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1335848 


GENEALOGY  COi-L-ECTION 


ALLEN  COUNTY  PUBLIC  LIBRARY 


3  1833  01282  9781 


HISTORY 


OF   THE 


HAMLIN  FAMILY 


GENEALOGIES  OF  EARLY  SETTLERS  OF 
THE  NAME  IN  AMERICA. 

1639—1894. 

ORIGIN     OF     THE     NAME.       EARLY    ACCOUNT    OF    THE    FAMILY 
IN  ENGLAND.      COATS  OF  ARMS,   CRESTS,  ETC.     FIRST  SET- 
TLEMENTS   IN  AMERICA.      SOLDIERS  AND  SAILORS  OF 
THE  REVOLUTION,  WAROF  1812,  MEXICAN  WAR 
AND  OF  THE  REBELLION.    STATESMEN,  LAW- 
YERS, CLERGYMEN,    PHYSICIANS,   MER- 
CHANTS,    BANKERS,    EDUCATORS, 
ETC.,  ETC. 

TO  BE  PUBLISHED  PERIODICALLY. 


PART   ONE. 


COMMENCING  THE  GENEALOGY  OF  .TAMES  HAMBLEN,  OF  BARN- 
STABLE,  MASSACHUSETTS,    1639,   WITH   FIRST   FOUR  GEN- 
ERATIONS IN  AMERICA,  WITH  COPIES  OF  WILLS,  ETC., 
AND    COLLATERAL   PEDIGREES. 


H.  FRANKLIN  ANDREWS, 


ATTORNEY    AT    LAW, 
Audubon,  Iowa. 


EXIRA,    IOWA, 

GEORGE  W.    GUERNSEY, 

189A. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1894,   by 

H.  FRANKLIN    ANDREWS, 
In  the  Office  of  the  Librarian  of  Congress,  at  Washington. 


1335848 


PREFACE. 


"It  has  been  asserted  that  '  he  who  careth  not  whence  he  came,  car- 
€th  little  whither  he  goeth.' "  *  *  *  "  Inditference  as  to  the  origin 
of  their  family  is  really  felt  by  few;  for  the  pride  of  ancestry  seems  to 
be  innate  in  nearlj-  every  one;  those  only  affect  to  despise  it  who  are 
ignorant  of  their  descent,  and  can  lay  claim  to  no  hereditary  insignia 
■of  honor — practically  expressing  the  sentiment  of  Montaigne:  '  If  we 
cannot  attain  to  greatness  ourselves,  let  us  have  our  revenge  by  rail- 
ing at  it  in  others.'  " 

"Gibbon  in  his  autobiography,  very  justly  remarks:  'A  lively 
<iesire  of  knowing  and  recording  our  ancestors,  so  generally  prevails, 
that  it  must  depend  on  the  influence  of  some  coinmon  principle  in  the 
minds  of  men.  We  seem  to  have  lived  in  the  persons  of  our  fore- 
fathers; it  is  the  labor  and  reward  of  vanity,  to  extend  the  temi  of  this 
ideal  longevity.  The  satirist  may  laugh,  the  philosopher  may  iDreach; 
but  Reason  herself  will  I'espect  the  prejudices  and  the  habits  which  have 
been  consecrated  by  the  experience  of  mankind.  Few  there  are  who 
can  seriously  despise  in  others  an  advantage  of  Avhich  they  are  secretly 
ambitious  to  j^artake.  The  knowledge  of  our  own  family  from  a 
remote  period  will  always  be  esteemed  as  an  abstract  pre-eminence, 
since  it  can  ne^er  be  promiscuously  enjoyed.  If  we  read  of  some  illus- 
trious line,  so  ancient  that  it  has  no  beginning,  so  worthy  that  it  ought 
to  have  no  end,  we  sympatliize  in  its  various  fortunes;  nor  can  we 
blame  the  generous  enthusiasm,  or  the  harmless  vanity,  of  those  who 
are  allied  to  the  honours  of  its  name.'  " 

"  Throughout  the  struggle  with  the  Royalists,  Oliver  Cromwell  and 
his  adherents  affected  to  ridicule  that  dignity  which  a  long  and  unbroken 
line  of  ancestry  undoubtedly  confers;  but  no  sooner  was  the  Protector 
firmly  established  in  his  position,  than  he  assumed  almost  every 
tingly  function.  *  *  *  it  appears  that  an  expense  of  nearly  1,600  1. 
Avas  incurred  for  the  banners,  standards,  pennons,  badges,  etc.,  dis- 
played at  his  funeral.  So  too,  at  tlie  period  of  the  gi-eat  Revolution  in 
JFrance,  all  distinctions  of  rank  and  title  were  abrogated — even  tliat  of 
*  Jklonsieur; '  but  in  a  short  time  a  new  noblesse  arose — not  constructed 


4  THE  HAMLIN  FAMILY. 

out  of  the  old  aristocratic  party,  but  as  Madam  de  Stael  observes,  of 
the  partisans  of  equality.  And  this  process  of  spontaneous  creation  of 
superior  rank  has  always  existed,  and  must  continue  to  exist,  amongst 
all  people,  and  in  all  ages,  as  long  as  the  power  which  wealth  or  ability 
naturally  exercises,  is  acknowledged."  [Cussan's  Handbook  of  Her- 
aldry.] 

The  desire  to  perpetuate  the  history  of  the  race  is  as  old  as  civiliza- 
tion, and  is  an  instinct  implanted  in  the  human  mind.  Genealogy 
may  be  said  to  be  the  insignia  of  civilization.  Moses,  the  Jewish 
writer,  ruler,  statesman  and  law  giver;  the  great  landmark  in  civiliza- 
tion, wisely  recorded  the  pedigrees  of  his  people;  the  idea  is  ennobling. 
A  proper  regard  for  ancestors,  and  desire  to  perijetuate  their  memories 
and  good  acts,  tends  to  the  elevation  of  mankind.  It  is  a  line  of 
demarkation  between  barbarism  and  enlightenment. 

Various  methods  have  been  devised,  for  preserving  such  records; 
from  the  earliest  periods  of  known  history  the  monument  has  been 
erected  in  memory  of  the  dead;  the  arts  of  the  sculi)tor  and  the  painter, 
and  the  pen  of  the  historian  and  the  poet,  have  vied  to  record  and 
transmit  the  achievements  of  mankind. 

The  people  fi'om  whom  we  descend  in  Europe;  in  Germany,  France, 
the  British  Islands  and  elsewhere,  have  compiled  volumes  of  records  in 
recording  the  lives  and  acts  of  our  ancestors  in  ages  jjast;  not  in  the 
systematic  form  of  the  histories  and  biographies  of  to-day,  but  in  the 
jecords  of  government  and  business  affairs.  The  thirst  for  more  par- 
ticulars, concerning  our  individual  progenitors  is  never  fully  satisfied. 

To  the  Christian  Church  of  those  countries  we  are  indebted  for 
much  of  their  pai'ticular  records,  which  have  been  preserved,  and  may 
still  be  found;  three  principal  events  in  their  lives;  births,  marriages 
and  deaths,  were  subjects  of  ecclesiastical  jurisdiction,  belonging  to  the 
duties  of  the  Church,  rather  than  to  the  State  department  of  govern- 
ment. Chui'ch  and  State  in  those  days  were  united,  married,  so  to 
speak. 

These  laws,  rules  and  regulations  of  society  were  brought  from  the 
mother  countries  to  this  country  by  the  first  settlers,  and  were  gener- 
ally retained  and  observed  here  until  after  the  Revolution.  That  per- 
iod seems  to  have  marked  a  change  in  our  public  affairs  to  a  large 
degree;  as  following  it  occurred  the  divorce  of  Church  from  State  in  this 
country;  materially  changing  and  affecting  our  legislation  and  customs 
touching  the  laws  of  marriage,  estates,  descent  and  kindred  subjects; 
duties  which  before  were  performed  by  the  Church,  as  matters  of  law, 
were  taken  cognizance  of  by  the  civil  magistrates,  officei's  and  the 
courts  of  law.  It  is  safe  to  say  that  the  present  American  system  of 
preserving  the  genealogies  or  pedigrees  of  the  people,  by  our  public  rec- 


PREFACE.  5 

ords,  is  far  from  perfect;  not  so  fjcood  as  it  could  be,  and  as  it  should  be 
made.  Subsequent  to  the  Revolution,  our  people  were  hostile  to  the 
mother  country;  the  name  of  anything  "  British "  was  repugnant; 
there  was  a  spirit  of  Americanizing  everything  in  this  country;  and 
perhaps  our  institutions,  derived  from  English  sources,  may  have, 
to    some  extent,  unwisely  suffered  by  the  attempts  at  reform. 

This  period  also  marks  large  emigrations  from  the  old  colonies  to 
the  new  territories  in  the  west;  families  frequently  were  literally  dis- 
membered, broken  up,  and  the  members  lost  to  each  other;  the  people 
of  today  in  the  west,  descendants  of  the  old  Puritan  stock,  from  the 
higliest  to  the  lowest  stations  in  society,  have  vague  traditions  that 
their  ancestors  came  from  Massachusetts,  Connecticut,  New  York,  etc.; 
but  very  few  can  tell  even  the  name  or  nativity  of  their  ancestors 
beyond  their  grandfathers,  which  is  as  far  back  as  most  can  go.  A 
noted  individual  recently  remarked,  that  he  did  not  know  so  much 
about  his  pedigree,  as  he  did  that  of  his  horses.  This  is  a  remarkable 
condition  of  society,  and  is  not  much  improvement  in  this  intellectual 
age  in  which  we  live,  of  schools,  colleges,  etc.,  over  the  custom  of  our 
ancestors  hundreds  of  years  ago,  and  not  nearly  equal  to  the  records  of 
the  old  Jews  in  this  respect. 

This  may  be  accounted  for  when  we  reflect  that  our  people  in  many 
instances  have  been  too  ix)or  in  new  settlements  to  give  proper  atten- 
to  the  subject  of  family  history;  the  struggle  was  first  to  secure  homes 
and  the  necessary  comforts  of  life,  government,  schools,  churches, 
manufactories,  commerce,  transportation,  roads,  etc. 

It  is  encoux'aging  however  to  note  of  later  years  that  considerable 
attention  has  been  devoted  to  the  study  and  compilation  of  the  history 
and  genealogies  of  the  early  settlers  of  America,  especially  of  that  por- 
tion within  the  limits  of  the  United  iStates. 

One  of  the  great  sources  from  which  data  for  this  purpose  is  derived, 
is  found  in  the  fact  that,  England  kept  accurate  records  at  their  custom 
houses  during  the  first  settlement  of  this  country,  of  all  people  who 
departed  from  their  ports,  Avith  their  rank  or  station  in  society;  to 
enable  the  govermiient  to  claim  and  exercise  dominion  over  the  new 
countries,  where  their  subjects  settled.  A  fierce  rivalry  existed  at  that 
period,  for  power  and  dominion  in  the  new  continent,  especially 
between  England,  France  and  Spain.  An  American  of  today  who  can 
trace  his  lineage  to  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  that  period,  may  with 
hope  of  success  consult  the  records  of  departures  from  England,  which 
'  have  been  compiled  in  various  forms,  to  find  the  name  of  the  ship  and 
date  of  passage,  in  which  his  ancestor  emigrated  to  America, — for  we 
are  all  foreigners.  When  this  is  found  it  may  be  the  source  of  discover- 
ing the  residence  in  England  of  the  progenitor,  as  well  as  of  other  facts 
concerning  the  family  history. 


6  THE  HAMLIN   FAMILY. 

Many  attempts,  with  greater  or  less  degrees  of  success,  have  been 
made  to  collect  and  compile  the  history  of  the  Hamlins  in  America, 
and  some  have  sought  their  history  in  England;  to  name  even,  all 
who  have  devoted  attention  to  the  subject  would  require  more  space 
than  I  shall  attempt  to  devote. 

Two  individuals  in  particular,  require  more  than  a  passing  notice. 
The  late  David  Hamblen,  a  Boston  merchant,  was  perhaps  the  first  ta 
make  an  extended  research  for  the  family  history,  commencing  about 
1845,  and  continuing  until  his  death  in  1855;  he  collected  and  compiled 
a  manuscriijt  of  many  families,  down  to  his  time,  promiscuously 
arranged;  some  of  his  work  was  published  in  the  New  England  Gen. 
Hist.  Register,  Boston.  It  is  said  that  he  undertook  this  labor,  hoping^ 
to  assist  in  recovering  a  large  estate  in  abeyance  in  England,  Avhich 
belonged  to  the  Hamlins  in  this  country.  His  manuscripts  were 
kindly  placed  in  possession  of  the  writer  for  use  in  this  work  by  his 
son,  David  Hamblen,  Jr.,  Esq.,  of  Boston. 

The  late  Amos  Otis,  genealogist  of  the  early  Barnstable,  Mass.,  fam- 
ilies, conqjiled  a  record  of  the  early  generations  of  the  descendants  of 
James  Hamblen,  of  Barnstable,  who  settled  there  in  1639. 

Great  credit  is  due  to  these  gentlemen  for  their  labors,  which  have 
been  of  invaluable  assistance  in  collecting  and  compiling  this  work. 

The  labors  of  the  writer  have  been  to  collect,  and  systematically 
arrange  by  generations,  chronologically,  as  nearly  as  convenient,  the 
descendants  of  the  several  individuals  bearing  the  family  name  of 
Hamlin,  (with  its  various  spellings,)  who  settled  in  the  territory  now 
embraced  in  the  United  States,  during  the  period  of  its  early  settle- 
ment. 

From  its  nature  such  a  work  can  never  be  finished.  It  is  ever  con- 
tinuing; but  the  present  work  has  reached  such  proportions  as  warrants 
its  publication,  to  insure  its  preservation  and  to  place  it  before  those 
interested  in  the  subject. 

Aside  from  the  sources  mentioned,  the  data  for  this  work  has  been 
secured  by  years  of  laborious,  patient  correspondence  by  letter  to  all 
parts  of  this,  and  to  other  countries.  Histories,  biographies,  genealogies, 
public  records  of  the  United  States,  of  the  several  states,  of  counties, 
cities  and  towns;  monuments,  gravestones,  private  records  and  writ- 
ings, family  bibles,  old  wills,  deeds  and  other  documents,  traditions 
and  every  source  of  information  which  thought  and  study  could  devise, 
have  been  consulted  and  forced  to  yield  their  evidence  to  this  object. 
The  amount  of  labor  required  to  collect  and  compile  a  work  of  this 
character  and  extent  is  simply  stupendous.  It  nmst  not  be" supposed 
for  a  moment  that  the  records  contained  in  this  work  were  discovered  in 
their  present  form,  especially   the  earlier  records;   but  the  facts  consti- 


PREFACE.  7 

tuting  the  sketch  of  an  individual  or  family  have  been,  in  many 
instances,  secured  or  ascertained  from  widely  different  sources,  a  frag- 
ment liere  and  another  there;  many  of  the  articles  have  been  repeat- 
edly re-written,  as  new  facts  were  discovered. 

While  the  work  is  believed  to  be  generally  correct;  no  one  is  more 
sensible  of  the  fact  than  the  author,  that  a  work  collected  and  compiled 
as  this  has  been,  must  contain  many  unavoidable  errors,  especially  as 
to  dates,  etc.  It  will  be  a  favor,  if  errors  of  any  kind  are  pointed  out, 
that  they  may  be  corrected  in  future. 

It  is  a  special  subject  of  regret,  that  the  records  of  many  families 
have  not  been  supplied  for  this  work,  and  that  there  are  still  so  many 
indifferent  to  the  importance  of  making  a  complete  record,  as  far  as  it 
can  be  done;  it  is  earnestly  hoped  that  before  the  whole  work  passes 
through  the  press,  that  the  missing  family  records,  as  far  as  possible, 
will  be  placed  in  jjossession  of  the  author,  that  they  may  occupy  their 
proper  places  in  the  history. 

This  record  has  not  been  prepared  so  much  for  the  information  of 
the  public,  as  for  the  use  of  the  members  of  tliis  numerous  and  widely 
separated  family,  and  to  furnish  proof  of  the  relationship  existing 
between  them.  We  have  endeavored  to  describe  our  kinsmen  as  we 
have  found  them,  in  their  every  day  lives,  rather  than  distort  their 
true  character  by  presenting  them  in  the  guise  of  fulsom?  praise.  Tiiat 
personal  sketches  have  been  too  meagre  in  many  instances,  is  due  to 
the  sole  fact  tlfat  the  writer  has  been  absolutely  unable  tp  obtain  facts 
upon  which  to  base  them.  Many  of  the  kinsmen  have  been  over  mod- 
est in  declining  to  supply  this  information. 

During  the  i^rogress  of  this  work  many  delightful  acquaintances 
have  been  formed;  with  few  exception,  the  reciuests  for  records  and 
sketches  have  unifonnly  met  with  kind  land  courteous  treatment, 
where  responses  have  been  received;  the  kinsmen  everywhere  have 
our  kindest  wishes,  for  which  we  again  thank  one  and  all  for  favors 
received;  space  forbids  us  to  mention  each  individually.  This  nu  nbar 
will  bring  the  descendants  of  James  Hamblen,  of  Barnstable,  down  to 
about  the  period  of  the  Revolution,  or  to  the  fifth  generation.  Tae 
introductory  chapter  should  not  fail  to  interest  every  Hanliu  in  A  n?r- 
ica  of  English  descent,  witliout  regard  to  which  braneli  of  the  family 
he  may  descend. 

BeUeving  that  this  work,  if  completed,  will  be  the  means  of  reviviug 
the  acquaintance  between  remote  branches  of  a  great  family,  and  of 
presenting  to  the  present  generation  and  to  those  unborn,  correct 
information  concerning  their  ancestors;  their  characters,  customs,  reli- 
gion, politics,  etc.,  I  submit  for  their  respectful  consideration  this  first 
number,  or  jjart  of  the  historj-,  believing  it  to  contain  all  that  has  been 


8  THE  HAMLIN   FAMILY. 

claimed  for  it,  trusting  that  it  may  be  received  in  the  friendly  spirit  in 
which  it  is  given.  My  greatest  desire  is  to  see  the  work  creditably 
completed.  Whether  the  publication  shall  be  continued,  must  rest 
entirely  upon  the  patronage  with  which  the  present  number  is 
received.  If  it  shall  prove  satisfactory,  a  second  number,  embracing 
the  fifth  and  sixth  generations  of  the  descendants  of  James  Hamblen, 
of  Barnstable,  can  be  issued  in  the  near  future. 

With  kind  regards  to  all,  I  am  very  truly. 


Audubon,  Iowa,  December,  1894. 


THE   HAMLIN   FAMILY 


This  is  one  of  the  great  representative  families  of  tlie  United  States; 
as  well  as  of  England,  for  the  last  eight  hundred  years;  they  are-said  to 
be  numerous  in  France;  and  descendants  of  French  and  English  origin 
are  found  in  Canada. 

Their  origin,  far  back  in  the  past,  is  obscure;  but  evidences  point  to 
German  ancestry. 

One  of  the  earliest  records  of  the  name  is  found  in  "  The  Roll  of 
Battel  Abbey." 


THE  ROLL  OF  BATTEL  ABBEY.'  " 


Lower,  in  his  work  on  English  Surnames,  says:  *  *  "I  cannot 
better  introduce  it  to  the  reader  than  by  citing  the  Rev.  Mark  Noble's 
curious  and  valuable  '  Dissertation  on  the  Various  Changes  in  the  Fam- 
ilies of  England  Since  the  Conquest,'  prefixed  to  his  History  of  the 
College  of  Arms: " 

"'Those  who  had  fought  under  the  ducal  banners  (at  Hastings) 
took  every  possible  means  to  have  their  names  well  known  and  remem- 
bered by  future  ages,  not  only  because  they  and  their  desceudants 
would  by  it  be  enabled  to  plead  for  favours  from  the  reigning  family, 
and  an  assuring  to  themselves  the  estates  they  had  gained,  but  also 
from  the  pride  inherent  in  human  nature  as  founders  of  families  in  a 
country  they  had  won  by  their  prowess.  For  these  reasons  the  name 
of  every  person  of  any  consideration  was  written  upon  a  Roll,  and 
hung  up  in  the  Abbey  of  Battel.'  "  * 

"  'As  the  persons  there  mentioned  were  the  patriarchs  of  most  of 
the  English  gentry  for  many  ages,  and  of  many  of  our  chief  nobility  at 
the  present  day,  it  will  not  be  improper  to  examine  into  the  authen- 
ticity of  this  roll  of  names;  for  different   authors  have  given  some  a 


*  "  William  ordered  the  erection  of  a  monastry  on  tlie  very  spot  where  he  liad  gained 
that  decisived  victory  which  gave  him  the  crown  of  England,  from  which  circumstance 
it  was  called  Battel  Abbey." 


10  THE  HAMLIN  FAMILY. 

greater  and  some  a  less  number.  As  to  the  orthography,  it  is  of  little 
consequence;  the  spelling  of  names  was  not  at  that  time,  nor  for  many 
ages  afterwards  fixed;  every  one  writing  them  as  he  pleased.'  " 

"  'Grafton,  in  his  Chronicle,  has  given  very  many  names,  which  he 
received  from  Clarenceux,  king  at  arms,  and  out  of  John  Harding's 
Chronicles,  with  others.  Holinshed  mentions  upwards  of  six  hundred; 
Stow,  in  his  Chronicle,  only  four  hundred  and  seven;  Thomas  Scriven, 
Esq.,  still  fewer.  Fuller,  in  his  Church  History,  has  copied  them,  but 
does  not  mention  who  Mr.  Scriven  was,  nor  from  whence  that  gentleman 
took  them.  Foxe,  in  his  Acts  and  Monuments,  has  also  given  in  a  list 
of  the  names  of  William's  officers  and  great  men;  but  these.  Fuller 
thinks,  were  not  collected  by  Foxe.  This  catalogue  of  names  is  valu- 
able, however,  because  the  initials  of  the  Christian  names  are  given. 
The  great  difference  made  in  these  collections  naturally  leads  us  to  sus- 
pect that  many  omissions  are  made  in  some,  and  that  numbers  of 
names  have  been  put  in  others  to  please  individuals.  8ir  William  Dug- 
dale  openly  accuses  the  monks  of  Battel  of  flattery,  from  having  inserted 
the  names  of  persons  whose  ancestors  were  never  at  the  Conquest. 
Guilliam  Tayleur,  a  Norman  historian,  who  could  not  have  had  any 
communication  with  the  monks  of  Battel,  has  also  published  the  mus- 
ter-roll, which  was  called  over  after  the  battle  of  Hastings.'  "  * 

"'In  the  foregoing  enumeration  of  the  copies  of  this  famous  Roll, 
the  writer  does  not  mention  Leland's  copy,  nor  that  of  Dugdale.  It  is 
remarkable  that  although  many,  perhaps  the  majority  of  the  names 
occur  in  all  the  copies,  others  occur  in  one  or  two  only;  and  the  differ- 
ence between  the  copies  is  such  as  to  render  all  attempts  at  collation 
useless.  As  my  object  is  to  give  names  said  to  have  been  introduced 
into  tliis  country  by  the  Norman  Conquest,  rather  than  a  critical 
inquiry  into  the  authenticity  of  the  several  lists,  I  shall  lay  before  the 
reader  three  of  the  lattpr,  namely,  those  of  Leland,  Holinshed  and 
Foxe,  adding  en  passant,  such  notes  and  observations  as  may  seem 
useful  in  illustration  of  the  subject.'  " 

"  '  The  original  Roll,  compiled  by  the  monks  of  Battel,  was  hung  up 
in  their  monastery,  beneath  the  following  Latin  verses:  '  " 

"  '  Dicitur  a  bello,  Bellum  locus  hie,  quia  bello 
Angligenar  victi,  sunt  hie  in  morte  relicti; 
Martyris  in  Christi  festo  cecidere  Calixti; 
Sexagenus  erat  sextus  millesimus  annus 
Cum  pereunt  Angli  stella  monstrante  Cometa.'  " 


*  "  '  The  day  after  tlie  battell,  vary  early  ia  the  moraiiig,  OJo,  Bishop  of  Baieux. 
suag  masse  for  those  that  were  departed.  The  duke,  after  that,  desirous  to  know  the 
estate  of  liis  battell,  and  what  people  lie  had  tliereiu  lost  and  were  slaine,  he  caused  to 
come  unto  him  a  clerk,  that  had  written  their  names  when  they  had  embarked  at  S.  Va- 
leries,  and  commanded  him  to  call  them  all  by  their  names,  who  called  them  that  had 
bin  at  the  batell,  and  pass3d  the  seas  with  Duke  William.'  (John  Foxe,  Acts  and  Mon.) " 


ROLL  OF  BATTEL  ABBEY.  II 

Td  est 
"  '  This  place  is  called  Battel,  because  the 
English,  slain  in  war,  were  here  left  dead. 
They  fell  on  the  day  of  the  feast  of  Christ's  martyr,  Calixtus. 
It  was  the  year  one  thousand  and  sixty-six 
When  the  English  perished,  a  great  comet  being  visible  at  the 
time(?) '  " 

"  'A  metrical  English  version  of  these  verses  was  fomierly  inscribed 
on  a  tablet  in  the  parish  church  of  Battel: '  " 

"  '  This  place  of  war  is  battle  called,  because  in  battle  here. 
Quite  conquered  and  overthrown,  the  English  nation  were; 
This  slaughter  happened  to  them  upon  St.  Celict's  day. 
The  year  whereof  (1066)  this  number  doth  array.'  " 

"Of  the  histoiy  of  the  Roll  subsequently  to  the  dissolution  of  the 
monastery,  nothing  certain  is  known.  Three  months  after  the  surren- 
der of  the  abbey,  the  site  and  lands  were  given  by  Henry  VIII,  to  Sir 
Anthony  Brown,  ancestor  of  the  Viscounts  Montague.  The  family 
sold  the  mansion,  with  its  appurtenances,  to  Sir  Thomas  Webster, 
Bart.,  (whose  descendants  still  possess  it),  and  resided  afterwards  at 
their  other  seat,  C'owdray  House  near  Midhurst,  and  thither  this 
famous  document  was  probably  carried.  Cowdray  was  destroyed  by 
fire  in  1793,  when  the  Roll  is  presumed  to  have  perished,  witli  everj^- 
thing  else  of  value  which  tliat  lordly  edifice  contained." 


"LELAND'S  COPY." 


"  The  preference  ought  unquestionably  to  be  conceded  to  this  copy. 
John  Leland  saw  and  transcribed  the  original;  and  in  tlie  notes  to  his 
transcript  he  notices  some  particular  points  marked  upon  the  Roll, 
which  he  also  transfers  to  his  copy.  There  seems  to  be  an  attempt  to 
arrange  the  names  in  such  a  manner  as  to  make  the  last  syllable  of  the 
second  pair  rhyme  with  that  of  the  first,  and  also  to  produce  allitera- 
tion in  the  pairs,  e.  g. 

'  Ferers  et  Foleville. 
Briaunson  et  Baskeville.' 

'  Aumarille  et  Deyncourt,  Camoys  et  Cameville, 

Bertrem  et  Buttencourt,  Haiitein  et  Hanville, 

Baird  et  Biford,  AVarenne'  et  Wauncy, 

Bardolfet  Basset,  Chauunt  et  Chauncy, 

Deyville  et  Darcy,  Loveyne  et  Lascy, 

Pygot  et  Percy,  (iraunson  et  Tracy,' 


1  Some  families  bearing  this  name  ar:;  uuquestionably  of  English  oriKin  ;    from  tho 
first  persons  bearing  the  name  having  resided  near  a  rabbit-VVARBEX. 


12 


THE  HAMLIN  FAMILY. 


'  Gurney  et  Greilly, 
Tregos  et  Trylly, 
Marney  et  Maundeville, 
Vipont  et  Umfreville, 
Mauley  et  Meueville, 
Biirnel  et  Buttevillain, 
Malebuche  et  Malemayn, 
Morteyne  et  Mortimer, 
Comeyn  et  Columber, 
St.  Cloyis  et  St.  Clere,3 
Otinel  et  St.  Thonier, 

Gorgeise  et  Gower, 
Bruys  et  Dispenser, 
Lymesey  et  Latymer, 
Boys  et  Boteler, 
Fenes  et  Filebert, 
Fitz  Roger  et  Fitz  Robert, 
Martiiie  et  Muse, 
St.  Ligiere  et  Ouyncy, 
Criclietot  et  Crevecuer, 
Morley  et  Moundeville, 
Baillol  et  Boundeville, 
Estraunge  et  Estoteville, 
Mowbray  et  Morville, 
Viez  et  Viuouu, 
Audele  et  Aungeloun, 
Vausteneys  et  Wauille, 
Braund  et  Baybof, 
Fitz-Alayne  et  Gilebof, 
Maunys  et  Maulos, 
Poweret  Panel  alias  Paignel, 
Tuchet  et  Trusselle, 
Peche  et  Peverelle, 
Daubenay  et  Deverelle, 


Mohaud  et  Mooun. 
Bigot, 1  et  Brown, 2 
Soucheville  Coudrey  et  Colleville, 

Ferers  et  Foleville, 
Briaunson  et  Baskeville, 
Neners  et  Nereville, 
Chaumberlayne  et  Chauniberoun, 

Fitz-Walter  et  Werdoun, 
Argenteyn  et  Avenele, 
Ros  et  Ridel, 
Hasting'i  et  HauUey, 
Merkenfell  et  Mourreis, 
Fitz-Phillip  et  Filiot, 
Takel  et  Talbot, 
Lenias  et  Levecot, 
Tourbeville  et  Tiptot, 
Saunzauer  et  Saundford, 
Mountagne  et  Mountford, 
Forneux  et  Furnivaus, 
Vatence  et  Vaux, 
Clerevals  et  Clarel, 
Dodingle  et  Darel, 
Mantelet  et  Maudiet, 
Chapes  et  Chaudut, 
Cauntelow  et  C'oubray, 
Sainct  Tesc  et  Saunay, 
Forecourt  et  Feniers, 
Vesay  et  Verders, 
Brabason  et  Bevers, 
C'hallouns  et  Chaleys, 
Maihermer  et  Muschet, 

o  <■' 
Baus  et  Bluet,' 


1  Accordiug  to  Camden  the  name  of  Bigod  was  a  sobriquet  given  to  the  Normans 
for  their  profanity,  '  because  at  every  otlier  word  they  would  swear,  by  God.'  (Remains, 
p.  106,)  and  hence  our  word,  bigot. 

2  This  name  occurs  in  most  copies  of  the  roll,  but  it  would  s^om  to  be  an  interpola- 
tion, unless,  indeed,  it  be  an  Englisli  spelling  of  the  French  Bkun. 

3  Some  of  the  Normans  '  affecting  religion  took  the  name  of  some  Saint.'  (Noble, 
pp.  6,  7.) 

4  Sic  cum  duobus  punctis. 

5  The  name  would  seem  to  be  of  the  local  kind,  and  was  probably  borrowed  from 
Hastings  in  Sussex.  This,  however,  is  no  argument  against  the  Norman  origin  of  this 
celebrated  family,  as  some  Norman  grandees  took  the  uames  of  the  Seignories  given 
them  by  the  Conquoror. 

6  Sic  cum  puncto  sub  posteriore  parte  literse.    m. 


ROLL  OF  BATTEL  ABBEY. 


13 


*  Sainct  Aniande  et  Adryelle, 
Ryvers  et  Ryvel, 
Loveday  et  Lovel, 
Deny  as  et  Druel, 
Mountburgh  et  Mounsorel, 
Maleville  et  Malet, 
Newniarch  et  Newbet, 
Corby  et  Corbet, 
Mounfey  et  Mountflchet, 
Gaunt  et  Garre, 
Maleberge  et  INIarre, 
Geneville  et  Gifard, 
Sonieray  et  Howarde, 
Perot  et  Pykard, 
Choiindoys  et  Chaward, 
De  la  Hay  et  Hounsard, 
Mussegros  et  Musard, 
Maingun  et  Mountravers 
Crescy  et  Courtney, 
St.  Leo  et  Lascey, 
Bavent  et  Bassey, 
Lascel  et  Lovein, 
Thays  et  Tony, 
Hurel  et  Husee, 
Longville  et  Longespe 
De  Wake  et  De  la  War, 
De  la  Marche  et  De  la  Mare, 
Constable  et  Tally, 

Poynee  et  Paveley, 
Tuk  et  Taney, 
Mallop  et  Marny, 
Paifrer  et  Plukenet, 
Bretoune  et  Blundet, 
INIyriet  et  Morley, 
Tyriet  et  Turley, 
Fryville  et  Fressell, 


Beke  et  Biroune, 
Saunz  Peur  et  Fitz  Simoun, 
Gaugyi  et  Gobande, 
Rugetius  et  Fitz-Bohant, 
Peverel  et  Fitz-Payne, 

ger, 

Fitz-Robert  et  Fitz  Aleyne, 

•  •     •  2 

Souley  et  8oules, 

Bruys  et  Burgh, 

Neville  et  Newburgh, 

Fitz-William  et  Wateville,3 

De  la  Launde  et  Del  Isle, 

Sorel  et  8oniery, 

St.  John  et  St.  lory, 

Wavile  et  Warley, 

De  la  Pole  et  Pinkeney, 

Mortivous  et  Mounthensey, 

Mancovenount  et  Mounj)inson, 

Pikard  et  Pinkado^A'n, 
Gray  et  Graunson, 
Diseny  et  Dabernoun, 
Maoun  et  Mainard, 
Banestre  et  Bekard, 
Bealuni  et  Beauchanip, 

•  i 

Loverak  et  Longechaiup, 
Baudin  et  Bray, 
Saluayn  et  Bay, 
Ry  et  Rokel, 
Fitz-  Rafe  et  Rosel, 
Fitz-Bryan  et  Bracey, 
Place  et  Placey, 
Daniary  ot  Deveroys, 
Vavasor  et  Worroys,6 
Perpounte  et  Fitz-Peris,' 


1  Gage. 

2  Sic  cum  tribus  pnnctis. 

3  The  termination  ville  (equivalent  to  our  own  ton)  was  the  prevelent  one  among' 
the  Normans.  Noble  gives  the  following  general  rule  for  ascertaining  the  district  to 
which  any  particular  name  in  the  Roll  sliould  be  assigned:  'The  Norman  names  end 
chiefly  in  yille  ;  those  of  Anjon  in  lere  ;  those  of  Guienne  and  the  bank  of  the  Garonne 
in  AC  ;  and  those  of  Picardy  in  COCR.' 

4  Sic  cum  puncto  sub  posteriore.    1. 

5  Sic  cum  puncto  sub  posteriore  parte  literee.    m. 

6  The  names  that  contain  the  letters  w  and  k  are  thought  to  be  Flemish— those  let- 
not  to  be  found  in  Norman-French. 


14 


THE  HAMLIN  FAMILY. 


'  De  la  River  et  Rivell, 
Destranges,  et  Delatoun, 
Ferrers  et  Pavillouii, 
Vallonis  et  Vernoun, 
Gryinward  et  Gernoun, 
Herey  et  Heroun, 
Verdour  et  Veroun, 
Dalseny  et  Dautre, 
Mengle  et  Maufe, 
Galofer  et  Gubioun, 
Burdet  et  Baroun, 
Davarenge  et  Duylly, 
Soverenge  et  Snylly, 
Kyniarays  et  Kyriel, 
Lisours  et  Longvale, 
Glauneourt  et  Clianiont, 
Bawdewn  et  Beaumont, 
Graundyn  et  Gerdouii, 
Blundel  et  Burdoun, 
Fitz-Rauf  2  et  Filiol, 
Fitz-Thonias  et  Tybot, 
Onatule  et  Cheyni, 
Maulicerer  et  Mouncey, 
Querru  et  Coigners, 
Mauclerk  et  Maners, 
Warde  et  Werlay, 
Nusetys  et  Merlay, 
Baray  et  Breteville, 
Tolimer  et  Treville, 
Blounte  et  Boseville, 
Liffard  et  Oseville, 
Benny  et  Boyville, 
Courson  et  Courtville, 
Fitz-Morice  et  St.  More, 
Broth  et  Barbedor, 
Fitz-Hugh  et  Fitz-Henry, 
Surdevale  et  Sengryn, 
Bascel  et  Bevery, 
Durant  et  Doreny, 
Disart  et  Dorynell, 
Male-Kake  et  Mauncel, 
Burneville  et  Bretville, 


Sesce  et  Solers, 
Navimere  et  Fitz-Nele, 
Wayloys  et  Levele, 
Caunipeneys  en  Chaunceus, 
Malebys  et  Monceus. 
Thorney  et  Thornille, 
Wace  et  Wy  ville, 
Velroys  et  Wacely, 
Pugoys  et  Paiteny, 
Fitz  Aviz  et  Esturnay, 
Watangay  et  Fitz-Warin, 
Fitz-Raynold  et  Roselin, 
Baret  et  Bourt, 
Heryce  et  Harecourt, 
Venables  et  Venour, 
Haywardi  et  Henour, 
Dulce  et  De  la  Laund, 
De  la  Valet  et  Veylaund, 
De  la  Plaunee  et  Puterel, 
Loring  et  Loterel, 
Fitz-Marmaduk  et  Montrivel, 
Tinel  et  Travile, 
Byngard  et  Bernevale, 
La-Muile  et  Lownay, 
Daniont  et  Damay, 

Bonet  et  Barry, 
Avonel  et  St.  Amary, 
Jardyn  et  Jay, 
Fourys  et  Tay, 
Ainieris  et  Avereris, 
Vilain  et  Valeris, 
Fitz-Eustace  et  Eustacy, 
Mauches  et  Massey, 
Brian  et  Bidin, 
Movet  et  St.  Martine, 
Vernoun  et  Waterville, 
Wermely  et  Wamerville, 

u. 
Broy  et  Broniville, 

•    •  * 
Bleyn  et  Briecovu't,' 


1  This  is  evidently  an  English  name. 

2  Verstegan  is  of  opinion  that  the  prefix  Fitz  originated  in  Flanders.     It  is  remark- 
able that  it  does  not  occur  in  the  ancient  chronicles  of  that  country.     (Noble.) 

3  Sic  cum  duobus  punctis. 

4  Sic  cum  duobus  punctis. 


ROLL  OF  BATTEL  ABBEY. 


15 


'  HAMELINE  et  Hareville, 
De  la  Hiise  et  Howel, 
Fingez  et  Coruyele, 
Chart  res  et  Chenil, 
Belew  et  Bertine, 
Mrugysir  et  Mauveysin, 
Angers  et  Angewyue, 
Tolet  et  Tisoun, 
Fernibaiid  et  Frisoun, 

St.  Barbe  et  Sageville.'  " 


Tarteray  et  ("hercourt, 
Oysel  et  Oliforrt, 
Maulovel  et  Maureward, 
Kanoes  et  Keveters, 
Loif  et  Lymers, 
Rysers  et  Reynevile, 
Busard  et  Belevile, 
Rivers  et  Ripers, 
Perechay  et  Perers, 
Fichent  et  Trivent, 


In  Halinshed's  copy  of  the  Battel  Abbey  Roll,  which  is  in  English, 
appears  the  name  of  HAMELIN. 

A  companion  record  is  found  in  France  in  the  roll  in  the  church  in 
Dives,  a  copy  of  which  is  found  in  "The  Driver  Family,"  page  497: 


"  THE  ROLL  IN  THE  CHURCH  OF  DIVES,  NORMANDY 


Of  the  Companions  of  William  in  the  Conquest  of  England,  in  1066  by 
M.  Leopold  Delisle,  Metnber  of  the  French  /Society  of  Archaeology, 
as  found  in  Burke?  s  "  Vicissitudes  of  Families,"  Vol.  Ill,  p.  423. 

Dives,  a  small  town  close  to  the  sea-coast,  in  the  Department  of 
Calvados,  in  Normandy.  This  town  of  Dives  is  of  high  note  in  French 
and  English  history,  for  it  was  nigh  to  it,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Dive, 
that  \Yi]liam  the  Conqueror  and  his  companions  in  arms  met  for  the 
subjugation  of  England.  Dives,  in  the  eleventh  century,  was  one  of 
the  chief  ports  of  the  Duchy  of  Normandy.  A  fete  was  here  given,  in 
August,  1862,  to  affix  in  the  old  church  there  a  new  and  carefully  com- 
piled list  of  the  companions  of  William  the  Conqueror,  in  his  con- 
quest of  England,  in  1066, — a  comijanion  record  to  that  of  Battle 
Abbey,  with  this  difference:  the  latter  being  the  roll  of  those  who 
actually  fought  at  Hastings,, while  the  one  at  Dives  is  that  of  those 
who  actually  fought  at  Hastings,  while  the  one  at  Dives  is  that  of 
those  who  assemljled  for  the  expedition,  and  were  otherwise  engaged  in 
furthering  the  Conquest.  This  Roll  was  erected  by  the  French  Society 
of  Archaeology  in  August,  1862,  with  permission  of  Mgr.  Didiot,  Bishop 
of  Bayeux,  M.  de  Caumont  being  Director  of  the  Society,  M.  the  Abbe 
Renier,  Vicar  of  Dives,  and  M.  le  Comte  Foucher  de  (.'ariel,  Member  of 
the  Conseil-General  for  the  Canton." 


1  Sic  cum  duobus  punctis. 


16 


THE  HAMLIN  FAMILY. 


'  Aehard  d'lvri. 
Aroiil  d'lvri. 
Aitard  de  Vaux. 
Alani  Le  Roux. 
Aniauri  de  Dreiix. 
Anquetil  de  Cherbourg. 
"        de  Grai. 
de  Ros. 
Anscoul  de  Picquigne. 
Ansfroi  de  Cornieilles. 
"        de  Vaubadon. 
Ansger  de  Montaign. 
"        de  iSenarpont. 
Ansgot. 
Ausgot  de  Ros. 
Arnoul  d'Ardre. 
"        de  Perci. 
"        de  Hesdin. 
Aubert  Greslet. 
Aubri  de  Couci. 

"       de  Ver. 
Auvrai  Le  Breton. 
Auvrai  d'Espagne. 
' '        Merteberge. 
"        de  Tanie. 
Azor. 

Baudouin  de  C'-olombieres. 
"        Le  Flaniand. 
"        de  Meules. 
Berenger  GifFard. 
"        de  Toeni. 
Bernard  d'Alencon. 

"        du  Neuftnarche. 
' '        Pancevolt. 
"        de  Saint-Owen. 
Bertran  de  Verdu. 
Beuselin  de  Dive. 
Bigot  de  Loges. 
Carbonnel. 
David  d'Argentan. 
Dren  de  la  Beuvriere. 

"     de  Montaigu. 
Durand  Malet. 
Ecouland. 

Engenouf  de  L' Aigle. 
Enguerrand  de  Raimbeaucourt. 
Erneis  de  Buron. 
Etienne  de  Fontenai. 


Eude  Conite  de  Champagne. 
Eude,  eveque  de  Bayeux. 
"        Cul-de-Loup. 
"        le  Flaniand. 
"        de  Fourneaux.. 
"        Le  Seneehal. 
Eustace,  Comte  de  Boulogne. 
Foucher  de  Paris. 
Fouque  de  Lisors. 
Gautier  d'Appeville. 

"        Le  Bourguignon. 

"        de  Caen. 

"        de  Claville.. 

"        de  Douai. 
Giffard. 

"        de  Grancourt. 

"        Hachet. 

' '        Heuse. 

"        d'Incourt. 

"        de  Laci. 

"        de  Mucedent. 

"        d'Oniontville. 

"        de  Risbou. 

"        de  Saint- Valeri. 

"        Tirel. 

"        de  Vernon. 
Geoffroi  Alselin. 

"        Bainard. 

"        du  Bee. 

"        de  Canibrai. 

"        de  la  Guierche. 

"        Le  Marechal. 

"        de  Mandeville. 

"        Martel. 

"        Maurouard. 

"        de  Montbrai. 

"        Comte  du  Perche. 

"        de  Pierrepont. 

"        de  Ros. 

"        de  Runneville. 

"        Talbot. 

"        de  Tournai. 

"        de  Trelli. 
Gerbourd  Le  Flaniand. 
Gilbert  Le  Blond. 

"        de  Blossville. 

"        de  BretteviUe. 
de  Budi.' 


ROLL  IN  CHURCH  OF  DIVES,  NORMANDY 


17 


'Gilbert   de  t  olleville. 
"        de  Gand. 
"        Gibard. 

Malet. 
"        Maminot. 
"        Tison. 
"        de  Venables. 
"        de  Wissant. 
Gonfroi  de  Cioches. 

"        Maudit. 
Goscelin  de  Cornieilles. 
"        de  Douai. 
"        de  La  Riviere. 
Goubert  d'Aufai. 

"        de  Beauvais. 
Guernon  de  Peis. 
Gui  de  Craon. 
"     de  Rainibeaucourt. 
"     de  Rainecourt. 
Gviillaunie  Alis. 

"         d'Ausleville. 
"         L' Archer. 
"         d'Ar<iues. 
"         de  A II dr leu. 
"         de  L'Aune. 
"         Basset. 
"         Relet. 
"         de  Beaufou. 
"         Bertram. 
"         de  Biville. 
"         Le  Blond. 
"         Bonvalet. 
"         du  Bose. 
"         du  Bosc-Roard. 
"         de  Boiirneville. 
"         de  Bral. 
"         de  Briouse. 
"         de  Bursigni. 
"         de  Cahaignes. 
"         de  Cailli. 
"         de  Cairon. 
"         de  Cardon. 
"         de  Carnet. 
"         de  Castilloii. 
"         de  Ceauce. 
"         La  Chevre. 
"         de  Colleville. 
"         de  Corbon. 


Guillaunie  de  Paunierai. 

"  Le  Despensier. 

"  de  Durville. 

"  d'Eeouis. 

"  P]spec. 

"  d'Eu. 

"  Comte  d'Evreux, 

"  de  Falaise. 

"  de  Fecamp. 

"  Folet. 

"  de  la  Foret. 

"  de  Ffnigeres. 

"  Froissart. 

"  (ioulaffre. 

"  de  Letre. 

"  de  Loucelles. 

"  Lou  vet. 
Malet. 

"  de  Malleville. 

"  de  la  Mare. 

"  Maubenc. 

"  Mauduit. 

"  de  Moion. 

"  de  ilonceaux. 

"  de  Noyers. 

"  tils  d'Osberne. 

"  Pantoul. 

"  de  Partheuai. 

"  Peche. 

"  de  Perci. 

"  Pevrel. 

"  de  Picquigni. 

"  Poignant. 

"  de  Poillei. 

"  Le  Poitevin. 

"  de   Pont-de-L'Arche. 

"  Quesnel. 

"  de  Reviers. 

"  de  Sept-Meules. 

"  Taillebois. 

"  de  Toeni. 

"  de  Vatteville. 

"  de  Vauville. 

"  de  Ver. 

"  de  Vesli. 

"  Warenne. 
Guimond  de  Blangi. 

"  de  Tessel.' 


18 


THE  HAMLIN  FAMILY. 


'  Guineboud  de  Balon. 
Guinemar  Le  Flamand. 
HAMELIN  DE  BALON. 
Hamon  Le  Senechal. 
Hardouiii  d'Ecalles. 
Hascouf  Musard. 
Henri  de  Beaumont. 

"  de  Ferrieres. 
Herman  de  Dreux. 
Herve  Le  Berruier. 

"      d'Espagne. 

"      d'Helion. 
Honfroi  d'Ansleville. 

"        de  Biville. 

"        de  Bohon. 

"        de  Carteret. 

"        de  Culai. 

*'        de  L'lle. 

"        dii  Tillieul. 

' '        Vis-de-Loup. 
Huard  de  Vernon. 
Hubert  de  Mont  Canisi. 

"        de  Port. 
Hugue  L'Ane. 

"      d'Avranches. 

"      de  Beauchamp. 

"      de  Bernieres. 

"       du  Bois  Hebert. 

"      de  Bolbec. 

' '      Bourdet. 

"      de  Brebeuf. 

"      de  Corbon. 

"      de  Dol. 

"      le  Flamand. 

"      de  Gournai. 

"      de  Grantemesnil. 

"       de  Guideville. 

"      de  Hodenc. 

"      de  Hotot. 

"      d'lvrU 

"      de  Laci. 

"      de  Maci. 

"      Maminot. 

"      de  Manneville. 

*'      de  La  Mare. 

"      Mautravers. 

"      de  Mobec. 

"      de  Montfort. 


Hugue  de  Montgommeri. 
"      Musard. 
"      de  Port. 
"      de  Rennes. 
"      de  Saint-Quentin. 
"       Silvestre. 
"      de  Vesli. 
"      de  Viville. 
Ilbert  de  Laci. 

"      de  Toeni. 
Ive  Taillebois, 
"    de  Vesei. 
Josce  Le  Flamand. 
Juhel  de  Toen. 
Lanfrane. 

Mathieu  de  Mortagne. 
Manger  de  Carteret. 
Mauri  n  de  Caen, 
Mill  Crespin. 
Murdac. 
Neel  d'Aubigni. 
"      de  Berville. 
"      Fossard. 
"      de  Gournai. 
"      de  Munneville. 
Normand  d'Adreci. 
Osberne  d'Arques. 
"        du  Breuil. 
"        d'Eu. 

Giffard. 
' '        Pastforeire. 
"        du  Quesnai. 
"        du  Saussai. 
' '        de  Wanci. 
Osmond. 

Osmont  de  Vaubadon. 
Ours  d'Abbetot. 

"     de  Bercheres. 
Picot. 

Pierre  de  Valognes. 
Rahier  d'Avre. 
Raoul  d'Aunou. 
' '      Baignard. 
"      de  Bans. 
"      de  Bapaumes. 
"      Basset. 
"      de  Beaufou. 
"      de  Bernai.' 


EOLL  IN  CHURCH  OF  DIVES,  NORMANDY. 


19 


Raoiil  Bloiiet. 

"  Botin. 

"  de  La  Bruiere. 

"  de  Chartres. 

"  de  Coloiiibieres. 

"  de  Conteville. 

"  de  Courbepine. 

"  Le  Estourmi. 

*'  de  Fougeres. 

' '  Franian. 

"  de  Gael. 

"  de  Hauville. 

"  de  L'lle. 

"  de  Languetot. 

"  de  Liniesi. 

"  de  Marci. 

"  de  Morteuier. 

"  de  Noron. 

"  d'Ouilli. 

"  Paiiiel. 

"  Pinel. 

"  Pipin. 

"  de  La  Pomiiieraie. 

"  du  Quesnai. 

"  de  Saiiit-Sanson. 

"  du  Saussai. 

"  de  Savigui. 

"  Taillebois. 

"  du  Theil. 

"  de  Toeni. 

"  de  Tourlaville. 

"  de  Touineville. 

"  Traiichard. 

"  fills  d'Uuspac. 

"  Vis-de-loup. 
Ravenot. 
Eenaud  de  Bailleul. 

"        Croc. 

"        de  Pierrepont. 

"        de  Sainte-Helene. 

"        de  Torteval. 
Renier  de  Briniou. 
Renouf  de  Colonibelles. 

"        Flambard. 

"        Pevrel. 

"        de  Saint  Waleri. 

"        de  Vaubadon. 
Richard  Basset. 


Richard  de  Beauiuais. 

"         de  Bienfaite. 

"         de  Bondeville. 

"  de  Courci. 

"  d'Eiigagne. 

"  L'Estournii. 

"         Fresle. 

"         de  Meri. 

"         de  Neuville. 

"  Poignant. 

"  de  Riviers. 

"         de  Sacquenville. 

"         de  Saint  Clair. 

"         de  Sourdeval. 

"         Talbot. 

"         de  Vatteville. 

"         de  Vernon. 
Richer  d'Andeli. 
Robert  d'Arnientieres, 

"  d'Auberville. 

"  d'Auniale. 

"  de  Barbes. 

"  Le  Bastard. 

"  de  Beaumont. 

"  Le  Blond. 

"  Blouet. 

"  Bourdet. 

"  de  Brix. 

"  de  Buci. 

"  de  Chandos. 

"  Corbet. 

"  de  Courcon. 

"  Cruel. 

*'  Le  Despensier. 

"  Conite  d'Eu. 

"  Fronientin. 

"  tils  de  Geroud. 

"  de  Glanville. 

"  Guernon. 

"  de  Hareourt. 

"  de  Lorz. 

"  Malet. 

'*  Comte  de  Meulan. 

"  de  Montbrai. 

"  de  Montfort. 

"  Conite  de  Mortain. 

"  des  Moutiers. 

"  Murdac' 


20 


THE  HAMLIN  FAMILY. 


'Robert  d'Cuilli, 

"  de  Pierrepont. 

"  de  Pontchardon. 

"  de  Rhuddlan. 

"  de  Ilonienel. 

"  de  Baint-Leger. 

"  de  Thaon. 

"  de  Toeni. 

"  de  Vatte villa. 

"  des  Vaux. 

"  de  Veei. 

"  de  Vesli. 

"  de  Villon. 

Roger  d'Abernon. 

"  Arundel. 

"  d'Auberville. 

"  de  Beaumont. 

"  Bigot, 

"  Boissel. 

"  de  Bosc-Noruiand. 

"  de  Bosc  Roard. 

"  de  Breteuil. 
de  Bulli. 

"  de  Carteret. 

"  de  Chandos. 

"  Corbet. 

"  de  Courcelles. 

"  d'Evreux. 

"  d'lvri. 

"  de  Laoi. 

"  de  I^isieux. 

"  de  Menley. 

"  de  INIontgoninieri. 

"  de  Moyaux, 

"  de  Mussegros. 

"  de  Oistreham. 

"  d'Orbec. 

"  Picot. 

"  de  Pistres. 

"  Le  Poitevin. 

"  de  Rarnes. 

"  de  Saint-Germain. 

"  de  Sommeri. 

Ruand  I'Adoube. 
Seri  d'Auberville. 

Serlon  de  Burci. 


Serlon  de  Ros. 
Sigar  de  Cioches. 
Simon  de  Senlis. 
Thierri  Pointel. 
Tiliel  de  Herion. 
Toustain. 
Turold. 

"        de  Gienteville. 

"        de  Papelion. 
Turstin  de  Gueron. 

"        Mantel. 

"        de  Sainte-Helene. 

"        fils  de  Rou. 

"        Tinel. 
Vauquelin  de  Rosai. 
Vital. 
Wadard. 


D'Auvrecher  d'Angerville. 

De  Bailleul. 

De  Bri(iueville. 

Daniel. 

Bavent. 

De  Clincbamps. 

De  Courey. 

De  Vicorate. 

De  Tournebut. 

De  Tilly. 

Danneville. 

D'Argouges. 

D'Auvay. 

De  C'anonville. 

De  Cussy. 

De  Fribois. 

D'Hericy. 

D'Houd'etot. 

De  Mathan. 

De  Montficiuet. 

D'Orglande. 

Du  Merle. 

De  Touchet. 

De  Venois. 

De  Saint-Germain. 

De  Saint-Marie. 

D'Aignaux.'  " 


THE  HAMLYN  P^AMILY.  21 

Another  early  record  of  the  name  is  to  be  found  in  the  "  Donisduy 
Book  "of  England.  This  great  work  was  ordered  to  be  compiled  by 
William  the  Conqueror,  and  was  completed  about  108G.  It  consisted  of 
the  surveys  of  the  lands  of  England,  which  he  had  conquered  from  the 
Saxons;  and  their  distribution  to  his  followers.  It  was  written  in  Nor- 
man French.  Translations  of  this  work  are  to  be  found  in  some  of  the 
large  libraries  of  this  country. 

In  a  History  of  the  Suburbs  of  Exeter,  England,  published  in  Lon- 
don in  1892,  by  Charles  Worthy,  Esquire,  is  found  a  chapter  on  the 
Hamlyn  Family,  containing  many  references  to  ancient  family  records 
and  other  matters  of  great  interest,  which   is  here  produced  at  length: 

"  THE  HAMLYN  FAMILY." 


"Certain  lands  in  Holcombe  Burnell  were  purchased  with  money 
given  for  that  purpose  by  Roger  Hamlyn,  John  Bliss,  Roger  Bliss  and 
Ann  Lambshead  and  Fidelis  Stoyle,  between  the  years  1628  and  1073; 
the  said  lands  to  be  '  for  the  use  of  the  parish  for  ever.'  At  one  time 
the  rent  of  these  lands  seems  to  have  been  devoted  to  the  repair  of  the 
church,  but  the  Connnissioners  were  of  oi)inion  that  they  should  be 
ai^plied  for  the  benefit  of  the  poor. 

A  branch  of  the  Hamlyn  family  were  long  resident  in  this  parish, 
and  also  in  the  neighboring  ones  of  St.  Tliomas  and  St.  Leonard;  in 
the  latter,  they  were  settled  at  Larkbeare  from  a  very  early  date. 

James  Hamlin,  of  Alphington,  died  in  1625,  and,  three  years 
later,  Roger  Hamlyn  as  shown  above,  was  a  benefactor  to  the  poor  of 
his  parish.  They  were  cadets  of  the  ancient  house  of  Hamlyn,  the 
history  of  which  is  coeval  with  all  that  is  actually  authentic  in  the 
history  of  this  couuty,  and  tlie  earliest  documentary  evidence  in  exist- 
ence bears  record  to  the  high  social  position  of  the  Hamlyns,  not  only 
in  Devonshire,  but  in  many  other  English  counties  as  well,  altliougli  it 
is  possible,  and  very  probable,  that  the  only  connection  between  the 
Hamlyns  of  the  west  and  those  of  other  parts  of  England  consisted  in 
identity  of  name. 

This,  like  many  other  English  surnames,  was  evidently  derived 
from  their  habitation  in  a  watered  valley;  '  ham' and 'lynna,' l>eing 
both  Saxon  terms  expressive  of  the  home  by  the  pool  or  water;  and 
thus  we  get  the   Gennan  'Hamelin,'  or  the  town  on  the  river  Haniel. 

It  has  been  thought  that  the  earliest  record  of '  Hamelin '  in  this 
county  occurs  in  a  Saxt)n  deed,  quoted  by  Risdon;  but,  from  the 
occun-ence  in  it  of  such  names  as  '  Veteripont '  and  '  Launcels,'  this 
deed  was  evidently  executed  after  the  Norman  Conquest,  and  there 
can  be  no  doubt  as  to  the  identity  of  the  particular  '  Hamelin '  who 
witnessed  it,  as  I  shall  be  able  presently  to  show. 

The  name  of  '  Hamelin '  occurs  in  several  copies  of  tlie  '  Battel 
Abbey   Roll,'   and  so  does    that  of  'Baylon'or  'Balun;'    and     it   is 


22  THE  HAMLIN  FAILY. 

well  known  that  the  Conqueror's  army  was  made  up  of  Continental 
adventurers,  and  was  by  no  means  restricted  to  his  Norman  subjects. 
Amongst  his  followers  were  many  Germans,  and  it  would  seem  certain, 
therefore,  that  the  Hamelins  themselves  were  of  the  latter  race  and 
were  nourished  ujion  the  banks  of  the  river  Hamel,  and  were  subse- 
quently known  as  'The  Hamlins,'  just  as  we  should  speak  now  of 
'The  Scotch' and  '  The  Irish,'  in  reference  to  the  constituent  parts 
of  a  modern  army. 

The  town  of  Hamlin,  in  Lower  Saxony,  is  seated  at  the  confluence 
of  the  Hamel  and  Weser,  and  is  twenty-two  miles  distant  from  Han- 
over; and  it  is  only  thus  that  the  numerous  Hamlins  or  Haralyns,  who 
settled  in  England  and  became  simultaneously  possessed  of  land  imnae- 
diately  after  the  Conquest,  in  this  and  other  counties,  can  be  supposed 
to  have  originated. 

We  find  them  settled  at  very  earl.y  dates  in  Leicestershire,  War- 
wickshire, Worcestershire,  Oxfordshire,  Gloucestershire  and  Rutland; 
and  that  they  founded  families,  henceforth  known  as  '  Hamlyn,'  and 
transmitted  to  them  their  lands  and  houses,  through  long  succeeding 
ages,  is  abundantly  evident  from  our  public  records;  an  enormous  mass 
of  Avhich  have  been  carefully  examined  for  the  purpose  of  this  short 
history  of  the  Hamlyn  family.  Thus  in  1-74,  William  Hamlin  was 
appointed  to  the  custody  of  Leicestershire  and  Warwick.  John  Ham- 
lyn was  paymaster  and  leader  of  the  levies  in  Shropshire  and  at  Staf- 
ford, in  1314.  Soon  after  GeofFry  Hamlin  had  a  commission  to  protect 
the  Price  of  Wales  (The  Black  Prince),  in  Gascony. 

The  two  most  important  Hamlyns  of  the  Eleventh  century,  were 
the  two  whose  names  are  mentioned  in  the  Battel  Abbey  Roll,  who 
were  quite  possibly  brothers,  were  known  respectively  as  '  Hame- 
line,' and  '  Hameline  de  Balun.'  The  latter,  known  usually  as 'The 
Sire  de  Bayloun,'  had  doubtless  been  a  man  of  some  importance  in  the 
diocese  of  Mons,  where  the  French  town  of  Ballan  is  situated,  and  liad 
most  probably  migrated  there  from  Gernuiny  at  some  period  anterior  to 
the  Conquest.  King  William  gave  him  the  territory  of  Ober-Went,  in 
Monmouthshire,  and  he  built  tlie  Castle  of  Bergavenny  by  his  royal 
master's  orders.  He  lived  until  the  latter  end  of  the  reign  of  William 
Rufus,  but  died  cliildless.  He  left  the  whole  of  his  property  to  his 
nephew  Brian,  son  of  his  sister  lAicy,  whose  two  sons  were  leapers. 
Therefore  this  Brian  settled  his  lands  upon  his  cousin,  'Walter  of 
Glouster,'  then  Higli  Constable  of  England. 

The  son  of  the  latter  was  created  Earl  of  Hereford,  but  his  male  line 
failed,  and  one  of  his  tliree  daughters  became  the  wife  of  Sir  William 
Braose.  Their  descendant,  Eva  Braose,  married  William  de  Cantilupe, 
who  had  then  succeeded  the  other  'Hamelin,'  mentioned  in  the  Bat- 
tel Abl)ey  Roll,  in  the  I^ordslii])  of  Broadliempston,  which  was  a  ratlier 
singular  coincidence. 

Audit  is  now  time  to  return  to  tliis  '  other  Hamelin,' for  with  his 
namesake  elsewhere  we  have  reallv   nothing  whatever  to  do,  altliough 


THE  HAMLYN  FAMILY.  23 

it  has  seemed  to  me  necessary  to  refer  to  them,  in  order  to  account  for 
the  frequent  recurrence  of  the  name  in  Ancient  records. 

'HameUn,'  of  Devonshire  and  Cornwall,  called  in  Domesday, 
'Hamelinus,'  was  the  ancestor  of  our  Devonshire  Hamlyns.  He 
most  probably  came  to  Cornwall  in  the  immediate  train  of  Robert, 
Earl  of  Mortaigne,  the  half-brother  of  William  I.  This  Robert  was 
created  Earl  of  Cornwall,  and  it  was  in  Cornwall  that  by  far  the 
greater  portion  of  Hamelin's  property  was  situated. 

In  that  county,  either  under  the  king  or  under  the  earl,  he  held 
twenty-two  important  manors  in  1086.  Some  of  his  posterity  remained 
in  Cornwall,  whilst  others  settled  in  Devonshire.  Of  the  former  it  will 
be  enough  to  say  that,  like  their  Devonshire  kinsmen,  they  always 
occui^ied  good  social  positions,  as  shown  by  patent  and  subsidy  rolls, 
parliamentary  writs  and  similar  undeniable  evidences.  Thus,  Hame- 
Un was  Reeve  of  Launceston  in  1207.  Albert  and  Richard  Hamlyn 
both  occur  more  than  a  hundred  years  later  in  Cornish  records. 

But  I  must  still  confine  myself  to  Devonshire.  In  this  county, 
*  Hamelinus '  is  shown  by  '  Domesday '  to  have  held  his  land 
entirely  under  the  Earl  of  Mortaigne,  and  it  consisted  of  Manors  of 
Broadhempston  and  of  Alwington,  which  latter  is  the  property  referred 
to  in  the  '  Saxon  deed,'  I  have  cited  above. 

The  entry  in  the  Exchequer  copy  of  the  Survey  proves  that  '  Hame- 
linus' held  Broadhempston— '  Haniistone,'  as  it  was  then  called, 
'under  the  Earl,' and  that  it  was  taxed  for  two  hides  of  land,  which 
could  be  worked  by  ten  ploughs,  and  that  he  himself  farmed  for  two 
ploughs. 

He  had  on  this  property  three  serfs,  ten  villeins  or  small  farmers, 
nine  cottagers.  The  manor  consisted  of  four  acres  of  meadow,  ten  of 
pasture  and  twelve  of  wood.  In  the  reign  of  Edward  the  ConfessoT, 
when  Ordulf  the  Saxon  owned  it,  it  was  worth  forty  shillings  per  an- 
num; it  had  increased  in  value,  under  Norman  rule  to  sixty  shillings. 

Upon  the  Manor  of  Alwington,  Hamelin  had  ten  serfs,  fifteen  villeins 
and  fifteen  cottagers.  This  latter  estate,  however,  soon  passed  to  the 
Coffins,  whose  representatives,  in  the  female  line,  are  still  settled  at 
Portledge. 

But  although  the  Hamlyns  (I  shall  henceforth  adopt  the  modern 
spelling  of  their  name)  soon  disappeared  from  both  their  original  settle- 
ments in  this  county,  yet  they  simultaneously  acquired  other  possessions 
in  the  immediate  neighborhood-  and  that  this  was  effected  by  exchange 
of  land  is  certain,  from  the  fact  that,  in  their  fresh  acquisitions,  they 
continued  to  hold  under  the  same  lord  paramount. 

Thus,  the  Hamlyns  of  Widecombe  who  maybe  considered  the  heads 
of  the  family,  obtained  their  first  property  in  that  parish  by  barter  with 
Richard,  the  son  of  Turold,  who  held  the  Widecombe  Manor  of  Nats- 
worthy  under  the  Earl,  as  did  Erchenbold,  the  Manor  of  Bratton,  near 
Alwington,  which,  at  about  the  same  period  (1187-12()n)  also  i)assed  to 
Hamlyn. 


24  THE  HAMLIN  FAMILY. 

The  descendants  of  the  first  Hamlyn  of  Widecombe  and  Bratton 
were  very  numerous,  and  spread  consequently  into  numerous 
branches.  One  of  the  most  miportant  of  these  settled  in  the  hundred 
of  Wonford,  and  the  fifth  in  descent  from  'Hamelinus,'  of  Domesday 
was  Richard  Hamlyn,  of  Wonford,  who  flourished  between  the  years 
1166-1216.  He  Avas  the  father  of  '  Handyn  of  Wonford '  who  resided 
at  Larkbeare,  as  shown  by  the 'Fines,'  3d  Henry  III,  and  also  of 
Hamlyn,  surnamed  the  'Harper,'  of  Hill,  in  the  parish  of  Holne. 
Hamlyn  of  Larkbeare  was  the  ancestor  of  the  Hamlyns  of  Exeter,  St 
Thomas  and  Alphington.  Those  of  Exeter,  in  the  course  of  years  pros- 
pered in  mercantile  pursuits,  and  gave  mayors  to  that  city,  and  filled 
other  municipal  oflices,  and  from  them  is  descended  the  present 
'Squire'  of  Paschoe,  in  Colebrook,  and  of  Lee  Wood,  in  the  parish  of 
Bridestow. 

It  is  shown  by  the  subsidy  rolls  of  14th  Henry  VIII,  that  Henry 
Hamlyn  of  Exeter,  Thomas  Hamlyn  of  Totues,  and  Richard  Hamlyn 
of  Widecombe,  all  held  lands  at  that  time  of  over  40  per  annum  rental. 

Hamlyn,  surnamed  the  '  Harper,' is  shown  to  have  been  the  son  of 
Richard  Hamlyn,  of  Wonford,  by  the  Fine  rolls;  and  Hill,  the  estate 
,  upon  which  he  was  settled,  remained  in  the  hands  of  his  descendants 
until  a  few  years  ago,  when  it  was  sold  by  the  father  of  Mrs.  William 
Hamlyn,  of  Buckfastleigh,  the  present  owner  of  Littlecombe.  He  was 
the  grandfather  of  Sir  William  '  Hamlyn  de  Deandon,' called  by  Pole 
the  son  of  '  William  (Hamlyn)  de  Deandon,'  who  was  certainly  his 
heir,  and  also  of  Walter  Hamlyn,  of  Widecombe,  who,  with  Alice  his 
wife,  is  mentioned  in  a  legal  agreement  of  the  32d  Henry  III. 

Sir  William  Hamlyn  de  Deandon,  an  estate  in  Widecombe,  which 
.  had  been  jmrchased  of  the  Pomeroys,  was  also  the  owner  of  Bratton. 
He  was  one  of  the  knights  ai)pointed  to  make  a  return  of  the  great 
assize  for  Devon,  84th  Henry  III.  He  had  no  male  issue,  but  his 
brother,  William  Hamlyn,  already  mentioned,  carried  on  the  line, 
and  was  the  father  of  William  Hamlyn,  of  Dunstone  (Assize  Rolls, 
34th  Edward  I);  of  John  Hamlyn,  of  Chittleford  (Coinage  Rolls,  31st 
EdAvard  I);  of  Hugh  Hamlyn  and  Roger  Hamlyn,  both  of  Corndon,  all 
estates  in  Widecombe  Parish;  and  of  Robert  Hamlyn,  M.  P.,  for  Tot- 
nes  in  1311.  Sir  William  Hamlyn  of  Deandon  had  another  brother, 
who  was  aiicestor  of  the  Hennock  branch  of  the  family. 

I  should  here  remark  that  Hamlyn  of  Larkbeare,  brother  of  Ham- 
lyn the  'Harper,'  of  Holne,  was  the  father  of  Sir  John  Hamlyn, 
whose  son.  Sir  Osbert  Hamlyn,  Knight,  of  Larkbeare,  married  Matil- 
da, (laughter  and  co-heir  of  Sir  V\  illiam  I'ipaid,  of  Llaktdon  Pipard,  in 
Widecombe  Parish,  and  who  was  attainted  for  high  treason  in  1370. 

William  Hamlyn,  of  Dunstone,  failed  to  answer  the  plea  of  Jefi'ry 
Pomeioy  in  130o,  whose  ancestor,  William  de  Pomeroy,  had  held  Dun- 
stone at  the  period  of  the  Domesday  survey. 

He  left  a  son,  John  Hamlyn,  also  of  Dunstone,  Avhose  descendant, 
also  called  John  of  Dunstone,  is  mentioned  in  the  coinage  Rolls  of  1412, 


THE  HAMLYN  FAMILY.  25 

and  was  the  grandfather  of  John  Hanilyn,  mentioned  in  the  same 
Rolls  of  1442.  His  son,  Robert,  of  Dunstone,  6th  Henry  VII,  was  the 
father  of  Richard  Hamlyn,  of  Dunstone,  who  succeeded  to  his  inherits 
ance  in  1506  and  died  in  1522. 

He  had  four  sons,  Robert,  Richard,  Thomas  and  John.  Of  these 
Richard  Hanilyn  was  the  ancestor  of  those  of  his  name,  lf)ng  settled  at 
Bouthcombe,  in  Widecome.  Thomas  was  of  8pitchwick,  in  Wide- 
combe  and  of  Littlecombe,  in  Holne.  He  was  buried  at  ^Videcombe  in 
in  1574  and  from  him  descended  the  Hamlyns  of  Higher  Ash,  Lower 
Ash,  and  Lake.     To  him  I  shall  have  to  refer  again. 

Robert  Hamlyn  was  eldest  son  and  and  heir  of  Richard.  He  recov- 
ered Dunstone  in  1522,  14th  Henry  VIII,  on  his  father's  death  and  is 
shown  by  the  inquisition,  taken  after  his  own  death,  3d  and  4th  Philip 
and  Marj^,  to  have  owned  Chittleford,  Scobetor,  Venton  and  Dunstone, 
in  Widecombe;  Dawnton,  in  Buckfastleigh,  as  well  as  land  in  Doddis- 
combleigh.     He  died  on  the  6th  of  April,  1556. 

His  third  son,  Ricliard,  settled  at  Dawnton,  in  Buckfastleigh.  His 
grandson,  Walter  Hamlyn,  of  Buckfastleigh,  was  the  direct  ancestor  of 
"Walter  Hamlyn,  of  Wooder,  in  Widecomlte,  whose  will,  proved  1760, 
is  sealed  with  the  ancient  arms  of  the  Hamlyn  family. 

Robert  Hanilyn,  of  Chittleford,  eldest  son  and  heir  of  Robert,  was 
ancestor  of  William,  posthumous  son  of  William  Hamlyn,  of  Dunstone, 
who  died  in  1786.  He  sold  that  ancient  family  property,  and  died 
in  1782. 

His  uncle,  Hugh  Hamlyn,  was  settled  on  the  Manor  of  Blackslade. 
The  second  son  of  Hugh,  John  Hamlyn,  born  at  Widecombe,  173S,  sold 
his  property  in  that  parish,  and  removed  to  Brent.  His  son,  Joseph 
Hanilyn,  purchased  land  in  Buckfastleigh,  and  died  in  1866. 

He  founded  the  woolen  manufactory  there,  afterwards  carried  on  by 
his  sons,  Joseph,  John  and  William,  and  which  has  since  developed 
into  the  great  tirni  known  as  Hamlyn  Brothers,  the  affairs  of  which 
are  now  conducted  by  James,  Joseph  and  William  Hamlyn. 

These  gentlemen,  with  their  brothers,  John,  Thomas  and  Hugh,  are 
the  sons  of  the  aforsaid  William  Hamlyn,  by  his  marriage  with  Mary, 
daughter  of  his  kinsman,  James  Hamlyn,  of  8huttaford,  Hill  and  Lit- 
tlecombe, in  the  parish  of  Holne,  and  the  direct  descendant  of  Tliomas 
Hamlyn,  son  of  Richard  wbo  died  in  1522,  and  brother  of  Robert  Ham- 
lyn, of  Dunstone. 

It  will  be  seen  that  from  the  period  of  the  Norman  CoiKpiest  to  the 
present  time,  the  main  branch  of  the  Hamlyn  family  have  always  been 
large  landowners  in  this  district,  and  that  it  is  moreover  in  a  great 
degree  due  to  their  energy,  that  the  woolen  trade,  the  old  staple  indus- 
try of  the  county,  and  especially  of  the  city  of  Exeter,  and  which  was 
originally  introduced  and  fostered  by  the  Cistercian  monks,  still  flour- 
ished in  the  valley  of  the  Dart. 

Of  their  ancient  property  at  Widecombe,  Lower  Ash  yet  belongs  to 
the  family,   although  it  has  xery   recently  passed   to  an   heir  female. 


26  THE  HAMLIN  FAMILY. 

Littlecombe  is  still  the  property  of  Mrs.  William  Haralyn,  the  elder,  as 
I  have  remarked  already. 

Sir  John  Hamlyn,  of  Larkbeare,  father  of  Sir  Osbert,  was  at-  Bour- 
oughbridge  in  1322,  and  his  arms  are  duly  recorded  upon  the  roll  of  the 
Knights  present  at  that  historic  contest:  '  Gules,  a  lion  rampant, 
ermine,  crowned,  or.' 

This  short  sketch  of  the  Hamlyns  would  be  incomplete  without 
some  reference  to  the  branch  of  the  family  which  long  flourished  in 
much  repute  in  Woolfardisworthy.  They  seem  to  have  descended 
from  John,  fourth  son  of  Ricliard  Hamlyn,  of  Widecombe,  and  brother 
to  Robert  and  Thomas,  paternal  and  maternal  ancestors  of  the  present 
family  of  Buckfastleigh. 

The  first  Hamlyn  of  this  parish,  William  Hamlyn,  was  of  Mersh- 
well,  and  his  arms  as  previously  blazoned,  were  on  two  shields  in 
painted  glass  in  one  of  the  windows  at  Mershwell,  with  the  date  1540. 
William  Hamlyn  was  born  in  1540,  and  buried  at  Woolfardisworthy 
in  1597.  By  his  wife,  Agnes  Yeo,  of  Stratton,  he  had  a  son,  Williain, 
whose  son  William,  of  Mershwell,  was  baptized  at  Woolfardisworthy, 
on  the  21st  day  of  October,  1579.  His  son,  William  Hamlyn,  married 
Gertrude  Cary,  and  was  buried  in  1708.  He  had  issue  by  her  fourteen 
children,  and  at  his  death  his  son  Zachary  Hamlyn,  of  whom  there 
was  a  fine  painting  by  Highmore,  engraved  by  Ardell,  succeeded  to 
Mershwell. 

He  was  admitted  a  member  of  Lincoln  Inn,  but  never  married.  Be- 
fore his  death  he  had  realized  a  large  fortune,  and  he  purchased  the 
Clovelly  Estate  of  the  Cary  family  in  1729.  This,  witli  other  property, 
he  settled  by  will  in  1758,  on  liis  grand-nephew,  James  Hammett,  eld- 
est son  of  his  nephew,  Richard  Hammett,  whose  mother  had  been  his 
sister,  Thomazin  Hamlyn.  The  picture  of  Zachary  Haralyn  was  de- 
stroyed by  fire  at  Clovelly  House  in  1789.  He  recorded  his  pedigree  at 
Herald's -College  but  did  not  carry  it  further  back  than  the  William 
•  Hamlyn  I  have  mentioned  as  buried  at  Woolfardisworthy  in  1597. 

Richard  Hanmiett's  eldest  son,  James  Hammett,  upon  whom  the 
property  was  settled,  took  the  name  of  Hamlyn  by  act  of  Parliament, 
in  1760,  and  was  created  a  Baronet  in  1795.  He  died  in  1811.  He  mar- 
ried Arabella,  daughter  and  heir  of  Tlioraas  Williams,  of  London,  and 
had  issue,  Jaines,  wlio  in  1798  assumed  the  additional  surname  of  Will- 
iams. He  was  succeeded  in  1829  by  his  son,  James  Hamlyn- Williams, 
as  third  Baronet,  who  married  Lady  Mary,  fourth  daughter  of  Hugh, 
first  Earl  Fortesqvie. 

The^'  had  no  male  issue,  and  the  eldest  daughter,  Susan  Hester,  suc- 
ceeded to  the  Clovelly  i^roperty.  She  married  Lieut.  Col.  Fane,  who 
took  the  additional  name  of  Hamlyn,  and  had  one  son,  Neville  Batson 
Hamlyn-Fane,  born  1858,  and  three  daughters. 

As  might  naturally  be  expected,  there  are  frequent  mention  of  the 
Hamlyns  in  old  parochial  and  municipal  records,  apart  from  the 
public  documents,  which   I  have  already  said   have  been   thoroughly 


EARLY  RECORDS.  27 

examined  for  the  purposes  of  this  history.  I  may  add  that  William 
Hamlyn  was  M.  P.  for  Totnes  as  far  back  as  1260;  and  that  the  ancient 
family  of  Monk,  anciently  Le  Moyne,  of  Potheridge,  quartered  the 
Hamlyn  arms  in  right  of  marriage  of  their  ancestor,  Adam  Le  Moyne, 
with  the  daughter  and  heir  of  Hamlyn,  of  Cockington.  Adam 
Le  Moyne  was  the  great  grandson,  of  Hugh  Le  Moyne,  of  Poth- 
eridge, tetii}).  Henry  I.  The  great  grandson  of  Adam,  also  called 
Hugh,  lived  3d  Edward  I,  and  was  the  direct  ancestor  of  General 
Monk,  born  at  Potheridge  on  the  6th  of  December,  1608,  and  subse- 
quently Duke  af  Albemarle. 

The  pedigree  of  Hamlyne,  of  Widecombe  and  Buckfastleigh,  from 
the  Richard  Hamlyn  who  died,  1522,  appears  in  Colonel  Vivian's  edi- 
tion of  the  Herald's  Visitations  of  Devon." 

The  foregoing  records  are  proof  that  the  familj'  have  been  continu- 
ous in  England,  from  the  time  of  William  the  Conqueror  to  the  pres- 
ent time;  other  records  and  information  corroborate  it. 

Mr.  H.  G.  Somerby,  London,  about  1849,  made  some  researches  in 
England  for  the  late  David  Hamblen,  of  Boston,  which  will  be  found 
instructive  and  interesting. 

From  Nichol's  History  of  Leicestershire: 

"  In  the  year  1240  Ralph  Hamelin  had  some  ploughlands  at  Wy- 
mondham  which  paid  32d  to  the  Sheriff  aid. 

By  an  undated  French  deed  (about  1285)  Robert  Paynell  confirms  to 
John  Hamelin  of  Wyndham,  and  his  heirs  a  virgate  and  half  of  land. 

In  1286  Hugh  Hamelin  was  rector  of  the  church  at  Wyndham; 
died  1316. 

In  1290  William  Hamelin  held  lands  in  Saxelby  (Saxeby?)  Wynd- 
ham and  Thorpe. 

In  1297  John  Hamelin  held  half  a  Knigbt's  fee  and  the  tenth  part  of 
one  other  Knight's  fee  in  Wymondham,  of  Edmund,  Earl  of  Lancas- 
ter, the  King's  brother,  deceased,  by  homage  and  suit  of  coin-t;  also, 
that  Sir  William  de  Hamelin  held  half  a  Kniglit's  fee  in  Wyuiondham 
aforesaid,  of  the  said  earl,  by  homage  and  suit  of  court. 

In  1303,  John  de  Hamelin  and  John  de  Tateshall  held  the  thii'd  part 
of  one  Knight's  fee,  with  the  appurtenances  in  Somerby,  Bury,  Dal- 
by,  Parva  and  Boston  St.  Lazarus,  of  Robert  de  Tateshall,  deceased, 
and  it  was  worth  60s. 

Feb.  12,  1303,  King  Edward  I  granted  to  John  Hamelin  and  his 
heirs  a  weekly  market  on  tuesdays,  and  a  yearly  fair  on  the  eve  and 
day  of  St,  Peter  and  St.  Paul,  to  be  held  at  the  manor  of  Wymondham, 
in  the  county  of  Leicester. 

In  4th  Edward  I  William  Hamelin  was  sheriff' of  the  Counties  of 
Leicester  and  Lincoln. 


28 


THE  HAMLIN  FAMILY. 


EARLY   RECORDS. 


29 


A  Chantry  was  founded  in  182S,  in  St.  Peter's  chai)el,  at  Querden 
by  Sir  John  Hanielin,  who  endowed  it  with  lands  at  Wyinondhani. 

In  1309  Sir  Jolm   Hainelin   of  Wyiuondiiain    impleaded^  Roger  de 
Derle  and  otliers  of  Stapleford,  for  hreakinu;  down  a  wall  at  Wyniond- 


EFFtGY    O 


AT   WVMONDHA 


ham,  which  Sir  John  Hanielin  declared  was  built  upon  his  own  free- 
hold; but  was  asserted  by  Roger  de  Derle  to  be  upon  the  waste  ground 
of  Thomas,  Earl  of  Leicester,  to  whom  Derle  was  the  steward. 

In  1297  John  de  Hamlin  and  Nicholas  de  Grendale  held  the  tenth 
part  of  a  Knight's  fee  in  Saxby,  by  homage  and  12d  a  year  rent." 


30  THE  HAMLIN  FAMILY. 

Mr.  Somerby  wrote:  "  The  south  cross  of  the  church  at  Wymond- 
ham  was  the  appropriate  burial  place  of  the  Hamelins.  At  the  south 
end  of  the  cross  aisle,  was  the  tomb  of  an  old  Knight,  in  a  coat  of  mail 
and  cross  legged,  for  one  of  the  Hamelins,  but  the  tomb  which  is  in  the 
fomi  of  a  M'edge,  broader  at  the  shoulders  than  at  the  feet,  had  in  1768 
neither  escutcheon  of  arras  nor  inscription.  This  cross  legged  figure  of 
Sir  John  Hamelin,  which  had  long  lain  neglected  on  the  floor,  has,  on 
a  late  repair  of  the  church,  by  the  laudable  attention  of  the  Earl  of 
Harborough,  been  effectually  preserved;  and  is  now  fixed  upright 
against  one  of  the  walls,  secure  from  further  injury. 

I  found  at  the  prerogation  office  in  London,  wills  of  Edward  and 
John  Hamblyn. 

That  of  Edward  proved  May,  1620.  His  wife  was  Anne; — his  sons: 
John,  married  Elizabeth;  William,  and  Edward,  called  an  undutiful 
son;  and  daughters,  Agnes  and  Mary.  He  is  styled  Yeoman,  of  Read- 
ing, County  Berks. 

Roger  Hanilyn,  Yeoman,  of  Alphington,  Co.   Devon,   will   proved 

September  1628.     His  wife  was  E .     He  mentions  no  children  of  his 

own.  He  names  his  brother  John's  sons:  Daniel,  Francis  and  Thomas, 
not  of  age;  also  his  brother  Thomas'  sons:  Roger  and  John,  and 
daughters  Mary  and  Alice,  not  of  age;  his  brother  Daniel's  son,  Daniel. 
His  brother  Daniel  was  one  of  the  Executors." 

Mr.  Somerby  also  states:  "  I  aceidentaly  met  with  an  old  engrav- 
ing of  "Wymondham  Church,  and  of  Sir  John  Hamelin's  effigy,  which 
I  purchased  and  will  send  to  you  at  some  convenient  opportunity." 
(See  illustrations  pp.  28,  29.) 


Extract  from  a  will  deposited  at  Norwich  in  Norfolk,  England: 

Thomas  Hamblyn  of  Hinderby,  Yeoman.  Will  proved  in  Sept., 
1687.  To  be  buried  in  churchyard  at  Hinderby;  wife  Margaret,  execu- 
trix. Mentions  daughters  Alise  and  Elizabeth,  wife  of  William 
Deakes,  and  Thomas,  son  of  John  Symonds,  and  John,  son  of  John 
IBaterby. 


From  the  Register  Salisbury  Cathedral,  Eng.: 

MARRIAGES. 

Hamlin  Richard  &  Elizabeth  Beake,  Jan  14,  1611. 
"        Mark  &  Sybil  Thompson,  Jan  6,  1614. 


EARLY  RECORDS.  81 

From  Register  of  Winterbouriie,  England: 

BAPTISMS. 

Hamlin  John,   son  of  Thomas,  Dec  26,  1579. 
"       Gregory  "     "         "         Feb  17,  1581. 

BURIED. 

Hamlin,  Joan,  daughter  of  Thomas  Feb  9,  1579. 

John   Hamelyn   was   rector  of  the  Church  of  Barnham  Broom,  in 
Norfolk,  1493. 

Miscellaneous  extracts  from  the  parish  register  of  St.  Lawrence  in 
Heading,  Berkshire: 

BAPTISMS. 

Hamlin     Peter,    son    of  John,  Aug  16,  1607. 
Hamblen  Sarah    dau    "       "      Dec  2,  1608. 
Hamlyn  Hannah    "     "       "      May  23,  1610. 
Hamlyn  Cicely        "     "   Michael,  Mar  12,  1616. 
Hamblen  Michael  son  "  "         July  12,  1620. 

"  "  "    "   Henry,  AugV,  1617. 

"     Susannah  dau  "   Edward,  Oct  15,  1620. 
"        John        son  "   Michael,  Mar  27,  1623. 
Hamlin    Michael     "    "  "         Dec  23,  1625. 

"        James*       "    "   James,  Oct  31,  1630. 
"        George       "    "   Michael,  Dec  1,  1631. 
Hamblin  Joan       dau  "  John,  May  23,  1632. 
"        Sarah*        "    "  James,  Sep  6,  1632. 
Hamlin   Ehzabeth  "    "   Henry,  March  22,  1633. 
"  John        son  "    Michael,  May  28,  1634. 

"  ]\fery*     dau  "  James,  July  27,  1634. 

"  Edward  son  "  John,  Oct  6,  1634. 

"  William     "    "   William,  Jany  15,  1636. 

James*      "    "   James,  April  10,  1636. 

MARRIED. 

Hamlin  Henry  &  Maiy  Wagstafl",  July  29,  1616. 

BURIALS. 

Hamlin  Michael  April  13,  1615. 

"  Edward      "     15,  1620. 

"  John       March  28,  1823. 

"  Michael  Feb  20,  1625. 

"  John  March  27,  1627. 

"  Michael  Oct  23,  1628. 

"  James*     "     24,  1633. 


*  The  writer  supposes  these  were  the  children  of  James  Hamlin,  the  settler  in  Barn- 
stable, Mass.,  1639. 


32  THE  HAMLIN  FAMILY. 

In  a  letter  written  in  1871  by  Mr.  Thomas  Hamlin,  Barister,  residing 
at  Redhill  House,  Warington,  near  Bristol,  England,  among  other 
things  he  says  :  "  The  family  of  Hamlin  were  Normans,  and  came  over 
with  William  the  Conqueror,  and  their  names  are  recorded  in  the  Battle 
Abbey  Roll. 

They  settled  down  in  Monmouth-shire,  8omerset-shire  and  Devon- 
sliire.  Some  years  ago  I  had  the  curiosity  to  examine  the  family  pedi- 
gree at  the  Herald's  office  in  London;  it  was  very  long  and  brought 
down  to  the  last  generation  in  the  person  of  Mr.  Hamlin,  a  Barrister. 
I  had  an  introduction  to  one  of  the  Chiefs  of  the  Herald's  x)tfice,  who 
said  the  out-of-pocket  cost  for  copying  the  pedigree  would  be  £5. 

I  hardly  know  who  is  entitled  to  the  Baronetcy  at  present;  it  is  in 
abeyance.  The  Cloodly  j^roperty  is  a  splendid  estate,  near  Ilfracomb, 
in  Devonshire. 

"  Subjoined  are  extracts  from  English  works. 

From  Prince's  Worthies  of  Devon  (1810):  From  the  issue  of  Sir 
William  Carey's  third  marriage  sprung  the  Clovelly  Family — which  is 
the  residence  of  Sir  James  Hainlyn,  Baronet;  whose  great  grandfather, 
William  Hamlyn,  of  Mershwell,  married  Gertrude,  daughter  of  Thomas 
Cary,  M.  A. 

In  Lieut.  Peterson's  Roads,  1808,  Sir  James  Hamlin,  Baronet,  of 
Clovelly  Court,  is  noticed. 

From  Coxe's  Mounmouthshire:  Soon  after  the  Conquest,  Hame- 
line,  son  of  Deu-de-Baladun  or  Balure,  a  "great  Norman  Chiftain,  sub- 
dued Overwent  and  built  a  fortress  at  Abergavenny,  dying  without 
issue  in  1090.  He  left  the  castle  to  his  Nephew,  Brien-de-in-Wallingford 
or  de-1'Isle. 

In  the  history  and  antiquities  of  Somerset,  by  the  Revd  John  Culli- 
son,  F.  A.  S.  (1791),  among  the  gentlemen  and  Sheriffs  of  this  county  is: 
John  Hamlyn  1373. 

Names  of  the  Lords  and  Squires  and  gentlemen  within  the  county 
of  Somerset,  resident  in  the  time  of  Henry  VII:  Alexander  Hamlyn. 

The  following  is  an  extract  from  Burke's  Landed  Gentry  of  Great 
Britain:  Hamlyn  of  Leawood  and  Paschoe.  Hamlyn-Calmady  Pollex- 
fen.  Esquire  of  Leawood  and  Paschoe,  County  Devon,  b.  18  Jany  1775 — 
m.  27  June  1805,  Fanny  Bedford,  only  dau .  of  Richard  Cross,  Esq.  of  Dur- 
yards,  near  Exeter,  and  has  issue:  I.  Shilston  Calmady,  m.  25  March 
1841,  Sarah  Carter,  of  Neston,  Co.  Chester.  I.  Francis  Elizabeth  II. 
Ellen  Mary. 

Mr.  Hamlyn  is  a  magistrate  and  deputy  Lieutenant  for  Devon  and 
Cornwall. 

LINEAGE. 

This  family  which  has  resided  in  Exeter  so  early  as  the  middle  of 
•the  15th  Century,  settled  at  Paschoe  in  1611.  The  heiress  of  an  elder 
branch  named  Harris. 


p]ARLY  RKCORD.S.  33 

The  kite  Cliristopher  Hamlyn,  Esq.,  of  Paschoe,  son  of  Robert  Pas- 
choe  Hamlyn,  Esq.,  by  Gertrude  Mills,  his  wife — ni.  1st  Elizabeth 
INIary,  dau.  (by  Ellizabetli,  his  wife,  dau.  and  eventual  heiress  of  John 
Pollexfen,  Esq.,)  of  Vincent  Cahuady,  Esq.,  and  sister  and  co-heiress 
(witli  lier  sister,  Pollexfen,  who  ni.  Admiral,  Charles  Holmes  Everett, 
who  took  tlie  name  of  Calmady,  and  was  fatlier  of  the  present  Charles 
Begges  Calmady,  Esq.,  of  Langdon-Hall;  see  Calniady)  of  her  brother 
Francis  Calmady,  Esq.,  of  Langdon-Hall;  Co.  Devon,  and  by  her  had 
an  only  son  and  heir,  tlie  present  Calmady  Pollexfen  Hamlyn,  Esq.,  of 
Pasclioe  and  Leawood. 

Mr.    Hamlyn  I'lidly  m.  Frances  Marsliall,  but  had  no  furtlier  issiie." 

Jenkin's  History  of  Exeter,  England,  gives  a  list  of  the  mayors  and 
bailiffs  of  that  city  from  an  early  period;  they  seem  to  have  been  chosen 
annually;  the  bailiffs,  four  in  number,  equivalent  to  aldermen,  were 
assistants  to  the  mayor.  The  Hamlyns  named  by  Jenkins  as  sharing  in 
the  citj'  government  are  as  follows: 

1444,  Nicholas  Hamlyn,  4th  Bailiff. 


1447, 

4th 

14^58,  John 

3d 

14(51,      " 

1st 

1468,      " 

Mayor. 

1485,  Nicholas 

4  Bailiff-. 

1491, 

1       " 

1499, 

Mayor. 

1511,  Henry 

4th  Bailiff. 

1524,       " 

1st 

1526,       " 

Mayor. 

1538,       " 

(( 

In  1882  Prof.  Charles  E.  Hamlin,  late  of  Harvard  College,  fonnerly 
professor  of  natural  sciences  in  Waterville  College,  now  Colby  Univer- 
sity, visited  Exeter,  England,  and  there  found  many  of  the  name  of 
Hamlin.  Also,  an  old  family,  then  represented  by  Shilston  Calmady 
Hamlyn,  Esquire,  one  of  the  largest  landed  proprietors  in  West  Devon- 
shire. 

Respecting  the  name,  many  theories  have  been  advanced  as  to  its 
origin. 

In  a  treatise  of  Charles  Waring  Bardsley,  M.  A.,  London,  1875,  on 
English  surnames,  it  is  stated  that  the  name,  Hamlyn,  is  derived  from 
Homo,  or  Hamon,  but  no  authority  is  given  for  the  statement. 

The  work  of  Mark  Anthony  Lower,  London,  1843,  on  English  sur- 
names, offers  much  interesting  information  on  the  subject,  of  a  general 
character,  from  which  we  extract: 

"  It  is  not  sufficient  for  a  person  of  inquisitive  mind  that  he  bears 
such  and  such  a  surname  because  his  father  and  grandfather  bore  it;  he 


34  THE  HAMLIN  FAMILY. 

will  naturally  feel  desirous  of  knowing  why  and  when  their  ancestors 
acquired  it."     *    *    * 

"The  ancient  Britons  generally  used  one  name  only;  sometimes, 
but  very  rarely  they  added  another."     *    *    * 

"  No  precise  date  can  be  assigned  to  the  introduction  of  hereditary 
surnames  into  England."     *    *    * 

"  Surnames  were  taken  up  in  a  gradual  manner  by  the  great,  during 
the  eleventh,  twelfth  and  thirteenth  centuries.  By  the  middle  of  the 
twelfth,  however,  it  appears  they  were  necessary  appendages  to  fami- 
lies of  rank,  to  distinguish  them  from  meaner  extraction. 

"  Surnames  can  scarcely  be  said  to  be  permanently  settled  before  the 
era  of  the  Reformation.  The  keeping  of  parish  registers  was 
probably  more  instrumental  than  anything  else  in  settling  them;  for 
if  a  person  was  entered  under  one  surname  at  baptism,  it  is  not 
likely  that  he  would  be  married  under  another,  and  buried  under 
a  third. 

"  We  have  already  seen  that  some  second  names  were  borrowed  from 
places  in  ancient  times.  These,  however,  were  not  hereditary,  like 
those  of  modern  date.  The  latter  originated,  in  all  probability,  in  Nor- 
mandy and  the  contiguous  parts  of  France,  about  the  close  of  the  tenth 
century,  or  tlie  commencemeut  of  the  eleventh.  Possessors  of  land,  in 
the  first  instance,  borrowed  them  from  their  own  estates,  a  practice  in 
which  the  Normans  were  soon  imitated  by  the  English,  particularly 
after  the  Conquest.  Chiefly  of  this  kind  are  the  names  occurring  in 
that  far-famed  document,  the  GREAT  ROLL,  of  Battel  Abbey, — a  list 
of  the  principal  commanders  and  companions  in  arms  of  William  the 
Conqueror.  Camden  remarks,  that  there  is  not  a  single  village  in  Nor- 
mandy that  has  not  surnamed  some  family  in  England. 

"  Many  persons  who  bear  names  of  French  origin  jump,  without  any 
evidence  of  the  fact  from  historical  records,  to  the  conclusion  that  they 
must  needs  be  descended  from  some  stalwart  Norman,  who  hacked  his 
way  to  eminence  and  fortune  through  the  serried  ranks  of  the  Saxons 
at  Hastings.  Such  ambitious  individuals  ought  to  be  reminded  that, 
in  the  eight  centuries  that  have  elapsed  since  the  Conquest,  there  have 
been  numerous  settlements  of  the  French  in  our  nation  (England). 

"  Sirname. — Nomen  patris  additum  proprio.  Surname. — Nomen  sup- 
ra nomen  additum.  Sirname  differed  originally  from  Surname.  Sur- 
name, the  name  one  has  over  and  above  the  Christian  name.  They 
were  at  first  written,  not  in  a  direct  line  after  the  Christian  name,  but 
above  it,  between  the  lines,  hence  called  in  Latin,  Supranomia,  and  in 
French,  Sur-noms.  From  the  last  the  English  term  is  immediately  de- 
rived. A  surname  is,  therefore,  a  name  superadded  to  the  first  or 
Christian  name,  to  indicate  the  family  to  which  the  individual  bearing 
it  belongs.  Hence,  although  every  sirname  is  a  surname,  every  sur- 
name is  not  a  sirname,  a  distinction  now  scarcely  recognized;  but  the 
words  are  used  indiscriminately. 


THE  NAME.  35 

Mr.  Lower  states  that  the  name  Hamlin,  is  derived  from  the  .Sire- 
name,  Hanmieline,  now  obsolete,  but  found  in  Doomsday  Book,  and 
other  ancient  English  records. 

In  his  book  is  given  a  list  of  surnames,  derived  from  Christian 
names,  in  which  occurs  the  name  Hamlin,  as  derived  from  Ham- 
meline.  I3:!j5848 

Camden,  (one  of  the  earliest  writers  on  English  names — UVIS) 
says:  "About  the  year  of  our  Lord  lUOO,  surnames  began  to  be  taken 
up  in  France,  and  in  England  about  the  time  of  the  Conquest."— 106fi. 

Cussans  in  his  Handbook  of  Heraldry,  says:  "Of  the  many  Noble.s 
who  accompanied  the  Conqueror  to  England,  but  few,  if  any,  were  dis- 
tinguished by  surnames;  they  were  described  simply  l)y  their  Chris- 
tian names,  followed  by  the  locality  from  whence  they  came.  *  *  * 
Even  the  Conqueror's  sons,  William  and  Henry,  were  distinguished  by 
such  names  as  Rufus  and  Beauclerc.  Hereditary  surnames  were  not 
generally  adopted  in  England,  even  amongst  the  Xobility,  until  the 
fourteenth  century;  yet  long  anterior  to  that  period,  we  find  Nobles 
designated  by  the  name  of  the  Charge  which  they  bore  uijon  their 
shields,  which  names  and  bearings  have  descended  to  their  posterity." 

On  the  theory  that  the  name  is  of  German  origin,  it  has  been  suggest- 
ed that  it  is  derived  from  Haem,  home;  and  lien,  body;  or  homebody, 
the  explanation  being,  that  when  all  but  one  of  the  male  members  of  the 
family  were  absent  in  war,  the  one  at  home  was  called  Haemlien,  or 
homebody.  One  of  the  coat  of  arms  of  the  family  is  in  harmony  with 
this  idea;  the  three  bulls  suggesting  husbandry,  or  home  pursuits;  and 
the  crest,  a  hand  plucking  a  rose,  suggesting  a  peaceful  or  home  pursuit. 
But  this  could  not  have  been  appropriately  applied  to  Hameline,  the 
follower  of  William;  who  was  a  soldier;  the  lion  rampant,  or  the  crossed 
swords,  would  have  been  more  appropriate  insignias. 

Upon  similar  ■  theories,  a  variety  of  derivations  of  the  name 
could  be  constructed  from  its  syllables.  Ham  was  an  old  English  and 
Saxon  word,  and,  like  hame,  hama  and  hamma,  has  similar  meaning; 
a  house  or  dwelling,  a  home,  a  home  close  or  little  meadow,  a  piece  of 
land;  it  also  had  a  meaning  kindred  to  hamel  and  hamlet,  a  collection 
of  houses,  a  village  or  town.  Lin,  and  its  antecedents  linn,  linne  and 
llyn;  meaning  a  jjool,  pond  or  lake,  and  hlynna,  a  Saxon  word,  a 
brook  or  torrent, — defined  as  a  pool  or  collection  of  water,  particularly 
above  or  below  a  fall  of  water;  a  waterfall  or  cataract.  From  these  we 
could  have,  a  home,  house,  dwelling,  village,  hamlet,  etc.,  by  the  pool, 
lake,  river,  brook,  cataract,  waterfall,  etc.  Hence  the  derivation  sug- 
gested by  Mr.  Worthy,  "The   home  by  the  pool." 

Ham  is  the  name  of  a  small  town  and  fortress  situated  on  the  river 
of  the  same  name  in  the  department  of  Somme,  in  France,  of  ancient 
origin.  Coins  were  struck  here  in  the  reign  of  Charles  the  Bold,  840-877. 

As  stated  by  Mr.  Worthy,  Hameln,  at  the  junction  of  the  river  of 
the  same  name  with  the  river  W^eser,  is  in  Hanover.  It  is  an  ancient 
town  and  a  former  fortress. 


36 


THE  HAMLIN  FAMILY. 


Hamburg,  Germany,  founded  by  Charlemagne,  804,  may  have  a 
similar  meaning. 

Hamme  is  also  the  name  of  a  town  in  the  Netherlands;  as  is  Hamm, 
the  name  of  a  town  of  Prussia. 

It  is  an  established  fact  that  the  name  of  the  follower  of  Williana 
was  variously  written  Hameline,  Hamelin  and  Hamelinus. 

It  is  a  further  fact  that  it  was  a  custom  in  p]ngland  following  the  Con- 
quest, for  individuals  to  assume  the  names  of  the  city,  town  or  pro- 
vince from  wlience  they  came,  in  France  or  elsewhere,  and  in  return  to 
confer  the  same  or  similar  ones  on  their  new  homes  in  England. 

From  these  premises  it  is  not  improbable  to  infer  that  the  founder  of 
the  name  in  P^ngland,  may  have  taken  it  from  his  home  in  France  or 
Germany.  But  these  are  speculations,  not  conclusive  proof  of  the 
facts;  they  are  at  best  presumptions. 


mm 


HAMELIN    COAT  OF  ARMS. 


Several  coats  of  arms  of  the  family  have  l)een  found,  viz.: 

In  the  roll  of  Arms,  of  Edward  III,  1337.     Monsier  Hamlyn:    Port 

Gules,  une  lion  d'or  gonte  sable. 

Another  is  that  of  the  Hamlyns  of  Exeter,  England: 

Arms:    Sable,  two  swords  crossed    in  saltier,    hilted  and  pommel e<J„ 

the  points  upward,  or;    Quarterings;    Calmady   and   Pollexfen;     CaJl- 


COAT8  OF  ARM8. 


37 


mady  quartering,  1st  and  4th,  argent,  a  lion  ranii)ant,  gules;  PoUex- 
fen,  2d  and  3d  azure,  a  chevron  between  three  pears,  or.  Motto:  Caute 
sed  Strenue.  Crest:  A  grittin  i)assant  guardant.  8eats:  Paschoe, 
Colebrook,  Leawood,  Bridestowe;  County  Devon. 

Another;  Arms  of  the  family  Hainelin:  Argent,  three  Bulls  passant 
sable.  Crest:  A  hand  plucking  a  Rose  from  a  bush  of  the  proper  col- 
ors.    (See  illustration  p.  36.) 

Burke,   in  his  Encj-elopsedia  of  Heraldry,  gives  the  following  Coats 
of  Arms: 

Hamlin — Arms:    Gules,  a   lion  rampant,  ermine,   crowned  with   an 
antique  crown,  or.     Crest:  seven  arrows,  points  upward,  proper. 

Hamlin — (Hamlinston;  Reg.  Ulster's  oflfice. )     Arms:  A  chevron  be- 
tween three  Spaniels  sejant,  gules. 

Hamlin — (County  Leicester.)   Arms:  (lules,  a  lion  rampant,  ermine, 
ducally  crowned,  or. 


Hamline — (Impalement  f.  ent.  of  Roland  St.  Lawrence,  Alderman 
of  Drogheda,  d.  .July  9,  1633.  Married  Alson,  dau.  of  Alderman  Thom- 
as Hamline,  same  place. )  Arms:  A  chevron  between  three  lions  sejant, 
gules. 

Hamlyn— (Paschoe  and  Leawood,  County  Devon.)  Arms:  Sable, 
two  swords,  in  saltier,  the  points  upward,  hilted  and  ponnneled,  or; 
Quarterings:  Calmady  and  Pollexfen.  Crest:  A  griffin  guardant. 
Motto:  Caute  sed  Strenue. 

Hamlyn—(CloveUy— Court,  County  Devon,  Bart,  i  Arms:  Or,  a 
falcon,  sable,  billed,  gules;  between  three  roses,  leaved,  vert.  Crest: 
A  swan,  argent;  collared,  gules;  wings  endorsed;  beaked  and  legged, 
or;  holding  in  the  beak  a  birdbolt,  saV)le. 

Other  Crests.— Hamlyn,  Crest:  A  demi  swan,  wings  expanded, 
bezant. 


58  THE  HAMLIN  FAMILY. 

Hamlyn,  Crest:  A  swan  close;  in  its  mouth  a  baton. 

The  greater  number  of  Hamlins  found  in  America  descend  from 
James  Hamblen,  who  settled  in  Barnstable,  Massachusetts,  in  1639. 

The  writer  has  found  no  one  of  the  name  in  this  country  earlier  than 
him.  His  descendants  are  numerous,  and  extended  early  to  other 
parts  of  the  country,  and  are  now  found  in  most,  if  not  all  the  states 
and  territories,  in  Canada,  and  other  foreign  countries.  This  family 
spells  the  name  variously,  thus:  Hamlin,  Hamlen,  Hamline,  Hamb- 
lin  and  Hamblen. 

The  descendants  of  Captain,  or  Honorable  Giles  Hamlin,  who  set- 
tled in  Middletown,  Conn.,  1650-4,  though  not  so  numerous  as  those  of 
James  Hamblen,  of  Barnstable,  are  found  similarly  distributed. 

There  are  traditions  and  frequent  statements  to  be  found  in  various 
local  histories,  biographies,  genealogies,  etc.,  that  James  Hamblen,  the 
settler  in  Barnstable,  and  Hon.  Giles  Hamlin,  of  Middletown,  were  re- 
lated. These  statements  are  far  from  being  uniform.  After  diligent 
research,  the  writer  has  been  unable  to  ascertain  any  conclusive  evi- 
dence of  the  fact  of  any  relationship  between  these  two  men.  The  best 
evidence,  aside  from  mere  assertion,  is  found  in  the  statement  of  the 
Hon.  Hannibal  Hamlin,  Vice  President,  who  wrote  in  a  letter  in  1890 
as  follows: 

"  I  think  the  early  Hamlins  at  Cape  Cod  in  Mass.,  and  at  Middle- 
town,  Conn.,  were  related,  but  have  no  correct  idea  how.  My  eldest 
brother  Elijah,  from  investigation,  was  satisfied  that  the  descendants 
of  James  and  Giles  Hamlin,  were  connected.  T  have  not  the  data  of 
his  investigation. 

Besides,  an  aged  aunt  of  mine  told  me  some  twenty  years  ago,  that 
when  she  was  a  young  girl,  her  father,  my  grandfather,  Eleazer  Ham- 
lin, was  in  the  habit  of  visiting  with  his  wife,  the  Hamlins  in  Middle- 
town  as  his  relatives,  but  just  what  the  relation  was  she  could  not  tell. 
*  *  *  So  I  am  satisfied  that  the  Hamlins  of  Cape  Cod  and  Middle- 
town  wen'  of  the  s.niue  stock." 

While  it  is  not  improbable  that  these  men  may  have  been  relatives, 
in  view  of  other  ascertained  facts,  the  statement  of  the  Vice  President, 
wiJch  is  undoubtedly  true,  admits  of  a  different  and  probably  more  cor- 
rect conclusion.  Hannibal  Hamlin  was  deeply  interested  in  the  study 
of  his  ancestry,  and  owing  to  his  eminent  position  was  frequently 
applied  to  for  information  concerning  the  subject,  which  was  cheer- 
fully given  to  every  one;  but  the  fact  is,  that  he  was  in  error  as  to  his 
own  ancestors,  a  question  about  which  different  genealogists,  best  ad- 
vised on  the  subject,  differed.  The  writer  has  labored  under  the  same 
■difficulty,  with  more  evidence  perhaps  than  was  examined  by  any 
other  person,  and  was  compelled  to  change  hit  opinion  several  times, 
as  new  evidence  was  produced.  In  the  first  place  it  is  possible  and 
probable  that  in  the  communication  of  facts,  which  occurred  seventy 
years  before,  there  may  have  been  some  inaccuracy  of  statement, 
although   made  with  the  best  intention.     Capt.    Eleazer  Hamlin,    the 


RELATIONSHIP,  ETC.  39 

grandfather  of  the  Vice  President,  was  an  olticer  in  the  Revolutionary 
army  in  which  several  of  his  sons  also  served,  his  son  Africa  being  an 
officer  and  a  member  of  the  Society  of  Cincinnati.  Some  of  the  Barnsta- 
ble Hamlins,  their  relatives,  had  settled  in  Sharon,  Conn.,  in  Berkshire 
county,  Mass.,  and  in  Eastern  New  York,  as  early  as  1740,  and  in  other 
places  in  Connecticut.  Many  of  these  Hamlins  are  known  to  have 
been  Revolutionary  soldiers,  among  whom  were  Capt.  Nathaniel,  also 
Cornelius,  Thomas,  Asa  and  David,  of  Sharon;  .lohn  Hamlin,  of  Cum- 
mington,  Mass.;  Ebenezer  Hamlin  and  his  son  Mark,  of  Burlington, 
Connecticut;  Seth  Hamlin  and  Jabez  Hamlin,  of  Alford,  Massachu- 
setts, and  many  otliers.  Some  of  these  are  said  to  have  been  on  the 
staft'  of  Gen.  Washington;  and  Africa  Hamlin  kept  a  voluminous 
diary  of  everything  he  knew  or  heard  about  Washington.    ^ 

It  is  very  probable  that  Capt.  Eleazer  and  his  sons  made  the  ac- 
quaintance of  their  own  relatives,  who  had  served  in  the  army  with 
them.  It  is  true  also,  that  many  of  the  descendands  of  Capt.  Giles 
Hamlin  served  in  the  old  French  wars,  and  in  the  Revolution,  some  of 
whom  were  prominent  officers,  whose  acquaintance,  it  is  more  than 
probable,  was  made  by  Capt.  Eleazer,  during  his  service.  Now,  the 
conclusion  is,  that  his  daughter  may  have  inferred  that  those  visited 
by  her  father  in  Connecticut,  were  all  relatixes  from  the  circum- 
stances here  related.  It  is  fair  to  state  that  the  Vice  President  was  not 
advised  of  all  the  facts  here  related.  y  ' 

Hon.  Elijah  L.  Hamlin,  an  elder  brotlur  ol  the  Vice  President, 
appears  to  have  given  some  critical  investigation  of  his  ancestors,  and 
was  interested  in  the  subject.  In  a  memoranda  prepared  by  b.im  in 
1867,  occurs  these  statements  concerning  his  grandfather:  "  Lydia, 
his  daughter,  who  died  only  two  years  ago,  could  give  no  knowl- 
edge of  her  father's  origin;  only,  that  when  they  lived  at  Har- 
vard, two  aunts,  Richards  and  Holmes,  frequently  came  from  the  west 
on  horseback  to  visit  their  brother  ^Capt.  th-azer).  Asia  (his  son) 
who  is  still  living,  knows  nothing  about  it."  Elijah  also  expresses  the 
opinion  that  his  grandfather  may  have  come  from  Connecticut,  but 
also  states  that  he  supposes  he  originated  in  the  vicinity  of  Cape  Cod. 
Showing  very  conclusively  that  the  ancestry  of  his  grandfather  was 
not  then  established  to  his  satisfaction. 

From  personal  letters  receiv.  d  by  myself  from  the  Vice-President  in 
the  year  1888,  it  is  apparent  that  he  was  then  in  doubt  as  to  his  ances- 
tors, supposing  correctly  that  he  descended  from  James  of  Barnstable, 
but  in  error,  as  I  have  since  ascertained  as  to  the  line  of  descent.  My 
conclusions  will  be  found  in  the  Genealogy. 

Discovering  these  various  statements  of  relationship  between  .James 
Hamblen  and  Giles  Hamlin,  and  believing  the  evidence  upon  which 
they  are  founded,  to  be'erroneous,  I  have  felt  it  my  duty  to  point  them 
out,  that  they  may  not  be  accepted  as  settled.  I  do  not  say  they  were 
not  related;  only  that  I  do  not  know,  and  have  seen  no  conclusive  evi- 
dence of  the  fact.  It  would  afford  me  pleasure  to  know  that  they  were 
relatives  and  to  discover  proof  of  it. 


40  THE  HAMLIN  FAMILY. 

Another  grave  error  has  arrested  luy  attention;  the  statement  that 
James  Hamblen  was  of  Huguenot  descent.  Nothing  in  the  record  of  liis 
life  or  pedigree,  has  come  to  my  notice,  to  M^arrant  such  statement; 
but  the  reverse  is  true.  The  Edict  of  Nantes  was  promulgated  by 
Htvri  Quxttre,  then  King  of  France  in  1598,  under  which  the  Protest- 
ants were  granted  religious  tolerance.  This  continued  until  the 
Eevncc(tio7i  of  the  Edict  of  Nantes,  by  Louis  XIV,  in  1685.  James 
Hamblen  came  from  London,  and  liad  then  been  in  Barnstable  nearly 
fifty  years,  and  had  grandchildren  there.  While  not  conclusively 
proven,  it  is  probable  that  his  eldest  child  was  born  in  England  in 
1630,  and  that  his  ancestors  had  resided  there  a  century,  at  least. 

Several  individuals  of  the  name  have  been  discovered  in  New  Jersey, 
Virginia,  Maryland,  North  and  South  Carolina,  prior  to  the  Revolu- 
tion, with  numerous  descendants.  It  is  desired  that  the  relationship, 
if  any,  existing  between  tliese  families,  may  be  discerned  and  their 
genealogies  better  established,  before  publication  of  those  branches  of 
the  family. 

Several  others  of  the  name  have  been  discovered,  who  settled  in  the 
United  States,  coming  from  England  at  later  periods. 

In  1871,  a  gentleman,  an  attache  of  the  General  Hospita'  at  Quebec, 
Canada,  named  J.  R.  L.  Hamelin,  wrote,  in  French,  wliich  translated, 
reads:  "The  first  Hamelin  who  came  to  Canada  was  called  J^ouis.  He 
is  found  mentioned  for  the  first  time  at  the  date  of  1650  by  M.  L'Abbe 
Tanguay.  He  came  from  France.  *  *  *  The  Seigniory  of  Gran- 
dines  in  the  Bos — was  granted  him  the  25th  of  April,  1711,  and  his 
descendants  until  about  1800,  at  which  time  it  was  sold.  That  was  the 
branch  of  the  Hamelins  from  which  I  am  descended.  A  Hamelin,  also 
named  Louis,-  son  of  tlie  first,  was  married  the  24th  of  February,  1718, 
to  Catherine  Neporn,  at  Detroit." 

Some  members  of  this  family  probably  settled  in  the  United  States, 
as  the  name  is  frequently  found  all  over  the  United  States.  It  is  prob- 
able that  some  of  the  name,  Hamelin,  came  direct  from  France. 

It  is  a  singular  fact  that  out  of  many  requests  to  people  of  the 
nam«' Hamelin,  sent  to  individuals  in  different  places,  not  one  reply  has 
been  received,  except  that  above  mentioned. 

A  common  error  obtains,  that  there  is  no  relationship  between  those 
whose  names  are  spelled  dift'erently.  Like  many  other  old  English 
names  the  orthography  has  been  corrupted,  and  there  are  various 
terminations  to  be  found,  tlius:  HanUin,  Hamlen,  Hamelin,  Hamline, 
Hameline,  Handing,  Handyn,  Hamblin,  Hamblen,  Hamblyn,  etc. 
As  found  spelled  in  Norman-French  in  the  Doomsday  Book  it  was 
Hamelinus;  in  Leland's  copy  of  the  Roll  of  Battel  Abbey,  Hameline; 
in  Hollinshed's  copy,  Hamelin.  Later  the  name  in  England  at  an 
early  period,  was  spelled  Hamlyn,  which  is  still  retained;  but  many, 
at  the  present  time  there,  spell  it  Hamlin,  Hamblin,  Hamblen  and  per- 
haps in  other  ways.  The  6  is  evidently  an  interloper,  and  a  corruption 
of  the  name;  and  many  families  liave,  in  comparatively  recent  years. 


CORRECT  NAME.  41 

dropped  it.  Prof.  Charles  E.  Hamlin, 'ate  of  Hai-\-ard  College,  whose 
family  dropped  the  6  from  the  name,  was  of  the  opinion  that  Hamlin 
was  the  most  consonant  with  the  general  pronunciation  of  the  name, 
and  its  proper  Anglicized  form.  Antiquarians  give  little  heed  to  the 
mere  spelling  of  the  name,  as  found  in  records  or  as  practiced  by- 
living  individuals,  as  evidence  of  relationship;  it  is  common  to  tind 
known  relatives  who  spell  the  name  differently.  Two-hundred  years 
ago  and  prior,  there  was  no  standard  for  English  orthography,  people 
spelled  anyway  and  everyway  to  suit  the  fancy.  Many  were  then  un- 
able to  read  or  write,  and  trusted  such  matters  to  puljlic  officials  and 
scriveners.  One  clerk  would  spell  in  liis  peculiar  manner,  while  the 
clerk  in  another  place  spelled  differently.  Long  continuance  in  the 
same  place  by  the  same  family,  tended  to  the  adoption  of  a  given  form 
of  name;  while  the  separation  of  relatives,  exhibited  frequently,  a 
marked  difference.  In  such  ways  the  forms  of  names  multiplied.  It 
is  remarkable  that  the  oontinued  fonn  of  names  has  been  so  well  pre- 
served. 


EXPLANATION. 


The  Genealogy  will  be  found  arranged  by  generations,  by  families, 
in  chronological  order,  as  nearly  as  practicable.  The  name  of  the  head 
of  a  family  is  given  in  full.  The  Christian  name  only,  of  the  children 
of  a  family  are  given,  to  avoid  repetitions  of  the  surname.  The  names 
of  individuals  are  all  consecutively  numbered,  and  some  names  appear 
twice;  first  as  a  child,  second  as  iJie  head  of  a  family;  in  such  cases, 
when  the  name  appears  a  second  time,  as  the  head  of  a  family,  the 
number  first  given  is  repeated  in  brackets.  To  find  the  line  of  descent, 
take  any  name  and  trace  the  ancestors  backward  by  the  numbers  giv- 
en. Following  the  name  of  a  head  of  a  family,  the  line  of  ancestors  is 
given  in  italics,  with  the  number  of  each  generation  expressed,  by  fig- 
ures, thus:  H.  F.  ANDREWS,«  (Jfartha,"!  Ichabod,^  Gershom,^  Ger- 
shom,^  Ebenezer,'^  John^'  JamesA)  The  abbreviations  used  will  be 
readily  understood,  thus:  b.,  born;  m. ,  married;  d.,  died,  etc. 


GENEALOGY    OF   JAMES    HAMBLEN    AND    HIS   DESCENDENTS. 


FIRST  GENERATION. 


1.  JAMES  HAMBLEN,!  so  far  as  lias  been  ascertained,  was  the  first 
of  the  name  who  settled  in  America.  He  came  from  London  and  set- 
tled in  Barnstable,  Massachusetts,  in  the  Spring  of  1639.  Of  his  earlier 
life  very  little  has  been  learned;  records  exist,  however,  from  which 
some  traces  of  him  are  supposed  to  have  been  discovered. 

The  late  David  Hamblen,  Esq.,  of  Boston,  the  first  to  investigate  hia 
history  about  1849,  caused  research  to  be  made  in  England  for  the  pedi- 
gree, which  without  citing  the  place  where  the  record  was  found,  he 
gives  as  follows: 


JOHN  HAMELYN 

of  Cornwall,  liv- 
ing 1570. 


-Amor,  daughter  of 
Robert  Knowle, 
of  Sarum. 


GILES  HAMELIN- 
Son      and     heir 
County     Devon. 


^    *    daughter  of 
Robert  Ashley. 


THOMAS  HAMELIN 

Gentleman 
London         1623. 


JAMES    HAMELIN. 


From  which  it  is  understood  that  he  was  brother  of  Thomas,  gentle- 
man, of  London,  living  in  1623;  sons  of  Giles,  of  Devonshire;  son  of 
John,  of  Cornwall,  England,  who  was  living  in  lo70. 


44  THE  HAMLIN  FAMILY. 

The  records  of  the  baptisms  and  burials  of  some  of  his  children  are 
supposed  to  have  been  found  in  the  parish  register  of  St.  Lawrence,  in 
Reading,  Berkshire,  England;  extracts  from  which  are  taken: 

BAPTISMS. 

Hamlin    James,   son  of  James,   Oct.  81,  1630. 

Hamblin  Sarah,   dau  "        "        Sept    6,  1632. 

Hamlin    Mary,      "     "        "       .luly  27,  1634. 

"  James,    son  "        "      April  10,  1636. 

BURIALS. 

Hamlin  James,  Oct.  24,  1638. 

From  these  records  it  is  apparent  that  the  eldest  child,  .James,  died 
in  England  before  the  birth  of  the  second  James.  It  will  be  subse- 
quently noticed  that  it  was  the  custom  of  the  family  to  baptize  the 
children  on  the  day  of  birth,  if  possible;  so  that  the  dates  of  baptisms 
are  supposed  to  be  about  the  dates  of  births.  Mr.  Otis,  the  genealogist 
of  the  first  settlers  of  Barnstable,  says:  that  the  baptism  of  his  children, 
James  and  Hannah  do  not  appear  on  the  records  of  Barnstable,  that  it 
is  probable  they  were  born  in  England  and  that  neither  they  nor  their 
mother  came  over  so  early  as  the  father,  a  common  occurrence  in  those 
early  times;  the  record  of  the  birth  or  baptism  of  Hannah  has  not  been 
found  in  England;  jjerhaps  owing  to  the  troubles  to  be  related,  no  public 
record  of  it  was  made  there.  It  will  be  observed  that  their  tirst  child 
born  in  America,  was  Bartholomew,  born  April  2U,  1642.  Hannah  may 
liave  been  born  about  16oS. 

An  approximate  idea  of  the  time  when  the  members  of  the  family 
left  England  may  be  ascertained  from  these  dates.  Mr.  Otis  does  not 
appear  to  have  any  knowledge  of  the  English  records  referred  to,  and 
does  not  mention  the  childi-en,  Sarah  and  Mary;  as  they  had  another 
Sarah  born  in  Barnstable  in  1647  it  is  supposed  the  Sarah  born  1682  had 
died  before  they  came  to  America.  An  account  of  Mary  will  be  given 
in  its  proper  order  later. 

While  no  express  record  of  the  fact  has  been  discovered,  it  is  not  im- 
proble  that  James  Hamblen  may  have  been  obliged  to  leave  his  family 
and  fly  from  England  on  account  of  religious  persecution;  he  was  a 
Puritan  and  a  member  of  Mr.  Lothrop's  church  o/Yer  the  latter 
came  to  Barnstable. 

An  account  of  the  troubles  of  the  congregation  of  Mr.  Lothrop  in 
England  will  be  of  interest,  and  may  in  future  lead  to  information  con- 
cerning our  ancestor. 

Rev.  John  Lothrop  was  pastor  of  an  Independent  or  C'ongregational- 
ist  Society,  at  South  walk,  London.  April  29,  1682,  forty-five  members 
of  this  church  were  apprehended  for  unlawful  meeting,  eighteen  of  whom 
escaped.  Some  were  confined  in  the  Clink,  New  Prison,  and  the  Gate 
House,  for  about  two  years,  and  then  released  on  bail;  except  Mr.  Loth- 
rop, for  whom  no  favor  could  at  first  be  obtained.  There  is  some  question 
as  to  the  terms  of  his  release,  but  the  fact  remains  that  these  peojile  caused 
the  English  government  no  little  trouble;  religion  was  regulated  by  law 


FmST  GENERATION.  45 

at  that  period;  and  this  society  were  non-conformists.  That  tliey  be- 
lieved thej'  were  riglit  does  not  alter  the  fact.  Tlie  exact  date  of  tlieir 
release  is  not  given,  but  on  Sept.  18,  l(iS4  tlie  (JrifHn  and  another  ship 
arrived  in  Boston  witli  passengers,  among  whom  were  INIr.  Tjotlu'op 
and  tliirty  of  his  followers.  It  is  not  supposed  Hamblen  was  with  them. 
Soon  after  Mr.  Lothrop  and  most,  if  not  all  those  who  came  with  him, 
went  to  Scituate,  Massachusetts,  where  there  was  a  small  settlement  of 
his  old  friends,  whom  he  had  known  in  England,  and  who  invited  him 
to  become  their  pastor.  There  were  nine  of  these  families  then  at  Scit- 
uate who  had  previously  come  from  England,  settling  tirst  at  Ply- 
mouth; and  Mr.  Lothrop  gives  a  list  of  "The  Houses  in  ye  plantation 
of  Scituate  att  my  C'omeing  liitlier,  onely  these  wch  was  aboute  the  end 
of  Sept.  1G34, — all  wch  small  plaine  jDaliizadoe  Houses."  The  name  of 
James  Hamblen  is  not  in  the  list,  nor  does  it  appear  there  down  to  the 
date  of  removal  of  Mr.  Lothrop  and  his  church  to  Barnstable  hereafter 
related,  i 

/.  Otis  states:  "  Mr.  Lothrop  found  nine  families  at  Scituate,  friends  that  ho  had 
known  in  England.  They  had,  Sept.  3ti,  16:U,  built  nine  '  Pallizado  houses,'  as  tempor- 
ary residences.  *  *  *  From  the  time  Mr.  Lothrop  came,  to  October,  a  per- 
iod of  two  years,  thori  wsre  thirty-one  houses  built,  and  in  16:37,  nine,  making  the  whole 
number  of  dwelling  houses  fifty  six.  *  *  *  To  Mr.  Lothrop's  list  of  the  houses,  I  add 
the  dates,  if  known,  when  the  builders  came  over  and  the  dates  of  their  joining  his 
church.  The  serial  numbers  indicate  the  order  in  which  the  houses  were  built ;  the 
date  next  following  each  name,  the  time  when  the  party  came  over;  and  the  last,  the 
time  when  he  joined  Mr.  Lothrop's  church.  *  *  *  xhe  following  abbreviations  are 
used:  K.  signifies  Kent,  or  county  of  Kent;  L.  London;  S.  Scituate;  B.  Barnstable;  Gd. 
Goodman;  an  interrogation  point  means  doubtful." 

'"The  houses   in   ye  plantation  of  Scituate  att   my  Comeing  hither,  onely  these,  wch 
was  aboute  the  ende  of  Sept.  1634,— all  wch  small  plaine  pallizadoe  Houses. 

1.  Mr.  Hatherleys,  162:3  &  16:32,  L.,  Jan  11.  16:34-5,  S. 

2.  Mr.   Cudworthes,  a  16:32,  L.  Jan  IS,  16:34-5,  B.  S. 

Sold  (15:36)  to  Gd.  Ensigne, S. 

3.  Mr.  Gillsons,  a  16:32,  K.  ?  Jan  8,  16:34-5,  S. 

4.  Gd.  Anniballs,  1623,  —  Jan  8,  1634-5,  B. 

5.  Gd.  Rowlyes,  1632,  K.  ?  Jan  8, 16:34-5,  B. 

See  No.  2:3.  (No  record  of  Sale.) 

6.  Gd.  Turners,  1628,  K.  ?  Jan  8,  1634-5,  S. 

Sold  (16:36)  to  Gd.  Jackson,  a  16:34,  K.  ?  Feb  25,  1637-8,  B. 

7.  Gd.  Cobbs  (see  :32).  16:32.  K.  Jan  8.  1634-5,  B. 

Sold  1st,  Gd.  Rowlye  ;  2d,  Wid.  Vinal. 

8.  Gd.  Hewes,  1632,  Wales, S. 

Sold  (16:36)  Gd.  Cooper,  a  16.32,  K.  1  B. 

9.  Edward  Foster,  16:32,  L.  ?  Jan  8,  16:34-5,  S. 

"  Since  my  coming  to  Octo.  16:36." 

10.  My  House,  Sept.  18,  16:34,  L.  Jan  8,  16:34-5,  B. 

11.  Gd.  Foxwells,  (see  .50)  16:30,  —Jan  8,  1634-5,  B. 

Sold  (16:36)  to  Henry  Bourne,  a  16:34,  Jan  25,  1634-5,  B. 

12.  Samuel  House,  Sept  18, 1634,  L.,  Jan  8,  16:34-5,  B.  &  S. 

13.  Gd.  Chittenden's,  16:35,  K.  Feb  12.  16:36-7,  S. 

14.  Gd.  Lumber's,  (see  27),  1630,  L.  ?  .\p  19,  16:35,  B. 

Sold  (1636)  Gd.  Winter,  a  15:31,  L.  Apr  9, 1634,  S. 

15.  My  Sonns,  son-in-law  Saml  Fuller,  1620. 

Leyden  Nov  7,  1636,  B. 

16.  Gd.  Haites,  16:35,  K.  Ap.  19,  16.35,  S. 

Sold  (16:36)  to  Mr.  Bower. 

17.  Gd.  Hatches,  16:35,  K. S. 

18.  Gd.  Lewice,  Senior,  a  1634,  B.     Sold  to  Gd  Dorkins  V  a  16.34. 

Probably  Thomas  Dimick,  B. 


46  THE  HAMLIN  FAMILY. 

Returning  to  the  settlement  of  Barnstable:  The  date  of  the 
first  grant  is  not  given,  but  was  in  the  latter  part  of  1637  or  beginning 
of  1638;  soon  after  Mr.  Callicvit  and  some  associates  came  to  Mattekese 
(Barnstable),   surveyed  certain  lands,  and  appropriated  some  to  their 

19.  Goody  Hinckley,  1635.  K. B. 

20.  Mr.  Tilden,  a  1628,  K. S. 

21.  *    *    *    The  Smiths,  Gd.  Hoit's  brother, S. 

22.  Gd.  Lewice,  Junior,  a  IBS.'),  K. S. 

23.  Gd.  Rowleyes  new  house,  on  his  lot, See  No  5. 

24.  Mr.  Vassels,  16:»,  L.  Nov.  28,  1&36,  S. 

25.  Gd.  Stockbridge,  ye  wheeler,  1635,  L. S. 

26.  Gd.  Stedmans,  1635,  LTJuly  17,  1636,  S. 

27.  Gd.  Lumber's,  uppon  his  lot,  1630.    See  No  14. 

28.  Meeting  House.     See  above. 

29.  Isaac  Robinson's.  1629,  Leyden  Nov  7, 1636,  B. 

Sold  (1637)  to  Gd.  Twisden. 

30.  Mr.  Cudworth's  house,  on  his  lott,  L.  ?    See  No.  2. 

31.  Brother  Turners,  on  his  lott,  1628.    See  No  6. 

32.  Brother  Cobb's,  on  his  lott,  1632.     See  No.  7. 

33.  Gd.  Hewes.  on  hi4  lott,  \6U.    See  No.  8. 
■34.    Gd.  Lewice,  on  his  lott,  1632.    See  No.  18. 

Sold  to  Gd.  WiUiams.  1632,  K.  ? S. 

35.  Gd.  Lewice,  Junior,  his  new  house,  1635.    See  No  18. 

36.  Gd   Kenrick's,  a  16:?4,  K.  Ap.  9,  1637,  S. 

37.  Mr.  Besbetch,  1635,  K.  Ap.  30,  1637,  S. 

38.  The  young  master,  Edward  Fitsrandolphs,  a  1634,  K.  ?  May  14, 1637,  B. 

Sold  to  Gd.  Syllice,  a  1634,  K.  ?  Dec  24,  1637,  S. 

39.  Robert  Shelleyes,  1632,  K.  ?  May  14.  1637,  B. 

40.  John  Hanmers, S.    Sold  to  Gid.  H . 

41.  Henry  Ewells,  1635,  K.  Ap.  3,  1636,  B. 

Sold  to  Gd.  Merritt,  1628,  S. 

42.  Mr.  Hatches  new  house. 

43.  George  Suttens. 

44.  Brother  Crocker,  Jr.,  a  1634,  L.  Dec  25,  1636,  B. 

45.  John  Emmersons,  a  1634,  L.  ? S. 

46.  Gd.  Holmes,  S. 

47.  John  Hamners,  on  the  cliflfe. 

48.  Gd.  Bird,  1628,  S.  1637. 

49.  Isaac  Robinson's  new  house,  1629,  Leyden.     See  No  29. 

50.  Gd.  FoxweU's  on  his  lot,  1630.     See  No  11. 

51.  My  house  on  the  lott,  erected  Sept.  27.    See  No.  10. 

52.  Thomas  Lapham's,  K.  ?  Apr  24,  1636,  S. 

53.  Gd.  Edenton's,  S. 

54.  Gd.  Hylands,  K.  S. 

55.  Gd.  Rawlings,  1630,  S. 

56.  WiUiam  Parkers,  S. 
47.  Gd.  Lewice,  Senior.' 

To  these  I  add  church  members : 

Robert  Linnell,  16:?8,  L.  Sept.  16,  1638,  B. 

William  Betts,  Oct.  25,  1635,  B. 

Thomas  Lothrop,  Sept.  8,  1624,  May  14,  1637,  B. 

Christopher  Winter,  Dec.  24,  1637,  S. 

Thomas  King,  L.  1635,  Feb  25,  1637-8,  S. 

Thomas  Boiden,  Ipswitch,  1634,  May  17,  1635,  S. 

Whole  number  that  joined  Mr.  Lothrop's  church  in  Scituate,  63 
Of  these  26  were  females,  26 

Males,  or  heads  of  families,  37 

Removed  to  Barnstable  in  1639,  20 

Leaving,  17 " 

From  this  evidence  it  very  conclusively  appears  that  James  Hamblen  did  not  come  to 
Barnstable  with  Mr.  Lothrop's  church. 


FIRST  GENERATION.  47 

particular  use,  but  he  never  became  an  inhabitant  of  the  town;  and 
failing  to  comply  with  the  terms  of  the  grant,  it  was  forfeited,  except 
as  to  vested  riglits.  Some  who  came  witli  him  remained  and  became 
permanent  residents;  their  names  unfortunately  are  omitted.  April  1, 
1639,  the  court  ordered  that  only  such  persons  as  were  then  at  Matte- 
kese  should  remain,  and  malie  use  of  some  land;  but  should  not  divide 
any,  either  to  themselves  or  others;  nor  receive  into  the  plantation  any 
other  persons  excepting  those  to  whom  the  original  grant  was  made, 
without  special  license  and  approval  of  the  government.  In  the  spring 
of  1639,  Rev.  Joseph  Hull  and  several  families  from  Weymouth  and 
Hingham,  decided  to  move  to  Barnstable,  with  the  company  to  be  or- 
ganized by  Mr.  Callicut,  of  Dorchester;  Mr.  Hull  came  to  Barnstable 
in  May,  1639.  Elder  Thomas  Dimmock  was  there  in  the  preceding 
March.  Elder  Thomas  Dimmock  and  Rev.  Joseph  Hull,  are  the  par- 
ties named  in  the  grant  made  in  1689  of  the  lands  in  the  town  of  Barn- 
stable, as  a  committee  for  themselves  and  associates.  It  was  incorpo- 
rated June  -4, 1639,-  Old  Style.  They  were  the  founders  of  the  town  and 
Mr.  Hull  being  the  minister,  on  him  devolved  the  greater  responsibil- 
ity. At  that  time  the  woodman's  ax  had  seldom  resounded  through  the 
forests;  the  country,  except  a  few  fields  which  hadj  been  cleared  by 
the  Indians,  was  a  vast  wilderness;  the  old  conmion  field,  which  still 
retains  its  name,  had  only  a  few  scattering  trees,  and  the  new  com- 
mon field,  which  extended  from  the  old,  to  the  bounds  of  Yarmouth, 
•contained  little  forest.  In  1639  the  Indian  population  jirobably  did  not 
exceed  five  hundred,  a  quiet,  inoffensive  race,  with  whom  our  ances- 
tors lived  in  peace. 

Mr.  Lothrop  and  his  church  came  Oct.  21,  1639,  New  Style.  The 
town  had  been  incorporated,  many  houses  built  and  a  civilized  com- 
munity were  dwelling  among  the  Indians.  Mr.  Hull  and  the  other 
settlers  welcomed  them  to  their  homes,  assigned  them  lands  and  assist- 
ed them  in  putting  up  their  first  rude  cabins.  It  turned  out  that  Mr. 
Lothrop's  church  constituted  a  majority  of  the  people,  who  preferred 
their  own  pastor,  with  whom  they  had  suftered  persecution  in  Eng- 
land. Mr.  Dimmock  and  others  of  the  first  settlers  jjreferred  to  sit  un- 
der his  preaching,  rather  than  Mr.  Hull,  in  consequence  of  which  the 
latter  left  the  town.  The  dwellings  are  thus  described:  "The  walls 
were  made  of  poles  filled  between  with  stones  and  clay,  the  roof 
thatched,  the  chimney  to  the  mantle  of  rough  stone,  and  above  of  cob 
work,   the    windows  of   oiled   paj^er  and   the    floors  of   hand  sawed 


2.  Barnstable  was  incorporated  .June  14,  1639,  N.  S.,  (or  June  i.  OldStyle).  Thirteen 
families  had  then  settled  in  the  town,  namely  :  Rev.  Joseph  Hull,  his  son  Tristriam,  and 
his  son-in-law  John  Bursley,  making  one  family  ;  Thomas  Shaw,  Austin  Bearse,  Henry 
•Coggin,  James  Hamblin,  William  TiUy,  Thomas  Allyn,  Lawrence  Litchfield,  Thomas 
Huckins,  John  Smith,  Roger  Goodspeed,  John  Scudder  and  Nathaniel  Bacon.  Mr.  John 
Mayo  and  his  son  Samuel  were  early  inhabitants,  Mr.  Mayo  having  a  house  when  Mr. 
Ijothrop  came.  Smith,  Bacon,  Bursley,  T.  Hull  and  S.  Mayo  were  not  householders  June 
1639.  If  to  the  above  be  added  Abram  Blush,  Dolar  Davis,  Thomas  Hatch  and  John  Hall, 
■who  came  in  afterwards,  it  completes  the  list  of  townsmen  as  recorded  Jan.  1643-4. — 
£Otis  Papers.] 


48  THE  HAMLIN  FAMILY. 

planks."  Mr.  Lothrop  called  such  structures  "booths,"  and  says: 
"They  were  open  and  cold,  and  in  winter  a  high  piled  fire  was  con- 
stantly to  be  kept  burning.  All  the  houses  in  the  village  were  alike — 
there  was  no  opening  for  pride  to  claim  a  supremacy."  Mr.  Otis  says 
there  had  thirteen  settled  in  the  toAvn  when  it  was  incorporated  June 
4,  1630,  among  whom  was  James  Hamblen. 

In  a  list  of  the  inhabitants  of  Barnstable  made  on  January  5,  164.3-4, 
the  sixteenth  name  is  "James  Hamblin,  London,  of  B(arnstable) 
spring  of  l(i3U."3  These  accounts  show  conclusively  that  he  settled  in 
Barnstable  independently  from  Mr.  Lothrop  and  his  church.  There  is 
no  proof  that  he  was  or  was  not  a  member  of  Mr.  Lothrop's  church  in 
London,  or  that  he  suflfered  any  i^ersecution;  but  the  facts  that  he  was 
a  puritan;  the  unrecorded  birth  and  baptism  of  his  daughter  Hannah; 
that  he  came  from  London  without  his  family;  and  united  with  the 
church  in  Barnstable,   whose  members  had  suffered  persecution;  leads 

3.  On  the  5th  day  of  January,  1643-4,  Thomas  Hinkley,  Heni-y  Cobb,  Isaac  Robinson 
and  Thomas  Lothrop  drew  up  a  list  of  those  who  were  then  inhabitants  of  Barnstable, 
and  I  infor  from  til e  order  annexed  to  the  same  that  the  forty-iive  named  were  hovise- 
holders.    *    *    * 

1.  Anthony  Annable,  from  Scitnatr.  1640. 

2.  Abraham  Blush,  Duxbury,  IMO. 

3.  Thomas  Shaw,  Hingham,  IG39. 

4.  John  Crocker   Scituate,  1639. 
.-).     Dolar  Davis,  Duxbury,  1641-2. 

6.  Heiirv  Ewcll.  Scituate,  1639. 

7.  William  Bctts,  Scituate,  1639. 
William  Pcarse,  of  Yarmouth,  1643. 

8.  Rob-rt  Shelley.  Scituate,  1689. 

9.  Thomas  Hatcli,  Yarmouth,  1642. 

10.  John  Cooper,  Scituate,  19:H9. 

11.  Austin  Bearse.  came  over  163S,  of  B.  1639. 

12.  WiUiam  Crocker,  Scituate,  1639. 

13.  Henry  Bourne,  Scituate,  16S9. 

14.  Henry  Cogsin.  Boston,  spring  1639. 

15.  Lawrence  Litchfield,  of  B.  spring  1639. 

16.  JAMES  HAMBLIX,  London,  of  B.  spring  1639. 

17.  James  Cuchvorth,  Scituate,  1640. 

18.  Thomas  Hinckley,  Scituate,  1639. 

19.  Samuel  Hincklev,  Scitiuite,  Hth  July  1640. 
William  Tilly,  sprin^r  16;!9,  removed  to  Boston  1643. 

20.  Isaac  Robinson,  Scituate,  1639. 

21.  Samuel  Jackson,  Scituate,  1639. 

22.  Thomas  Allyn.  spring  1639. 

Mr.  Joseph  HuU,  Weymouth,  May,  1639. 

23.  Mr.  John  Bursley,  Weymouth,  May  1639. 

24.  Mr.  John  Mayo,  came  over  1638,  of  Barnstable  1639. 

25.  John  Casley,  Scituate,  spring  of  1639. 

26.  William  Caseley,  Scituate,  of  B.  spring  of  1639. 

27.  Robert  Linnett,  Scituate,  1639. 

28.  Thomas  Lothrop,  Scituate,  1639. 

29.  Thomas  Lumbard,  Scituate,  1639. 

30.  Mr.  John  Lothrop,  Scituate,  Oct  20, 1639. 

31.  John  Hall,  Charleston,  1641. 

32.  Henry  Rowley,  Scituate,  1639. 

33.  Isaac  Wells,  Scituate,  1639. 

34.  John  Smith,  of  Barnstable,  1639. 
3.5.     George  Lewis,  Scituate,  1639. 

.36.  Edward  Fitzrandolph,  Scituate,  1639. 

37.  Bernard  Lumbard.  Scituate,  1639. 

.38.  Roger  Gootlspeed,  Barnstable,  1639. 

39.  Henry  Cobb,  Scituate,  October  21,  1639. 

40.  Thomas  Huckins,  Boston.  1639. 

41.  John  Scudder,  Boston,  1639. 

•      42.  Samuel  Mayo,  of  Barnstable,  1639. 

43.  Nathaniel  Bacon,  of  Barnstable,  16.39. 

■    44.  Richard  Foxwell,  from  Scituate,  1639. 

45.  Thomas  Dimmock,  Hingham,  1639.— [Otis  Papers.] 


FIRST  GENERATION.  49 

to  the  inquiry   whether  he  might   not  have  been  a  member  of  that 
ehiirch  in  London,  whieli  sutt'ered  persecution  as  rehited. 

His  liouse  lot,  containing  eiglit  acres,  was  at  Coggin's  Pond,  and 
was  one  of  tliose  presumably  laid  out  under  the  authority  of  Mr.  Calli- 
cut.  It  was  bounded  northerly  by  the  lot  of  Gov.  Hinckley;  easterly 
by  the  Commons,  (now  the  ancient  graveyard);  southerly  by  the  Com- 
mons; and  westerly  by  the  highway,  which  at  that  time,  after  crossing 
the  hill  on  the  west,  turned  to  the  north  on  the  borders  of  the 
pond,  to  Gov.  Hinckley's  old  house,  which  stood  near  the  pond;  and 
thence  turned  easterly,  joining  the  present  road  at  the  head  of  Calve's 
Pasture  Lane.  In  1680  the  present  road  was  laid  out  through  Ham- 
blen's lot,  and  leaving  a  triangular  shaped  portion  of  it  on  the  north  of 
the  road;  afterwards,  in  1(598,  the  location  of  the  road  having  been 
changed,  the  Hamblens  were  allowed  to  enclose  that  part  of  the  old 
road  situated  between  their  land  and  the  pond,  adjoining  Gov.  Hinck- 
ley's. The  westerly  portion  of  the  road  which  was  discontinued,  op- 
posite the  south  end  of  tlie  pond,  was  reserved  as  a  watering-place,  and 
is  so  occuiiied  to  this  day. 

His  other  lands  were  six  shares,  and  six  acres  of  upland  in 
the  Calve's  Pasture;  twenty  acres  of  ujiland,  and  the  meadow  on  the 
north,  bofunded  easterly  by  the  land  of  Henry  Bourne,  and  westerly  by 
the  land  of  Dea.  John  Cooj^er;  his  great  lot  of  tifty  acres  was  bounded 
southwesterlj-  by  the  Great  Indian  Pond;  southerly  by  the  lot  of  Thom- 
as Lothrop;  and  northerly  by  the  Indian  Pond  lots,  on  which  his 
son  John  built  a  house.  The  Hamblens  were  among  the  first  settlers 
in  that  part  of  town;  and  that  region  of  country  is  now  known  as 
"Hamblin's  Plains."  In  1686  his  house  was  described  as  standing  on 
his  twenty-acre  lot,  on  the  north  side  of  the  highway,  between  the 
houses  of  Mr.  Russell,  (known  in  modern  times  as  Brick  John  Hinck- 
ley's,) and  Dea.  John  Cooper,  owned  by  William  Hinckley  and 
others. 

Mr.  Otis  further  says:  "Mr.  AUyn's  house  lots,  Nos.  1  to  6,  and 
with  the  lots  numbered  7  to  12,  constituted  the  central  portion  of  tlie 
village  as  originally  laid  out;  on  the  west,  probably  in  the  order 
named,  were  the  lots  of  Gov.  Hinckley,  Samuel  Hinckley,  Gen.  Cud- 
worth,  James  Hamblen,  etc.  The  record  of  the  laying  out  of  the  lands 
of  Barnstable  in  1680  is  lost.  The  entries  made  of  the  lands  of  Mr.  Al- 
lyn,  furnish  the  best  information  we  have  on  the  subject.  The  house 
lots  contained  from  six  to  twelve  acres,  and  were  all  laid  out  on  the 
north  side  of  the  highway,  west  of  Rendezvous  Lane.  In  1654  Mr.  M- 
lyn  owned  six  of  the  original  house  lots."  In  1S!(4  Mr.  (xustavus 
Hinckley,  who  resides  in  Barnstable,  said:  "  While  the  precise  spot  of 
the  location  of  the  house  of  James  Hamlin,  Senior,  cannot  be  identi- 
fied, yet  is  reduced  to  very  narrow  limits,  in  the  recorded  bounds  of  our 
country  road,  laid  out  in  16.S6;  and  the  house  of  Dea.  .John  Cooper  is 
still  standing  in  good  condition;  and  the  exact  location  of  Mr.  Russell's 
house  is  well  known,  it  having  been  taken  down  in  recent  time." 


50  THE  HAMLIN  FAMILY. 

The  name  of  Mr.  Hamblen  appears  frequently  in  the  records  of 
Plymouth  Colony.  The  first  mention  is  "  March  1,  1741-2.  James 
Hamblen  was  propounded  for  Freeman." 

"  At  the  Genrall  Court  of  our  Soumlgne  Lord,  Charles,  by  the  Grace 
of  God,  King  of  England,  Scotland,  Franc,  Ireland,  Defender  of  the 
Fayth  &c,  holden  at  Plym  aforcsd  the  VI.Jth  of  March,  in  the  XVIJth 
yeare  of  his  Mats  now  Raigne  &c. 

Before  Willm  Bradford,  gent.  Gou.  (and  other  members  of  the  court 
named)  James  Hamlen  (was  appointed)  Constable  for  Barnstable." 

List  of  Freemen  in  Barnstable  in  164S,  taken  from  Plymouth  Colony 
Records,  Vol.  8,  176-7.  Those  marked  I  have  been  erased  on  the  orig- 
inal record. 

X  Mr.  Joseph  Hull  I  William  Caseley 

"     Lothrojie  Mr.  Robte  Linnett 
"     Thomas  Dommock  "    John  Mayo 

Anthony  Annable  Samuel  Hinckley 

X  .lames  Cudworth  X  Edvvard  Fitzrandle 

Isaack  Robinson  Georg  Lewes 

Henry  Rowley  Samuel  .Jackson 

.lohn  Cooper  JAMES  HAMLENE 

Henry  Cobb  Thomas  Hinckley 

Bernard  Lumliert  Nathaniel  Bacon 

Henry  Bourne  Dolar  Davis. 

March  lo,  10 17,  James  Hamblen  served  on  inquest  on  the  body  of  a 
child,  Simeon  Davis. 

June  3,  1657,  James  Hamblen  was  sick  and  could  not  serve  on  the 
Oraud  Enquest. 

Tlie  name  of  James  Hamblen  appears  in  the  list  of  Freemen  of  Barn- 
stable in  16oS. 

June  7,  1670,  James  Hamblen  served  on  Grand  Enquest;  same  day 
he  was  member  of  a  trial  jury. 

May  29,  1670,  James  Hamblen,  Juni,  and  James  Hamblen,  Seni,  in 
list  of  Freemen. 

March  6,  1671,  James  Hamblen  served  on  a  jury. 

June  3,  1679,  James  Hamblen  served  on  a  j  ury  in  the  case  between 
'Capt.  .John  Williams  and  Edward  .Jenkins. 

July  7,  16S1,  James  Hamblen  served  on  juries. 

July  6,  16S2,  James  Hamblen  summoned  to  serve  on  a  jury,  and 
served. 

In  the  list  of  Freemen  of  Barnstable  for  16'S9,  among  others  appear 
the  names  of  .James  Hamblen,  James  Hamblen,  Jr.,  John  Hamblen, 
Eleazar  Hamblen. 

Mr.  Lothrop  taught  that  Baptism  was  an  ordinance  of  primary  im- 
portance, and  published  a  work  on  the  subject,  urging  that  the  parent, 
being  a  member  of  the  church,  who  unnecessarily  delayed   the  per- 


FIRST  GENERATION.  51 

formanee  of  this  service,  thereby  periled  tlie  salvation  of  the  child. 
The  practice  in  Mr.  Lothrop's  churcli  was  to  baptize  children  on  the 
Sabbath  next  following  their  birth.  Instances  are  given  of  children 
born  on  Sabbath  morning,  and  carried  two  miles  the  same  day  at  an 
inclement  season  of  the  year  to  be  baptized. 

It  would  seem  that  James  Hamblen  conformed  to  this  custom.  It 
will  be  observed  that  his  three  youngest  children  were  baptized  on  the 
day  of  birth.  Mr.  Otis  says:  "  He  was  never  dignified  witii  the  title  of 
*Mr.'  and  was,  all  his  life,  called  'Goodman.'  "  Speaking  of  this  cus- 
tom, he  says:  "  In  the  Plymouth  Colony,  the  Governor,  deputy  gov- 
ernor, the  magistrates  and  assistants,  the  ministers  of  the  gospel,  elders 
of  the  church,  school  masters,  officers  in  the  militia,  men  of  great 
wealth  or  connected  with  the  gentry  or  nobility  alone,  were  entitled  to 
be  called,  Mister,  and  their  wives,  Mistress;  this  rule  was  rigidly  en- 
forced in  earlier  colonial  times;  and  in  all  lists  of  names,  it  was  almost 
the  invariable  custom,  to  commence  with  those  who  stood  highest  in 
rank,  and  follow  that  order  to  the  end.'' 

"Goodman  Hamblen  was  not  much  in  public  life.  He  was  an  hon- 
est man,  a  good  neighbor  and  a  sincere  Christian;  he  was  industrious 
and  i^rudent  in  his  habits  and  brought  up  his  children  to  walk  in  his 
footsteps.  His  descendants  have,  witl>  few  exceptions,  inherited  the 
good  qualities  of  the  ancestor." 

The  correct  spelling  of  his  name  is  a  (piestion  of  doubt.  As  a  matter 
of  fact  jjeople  in  those  times  were  not  particular,  and  the  same  individ- 
ual did  not  spell  his  own  name  uniformly,  in  many  instances;  there 
was  no  standard  of  English  orthography  then.  In  the  foregoing  pedi- 
.gree  the  name  is  spelled  Hamelyn  and  Hamelin,  in  the  recoi'd  of  bap- 
tisms, Hamblin  and  Hamlin;  in  the  colonial  records,  Handene,  Harn- 
len  and  Hamblen.  His  pastor.  Rev.  Mr.  Lothrop  wrote  the  name  uni- 
formly, Hamling.  Rev.  Mr.  Russell,  a  successor  of  Mr.  Lothrop,  wrote 
it  Hamblin.  His  sons  and  descendants  for  the  first  four  generations, 
generally  wrote  it  Hamblen;  but  assigned  to  his  will,  it  is  spelled 
Hainlt'n.  The  descendants  spell  the  name  variously:  Hamlin,  Hani- 
len,  Hamline,  Hamblin  and  Hamblen. 

There  is  a  tradition  that  four  brothers,  who  were  his  descendants, 
agreed,  upon  their  separation,  each  to  spell  the  termination  of  the  name 
differently.  The  time  and  place  where  this  occurred,  or  the  individuals 
are  not  known;  but  in  matters  of  this  kind  traditions  are  not  of  much 
value  until  established  by  positive  evidence.      ' 

David  Hamblen  was  of  the  opinion  that  .James  Haml)len  and  Ids 
wife  Anne,  were  both  born  in  London. 

He  died  in  Barnstable  in  IWH).  His  personal  estate  was  appraise<l  at 
£19.17.3.  He  was  probaldy  over  eighty  years  old,  and  had  probably  dis- 
tributed some  of  his  personal  estate  before  his  death,  as  indicated  in 
the  will. 


52  THE  HAMLIN  FAMILY. 

WILL   OF  JAMES   HAMBLEN. 

RECORDED  VOL  1,  PAGE  37.      BARNSTABLE  CO.,  MASS.,  JULY  21,  1888. 
TRUE    COPY  FROM  THE  RECORDS — ATTEST  FREEMAN  H. 
LOTHROP,  REG.  OF  PROBATE  COURT. 


The  last  Will  and  Testament  of  James  Hamlin  Senr.  of  Barnstable. 

I  being  weake  in  body  but  throu  ye  mercy  of  God  of  good  and  dis~ 
posing  mind  and  memory,  and  calling  to  mind  ye  uncertainty  of  this 
transitory  life,  and  being  willing  to  sett  things  in  order  as  there  may 
be  peace  and  good  agreement  between  my  children  after  my  decease,  I 
do  make  and  delare  this  my  last  will  and  testament  in  manner  and 
forme  hereafter  mentioned  viz: — 

Imprimis:  I  will  and  bequeath  my  soul  to  (xod  who  gave  it 
through  Jesus  Christ,  my  deare  and  only  Saviour  and  Redeemer  and 
my  body  to  decent  burial  as  to  my  Executrix  hereafter  named  shall 
seeme  meete  and  convenient,  and  as  for  my  outward  estate  which  God 
hath  been  pleased  to  lend  me,  my  will  is  that  all  my  debts  which  are  ini 
right  or  conscience  due  to  any  person  shall  be  first  duly  satisfied  and 
contented.  And  then  my  will  is  that  Anne,  my  loving  wife  shall  have 
and  enjoj'  all  the  rest  of  my  estate  in  whatsoever  it  be  during  her  natu- 
ral life  for  her  supporte  and  livelyhood,  and  my  will  is  that  after  her 
decease  in  as  much  as  my  son  .James  hath  had  ten  pounds  already  of 
me,  and  my  son  Bartholemew  five  pounds,  and  my  daughter  Hannah„ 
five  pounds  (according  to  ye  desire  of  my  mother)  so  my  will  is  that  ye- 
rest  of  my  children  shall  have  each  of  them  five  pounds  apeace  made 
up  to  them  out  of  my  estate,  viz:  to  my  son  John  five  pounds  my  lit- 
tle feather  bed  bolster  and  rugg  belonging  to  it,  to  be  in  part  or  whole 
thereof  as  it  shall  be  appraised;  and  to  my  daughter  Sarah  five  pounds, 
in  ye  great  fether  bed  I  lye  on  with  ye  bolster  and  rugg  belonging 
thereunto  as  it  shall  be  appraised;  And  to  my  son  Eliazer  four  pounds, 
and  five  shillings  out  of  iny  estate  which  with  ye  fifteen  shillings  he 
owes  me  on  account  makes  up  five  pounds  to  him,  And  to  my  son  Is- 
rael three  pounds  and  eighteen  shillings  to  make  up  ye  bed  and 
coverlett  he  hath  five  pounds  to  him. 

Item.  INIy  will  is  that  my  daughter  Sarah  shall,  have  two  of  my 
platters  which  shee  shall  chuse.  And  my  will  is  that  Israel  shall! 
have  one  of  my  pewter  platters  as  my  sons  and  daughter  already 
njarried  have  had  each  of  them  one.  And  my  will  is  that  whatsoever 
of  my  estate  shall  remaine  after  my  foresd  legacies  shall  be  paid  shalll 
after  my  wifes  decease  be  equally  divided  amongst  all  my  children  un- 
less my  wife  shall  see  cause  to  will  any  part  or  parts  unto  any  of  my  sdl 
children  as  shee  shall  see  fit  to  those  that  are  most  dutyful  unto  her, 
unto  whose  liberty  my  will  is  it  shall  be  left. 


FIR8T  GP:NEUATI0N.  53 

As  also  to  nominate  an  executor  to  take  place  after  her  decease  to  see 
this  my  last  will  performed,  And  here  in  case  shee  make  any  will  to 
dispose  of  ye  overplus  as  aforesd. 

Item.  It  is  my  will  that  Anne  my  wife  be  sole  Executrix  of  this 
my  last  will  and  testament  so  long  as  shee  lives. 

In  witness  whereof  I  have  hereunto  sett  my  hand  and  seal  this  23  of 
January  Anno  Dom'  1683. 

JAMES  HAMLIN  [seal.] 
In  presence  of 

THOS.  HINCKLEY,  Gov. 
JONATHAN  RUSSELL. 

Gove,  Hinckley  and  Jonathan  Russell  witnesses  to  this  will,  made 
oath  in  Court  October  ye  22tli.  1690,  that  they  saw  ye  above  sd  James 
Hamlin  deceased  signe  seal  and  declare  this  to  be  his  last  will  and  tes- 
tament as  attest. 

JOSEPH  LOTHROP,  Clerk. 

The  name  of  his  wife,  except  as  given  in  his  will,  has  not  been 
found. 

Children: — 

2.  James,  probably  born  in  P^ngland,  baptized  October  21,  1(530,   died 

October  24,  1633. 

3.  Sarah,    probably   born  in   England,   baptized  September  6,    1632, 

probably  died  in  England. 

4.  Mary,  probably  born  in  England,  baptized  July  27,  1634. 
o.    James,  probably  born  in  England,  baptized  April  10,  1636. 

6.  Hannah,  probably  born  in  England. 

7.  Bartholemew,    born  April  11,  1642,  Barnstable,  baptized   April  24, 

1642. 

8.  John,  born  June  26,  1644,  Barnstable,  baptized  June  30,  1644. 

9.  Sarah,  born  November  7,  1647,  Barnstable,  baptized  same  day. 

10.  Eleazar,  born  March  17,  1(549,  Barnstable,  baptized  same  day. 

11.  Israel,  born  June  25,  1652,  Barnstable,  baptized  same  day. 


SECOND  GENERATION. 


[4]  MARY  HAMBLEN,2  (Jantes^  )  baptized  in  St.  Lawrence,  Read- 
ing, Berltshire,  England,  July  27,  1634. 
About  this  member  of  the  family  there  is  much  uncertainty;  as  has 
been  stated  James  Hamblen  probably  had  such  a  daughter,  no  further 
trace  of  whom  has  been  discovered,  unless  she  was  one  of  those  men- 
tioned in  this  sketch.  Mr.  Otis  does  not  appear  to  have  any  knowlege 
of  this  child,  nor  of  the  St.  Lawrence  records  of  baptisms,  but  gives  the 
marriages  of  two  in  Barnstable  named  Mary  Hamblen,— one  for 
whose  ancestry  he  does  not  attempt  to  account.  One  married  Benja- 
min  Hatch, -5    Jan.    17,  1678,  his  first  wife,  who  died  before  1682;  and 

4  The  progenitor  of  Benjamin  Hatch,  who  married  Mary  Hamblen,  was  Thom- 
as, who  was  in  Barnstable  as  early  as  1641.  Very  little  is  known  of  him,  and  he  died  in 
1661.  He  had  a  wife  named  Grace,  and  Otis  says:  "  She  must  have  been  a  second  wife, 
for  if  Jonathan  and  Lydia  had  been  her  children,  she  would  not  have  allowed  them  in 
youth  to  have  been  aliens  from  their  father's  house."  His  children  were  probably  born 
in  England — .Jonathan  born  about  1624  and  Lydia  about  1626;  and  there  may  have  been 
others.  He  was  probably  not  a  young  man  as  stated  by  Mr.  Savage  Jonathan,  son  of 
Thomas,  at  the  age  of  fourteen,  was  bound  as  an  apprentice  to  Lieut.  Richard  Daven- 
port, of  Salem;  his  father,  mother  and  sister  had  removed  to  Yarmouth,  leaving  him 
among  strangers  ;  after  remaining  two  years,  he  deserted  and  came  to  Boston ;  Septem- 
ber 2,  1640,  lie  was  arrested  as  a  fugitive  from  service,  and  sentenced  to  be  severely 
whipped  and  committed  as  a  slave  to  Lieut.  Davenport ;  but  he  escaped  to  his  father's 
house  in  Yarmouth ;  March  1,  1642  he  was  taken  as  a  vagabond,  to  be  whipped  and  sent 
from  constable  to  constable,  to  Lieut.  Davenport,  at  Salem.  This  sentence  was  recon- 
sidered by  the  court,  as  it  had  no  authority  over  a  party  residing  in  another  jurisdic- 
tion, and  he  was  appointed  to  dwell  with  Mr.  Stephen  Hopkins.  In  1645  he  was  one  of 
the  quota  of  Barnstable  to  go  on  an  expedition  against  the  Narraganset  Indians. 
His  parents  appears  to  have  taken  no  interest  in  his  welfare.  This  can  be  accounted 
for  on  the  theory  that  Grace  was  a  second  wife  of  his  father.  The  boy  was  exposed  to 
temptation  on  every  hand;  he  had  no  friends  upon  whom  to  rely ;  a  bondservant,  a 
slave,  which  his  proud  spirit  could  not  brook  ;  he  resisted  and  escaped  from  servitude, 
and  for  which  he  was  punished.  We  cannot  but  admire  his  bold  and  manly  resistance 
of  the  intolerant  spirit  of  the  age,  and  of  the  law,  which  banished  hiin  from  his  father's 
house,  and  deprived  him  of  his  liberty.  He  married  Sarah,  daughter  of  Henry  Rowley, 
and  resided  several  years  in  West  Barnstable,  and  removed  to  South  Sea,  Barn- 
.stable.  In  1661  he  removed  to  Falmouth,  but  returned  again  to  Barnstable  later. 
He  was  admitted  a  freeman  of  Barnstable  June  24,  1690.  Time  had  tempered  the  fire  of 
his  impetuosity,  and  he  had  become  a  sober,  religious  man.  He  died  December,  1710. 
His  will  is  dated  September  I.t,  1705,  proved  January  4, 1710-11.  He  had  eleven  children 
from   1617  to   1669.  among   whom  was  Benjamin,  the  fifth  child;  there  are   discrepancies 


SECOND  GENERATION.  55 

had  Abigail  born  August  4,  1079,  and  Mary  born  March  o,  KiSl.  Hatch 
was  tM'enty-three  years  old  at  the  time  of  this  marriage.  An- 
other Mary  married  John  Davis,-''  Jr.,  February  22,  1()!)2,  liis  second 
wife,  who  died  November,  1()98;  and  had  Shobal,  born  July  1(J,  1094; 
James,  born  March  24,  1()9(),  and  Ebenezer,  born  May  13,  1G97.  Davis 
was  forty-two  years  old  at  the  time  of  this  marriage.  Tlie  records  so 
far  disclose  the  names  of  but  two  named  Mary  Hamblen  in  Barnstable, 
eligible  to  these  marriages:  Mary, 2  daughter  of  .James,i  and  Mary,3 
daughter  of  James,-  born  July  24,  1664.  Mr.  Otis  states,  that  the  latter 
max'ried  Hatch  as  above  stated;  if  true  she  was  then  less  than  sixteen 
years  of  age.  It  seems  hardly  probable  that  Mr.  Hatch,  a  youth  of 
twenty-three  years,  married  the  elder  Mary,  a  lady  forty-four  years  of 
age,  or  that  she  was  the  mother  of  children  after  that  age.  On  the 
other  hand  it  seems  improbable  that  the  elder  Mary  married  Mr.  Davis 
and  became  the  mother  of  children  at  the  age  of  fifty -eight  years. 
There  may  have  been  others  in  Barnstable,  at  these  periods,  named 
Mary  Mamblen.  It  is  more  probable  that  Mr.  Davis,  at  the  age  of  for- 
ty-two years  married  Mary,  daughter  of  Janies,^  at  the  age  of  thirty- 
eight  years  as  his  second  wife.  It  is  worthy  of  notice  that  James  Hani- 
bleni  does  not  mention  a  daughter  Mary  in  his  will,  dated  January  23, 
1683,  and  that  there  were  other  Hamlins  and  Hamblens  residing  at 
Boston  about  this  period.  The  facts  are  stated  as  found  and  left  for 
investigation. 

between  the  Barnstable  and  Falmouth  records,  respecting  the  ag  's  of  the  cliildren. 
According  to  the  former  Benjamin  was  born  September  7,  IGS'i;  the  lattr-r  tjivcs  the  date 
June  6,  1656.  He  was  a  farmer;  married  three  times,  first  to  Mary  Hamblen,  as  stated; 
she  died  early,  and  he  married  second,  March  16,  16S2,  Elizabeth  E  Idy;  third,  Experi- 
ence, widow  of  Jabez  Davis,  daughter  of  David  Liunell,  February  l-i,  1711-12.  He  re- 
moved 'to  MaasfieH,  Connecticut,  in  1729,  and  disd  there,  or  at  Tolland  b^foro  th;;  year 
1736.— [Otis  Papers.] 

5  The  progenitor  of  .John  Davis,  Jr.,  who  married  Mary  Hamlen  as  his  second  wife, 
was  Dolar  Davis,  who  appears  in  Barnstable  as  early  as  1643:  probably  a  native  of  Ben- 
nefield,  Northamptonshire,  England  ;  married  as  early  as  1618,  Margery,  daughter  of 
Richard  Willard,  of  Horsemondon,  County  Kent,  England,  and  came  over  in  lff?4  in 
company  with  his  brother-in-law,  Major  Simon  Willard,  a  man  of  note,  and  slopped 
first  at  Cambridge,  where  he  was  one  of  the  first  settlers  in  lOi.i,  but  removed  in  16:?6. 
He  was  one  of  the  proprietors  of  land  in  Concord.  In  1638  he  was  in  Diixbury, 
and  had  lands  granted  to  him  at  North  Hill,  April  6.  1640.  In  May.  1641  he  was 
called,  "of  Scituate."  In  .August,  1643.  he  and  his  sons  wore  included  among- 
those  able  to  bear  arms  in  Barnstable.  He  probably  cam"  to  Barnstable  in  16:{9  with 
the  first  settlers,  but  did  not  make  it  a  permanent  residence  until  1642  or  3.  He  was  a 
carpenter,  a  master  builder.  In  165.5  he  removed  to  Concord,  Mass.  Married  second, 
Joanna,  daughter  of  Rev.  .Joseph  Hull,  widow  of  John  Bursley.  He  died  in  1673,  will 
dated  September  12,  1672,  His  eldest  son,  John,  was  born  i-i  England.  Married  by  Mr. 
Prince,  at  Eastham,  March  15  164S,  Hannah,  daughter  of  Robert  Liunell,  of  Barnstable. 
He  was  a  house  carpenter,  and  resided  in  Barnstable;  died  170!;  will  dated  May  10,  1701. 
proved  April  9,  1703;  twelve  children,  the  eldest,  .John,  born  in  Barnstable  January  l.V 
1649-.50.  He  was  a  carpenter  and  resided  in  Barnstable;  married  first,  February  2,  1tn4, 
Ruth  Goodspeed;  second,  Mary  Hamblen,  as  stated  in  the  text;  third,  Hannah,  widow 
of  Nathaniel  Bacon.  He  removed  to  Falm<mth  in  1710.  and  died  172!t,  naming  in  his  will 
ten  sons  and  two  daughters.— [Otis  Papers.] 


56  THE  HAMLIN  FAMILY. 

£5]    JAMES  HAMBLEN, 2  [JamesA  )  It  is  supposed  that  he  was  bom 
in  England  and  baptized  in  the  parish  of  St.  Lawrence,  Read- 
ing, Berkshire,  England,  April  10,  1686;  that  he  came  over  with 
his  mother  prior  to   1()42,  and  resided  at  Barnstable,  first,  at  his 
"Coggin's  Pond  lot,   until   1702;  when  he  removed  to  Hamblin's 
Plains,  West  Barnstable;  where  his  son  Ebenezer  occupied  the 
old  homestead,  which   he  afterwards  sold  to  Col.  John  Gorham. 
Mr.  Gustavus  Hinckley,  of  Barnstable,  writes  in   1894,  that  the  site 
t)f  his  house  on  his  father's  Coggin's  Pond  lot  is  well  known;  it  having 
been  owned  and  occupied  by   three  generations  of  Gorham;    a  modern 
house  was  built  about  forty  years  ago  over  the  old  cellar.  Mr.  Otis  says, 
that  he  lived  all  his  life  in  Barnstable;  but  David  Hamblen  says,  he  died 
in  Tisbury,  May  8,  171S.     He  was  a  farmer,  an   exemplary  member  of 
the  church  and  a  good  citizen.     He  married  Mary  Dunham,  November 
20,  1()62.     She  was  born  1642.     Otis  says,  she  was  probably  the  daughter 
of  Dea.  .John,  of  Plymouth;    but  Prof.   Charles  E.  Hamlin,  who  gave 
considerable  attention  to  this  branch  of  the  family,  and  from  which  he 
descended,  says:  she  was  daughter  of  John,  of  Martha's  Vinyard.     Per- 
haps Otis  and   Prof.    Hamlin   referred  to  the  same   individual.     Mr. 
Hinckley  says,  her  grave  is  about  sixty  rods  distant  from  the  site  of  the 
house,  on  their  Coggin's  Pond  lot,  and  the  slate  headstone  bears  the  in- 
scription: "Mary,  wife  of  James  Hamlin,  died  April  ye  lOth  1715,  in  ye 
78d  year  of  her  age." 

James  Hamblen  is  expressly  named  in  his  father's  will,  dated  .Janu- 
ary 13,  16.S8.  David  Hamblen  states  that  his  children,  Mary,  Eleazar 
and  Experience,,  are  expressly  referred  to  in  his  will,  as  being  then  de- 
ceased in  1717;  and  infers  that  his  children  Elisha;  John  and  Benjamin 
were  also  dead,  from  the  fact  that  neither  of  them,  nor  any  child  of 
theirs  is  mentioned  in  the  will. 

His  name  frequently  appears  in  the  Colonial  records:  May  29,  1670, 
James  Hamblen,  Juni.,  in  list  of  Freemen.  June  o,  1671,  James  Ham- 
blen, Juni.,  app.  to  inspect  the  Ordinaries  (Taverns)  in  Barnstable. 
June  6,  16*^2,  James  Hamblen,  Junir.,  Member  of  Grand  Enquest. 

Children,  born  in  Barnstable: — 
12.     Mary,  born  .July  24,  l(i64. 
18.     Elizabeth,  born  February  14,  1665-6. 

14.  Eleazar,  born  April  12,  1668. 

15.  Experience,  born  April  12,  1668. 

16.  James,  born  August  26,  16()9. 

17.  Jonathan,  born  March  6,1  j70-l. 

18.  A  son,  born  March  28,  1672;  died  April  7,  1672. 

19.  Ebenezer,  born  July  29,  1674. 

20.  Elisha,  born  March  5,  1676-7;  died  December  20,  1677. 

21.  Hope,  born  March  13,  1679-80. 

22.  Job,  born  January  15,  1681. 
28.     John,  born  January  12,  1683. 

24.  Benjamin,  baptized  March  16;  1684-5. 

25.  Elkanah,  baptized  1685. 


SECOND  GENERATION. 


57 


[7]     BARTHOLOMEW  HAMBLEN,2  {James,^  )  born  in  Barnstable, 
April  24,  1642;  married  January  20, 1673,  Susannah  Dunham,  per- 
haps a  sister  of  Mary,  wife  of  his  brother  James.     He  resided  on 
his  father's  twenty-acre  lot,  adjoining  Dea.  Cooper's  and  Mr.  Rus- 
sell's home  lots;  was  a  farmer,  a  worthy  and  a  respectable  num. 
His  name  and  that  of  his  brother,  Eleazer,  appear  as  soldiers  in   the 
company  ofCapt.  John   Gorham,  in  King  Phillip's,  or  the   Narragan- 
sett  War,  1675;   and  they  ai"e  both  expressly  named  in  the  list  of  gran- 
tees in  the  Narragansett  grants  of  land  in    Maine,^  years  after  their 
death,  supposed  to  have  been  claimed  by  their  heirs.     This  sanguinary 
Indian    battle,  the  hardships  and  casualties  of  which   have  few  paral- 
lels,  was  fought  December  10,  1675,    Old  Style;  the  place  was  in  South 
Kington,  R.  I.,  on  an   island  of  about  five  acres  in  a  swamp  called  Pat- 
tyswamscott,    where  the  Indians  had  a  fortified  town.     The   white 
forces  actually  mustered   1,127  men,    composed  of  six  companies  from 
Massachusetts  Bay,  two  from   Plymouth  and  five  from   Connecticut 
Colonies.     The  previous  day  had  been  extremely  cold;  the  snow   fell 


6    NARRAGANSETT  GRANTEES,  GORHAM,    MAINE. 


BAENSTABTvE. 


Mary  Dovenour. 
Jacob  Hinckly. 
John  Carillon. 
Geo.  Lewis. 
John  Hathaway. 
Joseph  Higgins. 
Samuel  Bryant. 
Richard  Ellingham. 
Samuel  Childs. 
Samuel  Barmau. 
Samuel  Linnell. 
Dr.  Matthew  Fuller. 
Samuel  Fuller. 
Thos.  Fuller. 
Increase  Clap. 
Joseph  Taylor. 
John  Doncan. 
Baetholemew  Hamblin. 
Kleazer  Hamblin. 
Thomas  Huckins. 


John  Phinney. 
Joseph  Boarce. 
Samuel  Hinckley. 
Samuel   Allyn. 
Samuel  Davis. 
Jolm  Lewis'  heirs. 
Caleb  Lombard. 
Jos  -pli  Gorham. 
Josiah  Davis. 
Ebenezer  (loodspeed. 
Ebenezer  Clap. 
Lot  ("onant. 
Jedediah  Lombard. 
Samuel  Cops. 
Joseph  Blush  (or  Blish). 
John  Howland, 
John  Clark. 
Shubael  Gorham,  Jr. 
Joseph  Crocker. 
John  Goodspeed. 


YARMOUTH. 


Samuel  Barker  (or  Baker). 
Richard  Taylor. 
William  Gray. 
William  Chase. 
Capt.  John  Gorham. 
Thomas  Baxter. 
John  Thatcher. 
John  Hallett. 
John  Matthews. 
Thomas  Thorton. 
WDliam  Gray. 


Jonathan  Smith. 
Samuel  .lones. 
Richard  Taylor. 
Thomas  Felton. 
John  Gage. 
William  Fallen. 
William  Gage. 
Annariias  Wing. 
John  Crowell. 
John  Chase. 
Henry  Golds. 


58 


THE  HAMLIN  FAMILY. 


fast  and  deep;  the  soldiers  had  marched  the  preceding  night  through 
tangled,  pathless  woods,  wading  through  snow  until  nearly  noon;  four 
hundred  of  the  men  were  so  badly  frozen  as  to  be  completely  unfit  for 
duty.  The  Indians  had  formed  a  wooden  fortress,  the  entrance  to 
which  was  narrow  and  reached  by  crossing  on  a  fallen  tree.  The  fight 
lasted  six  hours;  six  of  the  captains  of  the  companies  were  killed;  of 
the  company  of  Capt.  Gorham,  thirty  were  killed  and  forty-one  wounded; 
but  "the  victory  was  complete,  and  the  power  of  the  Narragansetts  for- 
ever broken.  It  is  estimated  that  700  Indian  warriors  were  slain,  be- 
sides 300  that  afterwards  died  of  wounds;  not  more  than  300  escaped; 
the  town  was  burned  and  the  aged  men  and  women  and  children 
were  killed,  perished  in  the  flames,  or  starved  from  cold  and  hunger. 
After  the  battle  the  army  waded  through  the  snow  eighteen  miles  be- 
fore their  wounds  could  be  dressed,  or  refreshments  obtained.  A  grant 
of  lands  was  made  by  the  General  Court  of  Massachusetts  May  27, 
1685,   for  the  benefit  of  the  soldiers  in  this  war,  which  does  not  appear 


Samuel  Hall. 
James  Maker. 
James  Clagliorn. 
Joseph  Hall. 
Samuel  Hedge. 
Nathauiel  Hall. 
Joseph  Whilden. 
Samuel  Thomas. 
William  Baker. 


Richard  Lake. 
Jabez  Gorham. 
Henry  Gage. 
Yelverton  Crowell. 
John  Pug&ley. 
Daniel  Baker. 
Jonathan  White. 
Samuel  Baker. 


Timothy  Cole. 
Jeremiah  Smith. 
Jonathan  Green. 
Joseph  and  Samuel  Doane. 
Thomas  Paine. 
Jedediah  Higgins. 
Eliakim  Higgins, 
Joseph  Downings. 
Benjamin  Downings. 
John  Freem&n. 
Jonathan  Sparrow. 

Jonathan  Morrey. 
Samuel  Toby,  for  his  vincle. 
Nathaniel  Wing. 
Jehosaphat  Eldridge. 


SANDWICH. 


William  Ring. 
Thomas  Savery. 


PL-VMOUTH. 


John  Knowles. 
Samuel  Atkins. 
John  Doane. 
Thomas  Mulford. 
Daniel  Doane. 
John  Walker. 
John  Myrick. 
Nathaniel  Williams.. 
Josiah  Cook. 
Joseph  Harding. 
George  Brown. 

Samuel  Gibbs. 
John  Lewis. 
James  Atkins. 


Peter  Tinkmain. 


Robert  Barker. 
Robert  Sanford. 
Thomas  Bonney. 


Stephen  Sampson. 
Thomas  Hunt. 
Thomas  Standish. 


TISBURY,  Jonathan  Lombard. 
ABINGTON,  William  Harrage. 
sciTUATE,  Timothy  White, 

—[Pierce's  History  of  Gorham,  Maine.]! 


SECOND  GENERATION.  59> 

to  have  been  located;  similar  grants  and  legislation  on  the  sul)Ject  were 
made  December  14,17:^7;  June  15,  17:i8;  June  9,1782;  Ajiril  2(i,  1788; 
February  2,  1786,  and  July  o,  1780.  The  final  result  was  that  sevenr 
townships  of  land  were  granted  to  the  surviving  soldiers  of  King  Phil- 
lip's war,  and  to  the  heirs  of  those  deceased,  120  proi)rietors  to  each 
town,  840  proprietors  in  all.  These  towns  were  called  Narragansett 
grants,  numbers  1,  2,  3,  4,  -5,  (5,  7;  Gorhamtown  being  number  7,  iU' 
which  several  of  the  Hamblen  families  afterwards  settled,  now  being 
the  town  of  Gorham,  Maine.  Some  of  the  conditions  in  these  grants 
were,  that  the  proprietors  should  reserve  a  portion  of  tlie  land  for  the 
support  of  schools  and  the  minister,  and  settle  sixty  families,  and  a 
learned  orthodox  minister  in  each  town,  within  seven  years  from  Jan- 
uary 1,  1784.  The  minister's  tax  in  Maine,  resulting  from  this  legisla- 
tion, caused  no  little  disturbance,  and  the  questions  were  unsettled  un- 
til the  divorce  of  church  and  state,  after  the  admission  of  Maine  into 
the  Union  in  1820.  It  does  not  appear  that  Bartholomew  or  Eleazar 
Hamblen  or  their  descendants  ever  settled  in  Gorham,  nor  that  any  of 
the  Hamblens  Avho  did  settle  there,  did  so  as  proprietors.  Their  shares 
were  probably  sold,  as  there  seems  to  have  been  quite  a  trade  in  that 
class  of  property  in  the  early  days  of  the  town.  ("ol.  Shubael  (Jorham, 
a  grandson  of  Capt.  John,  was  a  heavy  dealer  in  Gorham  property, 
from  which  he  suffered  financial  embarrassment.  Bartholomew  wa* 
expressly  mentioned  in  the  will  of  his  father,  dated  January  28,  l(i83> 
He  died  in  Barnstable  April  24,  17U4,  and  the  following  documents  re- 
late to  the  settlement  of  his  estate: 

BOOK  2,  PAGE  1(36.     (SEALE) 

Barnabas  Lothrop  Esqr.  Commissionated  by  the  Governor  and 
Councill  for  the  granting  of  Probate  of  Wills  and  Letters  of  Adminis- 
tration within  the  County  of  Barnstable  In  the  Province  of  Massachu- 
setts Bay  in  New  England.  To  Susannah  Hamblen  widow  and  relict 
of  Bartholomew  Hamlin  late  of  Barnestable  in  the  County  of  Barne- 
stable  in  the  Province  of  aforesd  now  deceased.  Trusting  in  your  fidel- 
ity, discression  and  faithfulness  I  do  by  these  presents  comitt  unto  you 
full  power  to  administer  on  all  and  singular  the  goods,  chattels,  right* 
and  credits  of  the  sd  Bartholomew  Hamblen  your  deceased  husband 
who  died  intestate  and  well  and  faithfully  to  disp  )se  of  the  same  ac- 
cording to  law  and  to  render  a  plaine  and  true  account  of  your  sd  ad- 
ministration upon  oath  when  lawfully  called  tbereunto.  And  I  do  by 
these  presents  ordain  constitute  and  appoint  you  Administratrix  of  all 
and  singular  the  goods,  chattels,  rights  and  credits  of  the  sd  Bartholo- 
mew Hamblin. 

In  testimony  whereof  I  have  hereunto  sett  my  hand  and  scale  of  sd 
office. 

Dated  at  Barnestable  this  81tli  day  of  May  in  the  third  year  of  our 
Majties  Reign  Annoque  Domini  1704.         ^^^^^^^^^^  LOTHROP. 


60  THE  HAMLIN  FAMILY. 

BOOK  2,    PAGE  167. 

Articles  of  Agreement  had  made  and  concluded  on  by  and  between 
Susanna  Hamblin  widow  and  relict  of  Bartholomew  Hamblin  late  of 
the  Town  and  County  of  Barnestable  in  New  England  now  deceased 
and  Administratrix  to  the  estate  of  the  sd  deceased  on  the  one  party, 
and  Mercy  Hamblen,  Patience  Hamblen,  Susanna  Hamblen  and  Ex- 
perience Hamblen  al  children  of  the  sd  deceased  of  the  other  party  of 
about  and  concerning  the  settlement  and  division  of  the  sd  estate  or  so 
much  thereof  as  may  or  doth  belong  to  them  the  said  foure  children 
and  daughters  of  the  sd  desd  which  is  as  followeth  that  is  to  say  that 
the  sd  Susanna  Hamblen  Administratrix  aforesd  doth  covenant  and 
promis  to  pay  or  cause  to  be  paid  unto  them  ye  sd  Mercy  Hamblen 
Patience  Hamblen,  Susanna  Hamblin  &  Experience,  her  daughters 
their  heirs,  executors  administrators  or  assigns  the  full  sum  of  fifteen 
pounds  apiece  to  each  of  them  and  to  be  paid  in  some  convenient  time 
as  soon  as  shee  the  sd  Susanna  Hamblin  Administratrix  aforesd  can 
conveniently  pay  the  same  for  and  in  consideration  of  sd  sum  of  fifteen 
pounds  a  piece  to  be  well  and  truly  paid  as  aforesd  they  the  sd  Mer- 
cy Hamblin,  Patience  Hamblin,  Susanna  Hamblen  and  Experience 
Hamblen  for  themselves  ye  heirs  executors  and  Administrators  do  by 
these  presents  quitt  claim  unto  her  the  sd  Susanna  Hamblin  their 
mother  and  Administratrix  aforesd  of  and  in  all  the  estate  both  real 
and  personal  yt  belonged  to  and  left  by  the  sd  Bartholomew  Hamblen 
their  deceased  father. 

In   testimony  whereof  the  parties  to  these  presents  have   hereunto 
sett  their  hands  and  seals  this  one  and   thirtyeth  daj^   of  May   Anno 
Domini  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  foure. 
In  presence  of 
WM.  BASSETT.  SUSANNA  HAMBLIN  (Scale) 

THO.  FULLER.  MERCY  HAMBLIN  (Scale) 

PATEENCE  HAMBLIN  (Scale) 
SUSANNA  HAMBLEN  (Scale) 
EXPERIENCE  HAMBLEN,  (Seale) 

On  the  same  Sltli  day  of  May  then  the  above  named  Susanna  Ham- 
blen tlie  mother  of  Mercy  Hamblen,  Patience  Hamblen,  Susanna 
Hamblen  &  Experience  Hamblen  the  daughters  all  personally  ap- 
peared before  Barnabas  Lothrop  Esqr.  Judge  of  Probate  &c.  for  this 
County  of  Barnestable  &  acknowledged  the  above  written  instrumf.  to 
he  their  act  and  deed. 

BARNABAS  LOTHROP. 


BOOK  2,  PAGE  168. 
June  the  •'ith,  1704,  then  the  estate  of  Bartholomew  Hamblen  late  of 
the  Town  of  Barnestable  who  died  intestate  settled  by  Barnabas   Loth- 
rop Esqr.  Judge  of  Probate  &c  for  the  County  of  Barnestable  as  follow- 


SECOND  GENERATION.  61 

eth:  first  that  Susanna  Hamblen  widow  and  relict  of  the  deceased  have 
after  debts  and  funerall  charges  be  paid,  the  one-third  part  of  all  the 
personall  estate  to  be  att  her  own  disposing  forever.  And  that  she 
have  the  use  and  improvement  of  the  one-third  part  of  tlie  real  estate 
during  her  natural  life.  And  secondly,  that  Samuel  Hamblen  the 
eldest  son  have  the  lands  at  the  ponds  and  the  meadow  at  Bearse's  Isl- 
and and  broad  sound  bank  and  ten  shares  of  Comons  he  paying  out 
fifty  pounds  to  the  sd  Susanna  his  mother  now  Administratrix  to  sd 
estate.  In  order  to  enable  her  the  better  to  pay  out  to  the  rest  of  the 
children  what  is  hereby  ordered  to  them  as  they  shall  come  of  age  or  as 
she  is  to  pay  the  same  and  then  the  rest  and  remaining  part  of  all  the 
estate  both  real  and  personall  to  be  equally  divided  to  and  amongst  all 
the  rest  of  the  children  that  is  to  say  to  Mercy  Hamblen,  Patience 
Hamblin,  Susanna  Hamblen  Experience  Hamblin,  .John  Hamblin, 
Ebenezer  Hamblin,  Mary  Hamblin,  Betliyah  Hamblin,  Relyance  Ham- 
blin each  of  them  to  have  an  equall  part  thereof  and  that  the  third  part 
of  the  real  estate  sett  out  to  the  widow  for  her  dower  during  life  shall 
be  alike  divided  in  equall  proportion  to  and  amongst  them  the  sd  Mer- 
cy Hamblen,  Patience  Hamblen,  Susanna  Plamblin,  Experience  Ham- 
blin, John  Hamblin,  Ebenezer  Hamblin,  Mary  Hamblin,  Bethyah 
Hamblin  and  Reliance  Hamblin  children  of  the  sd  deceased,  only  ex- 
cepting which  any  of  the  sd  children  have  or  shall  as  they  come  of  age 
otherwise  agree  with  the  sd  Susanna  their  mother. 

BARNABAS  LOTHROP. 


BOOK  2,    PAGP:  170. 

A  true  Invintory  of  the  Lands,  Goods,  Chattels  and  estate  of  Bar- 
tholomew Hamblen  of  Barnestable  deceased  as  it  was  j^rized  by  Job 
Crocker,  Thos.  Sturges  and  John  Hinckley',  Junr,  the  2S  of  May,  1704. 

£    s.  d. 
Imprimis,     his  homestead  with  the  meadow  at  the  end  of  it 
and  an  Islond  of  sedge  upon  the  flatts  against  brode   sound 
point  with   his  thirty-seven  shares  and  halfe  of  comons  to 

it  all 14.-).0U_0U 

It.     In   land    at  the  pond  and  meadow  att  Bearses  Island 

and  brode  sound  banks  with  10  shares  of  Comons  to  it    -  80_00.00 
It.     His  purse  and  apparell            .           .           -           _           _    (Kijiioo 
It.     in  jiillows  and  feathers  belonging  to  a  bead       -           -  01.14.0U 
It.     in  pillion  and  pillion  cloth  &  spinning  wheel  and  cover- 
lid     -            .           -           - 01.01.00 

It.     in  Indian  corn 02.00.00 

It.     in  a  razor  wooden  dishes,  a  caske  trays  piggin  &  earthen 

ware  ---------  (lO.Oo.OG 

It.     in  iron  kittle  and  iron  pot  -  .  .  .  00.10.00 

It.     in  a  hoe  heating  iron  baskett  and  seed  corn  -  -  00.04.00 

It.     inearth  dish  bottles  and  jug         -  -  -  -  00.01.02 


•62  THE  HAMLIN  FAMILY. 

It.     in  books     ._.-...  00_04_00 

It.     in  a  neb  and  yoak  and  sliovel          _            .            .            .  00_01_00 

It.     in  heifers                ____..  06.00.00 

It.     in  cows  and  calves                  _            -            .            .            .  06.14.00 

It.     in  young  cattle     .___._  02.12.00 

It.     in  liorse  kind  in  the  woods  and  at  home     _            _            .  05.10.00 

It.     in  pillow  biers  and  lining            ....  01.18.00 

It.     in  bed  bedstead  and  furniture  curtaines  and  valienes       _  06.03.00 

It.     in  bed  bedsted  and  furniture       ....  02.10.00 

It.     in  two  tnindle  beds  with  their  furniture     ...  03.00.00 

It.     in  table  lining       .......  00.13.06 

It.     in  yarn  flex  and  midlings     .....  01.01.06 

It.     in  baskets  and  lumber     .....  00.09.02 

It.     in  looms  and  tackling  belong  to  it  .            .            .            .  02.00.80 

It.     in  corn  and  beans                          .            .            .            _  01.00.06 

It.     in  corn  upon  the  ground        .....  00.17.00 

It.     in  cart  plow  and  yoak      .            .            .            .            .  02.08.00 

It.     in  tools  and  other  impliments           .            _            _            .  00.19.00 

It.     in  chains  and  axes            .....  00.16.00 

It.     in  books                         ......  00.14.06 

It.  in  cotton  yearn  and  blankets  sythes  and  sneath  .  00.18.00 
It.     in  horse  gears,  cart  rope  and  sadle  and  sheard  sheep  & 

combs                    .....  04.18.00 

It.     in  swine  flex  and  broke  _            .            .            .            _  02.01.00 

It.     in  brass  bel  mettle                   .....  01.04.00 

It.  in  pewter,  tinn  and  candlesticks  .  .  .  02.08.06 
It.     in  earthen  plates  and   platters  knitting  needles  knives 

scissors  and  all  so  small  ware    .....  00.12.00 

It.     in  earthern  and  stone  juggs  earthen  pans  and  pots     .  00.06.03 

It.  in  wooden  dishes  earthen  pots  box  iron  and  pans  .  00.09.03 
It.     in  pales  and  morters,  iron  pott  and  kittle  needing  trough 

barrils  and  sives        .            .            .            .            .            .  02.03.00 

It.     in  trenches  and  spoons  basket   corn  and  bags  bole  and 

tray           ........  00.14.00 

It.  in  ci.airs  tables  and  spinning  wheels  .  .  .  02.02.06 
It.     in  stone  jugs  little  bottles  and  boxes  thred  pins  and 

small  chest  and  box  .  .  00.18.10 
It.     in   chests  and  box  guns  sword  and  pistol  powder  bullets 

horn  and  cartouch  box         .....  03.15.00 

It.     in  pot  hangers  lire  slice  and  tongs  and  frying  pan            .  00.16.06 

It,     in a  ladder  and  20SE)  tobaco            .            .            .  01.14.00 

309.06.10 
More  one  yearling  sheep  come  to  knowledge  since  this  Invin- 

tory  was  taken. 

It.     in  debts  due  the  the  estate    .....  03.14.06 

more  due  the  estate           .....  00.07.06 

It.     in   debts  due  from  the  estate            ....  16.14.02 


SECOND  GENERATION.  63 

Susanna  Hamblen  widow  and  relict  of  Bartholomew  Hamblen  late 
of  Barnestable  now  deceased  appeared  before  Barnabas  Lothroj)  Escjr. 
Judge  of  Probate  &c.  for  this  County  of  Barnstable  and  made  oath  that 
the  above  written  is  a  true  Invintory  of  the  estate  of  the  sd  liartholo- 
niew  Hamblin  her  deceased  husband  so  far  as  she  knows  and  if  any- 
thing that  is  materiall  shall  yet  further  come  to  her  knowledge  she  will 
bring  it  to  this  Inventory. 

Attest:  WM.  BASSETT,  Regtr. 


Children,  born  in  Barnstable: 

26.  Samuel,  born  December  25,  1G74. 

27.  Merej',  born  June  1,  1677. 

28.  Patience,  born  April  15,  1680. 

29.  Susannah,  born  March  16,  1682. 

30.  Experience,  born  February  13,  1684. 

31.  John,  born  June  19,  16.S6;  died  April  26,  1705. 

32.  Ebenezer,  born  March  23,  1689. 

33.  Mary,  born  May  23,  1691. 

34.  Bethia,  born  November  26,  1693. 

35.  Reliance,  born  November  30,  1696. 


[8]  JOHN  HAMBLEN, 2  {James,^  )  born  in  Barnstable  June  26,  1644, 
baptized  June  30,  l(i44. 

Married  August,  1667,  Sarah,  daughter  of  Austin  or  Augustine 
Bearse,7  born  in  Barnstable  March  28,  1646.  He  resided  at  Hamblin's 
Plains,  and  was  a  farmer.  It  appears  that  he  had  a  large  landed  es- 
tate, and  owned  three  houses  or  tenements;  that  at  the  Indian  Pond  he 
did  not  occupy  himself;  but  his  dwelling  was  further  north  on  the 
plain.  He  is  expressly  named  in  the  will  of  his  father,  dated  January 
23,  1683.  The  will  of  his  son,  .lohn,  who  died  unmarried  in  1734,  fur- 
nishes many  particulars  respecting  this  family. 

His  wife  was  an  early  member  of  the  church;  he  did  not  join  until 
late  in  life.  He  survived  his  wife,  and  died  in  17ls.  His  personal  es- 
tate was  appraised  at  £l68.0.s. 

7  Austin,  or  Augustine  Bearse,  father  of  Sarali,  who  married  Joliii  Ham  bleu  ;  pro- 
genitor of  tlie  Barnstable  family  of  that  name;  came  from  Southampton.  EuKland.  in 
ship.  Confidence,  of  London,  April  21,  \&\.<\  and  was  then  twenty  years  of  a^'e.  He  came 
to  Barnstable  with  the  first  company  in  l&O;  was  admitted  a  freeman  May  :»,  165:?;  be- 
came a  member  of  Mr.  Lothrop's  church  .Vpril  29,  164:i.  The  record  of  this  marriage  has 
not  been  found :  was  living  in  1686,  but  died  before  1697.  Otis  says :  "  He  was  one  of  the 
very  few  against  whom  no  complaint  was  ever  made;  a  fact  which  speaks  well  for  his 
character  as  a  man  and  citizen;  a  farmer;  lived  on  the  products  of  his  land ;  and 
brought  up  his  large  family  to  be  like  himself,  useful  members  of  society.  Goodman 
Bearce  did  what  he  he  honestly  bjlieved  to  be  his  duty."  Eleven  children.— [Otis 
Papers.] 


64  THE  HAMLIN  FAMILY. 

COPY  OF  THE  WILL  OF  JOHN  HAMBLEN. 

In  the  name  of  God  Amen.  I  John  Hambhn  Senr  of  the  Town  and 
County  of  Barnstable  in  New  England  being  aged  and  infirm  of  body 
and  sensible  of  the  frailty  of  this  life  and  the  certainty  of  death,  and 
yet  being  of  sound  memory  and  disposing  mind  (blessed  be  God)  am 
willing  to  sett  my  house  in  order  before  I  go  hence  and  be  no  more 
here,  do  therefore  make  this  my  last  Will  and  Testament  in  manner  & 
form  following  viz: 

First,  I  give  my  sovd  to  Almighty  God  that  gave  it  me  and  my 
body  to  the  earth  from  whence  it  was  taken  to  be  buried  in  such  Chris- 
tian &  decent  manner  as  to  my  Executor  hereafter  named  shall  be 
thought  best  believing  ye  resurection  of  the  dead  and  in  the  mercy  of 
God  thro  ye  Lord  Jesus  Christ  my  glorious  Redeemer  and  that  I  shall 
stand  before  him  at  the  last  day ;  And  as  to  that  portion  of  the  good 
things  that  (ilod  in  his  free  bounty  hatli  graciously  lent  unto  me  my 
will  and  meaning  is  that  it  shall  be  disposed  as  followeth;  that  is  after 
all  my  just  debts  and  funeral  charges  be  paid. — 

Imprs. — I  give  and  bequeatli  to  my  son  John  the  one  half  of  my 
tenement  att  the  Indian  Pond  with  my  dwelling  house  and  half  the 
barn:  That  is  to  say,  half  the  land  as  followeth  viz:  all  the  neck  (only 
reserving  some  wood  tliere  for  Benjamin  as  hereafter  expressed)  and 
the  land  adjoining  to  the  neck  to  a  tree  marked  by  the  corner 
of  the  Pond  next  to  Joseph  Hamblin;  from  thence  setts  west  36 
degrees  north  to  a  stake  in  tlie  field  a  little  to  the  northwest  of  ye  barn 
and  from  sd  stake  setts  easterly  straight  to  the  southeast  corner  of  ye 
new  lott  to  the  northard  of  the  lane  or  way  that  goeth  tlirough  it  leav- 
ing the  way  to  be  south  of  sd  line  and  from  the  old  lott  is  bounded  by 
sd  way  or  lane  to  a  stake  in  ye  hollow  or  valey  and  from  said  stake 
along  sd  valey  to  the  guile  and  so  to  ye  Pond,  only  reserving  free 
egress  and  regress  for  Benjamin  to  the  barn  and  about  ye  barn,  so  long 
as  it  shall  stand  there,  and  also  the  southermost  part  of  ye  new  lot  to  the 
north  of  ye  sd  way  as  it  is  now  found  in;  only  reserving  a  convenient 
way  over  the  S.  W.  corner  of  the  'ast  mentioned  i^iece  for  Benjamin  to 
goe  to  the  land  within;  to  have  and  to  hold  the  premises  to  liim  the  sd 
John  his  heirs  and  assigns  forever. 

Item.  I  give  and  bequeatli  unto  my  son  Benjamin  tlie  other  half 
of  my  tenement  at  the  Ponds  and  the  one  half  of  the  barn  and  neces- 
sary ways  with  free  egress  and  regress  to  and  about  the  barn  as  except- 
ed and  reserved  in  what  I  have  given  to  John  to  him  his  lieirs  and 
assigns  forever.  Also  I  give  to  my  said  son  Benjamin  the  wood  that  is 
now  growing  on  about  five  acres  of  land  in  the  neck  not  given  to  John 
it  being  in  two  pieces,  the  one  being  at  ye  N.  W.  corner  of  the  sd  neck 
beginning  at  a  white  oak  marked  on  four  sides,  Thence  setts  W.  N.  W. 
about  BO  rods  by  marked  trees  to  the  Pond;  and  also  S.  B.  W.  by 
marked  trees  about  29  rods  to  a  white  oalv  pole  marked  at  the  S.  E.  cor- 
ner,  Thenc*'  setts  againe  W.  N.  W.  to  the  pond,  and  then  bounded  by 


SECOND  GENERATION.  65 

it.  The  other  jiiece  lyes  in  the  narrow  of  tlie  Neck,  runneth  across  it 
south  thirty  degrees  east  and  is  about  14  rods  wide  and  is  bounded  out 
by  marked  trees  including  a  swamp  in  it.  The  wood  of  the  tirst  piece 
to  be  taken  otr  in  six  years  next  coming  after  the  date  hereof;  and  off 
the  last  in  twelve  and  he  shall  cut  all  clean  as  he  goeth  that  the  land 
may  be  more  profitable  to  his  brother. 

Item.  I  give  and  bequeath  unto  my  two  sons  John  and  Benjamin 
all  my  upland  and  marsh  at  Scorton  and  lott  of  marsh  lying  by  Spring 
Creek  adjoing  to  Dea.  Chipmans  marsh  and  also  my  jaart  in  the  dock 
by  Spring  Creek  and  my  marsh  and  upland  lying  by  it  with  privilege 
of  a  way  up  to  the  highway;  onely  reserving  liberty  for  my  son  Ebene- 
zer  to  bring  dry  hay  into  sd  dock  and  land  it  there  and  cart  it  up  sd 
way.  I  also  give  to  my  sd  two  sons  all  my  wood  lott  in  the  timber 
land  and  my  half  planting  lott  at  Skonkenut  to  hold  all  sd  severall 
pieces  and  parcells  of  marsh  and  upland  with  privilege  of  dock  and 
way  to  them  their  heirs  and  assigns  forever. 

Item.  I  give  and  bequeath  unto  my  son  Ebenezer  all  my  tenement 
where  I  now  dwell  at  Coopers  Pond  and  my  part  of  the  wood  lott  lying 
below  sd  tenement  and  my  half  planting  lot  lying  by  the  Round 
Pond  and  all  ye  marsh  which  I  bought  with  sd  tenement  with  half  a 
lott  more  of  the  late  Coman  marsh  lying  near  the  mouth  of  Spring 
Creek  and  ye  privilege  in  ye  dock  above  mentioned  to  him  his  heirs 
and  assigns  forever.  And  I  give  to  my  sd  son  four  pounds  and  ten 
shillings  in  cart,  yoake  and  chains  and  cart-wheels  and  ploughs  ye 
which  he  hath  in  his  custody. 

Item.  I  give  to  my  son  John  my  bed  on  which  I  lodge  with  all  ye 
furniture  belonging  to  it. 

Item.  I  give  to  my  three  sons  aforementioned,  to  them  and  their 
heirs  forever:  all  my  right  or  part  in  the  Comon  or  undivided  land  in 
Barnstable  to  be  equally  divided  among  them. 

Item.     I  give  and  bequeath  to  my  daughter  Rogers  forty   shillings. 

Item.     I  give  and  bequeath  to  my  daughter  King  forty  shillings. 

Item.  I  give  and  my  will  is  that  all  the  remaining  part  of  my 
estate  shall  be  equally  divided  among  my  children  viz:  my  nine 
daughter  three  sons  and  my  daughter-in-law  Thankful  the  wife  of  Eben- 
ezer. That  is  all  my  estate  i^debts  and  legacyes  being  paid  as  above 
sd)  In  the  hands  of  my  sons  or  elsewhere  a  list  or  scadul  of  wh  is 
in  my  sons  hands  is  hereto  attixed. 

And  I  do  appoint  ordain  and  constitute  my  son  John  Hambliii  my 
sole  Executor  to  this  my  last  will  and  testament.  In  witness  whereof 
I  the  sd  John  Hamblin  have  hereunto  sett  my  hand  and  seal  this  tiiird 
day  of  .lanuary  in  ye  first  day  of  his  nuTJti'^*  reign-  Aimo  Domini    1714: 

his 

J L 

JOHN    !    I    HAMBLIN     (SEAL) 


66  THE  HAMLIN  FAMILY. 

Signed  sealed  and  declared  to  be  my  last  Will  and  Testament  in 
presence  of 

SAMUEL  BACON 
EBENEZER  HAMBLIN 
REBECKAH  PARKER. 

Children,  born  in  Barnstable: 

36.  Melatiah,  born  July  1,  1B68,  living  unmarried  in  1784. 

37.  Priscilla,  born  April  30,  1670. 

38.  Sarah,  born  July  1,  167L 

39.  Martha,  born  February  16,  1672-3. 

40.  Experience,  born  April  16,  1674. 

41.  Hannah,  born  February  Ki,  1675-6. 

42.  Esther,  born  March  17,  l(i77,  married  her  cousin  Jonathan  (17). 

43.  Thankful,  born  October  16,  l()7i). 

44.  John,  born  March  10,  1680-1. 

45.  Ebenezer,  born  May  12,  1683. 

46.  Abigail,    born  April  24,  1685,   married  her  cousin  Elkanah  (25). 

47.  Benjamin,  born  February  11,  1686. 

[10]  ELEAZAR  HAMBLEN, 2  (Jnmes,^  )  born  in  Barnestable, 
March  17,  1649-50;  baptized  the  same  day;  married  October  16, 
1675,  Mehitable,  daughter  of  Jolm  and  Mary  (Ewer)  Jenkins,* 
born  in  Barnstable  March  2,  16")4-5.  She  was  an  early  member 
of  the  church,  and  he  joined  in  1686.  Otis  supposes  that  he 
resided  at  Hamblin's  Plains;  but  says  he  knew  but  little  of  his 
history.  He  was  a  soldier  in  Capt.  Gorham's  company  (see 
sketch  of  his  brother  Bartholomew);  named  in  the  will  of  his 
father,  dated  January  23,  1683. 

The  following  documents  relate  to  the  probate  of  his  estate: 

VOL.  2,  PAGE  74. 

Barnabas  Lothrop  Esqr.  connnissionated  by  ye  Crouvenour  and 
councill  for  ye  granting  of  Probate  of  Wills  and  Letters  of  Administra- 
tion within  ye  County  of  Barnstable  within  ye  Province  of  ye  Massa- 
chusetts Bay  in  New  England.  To  Lydia  Hamlin  vid.  Relict  of  Elia- 
zer  Hamlin  late  of  Yarmouth,  deceased,  intestate,  Trusting  in  your 
care  and  fidelity  I  do  by  these  presents,  comitt  unto  you  full  power  to 

8  John  Jenkins  was  in  Barnstable  as  early  as  1652 ;  his  previous  history  is  uncer- 
tain, as  two  of  the  name  came  over  early,  and  settled  in  Plymouth,  one  in  163r) ;  he  mar- 
ried the  widow  of  a  young  man— John  Ewer— who  died  early  in  1652.  Whether  this  was 
the  first  marriage  of  John  Jenkins,  the  record  affords  no  evidence ;  his  seven  children,  of 
whom  Thomas  was  the  sixth,  are  recorded  as  born  in  West  Barnstable.  Probably  he  first 
resided  on  the  Ewer  farm ;  tradition  says  she  resided  in  Barnstable,  but  of  this  there  is 
no  actual  proof.  Thomas  Jenkins  resided  at  West  Barnstable,  and  died  in  his  eightieth 
year ;  his  will  is  dated  November  9,  17:57,  was  signed  by  mark ;  proved  February  15, 
1745-6;  in  which  ho  names  his  wife,  Mercy,  probably  a  second  wife ;  his  estate  was  ap- 
praised at  .£.?,8t9. 16.10,  including  a  negro  at  £100.— [Otis  Papers.] 


SECOND  GENERATION.  67 

administer  all  and  singular  ye  goods  chattels  rights  and  credits  of  ye  sd 
deceased  and  Avell  and  faithfully  to  dispose  of  ye  same  according  to  law 
also  to  aske  gather  levy  recover  and  receive  all  and  whatsoever  credits 
of  ye  sd  deceased  which  to  him  while  he  lived  and  at  ye  time  of  his 
death  did  appertaine.  And  to  pay  all  debts  in  which  ye  deceased  stood 
bound  so  far  as  his  goods,  chattels,  rights  and  credits  can  extend  ac- 
cording to  ye  value  thereof.  And  to  make  a  true  and  perfect  In- 
vintory  of  all  and  singular  ye  good,  chattels  rights  and  credits  of  ye  sd 
deceased  and  to  exhibit  ye  same  into  ye  Registers  office  of  ye  aforesd 
county  fourth  with.  And  to  render  a  plaine  and  true  account  of  your 
sd  administration  upon  oath  when  lawfully  called  thereunto.  And  I 
do  by  these  presents  ordaine,  constitute  and  appoint  j'ou  Administra- 
trix of  all  and  singular  ye  goods,  chattels,  rights  and  credits  aforesd. 

In  testimony  whereof,  I  have  hereunto  set  my  hand  and  ye  seal  of 
ye  sd  otftce.     Dated  at  Barnestable  the  twentieth  day  of  May,  Kills. 

VOL.  2,  PAGE  78. 

An  Inventory  of  ye  estate  of  Eliazer  Hamlin  late  of  Yarmouth,  de- 
ceased as  followeth  : 

Imprimis.     To  a  sett  of  curtains        _            .            .            _  01  0U()(» 

Itm.     To  beding     ..-_--.  OK.OO  (K) 

To  wearing  clothes        .            _            .            .            .  0H_02.00 

To  sheets  and  other  linnin             .             _             .             -  02_05_00 

To  pcAvter  and  other  things     .            _                         .  02  O.s.06 

To  wool  and  flax  and  other  things           .            .            .  01_04_00 

To  Iron  work  and  other  things           .            _            -  02, 11.00 

To   Iron  potts  and  wheels            .            _            .            .  01  0.H.00 

To  a  saddle  and  other  things               _            .            .  01.04-00 

To  oxen  and  cows  __..--  16_10_00 

To  a  horse  and  a  plow              .            .            .            .  02 _  00.00 

To  swine       .......  01.06.00 

To  three  acres  of  meadow        _            .            .            .  09.00.00 
To  boxes  for  cart  wheels     ....            -    00.a5.00 

The  estate  indebted  nere  ten  pound. 

Praised  by  JOHN  CROWELL,  SEN". 
.JAMES  HAMLIN,  JUN«. 

Lydia  Hamlin  vid.  relict  of  Eliazer  Hamlin  late  of  Yarmouth  de- 
ceased, made  oath  to  ye  truth  of  this  Inventorie  before  Barnabas  Loth- 
rop  Esqr.  Judge  of  Probate  and  granting  Administration  in  ye  County 
of  Barnstable  and  is  recorded  in  page  73;  of  ye  second  Book  of  Wills 
and  Invintories  mav  ve  20th  1098. 

Attest:  .lOSEPH  LOTHROP,  Reg'^-i. 

Children,  bom  in  Barnstable: 

48.  Isaac,  born  August  20,  1676. 

49.  Joseph,  born  November  20,  1680. 

.50.     Mehitable,  born   March  28,  1682;  m.  John  Sanderson,  Nov.  8,  1714. 


68  THE  HAMLIN  FAMILY. 

51.  Elisha,  born  July  80,  1685;  probably  died  young. 

52.  Ichabod,  born  May  80,  1687;  probably  died  young. 

53.  Shobal,  born  September  16,  1690. 


£11]     ISRAEL  HAMBLEN, 2  (James,^  )  born  in  Barnstable,  June  25, 
1652;    baptized  same    day;    married    first,   Abigail,    who  diedf 
about  tlie  year  1700;  second,  Jemima.     The  records  do  not  give 
their  surnames. 
He  lived  in  a  solitary  spot,    and  farming  could  not  have  been   his 
principal   occupation;  and  is  called  "Mr."  on  the  record,  which   shows 
that  he  was  a  man  of  some  prominence.     The  site  of  his  lion:ie  was  in  a 
small  cleared  space  in  the  forest,  now  covered  by  trees,  in  the  east  jjar- 
ish,   on  Dimmock's   Lane,  by  tlie   side  of  Israel's   Pond, — named  after 
his  son, — about  a  mile  and  a  lialf  south  of  the  county  road;  his  nearest 
neighbor  was  more  than  half  a  mile  distant.     His  occupation  is  not 
known.     It  has   been  suggested  that  as  lie  did  not  come  to  the   distinc- 
tion of  being  called  "  Mr."  from  any  civil  employment  or  office;  that 
he  may  liave  been  employed  as  Master  or  Captain  of  some  of  the  num- 
erous fishing  and  whaling  vessels  employed  on  the  coast  in   summers, 
and  in  trading  voyages  to  the  West  Indies,  in  winter.     His  first   wife 
was  perhaps  a  daughter  of  Josliua  Lombard.     He  is  named  in  the  will 
of  his  father,  .lanuary  28,  1688. 

Inventory  of  his  estate: 

BOOK  8,    PAGE  651. 

Barnstable,  July  2  day,  1729.  A  true  invintory  of  the  estate  of  Isra- 
eli Hamblen  deceased  taken  by  John  Crocker,  Thomas  Huckins  and 
William  Basett. 

To  apparel   _-----.  05„1406 

To  a  bed  and  bedstead  and  furniture  .  .  .  1106.00 

To  8  bags  and  wool  ....__  00. 14 _ 00 

To  eaight  pounds  of  yarn        .  _  .  .  _  11.0400' 

To  midlings  and  too  yarn  _  _  ,  .  .  (10  12.00 

To  tramels  and  tongs  and  a  spade      ....  (1014.00 

To  a  warming  pan  and  a  fring  pan  ....  (10. 18.00 

To  won  iron  ceatel        ._-...  0100.00 

To  a  littel  ceatel  and  scilet  .  .  .  .  .  00.12.00' 

To  two  whels  and  a  reel  _  .  ,  .  .  00  12.00 

To  a  toob  and  runlet  ......  00.03.00 

To  earthenware  and  a  (piart  pot         ....  00.1000 

To  a  puter  plattT  and  bacen  poringers  spoans     .  .  .  00.18.00 

To  trays  and  trenchers  tow  sefs  ....  0008  06 

To  a  atbell  and  four  cliears  .  .  -  .  .  00  1600 

To  a  chist  and  cobord  and  trunk        ....  01  OO.OD 

To  a  bibel  and  other  boks  .  .  ,  .  _  o;)_0 ).(,(» 

To  a  bedsted  and  baskets  and  chist    .  .  _  .  00_07.()(,« 


SECOND  GENERATION.  69 

To  three  cows  and  two  call's  .....     1(>  10.00 

To  barels  and  pals  and  old  things      ....  00.0o_06 

•t-K  14.00 
Allowed  to  ye  widdow  one  cow  she  now  milks  .  .      (5.10.00 

John  Crocker,  Thomas  Huckins,  William  Bassett,  Barnstable  ss, 
July  3.  this  inventory  exhibited  and  since  sworn  to  by  Abigail  Ham- 
blin  now  Barlow  Administratrix  to  the  estat  of  her  late  husband  Israel 
Hamblen  deceail  that  the  above  invintory  is  true  so  far  as  she  knows  & 
if  anything  meterel  shall  come  to  light  hereafter  she  will  bring  it  to 
this  invintory 

Coram      N.  BOWEN  J.  Pt. 

SILVANU8   B0WP:N  Regtr. 

Children,  born  in  Barnstable,  by  tirst  wife: 

54.  A  child,  born  and  died  1B87. 

55.  Thankful,  born  August  24,  1689;  married  her  cousin  Ebenezer  (4o). 

56.  Prudence,   born  October,  1692;   married  Joseph  Gates,  of  Preston. 

57.  Israel,  born  March  15,  1694. 

58.  Joseph,  born  September  12,  1697. 

59.  Jemima,  born  August  15,  1699. 

By  second  wife: 

60.  Jacob,  born  May  28,  1702. 

61:    Anne,  born  April  10,  1706;  married  Mr.  Tilson,  1750. 


THIRD  GENERATION. 


[12]  MARY  HAMBLI:N,3  (James;^  James,^  )  born  in  Barnstable, 
July  24,  1664.  Otis  saj's:  she  married  June  17,  1678,  Benjamin, 
son  of  Jonathan  and  Sarah  (Rawley)  Hatch,  of  Barnstable;  and 
had  Abigail,  born  August  4,  1679,  and  Mary,  born  March  3, 
1681;  and  that  she  died  early.  He  married  second,  March  16, 
1682,  Elizabeth  Eddy.  She  was  admitted  to  the  Barnstable 
church  July  14,  1710,  and  was  dismissed  to  the  church  in  Fal- 
mouth the  following  October,  and  died  soon  after.  He  married 
third,  February  13,  1711-12,  Experience,  widow  of  Jabez  Davis, 
of  Barnstable.  Mr.  Hatch  was  a  farmer  and  removed  to  Mans- 
field, Connecticut,  in  1729,  and  died  either  there  or  in  Tolland 
prior  to  1736.  To  say  the  least,  this  record  is  doubtful.  See 
Mary,2  (4). 

[13]  ELIZABETH  HAMBLEN,3  {Siste)-  of  Mary,)  born  in  Barn- 
stable February  14,  1665-6;  married  July  31,  1689,  John,  son  of 
John  and  Hannah  Scudder,9  of  Barnstable;  the  date  of  his 
birth  is  not  known;  both  died  at  Chatham,  she  January,  1743; 
he  "  very  aged." 

Children: 

62.  John,  born  May  23,  1690. 

63.  Experience,  born  April  28,  1692. 

64.  James,  baptized  January  13,  1695. 

65.  Ebenezer,  baptized  April  26,  1696. 

66.  Reliance,  born  December  10,  1700. 

67.  Hannah,  born  June  7,  1706. 


9  John  Scudder,  ancestor  of  this  family,  was  born  in  England,  1619,  and  came  from 
London  in  1635  and  located  in  Charlestown  where  he  was  admitted  a  freeman  1639.  The 
next  year  he  moved  to  Barnstable,  where  he  was  again  admitted  freeman  1654,  and  re- 
sided there  until  his  death  in  1689 ;  his  widow,  Hannah,  survived  him.  His  sister,  Eliza- 
beth, removed  from  Boston  to  Barnstable  in  1644,  and  married  the  same  year,  Samuel, 
son  of  Rev.  John  Lothrop ;  his  house  was  near  that  of  the  late  Joshua  Thayer.  Child- 
ren: Elizabeth  and  Sarah,  baptized  May  10,  1646;  Mary,  buried  December  3, 1649 ;  Han- 
nah, baptized  October  5,  1651 ;  John,  no  date.  The  Scudder  family  has  been  one  of  the 
most  distinguished  in  Barnstable.— [Otis  Papers.] 


THIRD  GI:NERATI0X.  71 

[14]     ELEAZAR    HAMBLEN,:' ( /^;-o//>er  o/"  3/ro-*/,)    born    in    Barn- 
stable, April  V2,  ]6()S;  removed  to  Harwich,  and  married  Lydia, 
daughter  of  Paul  and  Deborah  (Willardi   Sears, '<^  born  in  Yar- 
mouth," October  24,  1066;  he  died  in  169S,  and  his  widow  admin- 
istered on  his  estate,  and  afterwards  married  September  30, 1706, 
Thomas  Snow. 
Mr.  Otis  gives  his  date  of  birth  as  above,  and   but  one  child,  Elisha. 
David  Hamblen  calls  him  Eleazar  of  Eastham,  born  February  13,  1665, 
and  says  that  he  mentions  in  his  will  four  children,  as  given   below. 
The  discrepancy  in  the  date  of  his  birth  evidently  occurred  in  making 
up  the  record  or  his  father's  children,  in  which  there  were  twins,  thus: 
Elizabeth,  born  February  13,  166o. 
Eleazar. 
Experience,  born  April  12,  1668. 

David  Hamblen  calls  Elizabeth  and  Eleazar  twins.     While  Mr.  Otis 
calls  Eleazar  and  Experience  the  twins. 

Children: 

()S.  Benjamin,  born  1692. 

(59.  Lydia,  born  1694. 

70.  Mary,  born  1696;  married  Shedrack  Logan  about  1725. 

71.  Elisha,  born  January  26,  1697-8. 

[15]  EXPERIENCE  HAMBLEN,^  (S'ister  of  Mfoi/.)  born  in  Barn- 
stable, April  12,  1668;  married  August  24,  1687,  Thomas,  son  of 
John  and  Mary  (^Ewer)  Jenkins.^' 

Children,  born  in  Barnstable: 

72.  Thankful,  born  May  19.  1691;  married  Isaac  Taylor. 

73.  Experience,  born  March  28,  1693;  married  John  Pope  October  3, 1717. 

74.  Mercy,  born  January  5,  1695-6;    married  John  AVhite  Dec.  23,  1718. 

75.  Ebenezer,  born  Decembers,  1697. 

76.  Samuel,  born  January  7,  1699-1700. 

77.  .Josiah,  born  April  16,  1702. 

78.  Hope,  born  .July  5,  1704;  married  White. 

79.  Sarah,  born  December  1,  170();  married  Lemuel  Nye,  17:'7. 


lO  Richard  Sares  (Sears),  his  parentage,  place  and  date  of  birth  are  unknown  ;  liis 
name  is  in  the  tax  list  of  Plymouth  Colony,  March  25,  16:W;  soon  after  he  went  to  Mar- 
blehead  and  was  taxed  in  Salem  January  1,  1637-8;  in  1639  he  went  to  Yarmouth  where 
he  built  a  house  near  the  sea  shore ;  at  a  later  date  he  built  another,  still  in  existence  ; 
in  164;i  his  name  appears  on  the  tax  list  of  Yarmouth  :  made  freeman  June  7,  16W;  was 
chosen  representative  to  the  General  Court  of  Plymouth  June  3,  1662.  The  author  of  the 
Sears  Genealogy  supposes  he  may  have  been  a  native  of  the  island  of  Guernsey  or  Jer- 
sey. He  died  in  Yarmouth;  buried  August  26,  1676;  will  dated  10,  3  mo.,  166.,  in  which 
he  mentions  his  widow  Dorothy,  and  children  Paul,  Silas  and  Deborah.  (  apt.  Pau  , 
born  1637-8,  married  Deborah  Willard,  and  had  fourteen  children,  of  whom  the  eighth 
was  Lydia  (?)  who  married  Eleazer  Hamblen.— (Sears  Genealogy.] 

IT    See  Note  8. 


72  THE  HAMLIN  FAMILY. 

[16]  JAMES  HAMLIN, =5  {Brother  of  Mary,)  born  in  Barnstable, 
August  26,  1669;  married  October  8,  1690,  Ruth  Lewes.^^  He 
united  with   the  West  Church  March   10,1727-8;    liis  wife  June 

3,  1729. 

Tlie  following  inscriptions  are  found  upon  tlie  gravestones  of  liis 
cliildren : 

"Here  lyes  ye  body  of  Benjamin  Hamlin,  wlio  deceased  Jan'y  ye 
23d  1732   3  in  ye  31st  year  of  his  age." 

"  Here  lyes  ye  body  of  David  Hamlen,  who  dec'i  Novbr  ye  4th  1732, 
in  ye  25th  year  of  his  age." 

"  Here  lyes  ye  body  of  Job  Hamlen,  who  dec  •  Septr  ye  28th  1732  in 
ye  22d  year  of  his  age." 

"  Here  lyes  ye  body  of  Hannah  Hamilen,  who  died  Novbr  ye  7th 
173o,  in  ye  26th  year  of  her  age." 

It  appears  from  the  church  records  that  she  was  admitted  to  the 
West  Church  and  baptized  November  25,  1735,  being  then  confined  to 
her  bed  with  consumption.  Hence  there  is  a  mistake  in  the  record  of 
her  baptism  or  death. 

COPY  OF  THE  WILL  OF  JAMES  HAMLIN. 

In  the  Name  of  God,  Amen.  I,  James  Hamlin  of  Barnstable  in  the 
County  of  Barnstable,  Yeoman  being  grown  into  years  and  under  bod- 
ily infirmities  but  of  sound  memory  (Blessed  be  Clod  for  it)  and  know- 
ing that  it  is  appointed  for  all  men  once  to  dye  &  being  minded  to  set 
my  house  in  order  before  my  death,  do  this  18tli  day  of  August  Anno 
Domini  1743  make  and  publish  this  my  last  will  and  testament  in  man- 
ner following  that  is  to  say. 

Imprimis.  I  commend  my  soul  unto  the  hands  of  Almiglity  God 
and  my  body  to  the  earth  from  whence  it  came  to  be  decently  buried  at 

12  George  Lewes,  ancestor  of  the  Lewis  family  of  Barnstable,  came  from  East 
Greenwich,  County  Kent,  England;  a  clothier;  he  probably  resided  for  a  time  in  Lon- 
don, where  he  was  a  member  of  Mr.  Lothrop's  Church  in  1632;  married  about  1626, 
Sarah,  sister  of  Edward  Jenkins,  who  was  a  resident  of  Scituate.  Lewes  probably  did 
not  come  over  until  after  the  church  in  London  was  broken  up,  and  the  imprisonment 
of  Mr.  Lothrop  in  1632;  but  was  in  Plymouth  the  following  year;  and  a  member  of  the 
church  there  in  1633-4.  He  was  one  of  those  dismissed  from  the  church  in  Plymouth  in 
1634,  "  in  case  they  join  in  a  body  at  Scituate ;  "  and  became  a  member  at  Scituate  Sept. 
30  163.5 ;  he  moved  to  Barnstable  in  1639.  Otis  says :  "  He  was  an  honest  Goodiran.  and 
got  his  living  by  his  labor ;  a  sincere  Christian,  and  his  constant  purpose  seems  to  have 
been  to  live  in  peace  with  all  men ;  to  avoid  suits  at  law  ;  to  yield  rather  than  contend 
with  his  neighbor ;  he  was  not  a  shrewd  business  man,  and  not  perhaps  so  careful  a  man- 
ager as  many ;  he  did  not  hold  '  that  the  chief  end  of  man  is  to  gather  up  riches,'  but 
to  do  good  ;  to  train  up  his  children  in  the  way  they  should  go,  to  be  useful  citizens, 
honest  and  industrious  men.  His  son,  James,  was  a  man  of  more  energy  of  character, 
of  more  business  tact,  and  became  a  distinguished  man ;  Thomas  was  in  some  respect 
like  him ;  the  other  sons  were  like  the  father,  good,  honest  men ;  quiet  and  respec- 
table citizens;  and  their  descendents  to  this  day  inherit  the  same  good  qualities."  He 
died  in  Barnstable  in  1662-3.    8  children.— [Otis  Papers.] 


THIRD  GENERATION.  78 

the  discretion  of  my  Executors  hereafter  tunned  in  hopes  of  a  joyful 
Resurrection  and  as  for  tluit  worldly  estate  wherewitli  it  has  pleased 
God  to  bless  me  I  dispose  thereof  as  followeth : 

Item.  My  will  is  that  my  just  debts  and  funeral  charges  be  first 
paid  out  of  my  personal  estate  by  my  Executors  to  this  will. 

Item.  I  give  and  beciueath  all  the  rest  of  my  estate  both  real  and 
personal  to  by  loving  wife  Ruth  and  to  my  daughter  Mary  to  use  and 
improve  as  long  as  they  or  either  of  them  life  unless  my  said  wife 
should  marry  again  then  she  is  to  have  only  lier  dower  in  the  real  estate 
(&  except  my  wearing  apparel  of  all  sorts  and  my  cain.) 

Item.  My  mind  and  will  is  that  after  the  decease  or  widowhood  of 
my  said  wife  and  the  death  of  my  said  daughter  Mary  that  all  my  per- 
sonal estate  except  wearing  apparel  and  cain  as  abovesd  be  equally  di- 
vided between  my  two  daughters  namely  Ruth  C'rocker  and  Deliverance 
Childs  or  to  their  several  heirs  (viz  the  heirs  of  one  the  one  moiety  and 
the  heirs  of  the  other  the  other  moiety. ) 

Item.  I  give  and  bequeath  to  my  son  James  Hamblin  all  my  real 
estate  both  upland  and  meadows  or  of  any  kind  whatsoever  or  where- 
soever yt  I  have  or  ought  to  have  to  hold  to  him  his  heirs  and  assigns 
forever.  Together  with  my  Mearing  apparel  and  cane  above  mentioned 
reserving  the  use  of  the  said  real  estate  to  my  wife  and  daughter  Mary 
as  above  said. 

Last.  I  nominate  and  appoint  my  said  loving  wife  Ruth  and  my 
friend  James  Otis  Esq  to  be  my  executors  to  this  my  last  will  and  tes- 
tament hereby  revoking  all  former  will  and  wills  by  me  heretofore 
made. 

In  witness  whereof  I  have  hereunto  set  my  hand  and  seal  the  day 
and  year  first  above  written. 

JAMES  H.\MLIN.     (SEAL.) 
Signed,  Sealed,  pronounced  and 
declared  by   the    said  James 
Hamlin  to  be  his  last  will  and 
testament  in  presence  of 

JAMES  OTIS,  JUNR. 
MARY  OTIS. 
TEMPERANCE  OTIS. 

Children,  born  in  Barnstable: 

80.  Mary,  born  ,Iune  24,  1691;    united  witli  Churcii  December  21,  1718. 

81.  Ruth,  born  January  24,  16H2-8. 

82.  .lames,  born  July  17,  1(!9(). 

88.  Benjamin,  born  November  8,  1702. 

84.  David,  born  June,  1708. 

85.  Hannah,  born  June  17,  170i). 

86.  Job,  born  June  2),  1711. 

87.  Deliverance,  married  Joseph  Childs  of  Barnstable,  April   28.  1724. 


74  THE  HAMLTN  FAMILY. 

[17]  JONATHAN  HAMI.EN,:^  {Brother  of  Mary,)  born  in  Barn- 
stabk'  Mareli  6,  1670-1;  married  by  Rev.  Mr.  Russell,  March  6, 
1705,  his  cousin  Esther,  daughter  of  John  Hamblen,-  (8). 

The  following  inscriptions  are  on  their  gravestones: 

"  Here  lies  ye  body  of  Mr.  Jonathan  Hamblen,  w  ho  deci' June  ye 
22d  1748,  in  ye  74th  year  of  his  age." 

"  Here  lies  the  body  of  Mrs.  Esther  Hamlin  wife  of  Mr.  .Jonathan 
Hamlen  dyed  Sepbr  ye  1st  in  ye  69  year  of  her  age,  1746." 

COPY  OF  WILL  OF  .JONATHAN  HAMLEN. 

In  the  name  of  God,  Amen. 

Jonathan  Hamlen  being  of  sound  mind  and  memory  and  in  niind- 
full  of  my  mortality  that  I  may  put  my  house  in  order  before  my  De- 
parture out  of  this  world  do  make  this  my  last  will  and  testament  here- 
by willing  and  making  all  former  wills  and  testaments  by  me  made 
void.  I  give  and  bequeath  my  soul  to  (Jod  my  faithful  creator  to  be  by 
him  redeemed  and  saved  and  my  boddy  to  the  earth  to  be  decently 
buried  in  hope  of  a  blessed  Resurrection  through  the  merits  of  Jesus 
Christ  my  Redeemer  and  all  my  del)ts  and  funeral  charges  being  paid 
by  my  Executor  hereafter  named  I  dispose  of  my  worldly  goods  and 
real  estate  as  followeth. 

Imprimis,  Item.  I  give  &  bequeath  my  loving  wife  Easter  for  her 
dower  the  use  and  improvement  of  all  my  real  estate  and  movable  after 
debts  &  legacy  paid  during  her  widowhood  and  in  case  she  see  cause  to 
mary  again  my  will  is  my  said  wife  shall  have  her  choice  of  my  beds 
with  what  belongs  to  it  and  ten  pounds  in  money  as  it  then  passes. 

It.  I  give  to  my  two  sons  towit.  Jonathan  and  Josiah  all  the  re- 
mainder of  my  Real  and  personal  estate,  that  shall  be  left  after  my 
debts  and  funeral  charges  is  paid  and  my  wifes  widowhood  to  them 
and  their  heirs  and  assigns  on  condition  they  pay  to  my  other  children 
the  respective  sums  hereafter  mentioned  to  wit. 

Item.  To  my  son  Solomon  five  pounds  as  money  that  pass  at  pay- 
ment. 

Item.     To  ]iiy  son  Jabez  twenty  pounds.  In  like  manner. 

Item.     To  my  daughter  Content  five  pounds  in  like  manner. 

Item.     To  my  daughter  Priscilla  three  pounds  in  like  manner. 

Item.  To  my  daughter  Sarah  five  pounds  in  like  manner,  and  in 
case  either  of  my  children  should  dye  before  the  time  of  payment  then 
to  those  that  shall  legally  represent  them  or  their  children  lawfully  be- 
gotten. Lastly  I  do  appoint  my  loving  wife  to  be  my  sole  Executrix 
of  this  my  Last  Will  and  being  sensible  that  my  movable  estate  wont 
pay  my  funeral  charge  and  just  debts  my  will  is  that  she  my  wife  sell  off 
my  real  estate  of  such  as  can  be  best  spaired  to  pay  said  debts  and  fun- 
eral charge  and  give  conveyance  accordingly  pursuant  to  Law. 


THIRD  GENERATION.  75 

In  testimony  to  this  my  Last  Will,  I,  Jonathan  Hamlin  have  here- 
unto set  my  hand  and  seal  this  11  tl'  day  of  June,  Annocjue  Domini  one 
thousand  seven  hundred  and  forty  two. 

JONATHAN  HAMLEN,  (L.  S.) 
Signed  sealed  &  declared  to 
be  my  will  in  presence  of 

JOSEPH  LOTHROP 
SHOBLE   LEWIS 

his 
JN«  O  BUMPOS 

mark 

Children,  born  in  Barnstable: 

88.  Solomon,  born  December  5,  1705. 

89.  Content,  born  December  12,  1707. 

90.  Pricilla,  born  July  13,  1709. 

91.  Zaccheus,  born  June  17,  1711. 

92.  Jabez,  baptized  July  13,  1718. 

93.  Jonathan,  baptized  July  13,  1718. 

94.  Sarah,  baptized  July  13,  1718. 

95.  Josiah,  born  October  15,  1720. 

[19]     DEACON,  EBENEZER  HAMBLEN,3  {Brother  of  Mary,)  was 
born  in  Barnstable,  Massachusetts,  July  29,  1(574;  married  Sar- 
ah Lewis, '3  April  4,  1698.     Mr.  David  Hamblen  says,  he  prob- 
ably married  second,  at  Rochester,  Massachusetts,  September  20, 
1729,  Elizabeth,  widow  of  Samuel  Arnold,  of  that  place. 
He  was  a  prominent  man,  and  oc(rupied  the  homestead  of  his  father 
at  Hamblin's  Plains,  West  Barnstable,  which  he  sold   to  Col.   Gorham. 
The  date  when  he  removed   from  Barnstable  is  unknoAvn,  and  he  may 
have  resided  afterwards  at    Rochester,   Massachusetts.     He  removed  to 
Sharon,  Connecticut,  where  he  died  in  1755.    The  date  of  his  settlement 
in  Sharon  is  unknown,  but  it  is  traditional  that  he  was  one  of  the  pro- 
prietors   as  early  as  1730.     His  descendants  are  numerous,    embracing 
many  eminent  ixien. 

Children,  bom  in  Barnstable: 

96.  Ebenezer,  born  March  IS,  l(i9S-9;  baptized  September  7,  1701. 

97.  Marcy,  born  September  10,  1700;  baptized  September  7,  1701. 

98.  Hopestill,  born  July  23,  1702;  baptized  July  30,  1702. 

99.  Cornelius,  June  13,  1705;  baptized  June  17,  1705. 

100.  Thomas,  born  May  6,  1710. 

101.  Isaac,  born  January  1,  1714;  died  isoo. 

102.  Lewis,  January  31,  1718. 

[21]  HOPE  HAMBLEN ,3  {Sister  of  Mary,)  born  in  Barnstable, 
March  13,  1679-80.  Married  May  U,  1712,  William  Case  of  Tis- 
bury,  Massachusetts. 


13    See  Note  12. 


76  THE  HAMLIN  FAMILY. 

[24]  BENJAMIN  HAMBLEN,3  (/^ro^/ier  o/ J/ary,)  born  in  Barn- 
stable, baptized  Marcli  16,  1684-5.  Otis  was  of  opinion  that  lie 
removed  to  Eastham  and  engaged  in  the  whale  fishery,  and 
married  Anne  Mayo.  I  am  of  opinion  that  he  has  confounded 
this  man  with  his  nephew,  Benjamin,*  son  of  E]eazer,3  of 
whom  he  seemed  to  have  had  no  linowledge.  David  Hamblen 
late  of  Boston,  who  spent  many  years  in  research  for  liistory  of 
the  family,  supposed  that  he  descended  from  Benjamin,*  and 
that  Benjamin^  died  unmarried,  prior  to  1717,  from  the  fact 
that  neither  he,  nor  any  descendant  of  his  was  mentioned  in 
the  will  of  his  father,  James,^  dated  1717.  I  concur  in  the  con- 
clusion of  David  Hamblen. 

[25]  ELKANAH  HAMBLEN,^  {Brother  of  Mary,)  born  in  Barn- 
stable, date  not  given,  baptized  1685.  Married  April  14,  1711, 
his  cousin  Abigail,  daughter  of  John  Hamblen, 2  (8);  she  died 
May  29,  1733;  and  he  married  second,  August  11,  1734,  Marga- 
ret Bates,  of  Plymouth.     He  died  1764. 

COPY  OF  WILL  OF  ELKANAH  HAMBLEN. 

In  the  Name  of  God,  Amen.  I  Elkanah  Hamblen  of  Barnstable,  in 
ye  County  of  Barnstable,  Yeo  being  advanced  in  years  tho  by  God's 
goodness  of  sound  and  disposing  mind  and  memory  do  this  26th  day  of 
March  1754  make  &  ordain  this  my  Last  Will  &  Testament  Knowing 
that  it  is  appointed  for  man  once  to  die,  and  first  I  commit  my  soul  to 
God  in  Jesus  Christ  &  my  body  I  comit  to  the  earth  and  touching  the 
worldly  estate  wherewith  God  hath  blessed  me  I  give,  demise  &  dis- 
pose of  the  same  in  the  following  manner  and  form  &  first  my  will  is 
that  my  just  debts  &  funeral  charges  shall  be  paid  out  of  my  personal 
estate  by  my  executors. 

Imprimis,  I  give  and  bequeath  to  my  loving  wife  Margaret  in  lieu 
of  her  dower  the  use  and  improvement  of  a  fire,  room,  cellar  &  chamber 
in  my  dwelling  house  the  profit  of  a  cow  six  sheep  and  of  a  swine  pas- 
tured four  loads  of  wood  at  the  door  per  annum  a  sixth  of  the  produce 
of  lands  tille<l  a  sixth  part  of  the  fruit  of  the  orchard  a  privilege  of  be- 
ing carried  to  meeting  and  of  having  her  grain  carried  to  mill  &  the 
meal  brought  honxe.  These  articles  to  be  done  &  performed  by  my  son 
Reuben  Hamblen  for  his  mother  during  her  widowhood  yearly  &  every 
year  in  consideration  of  what  is  hereafter  given  &  it  is  to  be  understood 
said  Reuben  is  to  find  and  keep  said  cow  &  sheep  for  his  mother's  pro- 
fit and  of  all  the  land  hereafter  given  him  to  render  a  sixth  of  the  pro- 
duce to  his  moti^er  of  what  is  planted  or  sown  also  I  give  my  said  wife 
one  half  of  my  personal  estate  not  hereafter  particularly  disposed  off. 

Item.  I  give  and  bequeath  to  the  heirs  of  my  son  Silvanus  Ham- 
blen deceased  to  their  heirs  and  assigns  forever,  one  lot  of  land  at  the 
Long  Pond  &  four  pounds  lawful  money  to  be  paid  by  my  son  Reuben 
in  two  years  after  my  decease. 


THIRD  GENERATION.  77 

Item.  I  give  and  bequeath  to  my  son  Reuben  Hamblen  his  heirs 
and  assigns  forever  all  and  singular  my  real  estate  saving  said  lot  at 
the  Long  Pond  &  saving  ye  improvement  to  his  mother  as  above  re- 
served said  real  estate  being  my  house,  barn,  homestead,  meadow, 
woodland  and  whatever  else  is  denominated  real  estate  further  I  give 
my  sd  son  half  my  apparel  all  my  live  stock  moneys,  credits,  husbandry 
utensils  to  him  his  heirs  on  condition  he  or  they  pay  my  debts  &  per- 
form ye  articles  above  enjoyned  tt  pay  the  legacies  hereafter  and  here- 
tofore mentioned. 

Item.  I  give  and  bequeath  to  my  son  John  Hamblen  his  heirs 
three  pounds  six  shillings  and  eight  pence  and  half  my  apparel  said 
money  to  be  paid  by  my  son  Reuben  in  twelve  months  after  my 
decease. 

Item.     I  give  and  bequeath  to  my  nephew  Seth  Fish  five  shillings. 

Item.  I  give  and  bequeath  to  my  daughter  Tabitha  Saunderson 
half  of  my  indoors  personal  estate  not  particularly  already  disposed  off 
and  five  shillings  in  twelve  months  to  be  paid  by  my  son  Reuben  I 
likewise  constitute  make  and  appoint  my  two  sons  Reuben  and  .lohn 
Hamblen  Executors  of  this  my  last  will  and  testament  revoking  former 
wills  &  testaments  &  confirming  this  to  be  my  last  will  and  testament. 

In  witness  whereof  I  have  hereunto  set  my  hand  and  seal,  the  day 
and  date  above.  Signed  sealed  pronounced  published  and  declared  by 
the  said  Elkanah  Hamblen  to  be  his  last  will  and  testament. 

ELKANAH  HAMBLP^N  (L.  ii.\ 

In  the  presence  of  the  subscribers, 
JOSEPH  CHILDS. 
WILLIAM   CROCKER. 
DAVID  CROCKER. 

Children,  born  in  Barnstable,  by  first  wife: 
1(«.     Sylvanus,  born  July  20,  1712. 

104.  Reuben,  born  March  l;s,  1714. 

lOo.  Abigail,  born  October  7,  l71o;  died  young. 

106.  John,  born  November  2,  1717. 

107.  Rachell,  born  Seiitember  7,  1720;  died  1722. 

105.  Patience,  born  .lune  12,  1721;  married  Seth  Fish,  of  Sandwich. 
lOit.  Taltitha,  born  April  14,  1728;  married  John  Sanderson. 

[2(1]  SAMUEL  HAMBLEN, :?  {Bdriholoviev:^  Jnniea,^  )  born  in 
Barnstable,  MassacI  usetts,  December  25,  1074.  He  is  supposed 
to  have  died  unmarried,  from  the  fact  that  he  does  not  mentiou 
any  wife  or  child  in  his  will;  but  does  mention  his  sisters  Beth- 
iah  and  Relyance. 

COPY  OF  WILL  OF  SAMUEL  HAMBLEN. 

In  the  Name  of  (iod.  Amen,  I  Samuel  Hamblen  of  Barnstable,  in  the 
County  of  Banistalile,  yeojiian,  being  advanced  in  years  and  calling  to 
mind  the  mortality  of  my  body  and  knowing  it  is  appointed  for  all  moa 


78  THE  HAMLIN  FAMILY. 

to  dye  and  being  by  God's  goodness  of  sound  and  disposing  mind  and 
memory  do  this  sixtli  day  of  August  Anno  Domini  1759  make  and  ordain 
this  my  last  will  and  testament  and  principally  and  first  of  all  I  com- 
mit my  soul  unto  the  hands  of  God  in  and  through  Jesus  Christ  hoping 
through  him  for  acceptance  witli  God,  and  my  body  I  comit  to  the 
earth  in  decent  Christian  burial  att  the  discretion  of  my  executrix  here- 
after named  and  touching  the  worldly  estate  that  (rod  hath  blessed  me 
with  I  give  and  dispose  of  the  same  in  the  following  manner  and  form. 
First.  My  will  is  that  all  my  debts  and  funeral  expenses  be  paid  out 
of  my  personal  estate  by  my  executrix  hereafter  named. 

Item.  My  will  is  and  by  these  presents  I  give  and  bequeath  all  and 
singular  my  real  estate  and  what  remains  of  my  personal  estate  (if  any 
there  be)  after  my  debts  and  funeral  charges  are  first  paid,  equally  to 
my  two.sisters  Bethiah  &  Relyance,  and  to  either  of  them  that  shall  or 
may  survive  me  the  whole  thereof  to  them  or  either  of  them  their  heirs 
and  assigns  forever. 

Furthermore  I  appoint  my  said  two  sisters  Bethiah  and  Relyance 
executrix  to  this  my  will  revoking  all  other  former  wills  and  bequests 
by  me  heretofore  made  or  done  ratifying  this  to  be  my  Last  Will  and 
Testament.  In  witness  whereof  I  the  said  Samuel  Hamblen  have  here- 
unto set  my  hand  &  seal  the  day  and  date  abovesaid. 

Signed,  sealed,  pronounced  published  and  declared  by  the  said  Sam- 
uel Hamblen  to  be  his  Last  Will  &  Testament  in  presence  of  the  sub- 
scribers. 

SAMUEL  HAMBLEN.     (L.  S.) 

ISAAC  HINKLEY,  .JR. 

JAMES  DAVIS,  JR. 

THANKFUL  DAVIS. 

[27]  MERCY  HAMBLEN,;^  (Sister  of  Samuel,)  born  in  Barnstable, 
June  1,  1H77;  married  November  10,  1709,  Edward  Milton.  She 
is  mentioned  in  the  settlement  of  her  father's  estate  1704;  joined 
church  August  17,  1707. 

[28]  PATIENC;E  HAMBLEN,^  (Sister  of  Samuel,)  born  in  Barn- 
stable April  15,  1080;  is  mentioned  in  the  settlement  of  his 
father's  estate  1704. 

[29]  SUSANNAH  HAMBLEN,:'  (Sister  of  Samuel,)  born  in  Barn- 
stable March  10,  1082;  mentioned  in  settlement  of  her  father's 
estate  1704;  unmarried  July   13,  1718,  when  she  joined  church. 

[30]  EXPERIP:NCE  HAMBLEN,:5  (Sister  of  Samuel,)  born  in 
Barnstable  February  13,  1084;  mentioned  in  settlement  of  her 
father's  estate  1704;  admitted  to  church  May  5,  1728;  married 
September  13,  1732,  Isaac  Lewis, '-s  born  in  Barnstable.  She 
died  July  24,  1749.     He  died  January  25,  1701,  aged  70. 

24  See  Note  12.  Isaac  Lewis  descended  from  George  Lewes,  ancestor  of  the  Lewis 
family  of  Barnstable,  whose  son.  Edward,  probably  born  in  England,  married  May  9, 


THIRD  GENERATrON.  79 

[82]  EBEXEZER  HAMHLEN.a  {Brother  of  Samuel,)  born  in  Barn- 
stable March  28,  1(380;  married  October  25,  1722,  Thankful 
Childs,»-'5  born  in  Barnstable  August  18,  1702.  She  was  adjnit- 
ted  to  the  West  Church  in  1720,  and  afterwards  dismissed  to 
Middleboro.  It  is  suggested  that  he  may  Iiave  removed  there, 
but  it  appears  that  one  of  his  children,  Hopestill,  was  born  in 
Rochester,  Massachusetts,  indicating  that  he  resided  there  in 
1720.  He  is  named  as  legatee  and  executor  in  the  will  of  his 
sister  Bethia,  dated  .January  Ki,  1709,  sliowing  that  lie  was  then 
living,  but  does  not  give  his  place  of  residence. 
Children: 

110.  Elizabeth,  born  October  1,  1728. 

111.  Hopestill,  born  April  22,  1720,  Rochester. 

[34]  BETHIA  HAMBLEN,'  {^Sister  of  S'imuel,)  born  in  Barnstable 
November  20,  1098,  is  named  in  the  will  of  her  brother  Samuel, 
dated  August  0,  1759,  as  legatee.  From  her  own  will  dated  .Jan- 
uary 10,  1709,  it  appears  that  she  was  unmarried. 

COPY  OF  WILL  OF  BETHIA  HAMBLEN. 

In  the  name  of  God,  Amen,  I  Bethiah  Hamblen  of  Barnstable  in 
the  county  of  Barnstable,  spinster,  being  advanced  in  years  and  calling 
to  mind  the  mortality  of  my  body  and  being  of  sound  and  disposing 
mind  and  memory  do  this  sixteenth  day  of  January  A  D  1709  make 
and  ordain  this  my  la^^st  Will  and  Testament,  and  first  of  all  I  commit 
my  soul  to  God  in  .lesus  Christ  my  body  I  conmiit  to  the  earth  to  Ije 
buried  in  decent  Christian  burial  att  the  discretion  of  my  executors 
hereafter  named  and  as  touching  such   worldly  estate  with  which  it 

pleased to  bless  me  in  this  life   I  dispose  of  the  same  in   the 

following  waj'  and  manner  that  is  to  say,  firstly  my  will  is  that  all  my 
just  debts  and  funeral  charges  be  first  paid  out  of  ray  personal  estate  b^"^ 
my  executor  hereafter  named. 

Item.  My  will  is  and  by  these  presents  I  give  and  bequeath  all  and 
singular  my  real  estate  and  what  remains  of  my  personal  estate  after 
my  debts  and  funeral  charges  are  paid  to  my  brother  Ebenezer  Ham- 
blen to  him  his  heirs  and  assigns  forever,  and  Lastly  my  will  is  and  I 
do  by   these  presents  constitute  make  and   ordain   the  said   Ebenezer 


1661,  Hannah,  daughter  of  Elder  Henry  Cobb,  of  Barnstable;  and  died  Marcli  29, 1703; 
he  resided  in  Barnstable  ;  had  seven  children,  the  youngest  of  whom,  laaac,  was  the  hus- 
band of  Experience  Hamblen. — ^Otis  Papers.] 

75  Mr.  Otis  says  that  it  is  recorded  in  Mr.  Lotlirop's  Church  Record  that :  "  Rich- 
ard Childe  and  Mary  Linnett  marryed  the  15th  day  of  October,  1649,  by  Mr.  Collier,  at 
my  Brother  Linnett's  house."  The  record  of  his  family  has  not  been  discovered,  but  it 
appears  that  his  son,  Samuel  was  killed  at  Rehobeth  battle,  March  25, 1675.  It  is  sup- 
posed that  Dea.  Richard  Child,  ancestor  of  tlio  Barnstable  family,  was  another  son.  He 
married  first  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  John  Crocker,  of  Barnstable,  1678,  and  they  had  ten 
children,  and  resided  in  Barnstable.  The  name  on  the  record  is  written  Childe,  Child, 
Chiles  and  Childs.— [Otis  Papers.] 


80  THE  HAMLIN  FAMILY. 

Hamblen  Executor  of  this  my  last  Will  and  Testament  and  do  hereby 
wholly  revoke  and  utterly  disallow  all  other  and  former  Wills  and  Tes- 
taments and  Executors  by  me  named,  ratifying  &  confirming  this  and 
no  other  to  be  my  last  will  and  testament. 

In  witness  whereof  I  have  hereunto  set  my  hand  &  seal  the  day  and 
year  above  written. 

Signed,   sealed,  pronounced  and  declared  by  the  said  Bethia  Ham- 
blen to  be  her  last  Will  and  Testament. 

her  mark 

BETHIAH    ^  HAMBLP:N  (L.  H.) 
&  seal 

In  presence  of  us, 

BENJAMIN  CROCKER. 
NYMPH  AS  MARSTON. 
TIMOTHY  CROCKER. 

[35]  RELIANCE  HAMBLEN,3  {Sister  of  Samuel,)  born  in  Barn- 
stable November  80,  lB!)(i;  was  unmarried  when  she  joined 
church,  November  25,  1727;  is  named  in  the  will  of  her  brother 
Samuel,  dated  August  6,  1759,  as  legatee. 

[37]  PRISCILLA  HAMBLEN,:^  {John,'^  James,^  )  born  in  Barn- 
stable, Ajiril  30,  1()7().  Married  April  22.  169(),  .Jolm  Rogers  of 
Eastham.  In  the  will  of  her  brother  John,  dated  April  10, 
1734,  he  says:  "  I  give  to  the  children  of  my  sister  Prissilla  de- 
ceased, ten  pounds."  Otis  says,  she  left  two  children  surviv- 
ing her. 

[88]  SARAH  HAMBLEN,:^  {Sister  of  PrisciUa,)  born  in  Barnsta- 
ble, July  1,  1671.  Otis  says,  she  was  married  and  left  three 
children  surviving  her.  In  the  will  of  her  brother  .lohn,  1734, 
he  says:  "  I  give  to  the  children  of  my  sister  Sarah  ten 
pounds." 

[89]  MARTHA  HAMBLEN,:!  {Sister  of  Prisrillfi,)  born  in  Barnsta- 
ble, February  1(5,  1672-3.  Married  December  30,  1696,  Sanmel 
Doane,  of  Eastham.  In  the  will  of  her  brother,  John,  1734,  he 
says:  "  I  give  to  my  sister  Martha  ten  pounds."  Otis  says  she 
then  had  four  children. 

[40]  EXPERIENCE  HAMBLEN,:^  {Sister  of  PrisciUrt,)  born  in 
Barnstable  April  l(i,  1674;  married  February  20,  1695,  Jabez 
Lewes;'^^  he  was  born  in  Barnstable,  .June  10,  1670;  in  1702  he 
removed  to  West  Yarmouth;  some  of  his  children  were  l)aptized 
in  the  cliurch  in  Barnstable,  of  which  his  wife  continued  to  be 
a  member  all  her  long  life. 


Id  See  Nutc  12.  .T;ibez  Lewis  (Ipsci'iuIihI  trom  (irporge,  ancestor  of  tlie  Lewis  fam- 
ily of  Banistiible.  His  son  GeorRe,  born  in  England;  married  December  1,  1(354,  Mary, 
daufrhterof  Harnard  Lumbard  an<l  resided  in  Barnstable  wliere  he  died  March  20. 1709-10, 
aged  about  "iO;  liad  twelve  chihlren,  thi^  seventh  of  whom  was  Jab.z.  who  married  Ex- 
perience Hamblen.— rOtis  Papers.] 


THIRD  (FENERATION.  81 

111  hiy  will  dated  January  19,  17.S7-S,  proved  17;i8,  he  names  his  vvi% 
Experience,  eldest  son  John,  sons  Elnathan  and  Antipas,  and  daughter 
Eleanor  Robbins.  Jabez,  of  Harwich,  died  April  H,  1782,  and  for  that 
reason  probably  Avas  not  mentioned.  Jabez,  the  elder,  was  not  a  promi- 
nent man,  though  on  the  Probate  record  she  is  called  "Mr.",  a  mark  of 
distinction  in  those  days.  He  died  in  17::{8,  and  she  July  2ti,  Mdd.  Her 
brother  John  in  his  will  says  she  had  live  children  living  in  1734.  Tha 
Lewis  family  of  Yarmouth  are  her  descendants. 

Children: 

112.  John,  l)orn  in  Barnstable  August  27,  l()9tj. 

113.  Jabez;  died  April  B,  1732. 

114.  Eleanor,  married Robbins. 

llo.     Elnathan,  born  in  Yarmouth  August  27,  1702. 
IK).     Antipas,  bom  in  Yarmouth  February  3,  17U4-5. 
117.     Naomi,  born  in  Yarmouth  July  1,  170.S;  married   March  S,  1731-2,. 
.Ie:-se  Lewes.^7    Xo.  children. 

[41]  HANNAH  HAMBLEN,-  {S iste?-  oj  Priscilla,)  born  in  Barn- 
stable February  16,  1675-6;  marrried  September  7,  1714,  John 
King,  of  Harwich,  probably  his  third  or  fourth  wife.  In  the 
will  of  her  brother  John,  1734,  he  says,  "  I  give  to  my  sister 
Hannah  twelve  pounds."  Otis  says,  that  she  then  had  six_ 
children. 

[44]  JOHN  HAMBLP:N,y  {Brolher  of  PrisciUa,)  born  in  Barnstable 
March  10,  1680-1.  He  was  a  wealthy  man  for  his  time  and  local- 
ity and  left  a  large  estate  in  lands,  and  had  much  due  him  on 
mortgages.  He  resided  in  the  dwelling  which  was  his  father's 
at  Hamblin's  Plains,  given  equally  to  his  brother  Benjamin  and 
himself.  He  died  unmarried  in  1734,  and  his  will  gives  much 
information  about  his  relatives. 

COPY  OF  ^V1LL  OF  JOHN  HAMBLEN. 

Barnstable,  April  10,  1734.  In  the  name  of  God  Amen.  I,  Johrr 
Hamblen  of  Barnstable  in  the  County  of  Barnstable,  in  New  England 
being  sickly  ct  having  been  a  long  time  under  intirmity  of  body  and 
sensible  of  the  uncertainty  of  life  and  that  its  appointed  for  man  once 
to  dye  &  yet  being  sound  in  memory  &  of  disposing  mind  l)lessed  be 
God  for  it,  do  make  this  my  last  will  and  testament  in  manner  and 
form  following. 

First  of  all  I  commit  my  soul  to  God  that  gave  it  me  and  my  body 
to  ye  earth  from  whence  it  was  taken  to  be  buryed  in  such  decent  niau- 
uer  as  my  executors  hereafter  named  shall  think  fit,  believing  in  the 
Resurrection  of  ye  dead  an  in  ye  mercy  of  (iod  thr"  ye  I^ord  Jesus 
Christ  the  Redeemer  of  poor  sinners  and  as  for  ye  portion  of  good  that 
God  of  his  free  bounty  hath  given  me.  My  mind  and  will  is  that  it 
shall  be  disposed  of  as  followeth.  After  my  just  debts  and  funeral 
charges  are  first  paid. 


17    Jesse  Lewis, 4  son  of  Thomas, 3  Edward,-  George.' 


82  THE  HAMLIN  FAMILY. 

It.  I  give  to  my  three  deaf  cousiiiis  (children  of  my  brother  Ehen- 
ezer  viz:  Nathan,  Samuel  &  Darcas  Hamblen)  my  neck  of  land  at  a 
place  called  ye  Indian  pond  &  ye  land  adjoining  to  it  as  followeth  viz: 
all  my  neck  so  far  as  ye  fence  on  ye  Southward  side  of  ye  neck  or  orch- 
ard and  then  beginning  at  sd  fence  two  rods  from  the  pond  &  thence 
running  sotli  a  straight  line  to  the  westerniost  end  of  ye  barn  as  also 
away  out  to  ye  highway.  Also  my  part  of  corn  lot,  in  partnership  with 
Job  Haniblin,  as  also  all  my  meadow  lying  below  that  belonging  to  ye 
heirs  of  my  brother  Benjamin  deceased  by  ye  Spring  Creek  as  also  one 
half  of  my  right  at  ye  dock  to  land  &  dry  &  carry  away  hay  to  each  of 
them  in  etiual  proportions  and  their  heirs  forever. 

It.  I  give  to  my  cousin  John  Hamblyn  son  of  Elkanah  Ham- 
blyn  all  the  rest  of  my  land  lying  below  the  barn  or  lane  that  leads  to 
ye  barn  on  ye  Southeast  of  ye  abovesd  line  and  all  my  land  as  it  is  now 
fenced  lying  to  ye  northward  of  ye  abovsd  way  or  lane  that  leads  to  the 
barn  and  my  half  lott  viz  wood  lot  lying  in  the  timber  land  &  my  quar- 
ter of  a  lott  of  marsh  lying  at  the  slougli  &  my  piece  of  marsh  lying  on 
the  northward  side  of  Spring  Creek  &  one  half  of  my  right  at  the  dock 
to  him  ye  sd  John  Hamblin  his  heirs  and  assigns  forever  and  my  will 
is  that  he  pay  out  in  legacies  as  followeth  viz: — to  his  brother  Silvanus 
Hamblyn  five  pounds  and  to  his  brother  Kuben  Hamblin  five  pounds 
<&  to  each  of  his  sisters  viz:  Abigail,  Patience  &  Tabitha  five  pounds 
apeace. 

It.  I  give  to  my  loving  cousin  Benjamin  son  of  my  brother  Benja- 
min Hamblin  deceased  all  my  piece  of  land  lying  a  litle  to  the  south- 
east of  his  dwelling  house  he  paying  to  his  three  sisters  five  pounds 
apiece,  viz  to  Rebecca  Crocker,  Hannah  Crosby  &  Hope  Hamblin  each 
five  pounds  also  all  my  land  lying  att  Skonkonet  not  disposed  of,  also 
-all  my  land  &  meadow  lying  at  Scoton  to  him  his  heirs  and  assigns 
forever. 

It.     I  give  to  my  sister  Melatiah  Ten  pounds. 

It.     I  give  to  the  children  of  my  sister  Prissilla  deceased  ten  pounds. 

It.     I  give  to  the  children  of  my  sister  Sarah  ten  pounds. 

It.     I  give  to  my  sister  Martha  ten  pounds. 

It.     I  give  to  my  sister  Hannah  twelve  pounds. 

It.     I  give  to  my  sister  Experience  fifteen  pounds. 

It.     I  give  to  my  sister  Ester  fiveteen  pounds. 

It.  I  give  to  my  cousin  (Tcrshom,  Thankful,  Ebenezer,  Timothy  & 
Elizabeth  Hamblin,  eliildren  of  my  brother  Ebenezer  to  each  of  them 
five  pounds  apeace. 

It.     I  give  to  Mr.  Jonathan  Russell  three  pounds. 

It.     I  give  to  ye  west  church  in  Barnstable  four  pounds. 

It.  I  give  all  my  remaining  part  of  my  estate  to  the  children  of  my 
brother  Ebenezer  &  to  the  children  of  my  brother  Benjamin  Hamblin 
deceased  to  be  equally  divided  between  them. 


THIRD  GENERATION.  ,S3 

It.     I   appoint  lay   loving  brother  Ebeuezer   Haiublin  »N:  my   loving 

friend   Deacon  John  Crocker  to  be  executors  to  this  my  last  will  &   tes- 

itament.     In  witness  whereof  I  have  hereto  set  my  hand  and  seal. 

.10 HN  HAMLEN  (S) 
Signed,  sealed  ct  d'l. 

in  presence  of 

jonathan  russel 
ebenezp:r  childs 

mark  of 
PATIENCE  X  JENKINS 

mark  of 

rhoda  X  phinney. 

Barnestable  ss.  The  foregoing  will  being  presented  for  probate  by 
ye  executors  therein  named  Rhoda  Finney,  Ebenezer  Childs  &  Pa- 
tience Jenkins  witnesses  to  the  will  made  oath  that  they  saw  Joun 
Hamlin  the  subscriber  to  this  instrument  signe  and  seale  and  heard 
him  publish  and  declare  the  same  to  be  his  last  will  &  testament  &  that 
he  was  of  sound  disposing  mind  &  memory  according  to  these  depnn- 
ants  best  discerning  &  that  they  set  to  theii-  hands  as  witnesses  tliereof 
in  ye  presence  of  ye  testator.     Dated  the  3  day  of  July  17.S4. 

Coram    N.  BOWEN,  Jud.  Probate. 

[45]  EBP:N.EZER  B.AMB'LY.'S,3  (/irother  of  P/'/Scilfn.)  born  in 
Barnstable  May  lii,  1(588;  he  resided  on  the  estate  which  was 
his  father's,  at  Great  or  Nine  Mile  Pond,  called  in  earlj'  times. 
Cooper's  Pond;  married,  May  11,  1710,  his  cousin,  Thankful,:* 
daughter  of  Israel  Hamblen-  (11),  by  Rev.  Mr.  Russell;  she 
joined  the  church  October,  1713,  and  was  a  member  of  the  East 
Chureh  at  the  time  of  her  death;  he  died  in  1736,  she  Jaimary 
15,  1768. 

COPY  OF  THE  WILL  OF  EBENEZER  HAMBLEN: 

In  the  name  of  God,  Amen  the  2-5th  day  of  October,  173.5:  I  Ebene- 
zer Hamblin  of  the  Town  and  County  of  Barnstable  in  New  England 
being  sick  &  weak  in  body,  but  of  perfect  mind  and  memory,  therefore 
calling  unto  mind  the  mortality  of  my  body,  &  knowintr  that  it  is  ap- 
pointed for  all  men  once  to  dye  do  make  and  ordain  this  my  last  will 
•and  Testament,  that  is  to  say,  principally  and  first  of  all,  I  give  and 
recommend  my  soul  unto  ye  hands  of  God  that  gave  it,  &  my  body  I  rec- 
ommend to  the  earth  to  be  buried  in  decent  Christian  burial  at  the  dis- 
cretion of  my  Executors  nothing  doubting  but  at  ye  general  resurrection 
I  shall  receive  the  same  again  by  the  mighty  power  of  ( Jod  &  as  touch- 
ing such  worldly  estate  wherewith  it  hath  pleased  God  to  bless  me  in 
this  life  after  my  just  debts  and  funeral  charges  are  paid,  I  give  and 
•dispose  of  ye  same  in  the  following  manner  &  forni.- 

Imprimis.  I  give  and  bequeath  to  Thankfull  my  beloved  wife  ye 
use  of  one  third  part  of  all  my  Real  Estate  except  that  piece  of  land  I 
•bought   of  .Joseph   Childs.   together  with   one  third   of  my   husbandry 


84  THE  HAMLIN  FAMILY. 

tackling  during  lier  widowliood  &  also  one  third  of  all  the  rest  of  my 
Personal  Estate  within  and  without  (except  my  husbandry  tackling; 
and  armor)  to  be  at  her  own  dispose;  also  I  give  my  sd  wife  all  the  rest 
of  my  Real  Estate  (except  that  bought  of  Childs  above  sd.)  in  manner 
following,  viz:  the  one  half  thereof  for  the  Tirme  of  five  years  after  the- 
date  hereof  &  the  other  half  until  my  son  Daniel  shall  arrive  at  the  age- 
of  fourteen  years,  ye  use  of  sd  land  is  for  the  bringing  up  my  childreni 
the  half  to  be  improved  by  my  wife  five  years  is  Ebenezers.- 

Item,  I  give  and  bequeath  to  my  son  Gershom  his  heirs  and  as- 
signs all  that  my  peace  of  upland  bought  of  Joseph  Childs  &  also  that 
piece  of  meddow  at  Broad  Sound  I  bought  of  Thomas  Phinney  with  ye' 
privilege  of  landing  and  drying  hay  on  ye  marsh  I  bought  of  Nathan- 
iel Ewer  not  exceeding  one  third;  Also  I  give  my  sd  son  as  above  sdi 
the  one  half  of  my  lot  of  land  which  I  bought  of  Nathaniel  Ewer. 

Item.  I  give  &  bequeath  to  my  son  Ebenezer  his  heirs  &  assigns, 
(reserving  the  improvement  as  abovesd)  all  that  lands  on  which  my 
dwelling  house  now  stands  together  with  my  sd  house  barn  &  out- 
housing  thereon  viz:  all  my  land  to  ye  westward  of  ye  fence  that  leads, 
from  my  cowjard  down  to  ye  cranberrj"  hole  &  then  by  the  cranberry 
hole  down  to  pond,  and  also  that  piece  of  land  on  which  my  barn 
stands  from  ye  southwest  corner  of  my  cowyard  ranging  easterly  over- 
the  top  of  a  gravelly  hill  to  the  fence  and  then  setts  northerly  as  saidi 
fence  stands  to  ye  north  end. 

Item.  I  give  and  bequeath  to  mj'  son  Timothy  his  heirs  and  as- 
signs all  the  rest  of  my  homestead  which  I  have  not  given  to  my  soni 
Ebenezer. 

Itm.  I  give  &  bequeath  to  my  two  sons  Ebenezer  &  Timothy  all  ye- 
rest  of  ray  Real  Estate  both  upland  &  meadow  (except  my  right  in  ye 
dock)  which  I  have  not  disposed  of  before,  to  be  equally  between  them  re- 
serving the  improvement  to  my  wife  of  what  I  have  given  to  them  as 
abovesd.  My  will  is  that  my  two  sons  Ebenezer  &  Timothy  pay  out  to' 
the  rest  of  my  children  the  sum  of  Two  hundred  &  eighty  pounds  as  I 
shall  hereafter  order  in  one  year  after  they  shall  respectively  come  into> 
ye  improviment  of  their  lands.  I  give  and  bequeath  to  my  two  sons; 
Ebenezer  &  Timothy  all  my  husbandry  tacklen  &  armor  equally  be- 
tween them. 

Itm.  I  give  and  bequeath  to  my  son  Nathan  Fifty  pounds  to  be 
paid  to  him  by  my  son  Ebenezer.  I  also  give  to  my  son  Samuel  Fifty 
pound  to  be  paid  by  my  sd  son  Ebenezer.  I  also  give  &  bequeath  to  my 
daughter  Elizabeth  forty  pounds  to  be  paid  by  my  son  Ebenezer.  I  al- 
so give  and  bequeath  to  my  daughter  Porkas  forty  pounds  to  be  paid 
by  my  two  sons  Ebenezer  and  Timothy  equally  between  them. 

Itm.  I  give  &  bequeath  to  my  son  Daniel  One  hundred  pounds  toi 
be  paid  by  my  son  Timothy. 

Itm.  T  give  to  my  daughter  Tliankful  Bangs  the  sum  of  ninety- 
pounds  with  what  she  hath  already  had  to  be  paid  out  of  my  personal, 
estate.     I    give  also  to  my   two  sons  Nathan  and  Samuel  equally   be- 


THIRD  GENERATION.  a^» 

tween  them  all  my  right  iii  my  dock  in  partnership  with  James  Ham- 
blyn  &  others,  my  will  also  is  that  my  sd  wife  have  the  use  and  im- 
provement of  ye  other  two  thirds  of  my  personal  estate  untill  my  son 
Daniel  comes  to  the  age  of  fourteen  years,  my  will  further  is  that  my 
three  sons  (iershom,  Nathan  and  Samuel  have  all  the  remaining 
part  of  mj'  personal  estate  equally  between  them  after  the  use  of  it  as 
abovesd. 

My  will  is  that  my  two  sons  Timothy  &  Daniel  are  put  out  to  learn 
some  trade  &  ordain  ThankfuU  my  beloved  wife  Executrix  &  my  son 
(iershom  Executor,  to  this  my  last  Will  and  Testament  &  I  do  herel)y 
utterly  di«alow  and  revoke  all  and  every  other  and  former  wills  and 
testaments  by  me  made,  ratifying  and  confirming  this  &  no  other  to  be 
my  last  will  and  testament. 

In  witness  whereof  I  have  hereunto  set  my  hand  and  seal  the  day 
and  year  above  written. 

The  mark  of  EBENEZER  XX         (SEAL) 
HAMBLEN. 

Signed,  sealed  pronounced  &  declared  by  the  sd  Ebenezer  Hamblen 
to  be  his  last  Will  and  Testament  in  the  presence  of  us 

JOHN  CROCKER 
ANN  HAMBLEN 
JON  BAKER. 

Barnstable  ss.  The  Executors  within  named  exhibiting  the  fore- 
going will  for  Probate,  John  Baker  &  John  Crocker  witnesses  to  ye 
will  made  oath  that  they  saw  Ebenezer  Hamblen  sign  seal  pronounce 
<fe  declare  the  foregoing  to  be  his  last  Will  &  Testament  &  that  he  was 
of  sound  &  disposing  mind  and  memory  when  he  so  did  in  their  best 
descerning  and  that  they  togeather  with  Ann  Hamblen  signed  as  wit- 
neses  at  the  same  time.  In  presents  of  the  Testator. 

Coram     M.  BOURN 

Judge  of  Probate. 

Dated   ye  seventh   day  of  July    1736  on  ye  same  7th   day  of  July  17?t 

this  Will  approved. 

Per  M.  BOURN,  Jud:  Probt: 

Children,  born  in  Barnstable: 

118.  Isaac,  born  February,  1711,  died  April,  1711. 

119.  Gershom,  born  July  19,  1713. 

120.  Thankful,  born  August  (i,  1715. 

121.  Nathan,  born  June  29,  1717. 

122.  Ebenezer,  born  November  26,  1719. 

123.  A  daughter,  born  September  20,  1720;  died  same  day. 

124.  Samuel,  born  January  7,  1722. 

125.  Dorkas,  born  June  o,  1727. 

126.  Timothy,  born  September  3,  1728. 

127.  Elizabeth,  born  November  20,  1730. 

128.  Daniel,  born  April  2,  1735. 


86  THE  HAMLIN  FAMILY. 

[47]  BENJAMIN  HAMBLEN,3  {Brother  of  Pruscilla.)  born  in 
Barnstable,  February  11,  1H8H-7.  Married  May  29,  1709,  Hope, 
daughter  of  Thomas  and  Hannah  iC'hipman)is  Huekins,'^ 
born  in  Barnstable  September  21,  1()89.  He  settled  in  West 
Barnstable  in  a  two  story  house  with  a  lean-to;  both  joined  the 
church  July  19,  1714.  He  died  in  1718,  and  his  widow  married, 
1719,  Ebenezer  Child.  His  estate  was  settled  April  6,  1724, 
where  all  his  children  are  named,  and  Joseph  Hamblen  ap- 
pointed their  Guardian.  His  personal  estate  was  appraised  at 
£230.16.9,  not  an  inconsiderable  sum  for  a  young  man  in  those 
early  days. 
Children,  born  in  Barnstable: 

129,     Rebecca,  born  May  17,  1711. 

180.     Hannah,  baptized  July,  1714. 

131.  Benjamin,  November  18,  1716. 

132.  Hope,  baptized  August  31,  1718. 

IS  Elder  John  Chipman.  probably  ancestor  of  all  of  the  name  in  the  United  States, 
was  the  only  son  of  Mr.  Thomas  Chipman,  and  was  born  near  Dorchester,  England, 
about  1621 ;  his  father  died  early  and  he  resided  with  liis  uncle,  Mr.  Christopher  Derby  ; 
in  May,  1637,  ho  came  to  New  England  with  Mr.  Richard  Derby,  son  of  Christopher,  as  a 
servant,  and  resided  some  years  in  Plymouth  where  he  was  probably  apprenticed,  and 
learned  the  carpenter's  trade  ;  it  appears  in  his  will  that  he  was  such.  In  1646  he  mar- 
ried Hope,  daughter  of  Mr.  John  Howland,  In  1649  he  was  in  Barnstable.  His  connec- 
tion with  the  church  there  was  most  happy  ;  his  wife  joined  August  7,  1650,  and  he  July 
30,  1652-3.  Heniy  Cobb  and  John  Chipman  were  chosen  and  ordained  to  be  ruling  elders 
of  this  church,  and  were  solemnly  invested  with  oflBce  upon  ye  14tli  day  of  April,  .\nno 
Doin.  1670.  His  will  is  dated  at  Sandwich  November  12,  1702,  proved  May  17,  1708.  His 
wife  Ruth  died  in  Barnstable  January  8,  1683,  and  he  married  second.  Widow  Ruth 
Bourne,  who  died  in  1713  He  died  in  Sandwich  April  7,  1708.  Eleven  cliildren,  the  fifth 
of  whom  was  Hannah,  who  married  Thomas  Huckins.— [Otis  Papers.] 

lO  Thomas  Huckins,  ancestor  of  the  Barnstable  family  of  that  name ;  was  bom 
1617  ;  but  little  is  known  of  his  early  history  ;  he  came  over  before  he  was  21  years  of  ag& 
and  was  a  resident  of  Boston  and  vicinity.  There  is  some  evidence  that  he  was  at  Dor- 
chester. His  lot  at  Barnstable  was  one  of  those  laid  out  by  Mr.  Callicut,  to  whom  the 
lands  were  first  granted,  and  Callicut  was  a  Dorchester  man.  Huckins  was  one  of  the 
twenty-three  original  members  of  the  .\ncient  and  Honorable  Artillery  Company,  char- 
tered in  1638,  and  bore  its  standard  in  1639.  To  have  been  the  ensign  of  that  company 
was  a  mark  of  honor.  The  organization  is  still  in  existence  in  Boston.  At  that  time 
aristocratic  notions  had  far  more  influence  than  at  present,  it  was  rare  indeed  that  a 
young  man  of  twenty-two  years  was  elected  to  an  office  of  honor,  except  he  belonged  to 
an  influential  family  in  the  old  country.  His  name  is  written  Hutchius,  Huckins,  Hucb- 
ens  and  Huggins,  the  latter  being  the  pronunciation  in  early  times.  Among  the  wealthy 
and  influential  promoters  in  England  of  the  settlement  of  Massachusetts  was  Mr.  Thomi- 
as  Hutchins,  an  assistant  of  the  Governor,  while  the  administration  of  the  affairs  of  the 
company  were  conducted  in  England.  His  name  appears  in  all  the  records  prior  to  leSO', 
but  ceases  after  the  removal.  He  did  not  come  over.  It  is  probable  that  those  of  the  namie 
who  did  come,  belonged  to  or  were  connected  witli  his  family.  Thomas  Huckins  was  an 
exemplary  member  of  Mr.  Lothrop's  church.  .\s  a  business  man  he  perhaps  had  no  super- 
ior in  the  Colony.  He  had  a  wharf  near  his  house  where  he  discharged  and  received 
freights ;  was  one  of  the  partners  that  hired  the  Cape  Cod  Fisheries.  In  167.5  he  was  ap- 
pointed Commissary  General  of  the  Colony,  and  had  the  management  in  procuring  and 
forwarding  supplies  for  the  soldiers  engaged  in  the  Indian  War.  He  held  numerous  town 
and  Colonial  offices,  and  was  a  man  in  whom  the  people  placed  the  utmost  confidence 
for  integrity  and  ability.  Hope  Huckins,  wife  of  Benjamin  Hamblin,  was  daughter  af 
Thomas, 2  Thomas.' — [Otis  Papers.] 


THIRD  GENERATION.  87 

[4H]  ISAAC  HAMBLEN, :<  {lUenzar:^  Jnmes,i)  born  in  Barnatable 
AugU!>t  20,  1()76;  married  .September  14,  1(198,  Elizabeth  How- 
land  ;-f^  he  died  in  1710,  and  hiy  widow  married  Timothy  Can- 
non November  9,  1711;  his  brother  Joseph  was  guardian  of  his 
children,  and  the  tinal  settlement  and  distribution  was  made 
February  20,  1787-8. 

ESTATE  OF  ISAAC  HAMBLEN.     BOOK  3,  PAGF]  675. 

Know  all  men  by  these  Presents,  that  we,  Eleazer  Hamblen,  late  of 
Barnstable  now  of  Harwich,  yeoman,  .loseph  Hamblen  of  Yarmouth, 
blacksmith,  and  Elizabeth  Hamlin  of  Barnstable,  seamstress,  all  in  the 
County  of  Barnstable  tlie  three  children  of  James-'  Hamblin  late  of 
Barnstable  aforesd  deceased  in  consideration  of  fifty-two  pounds  shil- 
ings  and  six  pence  to  each  of  us  in  hand  payed  by  our  uncel  Joseph 
Hamblen  our  garden  the  recete  whereof  we  acknoledg  to  be  in  full  and 
ourselves  therewith  fully  sattisfied  and  contented  and  payd  our  respec- 
tive part  and  portion  of  our  late  father's  estat  both  real  and  personal 
and  thereof  and  of  every  part  and  parcel  thereof  we  do  for  ourselfs  our 
ares  exutors  &  administrators  freely  and  full  acquit  exonerate  and  dis- 
charge him  the  sd  Joseph  Hamblin  our  sd  gardien  his  heirs  executors 
and  administrate  forever  by  these  presents. 

In    witness  whereof  we  have  hereunto  set  our  hand  seal  this  20  day 

of  February  in  the   first  year  of  his  Magestys  reign  Annotiue   Domini 

1787/8. 

ELEAZER  HAMBLIN     (Seal) 

her 

ELIZABETH   X  HAMLF:N     (Seal) 

mark 

JOSEPH  HAMLIN     (Seal) 
Signed,  sealed  and 

Delivered  in  presence 

BARNABAS    CHIPMAN. 

SETH  HAMLEN. 

DAVID  SMITH. 

S.  BOURN     Reg'r 

Children,  born  in  Barnstable: 

188,  F]leazer,  born  August  22,  lti99. 

184.  Isaac,  baptized  July  20,  1701;  died  young. 

185.  Joseph,  born  June  -I,  1702. 

186.  Elizabeth,  born  October,  1705. 

20  John  Howland,  ancestor  of  the  family  of  that  name  in  Barnstable,  rame  orer  in 
the  Mayflower  as  a  servant  of  Gov.  Carver.  His  name  is  thirteenth  in  the  Covenant 
made  at  Cape  Cod,  November  11, 1620.  Married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  John  Tilley,  also 
a  Pilgrim,  who  died  the  first  winter  as  did  his  wife,  Howland  was  a  representative  and 
assistant  to  the  Governor  in  1633-4-5.    A  prominent  man. 

21  I  believe  this  was  a  clerical  error  in  the  original  record  and  that  tin  ^e  were  th» 
children  of  Isaac, =  son  of  Eleazer,^  who  had  a  brother  Joseph.  James  Haniblcn-"  had 
no  brother  Joseph,  nor  children  corresponding  with  those  named  above.— _ Author.! 


88  THE  HAMLIN  FAMILY. 

[49]  JOSEPH  HAMBLEN,:^  {Brother  of  Isaac,)  born  in  Barnstable, 
November  20,  1080.  Married  first  by  Rev.  Mr.  Russell,  May  27, 
n04,  Mercy  Howland.22  Married  second,  September  5,  1751, 
widow  Hopestill  Davis,  daughter  of  Joshua  Lombard.  She 
was  born  1B86,  and  died  October,  1756. 
He  resided  in  Barnstable,  was  a  prominent  man  of  good  business 
capacity.     The  following  inscription  is  upon  his  grave  stone: 

"  In  memory  of  Mr.  Joseph  Hamlen,  Angst  ye  27th  176S,  in  ye  8Bth 
year  of  his  age." 

Children,  born  in  Barnstable: 

137.  Alice,  born  February  4,  1705. 

138.  Seth,  born  March  4,  1708. 

139.  Sarah,  born  April  4,  1711. 

140.  Joseph,  born  March  10,  1715. 

141.  Southward,  born  May  21,  1721. 

[53]  SHUBAEL  HAMBLEN,3  ( Broiher  of  Isaac)  born  in  Barnstable 
September  1(5,  1690.  Married,  March  25,  1719,  Eleanor  Wilson, 
(David  Hamblen  calls  her  Winslow)  of  Harwich.  In  his  will 
dated  October  5,  1758,  he  calls  Shobal  his  only  son,  and  names 
his  wife  and  children,  Jerush,  Shobal,  Eleanor,  Mehitable  and 
Eleanor.  It  is  supposed  that  his  children,  Joshua  and  Lydia 
were  then  dead. 

COPY  OF  WILL  OF  SHUBAEL  HAMBLEN. 

In  the  Name  of  God,  Amen.  I  Shoball  Hamblen,  of  Barnstable  in 
the  said  county.  Yeoman,  being  advanced  in  years  but  of  sound  mind 
and  disposing  memory  and  calling  to  mind  the  mortality  of  my  body 
and  being  minded  to  set  my  house  in  order  before  I  die  do  this  5th  day 
of  October  1758  make  and  ordain  this  my  last  will  and  testament  that 
is  to  say  I  commit  my  soul  to  God  in  Jesus  Christ  and  my  body  to  the 
earth  to  be  buried  in  a  decent  Christian  manner  at  the  discression  of 
my  Executor  hereafter  named. 

And  touching  such  worldly  estate  that  God  hath  blessed  me  with  I 
give  and  demise  and  dispose  ol  the  same  in  the  following  manner  and 
form. 

Imprimis:  I  order  my  just  debts  and  funeral  charges  to  be  first 
paid  by  my  executor  herein  named  out  of  the  estate  that  I  herein  give 
him.  Item.  I  give  and  bequeath  to  my  loving  wife  Eleaner,  in  lieu 
of  her  dower  and  power  of  thirds  of  my  estate  during  her  widowhood 
the  use  and  improvement  of  one-third  of  my  real  estate  and  also  the 
hiiprovement  of  one  thii'd  of  my  personal  estate  within  doers  except 
my  wealing  apparel  armory,  looms  and  tackling  thereto  belonging,  pro- 
visions and  money  I  also  give  her  the  use  and  improvement  of  one 
cow  so  long  as  she  remains  my  widow.     Also  I  give  her  a  competency 


22    See  Note  20. 


THIRD  GENERATION.  89 

of  provisions  to  bring  about  the  year  whenever  I  leave  it  and  my  mind 
is  that  in  tlie  division  of  said  third  ofmyindore  moveables  that  she 
dont  t  ke  my  best  fether  bed  four  pair  of  sheets  and  four  cover  ids  with 
the  other  necessary  furniture  to  sd  be_d  and  my  best  chest  of  draws  and 
that  she  my  sd  wife  improve  said  indoers  moveables  during  her  natural 
life.  Item.  I  give  and  bequeath  to  my  two  daugliters  nani<^ly  Jerusha 
Hamblen  and  Mehitable  Childs  and  to  their  heirs  and  assigns  forever 
equally  to  be  divided  to  them  and  their  heirs  and  the  one  half  the  fif- 
tj'  fifth  lot  of  the  late  Comon  marsh  lying  at  Sandy  Neck  in  Barn- 
stable aforesaid  and  the  whole  lot  is  bounded  westerly  by  the  fiftieth 
lot  northerly  up  against  the  head  of  Wells  Creek  partly  and  partly 
against  the  marsh  lately  Samuel  Wing's  Marsh,  easterly  by  a  range  of 
stakes  one  near  the  Thach  or  Bank  marked  51  and  southerly  by  a  range 
of  stakes  on  northwest  passage  Islands  or  however  the  same  is  bounded. 

Item.  I  give  and  bequeath  to  my  daughter  Eleanor  two  thirds  of 
my  indoers  moveables  including  the  best  feather  bed  four  pairs  of 
sheets  four  coverlids  and  the  other  necessary  furnitures  to  sd  beds  & 
my  best  chest  of  draws  excepting  out  of  this  devise  my  apparel  armory 
looms  and  their  tackling  provisions  of  all  sorts  and  moneys  and  credits. 
I  also  give  to  the  said  Eleanor  the  sum  of  nine  pounds  lawful  money  to 
be  paid  her  in  the  following  manner  by  my  son  Shobal  viz.  three 
pounds  By  the  year  reconing  the  first  payment  to  be  made  in  one  year 
after  my  decease.  I  also  give  to  the  said  Eleanor  the  use  and  improve- 
ment of  the  great  room  and  chamber  over  it,  and  the  use  of  the  entry 
way  to  the  chamber,  and  priveledge  of  sitting  things  in  the  cellar  to  be 
improved  so  long  as  she  lives  unmarried  and  no  longer  and  my  mind  is 
that  my  wife  take  her  thirds  of  the  house  in  that  part  so  she  and  Elea- 
nor may  improve  together  as  long  ms  my  wife  remains  my  widow  and 
Eleanor  lives  unmarried  as  aforesaid.  I  also  give  to  the  said  Eleanor  the 
liberty  to  cart  her  firewood  of  from  my  land  so  long  as  she  lives  unmar- 
ried as  afoi-e  to  cut  both  oak  and  pine  as  usual  and  at  the  lands  lie  handy 
and  at  a  distance  in  proportion.  Furthermore  I  give  to  the  said  Klleanor 
the  other  third  of  my  indore  moveables  that  I  have  giveu  her  mother  the 
improvement  off  during  her  natural  life  after  her  mother  leaves  it. 

Item.  I  give  and  bequeath  to  my  only  son  Shoba!  and  to  his  heirs 
and  assigns  forever  all  and  singular  my  real  estate  of  every  sort  yt 
have  not  heretofore  disposed  of  with  all  my  live  stock  moneys  credits 
apparel  looms  &  their  tackling  husbandry  tools  and  utensils  of  all  sorts 
horse  tackling  and  corn  on  the  ground  of  all  sorts  also  the  cow  that  his 
mother  has  the  use  of  w'hen  she  is  done  with  it  in  condition  of  which 
gift  I  hereby  enjoin  him  his  heirs  &c  to  pay  my  just  debts  and  funeral 
charges  and  in  case  what  provisions  I  have  made  in  this  will  be  not 
sufficient  to  support  his  mother  that  he  take  care  yt  she  be  suitably 
and  comfitably  supported  with  all  necessary s  both  in  sickness  and  in 
health  during  her  being  my  widow.  I  also  enjoin  him  to  keep  the 
buildings  in  repair  without  any  charge  to  his  mother  and  sister  Eleanor 
so  long  as  they  improve  them  agreeable  to  my  will  as  aforesd,  and  also 
to  pay  to  sd  Eleanor  the  said  sum  of  nine  pouads  in  manner  as  before 
expressed  to  be  paid. 


90  THE  HAMLIN  FAMILY. 

Lastly  I  nominate  and  appoint  my  son  Sliobal  Hamblen  sole  execu- 
tor of  this  my  last  will  and  testament  hereby  revoking  all  other  and 
former  wills  and  testaments  by  me  made  ratifying  and  confirming  this 
and  this  only  to  be  my  Last  Will  and  Testament  as  witness  my  hand 
and  seal  the  5th  day  of  October,  1758.  Signed  sealed  pronounced  and 
declared  by  the  said  Shobal  Hamblen  to  be  his  Last  Will  and  Testament. 

8HOBAL  HAMBLEN.     (L.  S.) 
In  presence  of 

FRANCIS  WOOD. 

MARY  OTIS. 

ABIGAIL  OTIS. 

JAMES  OTIS. 
Children,  born  in  Barnstable: 

142.  Jerusha,  born  May  4,  1722.     Married  John  Hamblen^. 

143.  Shubael,  born  September  20,  1724. 

144.  Eleanor,  born  October  18,  1726;  died  young. 

145.  Joshua,  born  August  21,  1728. 

146.  Mehitable,  born  December  4,  1780. 

147.  Eleanor,  born  April  15,  1733. 

148.  Lydia,  born  November  15,  1735. 

[57]  ISRAEL  HAMBLEN, 3  Tsrael;^  James,^)  born  in  Barnstable 
March  15,  1694.  Married  first,  March  29,  1721,  Dorcas  Godfrey, 
of  Yarmouth;  married  second,  June  17,  1738-5),  Bathsheba  Ba- 
ker. His  name  appears  on  the  Yarmouth  records.  David 
Hamblen  says  he  died  1814. 
Children,  born  in  Yarmouth,  by  first  wife: 

149.  Israel,  born  February  13,  172.0;  probably  died  young. 
By  second  wife: 

150.  Thankful,  born  December  29,  1739. 

151.  Israel,  born  June  4,  1741. 

[5.S]     JOSEPH  HAMBLEN ,3  {Broker  of  Israel,)  born  in  Barnstable, 
Massachusetts,  September  12,  1697.     Married  April  8,  1717,  Abi- 
gail,-S  daughter  of  Jabez  Davis,  born  April  6,  1698. 
Child: 

152.  Lois,  baptized  Barnstable,  May  26,  1723. 

[fiO]     JACOB   HAMBLEN,3    {Half-broiher  of  Israel,)  born   in   Barn- 
stable,   May  28,    1702.     Married  August   18,    1731,  probably  at 
that  place,  his  cousin  Content  Hamblen^  (88). 
They  were  among  the  early  settlers  of  Gorham,  Maine.     Otis  says: 
"  He  and  his  wife  were  dismissed  from  the  East  Church  (Barnstable) 
to  the  church  in  Gorham,  Maine,  October,  28,  1750,  to  which  town  they 
had   previously  moved."      Pierce's  History  of  Gorham  furnishes  ac- 
counts of  the  early  settlement  of  that  town;  and  the  late  Col.   Hugh. 

03    Abigail  Davis,'*  daughter  of  Jabez,'' John,''  Dolar.i    See  Note  4. 


THIRD  GENERATION.  91 

McLellan,  about  1872,  publit'hcd  in  the  Foiiland  Tnmscripl  a  series  of 
articles  giving  a  very  full  history  of  the  Hamblens  who  first  settled  there. 

Jacob  Hamblen  was  the  first  of  the  name  at  ( torham,  several  of  his 
relatives  settled  there  later,  cotemporaneous  with  the  Phinneys,  Mo 
Lellans,  Hosiers,  Cloutmans  and  others,  in  the  early  settlement  of  Nar- 
ragansett  No.  7,  or  Uorhamtown,  as  then  called.  His  name  disappears 
from  the  records  of  Barnstable  about  1738,  and  it  was  said  he  removed 
to  the  "  Eastern  Country;  "  his  name  is  not  on  the  Barnstable  tax  bill 
for  1737;  he  could  not  have  moved  directly  to  (iorham  for  there  was  no 
settlement  there  in  1733;  it  is  supposed  that  he  remained  in  Falmouth 
(now  Portland),  or  some  other  adjoining  town  a  few  years,  for  the  first 
we  find  him  as  a  propj-ietor  and  resident  of  Gorham  was  about  the  year 
1743.  The  number  of  his  first  right,  or  lot  in  Gorham,  has  not  been 
ascertained;  but  his  final  settlement  was  on  lots  Nos.  16  and  25;  these 
were  not  obtained  by  his  right  as  a  proprietor  of  the  town,  but  w^ere 
purchased  at  a  tax  sale,  July  2,  1752,  for  the  sum  of  five  pounds, 
eighteen  shillings;  being  three  shillings,  four  pence  less  than  the  tax» 
The  purchase  of  these  lots  would  indicate  him  to  be  the  owner  of  at 
least  four  hundred  acres  of  land.  The  first  actual  white  settler  in  Gor- 
ham was  Cajit.  John  Phinney,  in  May,  1736,  who  came  also  from  Barn- 
stable, to  Falmouth  in  1732.  The  fact  that  both  came  from  the  same 
place  about  the  same  time,  and  finally  settled  together  in  that  wild 
country-,  warrants  the  inference,  that  they  kept  close  company.  He 
was  in  Gorham  certainly  as  early  as  1743,  his  children  literally  had  the 
Indian  children  for  playmates. 

The  privations  and  hardships  of  the  early  settlers  of  Gorham  seem 
almost  incredible;  at  that  period  the  neighboring  towns  along  the 
coast  had  been  settled,  for  a  century.  This  was  the  commencement  of 
settlement  further  inland;  and  the  settlers  were  greatly  harassed  by 
the  Indians,  as  they  encroach  upon  their  lands  and  settlements,  until 
the  French  power  passed  away,  by  Conquest  of  Quebec  by  Wolfe  in 
1759,  which  closed  the  Indian  depredations  in  that  portion  of  Maine. 

The  wars  between  Frai.ce  and  England  had  always  drawn  into  con- 
flict the  colonies  of  these  nations  in  America;  hence  the  inhabitants  of 
Maine  were  in  constant  state  of  warlike  preparation,  and  frecjuently 
engaged  in  military  expeditions  against  the  French  and  Indians. 

It  is  said  that  from  1703  to  1713  Maine  lost  one-third  of  all  its  popu- 
lation; in  1724  the  Norridgewocks  were  broken  up;  in  1725  the  com- 
pany of  Capt.  Lovell  killed  and  dispirsed  the  Pequawkets  at  Fryebury; 
the  whole  population  of  Maine  in  1736  was  estimated  at  only  7,000.  In 
1735-6-7,  the  scarlet  fever,  or  throat  distemper  raged  through  the  col- 
ony, causing  the  death  of  over  500  persons,  in  some  towns  it  was  pe- 
culiarly fatal.  In  Scarborough  no  one  recovered  who  was  attacked. 
In  the  new  towns  the  inhabitants  suflfered  greatly  for  want  of  food, 
clothing  and  comfortable  habitations,  while  danger  from  Indian  attacks 
were  constant  and  pressing. 

It  required  men  like  the  Puritans  to  undertake  and  carry  through 
these  new-  settlements  among  savage  beasts  and  men.     At  this  period 


92  THE  HAMLIN  FAMILY. 

the  towns  of  Maine  were  obliged  to  erect  and  maintain  garrisons  as 
places  of  refuge  against  Indian  attacks,  constructed  of  hewn  timbers, 
with  palisadoesof  large  posts  set  deep  in  the  earth,  closely  together,  out- 
side of  the  fort  or  blockhouse,  ten  or  twelve  feet  high.  Watch  boxes 
were  built  on  top  of  the  walls,  the  whole  bullet  proof.  That  in  Gor- 
hani  was  on  the  30  acre  lot,  No.  2,  near  the  old  burying  ground,  on  what 
is  still  called  "  Fort  Hill,"  the  most  elevated  land  in  the  town.  It  had 
two  six  pounder  swivels  placed  at  diagonal  corners,  for  the  purpose  of 
defence  and  to  alarm  the  neighboring  towns  of  the  approach  of  danger. 
In  174.5  the  fifth  Indian  war  broke  out;  at  this  time  several  families 
moved  into  the  fort,  viz:  Capt.  John  Phinuey,  JACOB  HAMBLEN, 
Daniel  Mosier,  Hugh  McLellan,  Clement  Harvey,  John  Reed,  Edward 
Cloutman,  Jeremiah  Hodgdon,  Eliphalet  Watson  and  Mr.  Bryant. 

These  distresses  disheartened  some  of  the  settlers,  who  abandoned 
their  homes  and  removed  to  Falmouth,  or  returned  to  Massachusetts; 
those  who  left  were:  William  Bote,  James  Irish,  John  Eayr  (Ayer), 
Caleb  Cromwell,  Ebenezer  Hall,  William  Cotton,  Benjamin  Skillings 
and  Benjamin  Stevens.  Nearly  all  returned  to  Gorham  after  the  war. 
For  nearly  seven  years  the  settlers  were  confined  to  the  fort,  as  a 
place  of  residence,  where  they  suffered  great  privation  and  hardship; 
they  had  not  only  the  Indians,  and  at  times  nearly  famine  to  contend 
with,  but  a  dreadful  disease  broke  out,  said  to  have  been  caused  by 
want  of  proper  food,  called  putrid  sore  throat  or  l)lrick  tongue,  from 
which  many  of  the  children  died;  and  every  dweller  in  the  fort  was 
afllicted  with  it. 

At  one  time,  although  there  were  eleven  soldiers  furnished  by  the 
government  of  Massachusetts — Maine  then  being  a  province  of  Massa- 
chusetts— there  were  not  enough  well  men  to  stand  guard,  and  the 
women  had  to  lend  their  aid  in  performing  guard  duty. 

Upon  the  return  of  spring  in  174:(i,  Bryant,  Reed,  Cloutman  and  Mc 
Lellan  neglected  to  come  into  the  fort  as  directed,  and  were  attacked 
■by  Indians:  Bryant  and  his  four  children  were  killed:  his  wife,  with 
Heed  and  Cloutman  were  captured  and  taken  to  Canada. -'* 


i?^  On  April  19,  1746,  O.  S.,  a  party  of  ten  Indian  warriors  entered  Gorliam  unknown 
to  tlie  inhabitants.  Some  of  the  Indians  had  previously  resided  there  and  knew  the 
people  and  where  they  lived.  .A.11  the  families  except  Bryant,  Cloutmau  and  McLellan 
had  removed  to  the  Fort,  who  remained  on  their  lands  hoping  to  get  their  plowing  and 
sowing  done  that  they  :night  raise  some  crops.  Capt.  Phinney  was  urgent  to  have  all  in 
the  garrison,  feeling  certain  the  Indians  would  be  upon  them  as  soon  as  the  ground  was 
"bared  of  snow.  As  the  spring  opened  he  e:,treated  the  settlers  to  make  no  delay  about 
moving  into  the  fort,  the  forwardness  of  the  season  increased  his  anxiety.  Hugh  Mc- 
Lellan's  family  liad  been  alarmed  the  previous  night  by  the  unusual  action  of  tlieir  dog, 
barricaded  their  dwelling  and  stood  at  arms  all  night,  but  seeing  no  Indians  concluded 
tlie  following  morning  that  their  alarm  was  without  cause,  and  decided  to  finish  their 
■work  that  day  and  remove  to  the  garrison.  They  yoked  tlieir  oxen  and  Mr.  McLellan 
and  his  son  William  went  to  the  field,  charging  the  wife  to  be  watchful,  to  keep  the  dog 
at  home  and  on  any  alarm  to  blow  the  horn.  Before  they  left  the  house  a  neighbor,  Mr. 
John  Reed,  came  to  borrow  a  chain  ;  to  him  they  made  known  their  apprehension ;  he 
had  seen  nothing  unusual  and  did  not  think  the  Indians  in  the  vicinity,  and  returned 
liome;    but   on   his   return   at   the   brook  was  set  upon  by  two  Indians  secreted  in  the 


THIRD  GENERATION.  9? 

Most  of  the  early  settlers  of  Gorhani  were  from  Cape  Cod;-''*  nearly 
every  town  of  which  furnished  one  or  more  settlers;  who  partook  large- 
ly of  the  characters  of  their  ancestors,  a  hardy,  entei-prisii:g,  virtuous; 
race,  of  indomitable  courage,  unbending  firmness,  uncompromising  in- 

bushes ;  he  was  unarmed,  was  overpowered,  taken  captive  and  bound.     Mr. Bryant 

and  his  son  went  to  the  held  to  repair  the  fence,  the  Indians  came  upon  them,  they  triedl 
to  escape  to  the  fort,  the  Indians  shot  and  broke  Mr.  Bryant's  arm,  he  reached! 
the  brook  hard  pressed  by  the  savages ;  seeing  Mr.  Daniel  Mosier  with  a  gun,  called 
to  him  to  fire  on  the  Indians,  but  Mosier,  being  at  a  distance  and  not  fully  appre- 
hending the  condition,  delayed,  when  immediately  an  Indian  sprung  upon  Bryant 
and  dispatched  him  with  a  tomahawk  before  Mosier  was  fully  aware  of  what  was  tak- 
ing place,  or  could  otf  er  assistance.  The  place  where  Mr.  Bryant  was  killed  is  on  the- 
low  ground  south  of  where  Nathaniel  Hamlin  resided  in  1<S62.  Mosier  escaped  to  the- 
fort  and  gave  the  alarm.  The  Indians  proceeded  to  the  house  of  Bryant  where  they 
murdered  and  scalped  four  of  their  children,  dashing  out  the  brains  of  an  infant  against 
the  stone  fire  place.  The  agonized  and  frantic  mother,  feeble  and  powerless,  had  to- 
witness  the  destruction  of  all  that  was  dear  to  her  heart;  to  leave  herhusband  dead,  and 
the  mangled.bodies  of  her  children ;  and  with  feelings  of  anguish,  impossible  to  describe, 
go  captive  with  her  destroyers  through  pathless  forests,  tangled  swamps  and  over  rugged 
mountains  to  a  people  whose  language  she  could  not  understand ;  the  enemies  of  her 
people  and  of  herself.  Mrs.  McLellan,  hearing  the  gun  fired  at  Bryant's,  directed  her 
daughter,  Abigail,  about  twelve  years  old,  to  go  to  Bryant's  place  and  learn  the  cause  p 
but  the  child  was  afraid  and  secreted  herself ;  when  the  mother  discovered  her  and  again- 
ordered  her  to  go.  The  distance  being  short,  she  soon  arrived  at  the  house  and  entered  ; 
the  sight  nearly  paralyzed  her.  On  the  floor  lay  the  four  children  in  their  blood ;  all 
except  the  babe  feU  under  the  ruthless  tomahawk.  The  eldest  daughter  was  still  alive, 
she  called  Abigail  by  name,  and  asked  for  water,  but  Abigail,  horror  stricken,  fled  in  ter- 
ror and  on  reaching  home  fell  prostrated.  Her  mother  laid  her  on  a  bed  and  immediate- 
ly blew  the  horn.  McLellan  hearing  it  hastily  ran  home,  leaving  the  oxen  in  the  yoke. 
Abigail,  recovering,  related  what  she  had  seen  at  Bryant's  house.  They  prepared  to 
resist  an  attack,  not  knowing  the  extent  of  the  Indians'  success,  or  the  safety  of  the  fort. 
Edward  Cloutman,  had  gone  to  finish  sowing  his  grain,  was  discovered  by  the  Indians- 
who  were  desirous  of  capturing  him.  He  was  a  powerful  man,  in  the  prime  of  life, 
unarmed ;  there  wefe  eight  Indians  in  the  party.  As  soon  as  his  back  was  turned  toward 
them  the  savages  ran  toward  him  ;  he  saw  them  and  ran  toward  Bryant's  house ;  coming: 
to  a  fence  he  tried  to  leap  it  but  became  entangled  in  the  brush  and  fell  Ijack.  when  two 
of  the  Indians  sprang  toward  him.  Cloutman  knocked  them  down,  as  well  as  the  third 
one ;  two  more  came  up  with  guns  leveled  at  his  heart,  when  he  surrendered.  He  was  at 
man  over  six  feet  tall  and  weighed  220  pounds.  By  his  neighbors  he  was  called  the  giant. 
After  arriving  in  Canada  he  wrote  a  letter  to  his  wife  which  she  received  the  following- 
September,  relating  the  particulars  of  his  capture.  He  informed  her  that  the  Indians: 
took  him  and  Reed  and  Mrs.  Bryant,  she  being  feeble,  he  carried  her  on  his  back  across; 
all  the  streams,  and  many  miles  besides  when  the  traveling  was  bad.  They  followed  the- 
Saco  river  and  passed  through  the  notch  of  the  White  Mountains  to  Canada.  Clontmaa 
and  Reed  were  confined  and  compelled  to  work  on  the  French  fortifications.  Mrs.  Bry- 
ant was  sold  for  a  domestic  in  a  French  family.  About  November  Cloutman  and  anoth- 
er captive,  named  Dunbar,  escaped  on  a  stormy  night,  but  were  never  afterwards  seerk 
alive.  It  is  supposed  they  drowned  in  attempting  to  swim  a  bay  of  Lake  Champlain,  as 
the  next  spring  the  skeletons  of  two  men  were  found  on  the  shore  of  the  lake  witli  their 
clothes  tied  to  the  back  of  their  heads,  and  in  one  garment  was  found  a  pocket  compass 
identified  as  one  liad  by  Cloutman.  After  the  peace  was  made  an  Indian  came  to  Gor- 
ham  where  he  told  that  he  was  one  of  the  party  who  captured  ('loutnian,  ami  the  name- 
of  his  captors.  He  said  :  "Strongman,  Cloutman.  He  beat  two  Indians  so  they  diedl 
before  they  got  to  Canada."  During  the  war  Colonel  Edmund  Phinney,  then  a  yonnjf 
man,  was  fired  upon  and  wounded  by  Indians  in  Gorham.  A  young  man  named  Barthol- 
omew Thorn  was  captured  and  carried  to  Canada  and  sold  to  a  French  gentleman.  .\fte»- 
seven  years  he  escaped  and  returned  to  Gorham.  He  was  a  noted  hunter  and  trapper, 
well  known  to  the  Indians.  There  is-  a  tradition  that  he  had  once  shot  and  killed  an 
25    See  Note  6. 


94  THE  HAMLIN  FAMILY. 

tegrity;  sober,  indumtrious,  frugal  and  temperate  in  all  things;  they 
were  distinguished  for  enduring  fortitude,  and  open  handed  hospi 
tality;  but  not  eminent  for  literary  attainments  or  sciences;  not  defi- 
cient in  talents,  but  had  not  leisure  or  opportunity  for  the  cultivation 
of  letters,  or  the  study  of  books,  had  they  possessed  them;  they  were 
incessantly  occupied  in  devising  ways  to  obtain  sustenance  and  cloth- 
ing, and  in  providing  means  for  defence  against  their  foes;  exhausted 
with  labors  and  worn  with  cares,  they  could  not  be  expected  to  attend 
to  the  elegancies  of  older  and  wealthier  communities. 

At  this  day  they  might  be  called  intolerant  in  their  religious  views 
and  practices,  but  in  this  were  lilie  others  of  that  age. 

They  were  zealous  for  what  they  considered  the  truth;  astern  and 
severe  morality  prevailed  among  them;  they  felt  that  religion,  virtue, 
and  knovvlege  were  essential  to  good  government  and  the  permanent 
welfare  of  the  connnunity,  and  spared  no  pains  to  support  the  gospel, 
inculcate  morality  in  the  minds  of  their  children,  and  provide  means 
for  their  education.  At  the  first  Proprietors'  Meeting,  one  of  their  first 
votes  was  to  provide  for  preaching  and  religious  instruction.  The 
wives  and  daughters  of  the  first  settlers  shared  in  the  toils  of  their  hus- 
bands and  fathers;  to  labor  in  the  fields  and  forests,  carry  burdens,  go 
to  mill,  gatlier  the  harvest  and  assist  in  the  defense  of  their  homes. 

The  ardor  and  patriotism  of  the  people  of  Gorham,  during  the  per- 
iod of  the  War  for  Independence,  is  forcibly  portrayed  in  Pierce's  His- 
tory of  (Torham.^e 


Indian  wlio  accused  him  of  robbing  the  traps  of  the  latter.  It  is  said  that  during  the 
Indian  War  five  Indians  were  kiUed  near  the  brook  where  Nathaniel  Hamlin  resided  in 
1862,  three  of  whom  fell  by  the  gun  of  William  McLellen.  At  one  time  when  the  men 
were  absent  from  the  fort  at  work  an  alarm  was  started  by  the  barking  of  a  dog,  the 
women  hastily  closed  the  gates  and  Mrs.  McLellen  ascended  to  the  watch  tower  where 
she  discovered  an  Indian  behind  a  bush.  She  got  a  loaded  musket  and  watched  at  the 
port-hole.  The  Indian  arose  in  full  view  and  she  fired  at  him.  The  men,  hearing  the 
gun,  ran  to  the  fort  to  learn  the  cause.  When  told  they  examined  the  spot  where  the 
Indian  had  stood  and  founil  a  pool  of  blood  and  a  trail  following  into  the  woods.  Proba- 
bly his  companions  bore  the  wounded  Indian  away.  Mrs.  McLellen  lived  to  a  great 
age  and  always  asserted  that  she  killed  or  severely  wounded  the  savage.— [Colonel  Hugh 
McLellan  in  Pierce's  History  of  Gorham.] 

26  "  Preamble  and  resolves  of  the  Freemen  of  Gorham,  adopted  in  meeting  Jan.  7, 
1773 :  We  find  it  is  esteemed  an  argument  of  terror  to  a  set  of  the  basest  of  men  who  are 
attemi)tiug  to  enslave  us,  and  who  desire  to  wallow  in  luxury  upon  the  expense  of  our 
earnings,  that  this  country  was  purchased  by  the  blood  of  our  renowned  forefathers, 
who,  flying  from  the  unrelenting  rage  of  civil  and  religious  tyranny  in  their  native  land, 
settled  themselves  in  this  desolate,  howling  wilderness.  But  the  people  of  this  town  of 
Gorham  have  an  argument  still  nearer  at  hand ;  not  only  may  we  say  that  we  enjoy  an 
inheritance  purchased  by  the  blood  of  our  forefathers,  but  this  town  was  settled  at  the 
expense  of  our  oivfi  blood.  We  have  those  among  us  whose  blood,  streaming  from  their 
own  wounds,  watered  the  soil  from  which  we  earn  our  bread  !  Ozir  ears  have  heard  the 
infernal  yell  of  the  savage,  uativ?  murderers !  Our  eyes  have  seen  our  young  child- 
ren weltering  in  tlioir  gore  in  our  own  houses,  and  our  dearest  friends  carried  into  cap- 
tivity by  men  more  savage  than  the  savage  beasts  themselves  !  Many  of  us  have  been 
used  to  earn  our  daily  bread  with  our  weapons  in  our  hands  !  We  cannot  be  supposed 
to  be  fully  acquainted  with  the  mysteries  of  Court  policy,  but  we  look  upon  ourselves 
able  to  judge  so  far  concerning  our  rights  as  men,  as  Christians,  and  as  subjects  of  the 


THIRD  GENERATION.  '    95 

In  preparation  of  this  sketch  of  Jacob  Hamblen,  copious  extracts  are 
taken  from  Pierce's  lii story  of  (xorhani,  and  the  sketches  of  Col.  Mc 
Lellan,  concerning  the  first  settlers  of  (lorhani,  as  the  Hainblens  were 
numerous  there,  as  well  as  their  descendants  in  other  places  in   Maine 


British  Government,  as  to  declare  that  we  apprehend  those  rights  as  settled  of  the  good 
people  of  Boston,  do  belong  to  us ;  and  that  we  look  with  horror  and  indignation  on 
their  violation.  We  only  add  that  our  old  Captain  (John  Phinney)  is  still  living,  who 
for  many  years  has  been  our  chief  officer  to  rally  the  inhabitants  of  this  town  from  the 
plough  and  sickle,  to  defend  their  wives,  their  children  and  all  that  was  dear  to  tliem, 
from  the  savages.  Many  of  us  have  been  inured  to  the  fatigue  and  danger  of  flying  to 
garrison.  Many  of  our  watch  boxes  are  still  in  being,  the  timber  of  our  Fort  is  still  to 
be  seen ;  some  of  our  women  have  been  used  to  handle  the  cartridge  or  load  the  musket, 
and  the  swords  we  sharpened  and  brightened  for  our  enemies  are  not  yet  grown  rusty ; 
Therefore : 

Resolved,  That  the  people  of  the  town  of  Gorham  are  as  loyal  as  any  of  his  Majes- 
ty's subjects  in  Great  Britain  or  the  Plantations,  and  hold  themselves  always  in  readi- 
ness to  assist  his  Majesty  with  their  lives  and  fortunes  in  defense  of  the  rights  and  priv- 
eliges  of  his  subjects. 

Resolved,  We  apprehend  that  the  grievances  of  which  we  justly  complain,  are 
owing  to  the  corruptions  of  the  late  Ministry,  in  not  suffering  the  repeated  petitions  and 
remonstrances  from  this  Province  to  reach  the  Royal  ear. 

Resolved,  It  is  clearly  the  opinion  of  the  town  that  it  is  better  to  risk  our  lives  and 
fortunes  in  the  defense  of  our  rights,  civil  and  religious,  than  to  die  by  piece  meals  in 
slavery. 

Resolved,  It  is  clearly  the  opinion  of  this  town  that  the  Parlament  of  Great  Brit- 
am  has  no  more  right  to  take  money  from  us,  without  our  consent,  than  they  have  to 
take  money  without  consent  from  the  inhabitants  of  France  or  Spain. 

Resolved,  That  the  foregoing  Resolves  and  Proceedings  be  registered  in  the  Town 
Clerk's  office,  as  a  standing  memorial  of  the  value  that  the  inhabitants  of  this  town  put 
upon  their  rights  and  privileges. 

At  a  town  meeting,  January  25,  1774,  the  following  spirited  proceedings  were  had: 

1.  Resolved,  That  our  small  possessions,  dearly  purchased  by  the  hand  of  labor 
and  the  industry  of  ourselves  and  our  dear  ancestors,  with  the  loss  of  many  lives,  by  a 
barbarous  and  cruel  enemy,  aie  by  the  laws  of  God,  nature  and  the  British  Constitution, 
our  own,  exclusive  of  any  other  claim  under  heaven. 

2.  Resolved,  That  aU  and  every  part  and  parcel  of  the  profits  arising  therefrom 
are  also  our  own,  and  that  none  can  of  right  take  away  any  part  or  share  thereof,  with- 
out our  free  consent. 

3.  Resolved,  That  for  any  Legislative  body  of  men  under  the  British  Constitution 
to  take  or  grant  liberty,  to  take  any  part  of  our  property  or  profits,  without  our  consent, 
is  state  robbery,  and  ought  to  bo  opposed. 

4.  Resolved,  That  the  British  Parlament  laying  a  tax  on  .\mericans  for  the  pur- 
pose of  raising  a  revenue,  is  a  violation  of  the  laws  of  religion  and  sound  policy,  incon- 
sistent with  the  principles  of  freedom,  that  has  distinguished  the  British  Empire  from 
its  earliest  ages. 

.5.  Resolved,  That  the  appropriating  this  Revenue  in  support  of  a  set  of  the  vilest 
of  the  human  race,  in  rioting  and  luxury  on  our  spoils  is  an  unprecedented  step  of  .id- 
ministration  and  appears  to  us  most  odious. 

6.  Resolved,  That  the  Tea  .\ct,  in  favor  of  the  East  India  Company  to  export  the 
same  to  .\merica,  is  a  deep  laid  scheme  to  betray  the  unwary  and  careless  into  the  snare 
laid  to  catch  and  enslave  them,  and  requires  the  joint  vigilance,  fortitude  and  courage 
of  the  thoughtful  and  the  brave  to  oppose  in  every  constitutional  way. 

7.  Resolved,  That  petitioning  the  throne  carries  a  very  gloomy  prospect,  so  long 
as  his  Majesty  is  under  the  same  influence  that  he  has  been  for  many  years  past. 

8.  Resolved,  That  other  methods  besides  petitioning  are  now  become  necessary 
for  the  obtaining  and  securing  our  just  rights  and  privileges. 

9.  Resolved,  That  the  measures  taken  by  Ithe  town  of  Boston  in  their  several 
meetings  to  consult,  debate  and  advise  with  regard  to  the  tea  arrived  there,  merits  the 


96  THE  HAMLIN  FAMILY. 

and  elsewhere,  who  have  frequently  intermarried  with  the  decsend- 
ants  of  other  early  Gorham  families,  mentioned  by  these  learned  writers. 

Mr.  Hamblen  was  a  good  business  man,  and  a  useful  citizen,  one  in 
whom  his  fellow  settlers  had  confidence.  His  name  is  prominent  on 
the  old  proprietor's  records;  he  was  always  at  their  meetings:  ofti  n  on 
important  committees,  for  surveying  lands,  running  lines,  fixing  boun- 
daries, making  roads,  supplying  ministers  and  the  general  business  of 
the  proprietary  or  town. 

His  homestead  consisted  of  the  two  thirty-acre  lots,  Nos.  IG  and  25. 
By  the  old  plan  of  the  thir(y-acre  lots,  they  were  bounded  northerly  by 
Hamblen  Street  and  easterly  by  King  Street  (now  Higli  and  School 
Streets)   extending  southerly  from   the  corner  now  oceiii)ie(i  by   Ridlon 

esteem  and  regard  of  all  who  esteem  their  rights  worth  preserving,  and  will  transmit 
their  memory  to  unborn  ages  with  Honor. 

10.  Resolved,  That  the  unfeigned  thanks  of  the  town  of  Gorham  wait  on  the  Com- 
mittee of  Correspondence  of  the  metropolis,  and  all  the  good  People  that  shew  their  zeal 
for  Liberty  in  their  late  Town  meetings,  and  may  our  indignation  fall  on  all  who  are  en- 
emies to  our  happy  Constitution ! 

11.  Resolved,  That  we  of  this  town  have  such  a  high  relish  for  Liberty,  that  we,  all 
with  one  heart,  stand  ready  sword  in  hand,  with  the  Italians  in  the  Roman  Republick, 
to  defend  and  maintain  our  rights  against  all  attempts  to  enslave  us,  and  join  ourbroth- 
eren,  opposing  force  to  force,  if  drove  to  the  last  extremity,  which  God  forbid." 

.\fter  these  high-toned  resolutions  were  passed,  the  aged  Capt.  Phinney  made  a  mo- 
tion, which  was  voted  :  "  That  if  any  person  of  Gorham  shall  hereafter  contemn,  despise 
or  ^reproach  the  former  or  the  present  Resolves,  or  endeavor  to  prevent  the  force  or  effect 
of  the  same  among  this  people,  he  shall  be  deemed,  held  and  adjudged  an  enemy  to  his 
Country,  unworthy  the  company  or  regard  of  all  those  who  are  the  professed  sons  of 
freedom,  and  shall  bo  treated  as  infamous." 

It  was  voted  that  the  following  be  accepted  as  a  preface  to  the  foregoing  Resolves: 

"  When  we  contemplate  the  days  of  old,  the  years  of  ancient  times,  when  the  candle 
of  the  Lord  shown  around  our  Tabernacle,  and  the  Benign  rays  from  the  the  throne 
beamed  through  the  whole  of  our  American  atmosphere,  which  placed  a  smile  upon  ev- 
ery face  and  joy  in  every  heart,  and  each  individual  sitting  under  his  own  vine  and  fig 
tree,  having  none  to  annoy  or  make  him  afraid,  enjoying  the  fruits  of  his  own  industry. 
In  this  golden  age  mutual  Love  subsisted  between  the  mother  States  and  her  Colonies. 
The  mother  extended  her  powerful  arm  to  Skreen  and  Protect  her  Children  from  insult 
and  ruin,  from  their  and  her  natural  enemies,  who  would  have  attacked  them  on  their 
watry  frontier;  in  return,  the  children  have  ever  been  obedient  to  the  requisition  of  their 
mother  in  raising  men  and  money  to  the  enlargement  of  the  British  Empire  to  an  amaz- 
ing extent,  and  this  without  complaint  or  even  a  single  murmur,  although  they  thereby 
endangered  their  own  bankruptcy.  But  how  are  circumstances  changed  !  '  0  temporal 
0  mores  !  '  the  mother  lost  to  her  first  love  !  her  maternal  affection  degenerated  into  a 
cold  indifferency  if  not  a  fixed  hatred  of  her  children,  as  is  too  evident  by  the  repetition 
of  one  revenue  act  upon  another,  and  appointing  Egyptian  task-masters,  if  not  worse,  or 
cruelly  to  extort  from  us  our  property,  without  so  much  as  to  say,  by  your  leave,  that 
they  may  wallow  in  luxury  on  our  spoils,  against  every  principal  of  justice,  Human  or 
Divine.  .\nd  the  tools  of  the  Administration,  among  ourselves,  have  used  every  measure 
in  their  power  to  weaken  our  hands  and  subject  us  easily  to  be  dragooned  in  chains  and 
slavery,  not  by  dint  of  argument,  but  by  the  mere  force  of  the  power  placed  in  their 
liands  by  the  Mother  County.  These  things  bearing  heavy  on  our  minds,  and  not  alto- 
gether sunk  below  all  human  feelings,  We,  ?/«,«  voce,  come  to  these  resolves :  " 

Then  followed  a  letter  to  the  Committee  of  Correspondence  of  Boston,  in  which  they 
close : 

"  We  hope  and  trust  that  the  inhabitants  of  this  town  will  not  be  induced  to  part 
with  their  priveleges/or  a  little  paltry  herb  drink."— [Pierce's  History  of  Gorham.] 


THIRD  GENERATION.  97 

&  Card's  store  to  the  line  of  the  railroad,  and  westerly  to  Harding's 
Hill.  His  dwelling  house  was  on  No.  16,  where  the  store  of  II.  G. 
Harding  stood  in  1872.  Here  he  kept  a  "  House  of  Entertainment'^ 
from  1757  to  the  time  of  his  death.  The  meetings  of  the  old  proprietors 
were  often  held  at  his  house.  A  Mr.  Elwell  kept  a  tavern  in  the  same 
house  in  1775.  A  part  of  this  old  tavern  house  was  moved,  and  with 
some  additions,  used  by  Major  Simeon  Farnham  as  a  dwelling  house, 
where  he  lived  before  he  built  the  brick  house  (now  burned),  recently 
known  as  the  Gorham  House.  The  old  house  of  late  years  has  been 
known  as  the  Gammon  House,  and  stood  near  where  Mr.  Stephen 
Hinkley's  house  stood  in  1872. 

A  short  time  before  his  death,  Mr.  Hamblen  emancipated  his  ne- 
gro man  servant,  "  Ceasor,"  in  consideration  of  his  having  faithfully 
served  him,  and  in  further  consideration  of  five  shillings  paid  by  the 
said  Ceasor.  The  discharge  was  signed,  sealed  and  delivered  in  pres- 
ence of  Austin  Alden  and  Stephen  Phinney,  May  2d,  1774,  and  record- 
ed by  Enoch  Freeman,  October  18,  same  year. 

In  the  year  177U  he  made  a  present  to  the  town  of  the  burial  ground 
at  Gorham  Village,  which  has  since  become  the  quiet  resting  place  of  so 
many  of  the  worthy  old  proprietors.  Near  the  northwesterly  corner  of 
this  lot  stands  a  time  worn  and  broken  monument  of  slate  stone,  bear- 
ing the  following  inscription: 

In  memory  of 

MR.  JACOB  HAMELIN 

who  died  June  3d 

1774 

Aged  72  years. 

Mrs.  Hamblin,  in  her  day  was  a  famous  comber  of  wool  for  the  pur- 
pose of  making  worsted;  few  of  the  present  generation  have  ever  seen 
this  operation  of  combing  wool  on  the  old  fashioned  ketchel  or  flax 
comb,  laying  the  fibers  all  one  way,  straight  and  smooth  and  winding 
it  into  balls,  to  spin  it  on  the  small  flax  wheel,  into  very  fine  thread. 
In  an  old  account  book  we  find  Mrs.  Hamblen  has  credit  for  combing 
worsted,  five  shillings,  and  for  one  hundred  cabbage  plants,  two  shil- 
lings. At  that  time  there  were  no  factories,  and  imported  cloth  was 
rare  and  expensive;  every  household  was  expected  to  manufacture  its 
own  clothing,  and  the  lady  who  came  to  the  possession  of  a  worsted 
gown,  colored  with  dye  made  from  the  bark  of  trees,  or  roots  of  the  for- 
est, and  manufactured  by  her  own  hand  had  a  treasure  of  wliich  she 
was  deservedly  proud,  and  was  thought  quite  well  dressed. 

In  those  days  matters  of  neglect  and  dereliction  of  religious  duties 
were  subject  to  penalties  of  the  civil  law,  and  we  fear  sometimes,  con- 
science had  but  little  to  do  in  those  matters.  But  in  speaking  of 
Mrs.  Content  Hamblen,  from  what  we  have  heard,  we  are  in- 
clined to  believe  her  conscientious.  She  made  it  strictly  the  rule  of 
her  house,  for  herself  and  every  member  of  her  fannly,  to  attend 
all  the  meetings  on  the  Sabbath  day,    or    keep  close  within  doors. 


U8  THE  HAMLIN  FAMILY. 

Fast  and  Feast  days  were  rigidly  observed  according  to  law,  and  the 
ordinances  of  the  church. 

No  person  within  her  house  was  allowed  to  eat  a  morsel  of  food  on 
fast  day  between  early  morning  and  evening,  if  she  could  prevent  it; 
even  the  cattle  within  her  barn  had  to  come  under  the  rule;  they  were 
ted  the  night  before,  and  allowed  no  more  till  the  day  had  passed,  and 
consequently  were  allowed  an  abundance  of  food  on  Thanksgiving  day. 
Whether  she  was  one  of  those  who  believed  that  all  dumb  ani- 
aials  would  be  found  on  their  knees  at  twelve  o'clock  on  Christmas 
Kve  in  thanksgiving  for  the  birth  of  the  Saviour,  we  cannot  say;  but 
nevertheless  it  was  once  the  current  belief,  and  some  there  be  at  this 
time  who  are  unwilling  to  give  it  up. 

Mrs.  Content  Hamblen,  widow  of  Jacob,  married  Mr.  James  Miller, 
from  Cape  Elizabeth  March  1,  17S0.  In  an  old  record  kept  by  Rev.  Ca- 
leb Jewett,  we  find  that  he  died  May  16,  1787;  she  lived  with  her  hus- 
band, Miller,  in  a  house  which  stood  in  the  Alexander  McLellan  gar- 
den, directly  back  of  the  Ridlon  &  Card  store.  Here  she  lived  alone  for 
several  years;  and  was  held  as  a  fortune  teller,  as  she  was  often  visited 
by  the  young  to  learn  their  future  destiny. 

Of  her  decease  there  is  no  record,  but  we  conclude  that  she  died 
about  the  year  1790,  certainly  before  1800. 

No  complete  record  of  their  children  has  been  discovered,  and  per- 
iiaps  some  may  have  died  during  the  sickness,  in  the  Indian  war  above 
mentioned. 

Children: 

153.  Joseph,  born  May  10,  173-,  perhaps  in  Barnstable. 

154.  Daniel. 


FOURTH  GENERATION. 


[65]     EBENEZER    SCUDDER,i     (Elizfibeth;^  Jnmes;^  James,^)    was 
baptized  April  26,  1696 

He  had  descendante  named  Eleazar  Scudder  and  Joi^iah  Scudder. 

David  Scudder,  who  descended  from  Eleazer,  was  born  January  "), 
176",  he  was  an  eminent  citizen,  and  many  years  Clerk  of  Courts  for 
Barnstable  county.  Married  Desire  (iage,  and  had  a  son  Charles,  born 
June  5,  1789,  who  settled  in  Boston,  and  died  January  21,  1861,  after  a 
long  life  of  usefulness  and  distinction  as  a  merchant. 

Frederick  Scudder,  a  younger  brother  of  Charles,  was  for  several 
years  County  Treasurer  and   Recorder  of  Deeds  for  Barnstable  county. 

Hon.  Zeno  Scudder  descended  from  Josiah  above,  son  of  Ebenezer, 
and  wife  Rose  Delap,-^  born  in  Osterville,  Barnstable  in  1807.  In  early 
life  he  followed  the  sea,  and  afterwards  engaged  in  mei-cantile  pursuits; 
before  he  attained  his  majority  he  was  induced  from  paralysis  to  prose- 
cute the  study  of  medicine;  but  finding  his  infirmity  an  impediment  to 
the  practice  of  his  profession,  he  applied  himself  to  the  study  of  law. 
He  took  a  course  at  the  Cambridge  Law  School  and  was  admitted  to 
the  bar  in  1886,  opened  a  law  otfiee  in  Falmouth,  but  shortly  changed 
his  location  to  Barnstable,  where  he  soon  acquired  a  lucrative  practice, 
and  was  regarded  as  an  accurate,  learned  and  diligent  lawyer.  He  was 
elected  to  the  State  Senate  from  Barnstable  in  1846,  and  twice  re-elect- 
ed; in  his  third  term  he  was  chosen  President  of  the  Senate,  the  duties 
of  which  ottice  he  performed  with  dignity  and  ability.  He  was  elected 
member  of  32d  Congress  of  the  United  States,  and  on  August  12,  18.')2, 
delivered  a  speech  on  the  subject  of  American  Fisheries,  evincing  great 


27  James  Delap,  ancestor  of  the  family  of  that  name  in  Barnstable,  was  a  native 
of  Ireland.  Mr.  Otis  gives  an  account  of  his  passage  to  America  :  "  Charles  Clinton,  an 
Irishman,  chartered  the  ship.  George  &  Ann,  Capt.  Rymer  to  transport  his  friends  and 
neighbors  to  America,  the  whole  number  of  men,  women  and  children  were  lU.  He  was 
unfortunate  in  the  selection  of  a  ship.  Rymer  was  a  cold  blooded  villain.  The  ship 
sailed  from  Dublin  for  Philadelphia  May  20, 1729,  poorly  supplied  with  stores,  the  voy- 
age was  protracted  by  the  infamy  of  the  master  to  125  days.  The  passengers  consisted 
of  families  who  had  converted  their  estates,  except  such  articles  as  they  could  take 
-with  them,  into  gold,  to  purchase  land  in  Philadelphia  and  build  a  town  where  they 
could  enjoy  the  civil  and  religious  liberties  denied  in  their  native  land.  They  selected 
the  mild  season  for  their  passage,  and  expected  to  arrive  in  Philadelphia  in  July,  in  time 
to  select  their  place  of  residence  and  put  up  dwellings  before  winter;  and  did  not  dream 


100  THE  HAMLIN  FAMILY. 

research  on  the  subject.  He  was  re-elected  to  the  33d  Congress,  but  a 
fall,  fracturing  a  limb,  caused  him  to  resign  his  seat.  He  was  never  mar- 
ried. His  younger  brother,  Henry  A.  Scudder,  was  born  at  the  same 
place;   graduated  at   Yale   College  in   1842,  studied  law  at  Cambridge, 

that  half  their  number  would  tind  a  watery  grave  before  reaching  America.  Several  be- 
sides Mr.  Clinton  had  considerable  sums  of  gold,  which  was  known  to  the  Captain  and 
excited  his  cupidity ;  he  prolonged  the  voyage  and  kept  his  ship  at  sea,  until  his  pro- 
visions were  exhausted,  that  the  passengers  might  die  of  famine  and  disease,  and  then 
seize  and  appropriate  their  property ;  such  is  charged  was  his  diabolical  plan.  The 
ship  had  not  been  long  at  sea  until  the  passengers  began  to  mistrust  the  evil  designs  of 
the  Captain.  He  was  tyrannical  in  the  exercise  of  his  authority  ;  his  officers  and  men  were 
in  constant  fear  of  him  ;  the  ship  was  making  slow  progress ;  the  passengers  had  been 
put  on  short  allowance ;  some  had  died  of  disease,  engendered  by  the  small  quan- 
tity and  bad  quality  of  the  provisions  served  out;  starvation  and  death  seemed 
inevitable,  if  no  change  could  be  eflected;  and  the  passengers,  after  consultation,, 
resolved  to  assume  command  if  a  change  could  not  be  made.  There  were 
two  on  board  having  some  knowledge  of  navigation,  who  were  appointed  to 
watch,  night  and  day,  the  movements  of  Captain  Rymer;  and  they  discovered! 
one  night,  though  the  wind  was  fair,  that  the  ship  was  sailing  in  an  opposite  direc- 
tion from  her  true  course.  They  inquired  of  the  helmsman,  why  lie  steered  so;  and 
were  told  it  was  by  the  Captain's  orders  This  fact  was  communicated  to  other  passen- 
gers; several  had  then  died  of  starvation  and  many  were  so  weak  and  emaciated  by 
want  of  food  and  nourishment  they  could  scarcely  stand.  They  resolved  to  make  an 
effort  to  compel  the  Captain  to  keep  his  sliip  oq  the  true  course ;  one  of  the  passengers 
had  a  brace  of  pistols;  these  were  loaded  and  put  in  the  hands  of  two  men,  and  all  who 
had  sufficient  strength  followed  to  the  quarter  deck.  They  charged  the  Captain  with 
treachery,  &c.  He  said  that  the  voyage  had  been  prolonged  by  head  winds,  and  not  by 
any  fault  of  himself.  He  made  fair  promises,  only  to  break  them  ;  he  obstinately  kept 
bis  vessel  at  sea,  though  his  passengers  were  daily  perishing  for  want  of  food.  He  liad 
wit  enough  to  perceive  that  if  he  made  for  Philadelphia  he  would  be  arrested,  and  hi& 
only  safety  was  to  keep  his  ship  at  sea,  avoid  speaking  any  vessel,  and  persist  in  his 
diabolical  purpose.  Capt.  Lothrop,  in  his  passage  from  Boston  to  Martha's  Vinyard, 
espied  the  vessel  and  boarded  her,  and  took  them  into  a  place  now  called  Orleans. 
Less  than  half  those  who  embarked  at  Dublin,  from  114  to  190,  were  then  living.  Among 
the  passengers  of  this  ill  fated  ship,  were  the  father  and  mother  of  James  Delap,  and 
his  sisters,  Rose,  Jean  and  Sarah.  They  were  from  Cavan,  Ireland.  Of  the  Delap  fam- 
ily, the  father  and  sisters  had  been  buried  in  the  ocean  ;  the  mother  was  living  whert 
Capt.  Lothrop  came  onboard — emaciated  and  very  weak  ;  when  food  was  distributed 
she  took  a  biscuit,  and  in  attemi)ting  to  swallow,  a  piece  lodged  in  her  tliroat,  and  be- 
fore relief  could  be  afforded,  expired.  Her  body  was  taken  ashore  and  buried.  James,, 
when  taken  from  the  boat,  was  so  weak  he  could  not  stand,  and  crawled  to  the  shore. 
Capt.  Rymer  was  arrested,  sent  to  England  in  irons,  tried  and  condemned,  and  was. 
hung  and  quartered  in  Dublin.  James  Delap  came  to  Barnstable,  and  Nov.  5,  1729, 
chose  John  Bacon,  Jr..  his  guardian,  and  was  apprenticed  to  learn  the  blacksmith  trade. 
June  22,  1738,  he  was  married  by  Rev.  Mr.  Green  to  Mary  daughter  of  Benjamin  O'Kelley, 
of  Yarmoutli.  She  was  born  April  8, 1720,  and  at  the  time  of  her  marriage  had  been  resid- 
ing in  tlie  family  of  Dea.  Isaac  Hamblen,  of  Yarmouth.  In  the  summers  he  sailed  in  th& 
Barnstable  and  Boston  packet,  at  first  with  Capt.  Solomon  Otis,  afterwards  as  Master, 
in  winter  he  worked  in  the  blacksmith  shop.  He  removed  to  Granville,  Nova  Scotia,  irk 
177.'),  where  he  died  of  apoplexy  in  17.H9.  aged  74  years.  He  had  ten  children,  all  of  whom 
except  Thomas,  married  and  had  children. 
Their  children,  born  in  Barnstable : 

1.  Rose,  born  February  2.5,  1739;  married  Ebeiiezer  Scudder.. 

2.  Abigail,  born  November  6,  1741 ;  married  John  Coleman. 

3.  Catherine,  born  September  3,  1743;  married  Amos  Otis,   grandfather  of  the  author  of 

the  .4mos  Otis  Papers,  and  had  two  children,  Amos  and  Solomon. 

4.  Thomas,   bom  .April  14.  174.5.     He  was  master  of  a  sliip  in  the  King's  service,  and  on 

December  6,  1771,  while  on  a  voyage  from  Philadelphia  to  Halifax  during  a  storm.. 


FOURTH  GENERATION.  101 

was  admitted  to  the  Suffolk  bar  in  1844,  and  entered  upon  practice 
of  the  profession  in  Boston,  where  his  abilities  were  soon  recognized. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  Massachusetts  Legislature  of  1861-2-3;  was  a 
member  of  the  National  Convention,  which  nominated  Abraham  Lin- 
coln for  re-election,  and  sujiported  him  with  ardor. 

In  18(j9  he  was  appointed  a  Justice  of  the  Superior  Court  of  Massa- 
chusetts, in  which  position  he  acquired  a  high  reputation,  which  bid 
fair  to  lead  to  early  advancement  in  the  .Judiciary.  But  ill  health  in 
1872  compelled  his  resignation,  and  a  prolonged  absence  in  Europe  fol- 
lowed. In  1S82  the  office  of  Judge  of  Probate  and  Insolvency  was  ten- 
dered him  and  declined  lor  the  same  reasons. 

He  married  Nancy  B.,  daughter  of  Charles  B.  Tobey,  of  Nantucket. 

The  children  of  Josiah  Scudder  were: 

1.  Josiah,  born  December  3,  ISOO;  died  December  29.  1877;  a  merchant. 

2.  Freeman,  born  ^Slarch  16,  1805;  died  December  3,  1852;  a  merchant. 

3.  Hon.  Zeno,  born  1807;  a  lawyer. 

4.  Persis,    born  August   14,  1810;    married  Josejih   W.    Crocker;    died 

April  24,  1844. 

5.  Edwin,  born  September  23,  181o;  died  May  25,  1872;  a  merchant. 

6.  Hon.  Henry  A.,  born  November  25,  1819;  a  lawyer. 

[68]  BENJAMIN  HAMBLEN,*  {Eleazer;^  Jrfmea;^  JamesA  )  The 
late  David  Hamblen,  of  Boston,  says,  that  Eleazer'  resided  in 
Eastham;  that  his  son,  Benjamin,  was  born  there  in  1692,  and 
was  mentioned  in  his  father's  will,  which  the  writer  has  never 
seen.  David  Hamblen  supposed  this  man  was  his  ancestor; 
and  that  it  was  him  and  not  his  uncle  Benjamin,:'  who  mar- 
ried,   October  25,    1716,  Anne,  daughter  of  Samuel   Mayo, ^s  of 

was  cast  ashore  on  Great  Point,  Nantucket,  where  himself  and  Mr.  Amos  Otis,  and 
others  perished  after  they  landed.  It  is  said  none  would  have  been  lost,  if  they 
bad  remained  on  board  the  ship. 

5.  Mary,  born  November  3,  1747. 

6.  Sarah,  born  April  11,  1750;  married  Capt.  James  Farnsworth. 

7.  Jane  or  Jean,  bom  August  13,1752;    married  Jonas  Farnsworth,  a  cousin  of  Capt. 

James,  who  married  her  sister  Sarah.  Their  oldest  daughter.  Nancy,  born  at 
Machias,  Maine,  in  1773,  was  the  mother  of  Amos  Otis,  the  author.  The  vessel  on 
which  she  took  passage  from  Nova  Scotia  to  Boston,  was  captured  by  a  British 
war  ship  and  taken  to  Halifax.  She  afterwards  took  passage  in  another  ship 
which  was  captured,  and  she  was  finally  landed  at  Newburyport.  When  captured 
several  shots  were  fired  and  at  the  suggestion  of  the  Captain  she  and  lior  infant 
child  laid  down  on  the  cabin  floor,  below  the  water  line,  a  place  of  comparative 
safety. 

8.  Hannah,   born  July  14,  1755 :  married  Samuel  Street,  a  Captain  in  the  British   Navy. 

9.  Temperance,  born  in  1757.    One  of  her  sons  was  for  many  years  a  membet  of  the 

Queen's  Council. 
10.  James,  born  March,  1759.— [Otis  Papers.] 

28  Rev,  John  Mayo,  the  ancestor  of  that  family  in  Cape  Cod,  was  born  in  England, 
and  graduated  from  an  English  university;  he  came  over  about  1638,  and  was  in  Barn- 
stable in  16:»,  where  he  was  ordained  as  teaching  elder  with  Mr.  Lotlirop ;  was  made 
freeman  1640 ;  in  1646  he  removed  to  Eastham,  ar.d  subsequently  took  charge  of  the 
church  in  that  town  until  1655,  when  he  was  settled  over  the  second,  or  North  Church  ia 


102  THE  HAMLIN  FAMILY. 

Eastham.  She  is  supposed  to  be  a  great  grand  daughter  of  Governor 
Prince.  The  Boston  News  Letter  of  August  25,  1737,  notices  the  death 
of  a  Benjamin  Hambhn,  wlioni  we  suppose  to  be  tliis  man:  "  We  hear 
that  some  time  in  the  beginning  of  .July,  Captain  Atherton  Hough, 
master  of  a  wlialiug  vessel  being  in  the  Streights,  killed  a  large  wliale 
and  brought  her  to  the  vessel's  side  as  usual  to  cut  laer  up;  and  as  the 
hands  were  lioisting  the  blubber  into  the  liold,  the  runner  of  the  block 
gave  way,  and  fell  with  great  force,  on  tlie  head  of  a  man,  who  stood 
underneath — Benjamin  Hamblin,  of  Eastliam — and  instantly  killed 
him."  Otis  does  not  seem  to  have  known  of  this  man,  but  mistakes  his 
Uncle  Benjamin  for  him,  and  also  omits  the  names  of  the  children, 
Joshua,  Isaac,  Mary  and  Elizabeth. 

Cliildren,  supposed  to  liave  been  bor;n  in  Eastliam: 

155.  Cornelius,  born  1719. 

156.  Benjamin, 

157.  Joshua. 

158.  Lydia;  married,  August  30,  1741,  John  Wolcott,  of  Hingliam. 

159.  Isaac,  born  1728. 

160.  Mary;  married,  1742,  Joseph  Richards,  of  Pembroke. 

161.  Eleazer,  born  1732. 

162.  Elizabeth;  married,  1750,  William  Holmes,  of  Pembroke. 

[71]  ELISHA  HAMBLEN, 4  («?-o//?er  q/  Benjamin,)  born  January 
26,  1697-8,  probably  in  Eastham.  Married,  January  25,  1721, 
Elizabetii  Mayo, ^9  of  Eastham. 

Cliildren: 

163.  Elijah,  born  March  22,  1722-3. 

164.  Elisha. 
Probably  otliers. 

[75]  EBENEZER  JENKINS,^  (Experience;^  James;^  Jnme.%i  )  born 
in  Barnstable  December  5,  1697.  Married  first,  November  9, 
1721,  Judith  White;  she  died  Ajn-il  25,  1729,  leaving  an  only 
child,  Thomas.  Married  second,  .luly  25,  1732,  Elizabeth  Tup- 
per,  who  survived  him.  He  resided  at  West  Barnstable  in  a 
part  of  his  father's  house,  on  the  estate  owned  about  1861  by 
Chipinan  W.  Whelden.     He  died  in  .June  1750;  will  dated  June 

Boston  ;  in  167:i,  in  consequencp  of  age  and  infirmities  he  went  to  Barnstable,  and  at 
that  place,  Eastham  and  Yarmouth  passed  the  remainder  of  his  life  with  his  children, 
dying  at  the  home  of  his  daughter,  Elizabeth,  who  married  Joseph  Howes,  in  Yar- 
moutli,  May,  1676.  His  wife  was  named  Tamosin,  and  died  in  Yarmouth,  16JS2.  His 
children  were  born  in  England:  Hannah,  married  1640,  Natlianiel  Bacon;  Samuel,  John. 
Nathaniel  and  Elizabeth.  The  son  of  Nathaniel  married  Hannah,  daughter  of  Gov. 
Thomas  Prince,  and  had  Thomas,  born  December  7.  1651 ;  Nathaniel,  November  16,  1652; 
Samuel,  October  12,  1655;  Hannali,  October  17,  16.57;  Theophilus,  December  17,  1659; 
Bathsheba,  1662.— f  Otis  Papers.] 

?0    See  Note  28. 


FOURTH  (iENEllATION.  103 

10,  1750;  proved  July  o,  following:.  His  estate  was  appi'aised  at  ^3o7.1!t.4, 
in  lawful  money. 

Children,  born  in  Barnstable: 

165.  Thomas,  born  March  8,  1725-(i;  married,  April  23,  1 752,   Thankful 

Wing,  of  Harwich. 

166.  Nathan,  born  October  21,  1784. 

167.  Ebenezer,  born  July  6,  1736. 
16.S.     Mai'tha,  born  November  4,  1737. 

169.  p:iizabeth,  born  May  9,  1740. 

[76]  8AMUEL  JENKINS,^  {Brolher  of  Ebenezer,)  born  in  Barnsta- 
ble January  7,  1699-1700;  married,  November  9,  1721,  Mary, 
daughter  of  Ensign  John  and  Mary  (Goodspeed)  Hinckley, 3  o 
of  Barnstable;  no  record  of  the  date  of  her  birth.  He  first  re- 
sided at  Skonkonet,  Barnstable,  on  the  estate  given  him  by  his 
father,  owned  about  1861  by  Lemuel  Lumbard;  he  afterwards 
purchased  the  farm  from  Ichabod  Hinckley,  his  wife's  half 
brother,  owned  about  1861  by  Dea.  Braley  Jenkins. 

Children,  born  in  Barnstable: 

170.  Experience,  born  Deceinber  4,  1722. 

171.  Mary,  born  September  7,  1725;  died  June  7,  1727. 

172.  Samuel,  born  October  20,  1727. 

173.  Nathaniel,  born  December  6,  1728. 

174.  Simeon,  born  Septeinber  8,  1733. 

175.  Lot,  born  March  13,  1737-8. 

[77]  JOSIAH  JENKINS,!  {Brother  of  Ebenezer.)  born  in  Barnsta- 
ble April  16,  1701'.  ^Married  Mary  Ellis,  of  Middleboro,  and  re- 
sided at  AVest  Barnstable.  His  will  is  dated  December  2H,  1749, 
and  proved  the  following   February. 


30  Samuel  Hinckley  was  the  ancestor  of  this  family.  In  March,  1635.  he  with 
others  from  Tenterden,  Kent,  England,  making  a  company  of  102,  sailed  in  the  Hercules, 
from  Sandwich  for  New  England  ;  he  brought  with  him  his  wife,  Sarah,  and  four  chil- 
dren. ,^oon  after  his  arrival  in  Boston  he  went  to  Scituate,  and  built  a  house,  which 
Mr.  Lothrop  calls  No.  19;  three  of  his  fellow  passengers  also  built  houses  there  in  16:», 
viz :  William  Hatch  No.  17  ;  John  Lewis  No.  1^ ;  and  Nathaniel  Tilden  No.  20.  The  street 
on  which  they  built  was  called  Kent  Street.  In  1640  he  sold  in  Scituate  and  removed 
to  Barnstable.  His  first  wife  died  August  IS,  16.j6,  and  he  married  second,  December  1.5, 
16.i7,  Bridget,  widow  of  Robert  Bodfish,  of  Sandwich.  He  died  October  M,  1662.  He  was 
probably  a  member  of  Mr.  Lothrop's  church,  but  from  the  fact  that  he  was  twice  indict- 
ed for  "  entertaining  strangers  "  (Quakers).  It  would  appear  that  he  belonged  to  the 
liberal  and  not  to  the  intolerant  party  of  the  church.  His  children,  by  first  wife,  were  : 
Thomas:  Susannah,  married  .John  Smith;  Sarah,  married  Elder  Henry  Cobb;  Mary; 
Elizabeth,  married  Elisba  Parker;  Samuel,  died  young;  three  infants,  died  young. 
His  youngest  child.  Ensign  John  Hinckley,  born  in  Barnstable  May  24,  1644,  resided  at 
West  Barnstable,  was  a  prominent  man  in  business  atlairs:  married  flr.st,  July,  166.H, 
Bethia  Lothrop.  who  diefl  July  10,  1697,  and  he  married  second,  November  24,  1697,  Mary 
Goodspeed.  Children  by  first  wife :  Sarah,  Samuel,  Betliia,  Hannah,  .Jonathan,  Icha 
bod,  Gershom.  By  second  wife:  Mary,  who  married  Samuel  Jenkins  ;  Abigail  and  Mer- 
cy.   He  died  December  7, 1709.— [Otis  Papers.] 


104  THE  HAMLIN  FAMILY. 

The  principal  part  of  liis  estate  he  gave  to  liis  brothers,  Ebenezer 
and  Samuel,  and  'egacies  to  his  sisters.  Thankful  Taylor,  Mercy 
White,  Hope  White,  Sarah  Nye,  and  his  cousin,  Nathan  Jenkins.  He 
had  a  splendid  wardrobe,  and  appears  to  have  been  a  fashionable  man. 

No  children. 

[81]  RUTH  HAMBLEN,!  (James:^  James:^  James,^  )  born  in  Barn- 
stable January  25,  1692-3.  Married,  November  25,  1723,  Sam- 
uel, son  of  Samuel  and  Sarah  (Parker)  Crocker ;•'*'  born  in 
Barnstable,  December  12,  1697. 

Children,  born  in  Barnstable: 

176.  Noah,  born  September  12,  1724. 

177.  Sarah,  born  January  5,  1726. 

178.  Hannah,     born  May   16,  1729;    married,   January  29,  1758,    Abel 

Gushing,  of  Hingham. 

179.  Anna,  born  May  8,  1731;  married,  Dec.  15,  1747,  Jabez  Bursley. 

180.  Joanna,  born  June  4,  1735;  died  August  7,  1785. 

181.  Joanna. 

[82]  JAMES  HAMBLEN, +  {Brother  of  Ruth,)  born  in  Barnstable 
July  17,  16h»6;  and  married  Mary  C . 

His  children  were: 

182.  Silas,  born  April  15,  1722. 

183.  Caleb,  born  February  8,  1723-4. 

184.  Deborah,  January  19,  1726-7.     Not  married. 

185.  Benjamin,   born  January  1,  1730;  died,  Lee,  Massachusetts,    1798. 

186.  David,  born  January  11,  1732;  died  at  sea,  1750. 

187.  Hannah,  born  August  30,  1735.     Not  married. 

188.  Job,  born  1736. 

189.  Mary;  married  Joseph  Hatch,  of  Falmouth. 

31  John  and  William  Crocker,  brothers,  were  among  the  early  settlers  of  Barn- 
s  table.  William  came  with  Mr.  Lotlirop  October  31,  16;?9,  and  John  the  following 
spring.  The  latter  left  no  family,  except  his  widow.  Dea.  William  Crocker  joined  Mr. 
Lothrop's  church  in  Seituate  December  25,  1636 ;  was  one  of  the  leading  men ;  married 
first,  Alice,  who  was  the  mother  of  his  children,  and  living  in  1683;  married  second.  Pa- 
tience, widow  of  Robert  Parker,  and  daughter  of  Elder  Henry  Cobb.  He  died  in  the 
fall  of  1692,  aged  about  eighty  years,  will  dated  September  6,  1692,  proved  October  19, 
1692.  He  descended  from  an  old  English  family ;  an  old  distich  records  that,  "  Cros- 
ker.  Crews  and  Copplestone,  when  the  Conqueror  came,  were  at  home."  The  family 
seat  was  in  Devon.  It  is  claimed  that  John  and  William  Crocker  came  over  in  16:34,  and 
stopped  a  short  time  in  Roxbury,  before  going  to  Seituate.  Children  of  William :  John, 
Elizabeth,  Samuel,  Job,  Joshua,  Eloazer  and  Joseph.  Dea.  Job  Crocker, «  son  of  Wil- 
liam, born  March  9,  1644-5 ;  married  first,  November,  1668,  Mary,  daughter  of  Rev.  Thomas 
Walley ;  born  in  London,  August  18. 1644,  and  died  1676 ;  he  married  second,  July  19,  1680. 
Hannah,  daughter  of  Richard  Taylor,  of  Yarmouth  ;  he  died  March.  1718-9;  his  children: 
Samuel,  Thomas,  Mary,  John,  Hannah,  Elizabeth,  Sarah,  Job,  David.  Thankful.  Sam- 
uel Crocker."  son  of  Dea.  Job,*  born  May  15,  1671.  Married,  December  10,  1696,  Sarah, 
daughter  of  Robert  Parker.  She  died  1718;  he  married  second,  April  12,1719,  Judith 
Loavit ;  by  his  first  wife,  he  had  thirteen  children,  the  first  of  whom,  Samuel,  married 
Ruth  Hamblen,  as  stated.— [Otis  Papers.] 


FOURTH  GENERATION.  1*5 

[88]     SOLOMON  HAMBLEN*  {Jonathan, "^  James;^  James,^  )  born  in 
Barnstable,  Massachusetts,  December  o,  1705;  married,  October, 
1735,  Rebecca  Taylor,  of  Yarmouth. 
Child: 

190.  Hannah,  born  .July  31,  1737. 

[90]  PRI8CILLA  HAMBLEN,4  (xS'/s/er  q/'xS'o/omon,)  born  in  Barn- 
stable July  13,  1709;  married  June  5,  1740,  Captain  Simeon,  son 
of  Joseph  and  Mary  (Claghorn)  Davis, s^  born  in  Barnstable, 
January  19,  1683,  his  second  wife.  He  was  a  prominent  man, 
a  militia  officer.  She  died  April,  1751. 
Children: 

191.  Mary,  born  February  28,  1741-2. 

192.  Content,  born  March  23,  1743-4. 

193.  Priscilla,  born  February  17,  1745-6. 

194.  Joseph,  baptized  July  17,  1748. 

[91]     ZACCHEUS    HAMBLEN,*    {Brother   of  Solomon,)    born    in 
Barnstable,   June  17,  1711;  married,  July  29,  1736,  Mary   Lom- 
bard. 33    He  was  lost  at  sea. 
Children: 


195. 

Timothy 

196. 

Jabez. 

197. 

Solomon, 

198. 

Josiah. 

199, 

Priscilla. 

200. 

Esther. 

201. 

Joanna. 

202. 

Martha. 

203. 

Sarah, 

Married  Jacob  Howes. 
Married  Hallett. 


[92]     JABEZ   HAM'B'L¥JSl,i  {Brother  of  Solomon.)   born  in   Barnsta- 
ble, baptized  July  13,  1718;  resided  in  Barnstable. 
Children,  probably  born  in  Barnstable. 

204.  Timothy,  born  1738. 

205.  James,  born  1741. 
Perhaps  others, 

[93]  JONATHAN  HAMBLEN,*  {Brother  of  Solomon,)  born  in 
Barnstable,  Massachusetts;  baptized  July  13,  1718;  married, 
December  12,  1744,  Thankful  Bumpas.^^ 


32  Son  of  John  Davis,'  Dolar.i    See  Note  .5, 

33  Thomas  and  Bernard  Lombard  came  from  Tenterdon,  Kent,  England,  to  Dor- 
chester, 1630.  thence  to  Scituate,  and  wore  in  Barnstable  16:!9.  The  name  is  spoiled  var- 
iously: Lombard,  Lumbard,  Lambard,  Lambert,  Lumbert  and  Lumber.— [Otis  Papers. 1 

34  Kdward  Bompasse  came  over  in  the  Fortune,  arrived  at  Plymouth  November 
20,  1621.    The  name  is  probably  of  French  origin,  similar  to  the  English  name  Good- 


106  THE  HAMLIN  FAMILY. 

Children,  probably  born  in  Barnstable: 

206.  Thankful,  born  April  18,  1747;  married,  February  28,  1781,  James 

West,  of  Barnstable. 

207.  Jonathan,  born  March  22,  1749. 

208.  Tabitha,  born  January  14,  1751. 

209.  Content,  born  May  6,  1753;  died  February  22,  1776. 

[94]  SARAH  HAMBLEN, 1  (Sister  of  Solomon,)  born  in  Barnstable, 
and  baptized  July  13,  1718.  It  is  supposed  she  married,  April  8,^ 
1736,  David  Smith,  but  there  were  two  named  Sarah  Hamblen 
married  in  Barnstable  in  1736.  (See  Sarah, +  Joseph, 3  Eleazer,2 
James.  1) 

[95]  (.'APTAIN  JOSIAH  YIXU^IA'S,^  {Brother  of  Solomon.)  hoYVk 
in  Barnstable,  October  15,  1720.  Married  November  27,  1746, 
Deborah  Parker,  born  1720.  This  notice  of  him  appears  in 
Freeman's  History  of  Cape  Cod:  "  It  was  voted  that  a  commit- 
tee for  every  town  be  appointed  to  desire  the  military  oflficers, 
that  they  will  no  longer  hold  commissions  under  the  present 
Captain  General,  who  is  appointed  to  reduce  us  to  obedience, 
&c.  *  *  *  Among  those  who  resigned  early  were  *  *  * 
Captain  Josiah  Hamblen." 
Both  died  in  Barnstable;  he  March  1,   1789,  she  November  10,    1786. 

COPY  OF  WILL  OF  .TOSIAH  HAMBLIN. 

In  the  name  of  God,  Amen,  the  twenty  sixth  day  of  September  one 
thousand  seven  hundred  &  eighty  seven.  I,  .Josiah  Hamblen  of  Barn- 
stable in  the  county  of  Barnstable  being  advanced  in  years  but  of 
sound  &  disposing  mind  &  memory,  calling  to  mind  the  mortality  of 
my  body  and  knowing  it  is  appointed  for  all  men  once  to  die,  do  make 
&  ordain  this  my  last  Will  &  Testament,  first  of  all  I  give  &  recom- 
mend my  soul  into  the  hands  of  God  that  gave  it,  and  my  body  I  com- 
mit to  the  earth  to  be  decently  buried  at  the  discretion  of  my  executors 
hereafter  named,  and  as  to  my  worldly  estate  I  give,  devise  and  dis- 
jwse  of  the  same  as  followeth. 

Imprimis.  I  give,  devise  &  befjueath  to  my  son  Isaac  Hamblen  and 
to  his  heirs  &  assigns  forever  my  dwelling  house  in  which  my  said  son 
now  dwells.  I  also  give  to  my  said  son  Isaac  the  whole  of  my  armour 
with  the  appurtenances  and  my  silver  watch. 

Item.  I  give,  devise  and  bequeath  to  my  son  David  Hamblen  and 
to  his  heirs  and  assigns  forever,  my  dwelling  house  in  which  I  now 
dwell.  I  also  give  to  my  said  son  David  one  bed  &  furniture  and  my  desk. 

Item.  I  give  to  my  daughter  Ruth  Bearse,  one  quarter  part  of  my 
indoor  household  furniture  not  before  given  away. 

Item.  I  give  to  my  daughter  Deborah  Merchant  one  other  quarter  part 
of  indoor  household  furniture  in  like  manner  as  to  my  daughter  Ruth. 


speed.  The  Barnstable  family  are  supposed  to  descend  from  Thomas,  youngest  son  of 
the  Pilgrim,  who  is  supposed  to  be  the  father  of  Thankful,  who  married  .Jonathan 
Hamblen.— [Otis  Papers.] 


FOITRTH  GENERATION.  107 

Item.  I  give  to  luy  daughter  ilercy  Hamblen  the  remaining  half  of 
my  indoor  household  furniture  and  a  privilege  to  live  in  my  now  dwel- 
ling house  so  long  as  she  shall  live  single  &  unmarried  and  firewood 
sufficient  for  her  own  use  during  her  single  state.  I  also  give  to  my 
said  daughter  Mercy  one  cow. 

Item.  I  give,  devise  and  bequeath  to  my  two  sons  Isaac  Hamblen 
&  David  Hamblen  and  to  their  heirs  and  assigns  forever  all  the  re- 
mainder of  my  estate  both  real  &  personal  of  every  sort  and  kind  not 
before  given  away  to  be  equally  divided  between  them,  they  paying  all 
my  just  debts  funeral  charge  and  the  charge  of  settling  my  estate. 

Lastly,  I  do  hereby  appoint  my  two  sons  Isaac  Hamblen  and  David 
Hamblin  my  executors  to  this  my  last  will  &  testament  and  I  do  hereby 
revoke  and  disanul  all  other  wills  be  me  heretofore  made  ratifying  & 
confirming  this  &  this  only  to  be  my  last  will  &  testament. 

In  witness  whereof  I  have  hereunto  set  my  hand  &  seal  the  day  & 
year  first  above  written. 

.lOSIAH  HAMBLIN     (Seal) 

Signed  sealed  published  and 

declared   by  the  said  Josiah 

Hamblin  to  be  his  last  Will 

&  Testament  in  presence  of 

us  witnesses. 

JOSEPH  COBB. 

JABEZ  hinckle:y. 

ISAAC  LOTHROP. 

Children,  probably  born  in  Barnstable: 

210.  Isaac,  Born  October  4,  1750. 

211.  David. 

212.  Ruth.     Married  Levi  Bearce. 

213.  Deborah.     Married  H.  Nish  Merchant. 

214.  Mercy,  born  1754,  died  August  4,  17.S9. 

[96]  EBENEZER  HAMBLIN,4  {Ebenezer;^  Jrnnes,^  James,^)  born 
in  Barnstable,  March  is,  l()9S-9. 
We  have  but  little  account  of  his  wife  and  children.  One  Ebenezer 
whose  wife  was  named  Prudence  had  children,  John  and  Israel,  bap- 
tized in  Barnstable,  Septembers,  1721.  His  father  and  some  of  his 
brothf  rs  we  have  seen  removed  to  Sharon,  Connecticut,  about  1740, 
and  some  of  the  children  of  his  brothers  Thonjas  and  Isaac,  are  known 
to  have  settled  in  Berkshire  county,  Massachusetts.  The  earliest  re- 
cord of  the  family  in  Alford  is  in  the  Shamenon  purchase  in  175«, 
when  certain  Stockbridge  Indians  conveyed  their  lands  to  certain  per- 
sons, among  whom  were  Ebenezer  and  Jolin  Hamlin, 35  who  we  sup- 
pose were  Ebenezer,^  above,   and  perhaps  his  son  John.      Ebenezer 


35  Copy  of  Deed— Know  all  men  by  those  presents  that  we  John  Poph-ne-hon- 
muknook,  Peter  Poph-fun-nan-peet,  .Johoiakim  Yoakin,  Gaac  We-naum-poet,  (Indians) ; 
all  of  Stockbridge  in  consideratit)n  of  £20  to  us  in  hand  paid  have  given  grant- 
ed and  conveyed  and  do  hereby  give  grant  and  convey  to  the  persons  hereafter  men- 
tioned a  certain   tract  of  land  lying  and  situated  in  the  County  of  Hampshire ;  bounded 


108  THE  HAMLIN  FAMILY. 

Hainlin  resided  at  Alford  Village  where  the  site  of  his  house  is  still 
known,  in  the  fork  of  the  road,  a  little  south  of  the  Union  Meeting- 
house. A  road  beginning  at  his  house  leading  to  West  Stockbridge 
Center,  was  laid  out  in  1763.  A  more  recent  house  erected  by  the  Ham- 
lins  over  a  century  ago  on  the  same  site  was  taken  down  September, 
1893,  by  Frank  Kline,  who  purchased  it  of  its  owner,  John  H.  Tuttle, 
and  set  up  the  frame  for  a  dwelling  two  lots  south  of  its  old  location. 

April  20,  1762,  Ebenezer  Hamlin  sold  to  Phineas  Nash  sixty-two 
acres  of  the  Shamenou  purchase;  and  on  the  same  day  sold  to  Jacob 
Newcomb  for  80  pounds,  one  half  of  lot  23,  beginning  at  the  west  end 
of  the  lot  and  extending  eastward  to  the  middle  of  Long  Pond. 

September  18,  1762,  John  Hamlin  sold  to  Obidiah  Scott  sixty-three 
acres  north  of  the  Green  River  and  west  of  Sheffield. 

November  5,  1763,  Ebenezer  Hamlin  sold  to  John  two  and  one-half 
acres  of  land  at  the  west  end  of  lot  23. 

June  27,  1763,  Ebenezer  Hamlin,  Jr.,  sold  to  Noah  and  Anthony 
Haskins  150  acres  of  land  in  the  Shamenon  purchase  northeast  of 
John  Hamlin's  land,  and  on  April  25,  1765,  Ebenezer  Hamlin,  Jr.,  of 
Farmington,  Connecticut,  sold  to  Philip  Case,  the  westerly  part  of  lot 
23,  beginning  at  the  middle  of  Long  Pond  to  the  west  end  of  the  lot; 
also  a  house  and  barn  on  said  lot.  The  name  of  Ebenezer  Hamlin,  Sr., 
and  Ebenezer  Hamlin,  Jr.,  appear  frequently  in  the  Alford  records. 
Ebenezer,*  was  son  of  Dea.  Ebenezer,  and  could  have  been  called 
Junior;  but  we  inclined  to  the  theory  that  he  had  a  son  Ebenezer,'*  who 
removed  to  Farmington,  Connecticut. 

Children: 

215.  John,  baptized  September  3,  1721,  Barnstable. 

216.  Israel,  baptized  September  3,  1721,  Barnstable. 

217.  Ebenezer. 
Probably  others. 

as  follows:  East  on  Sheffield,  South  oa  Indiaa  la  ad,  where  Joha  Van  Guilder  and  An- 
drew Kamer  now  live ;  West  on  land  lately  to  Robert  Noble  and  others  called  Noble- 
towu,  and  to  extend  north  as  far  as  the  northwest  corner  of  said  Nobletown ;  to  run 
east  over  to  the  Stockbridge  west  line.  And  we  John,  Peter  and  the  rest  do  by  this 
instrument  hereby  sell  and  convey  said  land  to  Ebenezer  Baldwin,  Aaron  Loomis,  Josiah 
Phelps,  Jr.,  Benjamin  Tremain,  Samuel  Colver,  Samuel  Welch,  David  Winchell,  Samuel 
Younglove,  Mary  Shaw,  William  Webb,  Noah  Blandin,  Timothy  Hopkins,  Jonathan 
Welch,  Robert  Jaynes,  Samuel  Winchell,  Jonathan  Willard,  William  Jaynes,  Gideon 
Chubb,  Ebenezer  Smith,  Aaron  Sheldon,  Philip  Smith,  Israel  Taylor,  Andrew  Van  Guil- 
der, Joseph  Van  Guilder,  Jacob  Van  Guilder,  Hezekiah  Winchell,  Timothy  Woodbridge, 
Stephen  Kelsey,  Ebenezer  Hamlin,  John  Hamlin,  Ebenezer  Warner,  Eliat-ha  Rew,  Elna- 
than  Bronson,  Robert  Watson,  Anthony  Haskins,  Micha  Haskins,  Abel  Kelsey,  Stephen 
Kelsey,  Jr.,  Jonah  Fortin,  Simon  Cook. — Given  under  our  hands  and  seal  at  Stockbridge 
this  Twenty  Ninth  day  of  October  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  One  Thousand  Seven  Hundred 
and  Fifty  Six. 

Received  and  recorded  in  the  Proprietors  Records  of  the  Shamenon  purchase. 

Note— This  land  was  partially  in  the  present  towns  of  Egremont  and  Alford.  The 
land  of  the  last  mentioned  thirteen  persons  is  now  in  Alford.  At  a  meeting  of  the  Pro- 
prietors September  13,  1757.  John  Hamlin,  Elnathan  Bronson  and  Daniel  Kelsey  were 
appointed  a  committee  to  prosecute  any  person  found  trespassing  on  said  land.  John 
Hamlin  and  Elnathan  Bronson  were  appointed  a  committee  to  pay  the  Indians  and  take 
security  for  the  proprietors. 


FOURTH  GENERATION.  109 

[97]     MARCY  HAMLIN, 4  {Brother  of  Ebenezer,)  born  in  Barnstable, 
Massachusetts,  September  10,  1700;  baptized  September  7,  1701. 
Married,    April   18,    1728,    Experience  Johnson,   of  Rochester, 
Massachusetts. 
Children: 

218.  William,  born  August  2(5,  1729. 

219.  Thomas,  born  November  l;^,  1738. 
Probably  others. 

[98]  HOPESTILL  HAMLIN,^  (Sisfer  of  Ebenezer,)  born  in  Barn- 
stable, Massachusetts,  July  28,  1702;  baptized  July  80,  1702. 
Married  first,  November  27, 1729,  Jonathan  Hunter,  at  Rochester, 
Massachusetts;    second,  John   Pardee,  of  Sharon,  Connecticut. 

[99]     CORNELIUS  HAMLIN,^  {Blather  of  Ebenezer,)  born  in  Barn- 
stable,   Massachusetts,   June   13,    1701.     Married,    1780,  at  Col- 
chester, Connecticut,  Mary  Mudge.     He  afterwards  resided  in 
Sharon,  Connecticut. 
Children: 

220.  Cornelius,  born  1731,  Colchester. 

221.  Cornelius,  born  September  2"),  1738,  Sharon. 

222.  Mary,  born  Februaiy  25,  173o;  m.,  March  13,  1750,  Richard  Treat. 
228.  Ruth,  born  December  2,  1786;  m.,  March  18,  175.5,  Timothy  Treat. 
224.     Abigail,  born  October  8,  1738. 

[100]  THOMAS  HAMLIN,4  {Brother  of  E/miezer,)  born  in  Barn- 
stable May  6,  1710.  Married  first,  December  10,  1734,  Ruth 
Gibbs,  ofAgawam;  second,  May  21,1755,  Mary  Crowell,  of 
Albany,  New  York. 
The  date  of  his  removal  from  Barnstable,  and  the  places  of  his  resid- 
ence are  not  well  known.  The  fact  that  he  married  a  wife  of  Aga- 
wani,  and  another  of  Albany,  shows  that  he  did  not  remain  always  in 
the  same  place.  It  is  known  that  his  father  sold  his  farm  at  Hamblin's 
Plains  to  Col.  Gorham,  and  that  he  afterwards  married  a  second  wife 
in  Rochester,  Mass-achusetts,  in  I72i),  that  his  brother  Isaac  was  in 
Wareham  in  1H40,  in  Sharon,  Connecticut  in  1742  and  that  his  father 
died  in  Sharon  in  1755.  John,  son  of  Thomas,  died  in  Sharon,  in  1750. 
It  is  supposed  that  Dea.  Ebenezer  Hamblen, :^  and  his  sons  Tliomas  and 
Isaac  were  in  Sharon  about  17. 0,  perhaps  earlier,  where  they  all  resid- 
ed, and  it  is  believed,  died  there.  The  places  of  birth  of  his  children 
is  not  positively  known,  but  it  is  probable  that  he  left  Barnstable  be- 
fore his  marriage,  and  resided  in  some  other  place,  where  liis  elder  chil- 
dren were  born,  prior  to  settling  in  Sharon.  The  dates  of  deatlis  of 
himself  and  w  ives  have  not  been  ascertained.  One  R'cord  indicates' 
that  his  daughter,  Zilpha,  may  have  married  a  Mr.  Swift,  l)Ul  it  is  not 
positive.  Mrs.  Hazen,  living  in  1S94,  says,  that  her  grandfatlier,  Jabez 
Hamlin,''  had  a  sister   who  married  Dr.  Hulburt,  of  Alford,  Massachu- 


110  THE  HAMLIN  FAMILY. 

setts.  It  is  known  that  Dr.  John  Hulbiirt  was  the  first  physician  in 
Alford,  and  tliat  his  wife  was  named  Marcia  Hamlin.  From  these 
facts  we  suppose  tliat  the  fiftli  child  of  Tliomas  Hamlin  was  named 
Marcia,  not  Mary.  The  fact  that  his  youngest  daughter  was  named 
Polly — equivalent  of  Mary,  corroborates  this  theory. 

One  record  gives  the  name  of  his  tenth  child  as  James,  not  Jonah. 

Children,  by  first  wife:  ^  ,  ^_ 

225.  Jabez,  born  July  17,  1735.  ^-D  Ixci^cJ'-i^  f-^-^fV' 

226.  Amasa,  born  July  21,  1787. 

227.  Nathaniel,  born  January  7,  1789. 

228.  Zilpha,  born  July  22,  1741;  died  February  20,  1750. 

229.  Marcia  or  Mary,  born  July  17,  1743. 

230.  Ruth,  born  July  3,  1745. 

231.  Thomas,  born  July  24,  1747,  Sharon. 

232.  John,  born  June  25,  1749;  died  February  13,  1750,    Sharon,  Conn. 

233.  Asa,  born  January  14,  1754. 
Children,  by  second  wife: 

234.  Jonah, 36  born  October  12,  1757.     Called  James  in  one  record. 

235.  Lewis,  born  July  31,  1759. 

236.  Polly. 

[101]     ISAAC  HAMLIN,!  {Brother  of  Ebenezer,)  born  in  Barnstable, 
July   1,  1714.     Married  Mary  Gibbs,  born  in  Plymouth,   Janu- 
ary 12,  1718,  publislied  to  be  married,  September  24,  1737. 
It  is  not  known  when   he  removed  from  Barnstable,  but  his  eldest 
child  was  born  in  Wareham,  Massachusetts,  and  the  others  in  Sharon 
Connecticut;  and  he  died  in  Springfield,  Massachusetts,  in  1805,  which 
gives  some  knowledge  of  his  several  places  of  residence. 
Children: 

237.  Seth,  born  September  9,  1740. 

238.  Isaac,  born  January  10,  1742. 

239.  Perez,  born  February  3,  1748. 

240.  John,  born  March  21,  1750. 

241.  Jehial,  October  2,  1751. 

242.  Jesse,  born  December  17,  1753. 

243.  (Jyreneus,  born  August  5,  1755. 

244.  Mercy,   born  September  8,  1757;   m.  Raphael  Porter,  Paris,   N.  Y. 

245.  Asa,  born  September  23,  1759. 


36  There  were  many  cases  of  discipline  at  Sharon,  and  the  church  was  convened 
to  settle  many  curious  questions.  For  example,  on  February  16,  1781,  the  "  C^^  was 
legally  convened  to  vote  whether  y®  four  shillings  which  Jonah  Hamlen,  who  paid  four 
shillings  in  order  to  procure  an  evidence  in  a  case  depending  in  y^  C'^",  was  in  our 
opinion  fully  compensated  by  y^  use  of  an  horse  which  he  had  of  John  Everett.  Voted 
in  the  affirmative."  But  this  decision  gave  trouble.  Mary  Hamlen  (her  relationship  to 
Jonah  does  not  appear),  being  called  to  account  for  non-attendance  on  ordinances,  gave 
as  a  reason  her  dissatisfaction  with  this  matter  of  the  four  shillings ;  and  the  church 
does  not  seem  to  have  had  sufficient  confidence  in  its  own  award  to  prosecute  her  fur- 
ther. People  seem  to  have  stayed  away  from  church  a  century  ago  for  quite  as  trivial 
reasons  as  avail  to-day, — conscience,  again,  no  doubt. 


FOURTH  GENERATION.  Ill 

1102]     LEWIS   KAMhK^,i  (Brother  of  menezer,)  born  in  P.arnsta- 
ble,    January  31,    171S-lfl;    married    April   12,   1739,    Experi- 
ence (170),  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Mary  (Hincl<ley)  Jenkins, 
born  in  Barnstable  December  4,  1722. 
From  the  dates  and  places  of  births  of  their  children  we  have  a  good 
idea  of  their  several  places  of  residence.     Aroused  in  the  night  by   the 
:great  earthquake  of  November,  1755,  he  arose  and  went   about  in   his 
night  clothes,  and  contracted  a  severe  cold,  and  died  from  quick   con- 
sumption at  Barnstable,    December,  17i5.     About  1763  his  widow   and 
younger  children  transferred   their  residence  to   Wellfleet,  where   her 
sons,   Nathaniel,  Lewis  and   Perez,  were  for  some  years  boat  builders. 
She  died  in  Wellfleet,  November  24,  1794. 
Children: 

246.  Sarah,    born  January  3,  174J,    Barnstable;  probably  died   young. 

247.  Nathaniel,  born  November  20,  1741,  Lebanon,  Connecticut. 

248.  Lewis,  born  December  19,  1743,  Lebanon,  Connecticut. 

249.  Sarah,  born  December  17,  17  to,  Barnstable. 

250.  Alary,   born  December  16,  1747,  Barnstable;  probably  died  young. 

251.  Philemon,    born  April  2,  1751,    Barnstable;  probably   died  young. 

252.  Mercy,  born  March  25,  1753,  Barnstable;  probably  died  young. 

253.  Perez,  born  September  26,  1755,  Barnstable. 

[103]     SYLVANUS    IlA^lBI.K^,i  (E/h(nah;Krames,2  James.^)   born 
in   Barnstable,  July  20,  1712;   married  April   24,  1741,    Dorcas 
Fish,  of  Falmouth. 
Children : 

254.  Sylvanus,  baptized  October  11,  1741. 
265.     Simeon,  baptized  June  17,  1744. 

256.  Patience,  baptized  October  25,  1745. 

257.  Barnabas,  baptized  April  26,  1747. 

258.  Rachael,  baptized  June  2,  1751. 

[104]  REUBEN  HAMBLEN, i  (Brother  of  Sylvanus,)  born  in  Barn- 
.stable  March  13,  1714;  married  May  20,  1739,  his  cousin  Hope 
Hamblen  (131).  Both  died  in  Barnstable;  he  1754,  she  1762. 
The  following  inscription  is  upon  the  gravestone  of  their  eld- 
est child:  "  Elkahah  Hamblen,  son  of  Mr.  Reuben  Hambleu, 
died  April  ye  19th  1750  in  ye  tenth  year  of  his  age." 

COPY  OF  WILL  OF  REUBEN  HAMBLEN. 

In  the  Name  of  God,  Amen,  I  Reuben  Hamblen,  of  Barnstable  in 
the  County  of  Barnstable,  Yeoman,  being  weak  of  body  and  apprehen- 
sion of  death  approaching  I  think  it  good  to  sett  my  hou.se  in  order.  I 
do  this  22d  day  of  April  make  and  ordain  this  my  last  will  and  testa- 
ment and  first  I  give  and  betiueath  my  soul  to  God  that  gave  it  hoping 
to  find  mercy  with  God  through  Jesus  Christ  and  as  to  the  worldly 
^ood  things  that  God   hath  graciously  bestowed  upon  me  my  \\ill  ia 


112  THE  HAMLIN  FAMILY. 

that  they  shall  be  disposed  off  in  the  following  manner.  First  my  will 
is  that  all  my  just  debts  and  my  funeral  charges  be  paid  by  my  Execu- 
tors hereafter  named  out  of  my  personal  estate. 

Item.  I  give  and  bequeath  to  my  loving  wife  Hope  all  my  real  and 
personal  estate  excepting  was  in  possession  and  improvement  of  my 
father  to  be  improved  by  my  wife  during  the  time  she  shall  remain  my 
widow  and  if  she  marry  then  to  have  only  two  thirds  of  the  household 
stuff  and  utensils  within  doers  and  but  one  third  of  the  silver 
spoons. 

Item.  I  give  to  my  son  Benjamin  all  my  estate  real  and  personal 
that  is  in  my  father's  possession  or  improvement  of  every  kind  whatso- 
ever he  paying  the  Legacies  that  will  become  due  and  payable  within 
about  a  year  after  my  father's  death.  And  also  to  pay  to  my  daughter 
Abigail  eight  pounds  in  lawful  money  within  three  years  after  he  shall 
come  into  the  possession  of  the  estate  given  to  him  which  is  in  my 
father's  possession  and  also  to  pay  to  my  daughter  Hannah  eight 
pounds  lawful  money  within  seven  years  after  he  shall  come  into  pos- 
session of  said  estate  he  to  hold  the  estate  as  above  to  him  his  heirs  and 
assigns  forever. 

Item.  I  give  to  my  two  sons  Samuel  and  Thomas  all  my  real  estate 
which  is  given  to  my  wife  to  improve  until  marriage  or  death,  they  to 
possess  it  after  her  and  to  hold  it  to  them  their  heirs  and  assigns  for- 
ever, and  also  I  give  them  the  said  Samuel  and  Thomas  all  the  per- 
sonal estate  that  my  wife  shall  leave  when  she  shall  (juit  the  real  estate, 
That  is  to  say  the  out  doers  jjersonal  estate. 

Item.  I  give  and  bequeath  to  my  daughter  Abigail  eight  pounds 
lawful  money  to  be  paid  to  her  by  my  son  Benjamin  as  is  expressed 
above. 

Item.  I  give  and  bequeath  to  my  daughter  Hannah  eight  pounds 
lawful  money  to  be  paid  her  by  my  son  Benjamin  as  is  expressed 
above. 

Item.  I  give  to  my  two  daughters  Abigail  and  Hannah  four  silver 
spoons  and  also  one  1  bird  of  the  indoor  household  stuff  in  case  my  wife 
shall  marry  and  leave  it. 

Item.  I  appoint  constitute  and  ordain  my  beloved  wife  Hope  and 
my  true  and  faithful  friend  Thomas  Crocker  my  Executors  to  this  my 
last  will  and  testament  revoking  all  other  walls  and  confirming  this. 

In  witness  whereof  I  have  hereunto  set  to  my  hand  and  seal  this 
twenty  second  day  of  April  Annoque  Domini  1754. 

Signed  sealed  ijronounced  and  declared  by  the  said  Reuben  Ham- 
blen to  be  my  last  will  and  testament. 

REUBEN  HAMBLIN.     L.  S. 
In  presence  of 

BENJAMIN  HAMBLEN 
MEHETABLE  HAMBLEN 
DAVID  PARKER 


FOURTH  GENERATION.  113 

WILL  OF  HOPE,   WIDOW  OF  REUBEN  HAMBLEN. 

In  the  Name  of  God,  Amen.  I  Hope  Hamblen,  of  Barnstable  ia 
the  County  of  Barnstable,  widow,  being  sensible  of  my  own  mortality- 
being  by  goodness  of  sound  and  disposing  mind  and  memory  do  this 
10th  day  of  June  A  D  1762  make  and  ordain  this  my  last  will  and  testa- 
ment and  first  of  all  [  commit  my  soul  to  God  in  Jesus  Christ  my  body 
I  commit  to  the  earth  to  be  buried  in  decent  Christian  burial  at  the 
discretion  of  my  executor  hereafter  named  and  as  touching  such  world- 
ly estate  with  which  it  hath  pleased  God  to  bless  me  in  this  life  I  dis- 
pose of  the  same  in  the  following  way  and  manner  that  is  to  say  firstly 
my  will  is  that  all  my  just  debts  and  funeral  charges  be  paid  out  of  my 
out  doors  moveables  by  my  Executor  hereafter  nanaed. 

Item.  I  give  and  bequeath  to  my  son  Benjamin  Hamblen  the  great 
coat  that  was  my  late  husband's. 

Item.  I  give  my  two  other  sons  Elemuel  Hamblen  and  Thomas 
Hamblen  all  my  out  doors  moveables  after  the  debts  and  funeral 
charges  are  paid  as  above  ordered,  and  also  a  gun  and  a  coat  to  be 
equally  divided  between  them. 

Item.  I  give  to  my  daughter  Abigail  Hamblen  all  my  flax  wool 
and  yarn. 

Item.  I  give  to  my  said  daughter  Abigail  Hamblen  and  my  daugh- 
ter Hannah  Hamblen  all  the  rest  of  my  estate  of  what  kind  soever,  to 
be  equally  divided  between  them  and 

Lastly  my  will  is  and  I  do  by  these  presents  constitute  make  and 
ordain  Mr.  Benjamin  Crocker  of  Barnstable  aforesd  Executor  of  this 
my  Last  will  and  testament,  and  I  do  hereby  wholly  revoke  and  utter- 
ly disallow  all  other  and  former  wills  and  testament  and  executors  by 
me  named,  ratifying  and  confirming  this  and  no  other  to  be  my  last 
will  and  testament. 

In  witness  whereof  I  have  hereunto  set  my  hand  and  seal  the  day 
and  year  above  mentioned.  Signed  sealed  pronounced  published  and. 
declared  by  the  said  Hope  Hamblen  to  be  her  last  will  and  testament 
in  presence  of 

JOHN  HAMBLEN 
MEHITABLE   HAMBLEN 
NYMPHAS  MARSTON 

HOPE  HAMBLEN.     L.  S. 

Children,  born  in  Barnstable: 

259.  Elkanah,  born  June  1,  1740;  died  April  19,  1750. 

260.  Benjamin,  born  May  7,  1742;  unmarrried;  went  to  England. 

261.  Abigail,   born  February  2.3,    1743;  m.,  December  11,  1765,    Lemuel 

How  land,  of  Sandwich. 

262.  Lenuiel,  born  April  4,  1746. 

263.  Thomas,  born  September  26,  1748. 

264.  Hannah,  born  August  4,  1758. 


114  THE  HAMLIN  FAMILY. 

[106]  JOHN  HAMBLEN, 1  {Brother  of  Sylonnus,)  born  in  Barnsta- 
ble, November  2,  1717;  married,  January  23,  1740,  Jerusha 
Hamblen, 1  (1-12).  He  is  mentioned  in  the  will  of  liis  uncle 
John  Hamblen, 3  (44),  dated  April  10,  1734. 

Children : 

265.  John,  born  June  16,  1743. 

266.  Lydia,  born  October  21,  1746. 

267.  Tabitha,  baptized  December  15,  1750. 

268.  Reuben,  baptized  October,  1756. 

[113]  JABEZ  LEWES,4  {Ej-perlence,^  John?  James\)  born  in  Barn- 
stable about  l(i9S;  married,  February  27,  1723-4,  Sarah  Lincoln, 
of  Harwich;  he  joined  tlie  chuich  in  Harwich,  January  23, 
1727;  died  April  6,  17.32. 

Childi'en,  born  in  Harwich: 

269.  Thomas,  born  December  22,  1724. 

270.  Sarah,  born  March  4,  1727-8. 

271.  Jabez,  baptized  June  23,  1730. 

[115]  ELNATHAN  LEWES,*  {Brother  of  Jahez,)  born  in  Yar- 
mouth, August  27,  1702;  married  October  16,  1735,  Priscilla, 
daughter  of  Benjamin  and  Sarah  (Cobb)  Bearse,3  7  born  in 
Barnstable  June  5,  1713;  he  resided  at  West  Yarmouth;  died 
June  19,  1782. 

Children: 

272.  Benjamin,  born  September  19,  1737. 

273.  Mary,  born  July  30,  1739. 

274.  Thankful,  born  April  16,  1741. 

275.  Priscilla,  born  April  16,  1742. 

276.  David,  born  July  16,  1744. 

277.  Elnathan,  born  June  3,  1746. 

278.  Antipas,  born  December  25,  1751. 

279.  Naomi,  born  February  27,  1754. 

280.  John,  born  July  23,  1756. 

[116]  ANTIPAS  LEWES,4  (^ro^Aer  of  Jabez,)  born  in  Yarmouth 
February  3,  1704-5;  married,  October  15,  1730,  Martha,  daugh- 
ter of  Benjamin  and  Sarah  (Cobb)  Bearse,3s  born  in  Barnsta- 
ble November  9,  1702.  He  resided  at  West  Yarmouth;  will 
dated  April  17,  1740;  proved  June  11,  1746. 


37  Benjamin  Be;irs3,*  Joseph,"  Austin,'  bora  in  Barnstable,  .June  21,1682;  mar- 
ried first,  February  4,  1701-2,  Sarah,  daughter  of  Samuel  Cobb;  she  died  January  14,  1742. 
Married  second,  1747,  Anna  Nickerson,  of  Chatham  ;  he  died  May  15,  1748 ;  13  children,  of 
whom  Priscilla  was  the  seventh ;  he  resided  in  Hyannis  and  was  engaged  in  the  fisheries. 

38  She  was  sister  of  Priscilla,  win  married  Elnathan  Lewi?  (n5">. 


FOURTH  GENERATION.  115 


Children: 


281.  Timothy,  born  September  (i,  17ol. 

282.  Martha,  born  June  1,  173:^. 

283.  Naomi,  born  August  6,  1734. 

284.  Sarah,  born  June  24,  173fi. 

285.  Elizabeth,  born  June  28,  1739. 

286.  Ruth,  born  April  24,  1741. 

287.  Jabez,  born  July  8,  17 13. 

288.  Sarali,  born  August  25,  1746. 

[119]  GERSHOM  HAMBI.EN,*  {menezer,3  John,^  Jnmes,i)  born  in 
Barnstable  July  19,  1713;  married,  by  Rev.  Mr.  Green,  August 
9,  1739,  to  Hannali  Almony. 

Mr.  Otis  says,  that  he  had  not  met  this  name  before,  which  was  not 
a  Barnstable  name.  David  Hamblen  says  she  came  from  Eastham. 
McLellan,  the  Gorham  genealogist,  suggests  that  the  name  was  Al- 
mory,  and  that  her  grandson,  Almery  Hamlin,  was  probably  named  in 
honor  of  her  maiden  name.  There  has  been  a  tradition,  no  small 
source  of  family  pride,  tliat  Gershom  Hamblen  served  under  General 
Wolfe,  and  was  killed  at  Quebec  in  1759;  but  the  date  of  his  death, 
although  not  accurately  known,  forbids.  The  probate  of  his  estate, 
which  was  insolvent,  shows  conclusively  that  he  died  prior  to  March 
19,  1757.  From  these  facts  it  is  not  improbable  that  he  served  and  lost 
his  life  in  some  of  those  expeditions  against  the  French  colonies  under 
the  Earl  of  Loudon,  1756-7. 

He  is  named  in  the  will  of  his  uncle,  John  Hamblen,  April  10,  1734, 
and  was  bequeatlied  in  the  will  of  his  father,  October  25,  1735:  "  All 
that  my  peace  of  upland  bought  of  Joseph  Cliilds,  &  also,  that  piece  of 
meddow  at  Broad  Sound  1  bought  of  Thomas  Phinney,  with  ye  privi- 
lege of  landing  and  drying  hay  on  ye  marsh  I  bought  of  Nathaniel 
Ewer,  not  exceeding  one  third:  Also,  I  give  to  my  said  son  as  abovesd 
the  one  half  of  my  lot  of  land  which  I  bought  of  Nathaniel  Ewer,"  &c. 

In  the  will  of  his  brother  Nathan,  July  29,1768,  is  this  item:  "I 
give  and  bequeath  to  the  heirs  of  my  brother,  Gershom  Hamblen,  de- 
ceased, one  sixth  part  of  my  real  estate,  in  like  manner,  equally  to  be 
divided  amongst  them,"  &c. 

Albert  M.  Hamlin,  Es(i.,  of  Gorham,  Maine,  says,  that  the  widow 
and  children  of  Gershom  went  from  Barnstable  to  Gorham  in  1763,  and 
in  a  sail  boat,  sailed  up  the  Presumscot  river.  He  also  states  that  Ger- 
shom was  a  fisherman.  He  may  have  been  both  a  fisherman  and  a 
shoemaker.     The  following  is  a  copy  of  the  Probate  of  his  estate: 

"Estate  of  Gershom  Hamblen  late  of  Barnstable,  deceased,  Cord- 
wainer  (shoemaker). 

Vol.     Page. 
7  —  453        Administration  granted  to  Sackville  "West  of  Barnstable, 
March  19,  A.  D.  1757. 


116  THE  HAMLIN  FAMILY. 

9   —  319        Inventory  of   Estate  returned  April  5,  1757,  by   Thomas- 
Huckins,  Robert  Davis  and  Edward  Bacon. 

Value  of    Real    Estate  £16,  13,  4 
"        "  Personal     "       £21,     0,  4 
9   —  320        List  of  debts  filed. 

9   —  321        Account  of  Sackville    West,  Physician,    accepted  and  al- 
lowed,  showing  a  balance  of  £19,   8,  2,   to  be  divided 
among  creditors. 
9   —  322        Order  passed  July  4,  175.S,  to    pay  creditors,  to  pay  13s  in 
the  pound  of  the  debts  to  them  respectively  owing." 
About  the  year  1763,  Mrs.  Hamblen,  then  a  widow,  moved  with  her 
family  to  Gorhani,  jNIaine.     Mr.  McLellan  says:  "  It  is  said  they  made 
their  first  settlement  near  the  foot  of  Fort  Hill,  on  the  road  leading  ta 
West  (xorham,  on  the  thirty-acre  lot  No.  32,  west  of  what  is  now  (1872) 
the  Motley  farm.     She  was  a  woman  of  strong  mind  and  great  energy, 
and  by  her  counsel  and  example  endeavored  to  bring  up  her  children 
to  be  good  citizens  and    honest  people;  and  by  the  record  we  are  able  to- 
show   that  her  care  and  attention  of  them  were  not  lost.     Her  name  on 
the  Barnstable  records  is  Hannah   Almony,  the  surname  should  prob- 
ably be  AlmorA'i  the  family  in  naming  the  children  seem  to  have  some- 
Avhat  changed  the  spelling  to  Almery." 

In  the  old  burying  ground  at  Gorham   village,  there   is  a   monu- 
ment with  this  inscription: 

Here  lies  the  body 
of  HANNAH  HAMBLEN 

wife  of 
GERSHOM  HAMBLEN 

of  Barnstable 

Who  died  April  14th  1797. 

Aged  77  years. 

Children,  born  in  Barnstable: 

289.  Martha,  born  May  11,  1740. 

290.  Timothy,  born  January  23,  1742-3, 

291.  Gershom,  born  September  16,  1745. 

292.  George,  born  February  3,  1750. 

293.  Hannah,  born  March  22,  1753. 

[120]  THANKFUL  HAMBLEN,*  (Sister  of  Gershom.)  born  in  Barn- 
stable August  6,  1715.  Married,  September  18,  1735,  Joseph 
Bangs,  of  Harwich,  Massachusetts.  She  is  named  in  the  will 
of  her  brother  Nathan,  dated  July  29,  1768,  as  legatee;  from 
which  it  was  supposed  she  was  then  living.  She  was  also> 
named  in  the  will  other  uncle  John,  April  10,  1734,  and  in  the 
will  of  her  father,  October  23,  1735. 

[121]  NATHAN  HAMBLEN, *  (Brof/ier  of  Gershom,)  born  in  Barn- 
stable June  29,  1717.     He  was  a  deaf  mute. 


FOURTH  GENERATION.  117 

In  the  will  of  tiis  uncle  John,  April  10,  1784,  is  tliis  item:  "  I  give  to 
my  three  deaf  cousins  (children  of  nay  brother  Ebenezer,  viz:  Natlian, 
Samuel  and  Dorcas  Hamblen)"  &c.  See  John  Hamblen, :'  (44).  He  is 
also  named  in  tlie  will  of  his  father,  October  25,  173i.  Married,  Marcli 
12,  1740,  Elizabeth  Frick;  was  a  farmer  and  resided  in  Barnstable. 
They  probably  had  no  children,  as  none  are  named  in  his  will,  dated 
July  2J),  1768,  in  which,  with  nmch  particularity,  he  names  his  various 
relatives,  to  whom  he  distributes  a  valuable  estate. 

COPY  OF  THE  WILL  OF  NATHAN  HAMBLEN. 

In  the  Name  of  God,  Amen,  this  twenty  ninth  day  of  July  in  the 
year  of  our  Lord  1768,  I  Nathan  Hamblen  of  Barnstable  in  the  County 
of  Barnstable,  Yeoman,  being  weak  in  body  and  apprehending  myself 
to  be  drawing  near  the  close  of  life,  do  make  and  ordain  this  my  Last 
Will  and  Testament  that  is  to  say:  principally  &  first  of  all  I  give  and 
<5ommend  my  soul  into  the  hands  of  that  mercyful  God  that  gave  it 
and  mj'  body  to  the  earth  in  decent  Christian  burial  at  the  discretion 
of  my  Executor  hereafter  named;  and  as  to  the  worldly  estate  that  it 
hath  pleased  God  to  bless  me  with  all  I  give  and  dispose  thereof  in  the 
manner  following  that  is  to  say: 

Imprimis:  My  will  is  that  my  just  debts  funeral  charges  &  the 
-charge  of  settling  my  estate  be  paid  by  my  executor  out  of  my  personal 
■estate  and  the  remaining  part  thereof  I  give  and  bequeath  to  my  lov- 
ing wife  Elizabeth  forever.  I  also  give  to  my  said  wife,  the  use  and 
improvement  of  all  my  real  estate  during  the  term  of  her  natural  life, 
and  after  her  decease  my  will  is  that  my  real  estate  be  disposed  of  in  the 
manner  following,  viz:  I  give  and  bequeath  to  my  brother  Ebenezer 
Hamblen  all  my  field  (as  it  is  now  enclosed)  that  lyeth  to  the  north- 
Avest  part  of  his  homestead  and  adjoyning  thereunto  after  my  said 
■wives  decease  to  him  his  heirs  and  assigns  forever. 

Item.  I  give  in  like  manner  to  my  brother  Samuel  Hamblen  his 
heirs  and  assigns  one  sixth  part  of  the  remainder  of  my  real  estate  con- 
sisting of  clear  land,  woodland,  salt  meadow  and  buildings. 

Item.  I  give  in  like  manner  to  my  brother  Daniel  Hamblen,  his 
heirs  and  assigns  one  sixth  part  of  my  real  estate. 

Item.  I  give  to  my  sister  Thankful  Bangs  her  heirs  and  assigns  in 
like  manner  one  sixth  part  of  my  real  estate. 

Item.  I  give  in  like  manner  to  my  sister  Elizabeth  Claghorn  her 
heirs  and  assigns  one  sixth  part  of  my  real  estate. 

Item.  I  give  to  the  heirs  of  my  brother  Gershom  Hamblen, 
<ieceased,  one  sixth  part  of  my  real  estate  in  like  manner  e(iually  to  be 
divided  among  them  to  them  their  heirs  and  assigns  forever.  I  also 
give  in  like  manner  the  remaining  sixth  part  of  my  real  estate  to  the 
children  of  my  sister  Dorcas  Laseley,  deceased  to  them  their  heirs  and 
assigns  forever. 

Lastly.  I  do  hen  by  appoint  my  brother.  Deacon  Ebenezer  Ham- 
iblen  sole  executor  to  this  my  last  Will  and  Testament  declaring  this  & 
iio  other  to  be  my  last  will  and  testament. 


118  THE  HAMLIN  FAMILY. 

In  witness  whereof  I  have  hereunto  set  my  hand  and  seal  the  day 
&  year  above  written. 

Signed  sealed  and  according  to  the  capacity  of  the  Testator  pub- 
lished &  declared  to  be  his  last  will  and  testament  in  presence  of  us 
witnesses. 

his  mark 
NATHAN  X  HAMBLEN     (L  S) 
&  seal. 
EBENEZER  CROCKER. 

THOMAS  HUCKINS  Jr. 
SNOW  HUCKINS. 
EDWARD  BACON. 

[122]     DEA.  EBENEZER  HAMBLEN,4  {Brother  of  Gershom,)  born 

in  Barnstable  November  2(),  1719.     Married  December  8,  1755, 

Joanna  Hamblen. 

He  joined  the  East  church  when  seventeen  years  of  age,  in  which 

he  was  chosen  deacon  July  3,  17(>5.     He  is  named  in  the  will  of  his 

uncle  John,.  April  10, 1734,  and  in  that  of  his  father,  October  25, 1735.  In 

the  will  of  his  brother  Nathan,  July  29,  1768,  he  is  named  as  a  legatee, 

and  as  executor. 

The  ancestry  of  his  wife  is  not  known.  Her  grave  is  in  the  Metho- 
dist burying  ground  in  Barnstable  and  the  slate  gravestone  bears  this 
inscription : 

In  Memory  of  Mrs. 
Jonana  Wife  of  Decon 
Ebenezer  Hamblen 
She  died  May  ye  yth 
1790  Aged  71  years. 

In  the  same  burying  ground  is  the  slate  gravestone  of  tlieir  son  with 
this  inscription: 

Here  lies  ye  Body  of 

Ebenezer  Hamlen 

Son  of  Mr  Ebenezer 

&  Mrs  Joanna  Hamlen 

Died  July  18  1765 

Aged  4  years  7 
months  &  9  days. 

He  was  dismissed  from  the  church  in   Barnstable  to  Freeport,    De- 
cember 14,  1794,  where  it  is  supposed  he  died. 
Children,  probably  born  in  Barnstable: 

294.  Joanna,    baptized  April  17,  1757;  m.,  Jan.  20,  1772,  James  Bacon. 

295.  Ebenezer,  baptized  December  14,  17(50;  died  July  18,  1765. 

[124]     SAMUEL  HAMBLEN,*  {Brother  of  Gershom,)  born  in  Barn- 
stable January  7,  1722. 
He  was  a  deaf  mute.    This  item  occurs  in  the  will  of  his  uncle  John, 
April  10,  1734:  "  I  give  to  my  three  deaf  cousins  (children  of  my  brother 


FOURTH  GENERATION.  119 

Ebenezer,  viz:  Nathan  Hanuiel  and  Dorcas  Hamblen)"  &c.  He  is  also 
named  in  the  will  of  his  father,  October  25,  ITo^,  and  in  the  will  of  his 
brother  Nathan,  July  li9,  1768.  Otis  says,  "A  Samuel  Hamblen,  Jr., 
perhaps  deaf  and  dumb  Samuel,  married  .loanna  Bumpas,  Nov.  16, 
1749,  and  had  Rebecca  Sept.  13,  1750,  and  that  he  died  early.  Another 
Samuel  married  Temperance  Lewes  Dec.  lo,  1750,  she  joined  the  East 
church  Apr.  4,  1756,  and  had  Elijah  baptized  Nov.  2H,  1756,  Temper- 
ance April  18,  1762,  and  Seth,  March  10,  1765."  &c.  McLellan,  writing 
of  Sanauel  and  Prince  Hamblen,  says:  "The  family  claim  to  be  cousins 
of  Timothy,  George  and  Gershom.  It  is  known  that  their  father  was  a 
deaf  mute,  named  Samuel,  none  seem  to  remember  the  name  of  his 
wife,  but  there  is  a  family  tradition  that  they  had  a  maternal  ancestor 
named  Lewis.  It  is  probable  that  he  came  to  Gorham  about  the  year 
1768.  Mrs.  Hamblen  died  soon  after  the  family  came  to  Gorham,  and 
it  is  said  she  was  buried  on  the  old  Prentiss  lot,  n<ar  the  place  where 
the  blacksmith  shop  of  Mr.  Albert  Lombard  stood  in  1872.  As  there 
was  no  monument  erected  to  mark  the  place,  all  marks  of  hers,  and 
other  graves  of  a  number  of  early  settlers,  are  entirely  obliterated  by 
the  plow  and  sjiade.  Mr.  Hamblen  was  alive  in  1775,  for  in  that  year 
we  find  Samuel,  and  Samuel  Jr.,  but  do  not  find  him  after  that,  which 
is  probably  near  the  time  of  his  death." 

Mr.  David  Hamblen  gives  the  record  of  his  children,  substantially 
as  we  have  them.  There  were  two  named  Samuel  Hamblen,  in  Barn- 
stable; Samuel,  son  of  Bartholomew,  born  1674,  who  appears  to  have 
died  unmarried,  and  Samuel,  son  of  Ebenezer.  It  is  not  improbable 
that  the  latter  was  married  twice  and  that  his  first  wife,  .Joanna,  died 
soon  after  the  birth  of  the  child,  Rebecca.  The  evidence  points  in  that 
direction.  "The  first  settlement  of  Samuel  Hamblen  and  his  son 
Samuel,  for  they  lived  together,  was  on  the  thirty  acre  lot,  one  range 
westerly  from  South  street,  on  the  right  hand  side  of  the  AVeeks  road, 
so  called.  This  lot  was  common  land,  and  not  numbered,  and  has 
since  been  owned  by  Mr.  Nathaniel  Gould,  but  in  1872  by  Mr.  Atkin- 
son. The  old  house  stood  at  the  head  of  the  brook,  which  we  used  to 
know  in  our  younger  days,  as  the  first,  or  Samuel  Hamblen  brook;  and 
where  is  the  man  or  boy  that  has  been  raised  at  Gorham  Village,  that 
does  not  know  where  to  find  the  first,  second  or  third  brook,  always  fam- 
ous for  little  speckled  trout?  Here  IMr.  Hamblen  and  and  his  wife  died." 

Children,  by  first  wife,  born  in  Barnstable: 
29().     Rebecca,  born  September  13,  1750. 

By  second  wife: 

297.  Tabitha;  married,  1771,  Samuel  Crockett,  of  Gorham. 

298.  Samuel,  baptized  April  11,  1753. 

299.  Ebenezer. 

300.  Elijah,  baptized  November  28,  1756;  died  in  Revolutionary  army. 

301.  Prince,  born  March  4,  1758. 

302.  Nathan;  died  at  sea,  in  Revolution;  umnarried. 

303.  Temperance,  baptized  April  is,  1762;  married,  April  5,  HiUi,  Rich- 

ai'd  Dresser,  Saco. 


120  THE  HAMLIN  FAMILY. 

304.  Seth  L.,  born  January  1,  176'). 

305.  Sarah;    married,  1787,  .loshua  Crockett,  of  Norwan. 

[125]  DORKAS  HAMBLEN, i  (Sisfer  of  Gersfiom,)  born  in  Barnsta- 
ble June  5,  1727.  A  deaf  mute.  She  is  named  in  the  will  of 
her  uncle  John,  Aj^ri"  10,  1734;  and  in  that  of  her  father,  October 
25,  173"^  In  the  will  of  her  brother  Nathan,  July  29,  1768,  is 
this  iteiu:  "  I  also  give  in  like  manner  the  remaining  sixth 
part  of  my  real  estate  to  the  children  of  my  sister  Dorcas  Case- 
ley,  deceased,"  &c.  Married,  May  17,  1749,  John  Caseley. 
There  is  evidently  a  mistake  in  the  record,  either  as  to  the 
marriage,  or  births  of  the  children;  possibly  she  was  a  second 
wife,  and  he  had  other  children. 
Children,  born  in  Barnstable. 

306.  John,  born  Febiuary  14,  1740. 

307.  Ebenezer,  born  August  12,  1744. 

308.  Mary,  born  May  28,  1749, 

309.  Seth,  born  February  21,  1751. 

310.  Isaac,  born  July  10,  1753. 

311.  Dorcas,  born  .July  8,  1755. 

312.  Eunice,  born  September  19,  1759. 

[126]  TIMOTHY  HAMBLEN, i  {B)  other  of  Gershom,)  born  in  Barn- 
stable September  3,  1728,  He  is  mentioned  in  the  will  of  his 
uncle  John  Hamblen,3  dated  April  10,  1734;  and  in  the  will  of 
bis  father,  dated  October  25,  1735.  In  the  will  of  his  brother 
Nathan,  dated  July  29,  1768,  at  Barnstable,  he  is  not  men- 
tioned, but  Nathan  names  his  brothers  Ebenezer,  Samuel  and 
Daniel,  and  sisters  Thankful  and  Elizabeth,  and  the  heirs  of 
his  brother  Gershom  and  sister  Dorcas.  From  these  fticts  it  is 
presumed  he  was  then  dead,  without  issue. 

r 

[127]  ELIZABETH  HAMBLEN,^  (S/'sfer  of  Gershom)  born  in  Barn- 
stable November  20,  1730.  Married  Ebenezer  Claghorn, 39  his 
second  wife.  She  is  named  in  the  will  of  her  uncle  John, 
April  10,  1734;  in  that  of  her  father  October  25,  1735;  and  in 
that  other  brother  Nathan,  July  29,  1768. 
Children,  liorn  in  Barnstable: 

313.  Joseph,  born  OctoVer  9,  1765. 

314.  Sarah,  born  July  27,  1764. 

315.  Jane,  born  October  1,  17*)5. 

39  James  Claghorn  was  in  Barnstable  1654,  removed  to  Yarmouth,  1662;  married, 
.January  6,  1654:,  Abigail,  daughter  of  Bernard  Lombard;  six  children  born  in  Barnsta- 
ble ;  tbe  youngest,  Shubal,  married  Jane,  daughter  of  John  Lovell ;  he  died  before  1729 ; 
ten  children,  born  in  Barnstable ;  the  youngest,  Ebenezer,  born  July  30,  1712,  married 
first,  October  30,  1734,  Sarah  Lumbort,  who  died;  and  he  married  second,  Elizabeth 
Hamblen  as  stated. 


FOURTH  GENERATION.  121 

[128]  DANIEL  HAMBLEN,^  (Brofhcr  of  Gershom,)  born  in  Barn- 
stable April   2,  1735. 

In  the  will  of  his  fatlier  are  these  items:  "I  give  and  bequeath  to 
my  beloved  wife  Thanliful,  &c.  *  *  *  also,  I  give  niy  sd  wife  all 
the  rest  of  my  real  estate  (except  that  bouglit  of  Cliilds  above  sd)  in 
manner  following  viz:  the  one  half  thereof  for  the  Tirme  of  five  years 
after  the  date  hereof  &  the  other  half  until  my  son,  DANIEL,  shall 
arrive  to  the  age  of  fourteen  years,  ye  use  of  said  land  is  for  the  bring- 
ing up  my  children,"  &c. 

"  I  give  and  betiueath  to  my  son  Daniel  One  hundred  pounds  to  be 
paid  by  my  son  Timothy." 

"  My  will  is  that  my  two  sons  Timothy  &  Daniiel  are  put  out  to 
learn  some  trade." 

He  is  mentioned  in  the  will  of  his  brother  Nathan,  July  29,  1768, 
thus:  "  I  give  in  like  manner  to  my  brother  Daniel  Hamblen  his  heirs 
and  assigns  forever  one  sixth  part  of  my  real  estate." 

Married,  November  3,  1757,  Deliverance, ^o  daughter  of  .loseph 
Childs,  of  Falmouth. 

Child,  born  in  Barnstable: 

316.  Abigail,  born  July  2,  1761. 

[129]  REBECCA  HAMBLEN,^  {Benjamin;''  John,-  James,')  born  in 
Barnstable,  May  17,  1711;  married,  October  20,  I7S0,  Thomas 
Crocker,^/  born  in  Barnstable,  August  26,  17J4,  his  second 
wife.  She  is  mentioned  in  the  will  of  her  uncle  John,  dated 
April  10,  1734;  he  resided  in  the  east  part  of  the  west  parish, 
Barnstable.  She  died  May  9,  1756;  he  December  5,  \~LQ, 
Children: 

317.  Elizabeth,  born  December  5,  17;tI;  married  George  Conant  in  1757 

and  died  September  17,  1759. 

318.  Sarah,  born  I^ebruary  26,  1733-4. 

319.  Rebecca,    born   November  30,    1735;    married,    October  25,    1757, 

Lemuel  Nye,  of  Sandwich. 

320.  Hope,  born  March,  173S. 

321.  Thomas,  born  January  23,  1740. 

322.  Esther,  born  August  28,  1743. 

323.  Barnabas,  born  October  26,  1746;  m.,  March  24,  1765,  Ann  Smith. 

324.  Huckins,  born  March  15,  1748. 

325.  Mary,  born  August  31,  1753;  died  unmarried. 

[131]  BENJAMIN  HAMBLEN,4  {Brother  of  Reheccn,)  born  in 
Barnstable,   baptized  November  18,  1716;  married,  first,    April 

AO    Deliverance  Childs  was  daughter  of  .Joseph,^  Richard, ^  Richard.*    See  Note  15. 

41  See  Note  :U.  Thomas  Crocker,*  Thomas,*  .Job,«  William  ;•  married  first  1727, 
Mehitable,  dauglitcr  of  Jos-ph  Dimmock,  who  died  March  i:i,  1728-29;  second,  Rebecca 
Hamblen  as  above  stated. 


122  THE  HAMLIN  FAMILY. 

29,  1740,  Mehitable  Blackwell,  of  Sanford;  second.  May  31,  176P>,  Mehit- 
able  Childs.^-  He  lived  at  the  northern  end  of  Haniblin's  Pond;  in 
March,  1771,  when  the  ice  was  breaking  np,  he  shot  a  wild  goose  in  the 
pond,  and  went  to  get  it  in  a  "  dug  out "  canoe,  was  capsized  and  lost 
his  life  in  the  chilly  water;  his  widow  aftei'wards  resided  with  her  son, 
Lewis;  his  children,  Nathaniel,  Ichabod,  Samuel,  Mary,  Lewis  and 
Benjamin  are  mentioned  in  the  settlement  of  his  estate,  March  -1,  1774. 

Children,  born  in  Barnstable,  by  first  wife: 

326.  Mary,  born  July  l(i,  1741;  probably  died  before  1774. 

327.  Benjamin,  born  February  25,  1742-3;  probably  died  young. 

328.  Nathaniel,  born  February  21,  1744. 

329.  Jane,  born  March  23,  174H;  probably  died  before  1774. 
320.     Ichabod,  born  June  2H,  1749. 

331.  Samuel,  born  March  30,  1760. 

By  second  wife: 

332.  Mary,  born  April  12,  17()7;  probably  died  young. 

333.  Lewis,  born  December  24,  1768. 

334.  Benjamin,  born  September  30,  1770. 

[133]  ELEAZER  HAMBLEN,-t  {Isaac;^  Eleaznrt  J((me.s,^)  born  in 
Barnstable,  August  22,  1699.  Married  first,  1718,  Sarah, 
daugliter  of  Silas  and  Sarah  (Crosby)  Sears.'SS  born  in  Yar- 
mouth April  3,  1697;  he  removed  to  Harwich  and  is  called 
yeoman,  afterwards  a  trader;  married  second,  December  10, 
1724,  Alice  Phinney,  -*■*  of  Barnstable. 

C'hildr,  n,  by  first  wife: 

335.  Barnabas,  born  March  30,  1719. 

336.  Sarah,  born  March  16,  1720-1. 

337.  Eleazer,  born  May  24,  1723. 

By  second  wife: 

338.  Reuben. 

339.  Eleazar. 

330.  David. 
341.     Hannah. 

42  See  Note  15. 

43  See  Note  10.  Silas  Sears,'  father  of  Sarah,  born  in  Yarmouth,  1661,  married 
1692,  Sarah,  daughter  of  Rev.  Thomas  and  Sarah  Rowley.  He  was  a  son  of  Lieut.  Silas 
Sears, 2  Richard.'  [Sears  Genealogy.] 

44  John  Vhinney  ancestor  of  this  family,  was  first  in  Plymouth,  where  his  son 
John  was  born  1638,  and  his  wife,  Christiana,  died  1649;  married  second  1650,  Abigail, 
widow  of  Henry  Coggin,  a  wealthy  merchant  and  adventurer,  among  the  first  settlers  of 
the  town  ;  she  died  16.53 ;  and  he  married  third,  1654,  Elizabeth  Bayly.  He  was  constable 
in  Barnstable.  Children:  John,  Jonathan,  Robert,  Hannah,  Elizabeth,  Josiah,  Jere- 
miah, Joshua.  His  great  grandson,  Capt.  John  Phinney,  was  founder  of  the  town  of 
Gorham,  Maine.  See  Jacob  Hamblen'  (60).  The  name  was  variously  written:  Phinney, 
Finney,  Fennye,  &c.    [Otis  Papers,  &c.] 


FOURTH  GENERATION.  123 

[135]  DEACON  JOSEPH  HAMBLEN,^  {Brother  of  FJeaztn;)  bom 
in  Barnstable  June  4,  1702.  Married,  Marcli  3,  172()-7,  Eliza- 
beth Mathews,  born  in  Yarnioutli.  He  was  a  blacksmith  and 
resided  about  a  mile  east  of  the  Congregational  church  in  Yar- 
mouth; he  died  in  Yarmouth,  January  19,  1777. 
Children,  born  in  Yarmouth: 

342.  Hannah,  born  March  3,  1728-9;  m.,  Dec.  1,  1747,  Lott  Crowell. 

343.  Phebe,  born  April  11,  1731;  m.,  Jan.  31,  1752,  Moses  Hallett. 

344.  Sarah,  born  June  11,  1733;  m.,  Nov.  21,  1754,  Thomas  Hallett. 

345.  Isaac,  born  JNIarch  14,  1735. 

34(5.     Elizabeth,  born  Feb.  4,  1737-S;  m.,  June  3,  1763,  Josiah  Thatcher. 

347.  Rebecca,  born  April  14,  1740;  m.,  May  9,  1765,  David  Gorham. 

348.  Josei^h,  born  June  15,  1742. 

[136]  ELIZABETH  HAMBLEN,^  {Sister  of  Elerizar,)  born  in  Barn- 
stable October,  1705.  Married,  February  20,  1727-8,  Deacon 
Barnabas  Chipman,'45  born  in  Barnstable  March  24,  1702;  an 
influential  citizen  and  deacon  of  the  West  church.  They 
have  descendants  in  Vermont,  Michigan,  Iowa  and  elsewhere. 
Children: 

349.  Barnabas,  born  December  28,  1728. 

350.  Joseph,  born  December  22,  1731. 

351.  Elizabeth,    born  May  12,  1734;  married,  Nov.  23,  1758,   Nathaniel 

Hinckley,  2d. 

352.  Thomas,  boru  March  5,  1735-6. 

353.  Hannah,  born  February  20,  1737-8. 

[137]  ALICE  HAMBLEN,4  {Joseph;^  Eleazer,'^  James,^)  born  in 
Barnstable  February  4,  170').  Married  tirst,  1728,  John,  son  of 
Isaac  and  Anne  (Taylor)  Howland,-*©  of  West  Barnstable, 
born  February  2,  1696;  he  died  in  1747,  and  she  married  second^ 
May  22,  1748,  Samuel  Hinckley. 
Children,  born  in  Barnstable: 

354.  Desire,  born  June  13,  1732. 

355.  Susannah,  born  Dec.  22,  1734;  m.,  Nov.  21,  17"9,  Ignatius  Smith. 

356.  David,  born  Aug.  8,  1737;  m.,  Dec.  15,  1763,  Mary  Coleman. 

357.  Jonathan,  twin  with  David;  removed  to  Harwich   where  he  died 

in  1812. 

358.  Deborah,    born   October  25,  1739;  m.,   Nov.,  1763,  Richard   Spar- 

row, of  Eastham. 


45  See  Note  18.  Dea.  Samuel  Chipman,^  was  tbe  son  of  Elder  John,  born  in 
Barnstable,  April  15,  1661;  married  December  27,  1686,  Sarah,  daughter  of  Elder  Henry 
Cobb ;  inherited  his  father's  homestead,  was  a  carpenter;  but  farminK  was  his  princi- 
pal business ;  kept  public  house,  and  retailed  liquors,  a  business  not  then  held  incom- 
patible with  the  office  of  deacon  of  the  church  ;  was  a  good  business  man,  and  a  town 
officer;  ordained  deacon  of  the  church  of  Barnstable  Sept.  1,1706.  He  died  1725,  his 
widow  January  8,  1742-:?,  ten  children,  of  whom  Dea.  Barnabas  was  the  youngest.  [Otis 
Papers.] 

46  See  Note  20. 


124  THE  HAMLIN  FAMILY. 

[138]     LIEUTENANT  SETH  HAMBLEN,*  {Brother  oj  Alice,)  born 

in  Barnstable  March  4,  1708.     Married,  October  9,  1735,  Sarah, 

daughter  of  Josepli  and   Hannah    (Childs)   Bkish,'*^  born   in 

Barnstable,  October  1,  1707. 

He  resided  in  Barnstable,  but  it  lias  not  been  ascertained  how  he 

obtained  his  military  title,   perhaps  in   the  militia  or  in  some  of  the 

French   wars.     He  was  named  as  executor  in   the  will   of  his  brother 

Southward,  December  25,  1765.     These   inscriptions  are  upon  the  grave 

stones  of  himself  and  wife  in  the  burying  ground  at  Barnstable: 

"  Here  lies  buried  Lieut.  Seth  Hamblen  who  deed  May  ye  16th  1771, 
in  ye  64th  year  of  his  age." 

"In  memory  of  Mrs.  Sarah,  widow  of  Lieut  Seth  Hamblen.  She 
died  Novr  ye  6th  1773,  in  ye  67th  year  of  age." 

COPY  OF  WILL  OF  LIEUT.  SETH  HAMBLEN. 

In  the  name  of  God,  Amen,  this  fourth  day  of  May  1770  I  Seth 
Hamblen  of  the  town  and  county  of  Barnstable  gentleman,  being  of 
sound  mind  and  memory  do  make  this  my  last  will  &  testament  in 
manner  and  foini  following.  Fii-st  I  bequeath  my  soul  unto  God  and 
my  body  I  conmiit  to  the  earth  to  be  decently  buried  in  hopes  of  a  joy- 
ful resurrection.  As  to  my  worldly  estate  I  dispose  thereof  as  followeth 
that  is  to  say  I  do  first  appoint  my  debts  and  fun(  ral  expenses  to  be 
paid  out  of  my  estate  by  my  Executor  hereafter  mentioned. 

Item.  I  give  to  my  loving  wife  Sarah  Hamblen  my  best  bed  &  fur- 
niture and  one-third  part  of  my  personal  estate  forever  for  her  own  use 
and  disposal  and  also  one  third  part  of  my  real  estate  for  her  own  im- 
provement during  her  life. 

Item.  I  give  to  my  daughter,  Mercy  Crocker  four  pounds  money  to 
her  or  her  heirs  forever  to  be  paid  by  my  Executor  one  year  after  my 
decease. 

Item.  I  give  to  my  daughter  Sarah  Weeks  four  pounds  money  to 
her  or  her  heirs  forever  to  be  paid  by  my  Executor  one  year  after  my 
decease. 

Item.  I  give  to  my  daughter  Abigail  Howland  four  pounds  money 
to  her  or  her  heirs  forever  to  be  paid  by  my  executor  one  year  after  my 
decease. 


■47  Abraham  Blusli,  ancestor  of  this  family,  was  early  in  Duxbury,  1637;  In 
Barnstable  1641,  probably  one  of  the  first  settlers;  was  a  planter  and  large  landholder; 
married  first,  Anne  (perhaps  Pratt),  she  was  buried  May  19, 1651  or  May  26,  1653;  married 
second,  Hannah,  widow  of  John  Barker,  of  Marsfield,  daughter  of  John  Williams,  of 
Scituate.  She  was  buried  March  16,  1658,  or  February  16,1657-8;  married  third,  Alice, 
widow  of  John  Derby,  of  Yarmouth.  He  died  Septemper  7,  1683.  The  name  is  written 
Blush  and  Blish ;  three  children.  His  son  Joseph,  born  April  1,  1648,  married  September 
13, 1675,  Hannah,  daughter  of  Richard  and  Mehitable  (Dimmock)  Child.  This  Richard 
Child  was  born  1631,  and  resided  in  Watertown,  a  different  man  from  Richard  of  Barn- 
stable, lie  married  March  30,  1662.  His  wife  was  a  daughter  of  Elder  Thomas  Dimmock, 
of  Barnstable,  born  April  18,  1642,  they  were  the  parents  of  Hannah  Child,  who  married 
Lt.  Seth  Hamblen.— [Otis  Papers.] 


FOURTH  GENERATION.  125 

Item.  I  give  to  my  daughter  Alice  Blossom  four  pounds  money  to 
her  or  her  heirs  forever  to  be  paid  by  my  executors  one  year  after  my 
decease, 

Item.  I  give  to  my  son  Seth  Hamblen  all  my  estate  both  real  and 
personal  to  him  his  heirs  and  assigns  forever  except  what  I  have  given 
to  my  wife  and  children  as  above  expressed  he  the  said  Seth  to  pay  all 
the  debts  and  legacies  out  of  what  is  becjueathed  to  him  and  my  will  is 
that  if  the  personal  estate  is  not  sufficient  to  pay  the  debts  and  legacies 
that  my  executor  sell  such  part  of  the  real  estate  as  he  shall  think  best 
to  pay  them.  Lastly  I  do  apj^oint  my  son  Seth  Hamblen  to  be  my  sole 
executor  to  this  ray  last  will  and  Testament. 

In  witness  whereof  I  have  hereunto  set  my  hand  and  seal  the  day 
and  year  above  written. 

SETH  HAMBLEN.     (L.  S.) 
Signed  sealed  and  delivered 
in  presence  of 

THOMAS  HATHAWAY 

JOHN  OTIS 

RELYANCE  GOODSPEED. 

Children,  born  in  Barnstable: 
359.     Mercy,  born  Nov.  15,  1787;  m.  Thomas  Crocker,  Jr. 
3fi0.     Sarah,  born  Aug.  15,  1739;  ra.,  Dec.  7,  1758,  Barzilla  Weeks. 

361.  Abigail,  born  Aug.  14,  1741.48 

362.  Seth,  born  Aug.  20,  1744. 

393.     Alice,  born  Aug.  12,  1747;  m.,  Feb.  1,  1770,  Joseph  Blossom. 

[139]     SARAH  HAMBLEN, 1  {Sister  of  Alice.)  born   in   Barnstable, 
April   4,    1711.      Married,   October  7,    1786,    Ephraim,  son  of 
Thomas  and  Experience   (Huckins49)  Lewis,50  born  April  8, 
1710.     She  died  June  IB,  1764. 
Children,  born  in  Barnstable: 

364.  Thankful,    born  June  5,  1789;  m.,  April  30,    1752,  Shubael   Davis. 

365.  Rebecca,  born  October  18,  1741. 

366.  Jacob,  born  January  4,  1743-4. 

367.  Esther,  baptized  April  8,  1748. 

[140]  JOSEPH  HAMBLEN,^  {Brother  of  Alice,)  born  in  Barnstable 
March  10,1715.  Married,  December  8,  1738,  Hannah  Lovell, 
born  in  Barnstable,  1716. 

48  Otis  says  she  married  .John  Smith  January  18,  1764,  but  David  Hamblen  says 
he  married  Lemuel  Howland,  of  Sandwich,  December  11,  1765. 

49  See  Note  19.  Experience  Huckins  was  daughter  of  John,-  Thomas.'  John,* 
born  in  Barnstable,  August  2,1649:  married  August  ID,  1670,  Hope,  daughter  of  Elder 
John  Chipman.  He  died  November  10,  1678,  four  children.  Experience,  tliir<l  child,  bora 
June  4,  167."».  married  September  2.~<,  1699,  Thomas  Lewis;  she  died  December  2:{,  17:S5. 

50  See  Note  12.  Thomas  Lewes,  son  of  Edward,'  fTeorge,^  born  in  Barnstable 
March,  1669,  married  September  28,  1699,  Experience  Huckins ;  he  died  February  9  1754, 
five  children,  the  youngest,  Ephraim,  married  Sarah  Hamblen. 


126  THE  HAMLIN  FAMILY. 

He  died  August  8,  1767;  she  March  14,  1806. 

Child,  born  in  Barnstable: 
368.     Micah,  born  November  11,  1741. 

[141]  SOUTHWARD  HAMBLEN, ^  {Brother  of  Alice,)  born  in 
Barnstable  May  21,  1721.  Married  first,  December  13,  1744, 
Martha  Howland.-'Ji  She  died  September  20,  1756,  and  he 
married,  second,  May  12,  1757,  Tabitha  Atkins.  These  inscrip- 
tions are  upon  the  gravestones  of  liimself  and  wife  in  the 
burying  ground  in  Barnstable: 
"In   memory  of  Mrs.    Martha    Hamlen   wife  of  Mr.    South  worth 

Hamlen  who  deed  Sept  ye  20th  175(i,  in  ye  41st  year  of  her  age." 

"Here  lies  buried  Mr.  Soutli worth  Hamblen  who  decJ  Janry  13th 

1766,  aged  45  years." 

COPY   OF  WILL   OF  SOUTHWARD   HAMBLEN. 

In  the  Name  of  God,  Amen.  I  Southward  Hamblen,  of  Barnstable 
in  the  County  of  Barnstable,  Carpenter,  being  of  sound  and  disposing 
mind  and  memory,  do  this  25th  day  of  December  A.  D.  1765  make  and 
ordain  this  my  last  will  and  testament  in  manner  and  form  following 
viz.  First  my  will  is  that  my  wife  Tabitha  should  have  as  much  of  my 
estate  as  the  law  directs.  2d  I  give  to  my  two  sons  Eleazer  and  South- 
ward all  my  real  estate  reserving  my  wives  improvement  as  above 
specified  to  them  their  heirs  and  assigns  forever.  3d.  I  give  to  my 
two  daughters  Bethiah  &  Tabitha  all  my  indoor  moveables.  4tL  It  is 
my  will  that  all  my  just  debts  and  funeral  charges  be  first  paid  by  my 
Executor  hereafter  named,  and  Lastly  my  will  is  and  I  do  by  these 
presents  make  and  ordain  my  brother  Seth  Hamblen  Execvitor  of  this 
my  last  will  and  testament,  in  witness  Avhereof  I  have  hereunto  set 
my  hand  and  seal  the  day  &  year  above  written.  Signed  sealed  pro- 
nounced &  declared  by  said  Southward  Hamblen  to  be  his  last  will  & 
testament. 

his  mark 

SOUTHWARD  X  HAMBLEN     (Seal) 
&  seal 
In  presence  of 

JOSEPH  CHILDS. 
JONATHAN  BANGS. 
ALICE  HAMBLEN. 

Children,  born  in  Barnstable: 

369.  Bethia,  born  July  3,  1758. 

370.  Eleazer,  born  March  25,  1760. 

371.  Southward,  born  April  12,  1762. 

372.  Tabitha. 

51  See  Note  20.  There  is  a  discrepancy  in  the  speUing  of  his  name  as  found  on  the 
gravestone,  and  in  his  will ;  both  evidently  refer  to  the  same  person. 


FOURTH  GENERATION.  127 

[148]  8HUBAEL  HAMBLEN,^  (6'fiiibnel,-i  Eleazer;^  Jrimes^)  born 
in  Barnstable,  SeiDteniber  20,  1724. 

Married  first,  March  7,  1751,  Martha,52  daughter  of  Benjamin  Lom- 
bard; second,  Sarah  Crocker;  *»3  and  third,  November  27,  176(),  Ruth 
Cannon.54  By  his  first  wife  he  came  into  possession  of  the  dwelling 
house  and  farm  of  Capt.  Jonathan  Lombard,  on  the  east  side  of  Dim- 
mock's  Lane.  He  filled  up  the  well  and  removed  the  house,  a  high 
single  one,  with  a  lean-to,  to  a  high  hill  on  the  farm,  that  he  might 
have  "  a  clear  air  and  good  prospect;"  and  all  his  life,  he  and  his  chil- 
dren after  him  lugged  their  water  half  a  mile  up  hill  from  Lombard's 
Pond.  The  children,  except  the  first  Susannali,  were  mentioned  in 
the  will  of  their  father,  .July  16,  1778,  says  David  Hamblen. 

Children,  born  in  Barnstable,  by  first  wife. 

378.  Joshua,  born  July  2,  1752,  O.  S. 

374.     Susannah,  born  April  15,  1754,  N.  S.;  died  young. 
575.     Timothy,  born  February  2,  1756. 
-376.     Sarah,  born  February  10,  1759. 

By  second  wife: 

577.     Martha,  born  May  31,  1762;  married  John  Green. 

37N.     Susannah,  born  February  15,  1765;  married  Paul  Ewer. 

379.  Shubael,  born  July  IS,  1766. 

By  third  wife: 

380.  Ruth,  Fjorn  November  21,  1768;  married  Allen  Goodspeed, 

381.  Mercy,  born  April  16,  1771;  married  Alden  Gifford. 

382.  Hope,  born  November  11,  1773. 

£146]  MEHITABLE  HAMBLEN,!  (^Sister  of  Shubael,)  born  in 
Barnstable  December  4,  1730.  Married,  1752,  Benjamin,  son 
of  Joseph  Childs,3S  of  Barnstable,  born  August  25,  1728;  he 
died  before  June  10,  1758,  when  his  three  children  were  bap- 
tized at  the  West  church. 

Children: 

383.  Lewes,  born  August  29,  1752. 

384.  Hannah,  born  September  6,  1754. 

385.  Mehitable,  born  December  27,  1756. 


52  See  Note  33. 

53  She  may  have  been  Sarah  Crocker.*  (31S).    See  Note  31. 

54  Perhaps  she  was  daughter  of  Ebenezer  Cannon,'  Timothy.  =  The  earliest  rec- 
ord of  the  name  in  Barnstable  is  April  12,  1691,  where  Joanna  Cannon  joined  the  Church. 
Her  children  were  baptized  the  following  Sabbath,  viz :  John,  Phillip,  Timothy,  Nathan, 
Elizabeth.  Timothy  =  married  November  9,  1711,  Elizabeth,  widow  of  Isaac  Hamblen 
(48).  His  son  Ebenezer'  married  first,  ITSf),  Mercy  Blossom ;  second,  July  7, 1753,  Pa- 
tience Goodspeed.  Six  children  by  his  first  wife  and  four  by  last  wife,  Euth  Cannon, 
second  child,  was  born  in  Barnstable  January  18,  17.58-9. 

55  See  Note  15. 


128  THE  HAMLIN  FAMILY. 

[147]  ELEANOR  HAMBLEN,*  (S/ste?-  of  Jenisha,)  born  in  Barn- 
stable April  lo,  1783.  Married  between  November  28,  1769  and 
September  7,  1771,  Moses,  son  of  Timothy  and  Elizabetli 
(Hatch)  Hallett,5e  born  in  Yarmouth  April  20,  1729;  his  sec- 
ond wife.  She  died  September  7,  1771.  See  Phoebe  Ham- 
blen, (S43).    No  children. 

[151]  ISRAEL  HAMBLEN,!  [Israel,^  Israeli  James^  )  born  in  Yar- 
mouth, Massachusetts,  June  4,  1741;    married   Elizabeth . 

He  died  April  16,  1810.     She  died  aged  95. 
Children: 

386.  Israel,  born  February  1,  1764. 

387.  Eleazer,  died;  no  children. 

388.  Barney,  unmarried. 

389.  Phebe,  married  John  Wanser. 

390.  Elizabeth,  married  John  Carle. 

391.  Mercy. 

392.  Bertha. 

393.  Thankful,  married  Dwite  More. 

394.  Meriby,  married  William  Kimball. 


56  Mr.  Andrew  Hallett,  Gentleman,  ancestor  of  the  family  in  Barnstable  and 
Yarmouth,  was  one  of  the  first  who  came  to  Mattakeset.  but  did  not  make  it  his  place  of 
abode  until  1641 ;  he  came  over  as  early  as  1637  ;  was  in  Plymouth  in  1638-9.  He  appears 
to  have  reviriited  England  about  1641-2  and  returned ;  he  speculated  in  lands,  and  had 
several  lawsuits;  it  is  claimed,  not  with  certainty,  that  he  was  a  school  teacher; 
although  not  wealthy  he  gave  a  cow  to  the  poor  of  Yarmouth  at  a  time  when  it  was  of  the 
value  of  a  good  farm.  The  title  of  "  Gentleman  "  was  conferred  on  but  few  in  the  colony, 
and  the  word  then  had  a  diffei-ent  signification  from  its  present  one ;  it  meant  that  one 
to  whom  it  applied  was  connected  with  the  gentry  or  wealthy  class,  that  he  was  not  a 
mechanic  or  common  laborer,  and  that  he  was  well  educated,  etc.  The  records  afford 
but  little  information  about  his  employment,  or  true  character.  He  probably  died 
about  1647,  leaving  a  wife  Mary,  and  five  children,  born  in  England.  His  son  Andrew, " 
married  Ann,  daughter  of  Anthony  Besse,  of  Lynn  and  Sandwich,  in  her  four- 
teenth year;  he  settled  in  Sandwich  but  removed  to  Yarmouth  in  1640,  where  he  resided 
until  his  death,  1684;  his  wife  died  1694.  Goodman  Hallett  was  "an  husbandman," 
and  by  honest  industry,  skillful  management  and  economy,  accumulated  a  large  estate. 
In  1676,  his  tax  was  equal  to  one- twentieth  of  the  entire  assessment  of  the  town  ;  his  estate 
was  appraised  at  £1.180,  13,  09,  a  large  amount  at  that  period;  six  children.  Jonathan 
Hallett,^  the  fourth  child,  born  November  20,  1647,  married  Abigail,  daughter  of 
Ensign  Thomas  Dexter.  In  1684  he  resided  in  Sandwich,  but  removed  to  Yarmouth  and 
occupied  a  room  in  his  father's  house  until  1695 ;  after  the  death  of  his  father  he  was 
the  most  wealthy  man  in  Yarmouth  ;  will  dated  December  5,  1716 ;  proved  February  14, 
1717;  real  estate  £2,000,  and  a  large  personal  estate;  eight  children.  His  son  David,* 
married  August  19,  1719,  Mary,  daughter  of  John  Annable,  of  West  Barnstable,  and 
resided  at  Hyaunis ;  ten  children,  of  whom  Mary,  born  May  11,  1739,  married  Timothy 
Hamblin.  Thomas  Hallett,*  son  of  Jonathan,'  resided  at  Yarmouth,  married  tirst, 
February  18,  1719-20,  Thankful  Sturgis,  who  died  January  10,  1721 ;  second,  Elizabeth, 
daughter  of  Moses  Hatch,  of  Falmouth,  who  died  October  23,  1744;  third,  May  23,  1745, 
Thankful  Jones,  of  Barnstable;  he  died  January  24,  1771,  aged  69;  six  children.  His 
son  Moses, ^  born  April  20,  1729,  resided  in  Yarmouth  ;  married  four  wives,  two  of  whom 
were,  Phcebe  and  Eleanor  Hamblen :  he  died  December  14,  1809 :  seven  children.  [Otis 
Papers.] 


FOURTH  GENERATION.  129 

[158]  JOSEPH  HAMBLEN,4  {Jacoh;^  Israel,^  James,^  )  born  May 
10,  173-,  perhaps  in  Barnstable.  Married  April  15,  1755, 
Hannah  Whitney. •'> 7 

Mr.  McLellan  wrote  in  1872,  that  Mr.  Hamblen  lived  on  the  one  hun- 
dred acre  lot.  No.  40,  below  (irorham  village,  through  which  the  road 
to  Gray  then  passed.  His  house  was  on  the  high  land  across  the  brook, 
on  the  north  side  of  the  lot,  near  Queen  street,  near  the  route  usually 
traveled  by  the  early  settlers  tiirough  the  woods,  in  going  from  the  Fort 
to  Falmouth  (Portland).  The  Hamblen  brook  at  that  time  was  a  larger 
stream  than  now,  crossed  by  a  foot  log.  It  is  said  that  one  of  the  set- 
tlers was  once  crossing  this  log  with  a  gun  on  his  shoulder,  and  was 
fired  upon  by  an  Indian  in  ambush;  he  was  not  hit,  but  knowing  his 
danger,  fell  as  if  shot,  when  the  Indian  came  running  to  secure  his 
scalp.  That  Indian  never  returned  to  his  tribe.  He  died  in  Gorham, 
June  17,  1763,  and  his  widow  married  a  Mr.  ("obb;  she  died  in  Gorham, 
April  17,  171)7. 

Children,  probably  born  in  Gorham: 
.395.     Jacob,  born  August  1,  175(). 

396.  Esther,  born  June  30,  175S. 

397.  Josejih,  born  June  10,  1763. 

398.  Sarah,  born  December  17,  1764. 

[154]     DANIEL  HAMBT.:EN,i  (Brother  of  Joseph.)     There  is  no  rec- 
ord of  his   birth.     Perliaps  he  was  born  after  his  parents  re- 
moved  from  Barnstable;  married,  1761,  Dilla  Pettingill. 
Mr.  McLellan  states,  that  prior  to  1779,  he  resided  in  Gorham,  on  the 
thirty  acre  lot  No.  16,   either  in  the  house  of  his  father,  or  one  near  it; 
that  probably   his  house  stood  just  back  of  where  the  store  of  R.  G. 
Harding  stood  in  1872,  and   that  part  of  it  was  used  in  building  the  old 
tavern   house  by   C'tiry  McLellan,    which,  with   some  addition,   consti- 
tuted the  Harding  store.     At   his  father's  decease,    his  mother  had  a 
right  in  the  estate  by  will  or  dower,  and  when  Daniel  exchanged  farms 
with  Gary   McLellan,  April  5,    177:»,    he   reserved  her  right  in  the  two 

S7  The  Wliitneys  were  numerous  in  Gorham  at  and  prior  to  the  period  of  the  Rev- 
olution. Mr.  Pierce,  in  his  history  of  the  town,  states  that  they  came  from  York,  Maine. 
Amos  and  Nathan  Whitney  were  prominent  and  influential  citizens  in  Gorham  before 
the  incorporation  of  tho  town,  1764;  of  which  Amos  was  the  first  town  clerk,  and  one  of 
the  first  selectmen.  They  were  mucli  employed  in  the  religious  affairs  of  the  town,  and 
were  on  important  committees  in  tlie  Revolutionary  days  ;  they  were  sagacious  and  of 
unquestioned  integrity.  Eleven  officers  and  men  named  Whitney  were  in  the  Revolu- 
tionary army  from  Gorham,  four  of  whom  were  in  Capt.  Hart  Williams'  company  in  1775. 
Paul  Whitney  was  killed  in  that  war.  Isaac,  Shephen,  Zebulon  and  Daniel  Whitney 
were  Revolutionary  pensioners  Amos  Whitney  married  Sarah  Payne  and  had  children, 
Elias,  Jotham  and  Ruth.  David  Whitney  married  Hannah  Brown  and  had  children, 
Susannah,  Jess?,  Joshua,  Daniel,  Hannah,  Tliomas  and  Nathan,  born  between  1755  and 
1769.  Abel  had  10  children,  Owen  9,  Asa  11,  Daniel  10,  Uriel  6,  Timothy  5,  Stephen  2, 
Micah  4,  and  Phiueas  4  children.  Zobulon  Whitney  married  Joanna  Stone  and  had 
children,  Abigail,  Happy,  Mattie,  Rufus,  Eli,  Eunice.  Hannah,  Tabitha  and  Almira,  be- 
tween 1775  and  1791.  Eli  Whitney  was  born  August  16,  17S6.— [Pierce's  History  of 
Gorham.] 


180  THE  HAMLIN  FAMILY. 

lots  and  buildings  during  her  life,  and  also  reserved  the  land  occupied 
as  a  burying  ground,  one  acre,  beginning  at  the  southeast  corner  of  the 
orchard,  and  running  southerly  twenty  rods,  eight  rods  wide.  He  ex- 
changed farms  with  Cary  McLellan  because  he  tliought  the  land  of  the 
latter  easier  to  cultivate;  and  more  productive  than  the  land  of  his 
father's  old  farm  at  the  village;  and  for  many  years  thought  he  had 
made  the  best  of  the  trade;  and  boasted  that  one  bushel  of  corn  cost 
Cary  more  than  two  did  liim.  At  that  period  few  men  there  had  any 
means  of  a  livelihood,  except  from  their  crops.  He  resided  many  years 
on  the  one  hundred  acre  lot  No.  1,  which  he  had  from  McLellan;  he 
died  suddenly,  supposed  to  have  been  heart  disease,  in  Samuel  Ed- 
ward's wood  lot,  while  felling  a  tree  in  1805.  His  widow  survived  him, 
living  with  their  daughter,  Rebecca  Frost,  and  died  February  9,  1812, 
aged  seventy-three  years. 

('hildren,  probably  born  in  Gorliam: 

399.  Ruth,  born  January  24,  176H. 

400.  Rebecca,  born  March  13,  I7(i5. 

401.  Abigail,  born  1767. 

402.  Hannah,  born  March  22,  1770. 

403.  Dilla,  born  .Tune  20,  177(i. 

404.  Betsv. 


ERRATA. 


On  page  32,  1st  line,  for  Barister  read  Barrister. 
On  page  32,  2d  line,  for  Warington  read  Wrington. 
On  page  90,  38th  line,  for  (88)  read  (89). 
On  page  91,  39th  line,  for  Fryebury  read  Fryeburg. 


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