Ham Family History

Ham
   The Anglo-Saxon name "Ham" was established when the family resided in the county of Sussex in an area that was known by the low-lying land near a stream. The surname was originally derived from the Old English word Hamme, which also has patronymic origins. (Spelling variations include: Ham, Hamm, Hame and others.)
   The family was first found in Sussex where they were seated from very ancient times, some say well before the Norman Conquest and the arrival of Duke William at Hastings in 1066 A.D. The Coat of Arms features a green shield with three silver salmon, and the Crest displays a unicorn's head.
   Our lineage in this family can be traced as far back as WILLIAM HAM, whom was born @ 1597 in Plymouth, Devon, England or Teignmouth, Devonshire, England. He married HONOR STEPHENS on 22 Nov 1622 at St. Andrews, Plymouth, Deven, England.
   Honor was born in Landulph, Cornwall, England and christened on 4 Feb 1601 in Portsmouth [brother Matthew was born in 1628 and died in 1664 in Portsmouth, New Hampshire] to William Stevens (b. 1659) and Mary Woode (b.1573), who were married in 1600). The Stevens family was first found in Gloucestershire where they were descended from FitzStephen, a Breton knight who was conjecturally descended from Count Stephen of Brittany and accompanied William the Conqueror into England and fought at the Battle of Hastings in 1066. The Family Coat of Arms features are blue and silver, and at the top of the shield there are two eagles. A half eagle is displayed on the Crest. The Family Motto: "Virtutis amore," translates as "Through love to virtue."
Stephens
   William Ham travelled to the New World in about 1630, first settling in Exeter, New Hampshire, then at Portsmouth, New Hampshire. (Brigham Young of the LDS is a descendant of William.) He was a fisherman, hired in 1635 as a member of the Trelawney Expedition and sent to the coast of Maine. He arrived at Richmond Isle, Maine, in the Speedwell 26 Apr 1635. They visited Agamenticus and Kitterly before their return. William Ham and John Lander were the first fishermen at Short Sands on the south shore of the Cape Neddock River, Maine (2 mis. east of the York River). He also fished at Stratton's Islands.
   William was in Exeter between 1636 and 1646, then moved to Portsmouth 1646 or 1652. He was granted 50 acres at Ham's Point, Portsmouth in 1652, and added more land later.
   Three brothers of the Ham family came to this country previous to 1646.
   William died on 26 Mar 1673 in Portsmouth, Rockingham, New Hampshire. His will was proved at Exeter, New Hampshire 1672 (in archives at Concord). Matthew was a fisherman on the Isle of Shoals. Juryman 1650, Selectman, Portsmouth 1656. His will mentions Matthew's son Thomas as residing in Rhode Island.
   
Their daughter, ELIZABETH HAM (B: @ 1630 in Portsmouth), married WILLIAM COTTON around 1649. And they had the following children:

CHILDREN OF WILLIAM COTTON AND ELIZABETH HAM

  • JOHN COTTON was born in 1652 in Strawberry Banks, Portsmouth, Rockingham, New Hampshire. He died on 9 Dec 1714, in Portsmouth, Rockingham, N. H.) Family listed below.
  • WILLIAM COTTON (named after William Ham, who was also accused of being one of the three man-witches in Portsmouth) was born in 1651.
  • SOLOMON COTTON was born @ 1652 in Portsmouth, Rockingham, New Hampshire; He was a shipwright who married Margaret Fernald (b: 27 Mar 1681 in Kittery, NH) on 14 May 1702; They had a son named Benjamin (b: 21 Dec 1718 in Portsmouth, New Hampshire). Solomon died in 1755.
  • SARAH COTTON was born in 1654 in Portsmouth. No further information.
  • THOMAS COTTON was born in 1655 in Portsmouth. No further information.
  • JOSEPH COTTON was born in 1656 Portsmouth, Rockingham, N. H.; He died @ 1724.
  • BENJAMIN COTTON was born in 1657 in Portsmouth, Rockingham, New Hampshire, No further information.
  •    William was a juror and constable at Dover Court 1651. He took the oath of Fidelity 11 Jul 1659 and had lands assigned to him as resident of Portsmouth 13 Jan 1652. A deposition on 27 Jan 1660, listed him as about age 46. He died on 14 Dec 1678 in Strawberry Banke, in Portsmouth. Elizabeth followed him on 24 Jun 1679 in Portsmouth.

    GENEALOGY

    WILLIAM HAM (b. @ 1597) married HONOR STEPHENS (b. 1601) and begat...

    WILLIAM COTTON (@1630 - 14 Dec 1678) married ELIZABETH HAM (@1630 - 24 Jun 1679) and begat...

    JOHN COTTON (1652 - 1714), who married SARAH HEARLE (b. @1654) and begat...

    JOHN COTTON (1679 - 1723), who married ELIZABETH DAVIS (1696 - 1761) and begat...

    TIMOTHY COTTON, who married MARY (Unknown) and begat...

    JOHN COTTON, who married ABIGAL MASON and begat...

    CONTENT CLINTON, who married LEMUEL BRIGGS (b. 1773) and begat...

    POLLY BRIGGS (1811 - 1867) who married DAVID SANDERSON (1804 - 1884) and begat...

    MELISSA SANDERSON (1839 - 1921) who married LABAN HAUSE (1831 - 1906) and begat...

    FRANK HAUSE (1867 - 1951) who married FLADELLA RAYMOND (1869 - 1961) and begat...

    CARLISLE HAUSE (1891 - 1972) who married MARJORIE MARCHANT (1892 - 1939) who begat...

    CARLETON MARCHANT HAUSE, SR. (1917 - 1983) who married JEANNE BRUNNER (1918 - 2000) and begat...

    CARLETON MARCHANT HAUSE, JR. (b. 1939) who married MARTHA WENK (b. 1940) and begat...

    JEFF (who married LORI ANN DOTSON), KATHY (who married HAL LARSEN), ERIC (who married MARY MOONSAMMY), and MICHELE HAUSE (who married JOHN SCOTT HOUSTON).


    Literature on the Ham and Cotton Families:

    • "Ham & Related Families," Mary May Cordier, 1975
    • "Genealogy of the Ham Family & of the Young Family," Thomas Caverno Ham, 1949
    • "Ham Family of Dover," NEHGR
    • "Search for Mary & John v19; The Cotton Family of Portsmouth, New Hampshire," by Frank E. Cotton
    • Genealogical Register of Plymouth Families by William T. Davis 1895