96 BELHAVEN at Stenton. Funeral entry at Lyon office. He ^. as above, 27 Nov. 1721. Admon. 9 May 1722, to his son. IV. 1 72 1. 4. John (Hamilton), Lord Belhaven and Stenton [S.], s. and h.; General of the Mint [S.] 1735-64. Com- missioner for improvement of trade [S.]. He d. unm., 28 Aug. 1764, at Newcastle. V. 1764. 5. James (Hamilton), Lord Belhaven and Stenton, 3rd and only surv. br. and h. Was an Advocate 1728. Assistant Solicitor to the Board of Customs 1733; Sheriff depute of co. Haddington 1747-62. He d. unm., 25 Jan. 1777, at Biel afsd., when the heirs male of the body of the 2nd Lord became extinct^ and the title, though wrongfully assumed,(^) became dormant. VL 1777. 6. Robert Hamilton, of Wishaw, co. Lanark, as "heir male whatsoever" of John, the 2nd Lord (the patentee of 1675), was entitled to be Lord Belhaven and Stenton [S.], but never assumed that title. He was b. 3 May 173 1, at Wishaw, being next surv. br. and h. to Charles H., of Wishaw (who d. unm. 13 Aug. 1763), both being sons of William H., of the same (by Bethia, ist da. of Charles Hamilton, of Wetherley), which William was s. and h. of Robert H., 2nd but 1st surv. s. and h. ap. of William H., 3rd s. (but whose issue was h. male) of another William H., both of Wishaw afsd., which last named William was the next yst. br. to James H.(*) of Barncleuth, (whose issue male was extinct in 1777) the said James having been father of Robert H., of Pressmennan, the father of John, 2nd Lord Belhaven and Stenton [S.] abovenamed. He ot., i Feb. 1764, at New Kirk, Edinburgh, Susan, 2nd da. of Sir Michael Balfour, Bart. [S.], of Denmiln, co. Fife. He d. 27 Mar. 1784, at Wishaw, aged 52. His widow ~d'. 9 Jan. 1789, at Edinburgh. VII. [1784 7. William Hamilton, of Wishaw afsd., s. and h., and] who in 1784 was entitled to be Lord Belhaven and 1799. Stenton [S.], but who did not assume that title till it was (on his petition) determined in his favour by the House of Lords, 25 Apr. 1799. He was b. 13 and bap. 22 Jan. 1765, at Cam- busnethan; was an officer in the 3rd, or King's own, Dragoons; Col. of the Lanarkshire and Dunbartonshire fencible cavalry. Hew., 2 Mar. 1789, (*) By the law of Scotland in the case of three or more brothers the next youngest br. (and not the eldest br.) is heir at law. In contravention to this, however, William Hamilton, Capt. 44th Foot, lineal descendant and h. male of John H., of Coltness, the eldest br. of the abovenamed James H., of Barncleuth, assumed the title of Lord Belhaven and Stenton, and voted as such at the election of Scottish Peers in 1 790. It was resolved however by the Committee for Privileges, 5 June 1793, that his vote was not good, which resolution was confirmed by the House of Lords. He d. on board the ship " Basset," in the Downs, 19 Jan. 1796. Will, as ^'^ Lord Belhaven" pr. Sep. 1796.
