Robert De Bellomont, Earl of Leicester

HAMILTON

1. ROBERT De BELLOMONT/BLANCHEMAINE- See BEAUMONT

m. PETRONILLA de GRENTEMESNIL, d. of Hugh de Grentemesnil, descendant of Ansfrid the Dane d. 1190

Robert was the 3rd Earl of Leicester and Lord High Steward of England.

Issue-

Ref:

Americans of Royal Descent: A Collection of Genealogies of American Families Whose Lineage is Traced to the Legitimate Issue of Kings- Charles Henry Browning, Porter & Coates, Philadelphia, 1891- pp.199-200
"The Scottish Nation"- William Anderson, A. Fullarton & Co., Edinburgh, 1880

?2I. WILLIAM De HAMILTON (ROBERT 1)

b. Hambleton, Bucks.
m.c.1215 MARY, d. of Gilbert, Earl of Strathorn

Issue-

· ?3I. GILBERT-

Ref:

?3I. GILBERT (ROBERT 1, WILLIAM 2)

m. ISABELLA RANDOLPH of Strathdon, d. of Sir James Randolph

Gilbert was a witness to a charter confirming the gift of the church at Cragyn to the Abbey of Paisley in 1272.

Issue-

· 4I. WALTER- m.1. ?, 2. MARY GORDON

· II. John- John of Rossaven had a charter from Sir David de Hamilton de Cadyow to the Barony of Fingaltoun, Renfrewshire in 1339.

· III. Hugo-

Ref:

4I. WALTER (ROBERT 1, WILLIAM 2, GILBERT 3)

m.1. ?
2. MARY GORDON, d. of Sir Adam Gordon

Bothwell Castle

In the chartulary of Paisley Sir Walter appears as a witness to the charter by James, Great Steward of Scotland to the monastery of Paisley granting them the privilege of a herring fishery on the Clyde in 1294. In 1292 and 1296 Walter swore allegience to King Edward I for land in Lanarkshire. During the battle for the Scottish crown he was one of Baliol's party. He was appointed Governor of Bothwell castle by Edward II and held that fortress for the English during the battle of Bannockburn. He seems to have been taken into favor by Robert the Bruce since he granted Walter the barony of Cadzow in Lanarkshire besides lands in Linlithgowshire and Wigtonshire. He was justice of Lanark in 1321 and was knighted in 1322. In 1323 he was granted the lands of Kinneil, Larbert and Auldcathy in West Lothian and Kirkcowan in Wigtownshire. He continued to support David Bruce and with the Regent Douglas went to the aid of Berwick which was under siege by the English. He also had command of a force at the battle of Halidon Hill 12 July 1333 in the division of Robert, the High Steward.

Walter's arms are on the "Bute Mazer" a drinking cup exhibited at the National Museum of Scotland that has been dated to soon after the battle of Bannockburn and was probably commissioned by him.

The Bute Mazer- National Museum of Scotland

Issue- both children by Mary

· 5I. DAVID-

· II. John- m. Elizabeth Stewart of Dreghorn. Ancestor of the earls of Haddinton and the Hamiltons of Innerwick.

Ref:

Americans of Royal Descent: A Collection of Genealogies of American Families Whose Lineage is Traced to the Legitimate Issue of Kings- Charles Henry Browning, Porter & Coates, Philadelphia, 1891- pp.199-200
The Scots Peerage- James Balfour Paul, Edinburgh, 1907- Vol. IV, pp.340-2
"The Scottish Nation"- William Anderson, A. Fullarton & Co., Edinburgh, 1880

5I. DAVID (ROBERT 1, WILLIAM 2, GILBERT 3, WALTER 4)

m. MARGARET LESLIE, d. of Sir Walter Leslie, Earl of Ross

Sir David was like his father a faithful follower of David Bruce and after the King's return from France he accompanied him in all his excursions into the northern counties of England. Sir David was taken prisoner with the King at the battle of Durham 17 Oct. 1346 and was considered important enough to be held by William Zouche, Archbishop of York under terms that he not be released except under order of Edward III. He was set free after paying a heavy ransom. David is next mentioned in 1361 when he endowed a chaplainry at Glasgow Cathedral. In 1368 he was confirmed in his lands of Cadzow with the addition of the lands of Eddlewood by David II. He is mentioned as one of the magnates Scotiae at the meeting of the Estates at Scone 27 March 1371 when John, Earl of Carrick was acknowledged as heir to the crown.

Issue-

· 6I. DAVID- m. JANET/JOHANETTA De KEITH, d. before 1392

· II. Walter- ancestor of the Hamiltons of Cambushkeith and Sanquhar

· III. Alan- of Lethberd, Linlithgowshire

· IV. John- of Finglatoun

· V. _______- m. Simon Roberton of Earnock

Ref:

Americans of Royal Descent: A Collection of Genealogies of American Families Whose Lineage is Traced to the Legitimate Issue of Kings- Charles Henry Browning, Porter & Coates, Philadelphia, 1891- pp.199-200
The Scots Peerage- James Balfour Paul, Edinburgh, 1907- Vol. IV
"The Scottish Nation"- William Anderson, A. Fullarton & Co., Edinburgh, 1880

6I. DAVID (ROBERT 1, WILLIAM 2, GILBERT 3, WALTER 4, DAVID 5)

m. JANET/JOHANETTA De KEITH of Galstone (m.2. Sir Alexander Stewart of Darnley)
d. before 1392

Cadyow Castle

Sir David was knighted by Robert II who in 1377 made him a grant of the lands of Bothwell muir. Janet was heiress of her father's estate. David was the first to be called Lord of Cadzow.

Issue-

· I. Elizabeth- m. Sir Alexander Fraser of Cowie and Dores

· 7II. JOHN- m. JANET DOUGLAS, d. of Sir James Douglas of Dalkeith

· III. George- of Boreland, Aryshire

· IV. William- of Bathgate

· V. Andrew- of Udston

· VI. John- of Bardowie

Ref:

Americans of Royal Descent: A Collection of Genealogies of American Families Whose Lineage is Traced to the Legitimate Issue of Kings- Charles Henry Browning, Porter & Coates, Philadelphia, 1891- pp.199-200
The Scots Peerage- James Balfour Paul, Edinburgh, 1907- Vol. IV, p. 344
"The Scottish Nation"- William Anderson, A. Fullarton & Co., Edinburgh, 1880

7II. JOHN (ROBERT 1, WILLIAM 2, GILBERT 3, WALTER 4, DAVID 5, DAVID 6)

m. JANET DOUGLAS, d. of Sir James Douglas of Dalkeith

While returning from France in 1398 with Sir John Hamilton of Fingaltoun and some others Sir John was captured at sea by the English. Complaints of this breach of faith sent by the Scottish government prompted King Richard II to issue an order on 28 Oct. 1398 for them to be set free and the ship and cargo returned. In 1399 Sir John was an ambassador to England and was present at the negociations with the Duke of Lancaster to prolong the truce.

There is not record of his death, however, he appears on the list of captives after the battle of Homildon Hill in 1402 and may have been one of the prisoner fatalities.

Homildon Hill

Issue-

· I. Catherine- m. Sir William Baillie of Lamington

· 8II. JAMES- m. JANET LIVINGSTONE

· III. David- of Dalserf

· IV. Thomas- of Darngaber. Thomas was a prisoner of war and was released from the Tower of London 12 Apr. 1413.

· V. Walter- ancestor of the Hamiltons of Raplock

Ref:

Americans of Royal Descent: A Collection of Genealogies of American Families Whose Lineage is Traced to the Legitimate Issue of Kings- Charles Henry Browning, Porter & Coates, Philadelphia, 1891- pp.199-200
The Scots Peerage- James Balfour Paul, Edinburgh, 1907- Vol. IV
"The Scottish Nation"- William Anderson, A. Fullarton & Co., Edinburgh, 1880

8II. JAMES (ROBERT 1, WILLIAM 2, GILBERT 3, WALTER 4, DAVID 5, DAVID 6, JOHN 7)

m. JANET LIVINGSTONE

James is first mentioned in 1397 in a writ by his father Sir John Hamilton granting him the lands and privileges of Kinneil. Sir James and his brother David were given safe-conduct passes 6 Sept. 1413 from Henry V to travel as far as Calthorpe castle in Lincolnshire. He was one of the hostages for James I, his estate valued at 500 merks, and was allowed to return to Scotland in 1421. In 1424 he was one of the sureties for the King in London. He was first confined at Fotheringay Castle and then at Dover Castle and appears to have been released by 1426.

Dover Castle

James married Janet Livingston before 1422 when he received a charter of the lands of Schawis from his father in law Sir Alexander Livingston of Callander.

It is interesting to note that the data from DNA testing from the Hamilton Surname DNA Project suggests that Sir John was not the father of James.

Issue-

· 9I. JAMES- m.1. EUPHEMIA GRAHAM (m.1. Archibald Douglas, d. 1439), 2. 1474 Princess MARY STEWART (m.1. Thomas Boyd), d. 1479

· II. Alexander- of Silvertonhill and Westport

· III. John- of Whistleberry

· IV. Gavin- m. Jean Muirhead "the Fair Maid of Lechbrunnock". Provost of the collegiate church of Bothwell. Ancestor of the Hamiltons of Dalzell.

· V. Robert-

· VI. Elizabeth- m. ______ Chalmers of Gadgirth

Ref:

Americans of Royal Descent: A Collection of Genealogies of American Families Whose Lineage is Traced to the Legitimate Issue of Kings- Charles Henry Browning, Porter & Coates, Philadelphia, 1891- pp.199-200
The Scots Peerage- James Balfour Paul, Edinburgh, 1907- Vol. IV
"The Scottish Nation"- William Anderson, A. Fullarton & Co., Edinburgh, 1880

9I. JAMES (ROBERT 1, WILLIAM 2, GILBERT 3, WALTER 4, DAVID 5, DAVID 6, JOHN 7, JAMES 8)

m.1. EUPHEMIA GRAHAM (m.1. Archibald Douglas, d. 1439)
2. 1474 Princess MARY STEWART (m.1. Thomas Boyd, Earl of Arran)
d. 1479

James was made a Lord of Parliament by Royal Charter 3 July 1445 under the title of Lord Hamilton of Cadzow. In 1449 he was one of the commissioners appointed to renew a truce with England.

Sir James obtained from Pope Sextus V authority to make the parish church of Hamilton (formerly Cadzow) into a collegiate church with endowments for a Provost and six Canons. A new church was built in 1732 and the old Gothic church constructed by Sir James was pulled down except for one of the aisles which covers the vault of the Hamilton family. In 1450 he went with the Earl of Douglas on his tour to Rome and after their return to Scotland the next year they went on a pilgrimage to St. Thomas' tomb at Canterbury.

Old Parish Church- Hamilton

He joined the confederacy with Douglas, Moray, Crawford and Ross and in 1452 when King James invited Douglas to the fatal conference in Stirling castle he accompanied him to the gate, but was thrust back by the porter and upon drawing his sword he was held back until the gate was closed. Afterwards when he heard of Douglas' murder he realized that his being denied entrance was done for his safety. A friend in the castle who secretly conveyed a pair of spurs to Sir James (a hint for him to escape) gave the first clue to Douglas' friends in town of his fate. Sir James continued to support the Douglas clan and therefore the King in Nov. 1454 after ravaging Douglasdale proceeded to James' lands in Avondale and Clydesdale which he also destroyed. He then went to England to obtain aid from Henry VI and obtained a large amount of money with which he equipped 600 men. Soon after the Earl of Douglas with 40,000 men took up arms against the King. He camped on the south bank of the Carron about 3 miles from Torwood in Stirlingshire. The King advanced from Stirling with an army of 30,000 men. At this crises Bishop Kennedy sent a message to Sir James offering in the King's name a pardon and great rewards if he deserted Douglas and submitted to the government. James then went to Douglas as his troops were deserting and told him that he would probably never again be at the head of a more formidable force and that he would find it very difficult to keep his troops together longer. The Earl replied: "That if you are tired or afraid, you may be gone". That night Sir James collected his troops and took them over to the Royal camp and was received by the King with open arms. Because of other desertions Douglas was left with only 200 cavalry and headed for the border. In 1455 the Earl renewed his attack on the Royalists, but was stopped at Ancrum moor in Teviotdale by the force under the Earl of Angus and Sir James. Douglas was run out of the Kingdom. Sir James obtained from his grateful King grants of land in Lanarkshire and of Fynnart in Renfrewshire forfeited by the Earl of Douglas. He also warded Roslin Castle for a short time and was created Sheriff of Lanark in July 1455.

Roslin Castle

In 1455 he was appointed one of the commissioners to negociate with Lord Montague in York. He was ambassador again in 1461, 1471, 1472 and in 1474. In 1476 he was one of the commissioners appointed to talk with the English to prolong the truce and to negociate a marriage between Princes Cicely the daughter of Edward IV and the Duke of Rothesay, Prince of Scotland. The union never took place. James frequently was one of the judges in the "Acta Dominorum Concilii" during 1478 and 1479.

Issue- first two children by Euphemia, next three by Princess Mary.

· 10I. ELIZABETH- m.c.1459 DAVID LINDSAY

· II. Agnes- m. Sir James Hamilton of Preston

· III. James- Earl of Arran

· 11IV. ELIZABETH- m. Apr. 1494 MATTHEW STEWART, Earl of Lennox

· V. Robert- Seigneur d'Aubigny

· VI. Patrick- m. Margaret Stewart,of Kincavil, burnt for heresy in 1528

Ref:

The Scots Peerage- James Balfour Paul, Edinburgh, 1907- Vol. IV
"The Scottish Nation"- William Anderson, A. Fullarton & Co., Edinburgh, 1880

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