Hamilton

Hamilton

Clan Hamilton of Cadzow, Lanarkshire, Scotland. Earls of Arran, Marquesses and Dukes of Hamilton, Earls, Marquesses and Dukes of Abercorn, Dukes of Chatelterault in France. Descended from the Anglo-Norman Walter Fitz Gilbert of Hambledon, Hampshire, England, who appears in a charter to the Monastery of Paisley circa 1294. He held lands in Renfrewshire and later was granted lands by Robert the Bruce in the Lothians and Lanarkshire including the lands of Cadzow, which later became the town of Hamilton. His son David, fought for King David II in 1346 at the Battle of Neville’s Cross, where he was captured and held prisoner for ransom. James, first Lord Hamilton, married Princess Mary, daughter of James III, in 1474 and their son was created Earl of Arran. His son was heir to the throne of both James IV and Mary, Queen of Scots and was Regent of Scotland while the queen was a child and was created Duke of Chatelherault in the French peerage in 1548. The 4th Earl of Arran was Chancellor of Scotland and created Marquess of Arran in 1599, and his brother Claud was created Lord Paisley in 1587 and later Lord Abercorn; this branch of the family were created Dukes of Abercorn in 1868 and were seated in Ulster, Ireland. The 3rd Marquess of Arran was created a duke by Charles I in 1643; he was beheaded at Whitehall in 1649 by Parliament after he tried to aid Charles I during the Civil War. His brother, 2nd Duke of Hamilton was killed at the Battle of Worcester in 1651. The fourth Duke, was killed in a duel in London in 1712, although he had killed his opponant Lord Mohun, Mohun’s second, McCartney killed the duke. Also The Mount in Middlesex, England, through the Hon. William Hamilton, brother of James, second Earl of Abercorn.

Arms: (Original) Gules, three cinquefoils pierced ermine; (Modern) Quarterly, 1st and 4th, gules, three cinquefoils pierced ermine, for Hamilton; 2nd and 3rd, argent, a lymphad with sails furled and oars in action sable, for the Earl of Arran.

Crest: Out of a ducal coronet or an oak, fructed and penetrated transversely by a frame saw proper, the blade inscribed with the word “Through” the frame gold.

Motto: (On the crest) Through; (on compartment) Sola nobilitat virtus.

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