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From "Journal of Council and Assembly," Town of Dover, 1 October 1697.
After David Hambleton was killed by Indians on 28 September 1691, and his
wife Annah Jaxson was likewise “destroyed by the enemy,” their house and
land passed into the hands of their eldest son, David Hambleton Jr., who
was claimed to be a “town charge,” unable to support himself. The Board
of Selectmen of the Town of Dover sold the entire estate in order to pay
for his maintenance until his death two years later.
Deed from the Selectmen of the Town of Dover to Thomas Potts of the Town of Dover,
dated 28 March 1698, "for and in consideratyon of ... his Kepeinge, and Maintaineing
of David Hamelton the Eldest Son of David Hamelton the Hoole Terme of his Life, Late of
the Towne of Dover, Deceased." The deed conveyed “all that tracte of Land, formerly
the tenure & occupatyon of David Hamelton Senior & Late of Dover. Whereas the said
Hamelton was the propper owner it being Twenty Acres More or Less." (Book 7, Page 380)
Deed from Thomas Potts and Johana, his wife, to Job Clements, all of the Town of Dover,
dated 19 January 1698, for "Twenty acres of land I formerly purchased of the Selectmen
of Dover Situat at Nechewanick Sometimes possessed by David Hamilton." The selling price
was not disclosed. Note that this deed of sale from Thomas Potts to Job Clements actually
precedes by nearly ten weeks the deed of sale from the Selectmen of the Town of Dover to
Thomas Potts. This indicates that Thomas Potts never had any intention of “keeping and
maintaining” David Hambleton Jr. in the house at Newichawannock, where he was raised. The
deed was not recorded until 1717. In the interim, Thomas Potts was the owner of record,
and only the interested parties had any idea who owned the Hambleton house and land.
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