New information concerning Rev. John Bell Hamilton. T.S.L.A. Ms. Ac. No. 90-342 STATE OF TENNESSEE To All who shall see these Presents---Greeting: Know Ye That we do hereby COMMISSION John B. Hamilton of the County of Maury---Captain---in the Second Battalion of Cavalry of the PROVISIONAL FORCE OF TENNESSEE VOLUNTEERS raised under the Act of 6th May, 1861, and do authorize and empower him the said John B. Hamilton to execute and discharge the duties of said office agreeably to Law, and the Rules and Regulations of Military Discipline, with all the powers, privileges, and emoluments thereunto of right appertaining. And he is hereby required To obey all the lawful orders and commands of his superior officers, and all officers and privates under his command are to be alike obedient to him. In Testimony whereof, I, Isham G. Harris, Governor of the State of Tennessee and Commander-in-Chief of the forces thereof, have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State to be affixed, at the Department, in Nashville, on this the 20th day of June A. D., 1861. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH Thomas Hamilton Williams (adopted son of John Bell Hamilton) 1843 August 22, born at Williamsport, Maury County, TN, the son of Dorothy Darby and Edward Williams. 1843 September, Dorothy Williams died and her husbands half-sister Sarah Ann Hamilton and her husband, Rev. John Bell Hamilton, take the child and bring him up as their own. 1861 Williams and his adoptive father enter the service of the Confederacy. Captain Hamilton raised a company of cavalry which became part of the second Tennesee Battalion, later part of the First Tennessee Regiment. Williams joined Hamilton's Company. 1861-66 Williams and Hamilton are stationed in Mississippi involved in the retreat from Atlanta and Gen. Joseph Wheelers's raid through Middle Tennessee. 1865-66 After the War, Williams returned to Columbia, Tennessee, where he took ownership in drugstore with his half-brother William H. Williams. The business was destroyed by fire. 1867 Williams married Annie Caroline White of Spring Hill, Tennesee. They had four children. ------ Began farming on the Hamilton land, buying and increasing the estate. 1880-1922 Member of the Leonidus Polk Bivouac, Number 3, and William Henry Trousdale Camp, Number 495 of Confederate Veterans in Columbia, TN 1887- Death of his adoptive father, John B. Hamilton 1912 Williams sold his farm and built a house in Columbia 1922 Died at Columbia, Tennessee and interred at Columbia ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ --------------------------------------------- "Exhibit G" WILL In the name of God Amen. I John B. Hamilton of Maury County, Tennessee, being of Sound Mind and in usual health, but well knowing the uncertainty of life do hereby make and publish this my last will and testament, hereby revoking all other wills by me made, or any codicil thereunto appended. 1st I commend my soul to God it given and my body to its Mother earth to await the resurrection morn- 2d I wish my just and legal debts I may owe paid out of the first funds that may be available from my estate- I also wish my furneral expenses paid in like manner-including a genteel and plain monument. 3d I give and bequeath to my beloved wife one half of my entire estate, together with all goods and furniture she was possessed of at the time of our marriage, or any room furniture I may hereafter buy, also the life portrait of my deceased daughter, also my large clock. 4th I hereby abate to Thos H. Williams my adopted son one half of any balance he may owe me at my death, on any of his notes given to me bearing date Jany 1, 1878. Given for my share of our Kennedy farm and stock which I do as an abatement on the price of land sold to him. I also give him my Gold Watch and library- 5th I give and bequeath to my niece Nannie McGee one half the remainder of my estate after above requests and abatement and the other half I wish divided equally between James Wilkins, J. B. Wilkins, Juan Neeley, Kitty Dyer, and Mat Morrow, children of my deceased sister Polly Wilkins: And J. H. Dungan, son of my deceased sister Lilly Dungan. 6th I nominate and appoint Thos H. Willliams my executor of this my will, waving the necessity of Security. My buggy I gave to my wife as a bridal present, which she will retain and dispose of as she may see proper for her own and separate use. The requests to my wife are to be hers and at her voluntary dispossal, but not subject to control of any future husband she may have, and not subject to any security debts she may contract, nor for the debts of any future husband- Withness my hand May the 25th 1878 John Bell Hamilton ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ --------------------------------------------- NEWSPAPER ARTICLES Saturday, April 16, 1887 Rev. John Bell Hamilton was born in Williamson County, Tenn., October 29, 1807. He was first married to Miss Sarah Ann Alderson, by "whom" he had two children, a son and daughter, both of whom are now dead. His second marriage was to Mrs. W. H. Lucas of Nashville, Tenn., with whom he lived in great affection until his death which occurred in the city Marych 14, 1887. More later- Pat