HAMILTON, MUNGO [SSNE 8037]

Surname
HAMILTON, HAMELTON
First name
MUNGO, MONGO, MONGE
Title/rank
SERGEANT-MAJOR
Nationality
SCOT
Social status
OFFICER

Text source

Mungo Hamilton was an officer in the Scots-Dutch Brigade between 1606-1633. He was commissioned between June-October 1606 as captain in Lord Buccleuch's [SSNE 5010] new regiment. Ferguson contends that he was promoted to sergeant-major under Sir David Balfour by 3 December 1629, before Bois-le-Duc. This would mean that he was replacing the previous sergeant-major, Archibald Bethune [SSNE 8036] although it's possible he did not assume command of the company until the death of Lieutenant-Colonel James Haddon [SSNE 8035] by 3 December 1629. He was dead by 24 February 1633 when command of his company fell to Captain James Balfour and the sergeant-majorship passed to James Henderson [SSNE 5008].

On 11 May 1627, Hamilton asked permission to transfer into Danish service while retaining his commission in the Scots Brigade. This was denied on the grounds that it was "contrary to the regulations of the Land." On 4 June, King Charles wrote on Hamilton's behalf to the States-General to attempt a transfer as sergeant-major of "a Scottish regiment," perhaps the Mackays. This transfer was again rejected, due to the "fixed an inviolable resolution against this formerly taken regarding absent officers," (Ferguson, 352).  

Hamilton was married to Hester Sideniski, perhaps a relation of a "gallent cavalry officer of Polish extraction, called Seldnitski or 'Sedenesco," who served at Nieuport and was killed at Juliers in 1610, (Ferguson, 70).

N.B. During his time as captain the number and salary of his command fluctuated:

1607: 150 men, £2014

1608: 93 men, £1305

1609-1617: 70 men, £1059

The small numbers between 1609-1617 coincide with a general reduction of troops in the Scots-Dutch Brigade according to the Twelve Years' Truce (1609-1621).

On 8 July 1627, Hamilton and his wife empowered William Bennick, a notary at The Hague, to deliver annuity letters to Jacob van Duyenen and his wife, Catharina Maes.

 

Sources:
 

J. Ferguson, Papers Illustrating the History of the Scots Brigade in theservice of the United Netherlands, 1572-1697 (Edinburgh, 1899), pp. 70, 73, 74, 226, 228, 230, 312, 318, 319, 321, 331, 332, 352.

Rotterdam Notarial Archive:

http://www.stadsarchief.rotterdam.nl/archieven?mivast=184&mizig=365&miadt=184&milang=en&miview=ldt

GRONA (Jan van Aller Az.), 88/403/767-8. 8 July 1627, machtiging.

This entry created by Mr Jack Abernethy.

Service record

THE DUTCH REPUBLIC, THE SCOTS BRIGADE, BUCCLEUCH, R. HENDERSON, F. HENDERSON, HALKETT, D. BALFOUR
Arrived 1606-06-01, as CAPTAIN
Departed 1629-12-03, as SERGEANT-MAJOR
Capacity OFFICER, purpose MILITARY
THE DUTCH REPUBLIC, THE SCOTS BRIGADE, COL. D. BALFOUR
Arrived 1629-12-03, as SERGEANT-MAJOR
Departed 1633-02-24, as DECEASED
Capacity OFFICER, purpose MILITARY