John Hamilton, 2nd Lord Bargany
Encyclopedia
John Hamilton, 2nd Lord Bargany, (c. 1640 – May 15, 1693) was a Scottish
peer whose family fortunes were deeply implicated in the struggles over Presbyterianism
and the Church of England
during the Interregnum
and the Monmouth Rebellion
. He was accused of treason
and cleared of charges.
His family suffered during the English Civil War
. His father, also John Hamilton (first Lord Bargany), took the Parliamentarian side before the Civil War but joined with William Hamilton, 2nd Duke of Hamilton
, on the Cavalier
side in 1648. Parliament
seized his estates, fining him £2,000 for their return because of his royalist efforts. The eldest of seven children, John Hamilton assumed the title in 1662, after the death of his father. After the Restoration
, the elder Bargany, and then the son, petitioned for the return of the fine, to no avail. Hamilton married Mary, the daughter of the Lord Chancellor of Scotland
the year he took his title. His family itself split in loyalties, with the women generally favoring Presbyterianism and the men generally the Established church, and this made him a figure of suspicion throughout his life.
Hamilton was aggressively anti-Puritan, and in 1666 he led a company in battle against the Presbyters at Rullion Green. The next year, his wife having died, he married again. This wife proved scandalous and disastrous for Hamilton. He made the match no doubt to try to get money, as he married Lady Alice, the widow of a man who had amassed a significant illicit fortune. She brought with her also a lover, Lord Berkeley. He, in turn, attempted to make her one of Charles II of England
's mistresses
in 1676. She died in 1677. Hamilton and she had apparently not been a very close couple, as he lost his suit for the monies left to her in her former husband's will, and he lost the £3,000 he had paid to settle her debts upon marriage.
In 1678, Hamilton moved into opposition. However, he was not a supporter of the Presbyterian Covenanter
s, and he led forces in the Battle of Bothwell Bridge
against the Puritan rebels. However, he had a neighbor in Ayrshire
named James Crawfuird. This man was responsible for hunting down and imprisoning rebel Covenanter forces. However, he and his sons were in the habit of accepting bribes
from their prisoners, in money, bonds, and labor, and letting them escape. Crawfuird was sheltering Thomas Cunningham
, a rebel leader, and he feared Hamilton's revealing this fact, and so he bribed numerous witnesses to get them to swear that Hamilton was a traitor. They accused him of corresponding with John Welsh
, sponsoring the uprising at Bothwell Bridge, and of paying to have the Duke of Lauderdale
assassinated. Hamilton was imprisoned, but James, Duke of York
had the trial abridged. Hamilton was released on bond, and he began to investigate the perjury
. However, the Duke of York put an end to that, as well.
In 1682, Hamilton accumulated evidence that Crawfiurd was again accepting bribes to release prisoners and moved to have him arrested. Crawfiurd (who was Lord Armillan) was arrested, but he and two of his sons fled the country in 1684. Hamilton was given Ardmillan's old job and was put in charge of rounding up rebels.
Also in 1684, Hamilton's lover, Sylvia Johnstone, sued him. She had had a child by him, a bastard that Hamilton acknowledged, and she wanted maintenance for herself and son. Therefore, she sued for seduction under promise of marriage. As Hamilton was in control of the courts, he had the venue changed to one favorable to himself, and so he prevailed in the lawsuit.
He was in favor of William of Orange
in the Glorious Revolution
and offered a regiment
of infantry
to William for his cause in Ireland
. The soldiers were accepted and blended into another regiment. Hamilton died in 1693.
Kingdom of Scotland
The Kingdom of Scotland was a Sovereign state in North-West Europe that existed from 843 until 1707. It occupied the northern third of the island of Great Britain and shared a land border to the south with the Kingdom of England...
peer whose family fortunes were deeply implicated in the struggles over Presbyterianism
Presbyterianism
Presbyterianism refers to a number of Christian churches adhering to the Calvinist theological tradition within Protestantism, which are organized according to a characteristic Presbyterian polity. Presbyterian theology typically emphasizes the sovereignty of God, the authority of the Scriptures,...
and the Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
during the Interregnum
Interregnum
An interregnum is a period of discontinuity or "gap" in a government, organization, or social order...
and the Monmouth Rebellion
Monmouth Rebellion
The Monmouth Rebellion,The Revolt of the West or The West Country rebellion of 1685, was an attempt to overthrow James II, who had become King of England, King of Scots and King of Ireland at the death of his elder brother Charles II on 6 February 1685. James II was a Roman Catholic, and some...
. He was accused of treason
Treason
In law, treason is the crime that covers some of the more extreme acts against one's sovereign or nation. Historically, treason also covered the murder of specific social superiors, such as the murder of a husband by his wife. Treason against the king was known as high treason and treason against a...
and cleared of charges.
His family suffered during the English Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
. His father, also John Hamilton (first Lord Bargany), took the Parliamentarian side before the Civil War but joined with William Hamilton, 2nd Duke of Hamilton
William Hamilton, 2nd Duke of Hamilton
William Hamilton, 2nd Duke of Hamilton KG was a Scottish nobleman who supported both Royalist and Presbyterian causes during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms....
, on the Cavalier
Cavalier
Cavalier was the name used by Parliamentarians for a Royalist supporter of King Charles I and son Charles II during the English Civil War, the Interregnum, and the Restoration...
side in 1648. Parliament
Parliament of England
The Parliament of England was the legislature of the Kingdom of England. In 1066, William of Normandy introduced a feudal system, by which he sought the advice of a council of tenants-in-chief and ecclesiastics before making laws...
seized his estates, fining him £2,000 for their return because of his royalist efforts. The eldest of seven children, John Hamilton assumed the title in 1662, after the death of his father. After the Restoration
English Restoration
The Restoration of the English monarchy began in 1660 when the English, Scottish and Irish monarchies were all restored under Charles II after the Interregnum that followed the Wars of the Three Kingdoms...
, the elder Bargany, and then the son, petitioned for the return of the fine, to no avail. Hamilton married Mary, the daughter of the Lord Chancellor of Scotland
Lord Chancellor of Scotland
The Lord Chancellor of Scotland was a Great Officer of State in pre-Union Scotland.Holders of the office are known from 1123 onwards, but its duties were occasionally performed by an official of lower status with the title of Keeper of the Great Seal...
the year he took his title. His family itself split in loyalties, with the women generally favoring Presbyterianism and the men generally the Established church, and this made him a figure of suspicion throughout his life.
Hamilton was aggressively anti-Puritan, and in 1666 he led a company in battle against the Presbyters at Rullion Green. The next year, his wife having died, he married again. This wife proved scandalous and disastrous for Hamilton. He made the match no doubt to try to get money, as he married Lady Alice, the widow of a man who had amassed a significant illicit fortune. She brought with her also a lover, Lord Berkeley. He, in turn, attempted to make her one of Charles II of England
Charles II of England
Charles II was monarch of the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland.Charles II's father, King Charles I, was executed at Whitehall on 30 January 1649, at the climax of the English Civil War...
's mistresses
Mistress (lover)
A mistress is a long-term female lover and companion who is not married to her partner; the term is used especially when her partner is married. The relationship generally is stable and at least semi-permanent; however, the couple does not live together openly. Also the relationship is usually,...
in 1676. She died in 1677. Hamilton and she had apparently not been a very close couple, as he lost his suit for the monies left to her in her former husband's will, and he lost the £3,000 he had paid to settle her debts upon marriage.
In 1678, Hamilton moved into opposition. However, he was not a supporter of the Presbyterian Covenanter
Covenanter
The Covenanters were a Scottish Presbyterian movement that played an important part in the history of Scotland, and to a lesser extent in that of England and Ireland, during the 17th century...
s, and he led forces in the Battle of Bothwell Bridge
Battle of Bothwell Bridge
The Battle of Bothwell Bridge, or Bothwell Brig, took place on 22 June 1679. It was fought between government troops and militant Presbyterian Covenanters, and signalled the end of their brief rebellion...
against the Puritan rebels. However, he had a neighbor in Ayrshire
Ayrshire
Ayrshire is a registration county, and former administrative county in south-west Scotland, United Kingdom, located on the shores of the Firth of Clyde. Its principal towns include Ayr, Kilmarnock and Irvine. The town of Troon on the coast has hosted the British Open Golf Championship twice in the...
named James Crawfuird. This man was responsible for hunting down and imprisoning rebel Covenanter forces. However, he and his sons were in the habit of accepting bribes
Bribery
Bribery, a form of corruption, is an act implying money or gift giving that alters the behavior of the recipient. Bribery constitutes a crime and is defined by Black's Law Dictionary as the offering, giving, receiving, or soliciting of any item of value to influence the actions of an official or...
from their prisoners, in money, bonds, and labor, and letting them escape. Crawfuird was sheltering Thomas Cunningham
Thomas Cunningham
Thomas Jefferson Cunningham was a politician from the U.S. state of Wisconsin. He served as that state's fourteenth Secretary of State, serving two terms from January 5, 1891 to January 7, 1895. He was a Democrat and served under Governor George Wilbur Peck.He resided in Chippewa Falls,...
, a rebel leader, and he feared Hamilton's revealing this fact, and so he bribed numerous witnesses to get them to swear that Hamilton was a traitor. They accused him of corresponding with John Welsh
John Welsh
John Welsh may refer to:*John Welsh of Ayr, religious leader*John Welsh of Irongray, religious leader*John Welsh , FRS , Superintendent of Kew Observatory*John Welsh *John Welsh...
, sponsoring the uprising at Bothwell Bridge, and of paying to have the Duke of Lauderdale
John Maitland, 1st Duke of Lauderdale
Sir John Maitland, 1st Duke and 2nd Earl of Lauderdale, 3rd Lord Thirlestane KG PC , was a Scottish politician, and leader within the Cabal Ministry.-Background:...
assassinated. Hamilton was imprisoned, but James, Duke of York
James II of England
James II & VII was King of England and King of Ireland as James II and King of Scotland as James VII, from 6 February 1685. He was the last Catholic monarch to reign over the Kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland...
had the trial abridged. Hamilton was released on bond, and he began to investigate the perjury
Perjury
Perjury, also known as forswearing, is the willful act of swearing a false oath or affirmation to tell the truth, whether spoken or in writing, concerning matters material to a judicial proceeding. That is, the witness falsely promises to tell the truth about matters which affect the outcome of the...
. However, the Duke of York put an end to that, as well.
In 1682, Hamilton accumulated evidence that Crawfiurd was again accepting bribes to release prisoners and moved to have him arrested. Crawfiurd (who was Lord Armillan) was arrested, but he and two of his sons fled the country in 1684. Hamilton was given Ardmillan's old job and was put in charge of rounding up rebels.
Also in 1684, Hamilton's lover, Sylvia Johnstone, sued him. She had had a child by him, a bastard that Hamilton acknowledged, and she wanted maintenance for herself and son. Therefore, she sued for seduction under promise of marriage. As Hamilton was in control of the courts, he had the venue changed to one favorable to himself, and so he prevailed in the lawsuit.
He was in favor of William of Orange
William III of England
William III & II was a sovereign Prince of Orange of the House of Orange-Nassau by birth. From 1672 he governed as Stadtholder William III of Orange over Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht, Guelders, and Overijssel of the Dutch Republic. From 1689 he reigned as William III over England and Ireland...
in the Glorious Revolution
Glorious Revolution
The Glorious Revolution, also called the Revolution of 1688, is the overthrow of King James II of England by a union of English Parliamentarians with the Dutch stadtholder William III of Orange-Nassau...
and offered a regiment
Regiment
A regiment is a major tactical military unit, composed of variable numbers of batteries, squadrons or battalions, commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel...
of infantry
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
to William for his cause in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. The soldiers were accepted and blended into another regiment. Hamilton died in 1693.