POLL: Areas of Interest

I have a few items on my "ToDo" list, but I usually want to work on the items that I thought are among the most interesting discoveries from our book or from the HAM DNA Project.


For example, during our book presentation in Ashe County, Geneva made a joke about the origins of the name. A couple of people chuckled, but it was quickly apparent that many in the audience did not know anything about the origins of the HAM surname. I have posted a quick page to HAM Country on it, but I've thought it would be a good topic for a video as well. Maybe a good topic for the Blog Poll, I don't know. However, it is obvious that among the folks who are not on the internet, many still do not know the story behind the name.


I am currently working on video scripts for topics like the origins of the HAM surname, first HAM immigrants to America, "How To" read a phylogenetic chart, as well as how the myth of Jerome HAM got started and evolved over time. It is clear to me that the Jerome HAM myth story would take a DVD length video in order to explain that problem completely, which means it may be hard to put together for a You Tube video.



So, this month I will take a Poll on the topics of interest. The Poll may not address the needs of folks overseas, but at least I can try to get an idea of the interests of the current HAM Country visitors.


I am about out of the space that Earthlink allocates to personal web pages, so I won't be asking about additions to the HAM Country web pages.


This month, I will post Poll questions related to the topics that you might want to see on the Blog, Poll or on video.






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Moved to Ohio

I have been on a short hiatus in order to move to Ohio.



Never thought it would take so long just to move back to my home state, but one event followed another. First, I had a health problem to deal with, then my car's transmission went out the day before the move, then my car's window fell into the car door the day of the move. Leaving the window wide open (no protection from the rain). Just after the move, there was the remnants of Hurricane Ike to deal with here in Ohio. One tree fell on the power lines to the house, and another tree fell on the high voltage lines, then caught fire. No electric for nearly a week.



Also, there were the bureaucratic items to tend to, like state license plates, state driver's license, insurance, etc.



Some distractions there, and I'm not done with the paperwork for the state to state move.



I have a few video scripts in progress, but none are ready to post to You Tube. I'd like to continue working on the videos, it's fun. Perhaps I can get some shorter videos up first.
(Dial up access to the internet really puts a cramp on the longer videos, so I have to consider making videos for DVD access only.)



Not to mention that the order forms for our book "A Short History of the HAM Surname in Virginia & NC" had to be changed on the HAM Country web page to reflect the move.



Anyways, I hope to get back to the HAM DNA Project and put up more posts to the HAM Country Blog.






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The Ham Stone

The Ham Stone


County Somerset

I have received many letters over the years about HAM Surname origins.
The letter below turned out to be an interesting one.


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Subject: HAM
From: "Jenny Board"
Date: Thu, 31 Jul 2008 19:04:11

To: odoniv

Hi

I don't know if it's a red herring but I'm investigating my husband's family tree in Somerset and there are masses of Ham, presumably named after the ham stone prevalent thereabouts.


Jenny

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I have heard a lot of ideas about the origins of the name, but this was a new one.
The meaning of the name is still not known for many people. Lost in time somewhere.


Many people still think that because they spell the name with two "M's" that the name "Ham" does not apply to them, simply because they spell their name with two "M's" (that is, as in "Hamm"). Fortunately, I was able to do some research on the origins of the name for our book "A Short History of the HAM Surname in Virginia & NC" (co-authored with Geneva S. Greer and Susan Bullock). You can find my quick reference to Ham Hill and quarry on page 26 of Volume 1, "Origins & Migration" in about the year 1215.


The "ham stone" has an interesting history. It's known by it's honey color as it has a yellow-gold hue, a limestone mined from the vicinity of Ham Hill in County Somerset, UK.
Ham Hill is located near Crewkerne, you can find information and link to a map (south-east of Stoke Sub Hamdon or north-east of Norton Sub Hamdon or west of Montacute) at the GENUKI web site.

























Ham Hill is probably the largest Iron Age hill forts in Britain, and has a defensive perimeter that streches out for about 3 miles.
You can get a panoramic view of the megalithic stone circle at the BBC web site.


It was captured by Vespasian in 45 AD, known to the Romans for some time. And the stone was quarried in Roman times for coffins. (A Roman coffin can be seen in the Dorchester museum.) The Romans built a road nearby (Fosse Way), but eventually abandoned it as a fort, preferring forts closer to Wales.


Mottes and baileys were introduced to Britain in Norman times. A motte was a mound of earth, topped by a tower. A bailey was the surrounding area for buildings. A ditch could surround either.


Robert, Count of Mortain was known to be responsible for building the motte and bailey castle at nearby Montacute (built in 1086). By 1519, the stone was being removed from this structure. Mortain is a small town in the Department of Manche, France. It was reserved for the reigning house of Normandy. It is said that Robert, Count of Mortain was the half brother of William the Conqueror.

In about 1600, the ham stone was quarried to build the Montacute House in the town of Montacute, County Somerset.


So, we can find the ham stone being used in the Iron Age, Roman times, at the time of the Norman Conquest, and up to the present day.

Thanks Jenny, for mentioning the ham stone.


See also:

Ham Hill megalithic stones panoramic view at the BBC Somerset web site

Ham Hill panoramic view at the BBC Somerset web site

Ham Hill Herald (PDF file) from the Ham Hill Country Park, South Somerset District Council.

Roman armour find from the Somerset Historic Environment Record




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