James "Jim" Hammond

The Hammond Family

James Hammonds, who was born in North Carolina in 1784, married "Muggie" Savage or Boggs, who was also from NC. Their children were Susanna, Rebecca, Lucinda, and John Clemons. And after John was born, Muggie died James and his brothers Ned and William with their families left to go west. They traveled in covered wagons pulled by oxen as far as Indiana. They lived there two years. Ned and his family stayed, but James and William traveled south. They stopped for rest in what is now known as Whitehead, Alabama. The length of time of the journey from Indiana to Alabama is not known. Lauderdale Co. Courthouse records show James married Sarah Savage on January 29, 1819, so their arrival was between 1817 and 1819. Their children were Miles, Jesse, William, Matilda, and Allie.

James learned the Indians were friendly in North Alabama, and he enjoyed fox hunting with them, which was good in the Second Creek area. There was a large spring near his campsite, and he made his home there. One night he went hunting alone riding a blind horse. Some of his Indian friends found his body the next day. He had ridden off of a bluff. According to the 1850 census, James and Sarah were living in their son William's household at that time. It was also found in the census different spellings of the name: Hammonds, Hammon, and Hammond. James' brother William continued on farther south near what is now known as Wetumpka, AL.

John Clemons, fourth child of James and Muggie, married Sarah Lovell. They lived in Tennessee from 1847 to 1850. Alabama cen sus of 1850 shows seven children born in Dugout, TN. Josephus, William Clemons Calvin, Jasper, John Calvin, Susan and Thomas. Their last four children were born in Alabama: Mary, Sarah, Jessie, and Albert. Their first Alabama homesite is unknown. They purchased 471 acres of land in September of 1857 in township one, range eight west. He died in March of 1895, and was buried on top of a bluff near Second Creek on his homeplace.

James Jasper married Julia Ann Brown in December 1867. Their children were Anna Bell, Laura Caldonia, Emma Rosannah, Della, James, Huldah, Elisha Galby, Van, Ida, and Lela. He was a farmer and a blacksmith, and bought eighty acres of hills and hollows about three miles east of Lexington where he built a large two story house with proces and side rooms.

Galby, sometimes called E.G., married Rosa Matilda Todd in January of 1906 in Lexington. Their children were Clara Belew, Lucille Williams (deceased), and Samuel. All grew up and remained in Lexington area. Galby was known for conducting singing schools. His daughters sang and played the piano and the organ.

Galby was always after the latest technology, he was familiar with the latest events and happenings statewide and nationwide. He also studied law books dating back to 1923. Galby was a farmer as well as a magistrate or justice of the peace. Sometimes actings as a sheriff's deputy, he had authority to conduct marriage ceremonies, preside over criminal trials, decide penalties, deal with public drunkenness, fightings, overdue debts, stealing, and domestic problems. He also arrested people for making moonshine and then destroyed their stills.

Galby was one of the first investors to help establish the Bank of Lexington and served on the board of directors until his death in 1947.

Submitted by: Jane Hammond Smith.

Sources: Material of Morris Howard, Lela Howard, and Hilda Smith Wiseman.

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Jim was killed around 1850 while fox hunting. He was riding a blind mule when both were killed after falling off a bluff overlooking Second Creek. He was buried in a field near Whitehead with only a fieldstone marker, which has been removed since the field began to be used for crops (as of 1987).

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James Hammond would foxhunt with Indians. He and his Indian friends enjoyed hunting around Second Creek, near the Whitehead community. One night, James went fox hunting alone, riding a blind horse. This particular night, he did not return home before daylight, which he had always done before. His wife, Sarah, became worried, and she went to get some of his Indian friends to look for him. They were familiar with the area where he usually went hunting. He was found where he had ridden his blind horse off a bluff. Both James and his horse were dead.

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A group of people left North Carolina in the early 1800's on their way west. The winter storms in Indiana were so bad that they could not continue. They stayed there two years. The indians were hostile and the winters were so bad that James (Jim) Hammond and his younger brother William (Billy) decided to move south with thier families. They came in two ox wagons and a supply wagon. They decided to rest for a while in Whitehead, Alabama. When the supply wagon arrived, Jim and his family decided to stay in the Whitehead community in Lauderdale County. Billy went on to east Alabama.

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b: BET. 1777 - 1779 in date range: 1777 to 1779 signed sister Elizabeth's marriage consent & certified she 'was of age' in Grayson Co, VA 27 March 1804 when she m. John Bryant

John Bryant and Elizabeth Hammons marriage bond is in Grayson Co., VA dated 3/27/1804, Book 1, page 41. James Hammons is the surety and he gave consent 3/27/1804 stating that his sister is of lawful age. A John Bryant appears on the 1810 Grayson Tax List (no 1810 census for Grayson Co.), and the 1820 and 1830 Grayson Census.

Married 19 JAN 1819 in Lauderdale Co, AL

Married: BEF. 1807 in NC or VA? - children 1 thru 5 are possibly from a first marr. to Maggie Savage & youngest 4 from 2nd marr. in 1819 in Lauderdale Co,AL to Sarah Savage??? We have Boggs as her maiden name. Wrong James??