Janet Somerville - John Hamilton of Newton (and John Hamilton of Ferguslie)

Janet Somerville who married John Hamilton of Newton (Then of Ferguslie) died in Ferguslie

From several records, I have seen that his wife is Janet Somerville daughter of Sir John Somerville 1st of cambusnethan. It seems that he gained the ferguslie title from his father or possible a grant from the KIng which included ferguslie. So, I think after his marriage to Janet Somerville, John Hamilton of Newton gained the title/lands of ferguslie when his father died or he was granted the land, and then is known in the book of Wallace as John Hamilton of Ferguslie (granting him his gained title because you wouldn't insult him by dropping his inherited title). They John of Newton then of Elderslie and Janet Somerville had a daughter Janet Hamilton who married William Wallace of Elderslie.

https://archive.org/stream/historicalgeneal00ande#page/466/mode/1up...

According to this: https://archive.org/stream/historicalgeneal00ande#page/466/mode/1up...
John of Oberstoun (father of John of Newton-ferguslie) lost land / titles including ferguslie or spelled ferguslee in this record because he had a remiss for fighting with the Duke of Chatherault. But in 1554 the abbot of paisley restored the lands including ferguslie to the son of John of Orberstoun - John hamilton and his children - janet is list among the grandchildren of John Hamilton of Oberstoun.

umquhile. chiefly Scottish. : of old : former, late, deceased.

John Hamilton of Newton married a daughter of Sir John Somerville of Cambusnethan and his wife Elizabeth Cunningham but Sir James Balfour Paul was unable to identify her first name. [https://archive.org/stream/scotspeeragefoun08pauluoft#page/14/mode/1up The Scots Peerage, viii, p. 14] Her husband is sometimes confused with John Hamilton of Ferguslie but he is a different person. [http://www.ourfamilyhistories.org/getperson.php?personID=I88908&amp... Our Family Histories: John Hamilton] John Hamilton of Newton is the son of James Hamilton of Silvertonhill [https://archive.org/stream/historicalgeneal00ande#page/377/mode/1up... Memoirs of the House of Hamilton, p. 377] and John Hamilton of Ferguslie is the son of John Hamilton of Orbiston. [https://archive.org/stream/historicalgeneal00ande#page/271/mode/1up Ibidem, 271]

I do not think "Our Family Histories" is a historical source and therefore can be unreliable.
According to the Historical and genealogical memoirs of the House of Hamilton https://archive.org/stream/historicalgeneal00ande#page/271/mode/1up...
John Hamilton the Ist by title of Orbistoun is the father of John Hamilton the 1st of Ferguslee. In other records in this memoir as well as in Scottish parliamentary records.: John of Orbistoun got in trouble several times and had lands and titles taken from him, but then lands and titles were later restored again to the family; therefore, he could he was not always recorded as John Hamilton of Ferguslie. He aquired Ferguslie from the abbott of Paisley in 1545 https://books.google.com/books?id=Lz4PAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA109&lpg...

MITCHELL, J. O. “THE WALLACES OF ELDERSLIE.” Transactions of the Glasgow Archaeological Society, vol. 1, no. 1, 1885, pp. 102–115. NEW SERIES, www.jstor.org/stable/24679974.
Notes on page 109 describe John Hamilton of Ferguslie as a cadet of orbiston. In the dictionary the old definition of cadet is younger son of a nobleman, so he was the son of Orbiston.

I agree that "Our Family Histories" is not a source. It was not my intention to suggest that it was. However, I am sure that you will agree that the account they give has probably contributed to the confusion, which seems to have arisen between John Hamilton of Newton and John Hamilton of Ferguslie.

I do not think we should change the lines without agreement of all in this line, and thorough research first. it is unfair to the others to create revisions and change the timeline without agreement.

Neil, I can see what you are saying. I am searching and searching trying to find an answer. The renfrew Wallaces are definitely in the book of Wallace, but I think their link to William "Braveheart" may not be through Somerville, but don't change anything until we get absolute proof and consensus from all parties on this line. It is a rather sensitive change. Helen Somerville daughter of Sir John Somerville, 1st of Cambusnethan is my gggg...grandmother on my mother's side, and I thought her sister Janet a ggg.grandmother on my father's side. But I can see there is a possible discrepancy about Janet Somerville; however, Janet Somerville is said to have died in Ferguslie. And John Hamilton did not aquire ferguslie until 1545. Be careful to look at dates when researching John of ferguslie. The Silverstonhill and Orbiston Hamiltons, do interweave with marriages in different generations. I just wonder if John Hamilton of Newton is the Hamilton that aquired Ferguslie in 1545. The Abbot of Paisley was a John Hamilton as well. If only they didn't name so many kids John. lol

However, William Wallace, the husband of Janet Hamilton, his line of direct parent to parents can be followed directly to William "BraveHeart" Wallace as well going through William Wallace of Elderslie through his Wallace Fathers to Ellen Wallace Heiress of Elderslie, and then through the Baillies to "BraveHeart" He is William Wallace of Elderslie's 8th great grandfather. Maybe that is why some genealogy pages pair him with the daughter of Janet Somerville - she is "BraveHearts" direct 7th great granddaughter.

Neil, the Jonet Levynftone you placed as John Hamilton's wife previously, is actually Janet Livingstone. In this book, it uses old english lettering https://books.google.com/books?id=F-M-AAAAYAAJ&pg=PA80&lpg=...

Dear Ruth,

Thank you very much for the reference to Janet Livingstone. I copied the name from Peter Barns-Graham’s account of the Orbiston family but I will alter it to the modern spelling in due course.

Concerning the discussion about Janet Hamilton Janet Hamilton It was already well under way when I noticed it. This discussion altered me to the fact that someone had merged my profile for John Hamilton of Ferguslee with the profile for John Hamilton of Newton. Following from this, I created a new profile for John Hamilton of Ferguslee and moved his relations to join him.

I have reviewed the history of additions and alterations for the profile of John Hamilton of Newton but it is difficult or impossible for me to unravel them. However, I believe that his profile is now in the correct genealogical position.

In an effort to avoid another bad merge, in the future, I have made some additions and alterations to the overviews of John Hamilton of Newton, his wife Janet Somerville, and their daughter Janet Hamilton:

John Hamilton of Newton

Janet Somerville

Janet Hamilton?from_flash=1&fsession_id=1487709400165&through=6000000013445355809

Kind Regards,

Neil

I think too many cooks spoil the brew. Because so many are merging lines, it is really messing up trees. I wish that others would not alter the line. I think the Wallace curator's advice should be sought and a consensus.