THE HAMMOND FAMILY
THE
NAME
AND IT'S ORIGIN 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
Crest:
A Falcon collared Gules, rays issuing, Or. 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
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 The
crest
(the falcon) was a long winged bird with much
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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 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*
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*
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 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 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.
3. Nathan
Hammond
b. 1670 4. Benjamin Hammond
Jr.* b. Nov 1673 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
This is
the William Hammond mentioned in Stephan Hammond's history on
page 11.
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