He was christened at St James, Clerkenwell in 1793, the son of William (Grimwade p.327) and Ann Hammon. He was the brother of John William Hammon (Grimwade p.303, 340).
He entered a mark at Goldsmiths Hall in 1813 as a watch case maker from 20 Little Saffron Hill.
He married Jane Robinson at St Pancras Old Church in 1814.
He also notified Goldsmiths Hall of a move to 58 Wellington Street, Goswell Street in that year.
Christening records at St John, Clerkenwell of son William John in 1815 and daughter Jane in 1817 show their address as St James Buildings, Clerkenwell which was the address of William Hammon senior from 1800-19.
He moved again to 17 Percival Street and entered both a mark of his own and a mark in partnership with Ezekiel Stevens in 1817. He moved to 18 Percival Street then to 28 Galway Street in 1819, 27 John Street in 1821, 2 Whiskin Street in 1823, 3 Whiskin Street in 1832, 22 Gloucester Street in 1834 and 9 John Street, Wilmington Square in 1835.
The 1841 UK Census does not appear to have caught up with him. A Jane Hammon aged 45 years appears on the 1841 UK Census living at Whiskin Street with four daughters aged between 9 and 15 years. Unfortunately there are no christening records to confirm them as children of William John. Also interesting is his brother John William lived in Whiskin Street from1826-c1833 and the probable death of their father William there in 1836.
The 1851 Census notes a pauper and previous watch case maker named William John Hammon aged about 60 years resident in the Islington Workhouse.
A person of the same name died in 1854, the burial record at St James St Pancras showing him aged around 63 years, late of Ashby Street, Clerkenwell.
His son William John Hammon was also in business as a watch case maker from around 1841 until at least 1881. His death in 1898 aged 83 years was registered at Holborn. This may explain the reference in The Directory of Gold & Silversmiths Jewellers & Allied Traders 1838-1914 Vol. I p.207 by John Culme to a William John Hammon listed as a watch case maker at 11 Sekforde Street, Clerkenwell from 1860-1881.
William John Hammon II married Mary Ann Brown at St Bartholomew the Great in 1837. Their daughter Eliza was christened at St James, Clerkenwell in 1841. Their address was shown as 11 Gloucester Street, an interesting coincidence since his uncle John William is credited with registering a maker’s mark from that address in 1836 and 1837. He, his wife and daughter were recorded at this address on the 1841 UK Census. They lived at 13 Pickard Street in 1851 and 16 Hall Street 1861-81. William John II is shown throughout as a watch case maker
HAMMON, William John (Grimwade p.328, 352-3)
Moderators: buckler, MCB, silverly
Re: HAMMON, William John (Grimwade p.328, 352-3)
He was a witness to his daughter Jane’s marriage to the watch case maker William Hart Bennett (Grimwade p.326) at St Bride, Fleet Street in 1838.
The 1841 UK Census shows William and Jane Bennett living next door to Jane’s mother Jane Hammon and siblings in Whiskin Street.
William Hart Bennett became a widower in 1855 then married Sarah Hammon another daughter of William John Hammon at St Mark, Islington in 1857. The marriage record refers to William John Hammon as deceased which adds to the suggestion that his burial may have been the one in 1854 mentioned above.
The 1841 UK Census shows William and Jane Bennett living next door to Jane’s mother Jane Hammon and siblings in Whiskin Street.
William Hart Bennett became a widower in 1855 then married Sarah Hammon another daughter of William John Hammon at St Mark, Islington in 1857. The marriage record refers to William John Hammon as deceased which adds to the suggestion that his burial may have been the one in 1854 mentioned above.