Thomas HAMMOND

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Thomas Hammond, son of William and Mary (?) Hammond, of Melford, England, and grandson of John and Agnes (?) Hammond, of Lavenham, England, was baptized at Melford, county of Suffolk, England, with his twin brother, John, Sept. 2, 1603. He was a first cousin of William Hammond, who settled in Watertown, Mass., in 1636.

He married in Lavenham, England, Nov. 12, 123, Elizabeth Cason, b. in Great Whelnetham, a few miles north of Lavenham, before 1604, daughter of Robert and Prudence (Hammond) Cason. She was a grand-daughter of Robert and Elizabeth (?) Hammond, of Great Whelnetham.

Thomas Hammond was one of the first settlers in Hingham, Mass. Had land granted him there in 1636. Took the freeman's oath march 9, 1636-7.

He was on the grand jury in 1637. His two younger children were baptized in Hingham. The elder children were undoubtedly born in England, although the place of their birth has not been definitely ascertained.

Thomas Hammond, Vincent Druce, John Parker, Nicholas Hodgdon and John Winchester all settled in Hingham at about the same time; all of these removed from there and settled in the same neighborhood, near the boundary line between what are now the towns of Newton and Brookline, Mass.

Nicholas Hodgdon first purchased 67 acres of land on Cambridge Hill, which he sold Dec. 4, 1650, to Thomas Hammond and Vincent Druce, then of Hingham. They also bought 13 acres, granted by the town of Cambridge to Robert Bradish, and 16 acres in Muddy River, next to lands of John Parker. Hammond and Druce bought in 1658, of Thomas Brattle and others, 600 acres in Muddy River (now Brookline) called Royton farm, which they held in common for some years. The division was finally made as shown by his unsigned will. He probably removed to Cambridge Village (now Newton) about 1650, but held lands in Hingham for same years after that date. In 1652, he sold land there (Suffolk Deeds, folios 221-222)...

In 1656, he sold lands in Hingham to William Sprague for L60. In the same year he bought of Esther Sparhawk, daughter of Nathaniel Sparhawk, 330 acres more of land, in Cambridge, for L40.

His homestead, in Newton, was near the Brookline boundary and near a beautiful sheet of water, which has since borne his name, "Hammond Pond." the homestead remained in the family several generations, Josiah Hovey Hammond, father of Mr. George W. Hammond, of the Forest Paper Co., having been the last of the race who was born there.

Thomas Hammond was one of the wealthiest men in town in his day. there seems to have been a close friendship between himself and Vincent Druce, but no relationship has been shown by any papers or records found.

He died in 1675, leaving an unsigned will which was admitted to probate.....It is found in Middlesex Probate, No 7160....

His inventory amounted to L1,139 16S 2d and was by Elder Wiswall and John Spring. It was dated Oct. 25, 1675, and states that he deceased Sept. 30, 1675. A family tradition relative to Elizabeth Cason, his wife, is given on p. 299 of Jackson's History of Newton and is as follows:

"It is said that when a young woman, in England, she took a walk with a party of young folks and went into the Mint to see how money was coined. the master of the Mint was pleased with her appearance and chat, and gave her an invitation to try her hand in the operation. She had evidently made some impression on him, and he was desirous to know if she could make as good an impression upon the coin; so he placed a piece of silver coin upon the die, about the size of a half crown--she came forward and grasped the lever and stamped a fair impression upon the coin, where upon he presented her with the silver piece, which she bore off in triumph; and from her fair hand it has passed through those of her descendants, to the seventh generation, and is now (1854) possessed by Stephen Hammond, of Roxbury, whose son, William, of the eighth, is looking wishfully for it."

This coin is now (1902) in the possession of Mr. George W. Hammond, of Yarmouthville, Me.

Thomas married Elizabeth CASON on 12 Nov 1623 in Lavenham, England. Elizabeth was born before 1604 in Great Whelnetham, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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Thomas was a farmer on the estate left him by his father.

But few papers appear in the settlement of the estate, (Middlesex Probate No. 7160 1/2) there being only the inventory and a petition for the appointment of his widow as administratrix as noted below.....

Elizabeth hamond, his relict, widd. is granted adm. shee giveling bond as ye law pvides and shee attested this Invent. on oath 1-2-79

Nother further could be learned about his sons, Nathaniel and John.

There are some indications that John may have married and left descendants, as there are some of the name in later generations who cannot be accounted for on any other theory.

Thomas married Elizabeth STEDMAN on 17 Dec 1662. Elizabeth died in 1715 in Newton, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Elizabeth married George WOODWARD on 17 Aug 1659 in Watertown, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. George (son of Richard WOODWARD and Rose ?) was born in 1619 in St. Botolph, Billingsgate, England; died on 31 May 1676 in Watertown, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Samuel TRUESDALE. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Nathaniel STEDMAN. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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An ancient note book kept by nathaniel hammond, Jr., is still in existence and is no (1902) in possession of a descendant, Mr. George Warren hammond, of yarmouthville, Me. it contains many valuable records relating to early Newton families and is relied upon to prove, without a question of doubt, who his mother really was. So much doubt has been entertained on this point in the past that the author has taken pains to copy a few entries from this very interesting and ancient book. the following are among the earlier entries and may be taken to prove the connection conclusively. Under date of Feb. 23, 1711-12, the entry is as follows:

Then reckoned with my unkol, Joseph Griffin, and paid for his son's work, the year ending June 12, 1711.

There is also an entry of money paid to Benjamin Griffin, probably the son.

August 1, 1712, Paid to my onkel, Joseph Griffin, four pounds.

May 25, 1713, then reckoned with my unkol, Joseph Griffin; due to him ten pounds, seven shillings.......

May 6, 1702, nathaniel and Thomas Hammond, Samuel Truesdale and Elizabeth, his wife, Samuel Prentice and Esther, his wife, mary and Sarah Hammond, children of Nathaniel Hammond, late of Newton, agreed that the share of their sister, Hannah, deceased, in her minority, should go to their brother, Thomas. In this agreement they mention "Mary Williams, our mother, widow of our father, Nathaniel Hammond."

Nathaniel married Mary GRIFFIN about 1670. Mary (daughter of Richard GRIFFIN and Mary ?) was born about 1650; was christened on 17 May 1657 in Roxbury, Massachusetts; died on 13 Oct 1732; was buried in Eliot Cemetery, Roxbury, Massachusetts . [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]