My fourth great grandfather, Hans (also spelled Hants) Hamilton, was born on January 1, 1780, in Truro, in Colchester County, Nova Scotia, the sixth son and youngest of nine children born to Robert Hamilton and Agnes "Nancy" Ferguson.
In the summer of 1771, his parents Robert and "Nancy" and his five oldest siblings, had immigrated from County Armagh, Northern Ireland, aboard the schooner "Hopewell" to Halifax, Nova Scotia. From there, they had moved to Truro.
Later, his father Robert was among a group of men who received a grant of land at "Wilmot River," which later became known as the Stewiacke River. He was settled there with his family by 1792.
On November 14, 1811, Hans married Jane Cottam, the daughter of James Cottam, Sr. and Mary Wilson. Hans was 31; Jane was 18.
My fourth great grandmother, Jane Cottam, was born on February 22, 1793, the oldest of seven children. Many of her family members, including my 5th great grandparents, are buried in the Cottam Settlement Cemetary, near Debert.
Alan Ross made a short video of his visit there, about a year and a half ago:
Together, Hans and Jane had 13 children, from 1813 to 1840 (27 years):
Find A Grave, database and images (http://findagrave.com : accessed 23 Feb 2017), memorial page for Hans Hamilton (1780-1858), Find A Grave Memorial no. 153020671, citing Riverside Cemetery, Upper Stewiacke, Colchester County, Nova Scotia, Canada.
On November 14, 1811, Hans married Jane Cottam, the daughter of James Cottam, Sr. and Mary Wilson. Hans was 31; Jane was 18.
My fourth great grandmother, Jane Cottam, was born on February 22, 1793, the oldest of seven children. Many of her family members, including my 5th great grandparents, are buried in the Cottam Settlement Cemetary, near Debert.
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| James Cottam and Mary Wilson Graves Cottam Settlement Cemetery near Debert, Nova Scotia |
Alan Ross made a short video of his visit there, about a year and a half ago:
Together, Hans and Jane had 13 children, from 1813 to 1840 (27 years):
Agnes, b. 1813
Mary, b. 1815
Robert, b. 1817
Agnes, b. 1818
James, b. 1921
Hants, b. 1823
John, b. 1825
Jane, b. 1927
Susan, b. 1830
Margaret, b. 1832
William Alexander, b. 1834
Rebecca, b. 1837
Robert Samuel, b. 1840
A farmer all his life, Hans passed away on February 4, 1858, at the age of 78. Jane died a little over a year later, at age 66. Both died in Upper Stewiacke. Hans is buried in Riverside Cemetery, in Upper Stewiacke. Jane is probably buried there as well.
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| Hans Hamilton's Grave Riverside Cemetery Upper Stewiacke Nova Scotia |
Sources:
1838 Census, Colchester Historeum (http://colchesterhistoreum.ca/search/)
"Cottam Settlement Cemetery" video recorded by Alan Ross, published Oct. 8, 2015. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cAXrpN41iYs). Used with permission.
Four Nova Scotia Families: Hennigar, Elliott, Harvey, Chipman [webpage](http://www.hhennigar.ca/index.php)
Miller, Thomas, Historical and genealogical record of the first settlers of Colchester County: down to the present time compiled from the most authentic sources (1873; facsimile edition, Belleville, Ontario: Mika Studios, 1972).
Wile, Jane Currie, comp. Robert & Hants Hamilton: Two Brothers in Nova Scotia; eBook content from Jane Currie-Wile's Colchester County Families Database. February 2017. PDF download. (https://www.etsy.com/listing/513880171/robert-hants-hamiltio-two-brothers-in?ref=shop_home_active_1).
