Hamilton, Samuel
Stoker First Class
No. D/226785, HMS Caroline, Royal Navy
Died of disease on Monday 18 November 1940 (aged 56)
Buried:
Belfast City Cemetery, Glenalina Extension (Section D. Grave 116)
Commemorated:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
BIOGRAPHY
In the CWGC Debt of Honour website it is recorded that Stoker First Class Samuel Hamilton (No. D/226785) was a son of Robert and Eliza Hamilton.
In Royal Navy papers it is recorded that Stoker First Class Samuel Hamilton (No. D/226785) was born in Ardkeen, Co. Down, and died on 18 November 1940 in the Military Hospital, Stranmillis, Belfast as the result of a carcinoma.
Civil birth registration records show that Samuel Hamilton was born on 30 August 1886 in the townland of Tullymally, Quintin, Portaferry, and that he was a son of Robert and Elizabeth (Eliza) Hamilton (nee Bailie) who were married on 13 October 1885 in Cloughey Presbyterian Church. Robert Hamilton (aged 20), a labourer from Cloughey, was a son of John Hamilton, a labourer. Eliza Bailie (aged 20) from Tullymally was a daughter of Robert Bailie, a labourer.
Samuel was ten when his mother Eliza died of phthisis pulmonalis on 25 February 1897 in Tullymally. Samuel’s father Robert was with her when she died.
In 1901 the widowed Robert Hamilton was living on his own in the townland of Newcastle, Quintin, Co Down. Samuel was working as a farm servant for the Finlay brothers who farmed at Ballywatticock, Newtownards.
Samuel Hamilton joined the Royal Navy on 30 August 1904 – his 18th birthday. It was noted that he was 5 feet 3¼ inches tall with light brown hair, hazel eyes, and a fresh complexion.
In 1911 Samuel’s father Robert was living in Carrowdore and on his census return he was described as a widower and agricultural labourer. Six other people were included on his census return:
Sarah Brown (aged 39) – housekeeper
Sarah Hamilton (aged 4) – daughter
Agnes Ann Hamilton (aged 3) – daughter
George Arthur Hamilton (aged 1) – son
Margaret Ferris (aged 84) – boarder
Hugh Orr (aged 14) – boarder
In the 1901 census head of family Margaret Ferris (aged 73) was recorded as an unmarried hand embroiderer living in Ballybuttle, Carrowdore. Four other people were recorded on her census return:
Sarah Adams (aged 29) – married daughter
Maggie Adams (aged 11) – granddaughter
Robert John Adams (aged 10) – grandson
Hugh Orr (aged 4) – grandson
Maggie Adams was born on 2 May 1889 in Ballyfrenis; Robert John Adams was born on 19 December 1890 in Ballyfrenis, and they were registered as children of William James and Sarah Adams (nee Brown) who were married on 12 July 1888 in Ballyfrenis United Presbyterian Church. William James Adams, a sailor from Ballyfrenis, was a son of James Adams, a farmer. Sarah Brown (aged 17) from Ballyfrenis was registered as being a daughter of Robert Brown, a farmer.
Hugh Orr Adams was born on 1 May 1896 in Ballyfrenis, and it was Margaret Ferris, his grandmother, who registered his birth. He was registered as being a son of William James and Sarah Adams (nee Brown). By 1901, Hugh Orr Adams had dropped the Adams surname and he used Hugh Orr as his full name thereafter. During the First World War, Rifleman Hugh Orr (No. 10777) served with the 3rd Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles and he died in a military hospital on 14 April 1919. He was buried in Carrowdore (Christ Church) Church of Ireland Graveyard, Co. Down.
Between 1906 and 1909 three children were born to parents registered as Robert and Sarah Hamilton (nee Brown):
Sarah Hamilton (born on 1 June 1906 in Ballyfrenis)
Agnes Anna Hamilton (born on 14 February 1908 in Carrowdore)
Hugh George Arthur Hamilton (born on 4 August 1909 in Carrowdore)
Robert Hamilton died of acute rheumatism and heart disease at home in Carrowdore on 27 November 1914 (aged 51). Hugh Orr was with him when he died, registered his death, and made his mark on Robert’s death registration.
It is noted in Civil Death Registration records that Margaret Ferris died of asthenia senilis on 13 February 1915. Her daughter, Sarah Hamilton, was with her when she died, registered her death, and made her mark on Margaret’s death registration.
Stoker First Class Samuel Hamilton (No. D/226785) died on 18 November 1940 in the Military Hospital, Stranmillis, Belfast as the result of a carcinoma, and he was buried in Belfast City Cemetery (Glenalina Extension). There is an inscription on his CWGC headstone:
HE DIED THAT OTHERS MAY LIVE
Sarah Hamilton died on 18 August 1954 at her residence, 14 Main Street, Carrowdore and was buried in Carrowdore (Christ Church) Graveyard, Co. Down. There is an inscription on her headstone:
ERECTED BY
SARAH HAMILTON
IN LOVING MEMORY OF HER SON
HUGH ORR
NO. 10777 3RD BATT, R.I.R
WHO DIED OF WOUNDS RECEIVED IN
ACTION IN FRANCE 14TH APRIL 1919
AGED 22 YEARS
ALSO THE ABOVE
SARAH HAMILTON
WHO DIED 18TH AUG 1954
THE LORD’S MY SHEPHERD