Sunday, March 1, 2015
William Hamilton, first whale killer
William Hamilton is my 8th great grandfather on my Grandma Fairchild's side. He was born in Glasgow, Scotland and came to Massachusetts around 1668. He is famous for being the first person to kill a whale while living on Cape Cod. Being persecuted for killing the whale, by the inhabitants of the Cape, as one who dealt with evil spirits.'" In a slightly different rendition of the story, told by historian Gertrude Wickham, William's family was "driven away as witches." He moved to Rhode Island where he married Mercy or Lucy Berry. In their old age they came to Danbury, Connecticut where he died in 1749 at the advanced age of 103. Supposedly he died in his chair at the home of his son-in-law, Thomas Benedict.
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2 comments:
I am also a descendant of William Hamilton and am trying to find acceptable proof of his labeling as a witch on Cape Cod for acceptance by the society of Witches. My lineage goes down through Silas Hamilton who rode through Danbury trailing a roll of red flannel and warning that the British were coming.
It seems we may be cousins.
S. Glen
I also am descended from Silas, but everyone already knew that the British were not just coming -- that was who was chasing him!
Check out my book "1777 - Danbury on Fire!"
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