John Ham (abt. 1671 - 1754)

Born about 1671 in Dover, Strafford, New Hampshire

Ancestors

Husband of Elizabeth (Knight) Ham — married 14 Mar 1698 in Dover, Strafford, New Hampshire

Descendants

Died 11 Jan 1754 at about age 83 in Dover, Strafford, New Hampshire

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Patrick Griffith [send private message]

Biography

John was born 1671. He is the son of John and Mary (Heard) Ham.

He married Elizabeth Knight Mar. 14, 1697/8.^[1]

He lived on the first homestead near the second falls of the Cochecho; like his father, he also acquired the title of lieutenant; had one full share of the common lands which were divided among the freeholders of Dover in 1732; was assessor and lot layer in 1735.

His children were:-

1. John, b. 1699.
2. Ephraim, b. 1701.
3. Elizabeth, b. 1703; m. "Ensign" Joseph Roberts; d. 1742. Ch.: 1. Ephraim. 2. Joseph. 3. Elizabeth, m. Mr. Evans. 4. Mary. 5. Abigail. 6. Lydia.
4. Mary, b. 1706; bap. Aug. 9, 1730; m. Benjamin Hanson. Ch.: 1. Anthony. 2. Sarah. 3. Abigail. 4. Elizabeth.
5. Samuel, b. 1708.
6. Nathaniel, b. 1711.
7. Joanna, b. 1713; m. -- Jones. Ch.: 1. Ebenezer. 2. Dodavah. 3. Lydia. 4. Susanna.
8. Dodavah, b. 1715; d. single, 1742.
9. Patience, b. 1718; m. -- Shackford.^[2]

He died 11 Jan. 1754, having outlived his wife and 8 of 9 childrens. John alone survived him and with numerous grandchildren.

His grave, by the side of his wife and daughter Elizabeth (Roberts), may be seen near the Cushing Monument, on "Pine Hill," Dover.

His will is on record at Exeter, N.H.

Will

In The Name of God Amen, This Seventh Day of December Anno Domini one Thousand Seven Hundred & fifty Three, I John Ham of Dover in ye Province of New-Hampse in New-England Husbandman Being Exercised with great Infirmities of body * * *

Imprimis, Besids what I have heretofore Given to my Son John Ham, whom I Constitute make & Ordain Sole Executor of this my last Will & Testament I now hereby Give him, my Sd Executor, fifty bounds Cash old Tenor, & also my Great Bible & my Black Wallnut Ovil Table.

Item, I have formerly Given to my Son Ephraim Ham Deceas'd, a Considerable Part of my Estate, which his Children now Possess, & I now hereby Give unto his Son Ichabod Ham & to his Heirs & Assigns for ever, one fourth Part of my Shear of Land in ye Second & Third Divisions & in ye undivided Land in Rochester which I have also Convey'd to him by one Deed of Gift under my Hand & Seal.

Item, I Give unto my Grandson Samuel Ham, Son of Samll Ham Deceas'd, & to his Heirs & Assigns for ever a Certain Tract of band Lying & Being where his late father did Live Containing about Seventy Acres of ye Same more or less, which I have also Convey'd to him by one Deed of Gift under my Hand & Seal

Item I Give unto my Grandson Stephen Ham, Son of ye Said SamlI Ham Deceas'd, & to his Heirs & Assigns for ever the one half Part of my Shear of band in ye Second & Third Divisions & in ye undivided Land in Rochester aforesd which I have also Convey'd to him by one Deed of Gift under my Hand & Seal.

Item I Give unto my Grand Daugher Lydia Ham Daughter of the Sd Samll Ham Deceas'd my Bed on which I Commonly Lodg together with ye Bed-Clothes & ye furniture belonging to ye Same, to be taken Care of & Delivered to her by my Executor at her Marriage, or when She Shall arrive at ye age of Eighteen Years, if She Shall Require it.

Item, I have heretofore Given to my Son Nathanael Ham, Deceas'd a Considerable Part of my Estate, & do now hereby Give unto his Son Dodivah Ham my Gun, & to his other Children viz: to Nathanael & Betty Ham forty Shillings, old Tenor, apiece, or forty Shillings to Each of them to be Paid them by my Executor within ye Term of Two months after my Decease.

Item Besides what I Gave to my Daughter Elisabeth Roberts, Deceas'd, at her Marriage & afterwards, I have, Since her Decease, Given to her Daughters, viz: Elisabeth Evens, and Mary Roberts one Hundred & Twenty five Pounds, old Tenor in Equal Parts between them, And do now hereby Give unto her other Daughters, viz: Abigail & Lydia Roberts one Hundred & Twenty five Pounds, old Tenor, to be Paid them by my sd Executor, also in Equal Paris, or Sixty two Pounds & Ten Shillings to Each of them when they Shall arrive at ye Age of Eighteen Years.

Item, Besids what I Gave to my Daughter Mary Hanson Deceas'd at & after her Marriage, I now hereby Give unto her Children, viz: Sarah Antony Abigail & Betty Hanson one Hundred & fifty Pounds, old Tenor, to be Paid them, when & So Soon as they Sall Arrive at ye Age, ye Son of Twenty one Years, & ye Daughters of Eighteen Years, in Equal Parts, or Proportions, by my Sd Executor, And I also Give unto my S'd Grand Daughters, viz: Sarah Hanson, on Copper Kittle, now in ye Possession of her father Benja Hanson, Containing about four or five Pails full; & to Abigail Hanson Six of my Chairs, & my Iron Kittle; & to Betty Hanson my Chest of Draws.

Item, Besids what I Gave to my Daughter Joanna Jones, Deceas'd, at her marriage & afterwards, I now hereby Give unto her Children, viz: Ebenezer Dodiva Lydia & Susanna Jones, one Hundred & fifty Pounds, old Tenor, to be Paid them, in Equal Parts, or Proportions, by my sd Executor, when & So Soon as they Shall Arrive at ye Age, ye Sons of Twenty one Years, & ye Daughters of Eighteen Years.

Item, I have Given unto my Daughter Patience Shackford Deceas'd, Two Hundred & Fifty Pounds Cash, old Tenor, which together with what I Gave her at Marriage is in full of her Portion.

Item I give to my Grand Children, viz: the Children of my afores'd Daughters, namely Elisabeth Roberts Mary Hanson Joanna Jones & Patience Shackford, all my Live Stock of Cattle & Sheep, to be Equally Divided among them, According to ye Discretion of my Executor, Except my Grandson Joseph Roberts, who has already had his Part & Proportion of my Sd Stock of Cattle.

Item I Give my Waring Apparel to my Sd Executor & to my Sd Grand Son Samuel Ham to be Equally Divided between them.-

And all ye Estate both Real & Personal, that doth Properly belong to me, where ever it may be found, that I have not Disposed of, & that Shall Remain after my Just Debts Funeral Charges, & Legacies, Shall all be Paid & Discharged, I Give to my Sd Executor his Heirs & Assigns for ever.

And I do hereby utterly Disallow Revoke & Disannul all former Wills & Testamenls by me in any wayes heretofore made, Ratifying & Confirming this & no other to be my last Will & Testament. In Witness whereof I have hereunto Set my Hand & Seal the Day & Year first above written.

John His X Mark Ham

[Witnesses] Jos: Hanson, Moses Wínget, Cheney Smith.

[Proved April 24, 1754.]

[Bond of John Ham, yeoman, with Joseph Hanson as surety, both of Dover, in the sum of £500, April 24, 1754, for the execution of the will; witnesses, William Parker and Joshua Towle.]^[3]

Sources

1. ↑ Dover Historical Society, Collections of the Dover, N.H., Historical Society, Vol. I, p. 130
2. ↑ NEHGR, Vol. XXVI
3. ↑ Probate Records of the Province of New Hampshire, Vol. IV

• "New Hampshire Births and Christenings, 1714-1904", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V244-SMQ : 18 January 2020), John Ham in entry for Elezebeth Ham, 1703.

• "New Hampshire Births and Christenings, 1714-1904", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V244-WMS : 18 January 2020), John Ham in entry for Mary Ham, 1706.

• "New Hampshire Births and Christenings, 1714-1904", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V24W-VZ7 : 18 January 2020), John Ham in entry for Samuel Ham, 1708.

• "New Hampshire Births and Christenings, 1714-1904", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V247-3PX : 18 January 2020), John Ham in entry for Joannah Ham, 1713.

• "New Hampshire Births and Christenings, 1714-1904", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V24W-KZS : 18 January 2020), John Ham in entry for Doddefur Ham, 1715.

• "New Hampshire Births and Christenings, 1714-1904", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V247-3PD : 18 January 2020), John Ham in entry for Patiance Ham, 1718.

• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 9 August 2020), memorial page for John Ham (1671–10 Jan 1754), Find A Grave: Memorial #99334284, citing Pine Hill Cemetery, Dover, Strafford County, New Hampshire, USA ; Maintained by Amy Levesque (contributor 47156425) .