William Hamilton of Sanquhar


Sir William Hamilton of Sanquhar was pursemaster for James V and the Captain of Edinburgh Castle during the Regency of Regent Arran
William Hamilton was the son of William Hamilton, also of Sanquhar, and Katherine Kennedy, a daughter of David Kennedy, 1st Earl of Cassilis.
He was first known as Hamilton of MacNaristoun, and was appointed pursemaster to James V of Scotland in September 1524.
Hamilton travelled to France as a diplomat and in September 1538 brought back letters from Francis I of France co-signed by the secretary Florimond Robertet, showing that Francis was mindful of the 1517 Treaty of Rouen and would persuade the Duke of Albany to give up Dunbar Castle and would try to prevent Albany's return to Scotland.
As Captain of Edinburgh Castle from 1 October 1548, in April 1549, Hamilton took delivery of 24 halberds. His annual fee for being Captain was £134-6s-8d. Scots.
An inventory of Sir William's furniture at Newton Castle near Ayr, made in 1559 is notable for its description of furniture. It mentions cupboards and door made in the "courtly manner" and "raised and carved work of the most recent and curious fashion used within the realm." Another inventory of 1588 shows that some same of the same furniture was still in place.
Hamilton married Jean Campbell.
His daughter Isobel Hamilton married George Seton, 7th Lord Seton in 1550. Hamilton paid £2,000 for the ward and marriage right of the young Lord Seton. The wedding was celebrated with a feast at Edinburgh Castle on 12 August 1550 paid for by Regent Arran. Richard Maitland wrote that Hamilton helped Lord Seton rebuild Seton Palace, which had been damaged by the English army that burnt Edinburgh in May 1544.
His son and heir was Sir William Hamilton of Glenmoor. In December 1551 Regent Arran gave him the substantial sum of £53 Scots for clothes.