Steinbeck's Ballykelly roots part 3


Image result for STEINBECK AT BALLYKELLY GRAVE
Steinbeck at the Hamilton headstone in Ballykelly Church of Ireland graveyard, 1952

By the time Steinbeck reached Mulkeeragh in 1952 his Hamilton relations had died off.

 Hamilton headstone Tamlaght Finlagan Church of Ireland, Ballykelly
In / loving memory of / Jane / relict of W J Hamilton / died 30th Nov 1916 / aged 88 years / Thomas C L Hamilton / their son died 2nd August 1942 / aged 70 years / also their daughter / Katherine J Hamilton / died 18th Jan 1944 aged 83 years / and their daughter / Mary E Hamilton / died 11th Feb 1950 aged 84 years
1911 census returns Hamilton of Mulkeeragh
The 1901 and 1911 census returns Mulkeeragh have the widowed mother Jane Hamilton with unmarried children Katharine, Mary Elizabeth (Minnie) and Thomas.

 Form B1 House and Building returns described the house as of the 2nd class with two-stories 5 windows in the front with nine rooms. The house was probably thatched. In addition Form B2 reveals there were 10 outbuildings with the property. 1 stable, 2 cow-houses, 1 calf-house, 2 piggeries, 2 fowl houses, 1 barn and 1 shed.
WILL OF THOMAS CLARKE LATTA HAMILTON
Hamilton Thomas Clarke Latta of Mulkeeragh Ballykelly county Londonderry farmer died 2 August 1942 at the Musgrave Clinic Royal Victoria Hospital Belfast Administration Londonderry 31 January to Mary Elizabeth Hamilton spinster. Effects £4763 2s. 3d.

WILL OF KATHARINE JANE HAMILTON
Hamilton Katharine Jane of Mulkeeragh Ballykelly county Londonderry spinster died 18 January 1944 Probate Londonderry 6 August 1947 to William Scott Ritchie farmer and Samuel Nelson Kyle solicitor. Effects £2614 13s. Hamilton Mary Elizabeth of Mulkeeragh Ballykelly county Londonderry spinster died 11 February 1950 Probate Londonderry 20 March 1951 to William Scott Ritchie and Thomas Vincent Gault farmers. Effects £12732 14s. 8d.  

WILL OF MARY ELIZABETH (MINNIE) HAMILTON
Hamilton Mary Elizabeth of Mulkeeragh Ballykelly county Londonderry spinster died 11 February 1950 Probate Londonderry 20 March 1951 to William Scott Ritchie and Thomas Vincent Gault farmers. Effects £12732 14s. 8d.

Belfast Gazette 15 June 1951
NOTICE OF CHARITABLE BEQUESTS 
In the Estate of Mary Elizabeth Hamilton, late of Mulkeeragh, Ballykelly, County Londonderry, Spinster, deceased. 

NOTICE is hereby given, pursuant to 30 and 31 Vic., Sec. 54, that the above named deceased, who died on the llth day of February, 1950, by her Will dated the 23rd day of July, 1947, after making certain other bequests, bequeathed the following legacies
1. £100 to her Executors and Trustees, William Scott Ritchie and Thomas Vincent Gault, to be set aside by them and to be used for the upkeep of the Hamilton family grave in Ballykelly Parish Church, the said funds to be so held and used by them in such manner as they in their absolute discretion should judge expedient. 
2. £1,000 to the Committee and Session of Ballykelly Presbyterian Church to be known,as "The Hamilton Bequest" and to be invested by the said Session and Committee in such funds as they judge expedient and the entire income therefrom to be applied in augmentation' of the Stipend of the Minister for the time being of the said Congregation. 
3. £100 to the Committee of Governors of the Roe Valley District Hospital, Limavady, for the purpose of naming and providing a bed or beds in the said Hospital. 
4. £2,000 to the Royal Cancer Hospital (Free), Fulham Road, London, S.W.3, the said sum to be used by the Committee of Management of the said Hospital in the Crusade against Cancer in such a manner as they in their discretion should think suitable and expedient. 

As to all the rest, residue and remainder of her Estate howsoever constituted or comprised Testatrix bequeathed same to the Ulster Unionist Council for the furtherance of the cause of Unionism in Northern Ireland. In the event of her death occurring within three months of her said Will or if for any other reason the foregoing Charitable Bequests of £1,000, £100 (No. 3 above), £2,000 and said residuary bequest should become void in law, then Testatrix bequeathed the same respectively and absolutely to the Treasurer for the time being of said Ballykelly Presbyterian Church, to the Chairman for the time being of the Committee of Management of the said Roe Valley District Hospital, to the chairman for the time being of the Committee of Management of the said Royal Cancer Hospital (Free) and to the Treasurer or Treasurers for the time being of the said Ulster Unionist Council. Probate of said Will with one Codicil thereto was granted forth of the District Probate Registry at Londonderry of the High Court of Justice in Northern Ireland, King's Bench Division (Probate) on the 20th day of March, 1951, to William Scott Ritchie of Tully, Ballykelly, and Thomas Vincent Gault of Tamlaght, Limavady, both in the County of Londonderry, Farmers, the Executors and Trustees therein named. Dated this 11th day of June, 1951. S. N. KYLE, Solicitor for the Executors, 30 Rosemary Street, Belfast; and Limavady, County Londonderry
AUCTION OF HAMILTON EFFECTS
Londonderry Sentinel 21st February 1950
On the day of the auction, the automobiles and the carriages came by the hundred, and people bought pictures just for the frames; and the beautiful silver went, and the fine china, and the books, bought for the binding only—and all by strangers. Strangers bought the farmhouse. It was a sorrow, the neighbours said (Collier's Magazine 31 Jan,1953)


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