I’m starting to think I blog to name things and give them cool title graphics. Either way, I decided to spend my first day back from being a little sick (a lot sick) by analyzing my Agnes again. After my last post, David was gracious enough to send me the scans. It was so fun to look at them. One of my favorite things to do is to decipher handwriting. In fact, I’m pretty obsessed with handwriting and naming patterns. I actually use to “change” my handwriting all the time in school. Just for fun. It’s crazy to look back and see how different I made each change. My signature loops were always a standout. You can change a lot about your handwriting, but some things always stay the same.
Anyway, David was also nice enough to say that I could share the Agnes passage with everyone here on the blog. His only request is that it stay here. I hope everyone respects that. I’ve added a watermark also, showing that the image is David’s property. I would hope everyone would honor his wishes and not post this scan anywhere else on the internet.
The whole document was basically a written out family history of the Reverend Andrew Hamilton and his family. It was a fascinating read definitely! I’m very grateful to hear from a descendant of this line so that I can once and for all rule out a certain family. I’m now positive that Agnes #2 isn’t my Agnes. However, that doesn’t mean all these Hamiltons aren’t related by a further up connection. Remember not to discount anyone with a matching surname from the same area. This family could be the 3rd cousins of my family, or even just first cousins. I won’t know until I’ve really nailed down which family is the right family.
I did some brief note taking on the children of Thomas Hamilton and Agnes Cuthbertson, or as you know their daughter, Agnes #1. This means I’ve done a basic search for all three Agnes’ siblings and parents. Agnes #3 was previously researched here on this blog post.
Besides knowing Agnes #2 isn’t my Agnes, I haven’t gone any further then the notes you see above. Actually, I can’t seem to find my sheet of paper for Agnes #3, so it’s a good thing I took a picture! Though I should be able to re-make it thanks to ScotlandsPeople‘s previous searches page.
I think my next option is to see if I can hunt down any census records or other marriage/death records for both Agnes’ left in the running. Alas, that will have to wait until my next credits purchase as I’ve run myself out again. I do that quickly.
Previous Agnes Posts:
I have created a new blog category for the Agnes Chronicles. All future and past posts can be found under that category.
Hi Kathleen,
Regarding your comment “However, that doesn’t mean all these Hamiltons aren’t related by a further up connection. Remember not to discount anyone with a matching surname from the same area. This family could be the 3rd cousins of my family, or even just first cousins.”
Always a tantalizing possibility.
May I just note, I have the Rev. Andrew Hamilton’s line back to the end of the 17th century. This is largely thanks to Andrew’s son William (the original owner of the document cited above) who did some of his own research back c.1830’s, including recording some of the things his Father told him about his parents and grandparents. Lucky me.
Anyway, beginning with this info. i have been able to confirm and expand upon what William put down all those years ago. The short of it is that this line of Hamiltons had there feet firmly planted in the parish of Eaglesham (and later the Village) and for the most part there they appear to have stayed, the odd member can be found drifting into Mearns or Glasgow.
The first and only connection with Kilmarnock that i have discovered comes when the Rev. Andrew is appointed minister to the Chapel of Ease, later the High Kirk. I have not found anything for any other members making their way there. Andrew’s children settled in Dundonald and later Troon. the author of the above document being a son-in-law.
Kind Regards,
David.
P.S. Excuse for indulging in irrelevant info. but
as you enjoyed ‘translating’ perhaps you would like to see an image of its original owner.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.pic-an2294050
Thank you again David! It’s always so great to get a helping hand on the lines I know so little about. For some reason I wasn’t connecting that your Reverand Andrew was the only instance of that family in Kilmarnock! I always have so many of the same surname in the areas I’m searching I always figure I’ll end up with those people connected eventually.
P.S. Great image! I love placing faces with people! Thanks for sharing/indulging!