| Home Surname List Name Index Sources Email Us | Fourth Generation152. Content Hamlin was born on 12 December 1707 in Barnstable, Massachusetts (Barnstable). She died about 1790 at the age of 83. She was 1/8 Wampanoag/Narragansett Indian from mother. The following comes from the History of the Hamlin Family Vol 1: "Mrs. Hamblin, in her day was a famous comber of wool for the purpose of making worsted; few of the present generation have ever seen this operation of combing wool on the old fashioned ketchel or flax comb, laying the fibers all one way, straight and smooth and winding it into balls, to spin it on the small flax wheel, into very fine thread. In an old account book we find Mrs. Hamblen has credit for combing worsted, five shillings, and for one hundred cabbage plants, two shillings. At that time there were no factories, and imported cloth was rare and expensive; every household was expected to manufacture its own clothing, and the lady who came to the possession of a worsted gown, colored with dye made from the bark of trees, or roots of the forest, and manufactured by her own hand had a treasure of which she was deservedly proud, and was thought quite well dressed. In those days matters of neglect and dereliction of religious duties were subject to penalties of the civil law, and we fear sometimes, conscience had but little to do in those matters. But in speaking of Mrs. Content Hamblen, from what we have heard, we are inclined to believe her conscientious. She made it strictly the rule of her house, for herself and every member of her family, to attend all the meetings on the Sabbath day, or keep close within doors. Fast and Feast days were rigidly observed according to law, and the ordinances of the church. No person within her house was allowed to eat a morsel of food on fast day between early morning and evening, if she could prevent it; even the cattle within her barn had to come under the rule; they were fed the night before, and allowed no more till the day had passed, and consequently were allowed an abundance of food on Thanksgiving day. Whether she was one of those who believed that all dumb animals would be found on their knees at twelve o'clock on Christmas Eve in thanksgiving for the birth of the Saviour, we cannot say; but nevertheless it was once the current belief, and some there be at this time who are unwilling to give it up. Mrs. Content Hamblen, widow of Jacob, married Mr. James Miller, from Cape Elizabeth March 1, 1780. In an old record kept by Rev. Caleb Jewett, we find that he died May 16, 1787; she lived with her husband, Miller, in a house which stood in the Alexander McLellan garden, directly back of the Ridlon & Card store. Here she lived alone for several years; and was held as a fortune teller, as she was often visited by the young to learn their future destiny. Of her decease there is no record, but we conclude that she died about the year 1790, certainly before 1800. No complete record of their children has been discovered, and perhaps some may have died during the sickness, in the Indian war above mentioned. Children: Content Hamlin and Jacob Hamlin were married on 18 August 1731 in Barnstable, Massachusetts (Barnstable). Film Number: 170678 "A short time before his death, Mr. Hamblen emancipated his negro man servant, "Ceasor," in consideration of his having faithfully served him, and in further consideration of five shillings paid by the said Ceasor. The discharge was signed, sealed and delivered in presence of Austin Alden and Stephen Phinney, May 2d, 1774, and recorded by Enoch Freeman, October 18, same year. In the year 1770 he made a present to the town of the burial ground at Gorham Village, which has since become the quiet resting place of so many of the worthy old proprietors. Near the northwesterly corner of this lot stands a time worn and broken monument of slate stone, bearing the following inscription: In memory of MR. JACOB HAMBLIN who died June 3d 1774 Aged 72 years." Content Hamlin-41249 and Jacob Hamlin-41250 had the following children:
Content Hamlin and James Miller were married on 1 March 1780. James Miller died on 16 May 1787. |