by Karen Yvonne Hamilton, 2024

Richard Edward HAMILTON was born on July 26, 1840, in Savannah, Georgia, to Peggy HAMILTON (1819-1900) and William Pitts EDWARDS* (1811-1887).

Richard also went by the name Robert HAMILTON and Stephen BARRETT.

*Richard says that his mother was a Choctaw and his father was their owner. They were both brought from Springfield, Georgia to Williston, Florida in 1850 as slaves.

Richard’s story is complex and intriguing. And much too long to include in this bio. Read more of his story in Lostmans Heritage: Pioneers of the Florida Everglades.

An excerpt:

Whether or not William Pitts Edwards is part of the Hamilton lineage is debatable. G. H. Watson (not to be confused with the infamous Edgar J. Watson) of Everglades, Florida says of Richard in a letter dated 1902 that “his (Richard’s) history can be traced back to when he was a slave. His father being his owner, whose name was Edwards.” Richard claims that Edwards was his biological father, but Edwards’ legitimate heirs claim otherwise. 

Edwards’ son, Judson, recalls, “His (Richard) father was a light mulatto and belonged to Mr. Frederick (the last name is unreadable) of Effingham Co.”

William Pitts Edwards
said to be a drawing of Peggy Hamilton

POSSIBLE HALF-SIBLINGS (if William Pitts Edwards was really his father)

  • Ann Haseltine EDWARDS was born in 1832. She died on June 15, 1869, in Marion, Florida.
  • Eliza Burton EDWARDS was born on March 15, 1841, in Effingham, Georgia.
  • Laura K EDWARDS was born on August 9, 1843. She died in 1850.
  • Henrietta EDWARDS was born on March 24, 1845.
  • George William EDWARDS was born on August 10, 1848, in Effingham, Georgia. He died on October 23, 1855, in Marion, Florida.
  • Joseph Newton EDWARDS was born on November 24, 1851, in Marion, Florida.
  • Frances Julia EDWARDS birth date unknown. She died on August 8, 1858, in Marion, Florida.
  • Emma S. EDWARDS was born in 1867.

HALF-SIBLINGS (through his mother’s marriage to London ANDERSON)

  • Lizzie was born in 1848 in Georgia
  • Georgianna was born in 1850 in Georgia
  • Alexander was born on December 5, 1852, in Levy, Florida
  • George was born in 1857 in Ocala, Florida
  • Andrew was born in 1858 in Ocala, Florida

After Emancipation, Richard maintains that he enlisted in the US Colored Troops at Pleasunth (sic) Hill, Louisiana in late 1862 or early 1863. He claims his captain’s name was John Moore. He claims he did so under the name of Stephen Barrett. Richard was later arrested for filing for pension under this name, as there was also a claim filed by the real Stephen Barrett’s widow, Sarah Barrett. You can read the full transcript of this case in The Barrett Files – a Civil War Pension Case: The Original Transcribed Documents 1866-1921.

Richard married Hannah Elizabeth MOORE in Manatee, Florida, on April 16, 1869. It appears that Mary Appolonia WEEKS also lived in their household. 

From Lostmans Heritage: Pioneers of the Florida Everglades.

Plural marriage was not uncommon in 19th century Florida. It wasn’t exactly talked about, and it certainly was frowned upon by ‘good’ society. Traditional rules of marriage and divorce (among many other rules) were not of concern for the Native Americans, the freed slaves, and the general ‘outcasts’ of South Florida. Formal marriage did not arrive until after Emancipation when missionaries and pastors roamed the country to encourage the former slaves to legalize their marriages.

Richard and Hannah Moore had six children from 1868 to 1880.

  • William E. was born in 1870 in Pine Level, Florida.
  • George Lewis was born in 1872 in Pine Level, Florida.
  • Thomas C was born on December 7, 1873, in Punta Gorda, Florida.
  • Jane (Julia) was born in 1874.
  • Benjamin L. was born in 1876.
  • Walter Joseph Valentine was born on October 31, 1880.*

*Walter Valentine, born October 1880, is listed under this household and in the household of Richard’s second wife, Mary Weeks. Hannah Moore’s obituary states that she was the widow of Richard Hamilton, but there is no record of their divorcing. Likewise, the 1880 and 1885 census of Manatee County record that the spouse of Richard Hamilton was Hannah Moore.

Richard as a young man

Richard married Mary Appolonia WEEKS in 1890 and they settled in the Florida Everglades.

He and Mary’s children were:

*It is unclear if Nina was Richard’s child or the child of Mary’s first husband, George CHRISTIAN.

Over the years, Richard worked as a farmer, a coal worker, a seaman, and a guide. He also was the midwife for many of the women in the Everglades.

Richard (right) with his son, Leon

His wife Mary Appolonia passed away on September 13, 1917. They had been married 27 years.

Richard’s story changes every time he tells it:

In the many years of researching Richard’s story, I found one truth – Richard lies. A lot. It is somewhat amusing to read the different stories he comes up with to regale whoever he is talking to at the moment. He told one newspaper that he was born in Nova Scotia!

DEATH

Richard Edward HAMILTON died on June 26, 1944, and was buried on one of the islands in the Florida Everglades.

There were several obituaries written for Richard Hamilton. The details differ depending on which story the person writing it had been told by Richard. Some details are correct; other details are from the wild imagination of Richard Hamilton.

FLORIDA KEYS HISTORY FACEBOOK GROUP: Consider joining our group for more on Florida Keys History.

FLORIDA EVERGLADES HISTORY FACEBOOK GROUP: Consider joining our group for more on Florida Everglades History.

READ MORE FLORIDA PIONEER BIOS HERE

SOURCES

Personal record collection of Ernest Eugene Hamilton, Sr.; 1870 United States Federal Census; 1880 United States Federal Census; 1885 United States Federal Census; 1900 United States Federal Census; 1910 United States Federal Census; 1920 United States Federal Census; 1930 United States Federal Census; 1935 United States Federal Census; Civil War Pension Index 1861-1934 Filing Date 27 Jan 1891; Florida County Marriage Records 1823-1982; The Key West Citizen; U.S. General Land Office Records, 1776-2015; U.S. Passport Applications 1795-1925; U.S., Native American Applications for Enrollment in Five Civilized Tribes (overturned), 1896; U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current