from property which he owned in the burgh of Linlithgow to John Gynnis, burgess of Linlithgow. National Records of Scotland, reference AD1/34

The Question of Ancestry

Unequivicol evidence for the ancestry of Thomas Hamilton of Torrance is not presently available and it is difficult or impossible to identify one for him from the published accounts of the family.

G. Harvey Johnston claimed that Thomas was the son of Walter Hamilton, presumed to be the son of Sir John Hamilton of Cadzow Heraldry of the Hamiltons, and John Anderson claimed that he was the son of Thomas de Hamilton of Darngabir, also presumed to be the son of Sir John Hamilton of Cadzow. Historical and Genealogical Memoirs of the House of Hamilton. More recently, Lieutenant Colonel Lieutenant-Colonel George Hamilton suggested that Thomas Hamilton of Torrance may have belonged to the same generation as Walter Hamilton. The gallant Colonel also had this to say about him: "This Thomas may have been a son of Thomas Hamilton of Darngaber but of this there is no proof". He continued: "Both Anderson and the Manuscript in the British Museum derived the family from Thomas Hamilton of Darngaber, alleged to be a younger son of Sir John Hamilton of Cadzow by his wife Jacoba Douglas. ..... however, this does not appear to be probable." [Lieutenant-Colonel George Hamilton, A History of the House of Hamilton (J. Skinner & Company, Edinburgh, 1933), see pages 850-58 for an account of the Hamiltons of Torrance]

His Date of Birth

Evidence for Thomas Hamilton of Torrance's date of birth is not presently available. It seems quite likely, though, probable even, that he was of perfect age when he sold his annualrents in Linlithgow to John Gynnis on 6 February 1416, and if this is the case then he was probably born before 6 February 1385.

The Lands of Torrance

There is no evidence of a connection betweenThomas Hamilton of Torrance and the place named Torrance in East Dunbartonshire Wikipedia Nor is there any evidence of a connection between him and the place named Torrance of Campsie Stirlingshire Place-Names There seems hardly any doubt, however, that he is the ancestor of the Hamilton family who held the lands of Torrance in East Kilbride for upwards of two hundred and thirty years previous to their purchase by James Stewart. These lands are located in East Kilbride parish but they were formerly in the parish of St. Leonard of Torrance Canmore

Death

Thomas Hamilton of Torrance is thought likely to have died befor 5 October 1454, the date upon which his successor, Robert Hamilton of Torrance, made a gift of certain annualrents from property in Linlithgow to the parish Church of Linlithgow, for a chaplain to celebrate mass at the Altar of St. Katherine.National Records of Scotland: Papers of James Beveridge, M.A., Linlithgow, reference GD215/1662

Marriage

According to John Anderson, Thomas Hamilton married the heiress of Torrance in East Kilbride, Lanarkshire, Scotland. Historical and Genealogical Memoirs of the House of Hamilton However, there is no proof of this other than his possession of Torrance.

His Successor

Thomas Hamilton of Torrance was succeeded by:

Robert Hamilton of Torrance

Known Children

Thomas Hamilton of Torrance is certainly known to be the father of:

1. Michael Hamilton of Lochhouse

Suggested Children

G. harvey Johnston Heraldry of the Hamiltons and John Anderson Historical and Genealogical Memoirs of the House of Hamilton both say that Thomas Hamilton of Torrance is the father of:

1. James Hamilton of Woodhall

According to Lieutenant Colonel George Hamilton, the British Museum MS gives Thomas Hamilton of Torrance two daughters whose names are not known. [Lieutenant-Colonel George Hamilton, A History of the House of Hamilton (J. Skinner & Company, Edinburgh, 1933), see pages 850-58 for an account of the Hamiltons of Torrance]

1. Daughter married to the Laird of Tunninghame.
2. Daughter married to the Laird of Halcraig

Published Evidence

                                       1

12 April 1413: The King commands the constable of the Tower of London to liberate from custody ..... Thomas of Hamylton. Calendar of Documents Relating to Scotland, 1357-1509, number 839 on p. 169

Note: The entry in Rymer's Foedera follows: "The K. orders the constable of the Tower of London to liberate Sir James de Douglas, Thomas de Hamylton, and 22 other Scotch prisoners whose names are set forth. Westm. O. ix. 5. H. iv. p. ii. 28. Rymer's Foedera

                                       2

6 February 1415/16: Charter of sale by Thomas Hamiltoun, lord of Torrens to John Gynnis, burgess of Lynl[i]thcu, of annualrent of 16s. due to said Thomas from diverse built lands in said burgh, viz. 6s. from perch of land lying on east side of the market-place between tenement of John Leche, parson of Diserte on north and tenement of Robert Scot on south, and 10s. conjointly from two perches of land, one lying between tenement of deceased Robert Kyncawil on west and tenement of Patrick Ka on east, and the other lying near the church of said burgh between land of John Carnis and land of deceased Sir Robert Aldcathi, all which perches of land Alan Paisley, burgess of said burgh, holds in feu-ferm for said sum of 16s. National Records of Scotland: Crown Office Writs, reference AD1/34

                                       3

23 May 1424: Warrant for safe conducts to ..... Thomas of Hamylton. Calendar of Documents Relating to Scotland, 1357-1509, number 961 on pp. 195-96

                                       4

3 December 1425: Warrant to the King's cousin the Bishop of Winchester, chancellor, for safe conducts till Midsummer next for the following ..... Thomas of Hamyltoun, John of Glasfurde of Welshehawe, servants of James of Hamyltoun. Calendar of Ducuments Relating to Scotland, 1357-1509, number 986 on p. 202

                                        5

21 July 1447: Letters (in Scots) whereby Thomas Hamilton, burgess of Lithqw, grants to John Simson, burgess of same, a piece of land, being part of said Thomas' tenement in burgh of Lithqw, with license "to big a thortur house til the wal of my kechine National Records of Scotland: Henderson Collection, reference GD76/7

                                        6

5 October 1454: Charter by Robert de Hamilton de Torrens in favour of the chaplain celebrating mass at the altar of St Katherine in the parish church of Linlithgow of certain annualrents from property (in Linlithgow) National Records of Scotland: Papers of James Beveridge, M.A., Linlithgow, reference GD215/1662

Published Sources and 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. Sir Thomas Duffus Hardy, D.C.L. (editor), Syllabus (in English) of the Documents Relating to England and Other Kingdoms contained in the Collection known as "Rymer's Foedera" VOL. II 1377-1654 (London and Edinburgh, 1873), 915 pp.
4. Lieutenant-Colonel George Hamilton, A History of the House of Hamilton (J. Skinner & Company, Edinburgh 1933), 1167 pages.