JAMES HAMILTON OF AIKENHEAD

Merchant in Glasgow; Burgess and Guild Brother of Glasgow: Sometime Provost of Glasgow

James Hamilton of Aikenhead, here treated, is the son of James Hamilton of Torrance and his wife Catherine Hamilton. [A History of the House of Hamilton. By George Hamilton (Edinburgh, 1933), p. 854. See pages 850-8 for an account of the Hamiltons of Torrance]

Burgess and Guild Brother of Glasgow

James Hamilton of Aikenhead, merchant, was enrolled as a burgess and Freeman of Glasgow on 31 January 1589-90. His burgess fine was modified at the request of James Hamilton of Peill. James R. Anderson, The Burgesses and Guild Brethren of Glasgow, 1573-1750 (Scottish Record Society, 1925), p. 19

The Ten Pound Lands of Meikle and Little Aikenheids

On 22 October 1611 Sir James Maxwell of Calderwood sold the ten pound lands of old extent of Meikle and Little Aikenheids to James Hamilton, merchant in Glasgow, and his wife Elizabeth Adam, in conjunct fee and liferent, and to Robert Hamilton their eldest lawful son and his heirs in fee, whom failing to the heirs and assignees of James Hamilton. For greater security James Hamilton obtained a charter of confirmation under the Great Seal of Scotland on 17 December 1611. Registrum Magni Sigilli Regum Scotorum: Register of the Great Seal of Scotland, A.D. 1609-20, charter number 597 on page 224

The Nine Pound Ten Shilling Lands of Langsyde

On 28 November 1615 Bryce Blair of that Ilk sold the nine pound ten shilling lands of old extent o Langsyde in the barony of Renfrew to James Hamilton of Aikenhead and his wife Elizabeth Adam and their heirs. For greater security James Hamilton of Aikenhead obtained a charter of confirmation under the Great Seal of Scotland on 10 January 1616. Registrum Magni Sigilli Regum Scotorum: Register of the Great Seal of Scotland, A.D. 1609-20, charter number 1368 on pp. 496-97

His Last Will and Testament

James Hamilton of Aikenhead made his last will and testament at Glasgow on 18 April 1630. He nominated and appointed his wife, Margaret Ross, and his second son, Mr. James Hamilton, to be is only executors and intromitters with his moveable estate. He left a number of legacies. (1) He left ten thousand merks to his wife Margaret Ross. (2) He left two sums of money to his second son James Hamilton, ten thousand merks, and an annualrent of five hundred merks "his provisione be vertew of his contract of marriage." (3) He left five thousand merks to his youngest son John Hamilton: "Item to Johne Hamiltoun his youngest son ffyve thousand marks money compting thrin his bairnes pairt of geir and portioune naturall qlk fell & belongit to him be deceis of umqle Elizabethe Adame his mother or can fall to him be deceis of the said James his father." (4) He left ten thousand merks to Margaret Hamilton, his eldest daughter by Margaret Ross. (5) He left five thousand merks to his youngest daughter Marie Hamilton. (6) He left three thousand merks to to Agnes Hamilton, his eldest daughter (presumably his eldest daughter by Margaret Adam), and to ? Mowat, her husband, for his interest, and their children. (7) He left the proceeds of several heritable bonds to his eldest son Robert Hamilton. (8) He left two hundred pounds money to his brother Matthew Hamilton. On 24 June 1634 Robert Hamilton of Aikenhead acted himself as cautioner for the executors testamentar, that is Margaret Ross, the widow of the deceased James Hamilton of Aikenhead, and James Hamilton his second son, and confirmation was granted to them on 1 July 1634. [National Records of Scotland, Glasgow Commissary Court, The Testament Testamentar of James Hammiltoune of Aickinheid, merchant, burges of Glasgow, reference CC9/7/26]

1. Image of Testament
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Death

James Hamilton of Aikenhead died in October 1633. [National Records of Scotland, Commissary Records of Glasgow, Testament Testamentar of James Hammiltoune of Aickinheid, merchant in Glasgow, reference CC9/7/26 pp. 578-87] His eldest son Robert Hamilton of Aikenhead was returned as heir to his deceased father in the lands of Langsyde. Hamilton Memoirs

First Marriage

James Hamilton of Aikenhead married Elizabeth Adam. Hamilton Memoirs

Children of the First Marriage

1. Robert Hamilton of Aikenhead
2. Master James Hamilton, Burgess of Glasgow
3. John Hamilton, Merchant in Glasgow
4. Dame Elizabeth Hamilton
5. Gabriel Hamilton

Second Marriage

James Hamilton of Aikenhead married Margaret Ros before 20 October 1617, the date upon which they were contracted to marry. Margaret Ros was the widow of Archibald Mure, merchant and burgess of Glasgow. [John Maitland Thomson, LL.D. (editor), Registrum Magni Sigilli Regum Scotorum: Register of the Great Seal of Scotland, VOL. 9, A.D. 1634-1651, charter number 1647 on page 622]

Children of the Second Marriage

1. Bessie Hamilton
2. Katherein Hamilton
3. George Hamilton
4. James Hamilton, primus
5. Daniell Hamilton
6. Grissell Hamilton
7. James Hamilton, secundus
8. Mary Hamilton
9. Dame Elizabeth Hamilton

Evidence Published by the National Records of Scotland

                   1

7 April 1597: Note for the Lord President in the petition of James Hamilton of Aikenhead and others for warrant to the director of chancery to receive and record a retour dated 7 April 1597. National Records of Scotland, Papers of Professor Robert K. Hannay, reference GD214/649

                   2

24 November 1618: Receipt by James Hamilton of Aikenhead, burgess of Glasgow, to earl of Eglinton's factor for £190. National Records of Scotland, Montgomerie Family, Earls of Eglinton: Legal and Financial Papers, reference GD3/2/27/8

                   3

4 December 1618: Bond by Alexander, earl of Eglinton to James Hamilton of Aikenhead for 4000 merks. (Signature cut out.) National Records of Scotland, Montgomerie Family, Earls of Eglinton: Legal and Financial Papers, reference GD3/2/27/9

Printed Evidence

1. The Burgesses and Guild Brethren of Glasgow, 1573-1750. Edited by James R. Anderson (Scottish Record Society, Edinburgh, 1925), 571 pp. including indices
2. Registrum Magni Sigilli Regum Scotorum. The Register of the Great Seal of Scotland. A. D. 1609-1620. Edited by John Maitland Thomson, MA., Advocate. (H. M. General Register House, Edinburgh, 1892), 1152 pp. including indices and errata

Genealogy

1. John Anderson, Surgeon, 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. 304-05
2. A History of the House of Hamilton, By George Hamilton. (Edinburgh, 1933), See pages 850-58 for an account of the Hamiltons of Torrance