James Hamilton of Cadzow
Encyclopedia
Sir James Hamilton of Cadzow, 5th Laird
of Cadzow (b. bef. 1397 – d. c. 1440) was a Scottish nobleman and royal hostage.
and his wife, Janet Douglas, James Hamilton is first attested to in 1397. In a writ of that year, his father Sir John Hamilton granted him the lands and privileges of Kinneil
, in return for the superiority of all property that had been promised to him through his marriage after his attainment of majority.
Hamilton next comes to notice in a Safe-conduct
issued by Henry V of England
to travel to Calthorpe Castle in Lincolnshire
.
In 1424, Hamilton was one of the Scottish Lords allowed passage to Durham
to visit the captive James I of Scotland
. In the same year, he was one of many Scots hostages given to the English as security for the payment of the ransom of the newly freed King of Scots. His estate was valued at 500 merk
s.
Hamilton was confined first at Fotheringay Castle, then at Dover Castle
. He appears to have been released by 1426. He was invested as a knight
before 1430.
Hamilton died not later than 1441, when his son is described as Lord of Cadzow.
and it was long thought that he was James's father. However DNA test
ing of Hamilton descendants in the Hamilton Surname DNA Project suggests that Sir John was not his biological father. The male-line descendants of James' brother Walter and his uncle John are similar while the descendants of James are distinct, suggesting his biological father was not a Hamilton.
Laird
A Laird is a member of the gentry and is a heritable title in Scotland. In the non-peerage table of precedence, a Laird ranks below a Baron and above an Esquire.-Etymology:...
of Cadzow (b. bef. 1397 – d. c. 1440) was a Scottish nobleman and royal hostage.
Biography
The son of Sir John Hamilton of CadzowJohn Hamilton of Cadzow
Sir John Hamilton of Cadzow, 4th Laird of Cadzow was a Scottish nobleman and soldier.He succeeded his father, David Hamilton of Cadzow, no later than 1392, when he appears on a charter of Andrew Murray of Touchadam as Dominus de Cadzow.He was imprisoned, along with his brothers William and Andrew,...
and his wife, Janet Douglas, James Hamilton is first attested to in 1397. In a writ of that year, his father Sir John Hamilton granted him the lands and privileges of Kinneil
Kinneil House
Kinneil House is a historic house to the west of Bo'ness in east-central Scotland. It was once the principal seat of the Hamilton family in the east of Scotland. The house was saved from demolition in 1936 when 16th-century mural paintings were discovered, and it is now in the care of Historic...
, in return for the superiority of all property that had been promised to him through his marriage after his attainment of majority.
Hamilton next comes to notice in a Safe-conduct
Safe-conduct
Safe conduct is the situation in time of international conflict or war where one state, a party to such conflict, issues to a person, usually an enemy state's subject, a pass or document to allow the enemy alien to traverse its territory without harassment, bodily harm, or fear of death. Safe...
issued by Henry V of England
Henry V of England
Henry V was King of England from 1413 until his death at the age of 35 in 1422. He was the second monarch belonging to the House of Lancaster....
to travel to Calthorpe Castle in Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire is a county in the east of England. It borders Norfolk to the south east, Cambridgeshire to the south, Rutland to the south west, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire to the west, South Yorkshire to the north west, and the East Riding of Yorkshire to the north. It also borders...
.
In 1424, Hamilton was one of the Scottish Lords allowed passage to Durham
Durham
Durham is a city in north east England. It is within the County Durham local government district, and is the county town of the larger ceremonial county...
to visit the captive James I of Scotland
James I of Scotland
James I, King of Scots , was the son of Robert III and Annabella Drummond. He was probably born in late July 1394 in Dunfermline as youngest of three sons...
. In the same year, he was one of many Scots hostages given to the English as security for the payment of the ransom of the newly freed King of Scots. His estate was valued at 500 merk
Merk
A merk was a Scottish silver coin. Originally the same word as a mark of silver, the merk was in circulation at the end of the 16th century and in the 17th century. It was originally valued at 13s 4d , later raised to 14s Scots...
s.
Hamilton was confined first at Fotheringay Castle, then at Dover Castle
Dover Castle
Dover Castle is a medieval castle in the town of the same name in the English county of Kent. It was founded in the 12th century and has been described as the "Key to England" due to its defensive significance throughout history...
. He appears to have been released by 1426. He was invested as a knight
Knight
A knight was a member of a class of lower nobility in the High Middle Ages.By the Late Middle Ages, the rank had become associated with the ideals of chivalry, a code of conduct for the perfect courtly Christian warrior....
before 1430.
Hamilton died not later than 1441, when his son is described as Lord of Cadzow.
Paternity
He was the son of Janet (or Jacoba) Douglas, daughter of Sir James Douglas, 1st Lord Dalkeith, but his paternity is uncertain. Douglas's husband was Sir John Hamilton of CadzowJohn Hamilton of Cadzow
Sir John Hamilton of Cadzow, 4th Laird of Cadzow was a Scottish nobleman and soldier.He succeeded his father, David Hamilton of Cadzow, no later than 1392, when he appears on a charter of Andrew Murray of Touchadam as Dominus de Cadzow.He was imprisoned, along with his brothers William and Andrew,...
and it was long thought that he was James's father. However DNA test
Genealogical DNA test
A genealogical DNA test examines the nucleotides at specific locations on a person's DNA for genetic genealogy purposes. The test results are not meant to have any informative medical value and do not determine specific genetic diseases or disorders ; they are intended only to give genealogical...
ing of Hamilton descendants in the Hamilton Surname DNA Project suggests that Sir John was not his biological father. The male-line descendants of James' brother Walter and his uncle John are similar while the descendants of James are distinct, suggesting his biological father was not a Hamilton.
Marriage and children
James Hamilton married Janet Livingston before 1422, when he received a charter of the lands of Schawis from his father-in-law, Sir Alexander Livingston of Callander. By Janet Livingston, Hamilton had six children:- James Hamilton, 6th Laird of CadzowJames Hamilton, 1st Lord HamiltonJames Hamilton, 1st Lord Hamilton, 6th Lord of Cadzow was a Scottish nobleman, scholar and politician.-Early life:...
- later made a Lord of ParliamentLord of ParliamentA Lord of Parliament was the lowest rank of nobility automatically entitled to attend sessions of the pre-Union Parliament of Scotland. Post-Union, it is a member of the lowest rank of the Peerage of Scotland, ranking below a viscount...
as Lord HamiltonLord HamiltonThe title Lord Hamilton may refer to one of the following:*The Scottish Lordship of Parliament Lord Hamilton, created for James Hamilton, 1st Lord Hamilton and held by the Duke of Hamilton*Arthur Hamilton, Lord Hamilton, Lord Justice General... - Alexander Hamilton - ancestor of the Hamiltons of SilvertonhillSilvertonhillSilvertonhill is a sought after residential area of Hamilton, Scotland based around Silvertonhill Avenue. Situated approximately 5 minutes south of the town centre, Silvertonhill contains a mix of both detached and semi-detached, privately owned housing...
- John Hamilton
- Gavin Hamilton - ancestor of the Hamiltons of DalzellBaron Hamilton of DalzellBaron Hamilton of Dalzell, in the County of Lanark, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1886 for the Liberal politician John Hamilton. He had previously represented Falkirk and Lanarkshire South in the House of Commons and after his elevation to the peerage served...
- Agnes Hamilton - married Sir James Hamilton of PrestonPreston, East LothianPreston is a village on the East Lothian coast of Scotland, to the south of Prestonpans, the east of Prestongrange, and the southwest of Cockenzie and Port Seton....
- Elizabeth Hamilton - married Chalmers of Gadgirth