Zebedee Hammond

     Zebedee Hammond was born on 13 April 1753 at No. Yarmouth, Cumberland Co, Maine.¹ He was the son of John Hammond and Patience Webber. Zebedee Hammond married Martha Bennett, daughter of Jonathan Bennett and Martha Parsons, on 16 October 1774 at Gloucester, Essex Co, Massachusetts; Zebedee was of North Yarmouth.^2,3 Zebedee Hammond died before 1793 at at sea; The New Brunswick Royal Gazette in Fredericton carried a notice on the Estate of Zebedee Hammond, St Andrews, mariner, on 9 Jun 1802. However, learning that his widow had married John Scott in 1793, and had three children before John died about 1802/3, it looks as though his estate was processed about the same time as John Scott's death.^4,5
     He had filed their marriage intention on 15 October 1774 at No. Yarmouth, Cumberland Co, Maine.¹
     In late Sept or early Oct 1782, Capt George Little of the Navy, left Boston on the "Winthrop" for Maine. She had 13 guns mounted and captured several British vessels. Among those vessels was " a small privateer schooner armed with seven 2-pounders and commanded by Loyalist Zebedee Hammond."

     Zebedee Hammond and his men had escaped the schooner before it was seized.

     But in the schooner Little and Edward Preble found clothing that had been taken from locals who were loyal to the Patriot cause. Little contacted several Loyalist leaders nearby to show them the clothing and inform them Hammond was a thief. Pressure was put on Zebedee to investigate his crew. He came back with only one man, "a young fellow, just twenty-one, named John Daylie. He had taken them from the family of Saunders Jamisen. Zebedee wanted him to make restitution but Daylie refused, so Zebedee sent Jamisen four guineas. Later he did succeed in making Daylie return the stolen things.
Now, I have to wonder who John Daylie is. Could he possibly be the son of neighbor and relation, David Daley? John Daley was b. ca 1761, being 21 in 1782.^6,7
     The Return of Men, Women and Children of the Penobscot Loyalists settled in the District of Passamaquoddy, 10 Jun 1784, lists Zebedee Hammond, Martha Hammond, and children over 10, Abigail and Nathaniel, children under 10, "Patunel", Martha and Zebedee.⁸
     On 3 Aug 1784, 100 acres farm lots were granted and Zebedee Hammond received his in St Patrick division surrounding Bobabec Cove, about 7 miles north of St Andrews.⁹ Zebedee Hammond was among the many Penobscot Loyalists who relocated initially to Castine, Maine. When the Loyalists received their grants of land in Charlotte County, New Brunswick on 3 Aug 1784, Zebedee Hammond was granted Lot #15 on Bobabec Bay. Soon after, on 14 August 1785, Zebedee sold this lot to a Donald McKenzie.
     He had also been granted a town lot in Saint Andrews, Lot #6 in block "C" in Morris's Division. Since his farm lot on Bobobec Bay was sold in 1785, it is likely that he resided at his city lot in St. Andrews.⁵
     Siebert writes about a document, called "The Answer of Margaret McPhail wife of John McPhail, Defendant, to the Bill of Complaint of Zebedee Hammond of Charlotte County, yeoman, Complainant". The article was written 6 May 1786 and should be read in full. It appears that Mrs. McPhail remained in Penobscot when her husband sailed on to England on business, leaving her to dispose of their property after the evacuation. Zebedee Hammond owned a vessel, making frequent trips between Penobscot and Passamaquoddy where the Loyalists were settling. Margaret McPhail had a large house, which had originally been erected by the officers of the Seventy-fourth regiment as their mess-house. She accepted a 40 pound note from Zebedee for the house. Her claim was that Zebedee took on other more profitable business, keeping her waiting for 3 months, as he had also agreed to convey Mrs. McPhail and her family and effects to Passaquoddy. During that time in wait, the Americans had removed the doors and windows, basically stripping the home of value and Zebedee tried to avoid payment. She obtained a verdict in her favor for the full amount.¹⁰