Letters of Reverend James Hamilton D.D. (1814-1867)

  • This material is held at
  • Reference
      GB 237 Coll-662
  • Dates of Creation
      1861-1865
  • Name of Creator
  • Language of Material
      English.
  • Physical Description
      5 letters, 1 hymn, 1 small portrait. Access to records in a fragile condition may be restricted.
  • Location
      Gen. 1981/140-143; Gen. 1995/36-38; Gen. 2040/90

Scope and Content

The material is composed of: letters from Hamilton about church meetings; a hymn O waste not the smallest thing, May 1861, and portrait with biographical note; and letter from Hamilton at Euston Square, 1863, about which illustrations would be appropriate for an article entitled Garden.

Administrative / Biographical History

The Presbyterian minister James Hamilton was born in Paisley on 27 November 1814. He was educated by a tutor at home, and then he studied at Glasgow University where he graduated in 1835. In 1836 he began studies at Edinburgh University with the intention of entering the Church. Hamilton was licensed as a Minister in the Church of Scotland in 1838, becoming an Assistant at St. George's, Edinburgh, and then at the Parish of Abernyte. In early 1841 he was again in Edinburgh this time at the Roxburgh Church, but in July 1841 he moved to London to the National Scottish Church, Regent Square (Church of Scotland). Hamilton was a hymn writer and compiler and his publications include The Mount of Olives (1845), Emblems from Eden (1856), A morning beside the Lake of Galilee (1863), The psalter and hymn-book (1865), and Book of psalms and hymns. The Reverend James Hamilton D.D. remained in London until his death on 24 November 1867.

Access Information

Generally open for consultation to bona fide researchers, but please contact repository for details in advance.

Acquisition Information

Material among miscellaneous documents, purchased 1974, E. Hall, Accession no. E74.25.

Note

The biographical/administrative history was compiled using the following material: (1) Stephen Leslie. and Lee, Sidney (eds.). Dictionary of national biography. Vol.8. Glover-Harriott. London: Smith, Elder, and Co., 1908.

Compiled by Graeme D Eddie, Edinburgh University Library, Special Collections Division.

Other Finding Aids

Important finding aids generally are: the alphabetical Index to Manuscripts held at Edinburgh University Library, Special Collections and Archives, consisting of typed slips in sheaf binders and to which additions were made until 1987; and the Index to Accessions Since 1987.

Accruals

Check the local Indexes for details of any additions.

Related Material

The local Indexes show another reference to material related to a Rev. James Hamilton (check the Indexes for more details): letter to Rev. J. Kennedy regretting that he cannot occupy his pulpit on a certain date, 1848, at Gen. 1801/3/8.