So, you’ve watched the musical. You know the "Best of Wives and Best of Women" song by heart. But honestly, the stage production barely scratches the surface of the chaos and heartbreak that was the actual Schuyler-Hamilton household. Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton children weren't just background characters in a founding father's drama; they were eight distinct people who lived through some of the most bizarre and tragic twists of the 19th century.
Eliza was a powerhouse. Most people forget she was pregnant with her sixth child when the Reynolds Pamphlet scandal blew up her life. She didn't just survive; she raised a small army of children while drowning in her husband's massive debts.
The Tragedy of the Two Philips
It sounds like a plot device, but it’s 100% true. Eliza had two sons named Philip.
The first Philip was the "golden boy." He was born in 1782, and Alexander was obsessed with him. He was brilliant, charming, and—unfortunately—as hot-headed as his father. In 1801, he was shot in a duel at Weehawken, New Jersey, defending his father's honor. He died a slow, agonizing death with Eliza and Alexander right by his side. He was only 19.
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Basically, the family was destroyed. But then, six months later, Eliza gave birth to her eighth and final child. She named him Philip.
"Little Phil," as they called him, never knew his father—Alexander died in a duel on the exact same spot as the first Philip just two years later. Unlike his brothers, Little Phil couldn't afford a fancy Ivy League education. He was "comparatively poor" most of his life, though he eventually became a lawyer and even helped convict a notorious pirate named Charles Gibbs.
Angelica Hamilton: The Daughter Who Never Grew Up
If you want to know the saddest part of the Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton children story, it’s Angelica. She was the second child, born in 1784. Before the duels, she was described as a lively girl who loved music.
When her older brother Philip died, something in her mind just... snapped.
She suffered a total mental breakdown. Historians often describe her state as "eternal childhood." She spent the rest of her life—she lived to be 73—talking about her brother Philip as if he were still alive. She would play the same songs on the piano that she used to play in duets with her father. Eliza took care of her for decades until she eventually had to be placed in the care of a doctor in Flushing. In her will, Eliza's last wish was for her other children to be "kind and affectionate" to their "unfortunate sister."
The Sons Who Stayed in the Fray
The middle kids had a lot to live up to. You’ve got Alexander Jr., James, John, and William. They didn't just sit around mourning; they were incredibly active in building the "new" America.
- Alexander Hamilton Jr.: He was a bit of a wild card. He actually fought with the Duke of Wellington’s army in Spain against Napoleon. Later, he became a lawyer and—get this—he represented Eliza Jumel in her divorce from Aaron Burr. Yeah, he helped the woman who married his father's killer get her money back.
- James Alexander Hamilton: He was the political heavy hitter. He served as the acting Secretary of State under Andrew Jackson.
- John Church Hamilton: He was the family's record-keeper. He spent his entire life sorting through his father's messy papers. If we know anything about Hamilton today, it’s basically because John Church and Eliza spent decades making sure the world didn't forget him.
- William Stephen Hamilton: He wanted out. He headed west to Illinois and Wisconsin, became a lead miner, and eventually died in the California Gold Rush of 1850. He was a rough-and-tumble guy who preferred the frontier to New York high society.
Eliza Hamilton Holly: The Caretaker
The younger Eliza, often called Eliza Hamilton Holly, was the one who stayed. She married a merchant named Sidney Holly, but after he died, she moved back in with her mother. The two Elizas were inseparable. They lived together in a townhouse in NYC (the Hamilton-Holly House) and later moved to Washington, D.C.
Eliza Jr. was the one who watched her mother spend her final years obsessively collecting Alexander’s writings. She was there when her mother, at age 90, was still talking about "her Hamilton" as if he’d just stepped out of the room.
Actionable Insights for History Buffs
If you're looking to dive deeper into the lives of the Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton children, don't just rely on the musical's soundtrack.
- Visit The Grange: Alexander and Eliza's home in Manhattan is a National Memorial. You can see the rooms where these kids actually grew up.
- Read the Primary Sources: Check out The Life of Alexander Hamilton by his son, John Church Hamilton. It's biased, sure, but it's the closest thing to a first-hand family account.
- Research Graham Windham: This is the modern-day version of the orphanage Eliza founded. Seeing the legacy of her "9th child" (her charity work) puts the family's struggles into perspective.
- Trace the Westward Expansion: Look up William Stephen Hamilton’s records in Wisconsin; it's a fascinating look at how a "Founding Son" lived on the edge of the wilderness.