Hamilton's father

In Alexander Donald's obit, published in the Monthly Magazine in 1808 - it said:


"At Haunchwood-House, near Nuneaton-colliery, in his 64th year, Alexander Donald, esq, of Glasgow, formerly one of the magistrates of that city, and many years an eminent American merchant in London. When in prosperity, many felt the warmth of his benevolent heart; his liberal hand being always extended to relieve the distresses of his fellow-creatures."


After the last entry, obviously the "when in prosperity" was quite telling, but still. After the life Alexander led, I think that is a very good summary and a good thing to be written about anyone. And I think I have found an example of his benevolent heart and his liberal hand.


Alexander Hamilton was the son of James Hamilton. James Hamilton was a colourful character to say the least - born in Stevenston, Scotland in the south west, he was the fourth of nine sons, so like many lower ranking sons at the time, had to go away to earn his fortune. Here's a term from a biography of James Hamilton that will give you the picture: "The wealth and family station into which he was born did not prevent James Hamilton from engaging in what was to become a life long pattern of self-defeating behaviour". Very complicated story about his relationship with Alexander Hamilton's mother, Rachel - not helped by her husband, John Lavien, insisting on getting a divorce when Alexander Hamilton was two. James Hamilton hadn't married Rachel - but had two sons with her - James and Alexander (are there any other names available in Scotland?). Then there was a court case and then it came out that Rachel had ben in prison as she was not a good wife to help her reform her ways.


The family had to leave St Croix and moved to St Eustatius - where Grant Gilmore is based funnily enough. That island keeps popping up. The family moved back to St Croix and then James Hamilton just upped and left them. Alexander was 8 at this stage. Doesn't get any better this story - at the age of 11 Alexander and his mother caught a fever and Rachel died at the age of 39.  Alexander and his brother were disinherited from their mother's estate as her original son from her marriage inherited - so at the ages of 11 and 15 the brothers had to start working. Alexander impressed local clergyman, Rev Knox who sent him to New York and Alexander then worked hard and didn't go to Princeton as his sponsors wanted him to, but Kings College - which became Columbia University. Alexander's career then took off - but he always had this background to contend with - John Adams called him "bastard brat" and Jefferson called him the "foreign bastard".
Not that I ever base historical research on a TV series, but Hamilton was played by Rufus Sewell in the excellent John Adams series. Here's a clip that sums up their different views about the power of central government. Love those glasses! Must stop saying funnily enough - but the clip is about going to other countries for loans and being in hock to London bankers. We now know who was trying for that! 
But back to James Hamilton. Quick cut and paste to sum up where James ended up:
"James Hamilton was born in a family whose wealth spanned generations. At the age of nineteen, he left the comfort of his family's estate to seek his fortune. A few years later, he severed connections with his family, and began his downward slide. Characterized as "a bum", by biographer Richard Brookheiser (17), this self-proclaimed aristocrat hopped from job to job and from Island to island, and went bankrupt as a businessman early on. Alexander himself described his father as living in a "groveling condition" (Fleming 21). Thus, after starting life as the fourth son born of a wealthy landowning family, James rapidly descended the economic and social ladder, ending up as an itinerant who frequently lived in abject poverty."
So things really didn't improve for James. Fast forward to 1793 - and here's a letter from James Hamilton to Alexander Hamilton - who has by now done all the heroic things during the Revolutionary War etc etc. 
From James Hamilton, St Vincent [Danish West Indies] June 12 1793

Dear Alexander,

I wrote you a letter in June 1792 inclose in one to Mr Donald of Virginia since which I have had no further accounts from you [letter never found]. My bad state of health has prevented my going to Sea at this time being afflicted with a complication of disorders.

I have now settled all my business in this part of the World, with the assistance of my good friend Mr Donald who has been of every Service to me that lay in his power in contributing to make my life Easy, at this advanced period of life.

The bearer of this, Capt. Sherref of the Brig, Dispatch Sails direct for Philadelphia and has promised to deliver you this letter with his own hands, and as he returns to this island from Philadelphia I beg you will drop me a few lines letting me know how you & your family keeps your health as I am uneasy not having heard from you for some time past.

I beg my respectful Compliments to Mrs Hamilton and your Children, and wishing you health and happiness, I remain, with esteem,

Dear Alexander You very Affectte. Father James Hamilton

The editor's notes for this say that it was Alexander Donald he was referring to, which would make sense, and I will investigate further. We know from Alexander Donald's will that he had a son, called James funnily enough - living in the Caribbean - but he left him only five shillings - due to his disloyal behaviour to his father. Also funnily enough there is no mention anywhere as to who his mother might have been, or the mother to Alexander's two daughters. Mrs Alexander Donald is rather noticeable by her absence.  

Was talking about this last night at the book launch and someone said you must come and meet this person, she knows about Alexander Hamilton. So I started on the story about the letter from James Hamilton to Alexander Hamilton and she said: "You mean the letter. There was only one from James Hamilton to his father." There are 27 volumes of the Alexander Hamilton letters - they fill up a whole shelf in the law library at UVA, so I realised then that she didn't just know about Alexander Hamilton, she knew about Alexander Hamilton. So chatted away about Hamilton and she was interested to know more about Mr Donald and how he stepped in to help etc. She said she wanted to know more and handed me her card. Joanne Freeman, Professor of History at Yale and also funnily enough, editor of Alexander Hamilton: Writings.