John Hamilton Sr

The life of John Hamilton, Sr. 
At a Glance 
1726 Jan. 1; John Hamilton was born, probably in Scotland. Family traditions holds that he belonged to a branch of the Hamilton family that was compelled to flee from Scotland to Ireland during the reigns of James and Charles on account of religious persecution. 
1758 Bef; John immigrates to America as settles first in Lancaster co., PA. 

1758 Dec. 24; The day before Christmas, John and Sarah, his wife, have their first child,James. He was born in Lancaster co., PA. 

1758 aft.; John takes his family to VA, and settles in Greenbrier co. Greenbrier county is far western Va, now part of West Va, and was wilderness at that time. 

1776 Aug.20; West Augusta co., Va; John Hamilton et al recommended as proper persons to be added to the Commission of the Peace. Minutes of Court at Fort Dunmore, VA Court Records in Pa -- Crumine,Boyd. 

1776 Sep. 18; West Augusta co,VA.; John Hamilton et al recommended as proper person to be added to the commission. 

1780; John again moves, this time to Kentucky, first to Crab Orchard,(central Ky.) then to Lincoln/Barren county, where he settled one mile east of Apple Grove. He was able to purchase 1000A of land in this location for 25 cts/A. ($250). 

"This section was on the frontier at that time; remote from the older and more populous communities in Central Ky., and devoid of everything that made for ease and comfort. John, advanced in years--being about 70, the burden of clearing the land where once had all been savage waste, tenanted only by the wild beast and the wandering redman,fell upon his children." 
"The women, no less brave than the men, gladly shared the unending labor, toiled to extend their area of cultivation, increase their products, and win a few scant comforts for their future years. The household necessities were very limited; all cooking was done on the open fire, with skillet and lid pots and other utensils." 
(Info. from Francis Snoddy scrapbook of Clayton Simmons, descendant of John Hamilton, articles.) 

July 30, 1801; John, being 75 years of age, made the following will. 
"In the name of God, Amen" 
"Know all men by these presence that I, John Hamitlon, of the county of Barren and the State of Kentucky being of a sound mind do make my last Will and Testament as follows. After all debts paid &c that is to say principally and first of all I give and recommend my Soul into the hands of God that gave it to my body. I recommend it to the earth to be buried in a Christian manner herewith it hath pleased God to bless me in this life." 
" I give and bequeath to my wife, Sarah, her bed & spinning wheel and all the ?each furniture, one cow & calf and her yearling and two year old heifer, and that to be equally divided at her death between Eals and my youngest son John." 
"Secondly, I give and Bequeath unto my daughter Eals her bed and Spinning Wheel, and the loom and all of her ?-lins, and one cow and Calf." 
"Thirdly, I will and Bequeath unto my son John all the remainder of the cattle every one and all the Hogs and all the plantation, working utensils that belongs here unto." 
" and as James and Robert, my two sons and Jean my daughter, I bequeath unto each of them ten shillings a piece." 
" I appoint my son, John, executor of this my last Will and Testament, and also hereby declare that any Will or Wills made by me before this date is made void and of none affect and that this only is to be taken for my last Will and Testament." 
" Given under my hand & seal this 30th day of July, one thousand Eight hundred and one" 
Signed, Seal, John Hamilton 
In the presence of; 
George Keys 
William Keys 

Barren co, January Court; 
" This instrument of Writing purporting to be the last Will and Testament of John Hamilton, Dec'd was produced in court by George Keys and Wm Keys, suscribing Witness thereto, being sworn, saith that the said John Hamilton ?-mittanded in their presence, pronounce the said Writing to this last Will and Testament & they believe he was in his ? senses and memory when he did the same, and thereupon ? said writing was ordered to be recorded as the true last Will and Testament of the said John Hamilton, Dec'd." 
Test; W. Logan, Clk. 

1802 abt; John, having lived a long life, died in Barren/Monroe co., Ky. He had traveled many miles in his long life, beginning in Scotland, crossing the Atlantic to PA., crossing mountain ranges at least twice as he moved south, eventually to settle in the new State of Kentucky. He truly became an early American Pioneer.

Special thanks to Misty Hamilton for providing this.

Contributed for use by the Lancaster County Genealogy Project (http://www.pa-roots.com/~lancaster/)

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