But when I was trying to compile early (viz., pre-1850) census records for some of my ancestors, I came across these whilst checking for Edward Stephenson of Bedford County, Tennessee:

It is important to note that Edward Stephenson's 1820 census entry and William Hammel's 1820 census entry are directly adjacent to each other, as shown above. The other page 17 entry shown was a few lines farther down from them. Based on the proximity of this Edward and this William in the 1820 census, and on the similarity of the name "Hamble" to "Hammel", I supposed that these last two surnames might be the same, and that this William Hammel may be identical to the William Hamble who has been reported to be the father of Rebecca, the wife of Edward Stephenson.

Whether right or wrong, I have worked off that supposition to try to learn more about the families given by these spellings of the surname by compiling all the records I can find in Bedford County, Tennessee for the families of Hamble, Hamel, Hamil, Hammel, Hammil, Hamell, Hamill, Hammell, and Hammill...to see what they will tell me. This page is the result of that (ongoing) effort.

If you can add to, update, revise, or otherwise improve this page through the addition of records, or by providing an improved basis of understanding for the family construct(s), then please contact me using the email address shown near the bottom of this page.

[Bedford County, Tennessee Deed Book "N"]
Page 158 - 28 Oct 1820. Humphy M. & Jane Cunningham to William
Pickens, 100 acres. Hance M. Cunningham of Lawrence Co.,
Alabama and Jane Cunningham of Bedford Co., TN, sold to William
Pickens, land in Bedford Co., TN. Wit: Andrew Hammel and James
N. Cunningham. Reg: 11 Apr 1821.

[Bedford County, Tennessee Deed Book "GG"]
Page 82 - 4 Feb 1837. Malcom Gilchrist and Daniel Gilchrist
of Lawrence Co., Alabama to Elizabeth Cheves of Bedford Co.,
TN, land in Bedford Co., on waters of Big Sinking Creek. Borders
a tract known as The Blue Spring tract and W. Hamel's tract.
40 acres. Wit: Calvin Cheves and Moses Cheves. Reg: 21 Apr
1837.

[Bedford County, Tennessee Deed Book "HH"]
Page 19 - 19 Mar 1838. William Knight to Gabriel B. Knight
and others, Trustees of the M. E. Church. 5 acres. William
Knight of Bedford Co., TN and Trustees (unnamed) other part.
William Knight for the love I bear for the Methodist Episcopal
Church, I bequeath, make over, and confirm to Gabriel B. Knight,
Obadiah W. Knight, Harberd Smith, Edward Stephenson, William
Hammell, Joseph Adams, Richard H. Sims and Reuben Ellis, Trustees
in Trust for the M. E. Church and their successors, land in
Bedford Co., TN. Borders G. B. Knight's house. Wit: John N.
Porter and Benjamin Adams. Reg: 5 May 1838.

[Bedford County, Tennessee Deed Book "MM"]
Page 50 - 10 Oct 1842. Jacob Bledsoe to John Hall. Deed of
Gift, 120 acres. Jacob Bledsoe for love and affection for John
Hall, conveyed unto him, land whereon Jacob Bledsoe now lives
in Bedford Co., TN. Bounded by Benjamin Dorman and William
Hamills. Wit: Jacob Hall and David Bledsoe. Reg: 19 Oct 1842.

[Bedford County, Tennessee Deed Book "PP"]
Page 157 - 13 Jan 1846. Andrew J. Tucker to James Wortham.
Power of Attorney. Andrew J. Tucker appointed James Wortham
his attorney to deliver for him unto William Hammill, his in-
terest in the lands upon which his father resided next before
his death, of about 450 acres. Wit: Ed Wortham. Reg: 10 Apr
1847.

[Bedford County, Tennessee Deed Book "PP"]
Page 157 - 26 Jul 1845. Thomas Shearin and others to William
Hammill. Deed, 307+ acres in 4 tracts. John F. Thompson and
Eritha Thompson his wife formerly Eritha Tucker, Thomas Shearin
and wife Sarah Shearin formerly Sarah Tucker, William J. Pyland
and wife Elizabeth Pyland formerly Elizabeth Tucker, William E.
Tucker of Bedford Co., TN, Andrew J. Tucker of Graves Co., KY,
and John W. Tucker of Hickman Co., TN, and James F. Wortham
and wife Nancy M. Wortham formerly Nancy M. Tucker of Haywood
Co., TN, all being legal heirs of William Tucker, deceased,
of one part, sold to William Hammill of Bedford Co., TN, land
in Bedford Co., on south side of Duck River, in 4 tracts, One
100 acre tract borders John Rogers, Thomas Cook and the south
bank of Duck River. Another 6+ acre tract borders Duck River
originally William Tucker's corner. Another 21 acre tract that
borders the bank of Duck River. Another 180 acre tract borders
William E. Tucker, Josiah Davis, and Tucker and Roger's line,
Owen Ballard, and Lane's line. Reg: 10 Apr 1847.

5) James Fletcher [Shearin] b. 1818 d. ca 1876
m. 1-Elizabeth Hammill (1823-1862), d/o William Hammill,
2- in Oct 1867 Davidson Co., TN, Nancy Polly "Violet" Boyd (1826-1900).
Children (1860 Marshall Co., TN; SFH 105):
[list of children follows]

[Bedford County, Tennessee Court Minutes Book (1848-1852)]
[1852 June Term]
Page 474 - James F. Shearin admr. of estate of William Hammill, deceased.
Thomas S. Shearin and Lewis Gant, securities.