BIO: John HAMILTON, Dauphin County, PA

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Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of Dauphin County, 
Containing Sketches of Representative Citizens, and Many of the 
Early Scotch-Irish and German Settlers.  Chambersburg, Pa.: 
J. M. Runk & Company, 1896, pages 184-185.
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  HAMILTON, JOHN, son of John Hamilton, was born June 17, 1749, in New 
London, Chester county, Pa.; died August 28, 1793, at Harrisburg, Pa.  
Under the will of his father he inherited a "plantation and fulling-
mill, bought of James Long, on Shearman creek, in Cumberland county" 
(Perry county).  He was educated principally in the celebrated academy 
of Rev. Mr. Alison, Chester county.  When upon a visit to his patrimony 
in the Juniata region, he was attracted to the superior excellence of a 
tract of land called "Fermanagh," now in Juniata county.  He purchased 
it.  On the Shearman's creek farm Hugh Alexander was his adjoining 
neighbor; he became attached to his daughter, and at twenty-three years 
of age he married her; established himself at "Fermanagh" and erected a 
large stone mansion.  This house is standing.  It has been occupied by 
himself, his son John and a grandson, Hugh Hamilton.  He became, by 
successful industry and in right of his mother, Jane Allen Hamilton, of 
great fortune for his day.  The inventory of personal property at his 
death, in 1793, makes his effects in money L7,500.  At that moment he 
had active enterprises of various kinds in full operation - at Lost 
creek, at Fermanagh, in Shearman's Valley and at Harrisburg.  He was 
one of the original lot holders at Harrisburg.  One of his largest 
houses was that at the southeast corner of Market square; another on 
his lot, Front street and Raspberry alley.  In 1792 he employed at his 
warehouse and stores, on what is now Mulberry street, between Second 
and Third streets, "as many as fifteen mules and a far greater number 
of horses, upon which he sent nails and salt and other merchandise to 
Pittsburgh."  Sending nails to Pittsburgh at this date would be 
reversing the usual course of trade.  He was one of the last of those 
in the interior who held slaves, a half dozen in all.  All but one 
continued in the family until the death of his widow, not as slaves, 
but as free laborers on the farms.  Mr. Hamilton was a sergeant in 
Capt. Gibson's company, Col. Wilson's battalion of Cumberland county 
associators, in 1776; captain of a company in Col. Samuel Lyon's 
battalion in August, 1777; and also captain in Col. Buchanan's 
battalion in 1778, and was out in two campaigns, 1776 and 1781.  In the 
family records of the McAlisters, of Lost Creek, Juniata, one of whom 
married a granddaughter of Capt. Hamilton, we have the following 
narrative:  "The American army, December, 1776, shattered, disheartened 
and decreasing daily, were making precipitate retreat across Jersey 
into Pennsylvania, before the victorious army of Howe and Cornwallis.  
In this bloomy hour a meeting of the people was called at the farm of 
Mr. William Sharon within a couple of miles of Mr. Hugh McAlister, near 
the present town of Mexico, to consult and devise measures to reinforce 
Washington and the army.  All the neighbors below the Narrows met.  
John Hamilton, of Fermanagh, was made chairman.  It was unanimously 
agreed to raise a company of mounted men.  All were young men, with 
younger families, but they did not hesitate.  They agreed to march.  
Hamilton pledged himself to start immediately, then McAlister and 
Sharon.  The former was chosen captain, the latter lieutenants, and two 
days they were off, more than eighty strong, riding the first day to 
the mouth of the Swatara, over snow many inches in depth.  They reached 
camp, on the Pennsylvania side, below Trenton, the day after the 
Hessians were captured."  None but men with their whole hearts in the 
cause would have made such a dreary march in a most inclement winter, 
unless thoroughly in earnest.  This was the sentiment that actuated all 
the frontier settlers.  In 1793 Harrisburg was scourged by a pestilence 
resembling yellow fever, an epidemic that then prevailed at 
Philadelphia, Baltimore and New York.  One of its victims was Mr. 
Hamilton.  He married, in December, 1772, Margaret Alexander, born 
March 17, 1754, in Shearman's Valley, Cumberland, now Perry county, 
Pa.; died August 22, 1835, at "Fermanagh," Juniata county, Pa.; 
daughter of Hugh Alexander and Martha Edmeston.