Hamfast Gamgee

Father of Samwise Gamgee, Hamfast was one of the hobbits of the Shire. He was Bilbo’s gardener by profession until Samwise succeeded his place to become a gardener to the Baggins family. He was also known as the “Gaffer”.

In Hobbit’s old English language, Hamfast could be translated to “home-fast” meaning “stay at home”. Whereas, “Gaffer” is a conversational term used for an “old man”.

Hamfast was born as the third son to Hobson “Roper” Gamgee in the Third Age 2926. His father was a roper by profession and he had three siblings, May and Halfred of Overhill and Andwise Roper. [1]He joined his cousin Holman Greenhand into service and became a gardener. Tending to the Bagend’s garden was one of his first jobs. He lived in Number 3 in Bagshot Row and was a next-door neighbor to Daddy TwoFoot. He possessed deep knowledge about root vegetables and had particular authority over potatoes. He was known as a local expert on potatoes and was frequently consulted about them over a drink at the local inn. Bilbo called him “Master Hamfast”. He married Bell Goodchild and had six children with her.

On September 23rd when Sam and Frodo were leaving the Shire, a Black Rider, one of the Nazguls drove to the Bag End lane and encountered Gaffer who was out taking his air. He enquired about Frodo and Gaffer informed him that Frodo had left for Bucklebury. [2] Gaffer refuses to divulge any further information and denies taking any message from him. When Sam returns to handover the Bag End keys to Gaffer, he reports the conversation with the stranger to him. Sam in turns tells Frodo about it. When Lotho Sackville-Baggins ruled the Shire, Gaffer was driven out of his house in Bagshot row. This visual was shown to Sam in Galadriel’s mirror. Post the Battle of Bywaters when the Shire was cleaned up, Gaffer was given back his newly restored Number 3 house while Sam stayed at the Bag End. Gaffer was well-taken care of by the widow Rumble till his death in the fourth age.

Hamfast worked as Bilbo’s gardener for ages. They grew close to each other and forged a bond that appeared to be more like great friends instead of servant and master. Bilbo extended help in teaching Samwise how to write and read, to which Hamfast agreed. Hamfast shared his homegrown brew with Bilbo which comes to light when Frodo asks Bilbo if he had consumed too much of the “Gaffer’s homebrew”.

Since Sam was the only child who learned how to read and write, he was presumably Hamfast’s favored son out of all his six children. Similarly, Samwise was also in awe of his father.
When he killed one of the orcs, he was quoted telling him "And that's for my old Gaffer". Drawing on the premise that Frodo knew about Sam’s crush on Rose Cotton, it is quite possible that Gaffer knew about his son’s crush as well.

1. ^Gamgee Family - Thain's Book.
2. ^Were Frodo and Sam friends before Gandalf task Sam to look after.