Hugh (also known as Hugo in Swedish), who mentions himself as being originally the third son and with poor prospects of inheritance, moved from Ireland to Sweden and took part in Thirty Years War.
In 1637 Hugh Hamilton married Margaret Forratt, of Scots family, who was the widow of colonel and ambassador baron James Spens,[1] who had died 1632, and been in Swedish service.
By his first marriage, lord Hugh had one surviving child, his daughter baroness Bridget Margaret Hamilton af Deserf, who in 1659 married baron Gustav Adolf Skytte.
In c 1659, Hugh married for third time, the young lady Susan Balfour of Pitcullo, a kinswoman related with families who had earlier held Glenawly.
1660 king Charles II of England created Hugh, who then yet lived in Sweden, 1st Lord of Glenawly in peerage of Ireland, which some have said meant a viscountcy, but some count it as a regular barony.
Hugh's grandson sir Marcus Beresford, who married lady Catherine Power of Tír Eoghain, baroness de la Poer suo jure, was created 1st Earl of Tyrone.