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  intro- duced 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, 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.

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.
 

 

                          THE HAMMOND FAMILY
 

                                     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 cannot  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

Netzley and Hill

Bucholz Line

 Go to Hammond Query Pages


   Looking for a Lost Internet Pal?   TRY: VERIPOST
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------