James Earl Hamilton Marsden - Ancestors

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JAMES EARL HAMILTON MARSDEN
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ANCESTORS
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James Hamilton, 1st Earl of Arrans ancestors in
three generations James Hamilton, 1st Earl of
Arran

Father James Hamilton, 1st Lord Hamilton
Early life James Hamilton was the son of James
Hamilton of Cadzow, 5th Laird of Cadzow. He was
born at Cadzow Castle, South Lanarkshire. He
first appears on record on a charter of 1426,
granting him the rights to the lands of Dalserf,
which had been alienated by his father. Douglas
connection Hamilton was intimately connected
with the powerful House of Douglas his mother
was a daughter of the Douglas Lord of Dalkeith,
and also through his marriage in 1439/1440 with
Lady Euphemia Graham, the youthful widow
of Archibald Douglas, 5th Earl of Douglas and
daughter of Euphemia Stewart, Countess of
Strathearn. Hamilton became stepfather to the
young 6th Earl of Douglas, his brother David,
both who would be murdered in November 1440 at
the Black Dinner at Edinburgh Castle in the
presence of James II. Furthermore he was the
stepfather of Margaret Douglas, known as the
Fair Maid of Galloway, who was to marry her
cousins William Douglas, 8th Earl of Douglas,
and James Douglas, 9th Earl of Douglas.
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Paternal Grandfather James Hamilton of Cadzow
Sir James Hamilton of Cadzow, 5th Laird of Cadzow 
(b. bef. 1397 d. c. 1440) was a Scottish
nobleman and royal hostage. The son of Sir John
Hamilton of Cadzow 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 merks. 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. Paternity He was the son of
Janet (or Jacoba) Douglas, daughter of Sir James
Douglas, 1st Lord Dalkeith, but his paternity is
uncertain. Douglass husband was Sir John
Hamilton of Cadzow and it was long thought that
he was Jamess father. However DNA testingof
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.
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Paternal Great-Grandfather John Hamilton of
Cadzow

• Sir John Hamilton of Cadzow, 4th Laird of Cadzow (
  b. bef. 1370 d. c. 1402) 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, in Norwich in 1396. Richard
  II of England ordered their release from the
  Mayor and bailies of that city on 29 June. It
  appears that their imprisonment was due to
  violations of the truce between the Kingdoms
  of England and Scotland. A John Hamilton, either
  his brother John Hamilton of Bardowie, or
  uncle John Hamilton of Fingalton, was released
  from the Tower of London on the same date.
  Hamilton and his uncle seem to have found
  themselves guests of the English again, when at a
  meeting of Border commissioners at Hawdenstank on
  28 October 1398, the first point of business was
  the release of Hamilton of Cadzow, and Hamilton
  of Fingalton and others in their entourage. The
  Hamiltons had been caught at sea by
  English privateers, again in violation of the
  truce. The English were urged to release the ship
  and restore their goods to them, or alternatively
  pay suitable recompense.
• There is no record of Hamiltons death, though it
  is possible that he was one of the prisoner
  fatalities at the Battle of Homildon Hill in
  1402, where a Sir John Hamilton, elder, appears
  on a list of captives.
• Marriage and children
• John Hamilton married Janet or Jacoba Douglas,
  daughter of Sir James Douglas, 1st Lord Dalkeith,
  prior to 1388. It was thought that he had three
  sons by her
• James Hamilton of Cadzow
• David Hamilton of Dalserf
• Walter Hamilton of Raploch
• However DNA testing of descendants of James and
  Walter in the Hamilton Surname DNA Project show
  that these two did not have the same father. The
  DNA project shows that the descendants of Walter
  and his uncle John Hamilton of Fingalton are
  related, which suggests that Jamess biological
  father was not from the same family

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Paternal Great-grandmother James Douglas, 1st
Lord Dalkeith
James Douglas, 1st Lord Dalkeith (born ca. 1356
and died before 22 May 1441) was
a Scottish nobleman born in Dalkeith,Midlothian,
Scotland to Sir James Douglas and Agnes Dunbar.
He married Elizabeth (Princess) Stewart, daughter
of King Robert III, about the year 1387. They had
four children before she died William, James,
Henry, and Margaret. He later remarried Janet
Borthwick.
Paternal Grandmother Janet Livingston of
Callander
Paternal Great-GrandfatherSir Alexander
Livingston of Callander
Paternal Great-Grandmother
Mother Mary Stewart, Countess of Arran
Mary Stewart, Countess of Arran   Princess Mary,
Countess of Arran (13 May 1453 May 1488) was
the eldest daughter of King James II of
Scotland and Mary of Guelders. Her brother was
KingJames III of Scotland. She married twice
firstly to Thomas Boyd, 1st Earl of Arran
secondly to James Hamilton, 1st Lord Hamilton. It
was through her children by her second husband
that the Hamilton Earls of Arran and Stewart
Lennoxes derived their claim to the Kingdom of
Scotland.
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Maternal Grandfather James II of Scotland
James II of Scotland James II (16 October 1430
3 August 1460), who reigned as king of Scots from
1437 on, was the son of James I and Joan
Beaufort. Nothing is known of his early life, but
by his first birthday his only brother, Alexander,
who was also older, had died, thus making James
the heir apparent and Duke of Rothesay. Curiously
enough, James held no other titles while Duke of
Rothesay. On 21 February 1437, James I
wasassassinated and the six-year-old Duke of
Rothesay immediately succeeded him as James
II. In 1449, nineteen-year-old James married
fifteen-year-old Mary of Guelders, daughter of
the Duke of Gelderland. She had numerous
royal ancestors such as John II of
France and John of Bohemia. She bore him seven
children, six of whom survived into adulthood.
Subsequently, the relations between Flanders and S
cotland became better. Jamess nickname, Fiery
Face, referred to a conspicuous
vermilion birthmarkon his face which appears to
have been deemed by contemporaries an outward
sign of a fiery temper. James was a politic, and
singularly successful king. He was popular with
the commoners, with whom, like most of the
Stewarts, he socialized often, both in times of
peace and war. His legislation has a markedly
popular character. He does not appear to have
inherited his fathers taste for literature,
which was inherited by at least two of his
sisters but the foundation of the university of
Glasgow during his reign, byBishop Turnbull,
shows that he encouraged learning and there are
also traces of his endowments to St. Salvators,
the new college of Archbishop Kennedy at St
Andrews. He possessed much of his fathers
restless energy. However, the manner of Douglass
death leaves a stain on his reign.
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Maternal Great-Grandfather James I of Scotland
James I, King of Scots (July 1394 21 February
1437), was the youngest of three sons of
King Robert III and Annabella Drummond and was
probably born in late July 1394 in Dunfermline.
By the time he was eight years of age both of his
elder brothers were deadRobert had died in
infancy, but David Stewart, Duke of Rothesay,
died under suspicious circumstances in Falkland
Castle while being detained by his uncle,Robert
Stewart, Duke of Albany. Although parliament
exonerated Albany, fears for Jamess safety grew
during the winter of 14056 and plans were made
to send him to France. In February 1406, James,
in the company of nobles loyal to King Robert
III, clashed with those of the Earl of Douglas,
forcing the prince to take temporary refuge on
the Bass Rock in the Forth estuary. He remained
there until mid-March, when he boarded a vessel
bound for France, but English pirates captured
the ship on 22 March and delivered James to Henry
IV of England. A few days later, on 4 April
Robert III died, and the 12 year-old
uncrowned King of Scots began his 18-year
detention. James was given a good education at
the English court, where he developed respect for
English methods of governance and for Henry V to
the extent that he served in the English army
against the French during 14201. The Duke of
Albanys son, Murdoch, held a prisoner in England
following his capture in 1402, was traded
for Henry Percy, Earl of Northumberland, in 1416.
By the time James was ransomed in 1424, Murdoch
had succeeded his father to the dukedom and the
governorship of Scotland. In April 1424 James,
accompanied by his wife Joan Beaufort, daughter
of the Earl of Somerset, returned to Scotland. It
was not altogether a popular re-entry to Scottish
affairs, since James had fought on behalf of
Henry V and at times against Scottish forces in
France. Additionally, his 40,000 ransom meant
increased taxes to cover the repayments and the
detention of Scottish nobles as collateral.
Despite this, James also held qualities that were
admired. The contemporary Scotichronicon by Walter
Bowerdescribed James as excelling at sport and
appreciative of literature and music. Unlike his
father and grandfather he did not take
mistresses, but had many children by his consort,
Queen Joan. The king had a strong desire to
impose law and order on his subjects, but applied
it selectively at times.
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Maternal Great-Grandmother Joan Beaufort, Queen
of Scots
Joan Beaufort (c. 1404 15 July 1445) was
the Queen Consort of Scotland from 1424 to 1437
as the spouse of King James I of Scotland. During
part of the minority of her sonJames II (from
1437 to 1439), she served as the Regent of
Scotland Background and early life She was a
daughter of John Beaufort, 1st Earl of Somerset,
and Margaret Holland and half-niece of King Henry
IV of England. Joan was named after her
aunt, Joan Beaufort, Countess of Westmorland.
James of Scotland fell in love with her during
his time as a prisoner in England (14061424).
She is said to have been the inspiration for
Jamess famous long poem, The Kingis Quair,
written in his captivity after he saw her from
his window in the garden. The powerful Beauforts
put pressure on Henry V to release him so they
could get married. Queen Catherine also urged him
to do so. Discussions were held, and it was
decided that her dowry would be subtracted from
his ransom.   Queen of Scotland On 2 February
1424 at Southwark Priory (now Southwark
Cathedral), Joan married James I. They were
feasted at Winchester Palace that year by her
uncle Cardinal Henry Beaufort. She joined him on
his return from captivity to Scotland that year.
At his coronation atScone, when James received
the allegiance of his Tenants-in-chief, he had
them swear their allegiance to Joan as well, as
if she was a co-monarch. As queen, she often
pleaded with the king for those who might be
executed. The royal couple had eight children,
including the future James II, and Margaret of
Scotland, spouse of Louis XI of France.
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Maternal Grandmother Mary of Guelders

• Mary of Guelders (c. 1434 1 December 1463) was
  the Queen Consort of Scotland as the wife of
  King James II of Scotland. She served
  as Regent of Scotland from 1460 to 1463.
•  
• Background
• She was the daughter of Arnold, Duke of Guelders,
  and Catherine of Cleves, a great-aunt of Anne of
  Cleves. She was a great-niece of Philip the Good,
  Duke of Burgundy.
•  
• Burgundian court
• Philip and his wife Isabella of Portugal at first
  planned to have Mary betrothed to Charles, Count
  of Maine, but her father could not pay the
  dowry. Mary stayed on at the Burgundian court,
  where Isabella frequently paid for her expenses.
  Mary attended Isabellas daughter-in-law Catherine
  of France, while she herself was attended upon
  by ten people. The duke and duchess then started
  negotiations for a Scottish marriage. Philip
  promised to pay her dowry, while Isabella paid
  for her trousseau. William Crichton came to the
  Burgundian court to escort her back to Scotland
• Marriage and children
• She landed in Scotland in June 1449 and both
  nobles and the common people came to see her as
  she made her way to Holyrood Abbey. Mary
  married James II, King of Scots, at Holyrood
  Abbey in Edinburgh on 3 July 1449. A sumptuous
  banquet was given, while the Scottish king gave
  her several presents. It had been agreed that any
  sons they might have would have no right to the
  duchy of Guelders.
• James and Mary had seven children together
• An unnamed son. Both born and died on 19 May
  1450).
• James III of Scotland (14511488).
• Alexander Stewart, Duke of Albany (c. 1454
  1485).
• David Stewart, Earl of Moray (c. 1456 1457. He
  was created Earl of Moray on 12 February 1456.
• John Stewart, 1st Earl of Mar and Garioch (c.
  1459 1479).

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Maternal Great-grandfather Arnold, Duke of
Guelders
Arnold, Duke of Guelders   Arnold of Egmond (14
July 1410, Egmond-Binnen, North Holland  23
February 1473,Grave) was Duke of Guelders, Count
of Zutphen. He was son of John II of
Egmond andMaria van Arkel. On 11 July 1423,
Arnold of Egmond, who was still a boy in years,
succeeded Duke Reinald IV. Arnold was the
grandson of Reinalds sister, Johanna. Although
the Emperor Sigismund had invested the Duke of
Berg with the duchy of Gelders, Arnold retained
the confidence of the Estates by enlarging their
privileges, and enjoyed the support of
Duke Philip of Burgundy. Arnold was betrothed,
and afterwards united in marriage toCatherine of
Cleves née Valois, a niece of Philip of Burgundy.
Subsequently, however, Duke Arnold fell out with
his ally as to the succession to the see
of Utrecht whereupon Philip joined with the four
chief towns of Guelders in the successful attempt
of Arnolds son Adolf to substitute his own for
his fathers authority. When Charles the
Bold became Duke of Burgundy in 1467, after
rejecting a compromise, Adolph was thrown into
prison. Arnold, against the will of the towns and
the law of the land, pledged his duchy to Charles
for 300,000 Rhenish florins (1471). Upon Arnolds
death two years later, Charles took possession of
the duchy.
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Maternal Great-Grandmother Catherine of Cleves
(14171479)

• Catherine (25 May 1417 10 February 1479) was
  Duchess of Guelders. The Hours of Catherine of
  Cleves was commissioned for her.
• Family
• Catherine was the daughter of Adolph I, Duke of
  Cleves and Marie of Burgundy. She was a niece
  of Philip the Good.
•  
• Book of Hours
• The Hours of Catherine of Cleves was commissioned
  for her when she married Arnold, Duke of
  Guelders, on 26 January 1430. It shows
  her lineage, as well as herself in prayer. The
  hours had been lost for four hundred years before
  resurfacing in 1856. It is one of the most richly
  decorated books of its kind that is preserved.
•  
• Issue
•  
• Mary (c. 1431-1463), who became Queen of Scotland
  by marriage to James II
• William (born c. 1434), died young
• Margaret (c. 1436-1486, Simmern), married on 16
  August 1454 to Frederick I, Count of
  Palatine-Simmern.
• Adolf (14381477)
• Catherine (1439 1496), Regent of Guelders in
  14771481.