A Short History of the HAM Surname in Virginia & NC

compiled by David Hamm


    • - with research by Geneva S. Greer and Susan Bullock


    • The following individuals have personally contributed research or other information towards the writing of the above book. I'd like to take a moment to thank them. Geneva, Susan and I have been working on this for several years, so I hope that I have not left out any names here.... County Clerks and persons for hire will be found in the bibliography.

  • Geneva S. Greer of West Jefferson, NC. My co-author. Why she agreed to stick with me from the day I met her, I'll never know. She has been a resevoir of information.

  • L. Winston Hamm of Wolfeboro, NH. Met Win by chance or luck, as it were. He is nearly the oldest and most experienced that I have met. A contributor to The Ham Family Kith and Kin, among other things. His enthusiasm is contagious, and is still vigorously researching after some 30 years. I have to thank him for getting me off to a good start.

  • Tania S. Ham, of Jacksonville, Florida. Another very experienced genealogist. Still a very sharp and gracious southern lady, she has published several reference books (that I know of), and has previously been a member of numerous genealogical organizations.

  • Susan Bullock of Reidsville, NC. Susan has been keen to fill in the gaps and tie together the loose ends that I would have overlooked otherwise.

  • Bertha Forrest of Elk Horn, KY. Bertha has helped contribute much toward the descendants of Thomas HAM/Nelson HAM.

  • Duard Hamm of Madison County, KY.

  • Eula (Elliott) Ham of Lansing, NC. The first to tell me I was only a hillside away from the gravesites of my gg and ggg grandparents. At an old age, she had filled me in on my own ancestors - personal stories that would not appear in the final book.  Eulah has since passed away.

  • Helen Pearl Owens of Randleman, NC. This lady tracked down bible records that I had only read about (in courthouse records that were over 50 years old). These were birth records that dated from over 150 years ago, and are gems to genealogists. Also contributed pictures.

  • Ralph Hamm of Warrensville, NC. Ralph has contributed the oldest pictures that I have of my own ancestors - Eli and Celia. He has also gone to the trouble of trying to organize family reunions each year since we have met.

  • Earl Hamm of Lansing, NC (now deceased). One of the quiet ones. When he did speak he usually surprised me with his knowledge regarding the heritage of our own line. Earl had possession of some extremely old records in his own right, and could point out deed boundaries by hand. Earl and his son James once gave my father & I a quick tour of the local cemeteries in Ashe County, NC.

  • James Hamm of Lansing, NC. Son of Earl Hamm. I think James has a lock on the rights to enthusiasm toward the heritage of my own line. Genealogy is a favorite hobby of this family.

  • Henry Hamm of Bluefield, VA (now deceased)

  • Marvin Junior Hamm of Middletown, Ohio. If it weren't for Marvin (Sr.), I probably wouldn't have even started this.

  • Myrtle Ham Fender of Laurel Spring, NC

  • Steven K. Ham of Fremont, CA.

  • Thomas Hamm, Jr. of Denver, CO and Cary, NC. Descendants of Samuel Harrison Ham (abt 1770 to 1841) Researching Joseph HAM, who died in Monroe County, VA (now West Virginia), will recorded in 1799.

  • Prof. Thomas Hamm of Spiceland, Indiana.

  • Jerry Brinegar of Winston Salem, NC

  • Ann Britton of Glen Mills, PA.

  • Virginia Brown of Piedmont, Missouri. Husband descendant of Oney (HAM) SELF.

  • Harman Clark of New Jersey.

  • Ruby Coleman of North Carolina and Stuart, Iowa. rcoleman (at) inebraska.com

               URL:     http://incolor.inebraska.com/rcoleman/

  • C. Melbern Dunn of Kent, Washington who is working the Fleming Co., KY lines.

  • Tony Fitzgerald of Rangiora, New Zealand.

  • Lee Forrest of KY/FL

  • Mrs. Hart of Lansing, NC - even tho she didn't even know it. Granted permission to view the graves of the Nella cemetery.

  • Opal Hogan of Mt. Holly, NC. Opal provided pictures of Clyde & Leanna HAM.

  • Susan Carol Howard, PhD, of Fenton, Missouri who provided information regarding South Carolina.

  • Joyce Ann Jackson of Kearneysville, West Virginia

  • Cecilia Jensen of Arlington, Washington

  • Kristi Johnson of Kent, WA.

  • James P. Lynch of King George, VA.

  • Nelda Kyzar, a close friend to descendants of John Alley HAM of Ashe County, NC.

  • Janet Martin of Missouri. She provided information regarding Jabez HAM.

  • Danny Miller of Cincinnati, OH

  • Ruby Greer Miller of Lansing, NC

  • Lola Landreth Myers of Ashe Co., NC - previous writings.

  • Bette Nelson of Georgetown, MA.

  • Joanne Hartsoe Parker who provided a picture of Sarah HAM and Jonathan MILLER.

  • Valerie Ham Parker of Jefferson, NC. Descendants of Wiley HAM, son of Joshua.

  • Lois F. Parks of Keystone, WVA. Lois is one of the descendants of Floyd HAMM and Anna BLANKENSHIP. She verbally gave me a list of descendants of Floyd, without any reference notes at all. She donated many original pictures, when she knew copies would have been better....

  • Cynthia Smithdeal of Chesterfield, VA. She provided descendants of John HAM of Iredell County, NC.

  • Mrs. Betty L. Stadler of Tulsa, Oklahoma

  • Roy Standish of Waynesburg, KY

  • Jackie and Joe Taylor of Livonia, MI (descendant of John HAM of Stokes Co., NC)..

  • Mary Trace of Alberta, Canada.

  • Kathy Vockery of Richmond, KY.

  • William A. Weimer of Asheville, NC. (Author of "The Ancestors and Descendants of Phillip Hamm and Catherine Wurth.")

  • Gayle Wilson, in France -who has a passion for Medieval history.

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