| Notes |
- The 1892 Biography of Alexander Hamilton says his grandmother died when Rebecca was but young & she was raised by an older sister. The most like possibilities for the 'older sister' could be:
. Elizabeth Lawrence Tarbox, living in 1821 at Caledon East, Peel Co., & fairly close to James Hamilton at his farm in Chinguagousy Twp., Peel;
or is Rebecca was still in Toronto:
. Second eldest sister, Margaret Lawrence Johnston, who lived at 179 King St. East, Toronto, which is based on Richard Hamilton, Rebecca's eldest son's statement that he was born in Toronto. King St. was a principal street in Toronto, where indeed, James Hamilton would have done business with the Canada Land Company.
. DOB 1815; UCLP at age 18; Married c 1833, at about age 18; First child at c. 19 years old.
Upper Canada Land Petition #179, 1818 Apr 14, Patented: 1833 Jul 4: Lot 7, Con 18, Garafraxa Twp., [Gore District], Wellington Co., Ontario.
Witnesses to Oath of Rebecca Hamilton, Page 179a, C2052, Home District (Toronto),
We, D'Arcy Boulton the Quarter Chairman & Steven Washburn … Clerk of the Peace certify that Rebecca Hamilton personally appeared at the General Quarter Sessions of the Peace in & for said Home District this day & is recognized by the Magistrate to be
a Daughter of the late Richard Lawrence of the Township of Harwich in the Western District of London, formerly of the Twp. of York, deceased, who retained his Loyalty during the late war [1812] without suspicion of without suspicion of aiding or assisting the Enemy. Dated at the Court House of York (Toronto), the 28th day of February, 1833.
. Land grant for Rebecca Lawrence: Land Registration Office Wellington County, Lot 7, Con 18., Garafraxa West, Hamilton, Rebecca. Granted & sold 1836.
Notes on the purchaser: Pattullo. Others settlers began to arrive at an early period, doubtless sent forward by the enterprising Land Agent at York. In the autumn of 1820 Alexander Pattullo, native of Prestonpems, near Edinburg, but more recently a resident of Glasgow, arrived at Rockside, having left behind him his wife & family of 3 sons & 2 daughters, wile he spied out the land & prepared a home for them. In a letter from Paisley dated Apr 2, 1823 he stated that a young man James Pattullo who was about to emigrate to Canada & intended to settle in Caledon along with his father who had preceded him, offered to convey letters.
Ref: Rockside Pioneers.
. 1834 Dec 19, Petition of Rebecca & James Hamilton of the Twp. Nassagaweya, requesting deed of Lot 17, Con 18, Garafraxa Twp., which is too far James Hamilton to improve, as he already has a farm on Nassegaeweya, with 40 acres of improved land. Signed, for them by Toronto, 29 Dec 1834, Tos. Talbot. Granted 11 Apr 1836 [5?]. Ref: UC Sundries C6884, p1279.
. At James Hamilton's death there was nothing left for his wife & family of 7 children, all of whom were under age. It was in this crisis that Alexander Hamilton's sterling character made itself evident. Though but eighteen years old, [1854 or 55], he assumed the care of the family & until the day of his death none of them ever went to him in vain for assistance of any sort. His devotion to his mother was particularly beautiful even when the others were able to contribute to her comfort he never yielded his privilege of being the first to bear burdens in her behalf & this even when hard times often made it difficult to provide for his own family as he wished.
> This biography continues at 1892 & 1912 Biographies of Alexander Hamilton & at James Hamilton.
Note1: Husband James Hamilton died in 1855 probably in Esquesing Co., Halton County, Ontario. Rebecca had moved to Flamborough Twp., Wentworth County by the time son James Hamilton was baptized a Methodist.
By 1856 son Richard L Hamilton was living alone in a log cabin near Acton, Ontario. He was working as a carpenter, no doubt earning money to help support his family.
In 1864 Alex Hamilton went to Ohio & afterward to Michigan to make fruit farm to Saughatuck, MI. Mary Jane Hamilton landed in the US in 1866 so it would seem probably she would have lived with her mother Rebecca, at least up to that time.
. 1859 Flamborough West, Canada West., Tp. in Co. Wentworth. For office Post office see: Strabane.
Ref: The New World in 1859: Being the US & Canada.
1861 Census East Flamborough, Wentworth Co., Ontario, Rebecca Hamilton, age 46, Toll House:
. GANGES, Michigan
1878, Allegan is county seat, 3,000 inhabitants on the Kalamazoo river, 25 miles nw of Kalamazoo, 2 Grand Rapids railroads pass through Allegan. 3 flouring mills, 2 saw mills, 2 planning mills, 1 foundry & 1 woolen mill.
It is an excellent farming twp. & near the lake the land is devoted chiefly to the cultivation of peaches. In the spring of 1880 the number of peach trees reached 84,000, of which 30,000 were four years old over. The fruit of Ganges is mainly sent on the Chicago W Michigan Railroad. It was of her son Alexander Hamilton who started these trees. - PJA
Ref. Polk Michigan State Gazetteer.
. Michigan Crop Report 1887, Ganges. Large meteor seen through the fog on evening of May 23, first appearing in the east. 45 degrees above the horizon, moving north. Optical phenomena, Ganges 2 May: Solar halos were observed ( i.e.. weather - planing forecast); Hails 31st May. [This phenomena would have been much discussed in the neighbourhood. - PJA.]
. Rev. James Hamilton, Jr. " God-fear mother dedicated him to the service of the pulpit before he was born" in Feb. 17, 1843, Trafalgar, Ontario.
. Michigan Death Registration:
Rebecca Lawrence-Hamilton was living with daughter Mary Jane Wanner at the time of her death.
Registration #1600, died 17 Feb 1890, widow, aged 74y 11 months, Ganges Twp., Allegan Co., Michigan. [Born 17 Mar 1815, compare Monument date, equals born 4 May 1815. ] - - - [1]
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1815 - 1890 (74 years)