Hamilton Family, circa 1899

This photo has hung inside HamDun Lodge for as long as any of us can remember. According to the handwritten notes on the back, it’s from around the year 1899. It is Henry Clay Hamilton’s family, taken in Brooklin, Maine. Looking at each person in the photo:

#1 standing, holding the horse is Henry. Henry was the 8th child of Tom and Sukie Hamilton. His wife was Eva Byard Hamilton, who went by Gene (after her middle name Georgine) and is #10 here.

#2 sitting on the horse is Harry Edward Hamilton. Harry was born in 1869 so would be about 30 in this picture.

#3 with the bicycle is Emma Ruby Hamilton. Emma was born in 1880, and was Henry’s niece – her father Charles was Henry’s brother. Emma would have been about 19 here.

#4 is Clara Joyce Hamilton, Emma’s mother, married to Henry’s brother Charles. She was born in 1854.

#5 & #6 are listed as Celia Higgins (with the bicycle) and her sister Laura next to her. Not sure who they are – perhaps neighbors.

#7 is Frank Sidney Hamilton, born in 1884. Frank was also a son of Charles Hamilton so he and Emma were brother and sister.

#8 is Frances Dunham Hamilton, Nanna Hammie, with #9 Charlotte Dunham Hamilton in the carriage. Charlotte was born in 1898 so would be 1 here.

#10 is Eva Byard Hamilton (Aunt Gene or Georgine Hamilton), who was Henry’s wife, Fannie’s Mom, and Charlotte’s Grandmother.

#11 is Adelle Grindle Hamilton, Fred Hamilton’s wife and Gene Hamilton’s Mother.

#12 is Fred Augustine Hamilton, holding the horse. Fred was born in 1850 so would be 49 here. He and Adelle were Gene Hamilton’s parents. They also had Winnie Hamilton Freethey who was born in 1878 but apparently isn’t pictured here, unless you believe my thesis on #17 which you’ll find below.

#13 is Florentine (“Floyd”) Byard Hamilton. Floyd was born in 1882 so would be 17 here. That’s his dog Sport in his lap. Floyd was Harry’s brother but 13 years his junior. Their parents Henry and Eva had only two children, after losing a middle child at birth.

#14 is listed as “unknown person” and a friend of the Higgins above.

#15 is Laura Susan Hamilton, sister of Frank and Emma. She was born in 1892, so would be 7 years old here.

#16 is our old friend Eugene (Gene) Bartlett Hamilton, who looks angry in this photo (which isn’t a surprise). He was born in 1886 so would be 13 here. Thats his dog Skip.

#17 is listed as Carrie Bartlett, apparently the first wife of Will Bartlett, who was married to Frank’s daughter Susan. If true, I would find an ex-wife in this gathering quite awkward, so do wonder if that is actually Winnie. Winnie would be 21 in this photo, and would be seated next to her brother and beneath their parents. So I’m wondering if the label is incorrect.