James Hamilton, 1st Viscount Clandeboye

James Hamilton, 1st Viscount Claneboye[1] (c. 1560 – 24 January 1644)[2] was a Scot who became owner of large tracts of land in County Down, Ireland, and founded a successful Protestant Scots settlement there several years before the Plantation of Ulster. Hamilton was able to acquire the lands as a result of his connections with King James I of England, for whom he had been an agent in negotiations for James to succeed Queen Elizabeth I of England.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Hamilton,_1st_Viscount_Claneboye

Created Viscount Claneboye May 4th, 1622. The first generation to settle in Ireland. Acquired Killyleagh Castle.

In 1587 James, the eldest son of Hans Hamilton, was sent to work in Ireland by King James VI. He became a tutor at Trinity College Dublin and in 1622 was elevated to the peerage in recognition of his services and took as his title Viscount Clandeboye and Baron Hamilton. In memory of his parents he erected a tomb in the south-east corner of the graveyard, which is a wonderful example of seventeenth century architecture. Of particular interest in the vault are effigies of his father and mother, kneeling at opposite sides of a sculptured prayer-desk with hands clasped in the attitude of prayer.

Information source: http://www.dunlopkirk.org.uk/hanshamilton.html

Family and succession

Hamilton was the eldest of six sons[3] of Hans Hamilton (1535/6–1608)[2] and Jonet[2] (or Janet),[3] daughter of James Denham, laird of West Shield, Ayrshire.[2] His father Hans was the first Protestant minister of Dunlop in East Ayrshire, Scotland.

Hamilton's first wife was Alice Penicook (sometimes referred to, apparently incorrectly, as Penelope Cooke), and she was with him until at least 1602. His second wife was Ursula Brabazon (died 1625), sixth daughter of Edward Brabazon, 1st Baron Ardee and Mary Smythe, and sister of the 1st Earl of Meath. He divorced Ursula in about 1615 to marry Jane Phillips (died 1661), the mother of his son. She was the daughter of Sir John Phillips of Picton Castle, Pembrokeshire.

Hamilton was succeeded as Viscount Claneboye by his only son James,[2] who was also created Earl of Clanbrassil in 1647. His grandson, Henry Hamilton, 3rd Viscount Claneboye, died in 1675 with no sons and the title became extinct. The name Claneboye was revived in a title in 1800 when his great-great-grandniece Dorcas Blackwood was made 1st Baroness Dufferin and Claneboye.[14]

The eldest son of Hans Hamilton was named James. James Hamilton was sent to Ireland by King James VI of Scotland, as one of his representatives. After the death of Elizabeth I in 1603, James VI of Scotland became King James I of England, and awarded James Hamilton some of the newly confiscated lands in Ulster. The land included the castle and grounds of Killyleagh, county Down, which became the family seat of these Hamiltons. To cut a long story short, the line of this James Hamilton died out, and the estate and lands in Ulster ended up being divided amongst his five brothers. In fact, by the time this happened the five brothers were dead, so it was divided amongst the heirs of the five brothers. This involved a long and protracted legal battle.

Source: https://garymcguire.wordpress.com/2012/10/19/the-curious-connection...

References

• Heraldic visitations of Wales and part of the Marches; between the years 1586 and 1613, under the authority of Clarencieux and Norroy, two kings at arms by Dwnn, Lewys, d. 1616?; Meyrick, Samuel Rush, Sir, 1783-1848, ed; Society for the Publication of Ancient Welsh Manuscripts, Abergavenny. Page 114-115. < Archive.Org >
• Burke's "A genealogical history of the dormant, abeyant, forfeited, and extinct peerages of the British empire" - http://archive.org/stream/agenealogicalhi00burkgoog#page/n278/mode/2up
• Wikipedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earl_of_Clanbrassil
• The Peerage - http://www.thepeerage.com/p14375.htm#i143744