Westergaard describes him as "shifty, shrewd, vain, and at times boastful, and an exceedingly exasperating neighbor to deal with.
"[2] Meanwhile, his (likely English) wife Charity Esmit was in Copenhagen, securing the official proclamation of his inauguration as governor in 1683.
[5] Under the protection of Esmit, Hamlin made the island his base and proceeded to rob several English vessels.
[5] Although Esmit complained, claiming that the ship had been seized for the Danish Crown, he secretly sold Hamlin a sloop and let him escape the English.
[5] Upon Esmit's arrival in Denmark, he was able to convince Danish West India Company that he could help them locate a sunken Spanish silver transport, and thus avoided the consequences of his rule.