FIRST GENERATION

1. James Hamilton was born on 11 Aug 1806 in Ulster Ireland. He appeared on the census in 1842 in Gore Township District 17. He died on 18 Mar 1896 in Randboro Quebec. He was buried in Maple Leaf Cemetery Randborough Quebec. This note from my Grandmother Fanny Hamilton started my family search in 1996:-

James was believed by his Grandchildren to have been of Scotch descent born in about the year 1815. He married an Irish girl, Miss Hammond and they removed to Argenteuil County in Quebec. He later moved to Randborough, Compton County Quebec where he farmed until about 1900, he died about 1905. There were eight children of the union: John, Joseph, Elizabeth, Margaret, Mary Jane, Matthew, Sarah Ann and Isabelle. John married and had 16 children, Joseph married Lottie Parker and 4 boys and 2 girls. Elizabeth married William Gordon, they had 12 children. Margaret married William Swale, they had 3 boys and 1 girl. Ann who married McCurdy, now of Winnipeg. Mary Jane married Joseph Parker, they had 3 boys and 6 girls. Matthew see below. Sarah Ann married Richard Evans, they had 3 boys and 2 girls. Isobelle married Ephraim Cable, they had 1 boy and 3 girls.

Sam Pierce was believed to have been born in the United States where he married Betsy Chase. They moved to Quebec. They had 4 children, Irene Isobelle, Elizabeth, Maria, and Dennison Fredrick. Irene Isobelle married E. R. Mayo by who she had one daughter Eva M., born Feb 1, 1864. Irene was widowed and married Matthew Hamilton March 22 1869. Elizabeth was married twice, first to Dan Waldron and after his death to his brother, Alfred Waldron. Maria married William Taylor, Dennison Fredrick was married twice. His second marriage was to a lady of means in the United States.

Matthew Hamilton, farmer, was born in Gore Township, Argenteuil County Quebec, April 28 1843. He went to East Clifton, Quebec in 1866. He married to Irene Isobelle Pierce, (widow of E. R. Mayo, by whom she had one daughter Eva M. who married Egbert Cairns of Massachusetts and they had two children) on March 22 1869, at East Clifton, Compton County, Quebec. There were seven children: Hugh E. born June 22, 1871; Frank S. J. born Sept 13, 1873; Justin W. born June 22 1877: Hattie M. born Feb 14 1870; Lelia R. born Mar 1 1875; Effie M. born May 7 1880; Bertha I born Aug 11 1886. Mrs Irene Hamilton died in 1915 at Unity. Mr. Matthew Hamilton died in 1932 at Unity. Hugh E. see below. Frank S. J. married Nellie F Lake, three children, Florence W married John Rutley 1931, Alice M married Gordon Burns no children by 1932 and Charles M. Justin W. married Ella Jackson, four children; Rose married Harvey MacIntyre, of Lashburn, one boy living and one adopted girl; Gordon unmarried; Graham unmarried; Lillian married Jack Wallace in 1930; Hattie M. married G. Greenlay, two children living; Vivian Vivian married Mr. Carden, one boy; Hazel married widower with several children; Effie M. married Frank Stanley, four children; Irene married 1928; Howard unmarried; Ray unmarried; Edna unmarried.

Grandma Hugh Hamilton's family, Grandma was known as Fanny and her family name was Carr. Her father and grandfather were stone masons' in Portage La Prairie.

Nicholas Carr married Jane Snaith, one child William lived to maturity. They lived in Northumberland on the Tyne until 1887. Mrs. Nicholas Carr died about 1855.

Mr. Armstrong and wife had seven children, Jane Elizabeth, Anne, Hanna, Matthew, Fanny, and Leah. Jane was born Jan 15 1845, She married William Carr (see below). Hanna married a Mr. Elliot and had six children, five boys and one girl. Fanny married a Mr. Armstrong and had two girls, Matthew and Leah never married. The whole family and descendants now live close to Newcastle with the exception of Matthew who is dead and Leah who lives further north on the Tyne, and Jane.

William Carr born June 10 1848, He married Jane Armstrong. They farmed on the Tyne in Northumberland until 1887 when they removed to Portage La Prairie, Manitoba where they have lived ever since. Mr. Carr was a stone mason. they had five daughters; Elizabeth born Jan 25 1870; Clara born Aug 22 1873, Fanny born Aug 7 1875; Laura born Aug 31 1877; Florence born may 9 1884. Elizabeth married Fred Davidson. They had one daughter Verna born May 24 1905; Clara married Edgar Riddle, no children; Fanny married Hugh Hamilton, two sons, Lyle and Ronald; Laura married Nelson Semmens, no children; Florence married Jack Graham by whom she had two children, Bill and Beryl twins. She was again married about 1925 to Charles Edward Blakely Rae, no children.

Hugh E Hamilton married Fanny Louisa Carr on Aug 17 1904. Two sons were born Lyle on March 13, 1910 in Sidney MB and Ronald on May 13, 1915 at Unity SK.

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We know much more than this now. James arrived in Canada in 1824. He married his wife Mary Hammond 1832 and the marriage was recorded in Hawksbury Upper Canada in 1832. James with his wife farmed in Gore until 1865 when he moved to Randboro , Compton County Quebec where he farmed. He died in 1897 in Randboro. Mary and James are buried in Maple Leaf Cemetery.
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Gore township was not incorporated until 1840 and was bounded on the North by Mille Isles, east by the Siegniory of Two Mountains, south by the Siegniory of Argenteuil, and west by Wentworth. It was counted as part of the County of Two Mountains (Deux Montagne) for the census of 1842 and identified as the Gore of Wentworth, and 1851 as the township of the Gore of Chatham, In 1861 it is township of Gore, part of Argenteuil County,
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James Hamilton and Mary Hammond were probably married in the Gore by an itinerant preacher from the Methodist Church in Hawksbury, Ontario, and most probably in the brides home as there was no Methodist Church in the district on this date. (Port Hawksbury Ontario is across the Ottawa River from Lachute, and St. Andrews East,  Quebec) and this is the reason the marriage is registered in Ontario. Not an uncommon occurrence in this period in time. The service was held on the 26 March 1832, by rev George Poole; Methodist Episcopal Minister and witnessed by John MacIntyre, and John Hammond.
The Ontario Register Volume VI, Ottawa District Marriage Register.
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From possible Hammond relatives a young lady name Crystal I learned that there is a Hammond Family that were neighbours to my Hamilton's in 1851 in Gore township. This may be Mary's family as they have an un-named female in their family line that appears to have similar birth dates but they do not have her first name. We have since concluded that this is her family.
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The following is an excerpt from the book "History of Compton County" by L.S.Channell in 1896 page 35:
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The following are the names of some of the families who settled in the county coming from Argenteuil, in addition to those mentioned: Alexander Johnson, who lived several years near Sawyerville, and left some years ago for the west; the late James Hamilton with his wife and their sons , John, Matthew, Joseph, and William, and three or four daughters; William Gordon and wife; William Hammond and wife; Edward Parker with several sons and daughters;
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William Gordon's wife is Elizabeth, James Hamilton's Eldest Daughter, and William Hammond is the brother to James' wife Mary Hammond. In this same book is a bio on Matthew Hamilton which lists his fathers residence as Randborough. See short bio from this book under Matthew.
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Note the absence of any mention of the young Thomas or James here.
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There is a discrepancy in the way James is referenced as the late James in this excerpt and yet is referred to as living in Matthews bio from the same book. The book shows a publication date of 1896 and James passed on in 1897.

He was married to Mary Hammond (daughter of Matthew Hammond and Jane Madill) on 26 Mar 1832 in the Gore but registered in Hawksbury Ontario. The following from Tom Brown of Greenfield Park QC

From his Christie cousins in Alberta he had Eliza Madill as wife of Matthew Hammond. Wm John Christie married Margaret Jane Swail, eldest daughter of Valentine Swail by the first of his three wives. The Christie, Boyd and Hammond family trees are all intertwined. In looking through my notes, I see that another Christie cousin says Matthews Hammond's wife was Jane Madill.

Your family connection to the Hammond's is quite secure, I believe. At William Hamilton's baptism, the witness are Matthew Hammond, Jane Hammond and Joseph Boyd. Jane Hammond was Matthews youngest daughter and her husband was none other than Joe Boyd! That's is pretty convincing circumstantial evidence.

I would not be surprised if Mrs. Matthew Hammond turned out to be Ann Jane Madill whose son James Hammond married Liza Madill 2nd cousin as the Ulster Scots were wont to do. It is just a guess.

The book "History of Argenteuil" says that Matthew Hammond had four sons and three daughters. I have a fourth daughter and will be trying to sort that one out. here is what I have in my Family Tree. (I am not related to the Hammond's except through the Wm. John Christie family. I am descended from Dolly and Mary Jane Christie, his sisters.)

Children of Matthew and Ann Hammond

1. Margaret, 1797-1890, married Stewart Boyd
2. James, 1804-184/1877, married Eliza Madill, married Nancy Pollock
3. William, 1808-, wife unknown
4. John, 15 Feb 1810-1878, married Mary Ann ?
5. Mary, 15 Nov 1811 - 1897, married James Hamilton
6. Sarah, about 1813, married Thomas Drysdale
7. Henry, ?-?, married Fanny Dawson
8. Jane, 1818-?, married Joseph Boyd

William John Swail, by the way, was Valentine's son by his third wife Ann Gaine. Wm and Margaret Hamilton Swail farmed in Compton County as you know. Valentine Swail, Sr., went to live with them in his old age, died at home there, and was buried in Island Brook Cemetery in Compton County in 1878.

An excerpt from the "History of the Counties of Argenteuil Quebec and Prescott Ontario". (page 439)

Matthew Hammond, from the County of Cavan, Ireland, settled in the East part of Gore in 1830, and lived there the remainder of his life. He had four sons and three daughters who arrived at maturity. In 1840, his eldest son, James, also came with his family, and settled in Mille Isles on 200 acres, which is now owned by James Patterson. He arrived in June, and on the 17th of the following month his wife was suddenly seized with illness and died within two hours.

1842 National Archives of Canada in Ottawa. Census for County of Deux Montagne, Township of Gore of Wentworth page 1228 line 10 on Microfilm C728 and C729.

Matthew Hammond (Hammon) Farmer 4 people, 4 born in Ireland, resident for 10 years.
2 married males; religion Presbyterian; . 100 acres, 5 improved, squatter, log cabin of one story and contains 1 family produce 9 bushels of barley 100 bushels of oats, 200 bushels of potatoes, 1 neat cattle, 1 horse, 6 sheep, 4 hogs, 10 yards of fulled cloth, 10 pounds of wool.

In the 1851 census His son William is listed as head of house hold and Mathew's age is given as 82 birthdate Sept but day is not legible. Listed as Methodists under religion this time. Mary Hammond was born on 15 Nov 1811 in Co. Cavan Ireland. She died on 22 Jan 1897 in Randboro Quebec. She was buried in Maple Leaf Cemetery Randboro Quebec. Mary Hammond married James Hamilton 26 March 1832 in the Gore but it is registered at Hawksbury Ontario by Methodist Episcopal Minister Rev George Poole witnesses John Hammond, and John MacIntyre (The Ontario Register Vol VI Ottawa District Marriage Register.
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From possible Hammond relatives a young lady name Crystal I learned that there is a Hammond Family that were neighbours to my Hamilton's in 1851 in Gore township. This may be Mary's family as they have an un-named female in their family line that appear to have similar birth dates but they do not have her first name. This was Mary's Family.
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This Hammond family immigrated to Canada in 1830, June from Co. Cavan Ireland. If this is the case I might find a marriage record for them in Quebec about 1831 or 1832. This would be nice as it would provide the link to parents and locations in Ireland of the parents.
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I have viewed the listing for William Hammond in the 1851 census from the County of Two Mountains, the Gore of Chatham which lists James Hamilton and William Hammond as both being on Lot 1 Range 3 of the Gore of Chatham. In this listing it shows William's father  Matthew in his eighties living with William and his wife Ann, with 6 children age 10 or younger still at home. Matthew and William's wife Ann were sponsors for William born to James and Mary Hamilton, baptism at St. Jerome. William Hammond is listed as moving to Compton County with James in 1866. A John Hammond is witness at James Marriage. This could be another brother of Mary's. However the properties they received patent to were

Hammond, Matthew E. ½ of L16, R4 100 26 Aug 1878; Hamilton, James W. ½ of L16, R3 100 26 Sept 1866;  So I do not know if the lot numbers were changed at some point in time or not but these numbers do not coincide with those in the early census records. They were considered squatters on the land for more than 30 years because when many arrive in the Gore the land was unsurveyed and so could not be allocated and title given.

James Hamilton and Mary Hammond had the following children:
+2 i. Nancy Elizabeth Hamilton.
+3 ii. John Hamilton.
+4 iii. Mary Jane Hamilton.
+5 iv. Joseph Hamilton Rev..
6 v. William Hamilton was born on 13 Jun 1841 in Gore Township, District 17, Quebec. He first appears in the census of 1851. He was not noted in family histories.

>From the St. Jerome Anglican records:
William, son of James Hamilton of Gore and of his wife Mary Hammond was born on the thirteenth of June one thousand eight hundred and forty one and was baptized on the tenth day of August in the same year by me ? Innes McMaster Minister Sponsors Joseph Boyd, Jane Hammond and Matthew Hammond.

The last time we see him is in the 1861 census as labourer on his fathers farm in the Gore. He is not mentioned as moving to Compton with the rest of the family in 1865 and 1871 and is not seen in the census of 1871 with his parents or on his own. Then several years later I did find him in the 1870 Census for Vermont at the farm of Eugene Chase and his wife Betsy. They are relatives of Irene Pierce who's mother was a Chase. There were 2 other Hamilton Boys besides William age 29, that are listed as labourers on the farm. They were, John age 24 and James age 16. It is interesting that John and James are not known in my line of Hamilton's so there appears to be another Hamilton Family connection that we do not know about yet. There are other Johns and James but none fit the age profileof James' and Mary's children of that name. .
+7 vi. Matthew Hamilton.
+8 vii. Margaret Hamilton.
+9 viii. Sarah Ann Hamilton.
10 ix. James Hamilton was born in 4 Apr 1845.  Died before 1850, The records from the WMBR are from St. Andrews and are listed under the following headings, Name of Person Baptized, Name of Parents, Place of Parents Residence, Born Where, Born When, Baptized When, Baptized Where, and Minister Baptizing.

James, Hamilton James and Mary,  N. Gore, N. Gore, April 1, 1845, April 16, 1845, N. Gore, Rev. William. H. William

We have information that there were 13 children in this family in the obituaries of John and Joseph. This is the twelfth child we have found. This record was originally forwarded to me with the year of 1865 and then I found the same data with the year 1845 not 1865. The 1845 date would make this record more believable as the Mother in 1865 would be 54 years of age.
11 x. Thomas Hamilton was born in 1852. This child first appears in the Census of 1861 but is missing and not mentioned in the move to Compton County bewtween 1866 and 1871 and in the records from Compton County for the same period.
+12 xi. Isobell Hamilton.
13 xii. James Hamilton was born on 04 Nov 1850 in Gore Township, District 17, Quebec. Died 30th April1866.  This child first appears in the census of 1851 He is mentioned also in the 1861. His baptism is recorded in the Wesleyan Methodist Church Baptismal records Vol 1 page 792. He died May 1866. Death Record LDS tape 1430629,  frame 00330, Wesleyan Methodist Church Records, Lachute, St Jerome, Rev J VanDenburg witnesses William Evans, and William Earle. 

Census record for 1881 James and Mary Hampton (Hamilton) show in Newport, Compton, Quebec in the village of Randboro. James is listed as being 73 and Mary his wife is 69. NA film number C-13199 District 54 sub dist. U division 2 page number 12 household # 56+