Hamilton was born in Ireland, later living in Partick, Glasgow in Scotland with her husband.

She held a variety of jobs considered unusual for women at the time, including working as a labourer in Tod and Macgregor's shipyard, as a forewoman navvy in the brickworks at Jordanhill, and as a farm labourer.

[2] The Partick riots started on 6 August 1875, the centenary of Daniel O'Connell's birth, and lasted for three days.

The Irish immigrants decided to celebrate O'Connell's birth with a march and other Glaswegians rose up in protest.

Hamilton was one of around 30 locals sworn in as special constables, who were responsible for driving the rioters back.