Francis Salvador Theodore Hamilton was born on February 2, 1929, to William Joseph HAMILTON (1904-1932) and Florinda Marie GOMES (1909-1964).

William Hamilton
Florinda Marie Gomes
Florinda, Francis, Bill, and Ernie

Francis spent his early childhood growing up on Lostmans River in the Florida Everglades with his older brother William ‘Bill’ Joseph HAMILTON Jr. and younger brother Ernest Eugene HAMILTON.

Ernie, Bill, and Francis at their house in the Everglades

In 1930, he lived with his parents at Poinciana Point in the Everglades. He was surrounded by the Hamilton clan: his grandparents, uncles and aunts, cousins. Other members of the Hamilton clan  living on the island were Richard (Robert) Hamilton, George Hamilton, Walter Hamilton, William “Buddy” Hamilton, and Salvador Gomes, and Leon Hamilton.

His father disappeared in the Everglades islands in February 1932 while on a hunting trip. Francis’ mother was barely two months pregnant with Ernest at the time. William was never found and was presumed murdered. Florinda had him officially declared dead when she married her third husband.

In 1940, Francis and his two brothers lived with their mother and step-father, William “Bill” PARKER, in an unincorporated section of Iona, Florida. 

After his mother and step-father divorced, Francis and his brothers were moved around to various relatives as their mother sought work in Key West and Ft Myers. Ultimately, the boys and their mother settled in Key West working for the Navy Department as a Machine Operator. She then married Junius Otto POSEY on October 14, 1947.

Francis’ half-brother Junius Otto was born on April 3, 1948 and his half-brother Paul Thomas was born on December 2, 1951.

Brothers Ernie, Junius, Bill, and Francis
Back row: Francis, Ernie, Bill. Front row: Junius, Florinda, Tommy

In 1951, Francis married Kunagunda (Connie) Sabon in Key West.

Their children were:

  • Francis Salvador was born on July 4, 1952.
  • Teena Marie was born on July 9, 1956.
  • Terry Lynn was born on September 23.
  • Connie Ann was born on June 17, 1962.

Francis enlisted in the U.S. Navy on April 10, 1946. 

Francis and his brother, Bill

His mother Florinda Marie passed away in a car accident on July 26, 1964.

After leaving the Navy in 1969, Francis and his family settled down in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. His niece, Karen Yvonne Hamilton, has fond memories of her uncle, recalling how he used to let her ‘dance’ with him by allowing her to stand on his feet while he danced around the room. “He was a gentle, quiet man, always smiling.”

Francis and Connie at their home in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
Francis and his brother, Bill visiting Ernie’s house
Francis and his family

On February 24, 1971 in Alachua, Florida his brothers, Junius and Tom were in a car accident in which Junius died and Tom was seriously injured.

In the late 1970s, Francis realized his dream and moved to Trenton, Florida with his family where he built his own house in a wooded area. His niece, Karen recalls visiting there several times and sitting on the porch with her uncle and father as they played music on guitars and sang songs from the old days.

Francis became ill with cancer in 1977 and passed away on November 6, 1978, in Trenton, Florida, when he was 49 years old.