Conditions Governing Use:

Before reproducing or quoting from any materials, in whole or in part, permission must be obtained from the Special Collections Research Center, and the holder of the copyright, if not Swem Library.

Conditions Governing Access:

Collection is open to all researchers. Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations, such as the Virginia Public Records Act (Code of Virginia. § 42.1-76-91); and the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (Code of Virginia § 2.2-3705.5). Confidential material may include, but is not limited to, educational, medical, and personnel records. If sensitive material is found in this collection, please contact a staff member immediately. The disclosure of personally identifiable information pertaining to a living individual may have legal consequences for which the College of William and Mary assumes no responsibility.

Custodial History:

Presented to the college by Mrs. Preston Davie in 1954 but remained at Colonial Williamsburg until November 1966.

Preferred Citation:

Marriage Settlement of the Earl and Countess of Orkney, Special Collections Research Center, William & Mary Libraries

Biographical Information:

Lord George Douglas-Hamilton was born at Hamilton Palace, the fifth son of Anne Hamilton, 3rd Duchess of Hamilton and William Douglas, Earl of Selkirk. In 1695, Hamilton married Elizabeth Villiers, sister to Edward Villiers, 1st Earl of Jersey, and the following year, he was raised to the Scottish peerage as Earl of Orkney, Viscount Kirkwall and Baron Dechmont. He was Governor of Virginia in 1714, but appears never to have visited the colony. Further information about this individual or organization may be available in the Special Collections Research Center Wiki: .

Scope and Contents

Marriage agreement between George Hamilton, Earl of Orkney and Elizabeth Elizabeth Villiers, Countess of Orkney.  On reverse,  "Sealed and Delivered (the parchment being first stampt with the sixpenny Stamp) by the within named George Earle of Orkney and Elizabeth Countess of Orkney his wife..."  March 14, 1695.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• Marriage agreements
• Orkney (Scotland)--History.
• Prenuptial agreements
• Scotland--History--17th century
• Social contract -- History -- 17th century
• Virginia--Governors