When Colonel Hamtramck died in 1803 William Henry Harrison, the territorial governor and later President of the USA, became guardian to the children.

[1] After the Mexican-American War had begun he volunteerd for service and was named Colonel of the 1st Virginia Infantry Regiment in December 1846.

It's officer corps included prominent people like Major Jubal Early, Captains Kenton Harper and Montgomery D. Corse and Lieutenant David A.

Quartermaster James L. Kemper described the Colonel as "a great stickler for the minutiae of military regulations and equipments" but added that these qualities were a necessity for the situation.

[1] Hamtramck returned to Shepherdstown, continuing farming and militia duty but also became a court magistrate and, from 1850 to 1854, mayor of the town.