General Notes

Note:
The earliest ancestor with whom it has been possible to connect William Hammond, of Watertown, Mass., and his cousin, Thomas Hammond, of Hingham and Newton, is John Hamonde, of Melford, who was undoubtedly of the Lawshall family of Hammonds, although his parentage cannot be definitely proven. There is little doubt that he was John Hamonde, "the fuller" and cloth manufacturer, who is mentioned in the Melford records and who was named as executor in the will of John Hamond, the elder, of Melford, dated Aug. 4, 1517; proved April 22, 1528. He may have been the son of this John, although he is not mentioned as a son in the will. If this could be proven he could be connected with the family in Lawshall and the record could be carried back to 1400. In any event he was undoubtedly a near relative and without doubt a descendant of the John Hamond, of Lawshall, whose will was proved Dec. 19, 1440, and who was born before 1400. The will of John Hamond, the elder, is on record at Bury St. Edmunds, (Brydon, Folio 278) and is as follows:
Note: Note: WILL OF JOHN HAMOND. Note: In the name of God: Amen. Note: Note:
The iiijth day of August in ye yeare of our Lorde God MCCCCXVII. I John Hamonde, ye elder, of Melford, in ye diosese of Norwich, hole of mynd & in good rememberance, make my testament and last wyll in the man' of waye follovynge. ffyrst I bequeathe my soule to Allmighty God & to our Ladye Saynt Marye & to all the holye companye of heaven & my body to be buryed wthin ye Saynte Marye, of Melford.
Note: Note: Itm. I bequeathe to ye high aulter for tythes & offerynges forgotyne XIId. Note: Note: Itm. I bequeathe to Johanna my wyfe ye howse yt I dwell in wth all ye purtenance longyng to ye same; she to have it for her lyffe. Note: Note:
Itm. I wyll yt after ye desayse of ye forsayd Johanna, my wyfe, y ye sayd house wth ye purtenance be souled and of ye money there of comyng I bequeathe to Johanna, my dowter, œX of ye saile of ye howse; and all ye residue of ye money more over cominge of ye sayed house wth ye purtenance I wyll it be dysposed in dedes of almone for my soule, & my frendes soules, after ye dysposcion of my executors.
Note: Note: Itm. I bequeathe to Maryone King, my dowter, of ye sayle of ye sayde house œX. Note: Note: Itm. I bequeathe to Johanna, my dowter, I longe huche. Note: Note: Itm. I wyll yt my buryall sevynt days & XXX days be at ye dysposicion of my Exec. Note: Note: Itm. I geve & bequeathe to Johne, my wife, all stuffe of housold wth all ye resadue of my goodes & articles moveable and unmoveable not afore bequeathed so yt she see my dettes be payed. Note: Note: Itm. I ordayne & make myne executors, Johne my wyfe and John Hamond, the fuller. Note: Note: Itm. I bequeathe to ye sayed John Hamond, my executor, for his labour œIIII. Note: Note: WITNESS, Master Hawker: Jurett, of ye sayed Melford, and Maryone Kynge. Note: Note: Proved at Sudbury 22 April, 1528. Note: Note: Note: Note: WILL OF JOHNE HAMOND. Note: The will of widow Johne Hamond, of Melford, (Coleman, Folio 19) dated Sept. 22, 1542; proved Oct. 16, 1642, names John Hamond, the fuller, and William King, as her attorneys. Note: Note: There appears to be little else known about him except Note: Note: the mention of his "house in Melford" in the will of his son, John Hamonde, of Lavenham, which follows. Note: Note: So far as known he had but the one son, but there appear to have been others of the name in Melford, who may have been his sons. Change Date: 10 APR 2004