Richard Hammett & Elizabeth (née Risdon)

Parents: Richard Hammett and Thomasine (née Hamlyn)

Richard’s father died in June 1718, when Richard was eleven years old, and was buried at Clovelly.

Elizabeth RISDON

Elizabeth Risdon was baptised on 6 February 1710 at Woolfardisworthy, county Devon (near Bideford).

Parents: Philip Risdon (of Woolfardisworthy) and Elizabeth (née Kingford)

Philip Risdon and Elizabeth Kingford were married on 22 January 1709 at Woolfardisworthy [IGI].

Elizabeth was the only child and heir.

Richard Hammett and Elizabeth Risdon were married (details not known).

Children: James, born on 7 October 1734; baptised 31 October at Woolfardisworthy.

Elizabeth

Richard, baptised on 4 August 1736 at Woolfardisworthy.

Mary

William, baptised on 17 April 1740 at Woolfardisworthy.

Charles, baptised on 10 June 1742 at Woolfardisworthy.

Thomasin, baptised on 24 May 1744 at Woolfardisworthy.

Zachary, baptised on 27 March 1746 at Woolfardisworthy.

Anne, born on 16 February 1747 at Clovelly; baptised on 11 March 1747 at

Woolfardisworthy; married Henry Drake.

Gertrude, baptised on 25 July 1750 at Woolfardisworthy.

[Baptisms from IGI Records (www.familysearch.org) - see Appendix for further details]

Richard’s mother, Thomasine Hammett, died in January 1741/42 at Woolfardisworthy, and was buried there.

Richard was one of the beneficiaries of the will of his uncle, Zachary Hamlyn, which was dated 17 May 1758. Zachary Hamlyn died on 22 June 1759, and his will was proved on July 31. The will read (in part):

To my s^d nephew Rich^d Hammett (son of my s^d sister Thomazin Hammett) my Lease of the field & moors, called the Waydowns & Buckish Moors, in the par. of Wolfardisworthy… To my s^d nephew Rich^d Hammett £200, and his wife Eliz^th £20 for mourning… To my s^d nephew Rich^d Hammett, and my s^d niece Anne Hammett, the sum of £800 in trust for defraying the school and university education of such sons as may yet be born to the s^d Rich^d Hammett by Elizabeth his wife, and one of the s^d sons so qualified to be presented to the Rectory of Claveleigh als[o known as] Clovelly, when the s^d Rectory shall become vacant.

Richard Hammett died on 26 March 1766 at "Kennerland", aged 59 years, and was buried on April 1 at Woolfardisworthy.

Elizabeth Hammett died on 24 March 1787, aged 77 years, and was buried on March 31 at Woolfardisworthy.

In St. Michael’s Church at Woolfardisworthy there is a monumental tablet with the following inscription:

Sacred to the memory of Richard Hammett, gent., who died 26^th March 1766, aged 59 years, and also Elizabeth his wife, only daughter and child of Philip Risdon, gentlemen, who died 24 March 1787, aged 77 years. They have left numerous issue, by whom they were most deservedly beloved, and will ever be lamented. This token of respect to their good parents is erected by their three daughters, Mary, Thomasin, and Gertrude.

Appendix

The children of Richard Hammett and Elizabeth (née Risdon):

James Hammett (surname changed to Hamlyn in 1760) was born on 7 October 1734. In 1746 James’ great-uncle Zachary Hamlyn settled several of his estates in trust upon his great-nephew James Hammett (including Clovelly Court and other landed property in Clovelly, Woolfardisworthy and Hartland, and in the county of Carmarthen). James was the major beneficiary and sole Executor of the Will of his great uncle Zachary Hamlyn (17 May 1758; proved 31 July 1759). The full text of this Will can be found at Will of Zachary Hamlyn of Lincolns Inn (and Clovelly Court) 1759. References to James Hammett in this document are as follows:

By a deed dat. 2 & 3 June 1746, I have settled all my manors, lands tenem^ts &c., in the parishes of Clovelly, Wolfardisworthy, & Hartland, co. Devon, & my rectories, tithes, &c., in the parishes of Conwelgaio & Lansawell, co. Carmarthen, upon certain trusts. Since the above settlement I have purchased of Tho^sLimbear of Judeknowle, in the par. of Berry, co. Devon., gent., & W^m Orchard, late of Hartland, in the said co., gent., a messuage, &c., called Rudmore, als Ruddimore, in the par. of Hartland. I have also purchased of Eliz^th Cake of Wringworthy, in the par. of Mary Tavy, co. Devon, & her dau. Prudence Cake, a messuage & lands, &c., called Ashcroft or Eystecroft, in the par. of Wolfardisworthy. Also by deed (3 Aug. 1737) I purchased of Lewis Shuley, of the Middle Temple, esq., since dec^d,certain Rents out of lands & tent^s in Wolfardisworthy. All which s^d premises & Rents I bequeath to Anne Hammett of Clovelly, spinster, & John Velley of Hartland, gent., upon the same trusts as in the afores^d deed of 2 & 3 June 1746. Also by Indenture (23 & 24 March 1753) I have purchased of Edw^d Cole, esq., & Sophia, his wife, certain lands, &c., in Wolfardisworthy, called Snaxlands. I have also purchased, under a Decree in Chancery, the manor of Highheannton, & Barton Farm & lands called Coleridge, in co. Devon. All which premises I bequeath to the s^d Anne Hammett and John Velley upon the like trusts. To my great nephew James Hammett, eld. son of my nephew Rich^dHammett, & grandson of my late eldest sister Thomazin Hammett, dec^d.,my house, garden, &c., in Great Torrington, co. Devon…Residue to my great nephew James Hammett, sole Executor.

James Hammett took the surname “Hamlyn” by virtue of an Act of Parliament 34 Geo. II (1760), pursuant to a condition in settlement made by his great-uncle, Zachary Hamlyn, Esq., deceased. James Hamlyn married Arabella Williams on 12 June 1762 at St.George’s, Bloomsbury, London [Arabella Williams was born on 16 August 1738, the fourth and eventually sole surviving child of Thomas Williams of Great Russell Street, Bloomsbury, and representative of all the family of Williams from her grandfather Sir Rice Williams]. By this marriage the estate of Edwinsworth in Carmarthenshire accrued to James, who became the representative of that county in Parliament. The couple had the following children (of which one daughter had died by May 1797):

Arabella

James, born about 1765 at Clovelly Court; married Diana Anne Whitaker; surname

changed to “Hamlyn-Williams” in 1798; died on 3 December 1829 at Clovelly

Court. [Hoskins (cited below); RootsWeb WorldConnect file]

Priscilla

Zachary, died by 1797.

James Hamlyn was Lord Lieutenant for Carmarthen in Parliament, and served “in several Parliaments” [gravestone] - from 1795 to 1809 according to W.G. Hoskins [Devon, A New Survey of England, London, Collins, 1954, 600 pp.]. His main residence was Clovelly Court, in the parish of Clovelly (built by his great-uncle Zachary Hamlyn “in Tudor style” in about 1740). On 11 June 1795 the arms and crest of “Hamlyn” were exemplified to James Hamlyn of Clovelly Court and his descendants. On 7 July 1795 James was created a Baronet, so becoming Sir James Hamlyn, (Baronet). Lady Hamlyn died on 22 May 1797, aged 58 years, and was buried in the Williams family vault at Talley. Sir James Hamlyn died 28 May 1811 at his house in London and was buried on June 8 at Clovelly, county Devon.

Elizabeth Hammett married --- Waddon (by 1762); alive in November 1762.

Richard Hammett (baptised on 4 August 1736 at Woolfardisworthy) became a Rector (probably of Clovelly parish according to the terms of his great uncle Zachary Hamlyn’s Will).

To my s^d nephew Rich^d Hammett, and my s^d niece Anne Hammett, the sum of £800 in trust for defraying the school and university education of such sons as may yet be born to the s^d Rich^d Hammett by Elizabeth his wife, and one of the s^d sons so qualified to be presented to the Rectory of Claveleigh als[o known as] Clovelly, when the s^d Rectory shall become vacant.

In 1791 the arms and crest of “Hammett” were exemplified to the Rev. Richard Hammett of Clovelly and his descendants (as second son of Richard and Elizabeth Hammett).

Mary Hammett, alive in 1787.

William Hammett, baptised on 17 April 1740 at Woolfardisworthy. References to William in his great-uncle Zachary Hamlyn’s Will (17 May 1758; proved 31 July 1759) are as follows:

The children of my s^d nephew Rich^d Hammett by Eliz^th his wife (except their eldest son, and their dau. Eliz^th now Eliz^th Waddon) £500 each… My remaining share in a ship called the Prince George (exclusive of such share as I have already disposed of to my niece Mary Hammett) I bequeath to my great nephew William Hammett, one of the sons of my nephew Rich^d Hammett by Eliz^th his wife.

William Hammett was alive in November 1762.

Charles Hammett, baptised on 10 June 1742 at Woolfardisworthy; alive in November 1762.

Thomasin Hammett , baptised on 24 May 1744 at Woolfardisworthy; alive in 1787.

Zachary Hammett baptised on 27 March 1746 at Woolfardisworthy. References to Zachary in his great-uncle Zachary Hamlyn’s Will (17 May 1758; proved 31 July 1759) are as follows:

To my great nephew Zachary Hammett (youngest son of my s^d nephew Rich^d Hammett) the manor of Venton, with the lands and tents belonging lying in the co^s of Cornwall & Devon, which I purchased of Sophia Cole (since dec^d ) wid. & extrix. Of Edw^d Cole of Chipping Warden, co. Northamp., Esq., and W^m Leigh of Addlesthorpe, co. Glouc., esq., surviving Trustee in the Will of Edw^d Cole… The children of my s^d nephew Rich^d Hammett by Eliz^th his wife (except their eldest son, and their dau. Eliz^th now Eliz^th Waddon) £500 each.

Zachary Hammett was alive in November 1762.

Anne Hammett (born on 16 February 1747 at Clovelly) married Henry Drake [click a link for full details]

Gertrude Hammett, baptised on 25 July 1750 at Woolfardisworthy; alive in 1787.