Hamfast "Gaffer" Gamgee
Norman Forsey as Gaffer in the New Line film
Father of Sam Gamgee. Hamfast Gamgee was born in 2962 of the Third Age as the son of Hobson Gamgee. Hamfast's mother's name is not known. Hamfast had an elder brother named Andwise who enjoyed rope-making. Hamfast had two younger siblings named Halfred and May.
Hamfast took up gardening and was taught by his cousin Holman Greenhand. Hamfast was the caretaker of the garden at Bag End and the garden of Holman Greenhand. When Bilbo Baggins of Bag End journeyed to the Lonely Mountain on his quest in 2941, Bag End's furniture was being sold. Lobelia and Otho Sackville-Baggins bought most of the furniture, and began measuring rooms in preparation to move in. When Bilbo finally returned, he was very happy with Hamfast because he continued taking care of Biblo's garden. Bilbo named Hamfast the lead gardener at Bag End.
Hamfast harvested vegetables and grew potatoes, becoming something of a farmer. He settled down and married Bell Goodchild. They moved to number 3 Bagshot Row in Hobbiton. The couple had six children: Hamson, Halfred, Daisy, May, Samwise, and Marigold. Sam became a Hobbit of great bravery who accompanied Frodo Baggins on his quest to destroy the One Ring in Mordor.
Hamfast Gamgee attended Bilbo's Farewell Party held in 3001. He was old at the time, and his joints grew stiff. He earned the title "Old Gaffer." Bilbo gave him some ointment for his joints, two bags of potatoes, a new coat, and a new spade. In 3018, when Frodo and Sam moved to the village of Crickhollow in Buckland, Khamul the Nazgul came to 3 Bagshot Row and asked for "Baggins." The Old Gaffer knew that Frodo had moved to Crickhollow, but he told the Nazgul that Frodo still lived in Bag End. The wizard Gandalf learned from Gaffer one week later that Frodo and had left only one week before.
In 3019, Gaffer was forced out of Bagshot Row by the men in the service of Saruman known as Ruffians, who took over the Shire. Gaffer lived in a small shed. Tolman Cotton and his sons took good care of Hamfast as he aged. When Sam returned in autumn of 3019, he, Frodo, Pippin Took, and Merry Brandybuck raised an army of Hobbits to drive the Ruffians and Saruman out of the Shire. Saruman's death was one of the last events in the War of the Ring.
Gaffer's home at Bagshot Row was refurbished and Gaffer moved back into his Smial at number 3. Sam married Rosie Cotton and they moved to Bag End and had thirteen children. Sam arranged for a nurse named Widow Rumble to take care of the Old Gaffer as he aged. Samwise Gamgee was elected Mayor of Michel Delving, and the Old Gaffer was proud. Hamfast "Gaffer" Gamgee died in year 7 of the Fourth Age.
Hamfast took up gardening and was taught by his cousin Holman Greenhand. Hamfast was the caretaker of the garden at Bag End and the garden of Holman Greenhand. When Bilbo Baggins of Bag End journeyed to the Lonely Mountain on his quest in 2941, Bag End's furniture was being sold. Lobelia and Otho Sackville-Baggins bought most of the furniture, and began measuring rooms in preparation to move in. When Bilbo finally returned, he was very happy with Hamfast because he continued taking care of Biblo's garden. Bilbo named Hamfast the lead gardener at Bag End.
Hamfast harvested vegetables and grew potatoes, becoming something of a farmer. He settled down and married Bell Goodchild. They moved to number 3 Bagshot Row in Hobbiton. The couple had six children: Hamson, Halfred, Daisy, May, Samwise, and Marigold. Sam became a Hobbit of great bravery who accompanied Frodo Baggins on his quest to destroy the One Ring in Mordor.
Hamfast Gamgee attended Bilbo's Farewell Party held in 3001. He was old at the time, and his joints grew stiff. He earned the title "Old Gaffer." Bilbo gave him some ointment for his joints, two bags of potatoes, a new coat, and a new spade. In 3018, when Frodo and Sam moved to the village of Crickhollow in Buckland, Khamul the Nazgul came to 3 Bagshot Row and asked for "Baggins." The Old Gaffer knew that Frodo had moved to Crickhollow, but he told the Nazgul that Frodo still lived in Bag End. The wizard Gandalf learned from Gaffer one week later that Frodo and had left only one week before.
In 3019, Gaffer was forced out of Bagshot Row by the men in the service of Saruman known as Ruffians, who took over the Shire. Gaffer lived in a small shed. Tolman Cotton and his sons took good care of Hamfast as he aged. When Sam returned in autumn of 3019, he, Frodo, Pippin Took, and Merry Brandybuck raised an army of Hobbits to drive the Ruffians and Saruman out of the Shire. Saruman's death was one of the last events in the War of the Ring.
Gaffer's home at Bagshot Row was refurbished and Gaffer moved back into his Smial at number 3. Sam married Rosie Cotton and they moved to Bag End and had thirteen children. Sam arranged for a nurse named Widow Rumble to take care of the Old Gaffer as he aged. Samwise Gamgee was elected Mayor of Michel Delving, and the Old Gaffer was proud. Hamfast "Gaffer" Gamgee died in year 7 of the Fourth Age.
Names & Meanings
The name Hamfast can be derived from the Old English word hámfoest, meaning "stay at home." Gaffer is Old English for "old man." Tolkien and his family knew an elderly man whom Tolkien nicknamed Gaffer Gamgee. Gaffer Gamgee enjoyed predicting the weather. Gaffer Gamgee's original Hobbitish name was Ranugad Galbasi.
References
The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring: "A Long-Expected Party," pages 30-32, 46; "The Mirror of Galadriel," page 378
The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King: "The Scouring of the Shire," pages 291-294; "The Grey Havens," pages 302, 304
The Lord of the Rings, Appendix C: "Gamgee genealogy," page 383
The Lord of the Rings, Appendix F: "The Languages and Peoples of the Third Age," page 414
Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien: Letters #72, #144, #184, #257
The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King: "The Scouring of the Shire," pages 291-294; "The Grey Havens," pages 302, 304
The Lord of the Rings, Appendix C: "Gamgee genealogy," page 383
The Lord of the Rings, Appendix F: "The Languages and Peoples of the Third Age," page 414
Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien: Letters #72, #144, #184, #257
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