Timothy Hamant was born 25 March 1699 in Medfield, Massachusetts, the first child of Timothy and Melatiah (Clark) Hamant[1-2].
The family genealogy section of the History of the Town of Medfield, Massachusetts, 1650-1866 book provides this summary[1]:
"Timothy 3 (Timothy, Francis) was the successor on the old homestead. He married in 1727 Hepsibah Clark (55). Town office seemed to await him, commencing, as was customary even in those days, with that of hogreeve, about the date of his marriage ; after which he served as a selectman five years, and as treasurer for the same length of time. He died in 1774. His wife survived him, dying in 1791."
Timothy Hamant married Hepzibah Clark on 19 October 1727 in Boston, by Samuel Sewall, Justice of the Peace[3]. Timothy and Hepzibah had nine children between 1728 and 1741, all of them recorded in the Medfield town records.
Timothy served as a town Selectman in 1740, from 1746 to 1748, and in 1754[4].
Timothy died on 6 January 1774 in Medfield, at age 74[5]. He is probably buried at Vine Lake Cemetery in Medfield, but there is no gravestone or burial record available.
Timothy Hamant wrote his will on 8 May 1771, and it was proved on 19 August 1774 in the Suffolk County Probate Court in Boston, Massachusetts[6]. The will says:
"In the Name of God Amen. the eighth day of May, in the eleventh year of the Reign of King George the third, and in the year of our Lord One thousand Seven hundred & seventy one. I Timothy Hammant of Medfield in the County of Suffolk, and Province of the Massachusetts Bay, in new England,yeoman, being advanced in age, and having of late had repeated & very striking admonitions of my Mortality, but yet being of sound, disposing Mind & Memory, blessed be God, do make & ordain this my last Will & Testament, that is to say, in the first & chief place, I commend my Spirit in to the hands of God who gave it, looking for the Mercy of God through Jesus Christ, unto Eternal Life. I commit my body to the Earth, to be decently buried according to the discretion of my Executors here-after named, in hopes of the Resurrection of the just. And as to such worldly Estate, as God hath been pleased to endow me with, I give, bequeath & dispose of the same, in manner & form following, that is to say:
"Imprimis, it is my Will & pleasure, that all my just Debts & funeral Expenses, be paid with all convenient speed after my decease.
"Item I give & bequeath unto my beloved Wife Hephzibah Hammant the Improvement of the one third part of my Real Estate during her natural life, the one third part of such Money as may remain after my Debts & funeral Charges shall be paid, if any there should be; as also the one third part of such Debts as may be due to me at my decease, and the whole of the within door Moveables to be at her entire use & dispose forever; as also the Improvement of the one third part of all my Buildings during her natural Life, & the one third part of my Stock, to be at her dispose forever.
"Item, I give & bequeath unto my beloved Grandchildren, the Children of my dear Son Seth Hammant late of Sturbridge deceased, Viz't Himdell, Simeon, Zillah and Joel Hammant, the other Moiety of the thirty seventh Lot, in the second Divisions of Lands in Sturbridge, the one Moiety of which was given by Deed to my said son Seth, in hi lifetime, the same to be equally divided between my said grandchildren, to be to them, their Heirs & Assigns forever.
"Item, I give & bequeath to my beloved Son Timothy Hammant the Sum of five Shillings lawful Money, to be paid by my Son Francis Hammant, soon after my decease over and above what I have heretofore given him, whether by Deed or otherwise.
"Item, I give & bequeath unto my beloved son Francis Hammant, his Heirs & Assigns forever, all my Estate situate in Medfield, whether real, or personal, whether Lands, goods, Chattels Moneys, Notes Bonds, dues, or Demands whatsoever, not already demised, he paying my just Debts & funeral Charges, & such Annuitys & Legacies, as shall be hereafter named.
"Item, I give & bequeath unto my beloved daughter Mehitable Hammant, an Annuity of Three Pounds four shillings lawful Money, to be paid her yearly by my son Francis Hammant aforesaid, during her remaining single, and in case of her Marriage, I give & bequeath unto my said Daughter, the sum of Fifty three Pounds, six shillings & eight pence, to be paid her by my said Son Francis aforesaid, and in case of her being reduced to any Circumstances of Necessity, by sickness, or otherwise, such a part, or the whole of the aforesaid Sum of fifty three pounds six shillings & 8'd as my Executors hereafter named shall think proper, and in case of the payment of the whole, or any part of the Capital, the Annuity to cease, or be diminished in proportion, and in case the whole, or any part of the said sum of £53 : 6 : 8 should remain unpaid at the decease of my s'd Daughter my Will & pleasure is, that the same be equally divided among my surviving Children.
"Item, I give & bequeath unto my beloved Daughters, Patience Smith, Basmuth Walker, & Dinah Chenery, to each and every of them, or their Heirs, the Sum of Twenty Pounds lawfull Money, the one half to be paid at my decease, & the other at the decease of my Wife, by my Son Francis aforesaid. And I do hereby constitute & appoint my Sons Timothy & Francis Hammant, Executors of this my last Will & Testament, declaring this & no other to be such.
"In Witness whereof, I have hereto set my Hand and Seal the day & year aforesaid.
Sig'd, sealed, publ'd, & decl'd by him the s'd } Timothy Hamant
Timothy Hammant, to be his last Will } and a Seal
& Testam't in presence of us }
Ezra Clark, Noah Clark, Elias Clark."
"Suffolk SS: The aforewritten Will being presented for Probate by the Executors therein named, Ezra Clark, Noah Clark, & Elias Clark, made Oath that they saw Timothy Hamant, Subscriber to this Instrument sign & seal, & heard him publish & declare it to be his last Will & Testament, & that when he so did, he was of sound disposing Mind & Memory, according to these Deponents best discerning & that they set to their Hands as Witnesses thereof, in the said Testator's presence.Boston Aug't 19'th 1774.
F. Hutchinson Jud. Probate
Exam'd Jno. Cotton Reg'r."
