Name
Johne Hamiltoune, also known as Jan Hamelton[1] or Johan Hamelton,[2] was a soldier in New Netherland. The standard form, John Hamilton, is common, which complicates his identification in other places.
Origin
Johne was from Hamelton, present-day Hamilton, Lanarkshire, Scotland. He lodged in Amsterdam, Holland, the Netherlands in 1660.[3]
Migration
Johne Hamiltoune sailed to New Netherland on the Bonte Koe [Spotted Cow]. On 15 April 1660, the ship was lying in the Texel roadstead, ready for departure.[4] The island of Texel, off the coast of the Netherlands, served as a stopping point for vessels before crossing the ocean. At Texel, ships would take on fresh water for the voyage, rendezvous with other ships in the convoy, and await favorable winds. On board of the Bonte Koe were three cadets, a man who was a smith and baker, and sixteen soldiers, including Johne.[5] The ship also carried civilian passengers, including a group of families from Drenthe.[6] The ship arrived in New Netherland by 8 July 1660.[7]
Settlement
Johne lived in Wiltwijck (present-day Kingston) in 1661.[8]
Biographical Details
Johne Hamiltoune was born in Hamilton, Lanarkshire, Scotland,[9] between say 1610 and 1642. He was probably between 18 and 50 years old when he was hired as a soldier.[10] He died at an unknown date after 15 June 1661.[11]
Education
Originally from Hamilton, Johne Hamiltoune probably spoke a Lowland Scots dialect. In 1660, he was able to sign his name.[12]
Occupation
Johne worked as a soldier for the West India Company. In 1660, the company hired him to serve as a soldier in New Netherland for a wage of nine guilders per month. He received the first two months upfront. The company kept track of the other debts he incurred: 13 guilders and 18 stivers for his gun, 3 guilders and 10 stivers for his bolster and chest, and 100 guilders he owed to David Craffort, to be drawn from his future earnings.[13]
At the time Johne was hired, the West India Company needed more soldiers in New Netherland because of the First Esopus War (1659–1660). This armed conflict with the native population took place in the area around Wiltwijck. In 1661, after the war had ended, Johne was stationed at the garrison there. Several ensigns and soldiers were relieved from duty at that time, but Johne continued to serve.[14] Whether he was still there during the Second Esopus War in 1663 is unknown.
Associations
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Before his departure to New Netherland, Johne Hamiltoune lodged with David Craffort in Amsterdam. On 14 April 1660, Jan declared that he owed Craffort 100 guilders for provisions and advanced money. He authorized Craffort to garnish his wages from the West India Company to clear the debt.[15] In 1661, he served under commander Christiaen Niessen at Wiltwijck.[16]
Source Editions
Bailey, Rosalie Fellows. “Emigrants to New Netherland.” The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record 94 (1963). Abstracted list of soldiers on the Spotted Cow [Bonte Koe] (94.4: 195).
Venema, Janny, ed. Correspondence, 1659–1660. Syracuse, New York: Syracuse University, 2022. List of soldiers on the Bonte Koe (p. 227).
Citations
[1] Debt from Jan Hamelton to David Craffort, 14 April 1660, in Cornelis Touw, notary (Amsterdam), minutes, 1 January–30 June 1660, p. 513; imaged, Gemeente Amsterdam Stadsarchief (https://archief.amsterdam/inventarissen/file/1b9968e9-25eb-683b-fb2c-71f477452ad7), image 237 of 487; citing call no. 1450A, Record Group 5075: Archief van de Notarissen ter Standplaats Amsterdam [Records of the Notaries Residing in Amsterdam], Stadsarchief Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
[2] Bill of lading of the Bontekoe [Spotted Cow], 15 April 1660, in New Netherland Council, Dutch colonial administrative correspondence, vol. 13, 1659–1660, document 88; imaged, “Digital Collections,” New York State Archives (https://digitalcollections.archives.nysed.gov/Detail/objects/54472), identifier NYSA_A1810-78_V13_0088, image 4 of 6; citing series A1810-78, New York State Archives, Albany, New York.
[3] Debt from Jan Hamelton to David Craffort, 14 April 1660.
[4] Bill of lading of the Bontekoe [Spotted Cow], 15 April 1660.
[5] Bill of lading of the Bontekoe [Spotted Cow], 15 April 1660.
[6] List of passage fees from Holland to New Netherland from 1654 to 1664, folios 33–36, entries for passengers on the Bonte Koe, 1660, in New Netherland Council, Dutch colonial administrative correspondence, vol. 14, 1661–1662; imaged, “Digital Collections,” New York State Archives (https://digitalcollections.archives.nysed.gov/index.php/Detail/objects/54615), identifier NYSA_A1810-78_V14_0083, images 68–74 of 180; citing series A1810-78, New York State Archives, Albany, New York.
[7] Jan Janzen van Schorel vs. Abraham de la Noij, 8 July 1660, in Court of Burgomasters and Schepens (New Amsterdam), minutes, vol. 3, 1660–1662, p. 20; imaged, “Digital Collections,” NYC Department of Records & Information Services (https://nycrecords.access.preservica.com/), identifier MSS0040_1_2_03, image 22 of 572; citing subseries 1.2: Minutes of the Court of Burgomasters and Schepens of New Amsterdam, series 1: Original Dutch records of New Amsterdam, New Amsterdam records, New York City Municipal Archives, New York City, New York. Van Schorel sued for payment of goods that De la Noij’s had ordered. The goods were brought over on the Bonte Koe.
[8] Muster roll of the garrison at the Esopus, 15 June 1661, in in New Netherland Council, Dutch colonial administrative correspondence, vol. 14, 1661–1662, document 28; imaged, “Digital Collections,” New York State Archives (https://digitalcollections.archives.nysed.gov/Detail/objects/54554), identifier NYSA_A1810-78_V14_0028; citing series A1810-78, New York State Archives, Albany, New York.
[9] Debt from Jan Hamelton to David Craffort, 14 April 1660.
[10] Debt from Jan Hamelton to David Craffort, 14 April 1660.
[11] Muster roll of the garrison at the Esopus, 15 June 1661.
[12] Debt from Jan Hamelton to David Craffort, 14 April 1660.
[13] Bill of lading of the Bontekoe [Spotted Cow], 15 April 1660. Debt from Jan Hamelton to David Craffort, 14 April 1660.
[14] Muster roll of the garrison at the Esopus, 15 June 1661.
[15] Debt from Jan Hamelton to David Craffort, 14 April 1660.
[16] Muster roll of the garrison at the Esopus, 15 June 1661.