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20 Tuesday, October 23, 2001, The Daily News
Alexander Hamilton's link
to Nevis-St. K
Olasa Davos. an Wqigast on St.
(roi. is a Dilv News antlribinstg
columnms.w.
Thc other day I .antl a mechanic in
Estate IaGmnge. and I were talking
Iut politics in St. Kills a~nd Nevis
whenAlexameraHanumdtonsramecame
Alexander Hamilton was born on
Nevison Jan. II. 1757. the illegitmate,
son of James Hamihon. a Scolsman.
and Rachael Fawcen I avien. Ncvisian.
While some histonans have disputed
.the actual yearof IIamilton's birth, it's
emrfdismoveredhdu Ianishdo -
umeas pul is birth as 1755.
Yung Hamilton was a mall. flail
and inleme boy with blue yes and rld-
adt hir. His mor tae wa mar
tied to John Michael Lavien in Estate
La Gange. Lavisn owned a smanl plan.
nation nSr.Crix. Aco. dingtohistor-
ical records. Iavin was a cmel h:I-
and loKachd: afi r five yeaofam
tinge she icf St. Ooix for Nevis with
hler meather. ThIe union between Lavin
and Rachel produced a son; she was 21
when she lef her husband
nthle 175th,t Rached Fawcca avis-n
met James Ilamilon in Nevis. It was
iee she fIdl in loe with him and pro-
thed Alexander Hamillon. Although
ebacelconceived yun Hamillonwith
James Hamilton. she was still tgallyy
mnetid to LavisL i She asked Lavien far
a divorce. but he refused. Later. James
and Rtchd moved toSL Kis frmmNevis
to live together.
ritncially thing wee bad in ciatain
perts orthe Caibbean during this period
and James Hamilton found it hard to
support his family. From St. Kins..ames
was sent to SL Uois on a legal mission
and Rachel accompanied him. along
with her Iwo sons. After a couple of
months on St. Croix, James left and
Rachel stayed on St. Croix with rel-
alives.
Rachel's relatives opened a small
s"ore on SL. Croix where Alexander
helped OUL At I I.Alexanderwasapre-
cociousyoung boy despite his lack of
much schooling I
mind. Nicholas (
Hamlthon a job in
Cruger was a uc
and shipper. mai
warehouses in Fre
liastcd.
In the 1750s
Fawcett La
James Ham
Nevis. It w
fell in love,
produced Al
Hamilton.
For many yeas.
ner with a New Yo
Beckman. Cruger
tins with New Yo
nessand his family
being New York'
1770E. In many w
lt is likely aadl he
EscAnsmm'sHope
bulo sine a~n .
Eventually. Lavi
hult Tcdish iw flat
trying. When Alet
mother died on St.
can visil hergra'
LaGrane. Howese
hiad claimedall he
mother died Alexam
with i ivesor fri
He worked hd a
itts, St. Croix
H-e alsolaught hinw if Frenhl.On iAug.
31. 1772. Alexander wrote his father.
vhowas on SL Viaccr.a loer. Helokd
his rather about the humcane on St.
Olasee Crois xl.It. royd. or damagdM ,M
Davis buildings. is lr wa push
n te Royal fanishi-AmeicamGaOam
:talestera waelmprssive that
friend and others scraped whit money
they could fAtol arnl nt Alexander to
school in tle Bntish colonies of Nath
Hscaue of his sha Anxica. Mid-sutmmer he le for Bofi
Crugcr gae young ontono a ship en ras ie for Ncw York. On
his ilrdware storm. hisway. thshlrpcaughtfireandAlex-
ccssful merchant under helped to halllte the fire for
gaining offices and a*st24Insumnsilitwasbroughtauner
derikstlsed and Ch- aonenl.
On his arrival. he ni to a boarding
school for one year and then entered
K's_____ nCollc e. noColumbia Univer-
siy a Nw Yok.
h EwmillyAleaAldergtinvolvhedin
a el politicsWitheoulbreak ofthe vo-
len met l A=lon.Alaoander bexc a captain of
ilton In sallcry. Inthiscapacity, heaurnciedth
a there she atna or cu Winaington whatom
hersveda sacry ayandaiulcam~.
with him and The ambitious Hamilton played a
alexander majorrole informing the orginal13
colonies ofthe United Stales. He was
d hanasthe fl serelarmyofhe Unhed
Stat Treasury. He was a brilliant econ-
Cruger was a part- mist and was largely responsible fr he
rk merchant named Federalist financial policies of the
had strong conne- new nteaon. In the presidential contest
rkhthroughhis hbusi- of 1800. his apposilion to Aaron Bun-
y one of his uncles contributed to the election of Burr's
s mayor during the rival Thtomas Jefferson.
ys CmUger aded as Iowever. Alexander's renewed op-
aiand admlncacher. poeion to Buir in the 1304 aimpin
tHanmilonmanted for the goasmodip or New Yah tn-
withotherofCrnuger doubtedly ontribaedo Buia's isMan
of a challenge to duel. Hamilton ac-
endivotced Rachel. ceped BDunr's challenge and both men
adc her fRon mtmr. met at Wrihwalken Ileights NJ.. o
wander was 13 his a bluffoverlooking the Hudson River.
Croix. Today, you It was here sadly that Hamilton was
vestone at Estate fhially wounded.
r. herdivoced hus- The Charlestown. Nevis. family
property. Afterhis homne wm he he was bonm was recon-
er probably stayed strucled as a museum. The original
nrds onSt Cmix. house was built in 1680. but was
and read incessanty. desrlyed duringan earthquake in 1840.
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