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Thomas Allen Hamilton, son of Rosanna Boyd and Hugh Hamilton

Dauphin Co., PA

Thomas Allen Hamilton, son of Hugh Hamilton and his wife Rosanna Boyd, was born in Harrisburg on the 14th of February, 1818; died on the 14th of December, 1874. He received a good education and learned the trade of a printer in his father's office, at which he worked until he received the appointment of an assistant engineer of the State canals, under Col. James Worrall, but soon abandoned both avocations, in order to join a brother in a business which they successfully prosecuted until his death. He served as a member of the city councils of Harrisburg a longer continuous period than any other citizen has ever done, being elected for about twenty years in succession, generally without serious opposition, although many epochs of great public excitement intervened to produce fierce and close political contests. His neighbors never failed to ascertain his political opinions, yet, whether voting for or against him, they rejoiced to know that he was their representative and leader of the municipal legislature. In the language of a contemporary, "Mr. Hamilton, in his intercourse with his fellow-citizens, was courteous to all, liberal to the poor, positive in opinion, methodical in business, reticent, deliberate, but prompt in judgment." His integrity was never impeached in public or private transactions. He died, unmarried, at Harrisburg, in the same house in which he was born.

Source: History of the counties of Dauphin and Lebanon in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania : biographical and genealogical by William Henry Egle; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania : Everts and Peck, 1883. FHL Film 1000551

Rosanna Boyd ~ Hugh Hamilton

Dauphin Co., PA

Hugh Hamilton, the son of John Hamilton and Margaret Alexander, was born at "Fermanagh," now in Juniata county, Pa., on the 30th of June, 1785. He received a careful preparatory education, and with his brother John was sent to Dickinson College, where he graduated. He studied law under Thomas Elder, and was admitted to the Dauphin county bar in 1805. At the time of his admission to the bar Judge Henry had ordered the prothonotary to issue commissions on parchment. Accordingly the descendants of the young lawyer have his commission "on parchment," issued 21st of June, 1805, signed by "Joshua Elder, Pro'thy, by order of the court, "with the seal of the county attached.

In 1808 Mr. Hamilton edited and published "The Times" at Lancaster, and upon the removal of the seat of government to Harrisburg, with William Gillmor, "The Harrisburg Chronicle", the leading and influential newspaper at the State capital for twenty years. The Chronicle was the first paper in Pennsylvania which gave full and systematic legislative reports. He died at Harrisburg, on the 3d of September, 1836, aged fifty-one years. Mr. Hamilton married, January 6, 1807, Rosanna Boyd, daughter of Adam Boyd and Jeannette MacFarlane, born December 1, 1789, died April 17, 1872. They are both buried in the Harrisburg cemetery.

Mr. Hamilton was a vigorous and polished writer, and his editorials were models of elegant composition. For a quarter of a century he wielded considerable political influence through his newspaper. He was an active and enterprising citizen, twice chief burgess of the corporation of Harrisburg, frequently a member of council, and highly esteemed in social intercourse.

Source: Commemorative biographical encyclopedia of Dauphin County, Pennsylvania : containing sketches of prominent and representative citizens and many of the early Scotch-Irish and German settlers; Chambersburg, Pa. : J.M. Runk, 1896. FHL Film 896907

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