| Notes |
- Colonial Families in the Southern States states that "MAJOR GENERAL JOHN HAMMOND, son of John of Anne Arundel Co., Md., b. 1643, on the Isle of Wight; d. 1707, in Maryland; was the first of the name to remain in Maryland. He was one of tt distinguished of all the early Colonial officials, filling the important post of Judge of the Vice Admiralty, in addition to his high military office of Major General of the Western Shore, member of the House of Burgesses, Justice of the Provincial Court and member of his Majesty's Council, 1698-1707. He was bruied on Nov.29, 1707, in St. Anne's Church Yard, Annapolis, Md., where his tomb is yet to be seen, also the Hammond Bible. He was a member of St. Anne's Episcopal Church, and a Vestryman. In 1695 he gave deed for Church site upon Severn Heights; and the Hammond Bible was purchased by the Vestry, in 1707, from the legacy of 10 pounds, left to the Church, for that purpose. He m. Mary Howard, dau. of Matthew Howard."
I believe that Southern States based John's father as John from a christening record dated Jan 26, 1643/44 in St. Mary's, Battersea, Surrey, England. If this is true, his birthdate would make him about 7 weeks of age and this seems a bit late
. I also don't believe that our John was the son of John because the John that was baptised in 1644 apparently died. I say this because a John Hammond named another son John in 1647 in the same church at his christening. As a child, our John was raised a Quaker. According to "The Hammond Families of Anne Arundel, Baltimore and Frederick Counties, Maryland," c.1880, he was born on the Isle of Wight, England and was a son of Thomas Hammond. He was in his 20's when he came to America, still a Quaker at that time. In 1682, he was convicted for refusing to defend the Province because of his faith.
It is surprising then that he totally revoked his faith, took up arms in the militia to defend his neighborhood against Indians and was convicted of bearing arms by the Quaker community in 1683. He became a well known member of the Church of England and went on to become Major General of the Militia after the age of 40. He gave money near his death which procured a large bible for his church, St. Anne's Parish Church in Annapolis, Maryland which still exists today. In 1669, he is on a freeholder's list for Anne Arundel Co. It stated that he was to be paid tobacco for his public service. He married well, into one of America's most distinguished families, the Howards. They were his neighbors in the Middle Neck Hundred which was nine miles west of where he helped lay out Annapolis, Maryland in 1684.
In that year, he was one of the persons commissioned to lay out the town of Annapolis, MD. In 1685, John was commissioned as a justice for Anne Arundel County. He was a member of the Quorum in 1689. In 1691, when he returned to England on behalf of his service to Maryland, he held the rank of Captain. There he presented John Povey, Esq., in the Plantation Office, Whitehall, London, England a list of "good honest substantial Protestants" in Maryland. He returned before the end of year to his home in Maryland where he signed a proclamation thanking Providence for placing a Protestant King and Queen on the throne. In 1695 he donated land to his friends in Westminster Parish upon Severn Heights for the building of a church.
He held the following impressive appointments in his lifetime
1692: Commissioner of the Peace, Gentleman of the Quorum and delegate to the Lower House of the General Assembly from Anne Arundel Co., MD.
1693: Member of the House of Burgess
1694: Captain of a Troop of Horse where he was promoted to Major
1694: Justice of the Provincial Court, the highest court authority of the day
1698: Exulted Seat in the Council until his death
1704: Listed as Colonel
1704: Member of commission to lay out towns and ports in Providence, MD
July 6, 1707: Governor Seymour commissioned him as Major General of the Western Shore that oversaw six companies
An obituary on him that can be found in the archives of St. Ann's Parish states "November 29, 1709 Then was Buried by the Reverend Mr. James Wolton Rector of St. Ann's Parish The Honorable John Hammond Esq., Major Genll of the Western Shore of This Her Majesty's Province of Maryland, and one of Her Majesty's Most Honorable Councell, and Judge of the High Court of Admiralty in the said Province."
It's his gravestone that allows us to estimate his birth year which states that he's 64 years of age when he died on Nov. 24, 1707. A transcription of his will reads: I leave my home plantation to my wife, Mary, Mt. Airy Neck. My eldest son, Thomas, my plantation called 'Mt. Airy Neck' at the decease of my wife, "Heath" in Patapscoe where he now lives and 100 acres called "WheatleyNeck" and 75 lbs. to be invested in land. To son, John, the plantation on the N. side of Severn River where he lives, and that part of 'Swan Neck'; Also 100 acres "Horners" bought from Thomas Reynolds, 50 acres called "The Adventurer", and 50 acres called "Forked Neck"; to son William, the other part of "Swan Neck", 100 acres, "Strawberry Plain", 400 Acres "The Addition" and 50 acres "Brushy Neck"; To Son Charles, 100 acres "Flushing", 50 acres "Deer Creek Point", 284 acres, "Rich Neck" at Patuxent R. and 362 Acres "Hammond's Forest." To my first three sons, my houses and lots in Annapolis. To St. Ann's Church, Annapolis, 10lbs. My four sons to be my executors.
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1643 - 1707 (63 years)
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