William
Ham
Born about in Plymouth, Devon, England
Son of [father unknown] and [mother unknown]
[sibling(s) unknown]
Husband of
Honor (Stephens) Ham
— married
20 Nov 1622 in Plymouth St Andrew, Plymouth, Devon, England
Descendants 
Father of
Matthew Ham and Elizabeth (Ham) Cotton
Died before
before about age 76
in Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Profile managers:
Puritan Great Migration Project WikiTree 
[send private message], Tom Wehrman [send private message], and Jay Byrne [send private message]
[send private message], Tom Wehrman [send private message], and Jay Byrne [send private message]Profile last modified
| Created 28 Aug 2012
This page has been accessed 3,169 times.
| William Ham migrated to New England during the Puritan Great Migration (1621-1640). (See The Directory, by R. C. Anderson, p. 148) Join: Puritan Great Migration Project Discuss: pgm |
Contents |
Biography
Birth
His profile birth year is an estimate based upon the year he married in Devonshire, England. According to Stearns he was born about 1600. [1] His 1635 arrival, aboard the ship 'Speedwell' at Portsmouth, Rhode Island, records he was from Plymouth, Devonshire, England.[2]
New England Arrival and Residences
According to Brownell he was from Plymouth, Devonshire, England and arrived at [Richmond Island] Portsmouth, Rhode Island. [2] Anderson also comments that John Ham was among those arriving on the Speedwell in 1635 who quickly changed residency. [3] According to Colket William Ham arrived 1635, Maine [4] which is understandable given his quick relocation to that part of New England.
Further residency change discussion: In his definitive PGM work Robert Charles Anderson references a 28 June 1636 letter, written by John Winter (1609-1645) to Robert Trelawny, where he discusses certain Richmond Island settlers "who had come on the Speedwell in 1635 [Richmond Island]" and are now "all gone" but were probably led by John Lander. [3] Anderson then comments that "Five of these men are found later on the Piscataqua [settlements]: John Billings {1635, Richmond Island-GM 2:1:290-92}, William Freethy {1635, Richmond Island-GM 2:2:583-87}, William Ham {1635, Richmond Island}, John Lander {1635, Richmond Island} and John Simmons {1635, Richmond Island}. [3] John Winter was a 'field supervising' agent for Robert Trelawny (1598-1644), Plymouth, Devonshire, England merchant and shipper who was granted land under the "Gorges patent," [5] This grant included Richmond Island and several thousand acres of the mainland between Sperwick river and Cape Elizabeth just below Portland.[5]
Although there are reasons for believing that he was of Plymouth, a family tradition states that he was a Scotchman from Aberdeen. [5]
Dissatisfied with his treatment in Maine "(the group) claiming they had been cheated by (John) Winter and (Nares) Hawkins they left Falmouth in June 1636 and headed westward to Portsmouth." [5] [Refer above to the John Winter letter that Anderson references for Ham's 1635 arrival.]
By 1646 he was living in Exeter, New Hampshire. [6] and later removed to the adjacent town of Portsmouth, where in 1652 he was granted fifty acres of land on what became known as Freeman's Point [6] originally referred to as Ham's Point. William owned Noble's Island also called after him Ham's Island (until recently). [5]
William was assigned to the first squadron in the settlements garrison division, 1658-1666 he was a town subscriber to the fund for maintaining the minister. [5]
Witch Accusation
According to Libby, Charles T., ed. in his Genealogical Dictionary of Maine & New Hampshire, "in 1656 William Ham as 'Old Ham' was named as one of three 'men witches' there " at Portsmouth. [7] Apparently, Witch accusations surfaced in the Portsmouth community at this time. For example, in June 1656, charges were levied against one Jane (Unknown) Walford landowner and healer (she and husband Thomas, arriving 1631 from Essex county, England 1631 were banished from Charlestown, Massachusetts for unorthodox behavior). Her case was dropped after many depositions.
Marriage & Children
He married Honor Stephens in 1622 in Devonshire [8][9]
He was accompanied from England by his wife Honor (Stephens) Hamm and their two children Mathew and Elizabeth.
- Matthew, "bap. 1624, Landulph, Cornwall, England, parents Wyllya. & Honor Ham" [10] ; 1657 residency, fisherman, & constable, Isles of Shoals ; 1658, juryman ; predeceased his father ; father of William, Thomas and John mentioned in his father's 1672 Will. According to Libby Mathew had another son named Mathew who was "of age in 1654" but not mentioned in his grandfather's Will. [7]
- Elizabeth Ham, "bap. 12 Jul 1629, Botus Fleming, Cornwall, England, parents William & Honor Ham" [11] ; m. abt 1650, William Cotton (1614-1678), Portsmouth, N.H. [12] ; husband William Cotton was "in 1651 of Strawberry Bank, inhabitant of Portsmouth in 1652, who took oath 11 Jul 1659" ; d. aft 1678 [12] , her husband d. 1678 [12]
Note: Previously attached was a son, John Ham (abt.1649-1727) who, not being named in any primary record that proves a relationship, nor the father's will has been disconnected pending reliable sources.
Death and Probated Will
His death occurred at Portsmouth in 1672, at the age of about seventy-two years. [5]
His will, proved at Exeter, made after the death of his son Mathew, divides his property between his daughter, Elizabeth (Ham) Cotton, wife of William Cotton, of Portsmouth, and his grandsons William, Thomas and John. [7] [6]
Research Notes
Different arrival date: According to Farmer he arrived in 1646 [13] which coincides with his 1646 Exeter, New Hampshire residence date used by author Ham.
CAUTION: Confusion over the identity of probable grandson John Ham, b. abt 1649, N.H. probably the son of Mathew Ham; this John is in the Cochecho (Dover) 1665 tax list but his probated Will calls him "John Ham of Portsmouth". The confusion about John's father seems to have arisen from author Ham who states that "Whether son, grandson or nephew of William Ham of Portsmouth..." [6]
Relocated the following unsupported secondary sources:
- http://dunhamwilcox.net/me/me_bio_ham.htm Genealogical and Family History of the State of Maine" New York, N.Y., USA: Lewis Historical Publishing Co.,1909
- https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/126572992/william-ham [Caution Pre-1700 profile source requirements: No gravestone image in this F.A.G. memorial.]
Sources
- ↑ Stearns, Ezra S., ed. "A record Of the achievements of her people in the making of a commonwealth and the founding of a nation" p.8. Vol.71. New York, 1908. (4v.):981p.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Brownell, Elijah Ellsworth, ed. "Topographical Dictionary of 2885 English Emigrants to New England, 1620-1650" p.26. 'Devonshire Emigrants: John Ham, Plymouth, Devonshire, arrival Portsmouth, R.I.' pub. Baltimore, MD., USA: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc. 1976. Accessed 11 Aug 2021. https://www.ancestry.com/sharing/25263023?h=9b1e15
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Anderson, Robert Charles "The Great Migration: Vol. II, C-F" p.85 (William Ham reference under Oliver Clark). Reprinted (subscription online db) Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. Accessed 11 Aug 2021. https://www.ancestry.com/sharing/25250322?h=fcf50d
- ↑ Colket, Meredith B., Jr. "Founders of Early American Families: Emigrants from Europe, 1607-1657" p.133. Cleveland, OH., USA: General Court of the Order of Founders & Patriots of America, 1975. 366p. Reprinted by Filby, P. William, ed. "Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s" Farmington Hills, MI, USA: Gale Research, 2012. Reprinted (subscription online db) Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. Accessed 11 Aug 2021.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 Cutter, William Richard, A.M. "Genealogical and Personal Memoirs Relating to the Families of Boston and Eastern Massachusetts" Vol. 3, Page 1571. pub. New York, N.Y., USA: Lewis Historical Publishing Co., 1908. Accessed 11 Aug 2021. https://books.google.com/books?id=qaK9Vz1UdDcC&lpg=PA1548&ots=kVAf_2922l&dq=the%20history%20of%20the%20William%20Ham%20family%20in%20New%20Hampshire&pg=PA1548#v=onepage&q=William%20Ham%20family%20in%20New%20Hampshire&f=false
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Ham, John R., M.D. of Dover "Ham Family in Dover, N.H." pub. NEHGR: Vol.26 (1872): 388-389. https://archive.org/stream/newenglandhistor1872wate#page/n835/mode/2up/search/388
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Libby, Charles Thornton "Genealogical Dictionary of Maine & New Hampshire: Vol. 3" p. 303. Reprinted (online db) FamilySearch.org. Accessed 13 Aug 2021. https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/records/item/267096-genealogical-dictionary-of-maine-and-new-hampshire-vol-3?viewer=1&offset=0#page=56&viewer=picture&o=search&n=0&q=Ham
- ↑ Blagg, Thomas (ed) 1915, Phillimore & Company (pub) Devonshire parish registers, marriages. V. 2 pg 93 [1]
- ↑ "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975," database, FamilySearch https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/N53J-D27 : 30 December 2014), Honor Stephens, 04 Feb 1601; citing SAINT ANDREW,PLYMOUTH,DEVON,ENGLAND, reference ; FHL microfilm 0896648 IT 2.
- ↑ "England, Select Births and Christenings, 1538-1975" FHL Film No. 236538. [subscription online db]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014. Accessed 11 Aug 2021.
- ↑ "England, Select Births and Christenings, 1538-1975" FHL Film No. 916965 pub. (subscription online db) Provo, UT., USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. 2014. Accessed 11 Aug 2021.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 Torrey, Clarence Almon "New England Marriages Prior to 1700" p.185. Baltimore, MD., USA: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 2004. Reprinted (Subscription online db) Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. Accessed 11 Aug 2021. https://www.ancestry.com/sharing/25263867?h=97867b
- ↑ New England. Farmer, John "A Genealogical Register of the First Settlers of New-England" p.133. Annotation: See also Tepper, "Passengers to America" p.468-470.
- See also:
- "Robert Trelawny papers, 1631-1884; Trelawny, Robert (1598-1644)" Maine Historical Society papers, Portland, ME. Web site: ArchiveGrid.https://researchworks.oclc.org/archivegrid/collection/data/232568498
- Meeds, Melvil F. "Early Settlers of Richmond Island" 40p. Maine Historical Society, 1951. https://researchworks.oclc.org/archivegrid/collection/data/656876172
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- William Ham (abt 1597-1673) PGM Aug 13, 2021.
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Categories: Puritan Great Migration
I'm curious why PGM was added as a co-manager to William Ham. He was not a Puritan. He was instead Church Of England and came to America as an indentured servant.
Regards, Stephen Ham