John HAMILTON
| First name | John |
|---|---|
| Last name | HAMILTON |
| Country of Origin | Scotland |
| Date of Birth | 11/12/1854 |
| Year of Arrival in Australia | 1884 |
| Submitted by | Robyn Mannes |
Story
JOHN HAMILTON was reared on farms in Scotland. He was the youngest in his family and the only one of his family to marry and also to emigrate to Australia. His father Robert Hamilton born 1807 Bellshill, Scotland & mother Anne Lawrie born 1812 Bothwell, Scotland & his brothers & sisters, Jane Fleming Hamilton born 1843, William Hamilton born 1844, Robert Hamilton born 1847, James Lawrie Hamilton born 1848, Janet Reid Hamilton born 1848, Anne Lawrie Hamilton born 1849 & Archibald Hamilton born 1849 stayed in Scotland.
John Hamilton was born on 12 Nov 1854 in Redgorton, Perthshire, Scotland to his parents Robert HAMILTON & Anne LAWRIE. John’s mother, Anne Hamilton (nee Lawrie), died in 1883 not long before he left for Australia & his father Robert Hamilton died in 1884, not long after John arrived in Australia.
John married Elizabeth ANDERSON on 4 Jan 1882 in Dunbarney Parish, Perth, Scotland. Elizabeth was born on 29 May 1856 in Larbert, Scotland to Thomas ANDERSON & Margaret FLEMING.
John Hamilton along with his wife Elizabeth & son Robert aged 2 years emigrated to Australia on the ship ‘Garonne’, leaving for Melbourne on 30 April 1884. They were accompanied by Elizabeth’s father Thomas ANDERSON & her young sister Agnes Neilson ANDERSON.
On arrival in Australia John & Elizabeth Hamilton founded a farm named ‘Rosebank’ at Woodstock on Loddon, Victoria. They had 10 children, Robert Hamilton born 1882 in Scotland and the rest born in Victoria, Australia. They were Thomas Anderson Hamilton born 1885, Margaret Anne Lawrie Hamilton born 1887, John Cuthill Hamilton born 1888, Elizabeth Hamilton born 1890 (died infant 1891), Agnes Conochie Hamilton born 1892, William Hamilton born 1894, James Hamilton born 1895, Archibald Hamilton born 1897 & Jane Hamilton born 1899.
Robert Hamilton finished his education in Australia, where he had large experience in sheep raising. Robert returned to Scotland in 1905 aged 23 years accompanied by his sister Maggie (Margaret Anne Lawrie Hamilton) aged 18 years who went back to Scotland to look after her Aunt.
Robert later emigrated to USA where he had regular contact with his Aitken relatives who worked on the Billings Farm at Woodstock, USA. He spent his last 3 years in charge of the sheep & swine department at Amherst College, Massachusetts, USA. He died suddenly in USA in 1918 aged 36 years and was never married.
Maggie stayed in Scotland and married John Harrison in 1912 and reared 2 sons, Thomas & John.
The rest of the family stayed in Australia and led successful lives in various parts of Victoria. John’s youngest son, Archibald Hamilton, remained on the family farm, ‘Rosebank’ until he retired in 1984 and transferred the land to his son’s George & Ian.
Three of John Hamilton’s sons served their new country in the Australian armed forces.
Thomas Anderson Hamilton was with the 7th Battalion in Gallopoli in World War 1 and was discharged in 1916. He died in 1862 at Bundoora, never married.
William Hamilton was with the 9th Lighthorse AIF in World War 1 and served in Egypt, Gallipoli and Palestine. William was discharged from the army in 1918 and went on to work on farms at Janiember East, Newbridge & Inglewood in Victoria. After he married Fanny DOODY they bought their own farm at East Shelbourne, Victoria. William re enlisted in World War 2 and served as a guard at the German Prison of War camp at ‘Dhuringile’, Murchison.
James Hamilton served in the 46th Battalion AIF in World War 1. After he was discharged in 1919 he married Madge (Margaret) McLeod in 1922 and joined the Victorian Police Force in 1924.
John Hamilton died on 20 Aug 1927 and his wife Elizabeth predeceased him having died 18 June 1918. They are both buried at Newbridge, Victoria, Australia.