Rebecca (Larkin) Hammond (abt. 1669 - bef. 1718)

Born about 1669 in Anne Arundel, Province of Maryland

Ancestors

Wife of Thomas Lightfoot — married before 24 Apr 1685 (to before 22 Sep 1687) in Anne Arundel, Province of Maryland [uncertain]

Wife of Thomas Hammond — married after 11 Dec 1691 (to about 1718) in Baltimore, Province of Maryland

Descendants

Died before 1718 before about age 49 in Baltimore County, Province of Maryland

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Audrey McGlynn [send private message] and Gurney Thompson [send private message]

Biography

Rebecca (Larkin) Hammond was a Maryland colonist.

Origin

No birth record for Rebecca Larkin has been found to completely verify her year of birth, her birthplace or her parentage. She was probably born in Anne Arundel County at the home of her father. The typical age of marriage in this era was 16, and Baltimore County Deeds prove she was married by 1685 so she must have been born before 1669.

Rebecca was most likely the daughter of John Larkin because her first husband, Thomas Lightfoot named Thomas Larkin and Elizabeth Larkin as his in-laws in his will.^[1] (See the will on his profile.)

Marriage to Thomas Lightfoot

Thomas Lightfoot was a land surveyor and appears in Baltimore County land records quite often. Lightfoot bought and sold many Maryland patents during the 1680s. Rebecca Lightfoot was required by law to sign the release of her dower rights in any property he sold. The earliest date showing her signature on a deed is 24 APR 1685 ^[2] By 7 AUG 1688 Rebecca is identified as the widow of Thomas Lightfoot in the very next deed recorded in the liber.^[3] There is also a deed dated 3 DEC 1684 where Rebecca was not involved when Thomas sold a property.^[4] Using these deeds, it's safe to estimate Rebecca's first marriage before 24 APR 1685 to before 22 SEP 1687.

There is no evidence any children were born of this marriage. Rebecca lived in Baltimore County several years as a widow before her second marriage. She also sold several of the tracts she inherited from Thomas Lightfoot. A lot of research would be needed to determine the total acreage she owned when she married her second husband. There are at least six Baltimore County deeds where she sold land in her own right.

Marriage to Thomas Hammond

The evidence of Rebecca's marriage to Thomas Hammond can also be found in Baltimore County land records. On a deed dated 7 AUG 1688 she is identified as the widow and relict of Thomas Lightfoot. ^[5] By 11 DEC 1691 Rebecca was married to Thomas Hammond and signing deeds to release her dower rights in land inherited from her first husband.^[6]

Unfortunately, there is no way of knowing which of the children born to Thomas Hammond were also Rebecca's. It is possible she was the mother of all of his children, but it seems more likely that perhaps the four oldest were her children.

Death

Rebecca was definitely deceased by 1718 when Thomas Hammond signed deeds with a wife named Mary.

Sources

1. ↑ Prerogative Court Wills of Maryland Liber 4 folio 272
2. ↑ Baltimore County Deeds Liber RM HS folio 279 & 281 [mdlandrec.net]
3. ↑ Baltimore County Deeds Liber RM HS folio 282
4. ↑ Baltimore County Deeds Liber RM HS 117
5. ↑ Baltimore County Deeds Liber RM HS 282
6. ↑ Baltimore County Deeds Liber RM HS folio 351

• Colonial Families of the United States of America: in Which is Given the History, Genealogy and Armorial Bearings of Colonial Families Who Settled in the American Colonies From the Time of the Settlement of Jamestown, 13th May, 1607, to the Battle of Lexington, 19th April, 1775. 7 volumes. 1912. Reprinted, Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1966, 1995. Page 541, Colonial Families of the USA - Murray Family
• Maryland Genealogies: A Consolidation of Articles from the Maryland Historical Magazine, Page 504 and 506-7 Gist Family of Baltimore County by Christopher JohnstonMaryland Genealogies - Gist Family
• The Dorsey family : descendants of Edward Darcy-Dorsey of Virginia and Maryland for five generations and allied families, Page 25, The Dorsey Family
• Harry Wright Newman Anne Arundel Gentry - The Genealogical History of Some Early Families of Anne Arundel, Volume I (n.p.: Harry Wright Newman, 1970); page 196; "Widow Lightfoot" widow of Sir Thomas Lightfoot of Cecil
• https://colonial-settlers-md-va.us ; Rebecca Larkin, Person ID: 1037688