[2] The mural monument to his parents survives in Holy Trinity Church, Woolfardisworthy,[3] near Clovelly, inscribed as follows: It shows the arms of Hammett (Or, a falcon sable belled gules between three roses gules leaved vert[4]) with inescutcheon of pretence of Risdon of Bableigh: (Argent, three birding bolts sable), with crest of Hammett above: A swan with wings endorsed argent collared gules winged beaked and legged or holding in his beak a bolt sable.

[12] The Hamlyn family is believed to have descended from Hamelin,[13] the Domesday Book tenant in 1086 of two manors (Alwington and Broad Hempston) under the Norman magnate Robert, Count of Mortain (died 1090),[14] half-brother of King William the Conqueror.

2. c. 15), James Hammet adopted the arms (Gules, a lion rampant ermine crowned or) and surname Hamlyn in lieu of his patronymic.

In 1797 Swete wrote in his Journal concerning Sir James Hamlyn: "This gentleman was originally in the law and marrying a Miss Williams of vast fortune in Carmarthenshire, he has lately taken up the chief part of his residence at his seat in that county".

[27] The family of Williams (alias Rhydodin), claimed descent from Hywel Dda and Rhodri Mawr, and from King Henry I of England, via Ellen, wife of Llewelyn ap Phylip.

His eldest daughter and heiress from his second marriage was Bridget Williams, who lived at Edwinsford with her husband Robert Banks Hodgkinson (c. 1721 – 1792), of Overton, MP for Wareham in Dorset 1748–51 and High Sheriff of Carmarthenshire in 1784.

[29] As Bridget died without children, Edwinsford was inherited by her younger sister Arabella Williams,[30] wife of James Hamlyn, 1st Baronet.