Jane Hamilton

LADY JANE HAMILTON

Lady Jane Hamilton is not the same person as Dame Jean Hamilton They are sisters.

Lady Jane Hamilton is the daughter of James, Earl of Arran, and his wife Lady Margaret Douglas. NRS: GD3/1/10/71/3 She is is incorrectly identified as Jean Hamilton in the Wikipedia Account for her husband. Hugh Montgomerie, 3rd Earl of Eglinton and in Darryl Lundy's Peerage account. Lady Jean Hamilton

James Anderson correctly identified her name as Lady Jane Hamilton but he overlooked that fact that she had a sister named Dame Jean Hamilton Hamilton Memoirs, p. 118

Marriage

While she was still a minor child, Lady Jane Hamilton was contracted to marry the son and heir of Hugh, Earl of Eglinton. The contract was signed on 18 October 1545 NRS GD3/2/4/6 The marriage appears to have taken place, notwithstanding the fact that they were related within the forbidden degree of consanguinity, but they were divorced before 12 August 1552. NRS GD3/1/10/71/3 She is styled: "olim conjux Alexandri magistri de Glencarne" in three charters dated 8 December 1552. The Scots Peerage, iv, p. 241

Death

Lady Jean Hamilton is reported to have died in December 1596. Hamilton Memoirs, p. 118

Evidence from the National Records of Scotland

                   1

18 October 1545: Contract between James, earl of Arran and Hugh, earl of Eglinton, to draw up a marriage contract between a daughter of the former and the heir of the latter when they shall become of age. Subscribed by Arran and Master of Eglinton National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Montgomerie Family, Earls of Eglinton, reference GD3/2/4/6

                   2

12 August 1552: Extract registered contract between James, Duke of Chautellarant, Earl of Arran, Lord Hamilton for Jane Hamilton his daughter and Hugh, Earl of Eglinton. Extract registered contract between James, Duke of Chautellarant, Earl of Arran, Lord Hamilton in name and behalf and taking burden on him for Jane Hamilton his daughter on the one part and Hugh, Earl of Eglinton on the other part whereby on the narrative that the said Jane had been divorced by sentence of the kirk from the said Hugh whereby all good deeds done in respect of the marriage would return to the said Jane conform to the provision in their marriage contract and there through the said Earl's house would be greatly hurt there was some composition made thereupon on the said Earl's binding himself to pay to Jane 6000 merks yearly and to infeft her in security within 40 days in the lands of Estwod except the lands of Herries Croft, the lands of Langsyde, Thankartland, Newlands and Murelies and in an annualrent of £149 11s 9d furth of the barony of Eglissem; to be holden of the Queen the said Duke bound himself that Jane would resign to the Earl all her right to the barony of Ardrossan in which she had been infeft on her marriage Dated at Glasgow Recorded in the Books of Council and Session, 8th March 1562 Witnesses: John Montgomery of Brigend, James Hamilton, brother to James Hamilton of Orbistoun, Master Hugh Montgomery, vicar of Dundonald and others National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Montgomerie Family, Earls of Eglinton, reference GD3/1/10/71/3

                   3

24 October 1562: Charter granted in implement of earlier contract by Hugh, Earl of Eglinton in favour of Jane Hamilton Charter granted in implement of earlier contract by Hugh, Earl of Eglinton in favour of Jane Hamilton, her heirs and assignees of the foresaid lands and annualrent; to hold of the Queen the lands for services used and wont and the annualrent for payment yearly of a penny Scots on the ground of the said barony of Eglissem (Eaglesham) at the feast of Whitsunday in name of feu farm if asked only Dated at Eglissem William, master of Eglinton, witness Pendant seal of Hugh, Earl of Eglinton worn National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Montgomerie Family, Earls of Eglinton, reference GD3/1/10/71/4

                   4

13 November 1562: Letter of reversion granted by Jane Hamilton with consent of James, Duke of Chaitlewlaralt Letter of reversion granted by Jane Hamilton with consent of James, Duke of Chaitlewlaralt, her father whereby she declares that notwithstanding the earlier charter in her favour on Hugh, Earl of Eglinton paying to her the sum of 6000 merks in the parish kirk of Glasgow on 40 days warning before the feast of Whitsunday or Martinmas she would give him regress to the said lands and annualrents Dated at Hamilton Witnesses: Matthew Hamilton of Mylneburne, James Hamilton, brother to John Hamilton of Ormistoun and others National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Montgomerie Family, Earls of Eglinton, reference GD3/1/10/71/6

                   5

17 March 1569: Charter of vendition granted by Lady Jane Hamilton Charter of vendition granted by Lady Jane Hamilton (therein described as Countess of Eglinton) in favour of James Hamilton of Ruchebank his heirs and assignees of the foresaid lands and annualrent; to hold of the King for payment of specified duties Dated at Edinburgh Witnesses: George, Earl of Huntlie, Lord Gordon, Master Gavin, commendator of Kilwinning and Thomas Hamilton of Mortounhill. Seal of Jane Hamilton appended, 3 cinque foils Legend S Dne Jeanne countess de Eglintoun National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Montgomerie Family, Earls of Eglinton, reference GD3/1/10/71/9

                   6

22 May 1573: Extract decree of the Lords of Council and Session Extract decree of the Lords of Council and Session in a process of suspension at instance of Hugh, Earl of Eglinton against Lady Jane Hamilton finding the King's letters charging the said Earl to implement the earlier contract hereof orderly proceeded in respect that John Stewart of Bogtoun was infeft in a part of the lands of Thankertland and Mirreley Dated at Edinburgh National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Montgomerie Family, Earls of Eglinton, reference GD3/1/10/71/11

                   7

5 March 1574:Instrument of intimation made by George Auchinleck of Balmanno procurator of James, Earl of Mortoun Instrument of intimation made by George Auchinleck of Balmanno procurator of James, Earl of Mortoun, Lord of Dalkeith, regent of the King his kingdom and leiges to Hugh, Earl of Eglinton that the foresaid lands and annualrent had been disponed to him by Lady Jane Hamilton reserving her liferent and that she had also made him her assignee to the earlier contract Witnesses: Malcolm Dowglas of Maynes and others James Millar, notary National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Montgomerie Family, Earls of Eglinton, reference GD3/1/10/71/12

                   8

12 July 1591: Instrument of intimation by the procurator of Robert, master of Eglinton to Lady Jane Hamilton Instrument of intimation by the procurator of Robert, master of Eglinton to Lady Jane Hamilton of the assignation in his favour of the letter of reversion to the foresaid lands and annualrent Hugh Garven, notary National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Montgomerie Family, Earls of Eglinton, reference GD3/1/10/71/17

Note

On 18 October 1545 Lady Jane Hamilton was contracted to marry Hugh, Earl of Eglinton. Lady Jane was a minor child on this date but the marriage appears to have taken place. This is proved by the fact that she and her husband were divorced before 12 August 1552. It follows, therefore, that Lady Jane Hamilton must be a different person from Dame Jean Hamilton, who was contracted to marry the Master of Cassillis at a time when Lady Jane was either promissed to or married to Hugh, Earl of Eglinton. Dame Jean Hamilton's contract follows:

10 July 1546: Extract Contract between Gilbert Earl of Cassillis for himself and taking burden for Gilbert Master of Cassillis his son and apparent heir, on the one part, and James Earl of Arran and Governor of Scotland for himself and taking burden for Dame Jean Hamilton his daughter on the other part, by which it is agreed that Gilbert Master of Cassillis and Dame Jean Hamilton shall solemnize marriage with others in the face of the holy kirk as soon as they are of lawful age, and the Earl of Cassillis shall infeft his son and Dame Jean Hamilton in conjunct fee and liferent, in the 43 merk land of Cassillis, lying immediately adjacent to the Castle of Cassillis, as also in the Castle, orchards, parks, fishings, mills and meadows thereof, lying in the barony of Cassillis, For which cause, the Earl of Arran Governor, shall pay in name of tocher with Dame Jean Hamilton his daughter, to the Earl of Cassillis the sum of £2333:6:8 at the terms following viz. at completion of the marriage, the sum of 2000 merks, and thereafter, the sum of £500 yearly ay and until the sum of £2333:6:8 is fully paid - and both parties oblige themselves to observe and fulfil the premisses to others Witnesses - Sir William Hamilton of Sanquhar Knight and Neil Lang. Dated at Dunbarton. NRS: GD25/1/475