Isabella Murrhead Hamilton was a British subject residing in New Haven, Connecticut, United States, who was lost in the Lusitania disaster. She was originally booked aboard the Cameronia to Glasgow, Scotland, but the British Admiralty requisitioned the ship, transferring her and 40 others to the Lusitania.
Isabella was the wife of John Hamilton, and she left surviving her husband, three daughters, and four sons. At the time of the Lusitania sinking, the entire family were still British subjects, although John became a United States citizen on 30 December 1915.
Related pages
Isabella Hamilton at the Mixed Claims Commission
Contributors:
Paul Latimer
Michael Poirier
Hildo Thiel
References:
Docket No. 2052, Mixed Claims Commission, page 475.
Mrs. Hamilton’s correct middle name is “Muirhead.” Isabella Muirhead married John Hamilton on 7 February 1879 in Armadale, County of Linlithgow, Scotland. The marriage certificate lists her as 20 years old and a domestic servant; he was 21 and a mason. She was the daughter of John Muirhead, a coal miner (deceased by the time of her marriage) and Janet Gilchrist.
The Hamiltons were acquaintances of my grandparents Thomas and Isabella Scott, in New Haven, Connecticut, since all of them were from Glasgow, Scotland. On the Lusitania, Mrs. Hamilton was carrying in her luggage five shirts that Isabella Scott was sending to her brother Malcolm in Glasgow. Thus arose Isabella Scott’s story, told for the rest of her life, that she lost–quite apart from her friend Mrs. Hamilton–five shirts on the Lusitania. Isabella Scott remained friends with Mrs. Hamilton’s son and daughter-in-law, Archie and Helen Hamilton, until Mrs. Scott moved from New Haven in the 1940s.
Hi, Douglas.
By coincidence I am researching her son, James, who was killed in France on 25th April 1915. He was on a long lost war memorial plaque in Drumpellier Golf Club, Coatbridge and we are gathering information for it’s rededication. Anything you have would be helpful. For instance i have him as employed at an ironworks in Airdrie but a footballer for Broxburn United. Any info to johnlove63@aol.com