• Sir James Hamilton of Killileagh and Bangor, Knt. eldest son of the said Hans Hamilton of Dunlop, coming into Ireland, (with his brethren) was by James I, upon his accession to the throne, made his sergeant-at-law; called to the privy council; and on May 4, 1622, created Viscount Claneboye, and Lord Hamilton. He died in 1643, and was succeeded by his only son.6876

• Sir James Hamilton of Killileagh and Bangor, Knt. eldest son of the said Hans Hamilton of Dunlop, being sent into Ireland (accompanied, or soon followed by his brethren) by K. James I. in the year 1587, with Sir James Follarton, in order to hold a correspondence with the English of that kingdom, and inform his Majesty, from time to time, of the state, condition, inclinations, and designs of the Irish in case of Q. Elizabeth’s death.6884

• He and his brothers appear to have gone to Ireland with Sir James Fullerton in order to hold a correspondence with the English of that Kingdom and inform his Majesty [King James of Scotland] of the state, condition, and designs of the Irish, in the event of Queen Elizabeth’s death.6877

• In 1605 Down was divided between two Scots of Scotland, Hugh Montgomery and James Hamilton.6882

• On April 16, 1605, the land in Ulster once held by Con O’Neill or by his father in his lifetime was granted to James Hamilton and Hugh Montgomery, two Scottish lords. These two at once crossed into Scotland to call upon their whole kith and kin to aid them in settling upon their Ulster lands.
“Both were Aryshire men, from the northern division of the county. Hamilton seems to have received the hearty support of his own family, for four of his five brothers aided his enterprise and shared his prosperity. From them are descended numerous families in Ulster, and at least two noble Irish families. Hamilton founded the towns of Bangor and Killyleagh, in county Down, and there is no doubt that he did ‘plant’ the land which he had acquired with Scottish tenants, the most of them evidently from the same counties in Scotland – Ayr, Renfrew, Wigtown, Dumfries, and Kirkcudbright.
About 400 names appear on the rent rolls from these early years, including...Nelson.”6882

• So, when the patent was finally issued under the Great Seal, April 16, 1605, “on the humble petition of Conn McNeale McBryan Feartagh O’Neale and of Hugh Montgomery Esq., and of James Hamilton, Esq.,” it granted to the said James Hamilton all the lands in the Upper Clannaboye and the Great Ards which had been possessed by Con, or by his father, Bryan Feartagh O’Neale, in his lifetime.6886

• James gave very early indications of his great aptitude for, and disposition after, learning, and so passed his time in schools until he had received all the usual parts of learning taught in that Kingdom, and was within a little afterwards looked upon as one of the greatest scholars and hopeful wits in his time, insomuch that he was noticed by King James and his grave Council as one fit to negotiate among the Gentry and Nobility of Ireland for promoting the knowledge and right of King James’ interest and title to the Crown of England, after Queen Elizabeth’s death; and, on this account, was advised to write a book of his said interest, which was done to very good effect, and.. of all persons concerned in the three Kingdoms. Therefore, he was called to keep a public Latin school at Dublin, being instructed in the meanwhile and creditably supplied for conversing the Nobility and Gentry of Ireland for the King’s service above mentioned, and he was very serviceable and acceptable therein... After this, he waits upon King James for several years at Whitehall, and receives from him knighthood as a mark of his favour, and is found a man of great wisdom, learning, and in great request with his Majesty, as being very faithful to, and very active for him, in his interest, and so highly honored of all great men in Court and City. At this time it fell out that Ireland had many lands and estates forfeited in a late rebellion, and now to be disposed of by his Majesty; and his Majesty, deigning to gratify his Scotch Nobility and Gentry, and by them to carry on, the planting of Ireland, was very disposed to grant, and accordingly did... Sir J.. Scotland.. to Ireland... with a great... himself... him yearly... thousand pounds sterling in... with duties valuable to more than 12 hundred... a year; he is chosen one of his Majesty’s Honorable Privy Council for that Kingdom, and created Lord Viscount Claneboye; so continues at reat favour at Court, and power and splendour in this Kingdom.6885

• The Lord Claneboye had three ladies.... The last, Lady Jane Phillips, proved a very excellent lady for solid piety and virtue; bore to him one son called James, afterwards Earl of Clanbrassill. My lord lived to a great age, viz., 84, or thereabouts, in great prosperity and honour, through God’s blessing upon his wisdom and industry.6885

• Viscount Clandeboye, 4 May, 1622, ancestor of the Earls of Clanbrassill (I), extinct 1676 (see Extinct Peerage).6899

• He was very honorably intombed in the place he had prepared for himself in the church of Bangor, in which his whole family is now laid by him.6885

• The story starts with James Hamilton, son of the Vicar of Dunlop in Ayrshire being appointed an ‘Undertaker’ by James I in 1605. He undertook to settled lands he was given by the king with his friends, connections and tenant farmers from Scotland. In return for the grant, he had to build a defended house with a bawn (wall), and administer his estates subject to satisfactory inspection by the king’s emissaries. Since James Hamilton took over the Castle from Con O’Neill there have, without a break, been another eleven generations living in it. This first Hamilton was the only really clever one. If he had been alive today he would by now own Woolworths, The Ulster Bank and The Daily Mirror. As it was, he owned lands all over Ireland by his death, particularly the Hamilton Estates which comprised much of the Ards, all the Bangor area, most of the land between Killyleagh and Belfast and much of the North Coast of Antrim. He was created Viscount Claneboye, and his eldest son, who continued the good work, was advanced to an earldom and took the name of Clanbrassil.6900

• ...the eldest son of the vicar of Dunlop, was sent to Ireland from Scotland by James VI [sic] in 1587 to keep up correspondence with the English planters and inform him of Irish feeling in case of the death of Queen Elizabeth. He opened a Latin school in Dublin, and became Professor and M.A. of Trinity College and was tutor to Archbishop Usher.
He was transferred to London in August 1600 to negotiate with Queen Elizabeth. On 5th Aug., 1600, he is referred to in a letter from Ireland as Mr. James Hamilton, who, “has been a schoolmaster in the country and guides the Chamber and is now to be employed as Resident Agent at the Court.” On 17th Dec., 1600, he asked for a passport {the seal on the wafer shows 3 cinquefoils on the shield and a crest of a boar’s head couped on a helmet}. He announced the death of Queen Elizabeth to King James, by whom he was knighted, made King’s Sergeant-at-law and by Letters Patent of the estates of Clandeboye and Ards in Co. Down, and in 1612, Sir James was named as one of the first Burgesses in a charter establishing the borough of Bangor, and was M. P. for Co. Down in the Irish Parliament in 1613.

• JAMES HAMILTON, the eldest son of Hans Hamilton, vicar of Dunlop, being sent into Ireland (accompanied, or soon followed by his brethren,) by King James VI., in the year 1587, with Sir James Fullarton, in order to keep up a correspondence with the English of that kingdom, and inform his Majesty from time to time of the state, condition, inclinations, and designs of the Irish in case of Queen Elizabeth's death; they disguised the cause of their errand, (that they might execute it the better,) by taking it upon them to open schools. After they had taught privately for five years, they were admitted to professorships in Trinity College; and they contributed greatly to bring the University of Dublin into that reputation which it quickly acquired. At this time the learned Archbishop Usher was one of Mr Hamilton's pupils.
After the accession of King James to the English throne, Mr Hamilton was made the King's Sergeant-at-Law, and one of the Privy Council, and, at the same time, was liberally rewarded for his services. In 1613 he sat in the Irish Parliament for the co. of Downe.
In 1619 he was nominated one of the commissioners for the plantation of Longford, and the territory of Ely-O Carrol; and, by patent, dated 4th May 1692, created Viscount of Claneboye and Lord Hamilton in co. Downe.
In November 1641 he received a commission from the Lords Justices and Council for raising the Scots in the north of Ireland, and putting them under arms to oppose the rebellion.
His Lordship married, first, Ursula, sixth daughter of Edward, Lord Brabazon of Ardee, by whom he had no issue. He married, secondly, Jane, daughter of Sir John Phillips of Pictou Castle in co. Fembroke, by whom he had an only son,8376

• He m. firstly, Ursula, da. of Edward (Brabazon).6877

• His Lordship married, first, Ursula, sixth daughter of Edward, Lord Brabazon of Ardee, by whom he had no issue.8376