Early Life
James Hamilton was born in 1600, the second son of
Gawin Hamilton and
Helen Dunlop. He studied at Glasgow University.
Career
From the
Hamilton Manuscript1, page 74:
The other brother was James, whose youthfull education was committed and faithfully performed by his uncle Archibald, of Halcraig, in Scotland, 'till he had passed through all the parts of learning usually taught in schools and colleges in that kingdom, with great approbation. Soon after, my
Lord Claneboy commanded his attendance upon him, with design to apply him to the care of his secular affairs, the which he underwent for a time with all diligence, patience, fidelity, and acceptance with my Lord, and all the tenants of the estate, the rents whereof he recieved and disposed by my Lord's directions, tho' still his disposition and private diligences moved towards the Ministry, which he so carefully concealed, and prudently, that my Lord and his good Lady were never 'ware of it till they saw and heard him preach in the pulpit in Bangor. My Lady was pleased to compliment him thus:
"James, I think your gown and pulpit become you very well; I will bestow the gown, and my Lord (if he will be advised by me) shall bestow the pulpit". Both which were soon performed by his settlement in the parish of Ballywalter. My Lord seemed angry, and chid him that he concealed his purpose so much from him, and so made him guilty of giving him so great diversion, who otherwise was disposed to nourish his pious purpose.
A footnote here quotes from Adair's
Narrative (see
Patrick Adair) in description of James Hamilton:
An honest and godly young man, being a daily hearer of Mr Robert Blair, showed much tenderness and ability. He being then chamberlain to the Lord Claneboy, his uncle, Mr Blair, and Mr Cunningham, put him to private essays of his gifts, and, being satisfied therewith, Mr Blair invited him to preach publicly at Bangor, in his uncle's hearing, he knowing nothing till he saw him in the pulpit (they fearing my lord would be loath to part with so faithful a servant). But, when my lord heard him in public, he put great respect upon him the same day, and, shortly after, entered him unto a charge at Ballywalter, where he was painful, successful, and constant, notwithstanding he had many temptations to follow promotion, but was graciously preserved from these baits, and made a successful instrument in the work of Christ in these parts.
The entry in the
Hamilton Manuscript continues:
He [James] married a gentlewoman, Elizabeth Watson, daughter to Mr David Watson, Minister of Killeavy, near Newry, who was placed with the noble Lady Claneboy for her improvement's sake. He had by her 15 children, tho none came to maturity, but one son (Archibald) and three daughters, Jane, Mary & Elizabeth.
He was continued in that station ten years, until, by the rigiditys of my Lord Wentworth, and the then Bishop of Derry (Bramhall), new terms of Church Communion, to be sworn to, were imposed upon the whole Church of Ireland, whereunto he could not submit, and upon the account whereof he sustained a public dispute with the then Bishop of Down, Henry Lesly, before several noblemen, many gentlemen, and the whole clergy of the diocese, with many others from both town and country...The conclusion was, that he, with many other Ministers of his persuasion, were deposed from their several offices and benefices, and thereafter severally pursued and sought to be apprehended by pursuivants, but none of them were taken.
Under these circumstances, he, with his family, was necessitated to go to Scotland, where he was disposed of to a great congregation and maintenance, at the town of Drimefrice [Dumfries], in Niddsdail, where he continued Minister other ten years. In this time, being appointed by the General Assembly of Scotland, to make a visit to the Northern parts of Ireland, for three months, he was taken prisoner by a party belonging to Sir Alex McDonnell, of the West-Highlands of Scotland, and kept prisoner in a castle there, Migreor Migirne, under extraordinary wants and necessities for a year, before he could be relieved, and then was, by the General Assembly of Scotland, transported unto Edinburgh, where he continued fifteen years.
In this time, he was appointed by the General Assembly one of his Majesty's chaplains, and in this attendance was taken prisoner (as many of the nobility, army, gentry and ministry) at Eliot, in Angus, by a party sent by General Monk immediately after his taking of Dundee; thence, he, with several others, were sent ot the Tower of London, where he was kept two years by Oliver Cromwell, and thence dismissed by him for no other reason, apology, or address, but that he found himself under great obloquy by all good people in Scotland and England, and that he found himself so settled in Scotland that there was little hazard of the raising any armed power there to his prejudice.
Family Life
As described above, James married
Elizabeth Watson and had 15 children, only four survived to adulthood, including
Jane, who married her cousin the
Rev. Archibald Hamilton.
Fasti2 notes that James married a second time, to Anna Pringle (widow of William Inglis) who was probably pretty old by the time he married her.
Death
James died at
Edinburgh on the 10
th March 1666.
Footnotes
[1]
The Hamilton Manuscript, Sir James Hamilton, Belfast, undated
[2]
Fasti ecclesiae scoticanae, Volume 1, 1915, page 74
1600 - 1666 (66 years)
[2] 
