RELATED TO A TOLPUDDLE MARTYR?
Diana Hooper investigates a friend's suspected family ties to the Tolpuddle martyrs
A new friend mentioned that they thought they could be related to the Tolpuddle Martyrs. ‘Probably a very distant link and difficult to trace,’ they added.
So, I like a challenge.
My friend was able to give me a name and approximate date of birth of their great grandmother, a Mrs Hammett. This name has different spellings over time – just to add to the challenge – but was there a link between her and the Martyr James Hammett?
As a reminder there were six Martyrs, from four families:
– father and son Thomas and John Standfield
– brothers George and James Loveless
– James Hammet
– James Brine
I have been subscribed to the Ancestry family history website for a couple of years now so I set to
looking up the Hammetts from Tolpuddle – of course there are a lot of them.
In my research into my friend’s great-grandmother Mrs Hammett, I soon discovered that she was actually born Miss Loveless. Could it be that she was also related to the martyr brothers George and James??
I put that thought aside and focused on her Hammett relations.
Looking at the Hammett line she had married into, birth records showed Ringwood as her husband Richard Hammett’s place of birth. I was momentarily concerned. Was this line actually separate to the Hammetts of Tolpuddle?
Researching further, I was able to rule that out.
It transpired that Mrs Hammett’s father-in-law (Richard Hammett Sr) was indeed born in Tolpuddle in the late 1790’s, but had taken himself off to Ringwood, probably in search of work, and married a Ringwood lass.
He later brought his sons back to Tolpuddle and this is where our (then) Miss Loveless met and married his son, Richard Hammett Jr.
So, after clearing that up, it was time to delve into Richard Hammett Sr’s link to the martyrs, using the incredibly detailed four-family tree on the Tolpuddle Martyr museum’s website.
The Richard Hammett Sr. - martyr link
So who exactly WAS this Richard Hammett Sr. – father-in-law to Mrs Hammett, great great grandfather to my friend – to the Tolpuddle martyr James Hammett?
Well, drum roll please….
He was his first cousin.
I had confirmed the link!
The diagram below outlines the connection I found.
So, it’s official: Richard Hammett Sr was first cousin to martyr James Hammett AND great great grandfather to my friend.
And what’s more, I could also confirm that Mrs Hammett’s great grandfather was also first cousin to the martyr George Loveless! A story for another day!
My friend was thrilled to learn that he has first cousin connections to not one but TWO martyr families – how exciting is that?
James Hemmett
One of the six agricultural labours that would become known as the Tolpuddle Martyrs,
James Hemmett was the only man to remain in Tolpuddle following his pardon and return to England.
Written by Diana Hooper
Edited and illustrated by Sarah Wheldon