Image 2,
Image 3
Image 2,
Image 3
As you might have guessed, I'm Scottish in ancestry. The culture
and history of the clans in Scotland is facinating, so I have
collected bits and pieces of Clan Hamilton information here. In
addition some of my realtives have gathered together our family
tree. If you're interested you can download this information in a
number of different formats:
|
Ancient Dress Hamilton | |
Modern Dress Hamilton, also know as Red Hamilton Image 2, Image 3 |
|
Ancient Hunting Hamilton | |
Modern Hunting Hamilton, also know as Green Hamilton Image 2, Image 3 |
What does the tree and the saw mean and where ever did the motto come from?" Well, legend says that one Gilbert de Hamilton was in office at the court of Edward the II of England. In 1325, he spoke in public, praising Robert the Bruce, and was assaulted by John de Spencer who felt that the speech was treacherous. Gilbert de Hamilton challenged his assailant, but de Spencer refused to fight, so Gilbert de Hamilton killed him. He then fled with his servant towards Scotland, hotly pursued by members of the enraged de Spencer family. Shortly after entering Scotland, Gilbert reached a forest and, realizing that he was close to being captured, he and his attendant changed clothes with two woodcutters. They took a frame-saw and began felling an oak tree. As his enemies drew closes, Gilbert de Hamilton noticed that his servant was looking decidedly nervous, and afraid that he might give them away with his frightened stares, he diverted his attention by shouting 'Through', the traditional woodcutters exclamation. (In North America, we'd say 'Timber'.)
In celebration of his successful escape from sure death, the family took 'Through' as their motto, and incorporated an oak tree and a frame saw into their coat of arms. The ducal cornet was probably incorporated into the Hamilton crest after the birth of James in 1475, second Lord Hamilton, who was the son of James, first Lord Hamilton and his wife the Princess Mary. This second Lord Hamilton was created Earl of Arran in 1503, and as the son of Princess Mary, was in line for the throne of Scotland."
While there is no such thing as a family coat of arms
which anyone can assume, or a whole family can use, the chief of a
clan does have a coat of arms. It changes from one generation to
the next by adding generation marks. I'm not familiar enough with
heraldry to say anything more, but I'm told this coat here is the
"original" Hamilton's coat
Quarterly, 1st & 4th grand quarters, counterquartered, I & IV Gules, three cinquefoils Ermine; II & III Argent, a lymphad Sable, sails furled Proper, flagged Gules; 2nd & 3rd grand quarters, Argent, a mans heart Gules ensigned with an imperial crown Proper, on a chief Azure three stars of the First.
