hamm2

 THE HAMMOND FAMILY

                                        THE NAME AND IT'S ORIGIN
                                                                                       Part 2

The name and it's many variations, is often met with in ancient history long before surnames were in everyday use, and it's possible derivation and meaning may be of interest to some of those who bear it in it's more modern form.

It  is found written Aman, Amann, Amon, Ammon, Haman Haymond, Hamant, Hamont, Hammon, Hamond, Hamonde, Hayman and Hammonds.  It is now almost universally written as Hammond, although there are  still some Amans of French or Norman descent and Hamants, Hammons, and Haymonds of English or Irish origin.

It appears among the very earliest surnames found in England, where  it was  introduced as a family cognomen at the time of the conquest by some officers of the invading army.

Ammon or Hammon - A name given to Jupiter, worshipped in Libya when Bacchus was  conquering  Africa. He is said to have come with his army to a spot called, from the vast quanity of sand lying around, by the name of Hamodes.  Here his forces were in great  danger of perishing from  want of water, when a ram appeared of a sudden and guided  them to verdant spot, or oasis, in the  midst of the desert.  When they reached this place the ram disappeared and they found an abundant supply of water.  Bacchus therefore, out of gratitude, erected on the spot a temple to Jupiter, giving him at the same time the surname Ammon or Hammon, from the Greek sands in allusion to the circumstances  connected with his appearance, and the statue of the diety had the head and the  horns of a ram. The oasis referred to is the Oasis of Ammon, and the fountain is the famous Fons Solis. The temple of Ammon, like that of Delphi, was famous for  it's treasures, the varied offerings of the pious. Plutarch says that the name of Ammon is the Egyptian for Jupiter.

This god was particularly worshipped at Thebes, called in the sacred books "Hammano" (The possession of Hammon); and in the old Testament, Ezekiel Chap. 21; Verse 28; The city of Ammon. 

The name Hammond as a family name appears in England from the date of the Norman Conquest (1066).  It is found with a large variation of spelling, often exhibiting three or more different forms in the same document. The name appears to have been  generally  spelled Hamond or Hamonde prior to 1700, but is  often  found written Hamon, Hamont, or Hamant in the text of the document, when the signature is Hamond or Hamonde. The same individual does not seem to have always spelled his name in the same fashion, and it is not until some years after the emigration to America that we find any uniformity of spelling even in  the family.  After the emigration the large majority of  the  families of the name adopted the uniform spelling of Hammond.

Many  pages  of  Freeman's history of the Norman conquest are devoted to the exploits of  Hamon.  Robert Fitzhamon seems to have taken a very active part in proclaiming William as king, and the large estates given him were but a fitting reward from his soverign.  In describing the battle which decided the conquest Freeman says "William  now sprang on his horse's back, and now ready for battle, he paused for a moment at the head of his host.  His gallant equipment and bearing called forth the admiration of all around him, and a spokesman for their thoughts was found in Hamon, the  Viscount of the distant Thowers. He spoke no doubt, the  words of all when he said that never had such a knight been seen under heaven, and that the noble Count would become a noble King"

In speaking of the Council which  proclaimed William King, he says "The military council was strongly in favor of William's acceptance  of the Crown, but the decisive answer was given, not  by  any  of William's native subjects, but by one of the most  eminent  of  the  foriegn volunteers, Hamon Viscount of Thowers,  a man  we are  told,  as  ready of speech as he was valiant in fight, had on the height of Telham, been the first to  hail  the  Duke  as the future King.  Green's "Conquest of England" also devotes much space to the Hamons.

There is great difficulty in tracing family history in England  owing chiefly to the vandalism of our puritan ancestors, in their zeal  for  the  cause of  Protestantism destroyed  churches, burned records, and sent whole shiploads of valuable  papers  and  documents to the Netherlands to be made into paper.

The  earliest  known seat of the family seems to have been in the county of  Norfolk,  and from there they seemed to have spread over Suffolk, Essex, Yorkshire and other counties.

Hamon de Cleme was lord of  manor in Norfolk, which was invaded  by a band of men, who seized the corn and husked it, and cut down timber and carried it away in 1270. The earliest record of the name Hammond was the witnessing of a sale of land by Richard Hammond on  Oct 9, 1331.  Thomas Hammond was lord of the manor of Cresseners, county of  Suffolk from 1561 to 1586.  His wife was Anne, daughter of John Cawston, Esq. of Hawkedon.  Thomas died in 1586 and was succeeded by his son Thomas  Hammond.  John Hammond of Ubbeston, county of Suffolk was  lord of manors of Nevills in Ellingham and Dunston, county of  Norfolk, and also owner of the manors of Ubbeston and  Walpole,  county of Suffolk from 1541 to 1588.  He was succeeded by his son John Hammond.  A brother of John Hammond was  Henry  Hammond, a wealthy clothier of Bury St.  Edmonds.  Another  brother was Edward Hammond of All Hallows on the Wall,  London.  Still another brother was Matthew Hammond, the ancestor of the Hammonds of Ufford, county of Suffolk.

The Hammonds of Lawshall were nearly all agriculturists, some of them quite wealthy for that period. 

Sir Andrew Snape Hammond  of the ship Roebuck, who was active in the War against the colonies in the Revolution and mention of  whom is  often found in the American Archives, was of the Suffolk branch of the Hammond family.

Perhaps the most noted English family, with the possible exception of the family at  St. Albans,  county Kent, is that of Dr.  John Hammond,  Court  physician to King James I, and Henry, Prince of Wales, Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge. He  was  eminent  in  his profession, and was the ancestor of many men eminent in English history.  His eldest son John* Hammond (died 1707) the author of "Leah and Rachel", published in London in 1656, came to  Virginia in 1634, remaining there nineteen years, then removed to Maryland, where he remained two years before his return to England.  His work "Leah and Rachel", the fruitful sisters was a description of the colonies of Maryland and Virginia.  Another son of John Hammond was  Major General Thomas Hammond,  of  Cromwell's army, the father of Col. Robert Hammond,  Governor  of the Isle of Wight, to whom King Charles I, surrendered.
*Dear Richard,
I was amazed to read the entry in the Hammond Family about John, the son of the famous John Hammond MD who was physician to James I and Prince Henry. I am researching a biography of John Hammond MD's grandson Robert Hammond (1621-54) who was governor of the Isle of Wight and in all other references I have never seen a mention of an uncle called John who went to America.  According to the sources I have found, John Hammond MD had the following children - Robert (the eldest and father of my Robert), Thomas, George, Luke (who pre-deceased his father) and Henry.  There was also a daughter, Jane.

I would be most interested to hear of any references that confirm that John Hammond, author of Leah and Rachel, was indeed the eldest son of John Hammond MD.  Just to put John the author into context, he apparently went to Virginia in 1634, stayed 19 years then moved for two years to Maryland, before returning to England. As I am in England and indeed in the neighbourhood of Carisbrooke Castle, this period of history is of particular interest. Many thanks to anyone who can throw any light on this.
Yours sincerely,

Janet Toms.  janettoms "at" btinternet.com

Col.  Robert Hammond was one of Cromwell's most trusted officers,  and after  Cromwell had secured control of the  government,  he appointed him governor of the Isle of Wight, and he took up his residence at Carrisbrook Castle, where the king  went  with his attendants to surrender to him, probably having decided upon  that  course owing to the fact that Col. Robert  Hammond  was  a  nephew of his favorite chaplin, Rev. Henry Hammond, DD.

Another  son of John Hammond was Rev. Henry Hammond D.D. one of the  most  noted English Devines, born 18 August 1605.  At the age of  13 years he was sent to Cambridge, where he was educated at Eton and Oxford and he became a Fellow of the University in 1625. His father died  about 1616, and left him without the advantage of his  advise and great influence, but by great  perserverance  and by means of his great natural talent, he rose rapidly and soon secured court favor. In 1633 he was presented with the Rectory of Penhurst in Kent, and in 1643  became  Arch-deacon  of Chichester.  He soon became the favorite court Chaplin of King Charles I,  who proclaimed him the  most  natural  orator  he  had  ever  heard.   His  most celebrated work was "Annotations and  Paraphrasis on  the New Testament", published in 1653;  he died in 1660. His monument bears the name Henricus Hammondus  and  a long inscription in Latin. He never married.

Probably  the  most noted and widely known family bearing the name in  England has been that of St. Albans Court, Notington county  Kent.  So far as is known but one of this family ever made his home in America. This was Edward Hammond who came to Virginia in 1635 and introduced the culture of silk worms.  He traces  his  family  back  to  John  Hammond  who  started to purchase  the  Manor  of  St.  Albans.  His son completed the purchase in 1551. Sir Thomas Hammond was knighted in 1548. He was  married  and  had six sons and two daughters. His eldest son, Sir Thomas Hammond, knighted in 1608, married Elizabeth, daughter of Anthony Anchor, Esq., of Bishopbourne by Margaret his wife, daughter of  Edward Sandys,  Archbishop of York.  He had  three  sons  and  five daughters. His sons were Anthony. Edward  and  William.  Sir  William  died  in  1615  and  was succeeded by his son  Anthony  Hammond,  Esq., of  St. Albans Court who married Anne, daughter of  Dudley Diggs  of Chilham Castle, Master of the Rolls under King Charles I.

William  Osmond Hammond Esq. was succeeded by his eldest son, William  Oxenden  Hammond  Esq.,  the present occupant of St. Albans  Court.  "The Coat of Arms"  was  issued to Sir Thomas Hammond in  1548,  by Barker, Garter King at Arms, under King Edward VI, are as follows:

    Argent on a chevron sable, between three pellets, each
    charged with a martlet of the field, as many escallops,
    or within a bordure engrailed vert.

    Crest: A Falcon collared Gules, rays issuing, Or.
    Motto: Pro Rege et Patria

These  ancient  arms are the earliest recorded to the name in the  Heralds  College.  There were several different coats of arms.

The  following  Hammonds  are  found  in the "Royal Kallander and Annual Register", for 1778. 

Richard Hammond Esq., Court of Exchequer-Appraiser
N. Hammond, Navy Office-Chatham Yard Master Attendance
Andrew Snape Hammond, Capt. Royal Navy, Com. 27 Apr 1770
W. Hammond, Lieutenant Royal Navy, Com. 27 Apr 1747
Thomas Hammond, Paymaster to out Pensioners.



              THE HAMMOND COAT OF ARMS OF ENGLAND




The motto "Pro Rege et Patria" means "For King and Country".

The shield and helmet were silver.

The wreath around the top of the helmet was of twisted silver and black silk.

The  crest  (the falcon)  was a  long winged bird with much speed and in early
times was trained to catch smaller birds and bring them back alive.                

 

                                 John Hammond of Melford England
 

John is  the earliest ancestor with whom it has been possible to  connect  William HAMMOND of Watertown, Massachusetts, and his cousin Thomas HAMMOND of Hingham and Newton. John HAMMOND of Melford was undoubtedly of the Lawshall Hammonds but it has not be proven.  There is little doubt that he was John HAMMOND  the cloth manufacturer,  who is mentioned in the Melford Records and who was named as executor in the will of John  HAMMOND the Elder of Melford, dated 4 Aug 1517 and proved 22 Apr 1528.  He may have been of this John although he is not mentioned as a son in the will.

If this could be proven,  he could be connected with the family in Lawshall  and the record could be carried back to 1400. 

In any event he was undoubtedly a near relative and without a doubt a descendant  of the John HAMMOND of Lawshall whose will was proved 19 Dec 1440, and who was born before 1400.  The will of John HAMMOND the elder is on record at Bury St. Edmonds. (Brydon Folio 278) John married Johanna _______?

1. John Hammond*
2. Maryane King Hammond
3. Johanna Hammond
 

                                     John Hammond of Lavenham

He married  Agnes ______?  She died 6 Jan 1576 or 1577.  John HAMMOND was a  clothier of  Lavenham,  County  of Suffolk, England.  He  was  born  about  1500, son of John HAMMOND of Melford. He appears to have been the first of the name to live in Lavenham.  He probably settled there because of the cloth industry of which Lavenham  was the center.  So many of the early families of Watertown and vicinity came from Lavenham and surrounding country.  John Hammond must still have been a  young man at  the time of his death as his children  appear to have been quite young and his widow survived him by  26 years. The exact date of his birth cannot be ascertained.

1. William Hammond*
2. Thomas Hammond
3. Elizabeth Hammond
4. Margaret Hammond
5. Johanna Hammond

Thomas HAMMOND,  son of John and Agnes HAMMOND was born about 1545.  No  record  of his birth can be found. He married Rose TRIPE 14 May 1573.  Thomas  was  a  farmer  and landowner.  He remained in  Lavenham  while  his  brother William appears to have gone to Melford  where  his  children were born.  His son Thomas came to America and settled in  Higham.  He later moved to Newton. Thomas died 24 Nov 1589.

1. Elizabeth Hammond  Bapt.  1 Apr 1574
2. William Hammond*   Bapt. 30 Oct 1575 Died  8 Oct 1662
in Watertown, Massachusetts.
3. Rose Hammond       Bapt. 17 Apr 1578 Died 23 Mar 1605
4. Martha Hammond     Bapt.  6 Nov 1580 Married 14 Jun 1615
   Timothy SMART
5. Susanna Hammond    Bapt. 15 Mar 1581
6. Marie Hammond      Bapt.  7 Jly 1583
7. Thomas Hammond     Bapt.  9 Jly 1585

WILLIAM HAMMOND, Baptised 30 Oct 1575,  son of Thomas HAMMOND and Rose TRIPE in Lavenham County of Suffolk, England. He was left an  orphan  by  the  death  of his father in 1589.  Very little  is  known  about his early life. He married Elizabeth PAINE  9  June  1605.  They  had  eight children, all born in Lavenham, England.

William  Hammond was the first emigrant of this branch of the family to go to  America.  He and his brother-in-law, William Paine,  located  in   Watertown,  Massachusetts  about  1630. William brought his two oldest sons to America with him.  His wife and  younger children came in 1634 on the ship "Francis" from  Ipswich, England. There is evidence that they lived for a time in Dedham, Essex, England.

William  died  8 October 1670 and Elizabeth died 14 September 1670 both in Watertown, Massachusetts.

1. William Hammond*   Bapt. 20 Sep 1607
2. Anne Hammond        Bapt. 19 Nov 1609 Died  7 Jne 1615
3. John Hammond        Bapt.  5 Dec 1611 Died 16 Aug 1620
4. Anne Hammond        Bapt. 14 Jly 1616
5. Thomas Hammond     Bapt. 17 Sep 1618
6. Elizabeth Hammond  Bapt.        1619 
7. Sarah Hammond       Bapt. 21 Oct 1623
8. John Hammond         Bapt.  2 Jly 1626

William  HAMMOND  was  baptised  20  Sept  1607,  and married Elizabeth _____?  William died in 1637. Land was granted to  his  widow  in  1638  in  Lynn, Massachusetts. There were several  children  but  no record can be found. Elizabeth was granted  60  acres  of  land  and this would indicate quite a family  of  children.  There  were  many  Hammonds  in  Lynn, Massachusetts, a few years later. A  William  Hammond appears there as a witness in an action for a debt in 1662.

 

                                 BENJAMIN HAMMOND, SR.
 

Benjamin  HAMMOND Sr.,  was  born in 1621 in London, England. He married Mary  VINCENT in  1650.  She  was  born  in  1633. Benjamin Hammond Sr.  with  his  mother, Elizabeth Hammond, a widow,  and  sisters  Elizabeth,  Martha,  and Rachel came to America  in  company  with  Rev.  John  Lothrop  on  the ship "Griffin" landing in Boston, 18 September  1634. Rev. Lothrop established  his  church  at  Scituate,  Massachusetts. It is probable  that  Benjamin  Hammond Sr.  went with him as he is found in  the  adjoining  town  of Yarmouth in 1643. A family records exists which was kept  by  Capt.  Elnathan HAMMOND of Newport, Rhode Island, who was born  7 March 1703 and died 24 May 1793. A part of which is copied from a family record kept by  his  father John HAMMOND who was born at Sandwich, Mass., 30 Nov  1663  and died 19 April 1749, in Wocester, Mass., son of Benjamin and  Mary  (Vincent)  HAMMOND.  This record shows that  Benjamin  was  the  son of William and Elizabeth (PENN) Hammond  of  London,  England.  Elizabeth,  wife  of  William Hammond, is said to have been a daughter of Sir William PENN, and an  aunt  to  William  PENN, the founder of Pennsylvania. This latter statement is not certain.

Benjamin  Hammond  probably  moved to Rochester, Mass., about 1684.  Benjamin  died  in 1703 in Rochester at the age of 82. Mary (VINCENT) Hammond died in 1705, aged 72 years. 

1. Samuel Hammond         b.
2. John Hammond           b. 30 Nov 1663       d. 19 Apr 1749
m. Mary ARNOLD 1691, daughter of Rev. Samuel ARNOLD. They
lived in Rochester, Ma.

3. Nathan Hammond         b.        1670
m. 1st Alice DEXTER, widowed daughter of Seth POPE of Fairhaven, Ma. Married 2nd, Elizabeth BOURNE of Swansea, Ma. He married 3rd, Maribah DELANO and lived in Rochester.

4. Benjamin Hammond Jr.*  b. Nov    1673
5. Rose Hammond           b.                   d. 20 Nov 1676
6. Mary Hammond           b.                   d.  young
 

                     BENJAMIN HAMMOND JR.

Benjamin  Hammond Jr., was born in Nov, 1673 in Yarmouth, Ma. He married __________ HUNNEWELL, daughter of Capt. HUNNEWELL. This Benjamin is  thought to be the father of Stephan Hammond on page 11 of this book.
 

                       WILLIAM HAMMOND

William  HAMMOND  was born 31 December 1685 in Bristol, Rhode Island.  He  married  Mary  WHIPPLE, daughter of Jonathan and Margaret (ANGEL) Whipple.  Jonathan  Whipple was born in 1664 and died 28  September 1721.  William Hammond died 21 January 1763 in Providence, Rhode Island.

1. William Hammond     Born before  5 Sep 1721
2. Jonathan Hammond  Born before  5 Sep 1721
3. Thomas Hammond     Born before 11 Jly 1723
5. Joseph Hammond      Born before 11 Jly 1723

This is the William Hammond mentioned in Stephan Hammond's history on page 11.
Part 1        Part 2     Part 3
Part 4       Part 5     Part 6
Part 7       Part 8    Part 9

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