James Hamilton, Jr., founder of the Hamilton Library Association and what became the Cumberland County Historical Society, was born in Carlisle, Pennsylvania on October 16, 1793, the only son of Judge James Hamilton (born 1752 in Belfast, Ireland, died February 13, 1819) and his wife Sarah Thomson, daughter of Rev. William and Susanna Ross Thomson.
Mary Hamilton, daughter of Judge James and Sarah Hamilton, was born in Carlisle on August 2, 1796. Letters between Mary’s father and his friend John Brown of Philadelphia provide details of her early life. Mary was nine years old in November 1805 when she was sent to Mr. and Mrs.
Interview of Ronald Hamilton of the Union Fire Company by Randy Watts on March 31, 2015. The interview focuses on the Union Fire Company in Carlisle, Pennsylvania as well as fire fighting in general.
Sarah Hamilton's daughter, Susan Thorn, bequeathed the miniature portrait of her mother “in a square frame” to Mrs. Mary Moore. Its whereabouts are unknown. We are left to form a picture of Sarah Hamilton, or Sally as her husband and her sister Mary Veazey referred to her, from remarks about her in their letters.
Interview of Marguerite Grove Harnish for the Elizabeth V. and George F. Gardner Digital Library. Harnish discusses her family including the story of her mother staying in her house as it was moved across the Holly Pike, her interest in gardening, the Two Mile House. Also discussed is her experience running the Hub, a women's dress shop, and one of her more well known customers Bessie.
William H. Harrison served in Company I of the 22nd U.S.C.T. He was born around 1830, in Hagerstown, Maryland, to enslaved parents. His father’s name was William Harrison, but his mother’s name is unknown.1 He enlisted as a private at the age of 35 in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, on January 5, 1864, and he was discharged with his company on May 5, 1865, due to the end of the war.2 His life immediately after the war, including information about his family, is unknown.
William H. Harrison served in Company I of the 22nd U.S.C.T. He was born around 1830, in Hagerstown, Maryland, to enslaved parents. His father’s name was William Harrison, but his mother’s name is unknown.1 He enlisted as a private at the age of 35 in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, on January 5, 1864, and he was discharged with his company on May 5, 1865, due to the end of the war.2 His life immediately after the war, including information about his family, is unknown.
During the colonial era, Cumberland County was on the western frontier of colonial settlement. Although treaties had been signed allowing legal settlement, peaceful relations with Native Americans was not achieved until the 1770s.
Interview of Quy and Randy Hays for the Elizabeth V. and George F. Gardner Digital Library. Quy discusses her life in Vietnam during the Vietnam and her move to the United States.