Elizabeth Hamilton (née Lee)

Elizabeth Hamilton, widow of Henry Hamilton (1734-1796, who was the Governor of Dominica 1795-1796) and mother of Mary Anne Pierrepont Hamilton.

1. In 1851 Elizabeth Hamilton aged 81 widow born Bath was living at 2 Pitville Lawn Cheltenham with her daughter Mary Anne aged 40 [sic: this cannot be right] born Dominica, and four servants. Her daughter died in 1871 of The Manor House Chiswick leaving £8000 (resworn from £7000).

2. Will of Elizabeth Hamilton widow [of the late Henry Hamiton Governor of Dominica] [at present residing at Hill Place] Richmond Surrey proved 12/02/1855. In the will she left her estate in trust (the trustees were Henry Hill of York Place and Rev. Richard Burgh Byam q.v.) with wide discretion to pay the income to her daughter Mary Anne or to use the income to support her. In a lengthy codicil dated 26/09/1854, she left her daughter £1250 that had been a legacy from Mary Anne's grandfather William Lee and that Elizabeth Hamilton had placed in her own name in 'the Neapolitan funds.' She disposed of personal items, including her plate to Frederick and Sophia Montgomerie of Garboldisham in Norfolk, and the 'epergue' presented to her husband by the merchants of Liverpool for his protection of their trade in the war of 1795 to Major Henry Hamilton, nephew of my said husband, for life. She left pictures painted by her daughter to the Hon. Gustavus Hamilton Russell, and appointed her trustees as Committees and Guardians of her [adult] daughter. She left the income from £1000 to Lydia and Eliza White, daughters of Michael White of St Vincent with some peculiar provisions about them taking 'monastic vows'. She then left a series of monetary legacies, largely to military men, totalling £8500, a further £6000 to Henry Hill and £11,000 for the benefit of her three nieces.

Her identification as the holder of Point Round on Dominica is cemented by the appearance of William Lee alongside her in the Slave Register: in her will she shows William Lee as the grandfather of her daughter Mary Anne. William Lee has not to date been traced by LBS.

1. 1851 census online; National Probate Calendar 1872.

2. PROB 11/2206/163.