Charles Hammond (abt. 1670 - 1713)

Born about 1670 in Anne Arundel County, Province of Maryland

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 23 Nov 1713 at about age 43 in Anne Arundel County, Province of Maryland

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Biography

Birth

Charles Hammond was born in Anne Arundel County about 1670, the fourth son of Major General John Hammond and his wife, Mary Howard. He was born at "Mountain Neck" on the Severn. ^[1]

Marriage & Family

In about 1692, Charles married Hannah Howard, daughter of Philip and Ruth (Baldwin) Howard and his first cousin through his mother.^[1] Thus a union of the one-time Quaker Baldwins and the Puritan Howards occurred. Charles and Hannah had the following known children:^[1]

1. Charles Hammond (1693-1772) m. Rachel Stimpson, widow of Charles Greenberry
2. Philip Hammond (1697-1760) m1. Comfort (Unknown); m2. Rachel Brice
3. John Hammond (abt. 1699-1755) m. Ann Dorsey
4. Rezon Hammond (b. abt. 1701-1739)
5. Nathaniel Hammond (1708-1762) m. Ann Welsh
6. Mehitabel "Hamutel" Hammond (b. abt. 1710) m. Charles Worthington
7. Ruth Hammond (b. abt. 1712) m1. Peasley Ingram; m2. Thomas Franklin

Military and Public Career

—Military: Termed "officer" by 1696 and "Major" from 1708-1713 for Anne Arundel County.^[1]

—Elected Offices: Lower House of Anne Arundel County (1710-1713); Justice, Anne Arundel Court (1702-1713).^[1]

Inheritance and Politics

Charles was well-provided for by the will of his father in 1707, and while several of his brothers established their dwelling-plantations in other than the parental parish, he remained in St. Anne's, where references to his children's birth or baptism may be found. His wife Hannah was her father's sole-heiress, thus bringing a large estate to her spouse. Her two older sons, Charles and Philip, were likewise enriched by the will of their maternal grandfather in 1704.(See Newman citation, below.)

Newman stated, 'his honours were during the days when Maryland was under the Crown, and his voting in the Lower House would indicate that he favoured the liberal or anti-Proprietary Party. He was first elected to a seat in the Lower Chamber from Anne Arundel in 1710 and was re-elected continuously until his death." (See Newman citation, below.)

1713 Will and Death

His last will and testament was drawn up on November 16, 1713, in the presence of his neighbours ­Richard Warfield, Alexander Warfield, John Warfield and Ruth Warfield. He was apparently quite ill at the time, for he died on November 23, following. The will is long and very detailed. Charles spells out tracts of land given to each of his sons first. He then gives each son a list of livestock and goods that are almost the same for each son which includes: six cows & calves & 3 sows with pigs, 3 grown barrows & a good new feather bed & all furniture & a mill, 2 iron pots, a frying pan, a set of wedges, 15 barrels of corn, 2 dishes, 1/2 dozen spoons & a gun. The two oldest sons split his collection of books. Each son is given one or two negro slaves depending on age and the slaves are listed by name. The daughters Hammenutell and Ruth each to get a new feather bed & furniture. Hammenutell to get one negro boy called Peter and Ruth one negro girl called Jean and one young well negro girl about age of 16. Unlike most wills of this period, Charles does not leave 1/3 of his estate to his wife Hannah. Instead he leaves her his riding horse called Ball and a silver tankard. The land legacies are as follows:^[2]

• To eldest son Charles the lower half of "Rich Neck" of 284 acres, and 100-acre portion of "Howard's Adventure".
• To son Philip the Quarter plantation by Towser's Branch, and sufficient land out of "Howard's Adventure" to make 300 acres and all rights to houses, lots and commonages in Annapolis.
• To son John: "Phelps' Luck" on Elk Ridge.
• To son Rezin: the residue of "Rich Neck" and 100 acres of "Howard's Adventure".
• To son Nathaniel: "Whitticars Choice" of 100 acres in Balto. Co., and "Hammond's Forrest" of 362 acres in Anne Arundel Co.
• Son Charles: was to be of age from the date of the will and the other sons at 19, and the daughters Mahitabal and Ruth at 16 or marriage.
• Executors: ­Wife, Hannah and sons Charles and Philip.

The inventory of the personal estate was filed in Anne Arundel County and was appraised at £876.19.7. Included in the items were much wearing apparel with a cloak valued at £5, silk stockings, drum, trumpet, silver tankard, silver spoons, three rings, 14 negroes, 120 gallons of cyder, 100 gallons of wine, 4 gallons of rum, 1 gallon of lime juice, and 1 gallon of brandy. An additional inventory on February 14, 1714/5, reported £213.14.4 including £80 received from London merchants. ^[3]

Rezin Hammond

Rezin Hammond, the fourth son, remained a bachelor and died in I739. He bequeathed his best riding horses to his friend, Vachel Denton, and the residue of his estate real and personal to his brother, Philip. The witnesses were Vachel Denton, Lanc Jacques and Richard Rawlings. At its probation on October 17, 1739, Vachel Denton renounced his legacy. The latter wrote the instrument and beside the signature of the testator is a perfect impression of the Denton arms. The final account listed no distribution to the heirs.^[4]

Research Notes and Points of Contention

Spouse

Newman (See Below) claims that Charles was married twice, but does not name a first wife. He bases this assumption on the birth of Hannah being 1678, making her about 14 years old when she married Charles and 15 when she had their first child. Papenfuse gives only Hannah as Charles's wife and the mother of all of the children. It might be more likely that they married closer to 1694 and that eldest son Charles was born closer to 1695, but further research needed.^[1]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5} "Biography of Charles Hammond (1670-1713)": p 391; Papenfuse, Edward C. et. al. A Biographical Dictionary of the Maryland Legislature, 1635-1789. (Johns Hopkins University Press: Baltimore, 1979) (Maryland State Archives, pdf view) and [(Maryland State Archives, pdf view)
2. ↑ Prerogative Court Wills Liber 13 folio 608 [msa.maryland.gov https://msa.maryland.gov/megafile/msa/stagser/s500/s538/000000/000020/pdf/msa_s538_000020.pdf]
3. ↑ Citation Needed
4. ↑ Citation Needed

See Also

• Newman, Harry Wright. Anne Arundel Gentry, a Genealogical History of Some Early Families of Anne Arundel County, Maryland, Volume 1. (United States: Heritage Books, 2013). Not available online