Family and Education

1st s. of Alexander Hammond of Acrise by Elizabeth, da. and coh. of Thomas Cossington of Acrise. educ. ?Trinity Hall, Camb. 1546. m. ?by 1550, Katherine, da. of Peter Hayman^† of Sellinge, 6s. (2 d.v.p.) 7da.

Offices Held

Escheator, Kent 1559-60; j.p. Kent from c.1573, q. 1601.

Biography

Hammond was a protestant exile at Frankfurt in July 1554, being made a burgher in the following month. In September he was one of the congregation who signed the letter asking John Knox to become their pastor. He may have returned to England soon afterwards, for on 4 Jan. 1556 a ‘William Hamonde’ appeared before the Privy Council, and in April Machyn named a ‘Mr. Hammond’ among those who had fled to the Continent after the failure of the Dudley plot. Hammond received a grant of arms in 1559, and thenceforward resided on his Kent estates. He was discharged from payment of a £50 privy seal loan in 1571 on account of poverty. It is not known how he came to be returned for West Looe in 1572. The references to a ‘Mr. Hammond’ or ‘Hamon’ in the journals of this Parliament are more likely to apply to Thomas Hannam. The William Hammond mentioned in 1590 as a servant of the archbishop was probably his son.

William Hammond died 25 Apr. 1603 when his son and heir, Alexander, was aged 53. By his will, proved 11 May 1603, he left Acrise to his eldest son with various leases and rents. Other land in Elham and elsewhere went to his three surviving younger sons. The four sons were joint executors.

Vis. Kent (Harl. Soc. lxxiv), 57-8; Hasted, Kent, viii. 112-13; C. H. Garrett, Marian Exiles, 175; APC, v. 216; viii. 23; Machyn Diary (Cam. Soc. xlii), 103; CSP Dom.1598-1601, p. 529; C142/693/29; PCC 38 Bolein. There is no evidence to show that the ‘Hammond’ committed to the Tower in October 1551 as a supporter of Somerset was this man, and the suggestion that the man involved in the Dudley plot was the son of the Frankfurt exile is incorrect.

Ref Volumes: 1558-1603

Author: Roger Virgoe

Notes