Robert Hamilton of Torrance

ROBERT HAMILTON OF TORRANCE

Spurious Pedigree

FamilyCentral has misidentified Robert Hamilton of Torrance here treated as the son of James, Lord Hamilton, and his second wife Princess Mary, daughter of James II, King of Scots. Lord Hamilton did have a son named Robert, but he was the Seigneur d'Aubigny, and is certainly not the same person as Robert Hamilton of Torrance. Family Central: Robert Hamilton

The Question of Identity

Robert Hamilton of Torrance , here treated, is the eldest son of James Hamilton of Torrance. Memoirs of the Maxwells of Pollock, i, pp. 198-99 The name of his mother is not certainly known but his father is said to have married Anne ffrogg. [Lieutenant Colonel George Hamilton, The House of Hamilton (Edinburgh, 1933), see pages 850-58 for an account of the Hamiltons of Torrance] It should also be noted that the late John Anderson wrongly identified Robert Hamilton of Torrance as a son of James Hamilton and Christian Stewart, and wrongly identified Christian Stewart as the mother of James Hamilton of Torrance, rather than as the mother of James Hamilton of Peill. Hamilton Memoirs

On 26 February 1486 Robert Hamilton son and apparent heir of James Hamilton of Torrance witnessed a sasine made in favour of Gavinn Maxwell son and apparent heir of Sir John Maxwell of Calderwood.Memoirs of the Maxwells of Pollock, i, pp. 198-99 He is very likely the same person as: "Rob. Hammiltoun filio et apparente herede Jacobi H. de Torrens" who witnessed a charter issued by Alexander Lindsay of Dunrod on 3 January 1494. Registrum Magni Sigilli Regum Scotorum: Register of the Great Seal of Scotland, A.D. 1414-1513, charter number 2229 on page 471

Death

Robert Hamilton of Torrance died before 1 June 1536, upon which date his brother James Hamilton, identified as the brother of the deceased Robert Hamilton of Torrance: "Jacobo Hammyltoun fratri quondam Roberti H. de Torrens." On that date James Hamilton and his wife Cristine Stewart had a charter for the sixteen shilling eight penny lands of Meikle Calderwood. Registrum Magni Sigilli Regum Scotorum: Register of the Great Seal of Scotland, A.D. 1513-1546, charter number 1590 on page 354

Marriage

Robert Hamilton of Torrance is said to have married Elizabeth Campbell, the daughter of Campbell of Glaisters. [Lieutenant-Colonel George Hamilton, The House of Hamilton (Edinburgh, 1933), see pages 850-58 for an account of the Hamiltons of Torrance] Campbell of Glaisters is referred to as the "Goodman of Glaisters" by John Anderson Historical and Genealogical Memoirs of the House of Hamilton and his daughter Elizabeth Campbell is the "Miss Goodman of Glaisters" who is referred to in error by G. Harvey Johnston Heraldry of the Hamiltons

Children

According to Lieutenant-Colonel George Hamilton, Robert Hamilton of Torrance and his wife Elizabeth Campbell had four children [Lieutenant-Colonel George Hamilton, A History of the House of Hamilton (J. Skinner & Company, Edinburgh, 1933) pp. 850-58 for the Hamiltons of Torrance]. Their names follow:

1. Matthew Hamilton of Torrance
2. Allan Hamilton of Bogtoun
3. Allan Hamilton of Bogtoun
4. Margaret Hamilton

John Anderson suggests that Robert Hamilton of Torrance and Elizabeth Campbell were the father and mother of James Hamilton of Piell Historical and Genealogical Memoirs of the House of Hamilton but this is wrong.

Presently it cannot be regarded as certain but it is possible that Robert Hamilton of Torrance and Elizabeth Campbell had another two children. Their names follow:

1. Janet Hamilton
2. Thomas Hamilton of Inchmachan

Evidence from the National Records of Scotland

         1

29 April 1500 Acta Dominorum Concilii, 1496-98, vii, pp. 412-3

         2

5 December 1500 Acta Dominorum Concilii, 1496-98, vii, p. 467

         3

On 24 July 1505 Robert Hamilton of Torrance had a gift from the crown of all the mails, fermes, and profits of the half merk land of old extent of Brouncastell, which were in the King's hands until the entry of the rightfull heir. Register of the Privy Council of Scotland, i, A.D. 1488-1529, entry 1312 on p. 188

Genealogy

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. 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
4. Lieutenant-Colonel George Hamilton, A History of the House of Hamilton (J. Skinner & Company, Edinburgh 1933), 1167 pages.