Pleasants County, West Virginia, Biography of Samuel Hammett

************************************************************************
USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced
in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or
persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must
obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal represen-
ative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with
proof of this consent.
************************************************************************

SAMUEL HAMMETT

Samuel Hammett, deceased, was one of the pioneers of the county of 
Pleasants.  He came from Leesburg, in Loundon county, Va., where he 
was born October 25, 1787.  He was the son of George and Sarah 
(Tillet) Hammett.  His father was a native of Norfolk, Va., born in 
1754, and died March 23, 1814.  He was a soldier in the Revolutionary 
war, his father being a sea captain on a sailing vessel, in which he 
lost his life, and his son was raised by two uncles in Norfolk.  The 
subject of this sketch, Samuel Hammett, was reared to manhood in 
Leesburg, where he received a reasonably good education, and held 
several different offices of trust.  He was deputy sheriff of Loundon 
county for several years, acted as jailer for considerable time, and 
while there he set out the shrubbery that now adorns the court-house 
yard at Leesburg.  February 17, 1811, he married Winifred Howell, who 
was born in Loundoun county, in 1787, and died in 1829.  On the 22nd 
of June, 1832, he was married again to Ellen Gale, which union was 
productive of ten children, of whom the following are living:  Mary 
E., George S., John E., James W., Samuel C., Thomas C. and Robert G.  
The mother was born July 10, 1803, in Hampshire county, Va., and 
after their marriage they settled on the farm where the family now 
reside.  Previous to his second marriage, in 1814, he enlisted as a 
soldier in the war of 1812, and was at Fort Henry at the time that 
Francis Scott Key composed his immortal song, the "Star-Bangled 
Banner."  The writer at the time was a prisoner of war.  In 1816, Mr. 
Hammett came to West Virginia, and acted as agent for Richard 
Henderson, who owned and controlled about 2,000 acres of land where 
Mr. Hannett's family now lives.  For one year after his arrival, he 
conducted the farm and attended to all business for Mr. Henderson. He 
only remained one year, and in 1817, returned to Leesburg, where he 
went into the mercantile business, and for some nine years enjoyed a 
lucrative trade.  At the end of that time he sold his business and 
removed to Scioto valley where he bought a farm.  In 1829, he removed 
to Pleasants county, and settled on the farm which he owned at the 
time of his death.  At first he bought 100 acres, but this was 
gradually added to until at the time of his demise, he owned 500 
acres of good land.  He was a member of the Episcopal church, but his 
wife was a devout member of the Roman Catholic church.  George, his 
oldest son, served as sheriff of the county for one year, to fill a 
vacancy.  R. G., the youngest of the family, served as member of the 
house of delegates for two years.  What is rather remarkable 
circumstances is that none of the members ever married.  They rank 
socially and otherwise as one of the best families of the county, and 
fulfill all the requirements of good citizenship.     

From "HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY,"  Vol. I; Brant & Fuller, 1891.


(Linda Cunningham Fluharty)