submitted by: Mary Frances (Bennett) Keyes , May 2004
updated Jan 2008
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William J. Ham was born in 1822 in Franklin County, North Carolina. His father is unknown at this time. His mother was Rebecca Ham who was born about 1790, and was found in the 1830 Franklin County census. She was living next to several Ham families, and next door to Elijah and Elizabeth Ham. They were possibly her in-laws since she named a child Elijah W. Ham.
Rebecca Ham was found in the 1840 Heard County, Georgia census, and in 1850 was found in the Randolph County, Alabama census. In 1860 Rebecca was found living in Randolph County at Rock Mills, Alabama. At this time she was 67 years old. She was living with some of her children, and about two houses down from William and Eliza Ham. Rebecca’s children were: Mary, Elijah W., William, Ellen, Simeon, and Marina
William J. Ham married Eliza Morton, daughter of John Morton and Milla R. Morton, who was born in 1831 in North Carolina. William and Eliza Ham raised their twelve children in the Sprott Community of Perry County, Alabama. William was a well known potter, who still has grandchildren continuing the family tradition of making beautiful pottery.
William and Eliza were members of Ephesus Baptist Church in Sprott, and her death has been recorded in the minutes of the church. They were buried in the Family Cemetery in a wooded area of Sprott which is still maintained by family members. Their markers are standing today which were made of pottery jugs with their names and dates inscribed on them.
William and Eliza Ham’s children were: Robert Solomon “Sol” Ham, who was also a well known potter who married (1) Ellen M. Ratliff, (2) Mattie Rivers Bentley, John Thomas Ham married Nancy Susan Taylor, William Perry Ham married Elizabeth Johnson, Mary C. Ham married Casper “Smith” Hughes, Reuben G. Ham married Rachael Taylor, Francis James Ham married Eliza Langford, Martha J. Ham married Issac Alexander Hopper, Nancy A. Ham married Tom Williams, Theatta Bodorah “Dora” Ham married David Jackson Nichols, Henry T. Ham, and Ervanna A. Ham. If you have any additional information or corrections, please contact me below.