Hamilton Hill and its connection to LUCY, the last slave hanged in Meade County.
Below is a graph of the Hamilton family associated with Lucy Hamilton [NOTE: this Hamilton lineage is NOT related to Me!!!
Below the graph is video of Meade County History Museum's Gerry Fischer (local historian extraordinaire) narrating "The Story of Lucy" and her demise. A truly sad tale, especially considering Lucy's children, and their fate.
Cemetery on Hamilton Hill, Brandenburg, KY (and a smaller fenced Hamilton family site on same parcel)
I was blessed to meet the landowners of this private property, who were kind enough to personally guide me to this hidden Meade County cemetery. Located atop one of the 16 defined mountains in Meade County, the cemetery crowning Hamilton Hill includes a panoramic view of the Ohio River overlooking Mauchport, Indiana.
This section contains 27 images for observed headstones and footstones ordered by Date of Death. HEADSTONE NAMES:
PHILLIPS, Sarah (c.1787-1850JAN04) HAMILTON, Elizabeth (1788-1851) HAMILTON, William (1844-1870) HAMILTON, Benjamin (1798-1873) HAMILTON, Roderick W. 1876SEP08-26 HAMILTON, Lula B. 1878FEB25-JUL27 HAMILTON, George H. 1875JUN30-1880DEC29 |
HEADSTONE NAMES: See names identified in my research below list of headstones.
- PHILLIPS, Sarah (c.1787-1850JAN04)
- I have not located genealogy records for this individual. However, James H Hamilton and Sarah E (Neafus), his wife. Sarah E. is daughter of George W. Neafus
- HAMILTON, Elizabeth (HARDEN) (1788-1851), wife of Benjamin (b.1797-8)
- HAMILTON, William (1844-1870), son of Benjamin and Elizabeth
- HAMILTON, Benjamin (1798-1873), the Patriarch of this family
- HAMILTON, Roderick W. (1876SEP08-26), Grandson of Ben and Elizabeth, son of Hance
- HAMILTON, Lula B. (1878FEB25-JUL27), Granddaughter of Ben’s brother Lewis
- HAMILTON, George H. (1875JUN30-1880DEC29), Grandson of Ben’s brother Lewis
Headstones and Footstones located atop Hamilton Hill
HAMILTON_Elizabeth
Wife of Ben L Hamilton DIED July 17, 1851 "Aged 39 Yrs. 8 mos. 2 days." Therefore, her birth would have been on Thursday, November 13, 1788 |
Genealogy research led me to a record of a Benjamin Hamilton (b.1797) married to Elizabeth HARNED on May 18, 1833 in Nelson County, KY.
Ben's parents are listed James Hamilton, FA Jemima BARNES Hamilton, MO Benjamin (b.1797) and Elizabeth (HARNED) children are Sarah Ann Helen Hance John Laroy W William James H (b.1847, Meade Co. KY) and a sibling, Lewis Hamilton (b. 1810, d. 1885 Nelson Co. KY) Lewis' wife listed as Mary L. (m. 1830) Mary L. (b.1816 Nelson Co, d.1877SEP15 Nelson Co.) Their 1850 residence is Meade Co. KY. Their children listed are Alexander James Another search shows a third son William (b.1831 d.1846 in Meade Co. KY) |
The 1850 US Federal Census shows a 53-year-old farmer named Benhamin Hamilton residing in Meade. His wife, Elizabeth, is listed at 39-years-old, passing away shortly after in July 1851. Their "implied children" of that residence include
Sarah, 17 Helen, 15 Hance, 13 Amy, 10 John, 8 William, 6 James, 2 The 1860 US Federal Census shows a 60-year-old farmer named Ben Hamilton residing in Meade. His remaining "implied children" of that residence include
Sarah, 25, House keeper Hance, 22, Farmer Amy, 19 John, 17, Farmer William, 16, Farmer James, 13 Alexr, 26 |
The 1870 US Federal Census lists Ben Hamilton as a 65-year-old Farm Laborer, who can neither read nor write. His implied children, all listed "farmers", include
Hance, 32
John, 28
James, 23
Hance, 32
John, 28
James, 23
After visiting the cemetery, my research in the Meade County Deed Room revealed that in 1877 James H Hamilton and wife Sarah E (Neafus), paid $750 for 106 acres. Sarah E. was daughter of George W. Neafus, according to Deed Book M, page 473. The following year, Lula B. was born. She was a grand-daughter of Ben and Elizabeth Hamilton who are interred at Hamilton Hill.
HAMILTON_Lula B
LULA B. DAU of J.H. & S.E. HAMILTON BORN FEB.25, 1878 DIED JULY 27, 1878 James H. Hamilton (b.1847 Meade, d. 1908) was a son of Ben and Elizabeth. James H. was married to Sarah E. NEAFUS see link |
Additional Headstones and Footstones atop Hamilton Hill
Fenced gravesite with Hamilton graves on same parcel.
HAMILTON_ALEXANDER "ALEX"
A thresh of wheat carved above ALEX. HAMILTON BORN OCT. 3. 1833 DIED JUNE 19. 1903 A faithful husband and father dear. In sweet repose is sleeping here. His painful loss we deeply feel But God can all our sorrows heal. Stonecarver's name etched in lower left corner: H.T. HAYNES BRANDENBURG, KY |
HAMILTON_SARAH
Headstone, while detached from base, is held up by a branch. An etching of clasped hands tops the memorial. SARAH Wife of ALEX HAMILTON BORN Apr. 10. 1835 DIED Dec. 19. 1872 Weep not for me companion dear, I am not dead but sleeping here. Bottom left corner contains stonecutter inscription H.T. Haynes Brandenburg, KY |
HAMILTON_ELIZABETH "BETTIE" (ASHCRAFT)
Her parents were FA James Washington Ashcraft (1811-1898) and MO Lucinda (Powell) Ashcraft (1820-1899) An open bible, held in a right hand is carved above BETTIE Wife of ALEX. HAMILTON BORN July 8, 1844 DIED Dec. 24, 1878 Stonecarver's name etched in lower left corner: H.T. HAYNES BRANDENBURG, KY |