William Patton lived in Greene County near Knoxville in 1850 & this is what he had record about our ancestor. On the 4th of July Caption Peter Hamilton was murdered in his field by four Negro fellows know by the name of Old Joe, ,young Joe, Bill and Jack. The Sunday before they had plundered the orchard and left home without permission. They went down in the neighborhood of the river and obtained whiskey, probably for the fruit as they had obtained dishonesty by their own admission but would not say where they got it for the staple of the smoke house had not been drawn as they stated. Captian Peter Hamilton whipped some of them on Monday morning for these offences a little (but little)
   Their backs were examined by the coroners court but little sign of whipping to be seen. That evening Monday evening they entered into a conspiracy to kill their master. To much indulged, self exalted, and pfound they could not bear to be checked in their crime. They  nurned the bloody purpose untill rendered desperate by being denied the 4th of July off as a Holiday they executed the murder. He being alone with them in the field and imagined they conceal their Crine.
    But oh, how mistaken. They soon told the whole story for themselves and a darker tale of crime was never told. The four were committed to Eutaw jail to wait their trial. On record in Eutaw probate office estate was paid. An to receive from the state treasury foe 3 slaves that was executed by Sheriff of Greene County in 1870 $1275 estate to paid 11/22/1851     Tombstone cost $43.10 7/24/1851    Paid Jonothan Phillips $15.25 for Coffin.

 TOTAL PROPERTY FOR ESTATE WAS $7,121.49 DISTRIBUTION BETWEEN CHILDREN & HEIRS $1,121.49