Towns > Hamilton > 1855-56 - Brown's Hamilton directory for 1855-1856

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other products of the district. But the gala days of fairs are over, and except
feeing trj^sts little is done at our twice-yearly gatherings, now held in April
and October.
In 1661, the town was by an act of parliament granted to Duchess Ann«
stripped of these privileges, and made the chief burgh of regality and dukedom
of Hamilton. The Duchess, who is styled in old deeds " High and Mighty
Princess," and still talked of as the good Duchess Anne, and v/ho was a lady
of great talent and beneficence, thus acqured the right of electing a town clerk
and two bailies (out of 6 chosen by the council annually.) This right, con-
tested in vain in 1723, remained in the hands of the ducal house till the Ilefonn
Act in 1832, when Hamilton was made a parliamentary burgh — electing iti
own council, and sharing in the privilege of sending a member to parliament.
There are about 300 electors. The town is in the hands of a provost, tliree
bailies, a town clerk, and 7 counciliors. Four nev/ coimcillors are elected
annually in room of the foiu- eldest in the list who retii-e.
SHAHE IN THE NATIONAL TUDUBJ.ES THE TOWN A MILITAtlY
DtPOT,
The chiefs of the noble House of Hamilton bore a large and distinguished
part in the affaii-s of Scotland vi^hen it had a distinct nationality, and the for-
tunes of the house were shared in by the inhabitants, the town being a place
of rendezvous for their partizans.* The Hamiltons were keen friends of Queen
Mary. On her escape from Lochleven she fled to Hamilton, where she wi.s
joined by 6,000 troops. The pnljce contains many relics of her sojourn. A
tenement exists in the old town, called Queenzie Neuk, on a stone bench
attached to which Queen Maiy is said to have rested onher ill-fated journey to
■ Langside. At the " King's Head," which stood in the Hieton, Cromwell lodged
for a time during his raid in Scotland. Here also stood " Sarah .Jean's Close,"
where General Lambert, despatched by Cromwell to overawe the Covenanters,
was made prisoner by the Laird of Ralston's dragoons. Here lived the famous
John King, a field preacher—" a braw muclde carl with a white hat and a great
bob of ribbons on the back o't," whom, and 17 other Hamiltonians, Claverhouse
made prisoners, driving them before him in pairs to Drumclog. Clavers, at
the famous battle fought there on Sabbath, the 1st June, 1679, was defeated
and fled. King, of course, got free, and 'tis said halloed to the flying Claver-
house to halt for the afternoon's preaching. Then came the famous " Hamilton
Declaration" (20th June, 1679), and the disastrous Battle of Bothwell brig.
Our churchyard marks the final resting-place of some martjTcd Covenanters,
and there are spots in the Hamilton woods mider Avhich many of the slain lie
buried. Those who fled to the woods were generously protected by the Duchess
Ann, who prevailed on Monmouth to prohibit his soldiers entering her planta-
tions in pursuit. The town shared in the general dislike to the Union in 1707,
when 500 troops assembled here — part of a large combination — to resist it by
force ot arms ; but the Duke disapproved the project. In 1777, Duke Douglas,
* See History of Ducal Family iu subsequent pages.