Waltham Holy Cross Parish Registers

The following records are taken from various versions of the Waltham Holy Cross Parish Registers ie: parish records, Bishop's transcripts, and Wm Winters' copy of parish registers. Also included are several **monument inscriptions and some notes from William Winters local history called *Our Parish Registers. I have added various records to Peter Huggin's transcription of Winters MS Repetoriam Parochialis (2 Volumes - ERO T/R 36 -Winters' "copy of the registers with indices")

Records which are proven to refer to our ancestors are shown in purple.
06 May 1897 *Cemetery - Wm Hammond, Honey Lane, WA, age 68
11/15 July 1881 - *Cemetery - Edmund Hammond, age 51 (p. 214)
20 Mar 1867 - Burial *Ann Hammond, age 78 (p.163) (March 25?)
07 Oct 1866 - Baptism, William Charles, son of John & Eliza Hammond,
...........Enfield Lock, Blacksmith, born 26 Aug 1866
07 Oct 1866 - Baptism, Minnie, dau of John & Eliza Hammond, Enfield Lock,
..........Locksmith, born 10 Oct 1863
17 Feb 1861 - Baptism, Allen John, son of John & Eliza Hammond, Waltham Abbey,
............Locksmith, born 05 Jan 1861
13 Mar 1860 - Burial, John Hammond, Romeland, infant
20 May 1833 - Baptism, Ann, dau of Benjamin & Ann Hammond, Pynests Greetn,
...............Farmer
03 Jul 1831 - Baptism, Sarah Adelaide, dau of John & Sarah Hammond, of Clapton
................silk printer, born 03 Apr 1831
03 May 1829 - Baptism, Edmund, son of Benjamin & Ann Hammond, Piner's Green,
.................farmer, born 03 Apr 1829
08 May 1826 - Burial, Benjamin Hammond, High Beech, infant
04 Dec 1825 - Baptism, Ann, dau of John & Sarah Hammond, High Bridge St.
............silk printer, born 15 July 1825
04 Dec 1825 - Baptism, John, son of John & Sarah Hammond, High Bridge Street,
.............Silk Printer, born 21 Feb 1821
07 Oct 1824 - Baptism, Wm, son of Benjamin & Ann Hammond, Waltham Abbey,
............Farmer, born 02 Sep 1824
12 Mar 1824 - Baptism, Wm Farran, son of Wm & Eliz. Hammond, High Bridge St.,
...........student at Cambridge, born 14 Feb 1824
02 Oct 18__ - Baptism , Benjamin, son of Benjamin & Ann Hammond,
............High Beech, servant, 2 Sept 18__ (probably 1823 by position in book)
03 Nov 1822 - Burial, William Hammond, High Bridge St, 69
11 Sep 1822 - Baptism, George James , son of John & Sarah Hammond,
............High Bridge St., Coal Merchant, born 15 Aug 1822
11 Sep 1822 - Baptism, Harriet, dau of Wm & Eliz. Hammond, High Bridge St.
...........Gentl., born 21 Aug 1822
02/21 Aug 1821 - Burial, Elizabeth Hammond, High Bridge St, infant
...........p. 78#626 and p. 79#622 - probably entered twice
27 Dec 1816 - Burial, Ann Hammond, High Bridge Street, 18

Volume Two (to 1812)
30 Mar 1809 - Burial, George Hammond, Surgeon Apothecary, (age?)
01 May 1805 - Burial Elizabeth Hammond, a child
25 Apr 1805 - *Burial Elizabeth Hammond, aged 2 [must be the same as above/below]
23 Apr 1803 - **Burial - Elizabeth Hammond, age 2 (Tomb 308)
...........dau of Wm & Eliz [large flat stone]
13 Mar 1803 - Baptism -Elizabeth, dau of Wm & Elizabeth Hammond (my entry)
09 Aug 1801 - Baptism, Mary Frances, dau of Wm & Eliz. Hammond
05 Oct 1800 - Baptism of Isabella, dau of Thomas & Francis Hammond
23 Feb 1799/1800 - Baptism of John, son of William & Elizabeth Hammond
21 Dec 1813 - **Ann Hammond, age 1 -(Tomb 308) dau of Wm & Eliz
18 Nov 1798 - Baptism of Anne, dau of William & Elizabeth Hammond
02/3 Apr 1797 - Baptism of William, son of Wm Hammond (WH+ Reg. D34036-571185)
09 Oct 1796 - Baptism of Joseph, son of Joseph & Sarah Hammond
21 Feb 1796 - Marriage of William Hammond, widower & Elizabeth Littler, both o.t.p.
03 Dec 1792 - Marriage of Jos Hammond & Sarah Wilkes, both o.t.p.
............. she made her X, witnesses - Joseph Carr and Samuel Hinds
27 Feb 1781 - Marriage of Geo Hammond of St. Sepulchres & Elizabeth Lowcock o.t.p.
01 Jul 1757 - Marriage of John Clark & Martha Thompson, widow-
.............witness - Eliz. Hammond (WH+ Reg. D34036-571185)
12 Apr 1752 - Burial of Elizabeth Hammond
21 Jan 1752 - Burial of John Hammond, a nurse child
16 Jun 1740 - Burial of Sarah Hammond
19 Jan 1735 - Burial of Thomas Hammond from Mr. Laughsons of Sewardstone
17 Feb 1727 - Burial of Thomas Hammond from the farm
01 Sep 1720 - Burial of Jane Hammond
............(could be James but 's' seems absent -WH+ Reg. D34036-571185)
12 Jul 1710 - Burial Mary Hamond -(WH+ Reg. D34036-571185)
15 Oct 1709 - Burial of George Hammond
13 Jul 1707 - Marriage of John Barnet & Elizabeth Hammond
15 Apr 1673 - Burial of Eliz Hamon, servant Marie Green

Volume One (1567 to 1656)
24 Jun 1656 - Marriage of John Hamond of Nazeing (north of WH+) and Mary Foster o.t.p.
26 May 1645 - Burial of Mary, wife of Thomas Haman
03 Jul 1639 - Marriage of Thomas Haman and Mary Glimister
17 Dec 1615 - Burial of old father Hamond
27 Aug 1609 - Baptism of Joane, dau of Robert Hammond
09 Jan 1606-7 - Burial of Robert Hammond
07 May 1606 - Burial of Dorothea Hamond, wife of Robert
17 Apr 1606 - Burial of Mary, dau of Robert Hammond
18 Mar 1604 - Baptism of Mary, dau of Robert Hammond
31 July 1603 - Baptism of Nicholas Hamond, son of Robert
29 May 1602 - Burial of the wyffe of John Hammond
24 Aug 1600 - Baptism of Agnes Hamond, dau of Robert
17 Nov 1595 - Baptism of Lettes Hammon, dau of Robert
21 May 1592 - Marriage of Philips ffuller and John Hammon
03 Jan 1591 - Baptism of John Hamonde, son of Robert
04 Sep 1577 - Burial of Elizabeth Hamon, wedowe
12 Feb 1576 - Baptism of Robert Hamon, son of John
27 Apr 1574 - Burial of Robert Hamon of Upchire
29 Jul 1571 - Baptism of Jone Hamon, dau of John
30 Oct 1569 - Marriage of John Grave and Kateren Hamon
09 Mar 1569 - Baptism of John Hamon, son of John Hamon
26 Oct 1567 - Marriage of John Carter and Lettesse Hamon

Comments on William Hammond d. 1729

The records in the preceding posts are presented to show possibilities for a generation back from our known ancestors in Waltham Holy Cross. However, it is quite possible that they were not related at all to the William Hammond of Walthamstow who died in 1729.

The connection is the half acre with a malting grainery in WH+ which William left to his son, John in 1729 and which might have been the Malt House of which a John Hammond was part owner in 1800 and that seems to have been next door to Mrs. Elizabeth Camp's house on High Bridge Street.

This, combined with the fact that Elizabeth Camp paid a quit rent to a John Hammond for some property in WH+ in 1769, and that George and William lived in that area as well after 1780, seems to suggest, that the Hammonds of Waltham Holy Cross and the Hammonds of Walthamstow were related.
Further work on this is needed.

Walthamstow Records

Walthamstow Deeds, S. J. Barns, 1935 -
Calendar of deeds relating to Walthamstow 1584-1855
Researched by Ed. Seignier at the Stratford Reference Library, Water Lane. LONDON. E15 4NJ.

These records refer to the Manor of the Rectory in Walthamstow

p. 31 John Hammond, 1676, "Jacksons," 5 acres 1 rood, and "Sheet Long Langs" 2 acres -
9 pounds 9 shillings
This could be a rate made by the Churchwardens of Walthamstow with consent and assistance of the inhabitants, 28th August commencing at Ladyday last past, 1676 and ending at Ladyday 1677 for the charges of repairs of the Church upon them incumbent for the year ensuing."

p.17 Jane Hammond, 1701, 28th Nov - Fine 3 pounds, rent 4 s. 10. d
Jane, wife of William Hammond is admitted in fee to several closes called Jacksons containing 5 acres and 1 rood and to a piece of land called Shet Long Lands 2 acres. Then "Jane Hammond is dead. Mr. Hammond, her son, is admitted."

(Same source but taken from Walthamstow Antiquarian Society on-line http://www.archive.org/stream/officialpublicat33waltuoft/officialpublicat33waltuoft_djvu.txt

MR 35 Two receipts for land tax, dated August and November 1702 - 06 1706 (from Mr Symes); an account of Symes disbursements 1705 - 06, which includes costs of the courts, sewer and chancel repairs, taxes, "trophy money1 and the marsh bailiffs wages. Total: £12 16s 6d; Also a receipt for payment of this money by John Higden, in the form of a letter to Mrs Elisabeth Cooper of V/oodston, Peterborough;a receipt dated 21 April 1702 signed by Jos. Leonard for money paid by 'Mrs Cowper';
and a List of Copyhold Lands, giving field names and occupiers. This last includes the names of the following :

Edward Conyer's land called Portmeers;
Honeybourne and Broomfields, Margaret Norton's land, Sweets Acre;
Robert Pyott*s land called Broadfield, John Bonnell for a house;
Samuel Collins for Long Grass Acre;
Squire Flowers for Wassells Croft;
Christopher Hill for Long lands formerly Laney'3, and for Long Croft, and Long field, formerly Burton & Cveril?.'sj Mortimoor - John Cannons, als Long Callands';
**Squire Hammond for John Jackson's and Sheet Longlands. and "Scarborough'
['Chambers against the Crooked Billet deleted Dated 1706 ACC 8267/18

**In English village life from the late 17th century through the early 20th century, there was often one principal family of gentry, owning much of the land and living in the largest house, maybe the manor house. The head of this family was often called "the squire." - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Squire


Hammond References from the Surname Index at Vestry House
The records for Walthamstow shown below are held at Vestry House. Click on the title to learn more about Vestry House and the William Morris Museum Note: The records related to the Court Rolls would concern land that was part of Toni or other Manor and not freehold.

1701-30...........Jane, wife of John (sic) Hammond of Walthamstow....mentioned in Rectory C.R.

1704 - Wm Hammond, Marsh St, Constable of Toni Manor (from Court Rolls of Toni Manor)
1710, 8th May-William Harmond/Hammond...signatory Vestry Meetings. p. 55

1710 - Wm Hammond, Marsh St. ......Rates (V.M.)

1713 - Wm Hammond, Marsh St........Rates (V.M.)

1717 - Wm Hammond, Marsh St.........Rates (V.M.)

1729, August 10 - Wm Hammond, Widower, buried (Parish Registers)

1730 - John Hammond of Walthamstow, Cooper, son of John (sic) and
Jane Hammond, Rectory C.R.

1733, 15 May - p. 26 - John Hammond - Toni Court Rolls - Vol. 2

1734, 4 June, - p. 48,60 - John Hammond - Toni Court Rolls - Vol. 2

1735, 27 May - p. 73 - John Hammond - Toni Court Rolls - Vol. 2

1736, June - p. 85 - John Hammond - Toni Court Rolls - Vol. 2

1737, May - p. 112 - John Hammond - Toni Court Rolls - Vol. 2

1738, May - p. 131 - John Hammond - Toni Court Rolls - Vol. 2

1739, June - p. 147 -John Hammond - Toni Court Rolls - Vol. 2

1740, April - p. 150, and May p. 152 - John Hammond - Toni Court Rolls - Vol. 2

1741, May - p. 179 - John Hammond - Toni Court Rolls - Vol. 2

1742 - John Hammond, Marsh St - Rate Books

1742, June - p. 205 - John Hammond - Toni Court Rolls - Vol. 2

1743 - John Hammon, Marsh Street - Rate Books

1743/4 (?) 1st January - Buried - Mr. Hammond - Parish Registers

1743, 16th November - Buried - Mrs Hammond, Widow- Parish Registers

1744, May p. 236 and July p. 243- John Hammond - Toni Court Rolls - Vol. 2

1744 - John Hammond, Marsh Street, Rate Books

1742-44 - John Hammond of Hale End - Rate Books (relationship unknown)

1760-64 - James Hammond of Hoe Street / Capworth Street (relationship unknown)

Family of Wm Hammond d. 1729

Below is the family of William Hammond of Walthamstow, died 1729
as mentioned in his will:


William Hammond, **Yeo(man) = Jane
d. 1729
No provision is made for William's wife in the will. He mentions payments to his daughters but nothing to his wife; only that he had previously given her a property which was at the time of the will, part of a larger rental. Often in a will there are terms of endearment for a surviving spouse, therefore, it seems that Jane had predeceased William.

John Hammond, Cooper of St. Thomas Apostle, London
John was designated as the heir and executor of his father's estate. No other sons are mentioned which doesn't mean there were none. However, William does say that he gives each of his four children a ring in his memory, so it would seem that the will mentions all family members. There is no mention of John's children; this could mean that he had none at the time or that he would have enough to provide for them by his legacy. John received three tenements on Marsh Street, Walthamstow; a farm at Chapel End; and a malting grainery on half an acre in Waltham Abbey.The last is a place where grain, such as barley, is sprouted and then treated by heat to convert to malt for use in the brewing or distilling process.

Anne Satteild/Satfeild - This name is probably Satfield. It is not a common name and I have found two on the IGI for England and none in the 1881 census. Anne is mentioned first in the will; it can be assumed that she was the eldest. He leaves Anne a substantial sum of 200 pounds sterling and then an annual sum of 10 pounds. She may have been a favourite or she may have been in greater need, perhaps widowed. No grandchildren are mentioned

Elisabeth Truss - Children Elizabeth and John
Elizabeth received forty pounds and six pounds sterling per year. Truss is a fairly common name. Two Truss children named John and Elizabeth, the children of a John and Elizabeth were born in Westminster in 1706 and 1704 (IGI). These could be William's grandchildren.
No other grandchildren are mentioned in the will.

Mary Holmes (youngest)
The will mentions that William had given a property to his wife which should be inherited by the youngest member of his family. He asks Mary, the youngest, to give up (quit) her right to this property in return for a payment of 6 pounds sterling per year. This was the only legacy she received; she probably married well.

**Yeoman - A man holding a small landed estate, a minor landowner ; A freeman, or man born free; A small prosperous farmer, especially from the Elizabethan era onwards (16th-17th century)

William Hammond of Walthamstow, d. 1729

The above 1840 map is from http://www.british-history.ac.uk and shows some of the places named in the will below. Click on the map to enlarge it.

Important parts of the will are shown in bold to facilitate reading

William Hammond, Parish of Waltham, Essex

Undated- Probate: 12 Aug 1729

p. 306 IN THE NAME OF GOD AMEN The last will and testament of William Hammond of the parish of Waltham in the County of Essex Yeo(man) is as followeth

I desire my body to buried where my children shall think fit in a naked coffin without lining the boards one inch and a half thick and my funeral charges not to exceed fifteen pounds and my estate both real and personal I dispose on (sic) as followeth

Item I give to my daughter Ann Satteild two hundred pounds lawful money and ten pounds a yeare during her natural life and after her decease for John Hammond to him and his heirs forever and I order my executor hereafter named to pay the said two hundred pounds within half a year after my decease and the ten pounds a year to commence from the first quarter after my death to be paid half yearly

Item I give to my daughter Elizabeth Truss forty pounds lawful money and six pounds a year during her natural life and after her decease to John Hammond to him and his heirs forever and I order my executor to pay the said twenty pounds to be paid with a half a year after my death and the six pounds a year to commence the first quarter after my decease to be paid half yearly

Item I give to the children of Elizabeth Truss viz to John Truss thirty pounds lawfull money and to Elizabeth Truss thirty pounds to be paid within a year after my death

And whereas I gave my wife Jane Hammond a certain piece of land called Eight Acres lying in Cooper Manor and by the custom of the said manor it falls to the youngest son or youngest daughter the said piece of land is rented at six pounds a year and belongs to a Harine?of thirty pounds a year therefore to prevent trouble after my decease it is my will and desire that my executor pay to my daughter Mary Holmes six pounds a year during her natural life upon the condition and not otherwise that the said Mary Holmes shall quit the land and deliver up by surrender that piece of land called Eight Acres into the hands of her brother John Hammond and if in case the said Mary Holmes shall dye before this will takes place then the said six pounds a year I give and order as followeth - four pound a year to be added to the annuity of Ann Satteild and two pounds to my executor to be disposed as he shall think fit

Item I give to my son John Hammond all my estate both freehold and copyhold all that I was possessed of in my lifetime viz my three tenements in Marsh Street with a piece of land I thereunto adjoining and all the appurtenances thereunto belonging also my farm at Chappell End in the occupation of Mary Huirle all lying and being in the parish of Walthamstow in the county of Essex

Also I give to the said John Hammond a piece of land called the Island containing half an acre of land with the malting grainery and all that is thereunto belonging lying and being in the parish of Waltham Abbey alias Holy Cross in the county of Essex aforesaid

All which I give to the said John Hammond to him and his heirs forever upon the condition notwithstanding that he pay to his three sisters their annuities and legacies at or before the set times above mentioned to be paid out of the rents and profits of the estate without fraud? taxes or any deductions whatsoever to be paid by his heirs executors and assigns And for the better enabling of him the said John Hammond to pay the annuities legacies and copyhold fines as aforesaid I give him in mortgages bonds and debts to the value of four hundred pounds

And I give to every one of my four children a funeral ring the full value of a guinea weight to wear for my sake and it is my earnest desire that my children live in love and peace one with another and be contented with what God hath given them by the hands of a carefull father

And it is my will and pleasure and strict order that if any contention or suites at law shall be conmmenced by any one of my four children before mentioned with designs to alter or deprive one another of what I have given them contrary to the true intent and meaning of my will that then the person or persons who begins the contention or commences the first suite at law shall pay out of his or her legacies forty pounds to be paid to the person or persons he she sued and put to trouble

I give to the poor of the parish of Walthamstow twenty shillings to be distributed in bread

And I declare and make my son John Hammond whole and sole executor of this my last will and testament desiring him carefully and faithfully to execute and discharge the particulars mentioned in my will according to the full intent and meaning thereof

And I do hereby renounce and make void all former wills whatsoever and declare this to be my last will and testament in witness whereof I do hereunto set my hand and seal this ___day of signed sealed and deliver in the presence of us (no date and no witnesses)

12 Aug 1729

Appeared personally John Hammond of the parish of St. Thomas the Apostle London Cooper, William Phelpe of Waltham Abbey in the county of Essex gent and Richard Blake of the parish of Walthamstow in the said county of Essex **Barber and Pem…maker and by virture of their corporal oaths take on the holy Evangelist severally and respectively deposed as follows viz. he the said John Hammond deposed that he was and is the natural and lawful son of William Hammond late of the same parish of Walthamstow aforesaid yeoman deceased and hath often seen him write and also subscribe his name and thereby became well acquainted with his manner and character of hand writing that the said deceased was speechless for about three days next before and until the time of his death which happened on Thursday the seventh day of this month of August that on the Tuesday preceding _________ fifth day of the said month of August this deponent the said John Hammond found in a trunk in the chamber where the said deceased lay and died the schedule hereunto annexed beginning ‘In the name of God amen the last will and testament of William Hammond’ and ending ‘I do hereunto set my hand and seal this day of ‘wrapped up in the schedule or cover marked B and hereunto annexed on which cover there appeared the following words endorse viz. ‘ the last will and testament of William Hammond 1726’ and the said William Phelpe and Richard Blake deposed that they well knew and were acquainted with the said William Hammond deceased and have often seen him write and also subscribe his name and thereby became will acquainted with his manner and character of hand writing and they the said John Hammond and William Phelpe and Richard Blake jointly deposed that they having now viewed the said schedule marked A and hereunto annexed and beginning and ending as before mentioned and the said schedule or cover marked B and the words above writed wrote there do verily believe the said schedule or cover marked A and the above writed words or endorsement on the said schedule or cover marked B to be totally wrote by and with the proper hand of the said William Hammond deceased
John Hammond William Phelpe and Richard Blake (followed by Latin oath) J. Cottrell

Probatum is given entirely in Latin

Barber Trade - Until 1745 when the professions of barber and surgeon were separated, a barber would have performed some medical duties.

If George and William were Brothers...

George and William Hammond both went to Waltham Abbey from elsewhere -George from Saint Sepulchre's, London and William, possibly from Tottenham. I have been unable to find baptism records for them in either location. What makes them appear to have been brothers is:

1. Elizabeth Camp was a tenant of a John Hammond in a record dated 1769, and later, both William and George had a connection to Elizabeth Camp. ( Each lived next to or close to her around Romeland for ten and twenty years, and she gave evidence to support William's viewpoint about the property he took over from James Barwick in 1802 because her father, James Streeter, had held it at one time.)

2. Both William and George married by licence and signed the parish register in an educated hand suggesting they were of the same class.

3. When William Hammond took over the James Barwick property in 1802, Barwick moved into George Hammond's house. Barwick's former property had three freehold tenements. In 1826, they were occupied by the Widow Hammond; her son and our ancestor, John Hammond; and Joseph Littler, Mrs. Hammond's brother. It is possible that George Hammond occupied one of these tenements after 1802 until his death in 1809.

4. John Hammond, second son of William Hammond and Elizabeth Littler, named his first son 'George James' and the name George has followed through the generations. John would have been about eleven years old when George Hammond died in 1809.

Hammond is a very common surname (currently the 313rd most common name in Britain). And George and William are very common given names. Add to that the fact that earlier records contain less information (often no mother's name), and as a result, it seems impossible to trace back another generation from Waltham Abbey. However, there are records of other Hammonds in the parish of Waltham Cross or with property in the parish that we can try to connect.

One or several John Hammonds appear in copyhold (lease) records related to Waltham Abbey held at Northamptonshire Record Office. The lord who 'owned' and 'leased out' these properties lived in Northamptonshire:

1749- (NRO WC 310) - List of Copyhold tenants of Waltham Holy Cross - John Hammond (no address given)
1769 - (NRO X2766) John Hammond shown as 'Landlord' and Elizabeth Camp as 'tenant'
1796 - (NRO X2760) John Hammond - no details
1800 - (NRO X2766 no. 80) John Hammond, owner of part of a 'malting' behind the 'Flour de Luce' ( a former inn on the south side of High Bridge Street opposite the entrance into Romeland, the abode of Elizabeth Camp. Her father, James Streeter, left her a house, formerly the Flower de Luce Inn by his 1763 will)..............Researched by P. Huggins, Waltham Abbey

The Poor Rate records reveal that from approximately September, 1746 to February, 1752, a Mrs. Hammond (not referred to as 'widow') lived in a house (formerly Bookers) possibly on Sewardstone Street close to the Market. In the parish registers we find the death of first a **nurse child named John Hammond January 21, 1752. And then on the 12th of April, 1752, the burial of Elizabeth Hammond. One might think this is mother and child. Perhaps the mother was ill after the child was born and he was taken to a **wet nurse. However, on July 1st, 1757, an Elizabeth Hammond witnessed the marriage of John Clark, a bachelor to Martha Thompson, a widow, both of WH+ and married by licence. Unfortunately, this information poses more questions than answers.

At his death in 1729, a William Hammond of Walthamstow (on the east and Essex side of the Lea River opposite Lea Bridge) left to his son, John, a number of properties in Walthamstow, but also the following malting grainery in Waltham Abbey:

"Also I give to the said John Hammond a piece of land called the Island containing half an acre of land with the malting grainery and all that is thereunto belonging lying and being in the parish of Waltham Abbey alias Holy Cross in the county of Essex aforesaid "

The probate details reveal that this John Hammond was a cooper of St. Thomas the Apostle, a parish close to the Southwark Bridge in London. Could he be the John Hammond mentioned in the above 1749 record, and his son John and possibly grandson John, the ones in the later records. If this is the case, William and George Hammond would be sons of a John and have had an elder brother named John. William named his second son, John, so this is possible. However, we have no definitive proof, at this time, of the earlier generations.

**The practice of using wet nurses is ancient and found in many cultures. Sometimes it is linked to social class. Members of property-owning classes had their children wet-nursed, in the hope of becoming pregnant again quickly to ensure an heir. (Lactation can suppress ovulation.) Poor women, especially those who suffered the stigma of giving birth to an illegitimate child, sometimes had to give their baby up, temporarily or permanently, and a wet nurse would look after it. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wet_nurse

Family of Wm and Elizabeth (Littler) Hammond

The above photo was taken from the internet to show the fashion at the time that William Hammond and Elizabeth Littler married in 1796 in Waltham Abbey.

1796 Entry from Parish Register of Waltham Holy Cross, Waltham Abbey, Essex Click to enlarge

Guildhall Library - Godfrey New Photographics Click on document to enlarge William Hammond (b. ca. 1753) married Elizabeth Littler in the parish of Waltham Holy Cross (Waltham Abbey, Essex) on the twenty-first day of February, 1796. The witnesses were Thomas Littler and Mary Frances Reynolds, brother and sister of Elizabeth. The marriage licence, issued February 10th, seems to suggest that William was of Tottenham, Middlesex but his place of birth and parents have not been found. He was a widower, but his first marriage and any issue from that marriage remain a mystery. They had five children: William, Ann, John (our ancestor), Frances Mary and Elizabeth. The families of their two sons are shown below in a smaller print. Family of William HAMMOND & Elizabeth LITTLER 1. Rev. William HAMMOND b. 18 NOV 1796, c. 02 APR 1797 Waltham Abbey, Essex d. 12 MAR 1885, Ashdon, Essex Burial: Ashdon Churchyard (Monument Extant) m= Elizabeth Littler, his first cousin, dau of Thomas Littler and Sarah Preston, 8 JUN 1820 Waltham Abbey D. & buried 1856, Burnham, Essex Their children i) Elizabeth (buried Waltham Abbey) ii) Harriet b. 21 AUG 1822 Waltham Abbey, Essex iii) William Farran b. 14 FEB 1824, Waltham Abbey, Essex

iv) Mary Farran

b. 1828, Burnham, Essex v) Sarah b.1834, Burnham, Essex 2. Ann HAMMOND c. 18 NOV 1798 Waltham Abbey, Essex d. 27 DEC 1816 3. John HAMMOND c. 23 FEB 1799 Waltham Abbey, Essex d. 19 NOV 1857, Leabridge, Hackney MDX =Sarah Millidge, dau of John Millidge, Jeweler & Susannah Clare

m. 26 Sept 1821, St. Andrew Holborn, Mdx (London)

*

Their Children i) George James b. 15 Aug 1822, c. 11 Sep 1822 Waltham Abbey ii) John b. 21 Feb 1824 Waltham Abbey, Essex

iii) Ann c. 4 Dec 1825 Waltham Abbey, Essex iv) Sarah Adelaide c. 3 Jul 1827 Waltham Abey, Essex

4. Frances Mary HAMMOND b. 1 JAN 1801 c. 9 AUG 1801 Waltham Abbey, Essex Unknown if she survived 5. Elizabeth HAMMOND c. 13 MAR 1803 Waltham Abbey, Essex d. 25 APR 1805

George Hammond, Surgeon-Apothecary

Click to enlarge the map.
Map of the boundaries of St. Sepulchre's, London taken from the Church's
website. To view this website, click on the title of this post.
The parish registers of the Parish of Waltham Holy Cross record that George Hammond, of the parish of St. Sepulchre's (presumably London) married Elizabeth Lowcock, of the parish of Waltham Holy Cross (Waltham Abbey) on February 27, 1781. They were married by licence; therefore, a copy of the licence will be at the Guildhall in London. I have not viewed this, and this is something which could be followed up.
Waltham Abbey was close enough to London for the residents to have family, social and/or business connections there. For those reasons, George and Elizabeth might have met any number of ways. However, one possibility is that George Hammond had some earlier family connection to Waltham Holy Cross. No baptism for him has been found in the parish, but the possibility that other family members lived there or in a nearby parish will be pursued in a later post.
The fact that they were married by licence (for which there was a fee), and that the marriage was witnessed by Jessops, a family of solicitors of WA, and that both Elizabeth and George signed the register in a confident hand suggests that they were educated and had some social standing.
We know from various records that George Hammond was a surgeon-apothecary. Until the time of his marriage, he lived in St. Sepulchre's Parish, London. The above map shows the outline of the parish and most interestingly, the proximity of St. Bartholomew's Hospital. It is possible that he had some connection to the Hospital, such as apprenticing with a doctor there. (Co-incidentally, the father of the Hammond children born at Lea Bridge, John Hammond, died there in 1880.) I have been unable to find a baptism for a George Hammond in St. Sepulchre's. He may have moved there only to study or work.
In the eighteenth century, a surgeon did not have to attend a university, but would have been apprenticed and then examined and licensed. He would have been a general practitioner setting bones, dressing wounds, and giving vaccinations.
"Apothecaries and surgeon-apothecaries in the eighteenth century worked on the front-line of health care, as they broadened their roles from drug-makers-dispensers to ‘general practitioners’ who diagnosed and treated the sick. They had patients at all social levels. Not only did successive monarchs appoint a royal Apothecary but, by the early nineteenth century, it was common for local parish authorities across the country to retain the services of a surgeon-apothecary on a contract basis, to provide services, such as inoculation, for the poor.85 As their numbers multiplied and their geographical spread broadened, the medical practitioners were in effect taking over the clergymen's traditional role as most ubiquitous professional ‘carers’ at the local level, delivering services to individuals, families, community organisations and the specialist hospitals."From Poison Peddlers to Civic Worthies: The Reputation of the Apothecaries in Georgian England
Penelope J. Corfield*
*Department of History, Royal Holloway,University of London,Egham, Surrey TW20 0EX,UK. E-mail:p.corfield@rhul.ac.uk
George Hammond, as well as Arthur Heron (still alive for 1825 Valuation of land) and Joseph Lindsay were employed by the parish to provide health care for the poor. George appears in the records from July, 1783 to March, 1790 at an annual salary of twenty-two pounds sterling. Some services were billed in addition to the annual salary. George Hammond was paid extra sums several times apparently for delivering children for women who had been widowed. Heron and Lindsay are mentioned with regard to inoculation.
It is presumed that George Hammond would have had his private practice at the same time, and he probably worked from his home. We know that George Hammond, Surgeon was one of four persons involved in examining the state of the river in 1794, as recorded in a local history published in 1888 by William Winters. George probably also ran a 'lunatic asylum,'  as his name appears as a footnote in a *book
(details below) discussing the asylums of the time.  The book is held at the National Archives in England and a query resulted in the following reply:

"Dear Ms Hammond

MH 51/736 contains correspondence dated 1961-1971 relating to The County Register of Houses for the reception of Lunatics", 1798-1812. Mr G Hammond is listed as the proprietor of a licensed madhouse in Waltham Abbey, Essex. No other details are recorded.
Yours sincerely, John Crawford, Remote Services"
The Poor Rate tax records show that he lived:
1. at the (east) end of High Bridge Street, close to Romeland (next to Mrs. Camp) from April 1781 - late 1786
2. on Sun Street from May, 1787 until late 1788
3. close to the Cock Inn on High Bridge Street (Romeland area) from May 1789 to November 1802.
James Barwick moved into George's house in November, 1802, and a William Hammond (probably George's brother) moved into the former Barwick premises. George may have moved into one of the tenements (there were three) on the Barwick property which William took over farther west on High Bridge Street. Or he may have moved from Waltham Abbey and was returned to the parish for his burial in 1809. His burial is recorded in the parish registers but there is no record of a monument.
Unfortunately, there is no record which indicates his age. He died about thirteen years before William. An educated guess would be that he was William's elder brother, making him in his early thirties to forties when he married Elizabeth Lowcock. George's wife's death has not been found either. If George were William's older brother, in 1802 when William took over Barwick's property, he might have been at retirement age and ready to move away from the centre of town.
Things which could be checked in future: a closer look for baptisms in St. Sepulchres about 1740-60; records at St. Bartholomews Hospital (done 2012); 18th Century Medics by Wallis, Wallis and Burnaby, published Newcastle-upon-Tyne, 1988 (I have this index but it needs to be pursued); Guild Hall marriage licences; **Thomas Baldwin's or Dr. Allen's lunatic asylum in Waltham (done 2012 - no information related to Hammond and the Waltham Abbey Historical Society seems to know nothing of an asylum operated by George Hammond
.
*The County Register of Houses for the Reception of "Lunatics", 1798–1812
Richard A. Hunter, M.D., M.R.C.P., D.P.M., Ida Macalpine, M.D. and Leonard M. Payne, F.L.A.
ABSTRACT
For the period 1798–1812 the provincial madhouses in England licensed under the "Act for Regulating Madhouses" of 1774 are listed, with the number of patients received into each as recorded in the Register of the Commissioners of the College of Physicians of London. Attention is drawn to some names well known in the history of psychiatry, as well as to some whose practice in the field of insanity is revealed by this study.
**In 1780 Thomas Baldwin was licensed to keep a lunatic asylum in Waltham. (fn. 240) This, or another asylum, was later kept by Dr. Matthew Allen, one of whose patients, in 1837–41, was the poet John Clare. (fn. 241) Allen died before 1848 and the asylum closed soon after. (fn. 242)
From: 'Waltham Holy Cross: Economic history and local government', A History of the County of Essex: Volume 5 (1966), pp. 162-170. URL: http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=42719 Date accessed: 18 August 2009.

George Hammond, Surgeon-Apothecary

Facts known about George Hammond:

('Tax' refers to the Poor Rate which was a tax on residents for the maintenance of the poor in the parish.
These records make it possible to learn the order [but not house number]of the residents on a particular street in the community. Poor Rate and Disbursements of the Poor Rate were searched by Peter Huggins of Waltham Abbey as part of the 2000 Millennium Project)

• George Hammond came to Waltham Abbey from St. Sepulchre's Parish (probably London) as recorded in parish register marriage record
• married Elizabeth Lowcock by licence in WA February 27, 1781 - both previously unmarried; marriage witnessed by Jessops
• first paid Poor Rate tax on a house in April, 1781 next to Mrs. Elizabeth Camp (probably widow of William Camp) who was also at the same address in 1776
• Poor Rate Disbursements - George was paid quarterly as a surgeon-apothecary from July 1783 to March, 1790 to attend to the poor in the workhouse or elsewhere - annual salary 22 pounds sterling
• appears in Bailey's British Directory - 1784 as Surgeon-Apothecary in Waltham Abbey (3 others in the same profession)
• at end of High Bridge St / Romeland from April, 1781 to late 1786
• lived on Sun Street from about May, 1787 until late 1788
• moved to Romeland about May, 1789 close to the Cock Inn, High Bridge St.
• William Winters notes in 1888 that on October 20, 1794, "Mr. Hammond, Surgeon attended an examination of the state of the river, in case a trial ensued, as one of four impartial persons."
• William Hammond, widower (brother of Geo?) married Elizabeth Littler in February and appeared April, 1796 on Highbridge St./Romeland (probably bride's house)
• George last paid tax on Romeland house close to the Cock about Oct, 1801
• Oct, 1801 Wm Hammond began paying tax on Abbey Barn / Bowling Green while in his same house on High Bridge St.
• by Nov/1802 James Barwick had moved into George Hammond's house
• by June, 1803 - Wm Hammond had moved to James Barwick's property
• Mrs. Elizabeth Camp gave testimony at the Manor Court concerning Wm Hammond's property (formerly in Barwick's possession) Oct, 1803
• Nov, 1803 Mrs. Elizabeth Camp was still paying tax on a small house
• Wm Hammond was still in Barwicks's house and paying tax on Barn/Green in May, 1805
• 'Mr. George Hammond, Waltham Abbey, Essex' appears as a foot note (book not seen) of the "County Register of Houses for the Reception of "Lunatics", 1798–1812  The footnote refers to correspondence which reveals that: MH 51/736 contains correspondence dated 1961-1971 relating to The County Register of Houses for the reception of Lunatics", 1798-1812. Mr G Hammond is listed as the proprietor of a licensed madhouse in Waltham Abbey, Essex. No other details are recorded. (Source: National Archives)
• WA parish registers - Burial - March 30, 1809 George Hammond, no age given, Surgeon Apothecary

Details Not Found

• place / date of birth / age in any record
• baptisms of any children
• death of wife
• residence between Nov 1802 to March 1809

Waltham Abbey in 1810

Click on the title above for recent photos of Waltham Abbey

Gazetteer of England and Wales - Vol II- Thomas Potts 1810

"Waltham Abbey (in) Waltham Hundred (county division), Essex, 12 miles N. from London, containing 317 houses and 1837 inhabitants, is a large irregular town situated on low ground near the river Lea which here forms a number of small islands. The principal street runs nearly east and west being formed by the road from Epping to Hertford. The Church once formed a part of its famed abbey, and presents an interesting specimen of Saxon architecture. Here, the petty sessions ( the lowest tier in the English court system, now known as magistrates' courts.....where most crime was dealt with) for the Epping division are holden.

"The inhabitants derive employment from the manufacture of printed linens and pins; for the latter purpose, some large new buildings were erected about 8 years ago (1802) on one of the branches of the Lea. Near the town are some gunpowder mills, now in the occupations of government, these have been partly rebuilt since 1801, when considerable damage was done by the blowing up of the corning house. By the navigation of the Lea, the inhabitants enjoy an easy communication with the metropolis.

"The only charity is a school, holden in part of the abbey dedicated to our Lady, and having under it an arched charnel house (a vault where human skeletal remains that are sometimes unearthed when digging graves are stored).

"In ancient times this place was particularly celebrated for its opulent abbey which was originally founded by Earl Harold in 1062 as a monastery; but changed by King Henry II into an abbot and regulars in 1177. Here, besides the original founder, Harold, were interred his brothers (Gyrth and Leofwine), Hugh Nevil protho-forester of England and his son John Nevil, together with several eminent personages.

"The various streams of the river Lea in this neighourhood are traditionally supposed to flow in the same channels which the great Alfred (Saxon king- 9th Century) made to divert the current, when he drew off the water and left the Danish fleet on dry ground.

"Fairs - May 15, Sept 25, 26 - Market = Tuesday"

Waltham Abbey 18th Century

Bookplate: A view of the Parish Church of Waltham Holy Cross and St. Lawrence at Waltham Abbey, Essex. The bottom left of the plate reads 'W.H. Bartlett' and the bottom right reads 'Barber.' Click on the photo to enlarge.

Central view of Waltham Abbey from a map by Peter E. Rooke, 1958 which was copied from the 1826 Crawter map

The bookplate above appears to be a view of the Abbey Church from the bottom-centre of the above map. If you look at the water which runs parallel with High Bridge Street and then curves up along the street where the Church is located, you will notice that there is a footbridge across the water. You can see this same footbridge in the illustration.

Waltham Abbey in the 18th Century
Excerpts from: King Harold's Town, by John Camp and Dinah Dean, 1975

"The town seems to have been something of a backwater during this period. It was just too far from London for convenient daily travel, and it was off the main roads........New industries, or developements of old ones, began to appear in the town. There was a fulling mill at Sewardstone c. 1770 and a pin factory in Waltham east of Romeland and near the Abbey gateway, at the end of the century. Silk and calico printing were further important activities.

"In the early 18th century, the owner of the (gunpowder) mills (built mid 17th century) was John Walton.... A later John Walton sold the mills to the government in 1787, and the long period of war (French Revolution and Napoleonic Wars 1792-1815) which followed soon after led to a great expansion of the industry."

Notes below from: 'Waltham Holy Cross: Introduction and manors', A History of the County of Essex: Volume 5 (1966), pp. 151-162. URL: http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=42718 Date accessed: 19 August 2009.

"For communications the parish has always depended very much on Waltham Cross, which is on the main road from London to Ware. In 1725 there were daily coach services from London to Waltham Abbey, and the journey took less than two hours. (fn. 69) In c. 1840 land transport to London was provided by a coach and two carriers, while two other carriers ran services down the Lea. (fn. 70) The Northern and Eastern Railway from London to Cambridge, opened in 1840–2, included a station at Waltham Cross. (fn. 71) In 1848 a 'bus ran several times a day between this station and Waltham Abbey. (fn. 72)

"Early postal services to Waltham Abbey were also provided through Waltham Cross, which had a post office by 1771. (fn. 73) Sewardstone was being served from Chingford by 1810. (fn. 74) By 1848 there was a sub-post office at Waltham Abbey... "

1781 Marriage of George Hammond

George Hammond and Elizabeth Lowcock were married in the Abbey Church at Waltham Abbey on the 27th day of February, 1781. George was 'of the Parish of St. Sepulchre's' (presumably London) and Elizabeth was of the Parish of Waltham Holy Cross (Waltham Abbey was the name of the town). Two of the witnesses were named Jessopp, a prominent Waltham Abbey family. William Thompson's name often appears as a witness to marriages. Perhaps he was a church elder. The marriage was 'by licence' suggesting social status.


Interior of the Abbey Church of Waltham Holy Cross and St Lawrence
Photo by G. Newbery, from Waltham Abbey - Pitkin Pictorials -
Click on the title of this post for the history of the Church.

Copy of the parish register entry for the marriage of George Hammond

........................Click on the images to enlarge them

WALTHAM ABBEY, Essex

Photo by G. Newbery, from Waltham Abbey - Pitkin Pictorials

2 photos by SLB

This stone monument is in the churchyard in Waltham Abbey.

The Abbey church is where King Harold prayed before the Battle of Hastings in 1066. The Christ figure of the crucifix in the church is said to have bowed its head as Harold prayed, a bad omen for the upcoming battle. He was the last Saxon king of England and his body is buried in the churchyard. The inscription on the stone reads

This stone marks the position of the high altar behind which King Harold is said to have been buried 1066

The Abbey church is "after Durham and Norwich.... the finest and most extensive range of Norman architecture in England."

Maps of London Area

click on maps to enlarge -
Map of London area within M25 Orbital Motorway
Waltham Abbey, where our family history begins, is located at the top of the map just above the dual motorway (blue). Waltham Abbey is in Essex County about 12 miles from the city centre or thirty-five minutes by subway /train.

The map detail shows Waltham Abbey on the Lea River.

If you follow the river to the Thames River in the centre of London, you will observe the name Hackney which is a borough of Greater London. Lea Bridge, where the children of John Hammond and Elizabeth Seymour were born, is located in Hackney Borough close to the name Leyton on the map on the west side of the Lea River and north of the orange A104.

Our Hammond family history entails five generations in

England. The further back the records go, the sparser the

details, and despite more than twenty years of searching, I have been unable to go back to a sixth generation.

The story begins in Waltham Abbey, Essex in February, 1781 with the marriage of a surgeon-apothecary named George Hammond who was formerly of the parish of St. Sepulchre in London. It climaxes in September, 1880 when, four generations later, three little Hammond boys traveled to Quebec on the SS Sardinian in the company of a Mr. Merry and a group of orphaned children.