John Hamilton married Jane Todd.  Jane's will was dated October 6, 1842, and was proved on June 30, 1844.  The executors were her sons, Samuel and Andrew Hamilton.  The witnesses were H. C. Young, Charles Smith, and J. I. Culbertson.  The will is recorded in Laurens County, South Carolina in Book A, at page 41.

Issue:

1.  Martha Hamilton was born in Ireland in 1799 and died on July 18, 1873.  She married Capt. James Dorroh (1807-1857).  They are buried in the Old Quaker Cemetery (also known as Union Church Cemetery) in Laurens, South Carolina.  According to her mother's will, Martha inherited two hundred dollars.  James Dorroh's will was dated October 17, 1850, and was proved on October 6, 1857.  Martha (his wife) was named as executrix.  Witnesses were W. D. Simpson, Alexander McCarley and H, M, Young.  Note: In his will, James refers to himself as "James Holliday, otherwise called James Dorroh."

2.  Mary Hamilton was born in Ireland about 1802 and died on August 15, 1874.  She married Samuel Downey (1801-1877).  They are buried in Old Quaker Cemetery in Laurens, South Carolina.  According to her mother's will, Mary inherited a Negro girl named Milly and a Negro boy named Lewis and four hundred dollars.  Mary's daughter, Eliza, inherited a Negro girl named Martha, a horse and saddle, and a bed and bedding.

3.  Andrew Hamilton was born about 1805 and died sometime between October 30, 1848, and October 8, 1849.  Andrew was buried in Old Quaker Cemetery in Laurens, South Carolina.  According to his mother's will, Andrew inherited two Negro boys, Tom and William.  In addition, Andrew inherited one bed and bedding, one cow, one calf, and four hundred dollars.  Andrew's will was dated October 30, 1848, and was proved on October 8, 1849.  The will was recorded in Laurens County, South Carolina, in Book A at page 114.  The executor was Samuel Downey.  The witnesses were Robert McDaniel, Nancy Pitts, and W. R. Molloy.  According to Andrew's will, his nephew, James Downey (a minor), was to inherit the slaves (William, Archey, Lilah, Robert, and Absolom).  Andrew's niece, Eliza Downey (a Minor), was to inherit one Negro woman named Mary.  These slaves were given to Samuel Downey until James and Eliza came of age or married.

4.  Alexander Hamilton had not migrated to this country prior to October 6, 1842 (the date of his mother's will).  He died sometime after October 30, 1848 (the date of his brother Andrew's will).  According to his mother's will, Alexander inherited a Negro girl named Betsey and four hundred dollars.

5.  Elizabeth (Eliza) S. Hamilton married James Coles, who did not migrate to this country until after October 6, 1842 (the date of Jane Hamilton's will).  Eliza died sometime after October 30, 1848 (the date of her brother Andrew's will.  According to her mother's will, Eliza inherited a Negro woman named Mary and a boy named Archy.  Eliza also inherited a bed and bedding and four hundred dollars.

6.  John Hamilton died sometime after September 19, 1844.  He probably died before October 30, 1848 (John was not mentioned in his brother Andrew's will).  According to his mother's will, John inherited a Negro boy named George.  George was to belong to John's daughter, Jane Hamilton, when she came of age or married.

7.  Samuel Hamilton was born about 1810.  According to his mother's will, Samuel inherited the tract of land on which his mother was living at the time of her death and land that she had purchased from James Dorrah and Alexander Culbertson.  He also inherited a Negro man named Edwin and a girl named Nancy.  In addition, he inherited a bed and bedding.  The 1860 Census of Laurens, South Carolina, lists S. Hamilton, age 50, living with a M. Downing, age 60, and S. Downimg, age 60, (probably Samuel's sister, Mary Hamilton, and her husband, Samuel Downey).

Published sources:

Laurens County, South Carolina, Will Book A, compiled by Mrs. Frances Terry Ingmire, 1982.

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