HAMILTON, James

  General Notes:

James Hamilton and his wife Mary (née Cresswell) were both from Killanummery, nr. Dromahair, Co. Leitrim, Ireland. They later moved to Co. Roscommon.
As described by his son James Peyton: He was the average class of tenant farmer in a rather remote and very anti British part of Eire. As farmers the status was usually considered above that of mechanic or of any of the classes who worked for wages and some of them were often designated as Gentlemen farmers when they completely owned the property they farmed. The latter day designation applied to his cousins who were so designated in my early years. Farming in those days was of a much higher status than at present. The shipping (especially) mail and road as well as colonial development of 100 or more years ago so cheapened food as to smash the farmers and at the same time appreciated all kinds of shopping and mechanical developments so that James was caught almost in a famine trap.
Physical description: Described as a good-looking man of complexion and outline of face resembling sons Parke or Henry but of very regular features and taller than either but much round shouldered.

  Noted events in his life were:

• Occupation: Farmer: Co. Roscommon, Ireland.

• Residence, Between 1854 and 1864, Greaghnageera, Co. Roscommon, Ireland.

James married Maria (Mary) CROSWELL, daughter of Henry (Harry) CROSWELL and Jane MAPE, in 1844. (Maria (Mary) CROSWELL was born on 8 Sep 1823 in Co. Leitrim, Ireland and died on 6 Jun 1905 in Co. Roscommon, Ireland.)