HALL FAMILY HISTORY

DESCENDANTS OF THE HALL FAMILY 

OF BRADFORD-ON-AVON, WILTSHIRE, ENGLAND

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WWW.HALLFAMILYNAME.COM

WANDA JEAN "JEANIE" WARE DEGIDIO

There are only two lasting bequests we can hope to give our children.
One of these is roots; the other is wings.  Jonas Salk

     IMPORTANTThe official Wiltshire website can be found at www.wiltshire.gov.uk, on this website you can see the HALL PEDIGREE as well as the ROGERS PEDIGREE as shown in the book, Bradford-on-Avon: history and description, by W.H. Jones, brought up to date by J. Beddoe. 1907, Book 16.  The ancient Hall family of Bradford-ion Avon are discussed in Chapter 7.  

     The arms of the Hall’s of Bradford on Avon can be seen at Holy Trinity Church in Bradford on Avon on a wooden screen on the north wall of the chancel, once used to separate the south aisle from the body of the church.  A description of the Hall arms and crest, found on the 1565 Hall Pedigree of the Herald's Visitation, is carried back to Thomas Halle, or de la Sale, living at the close of the 14th century.  The Hall motto is described in an article in The Wiltshire Society’s Magazine, issue 268.

Arms: Sable, three poleaxes argent;
Crest: A
n arm embowed in armour Proper (natural color), garnished Or (gold), holding a poleaxe argent (silver);
Motto:
“Deo et pauperibus,” meaning: “To God and the Poor.”

     The poleaxe symbolizes readiness for the ordeal of battle and the defense of purpose through allegiance to the sovereign; loyalty, conviction, and unconquerable will, a staff weapon used by Knights, betoken on one of dignity and repute. The blade was an axe-head, usually balanced by a hammer-type head, and surmounted by a steel spike. Used from the 15th century for foot combats. The shaft was of ash other hardwood, mounted by an axe blade that had a forward point for thrusting and a thin projection on the back for piercing armor or pulling a horseman off balance. The poleaxe and halberd were specialized weapons for fighting armored men-at-arms and penetrating knightly armor.

     Based on the following information, the de Aulas of Bradford on Avon are more than likely descendants of the Isle of Wight de Aulas, who are often referred to as Normans.  An early deed shows that Henry Hall, b. c1440, son and heir of Nicholas Hall and Margaret Besill who died early and passed them on to his brother Thomas, held lands in Bradford, Lye, Troll Parva, Slade, Ford, Wraxhall, Holt, Broughton, Marlborough, Okebourn Meysey, Wilts, Freshford, Iford, Mitford, Frome, Widcombe, Portishead, Fleete, as well as other placed in Somerset. 

     The Battle Abbey Roll: With Some Account of the Norman Lineages, states, "this family took its name from Le Haulle in Normandy.  Warin de Haulla is mentioned in Somerset in 1154 and again in 1165, and held a barony of eight fees in Devon. The de Aulas held St. Lawrence, Stenbury and Yavesland in Isle of Wight."

     Anne Wroughton of Moores Court, Isle of Wight, daughter of Sir Thomas Wroughton, married Lancelot Lisle and they had son Thomas Lisle. Lancelot Lisle died and his manorial rights passed to his widow Anne who then married Anthony Rogers, son of Anthony Rogers and Dorothy Ernely, grandson of William Rogers and Joan Horton and great grandson of Thomas Rogers and Cecilia Besill. Cecilia's sister Margaret married Nicholas Hall. Anthony Rogers and his wife Anne held courts at Holt between 1544 and 1556; grandson Anthony Lisle, son of Thomas Lisle, succeeded her. Dorothy Rogers b. c1540, daughter and heir of Anthony Rogers of Bradford and Anne Wroughton, married John Hall, son of Thomas Hall and Elizabeth Mervyn.

     The Lisle's were from Wolton, Isle of Wight, Hampshire, England, and the Wroughton’s were from Moores Court, Isle Wight, England.  Eleanor de Gorges, heiress of Wraxhall, was born c1307 in Knighton, Isle of Wight, Hampshire, England and died c1376 in Wraxall, Long Ashton, Somerset, England.  She married Sir Theobald Russell of Kingston, son of Sir William Russell of Kingston and Katherine de Aula.

     TOTHILL MANOR. The manor of Tothill was taken from Richard de Says in late 1265. Thomas de Aula is mentioned as lord of Tothill in 1267. By Nov 1274 King Edward I, granted it to John Ferre.  Eleanor Ferre, heiress of Tothill was alive in 1330 when she was referred to as "Dame de Georges wife of Sir John Peche" and William Russell, Eleanor's grandson, described her as a "grasping, avaricious, tyrannical woman."  Ralph de Gorges m. Eleanor in 1301 and died 1323. His widow was granted as dower the manor of Wraxhall and one-third of the manor of Braunton, she then married before 1326 John Peche (1st Lord Peche), and was still living by 1334.

     HOLT MANOR - Walter de Aula is mentioned in a very early deed as owner of Ford Farm in Holt, his father Reginald de Aula is described as his predecessor in a charter of Abbess Mary according to, Chartus and Custumals of Shaftesbury Abbey 1089-1216 by N. E. Stacy. 

     BRIDDLESFORD - Domesday shows it being held by Nigel, son of William, son of Azor, and Yaverland, passing to the de Aula Family.  By 1204 - Briddlesford was returned to the overlord, Thomas de Aula, Lord of Yaverland.  He was the son of Roger de aula, and grandson of Warin de aula, one of the founders of St. Nicholas Chapel in Carisbrooke Castle.  The tenant, William de Bridlesford, had forfeited the land due to a felony.  By the end of the 13th century, it was in the hands of the Lisle family of Wootton.  The manor of Briddlesford eventually passed to Thomas Lisle, stepson of Anthony Rogers, of Bradford on Avon, in the right of Thomas' mother Anne Wroughton Lisle Rogers.

     RAIINHAM MANOR - Rainham manor, which formed part of the honor of Bampton, descended from Walter of Douai who died c1107 to his son Robert of Bampton and to Robert's daughter Gillian who married 1) William Paynel and 2) Warin Haule (d. 1176).

     MORTON MANOR - Morton manor, Brading, Isle of Wight, formed part of the estate of the family of Aula, being held of Thomas de Aula's manor of Tothill in 1267-8, and passed to his descendants, the Russell’s of Yaverland. Morton Manor, believed to be built in 1249, is situated on the original site of residence of the Norman de Aula family.

     YAVERLAND MANOR - Thomas de Aula is mentioned in a deed of 1228, and in 1254 his son Roger de Aula obtained a grant at Yaverland, Isle of Wight. Before the end of the century the manor passed to William Russell by his marriage with the daughter of Thomas de Aula.

     KERN MANOR was held before the Conquest by Earl Harold, and in 1086 by the king. It seems afterwards to have passed to the Aula family, and Roger de Aula gave part to the Knights Templar. His gift was confirmed by Ralph Mackerell and augmented by Robert Russell.

     SPAN MANOR – Span originally belonged to the de Aula family, but was held near the end of the 13th century by William Russell, Lord of Yaverland.

     STENBURY MANOR According to Worley's "Isle of Wight" (1781) pg. 220, "the manor of Stenbury was held by the family of de Aula from after the Norman conquest, from whom it descended to that of Heyno who enjoyed it for more than two centuries, and lived at the manor house, which was surrounded by a moat."

     In 1700, John Hall, builder of the Alms-Houses in Bradford on Avon, ordered the Hall coat of arms, crest and inscription “Deo et pauperibus,” be cut in stone and placed on the front of the building, which can still be seen. In Heraldry, the poleaxe, a staff weapon used by Knights, was conferred to those of dignity, good reputation, conviction, loyalty, and readiness for action.  A heraldic artist was able to recreate the Hall coat of arms based on the above description. 

     Before the invasion in 1066, William the Conqueror imported soldiers from surrounding provinces to improve the fighting abilities of his army. These knights were quickly assimilated into the Norman aristocracy and many stood by William’s side at Hastings, and subsequently became prominent among Anglo-Norman baronial families in England. It is known that William asked men from Poitou, Burgundy, Brittany, Flanders, Germany, Denmark and Italy to join his army. In exchange for their services, William promised them a share of the land and wealth of England.

     Whether or not the Hall’s of Bradford on Avon arrived with William the Conqueror is unknown.  We do know the first mention of the “de Aula’s of Bradford” is found in, Charters and Custumals of Shaftesbury Abbey, 1089-1216, By N. E. Stacy, wherein Reginaldus de Aula “of Bradford” is mentioned.  It also describes a charter of Abbess Mary, which names Reginald de Aula as the predecessor of Walter de Aula.  These early documents used the French, or Norman, version of the Hall surname. Records of Holy Trinity Parish, built by the Norman’s in Bradford on Avon following the conquest, show the de Aula’s as members from an early date. These records indicate the de Aula’s were a family of consequent, wealth and power as lords of the manor.

     Mary (c1150-1216), Abbess of Shaftesbury, believed to be the daughter of Geoffrey Plantagenet, Count of Anjou and Maine, Duke of Normandy, and half-sister of Henry II, exacted her rights, as Lady of the Manor, of wardship and marriage over their minor children from the representatives of Reginald de Aula upon his death.  Agnes, widow of Reginald de Aula, paid twenty-five marks and Mary agreed to cede her rights.  In feudal law, the right of wardship allowed the abbess to take control of a minor heir until the heir came of age. The right of marriage allowed them to have some say as to whom the daughter or widow of a vassal would marry and both rights brought increased revenue.

     As owner of Halus Manor, an estate known to be held by the Abbess of Shaftesbury as part of her manor of Bradford, Reginald de Aula had attained a status of quality and wealth while living in Bradford on Avon, possibly acquiring the manor as his father’s eldest son and heir.  The various spelling of this family name include Hall, Halle, Haule, Haul, Hal, Hale, De Aule, De la Sale, De la Salle, De Sale, De Salle, De la S’aula and others, the Latin version of the name being Aula, and the French version being Salle.  In Leland’s Itinerary he states, “Halle, alias De la Sale, dwellith in a pretty stone house at the east end of the town, on the right bank of Avon, a man of 100 pounds of land by the year; an ancient gentleman since the time of Edward I.”     

     The Domesday Book of 1086 was a survey similar to those done today. It was ordered by William the Conqueror and contained records for 13,418 English settlements. The main purpose of the survey was to find out who owned what so they could be taxed on it, and the judgment of the assessors was final, whatever the book said about who owned the property, or what it was worth, was the law, with no appeal.  It recorded the manor of Bradford as consisting of about 5,000 acres, and as being held by the Abbey of Shaftesbury. Following the Norman Conquest, records indicate there was very little change in this area, except for the construction of a large Norman church and renovation of the town bridge.  This Norman church, dedicated to the Holy Trinity, is located near the town center by the river, and is believed built over the remains of an older church. 

     During Saxon times the town bridge was wooden, but during Norman times it was replaced with high quality stone.  The original slim design, built without parapets, was so dangerous people kept falling into the river, which led to the construction of another bridge alongside it, effectively doubling the width. Two ribbed and pointed arches of the original Norman construction can still be seen on the eastern side, and if you look under the bridge you can clearly see the joint. On the bridge is a small building, originally a chapel, and the fish on the weather vane is a Gudgeon, an early Christian symbol. In later years, the chapel was used as a small prison where local drunks and troublemakers were sometimes confined overnight.  

 

 

BRADFORD ON AVON TOWN BRIDGE

 

     In 1206 the Pipe Roll of 6 John shows Thomas de Aula, “paid 40 marks and a palfrey to get what he ought to have had for nothing, namely the lands escheated to him through his tenant’s felony.”  The legal rights of the Crown were already extended beyond their legal limits, but King John decided to extend them even further. Once he obtained a firm footing in the felon’s land, he then refused to surrender it to the rightful lord after the year and day had expired, causing great anger among the Barons. The Magna Carta, an English charter issued in 1215, was written to end such abuses. Records show Gilbert de Aula signed his name as a witness to the signing of the Magna Carta, which later influenced the United States Constitution and Bill of Rights, and is considered one of the most important legal documents in the history of democracy.

     Thomas Hall, spouse of Alice Bower, was summoned before the King’s Justices with reference to a debt of £100 owning to Sir John Turberville, Knight. He failed to make his appearance and was charged with something similar to "contempt of Court."  The penalty of 'outlawry' soon followed. He soon surrendered himself to justice, and for a time was an inmate of Fleet prison.  Among the deeds and other documents found at the Hall during the process of repairs was one dated 18 Henry VII, and contained a "Royal Pardon and Revocation of Outlawry for Thomas Hall, lately of Bradford, Co. Wilts, Gentleman, now in the Fleet Prison." It does not appear from the document that the debt was paid at the time of his release; the condition of his release being that he should appear in Court "if the said John should desire to speak with him touching the debt above mentioned.” 

     The outlawed man was outside the pale of society; anyone might slay him at pleasure; in the grim phrase of the day, he bore “a wolf’s head” and might be hunted like a noxious beast. A reward of two marks was offered for each outlaw’s head brought to Westminster. Two barons showed their knowledge of John’s suspicions by withdrawing secretly from his Court and taking to flight. The King caused them to be outlawed in their absence, and thereafter seized their estates and demolished their castles.

      In 1273 William de Aula de Bradford is mentioned among Wiltshire gentlemen witnessing documents during the reign of King Edward (1273-1307).  In the Hundred Rolls, (7 Edw. I, 1279), Reginald de Aula and Adam de Mokesham appear as Jurors for the Hundred of Melksham.  William de Aula, b. c1238, was a minor at the time of his father’s death, and in 1295 he was appointed to the high office of Coroner. In a deed of that time, he is referred to as, “Coronator Domini Regis,” suggesting both wealth and worldly station. Other documents from 1284-1330 mention William de Aula, his wife Katherine, and son Thomas. It is thought the recessed tomb located on the south side of the Chancel of Holy Trinity Church belongs to William de Aula. 

     The position of county Coroner was instituted in 1194 assuming duties, which had been previously assigned to the sheriff. This was a position appointed by freeholders who assembled in the county court.  Along with other minor functions, his main duties were to guard royal interests, and keep the royal pleas. He received formal accusations, took sureties, and made preliminary investigations to examine the size and nature of the victim’s wounds in a charge of mayhem; and to keep an eye on royal windfalls. He also appraised the value of chattels forfeited to the King. When felons took refuge in sanctuary, it was the coroner who arranged for their leaving the country on forfeiting all that they had. They kept a record of those who had been outlawed, and received “appeals” of criminal charges.

     From the visitation of 1565, we can establish that the Hall’s of Bradford on Avon intermarried with others of wealth and status, while maintaining continuous ownership of Hall Manor, also known as “The Hall.”  In 1851, a series of deeds were found in the flooring during extensive repairs containing a vast amount of information on this family and other families throughout the area. These deeds gave a description of property held by the Hall family in this and the neighboring hundreds, and extending from a very early period to the 13th year of Henry VII.  All of the deeds were written by the same hand, which indicates they were copied from the originals.  It is thought they were likely deposited under the flooring for safe keeping during those most unsettling times.  An elaborate Spanish steel court sword was also found hidden among the deeds.

     Wiltshire Community History states, "At the end of the 16th century The Hall, the finest building in the town, was built by the Hall family, who had been prominent local landowners from at least the mid 13th century. The new building replaced a medieval house which Leland had noted as 'a pretty stone house at the east end of the town."  Pevsner described The Hall as, "the one nationally major mansion in Bradford, not a town house but a country house in character."  In 1320, Thomas at Halle, of Bradford, witnessed a deed, now at Lacock Abbey.  In 1324, Reynold de le Sale of Bradford, was granted land by charter, referred to a brother Thomas, Rector of Portishead, Somerset, he married Isabella.  In 1350, John Hall's son, William, was presented to the chapel of Barley in Bradford parish, and between 1357 and 1361 Thomas at Halle of Bradford is mentioned in numerous deeds.  

 

 

THE HALL

 

     From the Herald's Visitations, we find the Hall pedigree carried back to Thomas Halle, or De la Sale, living at the close of the 14th century.  From deeds we know that Thomas descended from Reginald de Aula and Alice, daughter and, upon the death of her brother Peter, sole heir of Thomas Atte Forde, also written Atford, from whom, he obtained Ford Farm. Alice Atte Forde was the heiress of Nicholas Langridge of Bradford through her mother. Thomas Halle of Bradford in the County of Wiltes, Esq., married Alice, sister and heir of Peter Atford, both heirs of Thomas At Forde of Bradford, and Edith his wife. Edith was the daughter and heir of Roger and Alice his wife, and Alice was daughter of Nicholas Langridge of Bradford. Roger was the son of Roger and Joan, his wife, daughter of Thomas Lyttleton of Bradford, son and heir of Peter. From this, we know the property belonging to Peter Lyttleton (or Littleton) prior to the commencement of the 13th century, and came to Alice At Ford, which she brought to the Hall family.

     Lying just within the western edge of Wiltshire about eight miles southeast of the city of Bath in Somerset, the historical town of Bradford on Avon, is home of architectural buildings from Saxon, Roman and Norman times. Bradford on Avon is a small picturesque English town among the rolling hills on the banks of the river Avon. The town bridge, dating from Norman times, crosses what’s referred to as the ‘broad ford’ on the Avon, and is thought to be the origin of the town’s name.  Bradford on Avon is close to some of the oldest manmade stone structures known, older than the Great Pyramid of Egypt, and 25 miles away from one of the wonders of the world, Stonehenge.  The earliest trace of ancient Britons in the town was over 2,500 years ago with a small settlement just above the area known as Troy.

     King Aethered II gave the estate of Bradford to Shaftesbury Abbey in 1001, and suggested relocating the bones of King Edward, nicknamed the Martyr, to Bradford on Avon, for safety reasons during the early part of the 11th century due to increasingly frequent Viking raids. The relocation never happened, but it is believed the present Saxon church was built to accommodate the relics.  St. Olave’s Street, now Woolley Street, runs parallel with the river Avon along its northern bank. The name St. Olave commemorated a church dedicated to a Scandinavian saint, indicating Viking influence, and possible settlement, in this area during the 11th century.

     In 1532 Bradford on Avon witnessed the barbaric spectacle of a public burning at the stake of one of its own. Thomas Tropnell, of Wiltshire, denied the doctrine of transubstantiation, the fact that the bread and wine taken at the eucharist literally were the body and blood of Christ, and was burned to death in the market place at the bottom of Market Street. The Hall’s of Bradford were connected to the Tropnell family by way of William Hall, son of Thomas Hall, after his marriage to Elizabeth, daughter of Christopher Tropnell of Chalfield.  Christoper Tropnell was the spouse of Anne Carew, coheir of her brother's estate and daughter of Nicholas Carew IV, of Beddington, Nutfield and Carshalton, co. Surrey, Sulham, Berkshire, and Delamars, Hertfordshire.  She was born 1436, or "aged 22" at the death of her father in 1466.

     Mentioned previously, The Wiltshire Society’s Magazine, published an engraving of a shield taken from a tracing of a carved oak quartering located over the chimney-piece at the Hall, which show several quarterings recording the various early alliances made by members of the Hall family. Among those quartered are those of Besill and Atford, two others, 'A bend between three leopard or lions heads erased, the other, and an eagle sable, preying on a fish azure,' are possibly those of Littleton and Langridge.  However, since the shield contains the quartering of Besill, it may also include that of the mother of Nicholas Hall who married Margaret Besill, whose name and family are yet unknown.  

 

 

HALL QUARTERED ARMS

 

     By the fourteenth century, Wiltshire had become a county of importance and great wealth through the exclusive manufacturing of white undyed broadcloth. Gloucester, Somerset, and Oxford soon followed Wiltshire in the manufacturing of white undyed broadcloth. In 1540, John Leland, upon visited the town, wrote 'All the town of Bradford standith by clothmaking'. These English "clothiers" soon became a close-knit group. Pedigrees show these families intermarried and were linked by the Clothier Guild. These clothiers became a very wealthy and powerful guild because the weaving and distribution of cloth was so vastly important to the English economy.  Most of these family businesses were closely held and passed down through either bloodlines or by marriage, with few outsiders. It stands to reason then that the influence of this Guild would extend from all areas and well into London with close family connections. 

     For more than six centuries Bradford on Avon was a center of cloth weaving. During this time, most of the buildings along the hillside to the river were spinners and weavers cottages with the woolen mills lining the bank of the river Avon. By the mid sixteenth century the clothiers of Wiltshire, and the Hall’s in particular, became an important family in the cloth trade. This prosperity continued until a devastating outbreak of plague in 1609.  This outbreak coupled with Wiltshire’s unwillingness to change from the old white undyed broadcloth to the new lighter colored broadcloths, resulted in a sharp and immediate decline in the manufacturing of broadcloth in Wiltshire.  This decline, and the rise of religious unrest led many Wiltshire’s residents down a path leading to America.  

 

THOMAS DE LA SALE

BIRTH: c1340 Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire, England
DEATH: Aft. 1352 Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire, England
FATHER:  William de Aula, Coronator Regis
MOTHER: Catherine LNU
WIFE: Edith LNU

MARRIED: c1361 Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire
DESCENDING SON: Thomas Atte Halle 

CHILDREN:

1.  Thomas Atte Halle b. c1364

 

THOMAS ATTE HALLE

BIRTH: c1364 Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire, England
DEATH: c1430 Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire, England
FATHER:  Thomas de la Salle 
MOTHER: Edith LNU
WIFE: Alice Atford d. 1426/27
W. FATHER: Thomas Atte Ford 
W. MOTHER: Edith 
MARRIED: c1385 Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire
DESCENDING SON: Thomas Halle

CHILDREN:

1.  Reginald Halle, b. c1386 d. Bfr. 1427, eldest son, he endowed a charity in the parish church of Bradford in 1420.  He died prior to his mother as she named her heir as son Thomas.  Reginald married Matilda, and their son William died in infancy

2.  Edith Halle, b. c1388, Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire
3.  Isabel Halle, b. c1390, Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire
5. 
Thomas Halle, b. 1396 Bradford on Avon, d. c1450, deed shows he was living in 1450
4.  John Halle, b. c1398 Bradford on Avon, d. c1417 Bradford on Avon
6.  Richard Halle, b. c1400, descendants are name in the pedigree of Gore of Aldrington   

     Thomas, the first-named in the ordinary pedigrees, is said to have descended from Reginald de Aula, and married, about the year 1390, Alice, daughter and, by the death of her brother Peter, sole heir of 'Thomas Atte-Forde. Documents dated 1408 state, "Alice, relict of Thomas Halle, who died 1427, was holding land in Bradford Leigh and South Wraxall of the Abbess of Shaftesbury."  Alice Atford Hall survived her husband, dying in the year 1427. Reginald, the eldest son, died before 1427 without surviving issue, therefore her second son Thomas, aged thirty at the time of her death, became heir of her estate. Before his death, Reginald de Halle, the eldest son, endowed a "chaplain to serve at the altar at St. Nicholas" in the Parish Church.   

 

THOMAS HALLE

BIRTH: 1397 Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire, England
DEATH: Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire, England
FATHER:  Thomas Atte Halle
MOTHER: Alice Atford d. c1427
WIFE: Unknown

MARRIED: c1425 Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire
DESCENDING SON: Nicholas Hall

CHILDREN:

1.  Nicholas Hall, son/heir, b. c1429 Bradford on Avon, m. Margaret, daughter and coheir of William Besill or Besyll who died in 1479

 

NICHOLAS HALL

BIRTH: c1429 Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire, England
DEATH: Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire, England
FATHER:  Thomas Halle
WIFE: Margaret Besill or Besyll
W. FATHER: William Besill or Besyll
MARRIED: c1451 Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire
DESCENDING SON: Thomas Hall  

CHILDREN:

 1.  Henry Hall, son/heir, b. c1452 Bradford on Avon, died soon after father
 2.  Thomas Hall, b. c1460, m. Alice, daughter of William Norton of Wilton, alias William Bowyer

     Nicholas Hall substantially increased the wealth of the family by marrying Margaret one of the daughters and co-heiresses of William Besill II of Bradford; Cecilia, the other co-heiress, married Anthony Rogers, b. c1438, of Bradford on Avon. In a commission dated 4 Apr 1403, Margaret’s grandfather, William Besill I, was notified by Westminster, after the deaths of Sir William Asthorpe and King Richard II, with Humphrey de Stafford, knight, William Stourton, Thomas Bonham, and the sheriff of co. Wilts. to, “inquire concerning the information that much waste, ruin, dilapidation and destruction has many times been committed as well in the castle and barton or manor of Marlborough. The Inquisition was held before Thomas Bonham and William Besiles,  Salisbury, Thursday before St. Thomas the apostle, 1403: The said castle has been injured and wasted in many ways in the time of Robert Power, William Asthorp and William Scrop, late constables, to what amount the jurors do not know.”

     Nicholas died leaving to his son and heir, Henry, lands, houses, and mills in Bradford held of the Abbess of Shaftesbury. Henry died soon after his father, without heirs, being omitted from the 1565 pedigree in the Herald's Visitation. The estates passed to Thomas, his brother, who died 1515 seized of Hall's Manor of Bradford. At the end of the 15th century a deed dated 21st Edward IV, states Henry Hall of this family had lands in Bradford, Lye, Troll Parva, Slade, Ford, Wraxhall, Holt, Broughton, Marlborough, Okebourn Meysey, Wilts, Freshford, Iford, Mitford, Frome, Fleete, Widcombe, Portishead and other placed in Somerset. 

 

THOMAS HALL

BIRTH: c1460 Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire, England
DEATH: Aft. 1515 Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire, England
FATHER:  Nicholas Hall
MOTHER: Margaret Besill or Besyll
WIFE: Alice Norton
W. FATHER:  William Norton, alias Bowyer of Wilton
MARRIED:  c1481 Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire
DESCENDING SON:  William Hall  

CHILDREN:

1.  William Hall, b. c1482 m. Elizabeth, daughter of Christopher Tropenell of Chalfield
2.  Arthur Hall, Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire
3.  Osmond Hall, Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire
4.  Alice Hall, Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire m. John Torney of Wolverton
5.  Edith Hall, Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire m. Edmond Chatterton
6. 
Thomas Hall, Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire  

     Thomas Hall, spouse of Alice Bower, daughter of William Norton of Wilton alias Bowyer, was summoned before the King’s Justices with reference to a debt of £100 owning to Sir John Turberville, Knight. He failed to make his appearance and was charged with something similar to "contempt of Court."  The penalty of 'outlawry' soon followed.

     An outlawed man was outside the pale of society; anyone might slay him at pleasure; in the grim phrase of the day, he bore “a wolf’s head” and might be hunted like a noxious beast. A reward of two marks was offered for each outlaw’s head brought to Westminster. Two barons showed their knowledge of John’s suspicions by withdrawing secretly from his Court and taking to flight. The King caused them to be outlawed in their absence, and thereafter seized their estates and demolished their castles. Thomas soon surrendered himself to justice, and for a time was an inmate of Fleet prison. 

     Among the deeds and other documents found at the Hall during the process of repairs was one dated 18 Henry VII (1504), and contained a "Royal Pardon and Revocation of Outlawry for Thomas Hall, lately of Bradford, Co. Wilts, Gentleman, now in the Fleet Prison." It does not appear from the document that the debt was paid at the time of his release; the condition of his release being that he should appear in Court "if the said John should desire to speak with him touching the debt above mentioned.”

 

WILLIAM HALL

BIRTH: c1492 Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire, England
DEATH: c1545 Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire, England
FATHER:  Thomas Hall
MOTHER:  Alice Norton, alias Bowyer of Wilton
WIFE: Elizabeth Tropenell
W. FATHER:  Christopher Tropenell
MARRIED:  c1514 Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire
DESCENDING SON:  Thomas Hall  

CHILDREN:

1. Thomas Hall, son/heir b. c1515 Bradford on Avon m. Elizabeth d/o John Mervyn of Fonthill

2. Paul Hall, Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire, England

3. William Hall, Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire, England

4. Margaret Hall, Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire, England m. Freeman Jarvis

5. Jane Hall, Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire, England m. John Gunter of Hullavington

6. George Hall, Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire, England

 

 

 

 

TROPENELL ARMS

 

     William married Elizabeth, daughter of Christopher Tropenell, and granddaughter of Thomas Tropenell and Agnes Ludlow.  Agnes was the fourth daughter of William Ludlow, Lord of Hill Deverel. 

     In 1542, Leland, wrote that William Hall lived 'in a pretty stone house at the east end of the town' and that he was “a man of £100 lands by the year.”

     Christopher Tropenell was the spouse of Anne Carew, coheir of her brother's estate and daughter of Nicholas Carew IV, of Beddington, Nutfield and Carshalton, co. Surrey, Sulham, Berkshire and Dalamars, Hertfordshire.  She was born 1436, or "aged 22" at the death of her father in 1466.  The estate of Nicholas Carew passed to his daughter Anne, “wife of Christopher Tropenell.”  Anne was succeeded by Thomas Tropenell, her son, who died at Sulham in 1548, leaving all his goods to his wife Eleanor for the education of their children. The property eventually passed to Thomas Tropnell's great-granddaughter Ann who married John Eyre in 1550.

     Christopher’s father, Thomas Tropenell, (1402-1488), was responsible for the recovery of Great Chalfield. After much litigation, he was able to effectively convince the courts that he was heir to the Percy’s through a female, the male line having become extinct.  The estate was recorded in the Domesday Book as the property of Ernulf de Hesding, Comte de Perche.

     The arms of Tropenell impaling Ludow are displayed in the roof of the hall and also on their tomb.  The manor, now owned by the National Trust, is surrounded by a moat and gatehouse and has beautiful oriel windows and a great hall.

     The Lady Chapel in the Parish Church of St. Bartholomew, Corsham, Wiltshire, was re-built between 1465 and 1480 by Thomas Tropenell, of Neston and Great Chalfield, and is dominated by the Tropenell's magnificent altar tomb, built to receive the remains of himself and his wife.  He endowed the chapel with a charge of ten marks on his estate, two oxen, and two cows.  These charges were willed on 19 Dec 1514 by Anne, widow of Christopher Tropenell, son of Thomas, to be maintained by her executors. A smaller tomb in the chapel is that of her son, Christopher Tropenell.

     Another Thomas Tropnell, of Wiltshire, an unknown member of this family, denied the doctrine of transubstantiation, the fact that the bread and wine taken at the eucharist literally were the body and blood of Christ, and was burned to death in the market place at the bottom of Market Street.

 

THOMAS HALL

BIRTH: c1515 Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire, England
DEATH: Bfr. 1575 Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire, England
FATHER:  William Hall
MOTHER:  Elizabeth Tropenell
WIFE:  Elizabeth Mervyn
W. FATHER:  John Mervyn
W. MOTHER:  Joan Hungerford
MARRIED:  c1539 Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire
DESCENDING SON:  John Hall I  

 

CHILDREN:

1.  John Hall, son/heir b. c1540-1597 of Forde, m. c1562 Dorothy Rogers daughter and heiress of Anthony Rogers
2.  Robert Hall, Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire, England
3.  Jane Hall, Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire, England
4.  Dorothy Hall, Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire, England
5.  Ann Hall, Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire, England
6. 
Thomas Hall, Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire, England

 

     Thomas Hall married Elizabeth Marvyn, daughter of John Mervyn of Fonthill. Of the various families of this name mentioned in the "Visitations of Wilts," Somerset, and others, among the most prominent was that of Sir John Marvin, of Fonthill Abbey, Wiltshire, grandson of Richard Marvyn, who died in the seventeenth year of the reign of Henry VI. Marvins held the fine estate of Fonthill Abbey, in the parish of Hindon, for more than two centuries. The ancestors of Reinold Marvin were all "Yeomen," owning the lands hey occupied or inherited. Many derived incomes from the tenants who held under them, but none of them appear to have used armorial device but intermarried with "armorial families."

     John Mervyn was of Pertwood and Fonthill Abbey, he married Joan, daughter of Lord Hungerford.  William Fletcher, owner of Pertwood Manor, in right of his wife Joan, daughter of John Brother of Pertwood, died early in the 16th century, leaving as his heirs Agnes, wife of John Maton, and Margaret, wife of John Ingram. Margaret married, as a second husband, William Mervyn and her share of the manor passed to her son John Mervyn. The moiety belonging to Agnes Maton subsequently passed to George Ludlow, who sold it in 1553 to John Mervyn, thus possessing the both portions of the property.

     Thomas acquired his father's estates and is said to be the builder of a small Chantry Chapel twelve and a half feet in width and sixteen in length at the southeast angle of the Nave. It was previously thought William Hall, who married Elizabeth Tropenell, of Chalfield, was the builder of the Chantry Chapel, also called, “The Kingston Aisle" or sometimes referred to as “The Dukes House.”  It was renamed Kingston Aisle after eventually passing from the Hall family to the Dukes of Kingston.  

     The Dukes of Kingston acquired the property after the estates devolved onto Rachel Baynton in 1708.  She was from the neighboring Little Chalfield Manor.  Rachel married soon after her inheritance the 1st Duke of Kingston, William Pierrepont.   Unfortunately, the marriage was short-lived when William died of smallpox leaving Rachel a widow with two small children.  Her descendant, Evelyn Pierrepont eventually succeeded as the 2nd Duke of Kingston and his daughter, Frances, married into the Medows family who were eventually ennobled as Earl Manvers.  After Evelyn died leaving no male heirs, the Hall and Pierrepont fortunes fell to Frances's son and the future Earl Manvers.  In consequence the name changed to the "Kingston Aisle,” but has since reverted to being called, "The Hall."

     A 1575 lawsuit states, “Thomas Hall Esq. deceased is, and his ancestors have for a long time, been seized of water mills and other lands' in the manor of Bradford, held by the abbey of Shaftesbury.”  

 

JOHN HALL I

BIRTH: c1540 Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire, England
DEATH: 1597 Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire, England
FATHER:  Thomas Hall
MOTHER: Elizabeth Mervyn
WIFE: Dorothy Rogers
W. FATHER: Anthony Rogers
W. MOTHER:  Ann b. 1507, daughter of Sir William Wroughton
MARRIED:  c1569 Bradford on Avon
DESCENDING SON:  John Hall II  

 

CHILDREN:

 1.  Thomas Hall, b. c1566-c1600, eldest son.
 2.  John Hall II b. c 1570 d. 1631 m. Elizabeth, daughter of Henry Brune of Athelhampton co. Dorset.  

     After succeeding male heirs of Hall family of Bradford on Avon intermarried with the families of Bower of Wilton, Tropenell of Chalfield, and Mervyn of Fonthill, we find John Hall, the next heir of this family, described as 'of Forde,' married to Dorothy, daughter and sole heiress of Anthony Rogers who died in 1583.  Anthony Rogers was the last male representative of this branch of the Rogers family in Bradford on Avon.  By this pairing, the Besill estate was once again under one roof.  She also brought into the marriage her own patrimony, part of which was located at Holt. Her mother was Anne daughter of Sir Thomas Wroughton.  The tomb of Sir William Wroughton, who died in 1559, has a canopy and inscription in a fine strapwork cartouche, can be seen at the Bradford-on-Avon, Holy Trinity Church.

 

 

HOLY TRINITY CHURCH

 

     John Hall, builder of ‘The Hall’, often described as a wealthy clothier and as such, was a member of the powerful Clothier’s Guild. In a 1611 Wiltshire document states. "The Abbey house and lands passed from Fulk Morley to John Hall, a wealthy clothier of Bradford-on-Avon."   Another Wiltshire article states, "The building was built in 1610 by John Hall, a Wiltshire clothier; in 1847 it became the home of the Moulton family, who founded the rubber manufacturing business.”  

     John, the second son of John Hall and Dorothy Rogers, succeeded as heir, after the decease of his older brother Thomas. He married Elizabeth, daughter of Henry Brune of Athelhampton, Co. Dorset, and is more than likely the builder of the mansion described, by Aubrey, as "the best built house for the quality of a gentleman in Wilts," often referred to as the “Duke’s House” or "Kingston House." From Leland’s mid 1500 description, we know an older house stood on the same site as he describes it as "a pratie stone house at the este ende of the toune on the right bank of Avon." In volume 1 of the Wiltshire Society Magazine, a detailed description of the house is given, as well as one in C. J. Richardson’s "Observations on the Architecture of England during the reigns of Queen Elizabeth and King James I," and details are described and illustrated by G. Vivian in "Illustrations of Claverton and the Duke's House." The present owner has completed renovations of the house, which has adhered to its original plan as much as possible.

JOHN HALL II

BIRTH: c1570 Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire, England
DEATH: 1631 Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire, England
FATHER:  John Hall I
MOTHER: Dorothy Rogers
WIFE: Elizabeth Brune c1572-1/12/1633
W. FATHER: Henry Brune
W. MOTHER: Unknown
MARRIED: c1592 in Puddletown, Dorset
DESCENDING SON: John Hall III  

CHILDREN:

1. Brune Hall, Bp 1593 Holy Trinity Ch, Wiltshire d. 1593 Wiltshire.
2.  Elizabeth Hall, Bp 1594
Holy Trinity Ch. m 1620 John Cottrell s/o John of Wingfield.
3.  Edward Hall, Bp 1598
Holy Trinity Ch, Wiltshire, d. 1601 Wiltshire.
4.  Thomas Hall, son/heir, Bp 1600
Holy Trinity Ch, Wiltshire, m. c1621 Catherine d/o Sir Edward Seymour.

5.  Jane Hall, Bp 1601 Holy Trinity Ch, Wiltshire, unmarried 1631 (father’s will).  
6.  Mary Hall, Bp 1604
Holy Trinity Ch, Wiltshire, d. 3/24/1641 Wiltshire m. Christopher Bailey 6/14/1622 Wiltshire.
7.  John Hall, Bp 1605
Holy Trinity Ch, Wiltshire, m. possibly Elizabeth Rogers.
8.  Dorothy Hall, Bp 1608
Holy Trinity Ch, Wiltshire, unmarried 1631 (father’s will).
9.  Nicholas Hall, Bp 1609
Holy Trinity Ch, Wiltshire, d. 1610
10. Anne Hall, Bp Holy Trinity Ch 1612, unmarried 1631 (father’s will).
11. Henry Hall, Bp Holy Trinity Ch 1614, d. 1614 Wiltshire.
12. William Hall, b. c1613, not on Holy Trinity Ch bp records, but listed on John’s 1631 will as his son.  It is believed he was adopted after infant death of two sons.  

 

The following are several connections between the Halls of Rhode Island and the Halls of Bradford on Avon:  

1.  William and John Hall are shown as sons of John and Elizabeth (Brune) Hall on the Bradford on Avon Hall pedigree, and both are named as sons in his will. William and John Hall disappear from Bradford on Avon records following the death of their father in 1631. In 1637, William and John Hall appear in early records during the early formation of Newport, Rhode Island.  

2.  William Hall was the only child named in his father's will who was not listed in the baptism records of Holy Trinity Church. In 1663, William Hall of Newport, Rhode Island stated in court he is "50 years or thereabouts," or born in 1613.  William Hall of Bradford on Avon was born after 1614, as he would not "fit" into the family otherwise.

3.  Sons Brune, Edward, Henry, and Nicholas baptized 1593, 1598, 1609 and 1614 consecutively, all died young.  The overwhelming grief resulting from the loss of four young sons may have been the driving force behind the adoption of William.

4.  Elizabeth Brune, born 1572, was the first child born after the marriage of her parents who married in 1571.  She married John Hall in 1592 and their first child, Brune Hall, was baptized in 1593; their last child was baptized in 1614.  The birth of her children covered 21 years, therefore Elizabeth would have been age 42 when Henry was born; well beyond the average for most women

5.  It appears extremely unlikely William Hall was the natural son of John and Elizabeth (Brune) Hall, therefore, unlikely his yDNA would match that of John Hall, their natural child.  Results from descendants recent yDNA tests have proven this to be true.

6.  The Pedigree of the Hall's of Bradford on Avon show the marriage of John Hall to Dorothy Rogers and Elizabeth Hall to John Cottrell.  Rhode Island records show the Hall's, Cottrell's and Rogers were closely associated in early Rhode Island.

7.  Henry Hall is shown as a weaver in several early Rhode Island documents and the Hall's of Bradford, manufactured undyed broadcloth for many generations.

8.  Mary Hall, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Brune) Hall, married Christopher Bailey.  Robert Bayley, of Wingfield, Wiltshire, married Christian Arnold of Hertfordshire, they were the parents of Christopher Bayly.  John Bailey of Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire, married Eleanor Knight, daughter of William Knight and Jane Langburne, she was born 1612 in Wiltshire.  Their son John Bailey, Jr. married Eleanor Emery who was born in Romsey, Hampshire, England.  Richard Knight, chr. 14 Jan 1602 in Romsey, Hampshire, England married Sarah Rogers of Newport, Rhode Island. 

9.  On Jan 19, 1663/4, Richard Knight made, in partnership with Henry, son of John Hall, the great purchase of lands at Chippachog, in Westerly and Kingston afterwards known as the Hall and Knight Purchase. Nicholas Cottrell was also a signer of the Misquamicut (Westerly) Purchase with Henry and Richard.

10.  John Dyer of Bratton, Somerset, England married Jane Ernley, daughter of John Erneley of Bishops Cannings and Lucie Cooke, daughter of Thomas Cooke of Salisbury.  They were the parents of William Dyer, born 1580 in London, England, father of William Dyer (9 Sep 1609 London, England-18 Apr 1672 Newport, Newport Co. RI) who married Mary, also known as Mary Dyer in, “Biography of a Rebel Quaker”, by Ruth Plimpton.  Dorothea Erneley married Anthony Rogers of Bradford on Avon, she was the sister of John Erneley who married Lucie Cooke.  

    Upon researching the Holy Trinity Church records, a Wiltshire genealogist discovered eleven children of John and Elizabeth (Brune) Hall. From these records we learn the names of four additional sons who died at a young age, Brune, Edward, Henry and Nicholas.  Nicholas is suspected to be the name of the eldest son of Elizabeth Hall and John Cottrell of Bradford on Avon, and the Rhode Island Nicholas Cottrell was closely associated with the Hall family of early Rhode Island. 

     Elizabeth was the daughter of Henry Brune and Elizabeth Martyn. A beautiful Memorial Brass dated 1595 is dedicated to Nicholas Martyn and is located at St Mary's Church in Puddletown, Dorset. This 16th Century brass depicts Nicholas Martyn, bareheaded, in armour, kneeling before an altar on which is an open book. Behind him are his three sons, who all predeceased him. Sir William Martyn was a wealthy merchant and Lord Mayor of London in 1492. He built his estate of Athelhampton sometime after 1485. Sir Nicholas Martyn was the last male heir of the Martyne line. He was buried in 1595 in Athelhampton Aisle. Nicholas Martyn's four daughters were given equal shares to the estate; his eldest daughter married Henry Brune. To his right is his wife, Margaret, daughter of John Wadham, whose brother Nicholas Wadham, in 1613, founded Wadham College, Oxford. Behind her are their seven daughters. Above them are the arms of Martyn, Arg. two bars gules, impaling Wadham, Gules a chevron between three roses arg.,: above is the Martyn crest, a Martyn (ape) proper, chained to a stump of a tree or, sejant, holding in his paw a mirror azure. Nicholas was the last of the Martyns and died without male issue in 1595. His estate was divided amongst his four surviving daughters, of whom Elizabeth, the eldest, married Henry Brune; and their son, as heir to his mother, lived at Athelhampton Hall. A tablet in memory of a member of the Martyn family with the same crest is on the East Wall of the South transept at Crewkerne.  It's through the Brune lineage that one of several connections is made to the royal family.

     The Brune family has a long history, the Manor of Rowner was granted by a grateful King Edward I to Sir William le Brun in 1277, a record of this is kept in the Hampshire County Archives at Winchester with the family papers. Two Brune sons, Philip and Nicholas, were given the office of Rector between 1292 and 1306. Sir John Brune, grandfather of Elizabeth Brune, died in 1559 and left his estates, including Grange farm, to his son Henry. As a minor he had to wait for his inheritance to be bought back for him from the Ward of Courts when he attained his majority. In 1571 he married Elizabeth Martyn, the eldest daughter of Nicholas Martyn of Athelhampton. His son John was baptized in 1577 in St. Mary Magdalene, Piddleton, together with his six sisters. Henry died in 1594 leaving Grange farm in trust to provide for his five surviving daughters. The rare solid limestone sepulcher tomb in the Chantry is to Sir John Brune, Lord Chancellor of England, who died in 1559, and is one of two such structures in the country. Its escutcheons reveal the careful marrying that went on to secure the family’s mighty wealth, linking with de la Rokele, Bamfilde, Ticheborne and Knowles. Sir John had left money in his will for the tomb’s construction, and provided for his wife to live at The Grange as a dower house. That house still stands today, and is part of Gosport Borough Council’s Grange Farm complex.  

     Henry III and Edmund Crouchback married women with European royal descent.  In addition to the Norman English kings, royal ancestors include the Capetian kings of France, Charlemagne, Frederick III Barbarossa of Germany, Saxons such as Alfred the Great of England, Kings of Scotland and Spain, and monarchs, princesses and dukes from central and eastern Europe.  

 

     Lineage from King Henry III to Elizabeth Brune, spouse of John Hall:

     Henry III, King of England married Eleanor of Province

     Edmund “Crouchback,” Earl of Lancaster and Leicester, married Blanche of Artois

     Henry Plantagenet, Earl of Leicester, married Maud Chaworth

     Eleanor Plantagenet married Sir John de Beaumont

     Maud de Beaumont married Sir Hugh Courtenay I

     Sir Hugh Courtenay II married Margaret Carminow

     Elizabeth Courtenay married Sir John Trethurffe

     Jane Trethurffe married John Tregarthen

     Joan Tregarthen married Sir John Wadham of Merryfield

     Margaret Wadham married Sir Nicholas Martyn

     Elizabeth Martyn married Sir Henry Brune of Athelhampton

     Elizabeth Brune married John Hall of Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire

 

     1620 Apr 29 Groom John Cotterell aged 27 occupation gent residing at Long Ashton, Somerset, Bride Elizabeth HALL aged 22 residing at Bradford, Wilts, dau of John Esq Bondsmen; Source: Wiltshire Wills and Administration.  John Cotterell from Long Ashton, Somerset, April 29, 1620 Salisbury, Wilts, Marriage License, Gent, AGE 27; & Elizabeth d/o John Hall of Bradford, Age 22 Reference Salisbury Mar. Lic.  

     The Cottrell family first settled in Flanders after arriving with William the Conqueror and was referred to as "Cottrell the Norman"; his son was John Cottrell, the grandfather of Ralph. John Cottrell in 1357 was Comptroller of the King's works.  Thomas Coterell represented the Southrepps, co. Norfolk branch of the family in 1540 and married Mary, daughter and heiress of Sir John Inglos. Their son Robert married Anne, dau. of Nicholas Bohun, son of Francis Bohun of Westhall and Elizabeth Knyvett, and Audrey (Ethelreda) Coke, and had Sir Clement, Margaret, and Nicholas. Sir Clement (1585-1631) was of Wylsford co. Linc. married Anne Alleyen (Allen).  William Coggeshall, son of William Coggishall, was Chr. on 24 Dec 1620 in Ickleton, Cambridgeshire, England. 

     1622 Jun 14 Groom Christopher Bayly aged 23 occupation Gent residing at Wingfield, WIL Bride Mary Haulle aged 18 residing at Bradford, status spouse, dau. of John, Bradford Bondsmen to be married at Bradford. Christopher Bayly and Mary Haulle obtained marriage license 17 May 1622 Bradford On Avon. Wiltshire Wills and Administration. Mary was the daughter of John Hall (c1570 Wiltshire-1631 Wiltshire).  One of the witnesses for John Hall’s will was Christopher Bayly (Bailey).

     In the early 16th century Thomas Bayley of Trowbridge, Wiltshire, married Agnes Cleveland, and they were the parents of William, who left two sons, William, the eldest, died without issue, and Christopher.  Christopher married into the Filioll family and was the father by her of William, John, Christopher, and Robert. Only Robert Bayley “of Wingfield”, Wiltshire, left issue. He married Christian Arnold of Hertfordshire, daughter of Richard, and was the father of Christopher Bayly, son and heir.  Source: Descendants of William Bailey of Newport, RI, Bailey Family Genealogy, pg 255.  

     John Bailey of Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire, married Eleanor, daughter of William Knight and Jane Langburne, born about 1612 in Chippenham Co. Wiltshire.  Their son John Bailey, Jr. was born 1613 in England, and died 1691 in Newbury, Essex Co., MA.   

     William Bailey of Newport, RI purchased land from Gabriel Hicks on 14 Jun 1655, “land bounded partly by the sea.” On 5 Mar 1656, William Bailey, Sr. with Gabriel Hicks sold Joshua Coggeshall of Portsmouth 21 acres in Newport, RI.  Family tradition states he was a weaver of silk. He married Grace Parsons, daughter of Hugh and Elizabeth Parson, after arriving in Rhode Island and died before 20 Jul 1670. Hugh Parsons (1613-1684) and wife Elizabeth, widow of William England, sold 18 acres to William Wood on 3 Jul 1662. After Hugh's death, about the year 1677, Elizabeth married Thomas Lawson. On 20 Apr 1677, Hugh Parsons, Jr. leased a dwelling house, land and orchard from his stepfather Thomas Lawton of Portsmouth and agreed to pay 3 pounds a year to Elizabeth Sherman, daughter of Thomas Lawton.  Source: Records of the Bailey Family Descendants of William Bailey of Newport, RI.

CONDENSED WILL OF JOHN HALL OF BRADFORD-ON-AVON

     10 Oct 1630, I John Hall of Bradford in the countie of Wilks and diocese of Sarum, Esquire, do make this my last will and testament.  Item - Elizabeth Hall my wife lands at the Abbey house countie of Somerset, with furniture.  Daughter Elizabeth Cottrell the some of one hundred pounds, daughter Mary one hundred pounds paid to Christopher Baylie gentleman her husband, grandson John Baylie tenne pounds, unmarried daughters Jane, Dorothie and Anne nine hunderd pounds.  My two sons John and William the yearly some of fifteen pounds a piece, to double after wife's death. Executor Thomas Hall, my son and heir.  Overseers - John Brewin (Brune), Knight, William Eyre (Ayer), Esquire, my kinsman, and John Andry, Theophilus Clarke.  Witnesses: John Andry, Sr., Christopher Bayly (Bailey) and Charles Taylor.

     Thomas Hall succeeded his father, and his son John Hall built the almshouse in Bradford on Avon in 1700, which still accommodates four elderly men.  The arms of the Halls are carved over the door.  John Hall was the last of the Halls in Bradford on Avon, and by his will dated 10 Sep 1708, he devised all his lands in Wilts, Somerset and elsewhere to Denzill Onslow, Esq., Edward Lisle, Esq., Frances Goddard, Esq., and Robert Eyre, Esq., trustees; upon trust after the marriage of Rachel, daughter of Thomas Baynton of Bradford, Wilts, for the said Rachel Baynton during her life. Tthe letters K and M with coronets above them are carved on the almshouse chimneys and refer to the Dukes of Kingston and Earls Manvers.  

ALMSHOUSE OF BRADFORD ON AVON

 

FIREPLACE AT "THE HALL" - BRADFORD ON AVON

HALLS OF RHODE ISLAND  

JOHN HALL III

BIRTH: Bap. 1605 Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire, England
DEATH: Aft. 1665 Newport, Rhode Island
FATHER:  John Hall II
MOTHER: Elizabeth Brune
WIFE: Elizabeth Rogers?
W. FATHER:  James Rogers ?
W. MOTHER:  Unknown
MARRIED:  c1635 Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire, England
DESCENDING SON: Henry Hall

CHILDREN:

1.   Henry Hall b. c1637, MA Bay Colony
2.   James Hall b. c1639 MA Bay Colony m. Margaret (divorced early in RI according to court documents)

 

     The manner in which John and William Hall arrived in New England is cloudy, but they likely arrived on the Griffin in 1633 with William and Anne Hutchinson, who settled in Boston in a home across from Gov. Winthrop. Gov. Winthrop's journal dated 18 Sep 1634 states, "The Griffin and another ship now arriving with about 200 passengers. Mr. Lathrop and Mr. Sims, two godly ministers coming in the same ship".  The names of the 200 passengers on the Griffin is unknown, but approximately one-quarter of the passenger list has been reconstructed using early documents in which they mention having arrived in Boston with the Hutchinson family. 

     It's believed John Hall was labeled an "antinomian", and was exiled to Exeter, NH due to his association with the Hutchinson's.  In Rhode Island Anne preached meetings from her home that each person should follow their own inner light and not depend on ministers for their salvation.   A large number of the passengers on the Griffin in 1633 settled in Rhode Island after being expelled from Boston with the Hutchinson family.  
     In 1636, Anne Hutchinson's brother-in-law, Rev. John Wheelwright, preached a sermon in favor of a "covenant of grace" and startled everyone by saying that those who practiced a "covenant of works" were "enemies of Christ."  Before a closed court he was accused of contempt and sedition, and was given two weeks to leave MA Bay Colony during the winter of 1636/37.  Anne Hutchinson's “
antinomians” met in fury over the fate of her brother-in-law.  William Aspinwall drew up a petition suggesting that Wheelwright was not guilty of contempt or sedition, and recommended that the hearings be open to the public.  Sixty freemen, consisting of the majority of the Boston Church, signed the petition.  Most of those who signed the petition were also banished and left immediately with the Rev. Wheelwright for Exeter, New Hampshire.

     The trial of Anne Hutchinson followed Wheelwright’s, and they were also asked to leave the MA Bay Colony, but Winthrop held the Hutchinson family over until spring weather to oblige their survival.  Roger Williams advised them to purchase Aquidneck Island, in Rhode Island. The Hutchinson’s, as well as several other families banished by the Great and General Court, started a settlement at Portsmouth, RI in 1638.  A total of 58 citizens from Boston, and 17 others from nearby towns, were eventually disenfranchised or banished.  

 

 

ANNE HUTCHINSON

 

     Mary Dyer sided with Anne Hutchinson in the Antinomian heresy in 1630s Massachusetts, for which Dyer and her husband, William Dyer, were banished with the Hutchinson's. The Dyers then settled in Providence, Rhode Island.  In the 1650s the Dyers accompanied Roger Williams and John Clarke to England, where Mary Dyer became a Quaker, influenced by George Fox. Returning to Boston, she was arrested and expelled under a new law outlawing Quakers, her husband, who had not become a Quaker, was not arrested.  Mary Dyer was arrested a year later for preaching Quakerism in New Haven.  Ignoring friends and family, Mary returned to Massachusetts to visit two English Quakers held in the jail, and was arrested there.  After being warned repeatedly, she arrived with other Quakers to defy the law, and was arrested. Two of her comrades were hanged, but she received a last-minute reprieve as authorities.  Authorities knew hanging a woman would cause further disturbance among the Quaker community, and cause the non-Quaker community to join in her cause. Mary returned to Rhode Island, and then traveled to Long Island, but finally in 1660 returned to Massachusetts to again defy the anti-Quaker law. This time, her sentence was carried out the day after her conviction, and on June 1, 1660, Mary Dyer was hanged for being a Quaker in Massachusetts.  Dyer is now honored with a statue at The State House in Boston.  

 

 

MARY DYER

 

     The following was transcribed from a document dated 17 February 1670, and located at the Free Public Library in New Bedford, MA.  It gives an idea of what it was like for those who were banished from Boston during this time period:  The library states they have no further information on the original owner, nor any information about when its copy was made from the six-piece discolored and folded original. 

     "The Relation of John the said John Tripp concerning the plases (places) of his aboad (abode) first I was born in Horstow (Horkstow) in Lincolnshire 3 miles from Barton hambar [Barton-upon-Humber] and my father name was John Tripp and my mother name was Isabel moses before she marryed my father when she was a maid and they had about 12 Children and much kindred we had and when I grew in years I was put an apprentice to a shaft (ships) carpender whose name was John baats (Bates) of thorsbey (Thoresby) 3 miles of from alsand (Alford) in Linconeshire (Lincolnshire) aforesaid where I served 7 yeare and sometime after wrought with him and after that I bound my self to one Frances East for 4 pounds a year for 4 years who sould (sold) me after I had served him and his asins (assigns) for about a year and a half hee sould me to Robert Jafra (Jeffrey) then Liveng in boston and boston Church members persacuting som to the ofending of others my master Came to Rhode Island with the said parsacuted people and I with him and his wife being sickly and they could not git their maid to come to Rhode Island with them because boston members Cried out against Rhode Island people whom the said members had exppeled from them therefore my master was forced to sel me to Randal Houlding (Holding) of porthmouth one (on) Rhode Island and I served a while and after bought out the rest of time of him and after a while I married a wife whose maden (maiden) name was mary paine & being about thirty or twenty eight years old or there about and the Lord hathe given us Eleven Children of which one is ded (dead) the Eldest Is 29 years old and upward this 17th the second month 1670 prased (Praise) be the (thee) our Rock who hath been help and unto his (own) at all times give what thou pleseth (pleases) it is mercy from the (thee) to Receive anything for the Earth and See (sea) is all thine and the fulness thereof."
     John Briggs, "came to Boston, and was driven from there with Anne Hutchinson’s party," and later settled in Newport.  On 24 Aug 1646, John Briggs bought a house and lot of John Hall of Portsmouth, "being at the head of the Mil Swamp and bordered in part by the Newport path, all his house and lot, etc. without molestation, only if I (John Hall) abide upon this land, I do have the use of the dwelling house for the use of me or mine, for the space of one year."     

     Samuel Wildbore came to MA before 1633 with his wife and several children. In 1633 Samuel was made a freeman in Boston, and by 20 Nov 1637 he was one of several disarmed "in consequence of having been seduced and led into dangerous error by the opinions and revelations of Mr. Wheelwright and Mrs. Hutchinson," and given license to depart from the colony. Shortly thereafter he removed to Rhode Island, where he is next recorded in Portsmouth, on March 7, 1638. 

     The list of inhabitants of the "Towne of Nieu-Port," 20 May 1638 shows the names of many who were known to leave with the Rev. John Wheelwright for Exeter. Mr. Edmund Littlefield of Exeter, Devon, England left with the Rev. Wheelwright and settled in Exeter, NH with his family and servants John Knight and Hugh Durdall. Hugh is shown on the list of inhabitants admitted at the Town of Newport with John Hall. The name of James Rogers also appears on this list, whose daughter Sarah married Richard Knight.  On Aug 4, 1640, an agreement was made between the town of Hampton, NH and Richard Knight regarding his building and keeping a mill at the landing there.  On Sep 9, 1645, Joseph Armetage was ordered by the Court to hold all the goods in his hands of Richard Knight "late of Hampton, now of Rhode Island." (Essex Quarterly Court Files, Vol 1, Pg 88, and History of Hampton.)

     A deed from, R. I. Colonial Records, Extracts from Rhode Island Colonial Records, Vol. 1, p. 49, states, “Whereas according to certain orders, &c.  Be it known, therefore, that John Hall, of Portsmouth, having exhibited his bill under the treasurer’s hand, wherein appears full satisfaction to be given for the number of sixty-seven acres of land, lying within such bounds as the committee, by order appointed, did bound it with all, viz: The number of sixty acres for a great lot, lying eight score rods in length and three score rods in breadth, bounded one end next the town due north, and butts upon the head of the two mills swamp, and the southerly side upon, the east lies along by the new wayside that goes to Newport, and the other side thereof is bounded by a brook, which is the westerly side upon the north, adjoining to the land of George Barber; which parcel of land, so butted and bounded, containing the aforesaid number of sixty acres, more or less, with seven acres adjoining to his house.  Both which parcels of land, containing the full proportion of sixty-seven acres of land, more or less, is hereby impropriated to the said John Hall, his heirs, assigns forever.

      John Hall's wife is thought to be Elizabeth Rogers, sister of James Rogers II. of Newport and Portsmouth, Rhode Island. On Jan 16, 1647/8, land at Newport was conveyed to Richard Knight by James Rogers, whose daughter Sarah he married at this time. On Jan 19, 1663/4, Richard Knight made, in partnership with Henry, son of John Hall, the great purchase of lands at Chippachog, in Westerly and Kingston, from the Indians, which was afterwards known as the Hall and Knight Purchase.

     Henry Hall is described in several documents as being a weaver.  He was closely association with the Rogerenes, a sect formed by the James Rogers II.  The Rogerenes were similar to the Quakers in that they abandoned long formal prayers, practiced faith healing, and were pacifists. The Rev. John Crandall of the Seventh Day Baptist Church of Westerly, Rhode Island baptized Sarah’s brother, James Rogers III.  Jane, daughter of John Crandall, married Job Babcock, and their daughter Sarah, married James Hall, son of Henry. The Rogerene Church was at one time, an affiliation of the Seventh Day Baptist Church. 

     An ancestor of James Rogers was Thomas Rogers born about 1540 in Stratford-Upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England, (a short distance from Bradford-Upon-Avon). He built the Harvard House, which is a tourist attraction at Stratford-Upon-Avon. Thomas Rogers was the Bailiff during Shakespeare's time and lived in the same area. The bailiff was the chief executive officer, who presided over council meetings, and also in the local law-court, the court of record, for which purpose he was to act as Justice of the Peace.  John Hall, II was the son of John Hall and Dorothy Rogers, daughter of Anthony Rogers of Stratford-Upon-Avon, although a connection to the family of Anthony Rogers has not yet been established. 
     Elizabeth Hall, daughter of John Hall II, married John Cottrell c1619, and were likely the parents of Nicholas Cottrell b. c1622 of Newport, RI.  Nicholas Cottrell is mentioned in list of inhabitants of Newport, RI on May 20, 1638 along with John Hall. Nicholas was also a signer of the Misquamicut (Westerly) Purchase Contract with Henry Hall. The Cottrell's were closely associated with descendants of John Hall of RI, and the Seventh Day Baptist Church, and their descendants frequently intermarried. 

     "Edward Robinson off Newport, yeoman,...to my two Children Edward and Francis Robinson which I had by Margrett Hall. doe give...my said Children all that my mansion House and Land In the Towneship of Newport... bounded Northerly by the Land of Jno: Parker & John Allen, Easterly by the common, Southerly by the Land of John Wood and Westerly by the common or highway... Eighteenth day of may 1686."  Margaret Hall was the wife of James Hall, son of John Hall, who filed suit again her husband claiming he abused their children.  James was found not guilty, and Margaret was denied a divorce, she never returned home. 

     From, "Ancestry of John Wood “Mariner” by Larry Crandall Wood, and Bertha W. Clark, "John Wood of Rhode Island, and his early descendants on the mainland", John Wood, was a mariner who settled in Portsmouth, RI and died there in 1655.  Research also reveals strong family ties to the Wilbore, Sherman, and Wood Clothiers of London.  He was a member of the town council of Portsmouth by 10 Jan 1648.  He married Margaret Sherman, and according to his will, his second wife was Elizabeth, whom Bertha Clark believes was a Hall.  

     Larry Crandall Wood states, "The Wilbores of Essex England (aka Wilbur, Wilber) were wealthy merchants, wool drapers and Clothworkers who had dealings with the Dedham Shermans."  Research by B. F. Wilbore, states the Sherman family are known to have moved from Dedham, England to Portsmouth, RI, and intermarried with the Rhode Island Wilbore family.  Larry Crandall Wood writes, "The Downing, Sherman and Winthrop families were powerful associations and we have long known John Wood was well respected by them, placing him in the close circle of the influential people of the time. I attribute this association primarily to the intermarriage of the Wood family with these other families.

     "John Wood of Nuport bought and purchased of Robert Jeoffreys a parcel of land about fifty acres more or less for a valuable consideration given and received, and is laid forth at the Hermitage alias Middletown, bounded on the eastern and by land of Mr. Sanford's on the northern side, by Edward Robinson on the western, and by the highway 5 acres granted by the towne added thereto at the western end and on the southern side by land granted to John Vaughan, also a parcel of land of 3 acres bordering upon Mr. Hutchinson's land is by the town consigned to the sd. John Wood, being number 58 and is the proper inheritance of the said John and his heirs forever." signed William Dyre, recorder.  An early Portsmouth map shows Henry Hall, son of John Hall, was assigned properly number 55. 

     John Ayer b. c1582, son of Thomas Ayer of New Sarum and Elizabeth Rogers, settled in Salisbury, MA about 1636, his son Robert m. Elizabeth Palmer. Elizabeth Rogers was the daughter of John Rogers of Poole, Dorset, England, and she d. 24 Dec 1612 in St. Thomas, Salisbury, Wiltshire, England. In the will of John Hall d. 1631, son of John Hall and Dorothy Rogers, he mentions his kinsman, William Eyre, (b. 6 Nov 1585); he was also the son of Thomas Ayer and Elizabeth Rogers. Robert Ayer, the eldest son, settled at Salisbury as a merchant. He purchased land and houses at Castle Street in that city from Sir Henry Long, Knt., in the 33rd year of Henry VIII. He was M.P. for Salisbury or New Sarum in 1557, and Mayor in 1559. He married Jane, widow of George Tourney of New Sarum, and left one son, Thomas Eyre of New Sarum, who held lands in Wimborne, Dorset, 2lst Elizabeth, was, like his father, Mayor of Salisbury in 1587, and married Elizabeth, dr. of John Rogers of Poole, of the family of Brianston, Dorset. He died 1628, and was buried at S. Thomas, Salisbury, Sep. 10.

     John Dyer (c1560 Bratton, Summerset, England)  m. Jane Ernley (c1560 Somerset, England-c1580), daughter of John Erneley of Bishops Cannings d. 1556 and Lucie Cooke (dau of Thomas Cooke of Salisbury).  They were the parents of William Dyer (1580 London, England), father of William Dyer (9 Sep 1609 London, England-18 Apr 1672 Newport, Newport Co. RI) m. Mary Stewart (1612 London, England-1 Jun 1660 Boston, Suffolk, MA). Mary was Mary Dyer in the Biography of a Rebel Quaker by Ruth Plimpton.  Dorothea Erneley m. Anthony Rogers of Bradford on Avon, Dorothea was the sister of John Erneley who married Lucie Cooke.

     Richard Knight; b. Norfolk, England, Chr. 14 Jan 1602 Romsey, Hampshire, England, died 4 Aug 1683 at RI m. 1) at Romsey, Hampshire, England Agnes Coffey 2) Sarah Rogers (c1615 d, c1685 RI) on Jan 1648 at Newport, RI.  Rhode Island Land Evidences, Vol. 1, 1648-1696, Originally Published, Rhode Island Historical Society, Providence, RI 1921, pg. 6. Page 5 is a Land Evidence Record for the sale of land with James Rogers and Richard Knight. Page 6 & 7 is land evidence of the Henry Hall & Richard Knight purchase from the Indian Chief Cogamaquoant of the Narragansetts.

     Descendants of Nicholas Cottrell of Newport and Westerly, Rhode Island. Cottrell Family Genealogy; Authored by Cottrell, Ellen R., 1952, 164 page(s). Nicholas Cottrell is first mentioned in the list of inhabitants of Newport, Rhode Island on May 20, 1638. He was admitted a freeman in 1655. He represented the Town of Westerly in the Colonial Assembly in 1670. He is one of the signers of the Misquamicut (Westerly) Purchase Contract. He afterwards bought a tract of 700 acres of Plymouth Colony in that part of Taunton now called Freetown, MA. Here he died in 1680. He left a will probated in Taunton in which he mentions 8 children. His son Jabez was executor.  The fact that he married after arriving in Rhode Island indicates that he arrived there as a young man.

     The "Colonial Records of Rhode Island", by Bartlett, Vol. 1, 1636-1663, "Inhabitants admitted at the towne of Nieu-Port since the 20th of the 3d, 1638.  (May 20, 1638) were:  Marmaduke Ward, Robert Field, Thomas Stafford, Job Tyler, Thomas Sauorie, Hugh Durdall, William Baker, John Layton (Lawton?), Mr. William Foster, John Hall, Toby Knight, John Peckum, Michell Williamson, Mr. Robert Lintell, Richard Smith, James Rogers, John Smith, William Parker, John Grinman, Edward Rero, John Macummore, Robert Root, Ezekiah Meritt, James Burt, John Bartlett, Edward ____, Sampson Salter, Nicholas Cotterell, John Vaughan, John Smith, John Merchant, Jeremy Gould, Enoch Hunt, Nathaniel Adams, Samuel Allen, George Allen, Ralph Allen, Mr. Thomas Burton, Henry Bishop, John Hicks, Edward Browce, Mathew Gridell."  

     Descendants of Nicholas Cottrell:

Nicholas Cottrell was b. 1622 in England, and d. 1680 in Taunton, Plymouth, MA. He married Martha LNU in Newport, Newport Co, RI, she died Aft. 1680.


Children of Nicholas Cottrell and Martha LNU are:

1.  Nicholas Cottrell, b. 1648, Westerly, Washington Co, RI; d. 1716, Westerly, Washington Co, RI.
2.  John Cottrell.
3.  Gershom Cottrell, b. c1652, Of Stonington, New London, CT; d. 1711, North Kingston, Washington Co, Rhode Island.
4.  Eleazer Cottrell, b. 1654.
5.  Mary Cottrell, b. c1656, Of Newport, Newport Co, RI; m. FNU Crowder.
6.  Hannah Cottrell, b. c1658, Of Newport, Newport Co, Rhode Island.
7.  Jabez Cottrell, b. c1660, Of Newport, Newport Co, RI; m. Ann Peabody.
8.  James Cottrell, b. c1660, Of Newport, Newport Co, RI.

 

     The partial destruction of the records of early Newport, Rhode Island leaves only gleanings concerning the lives of the early settlers, here are a few more:

     Robert Potter came from Coventry in England in 1634, and admitted a freeman of MA, 3 Sep 1634. He is briefly mentioned as a farmer in Lynn, MA, but soon moved to Roxbury. In Roxbury, he became a follower of Samuel Gorton, and in 1637, he was one of those summoned before the general court for not conforming to the dictation of the church and other authorities. Potter and others of Roxbury were excommunicated for supporting Mrs. Hutchinson. Potter was admitted an inhabitant of Aquidneck (Portsmouth), RI, on 1638; and on April 30, 1639, he signed the compact, on which the civil government of the town rested.

     Mr. William Brenton arrived in Boston on the ship "Griffin".  Gov. Winthrop's journal dated 18 Sep 1634 states, "The Griffin and another ship now arriving with about 200 passengers. Mr. Lathrop and Mr. Sims, two godly ministers coming in the same ship". The 200 passengers on the Griffin are unknown, but a list has been partially reconstructed from early documents.  It is known that the Rev. John Cotton and the Hutchinson's were on board.  Anne Marbury moved with her family from Alford to London and at the age of 21 married William Hutchinson, a prosperous cloth merchant. They returned to Alford, and considered themselves to be part of the Puritan movement, following the teachings of the Rev. John Cotton, their religious mentor.  

     Nicholas Brown was b. c1615 in England, John Browne, Weaver of Bradford, Wiltshire whose will is dated 25 Nov 1598, is believed to be his father.  

     The following is a timeline for Nicholas Brown:

     1635 arrived in the MA Bay Colony;

     1637 was among the dissenters of Roger Williams and Anne Hutchinson and left with them for RI;

     1638 admitted an inhabitant of Aquidneck, RI;

     1639, Apr 30. He was one of 29 who joined to create themselves into a "civill body politicke," at Portsmouth;

     1640-42. Nochilas Brown, of Aquidnecke, recepts for all money due him for sale of land to John Wickes adj Mr. Samuel Hutchinson's house lot. He signed by his mark;

     1646, Feb 4. Nicholas Brown received 20 acres adjoining his other 20;

     1655  He was made a freeman of Portsmouth, RI;

     1656, Feb 6. Nicholas Browne, Portsmouth, to Thomas Wood, of the same place, land.

     1657 1 Jun. Thomas Wood sold to Richard Tew of Newport, 40 acres in Newport, given by the townsmen of Newport to John Wood of Portsmouth, lately deceased, who died intestate, land was given by Town Council of Portsmouth, to his son Thomas Wood. The original purchase of land in Portsmouth by John Wood was from Nicholas Browne within the bounds of Portsmouth, near Newport line.

     1656, Nicholas Browne of Portsmouth, bought 20a of George Parker in Portsmouth;

     1657, Dec 10. Nicholas Brown was granted, with others, six acres in Portsmouth;

     1659, May 14. Nicholas Brown, of Portsmouth, for a consideration sold to Alexander Enos, one acre of land, in Portsmouth; 1680. He was taxed 6s. 4d.

     1693/4, Mar 15. He paid the town treasurer 29s for 20 acres of land, which he bought of the said town Feb. 3, 1693/4 in Portsmouth;

     1694, Mar 1. He sold to John Woode, Sr., of Portsmouth, a parcell of land, "granted to me by the towne, in Portsmouth, near Newport line." And signed by his mark;

     1694 Nov 16, Will of Nicholas Brown husbandman, proved 27 Dec 27, 1694: Eldest son Nicholas Brown, received 5 shillings.  Son, Abraham Brown, received 5 shillings daughter, Jane Babcock, received L10. Granddaughters Martha and Jane, children of son William Brown, deceased, each L10 and a bed and blankets. Grandson, Tobias Brown, son of William, deceased, the residue of his estate and creates him executor. His mark.  

     Thomas Lawton - From the will of William Hall b. c1613 it states, "my will is that my three sons, Zurill, William and Benjamin, shall have all my land in the Narragansett which I purchased of Thomas Lawton, to be equally divided between them."  The will of Thomas Lawton states: "ITEM I give and bequeath unto my daughter Elizabeth Sherman her heirs and assigns forever all that pasture of mine in Portsmouth aforesaid that is commonly called and known by he name of Fifty Acres as the same is lying and being betwixt the land of William Hall and the land of Thomas Wood.

     Roger Williams was born in London, circa 1603, the son of James and Alice (Pemberton) Williams. James, the son of Mark and Agnes (Audley) Williams was a "merchant Tailor" (an importer and trader) and probably a man of some importance. His will, proved 19 November 1621, left, in addition to bequests to his "loving wife, Alice," to his sons, Sydrach, Roger and Robert, and to his daughter Catherine, money and bread to the poor in various sections of London.

     The "Colonial Records of Rhode Island", by Bartlett, Vol. 1, 1636-1663 shows John Hall arrived in Newport, shortly after its formation on 28 Apr 1639, and was admitted as an inhabitant, it states, “Inhabitants admitted at the towne of Nieu-Port since the 20th of the 3d, 1638.  (5/20/1638) were: Marmaduke Ward, Robert Field, Thomas Stafford, Job Tyler, Thomas Sauorie, Hugh Durdall, William Baker, John Layton, Mr. William Foster, John Hall, Toby Knight, John Peckum, Michell Williamson, Mr. Robert Lintell, Richard Smith, James Rogers, John Smith, William Parker, John Grinman, Edward Rero, John Macummore, Robert Root, Ezekiah Meritt, James Burt, John Bartlett, Edward ?, Sampson Salter, Nicholas Cotterell, John Vaughan, John Smith, John Merchant, Jeremy Gould, Enoch Hunt, Nathaniel Adams, Samuel Allen, George Allen, Ralph Allen, Mr. Thomas Burton, Henry Bishop, John Hicks, Edward Browce, Mathew Gridell.”

     In 1644 the second reference to John Hall is made in the Town of Portsmouth at a publicke Towne meeting of freemen on the 23d of December, 1644, which states: "It is further ordered by a mutual consent, that no more landes shall be layed out within the boundes of the commons; as namely, the commons soe called; and from John Brigg to the further brooke on the southeast side; so from the brooke to the great swamp; that is to say, the willow swamp footpath; so to John Tripp's; and from Robert Ballow's to John Hall's; and all the common about the Towne undisposed of at this day, so to remaine to the Town forever." This land was sold 24 Aug 1646 to John Brig(g)s as mentioned above.

     John Hall is shown as a resident and freeman of Newport in 1655 on the, "roll of the freemen of the colony of every towne," although this does not show the actual date he became a freeman of the colony, this was his third and final reference.
John Hall was a member of the first Baptist church in the colonies, which was destined to become the principal source of the great Baptist family of churches in the United States. Foremost among the names of the men who carried these movements to success stands that of Roger Williams, Samuel Hubbard, John Clarke, Thomas Clarke, Joseph Clarke and Elder John Crandall - and a number of others, some of whose names have become a household word in many Baptist homes to the present day.

HENRY HALL

BIRTH: c1637 Probably MA Bay Colony
DEATH: 5 Nov 1705 Westerly, Rhode Island
FATHER:  John Hall III
MOTHER:  Elizabeth Rogers ?
WIFE:  Honor LNU
MARRIED:  Abt. 1660 Rhode Island
DESCENDING SON:  James Hall


CHILDREN:

1.   Henry Hall m. Constant Maxson
2.   Edward Hall m. Mary Ball
3.   James Hall m. Sarah Babcock
4.   John Hall m. Elizabeth Ball
5.   Mary Hall m. Thomas Stevens
6.   Honor Hall m. James Adams
7.   Elizabeth Hall m. Edward Larkin


     In 1664, Mr. Stephen Mumford, a member of the Bell Lane Seventh-Day Baptist Church in London, came to Rhode Island and finding no church of his faith, he affiliated with the Baptist church in Newport.  During the next few years, a number of the members of that church embraced his views on the Sabbath and the perpetuity of the Ten Commandments.  It was not their intention to sever their connection with the Baptist Church, for they thought surely a people who had suffered as the Baptists had done for Bible baptism would fellowship those who observed and defended the Bible Sabbath.

     They soon discovered, however, that even in the church of Roger Williams, liberty of conscience meant liberty to believe and practice according to established dogmas and decrees.  Elder John Clark, Mark Luker, and Obadiah Holmes, leaders in the church, began to preach against the practice of the Sabbath-keepers and to denounce them as heretics and schismatic.  They were eventually brought to an open trial.  They were cited to appear before the church and show cause why they had denied Christ not only in going to Moses for the law, but denying him by refusing the emblems of his body and blood.  

     They soon discovered that the purpose of the meeting was to point out to them their “error” and to compel them to abandon it.  When they proposed that William Hiscox speak for the company, in which they were all agreed, the church persistently refused to hear him.  After a long controversy in which feelings, on both sides, grew more intense, the accused came to consider themselves the same way as that in which they, together with those who are now opposing them, had defended the cause of the Baptists in the Puritan controversy.  They also bore grateful testimony to the joy they found in keeping God’s Holy Sabbath.  Failing to obtain any relief from the strain of the situation, and becoming convinced that they could not keep the Sabbath and walk in fellowship with the church, the faithful five formally withdrew December 7, 1671, and the group entered into solemn covenant with each other as the First Seventh-Day Baptist Church of Newport.  Early records shows that Henry Hall was a member of the early Seventh Day Baptist Church in America, as were his descendants.

     Names known as being members of the Seventh Day Baptist Church, and associated with the Hall family were:  Crandall, Babcock, Hiscox, Hubbard, Langworthy, Burdick, Cottrell, Lamphear, Ross, Worden, Maxson, Wilbur, Mumford, Brown, Wilcox, Tanner, Reynolds, Fuller, Thornton, Rogers, Beebe, Jewell, Larkin, Adams, Shelley and Foster, among others.  Many of their children intermarried as a result of their solemn covenant with each other, and due to their forced separation from the Baptist Church.
It was during this time that the New World became a lively scene, with the execution of Quakers in the MA Bay Colony, the exile of Roger Williams, and such lesser-known proceedings as the trial and imprisonment of John Rogers in Connecticut because "he reviled tenets, clergymen, and sacraments of the prevailing religion." In 1695, he "was taken from prison, tied to a cannon, and flogged seventy-six times with a whip that had knots at its end as large as walnuts. He was then thrown in his cell without bed or bedding, not even straw, and chained to the wall." Altogether, Rogers spent eighteen years locked up.  The Rogerene's lasted until World War One.

     On 17 Sep 1679, Henry took the oath of allegiance in Newport, in 1687 he served on the grand jury, and in 1691 he was a deputy.  He was a weaver by trade, as was his son Henry.  It is speculated that his wife’s first name was Honor, as his son James named his first daughter Sarah after his wife, his second daughter Jane after his wife’s mother, and his third daughter Honor, presumably after his mother. 

     Jan. 19, 1664, Richard Knight made in partnership with Henry Hall (most likely with the assistance of Job Babcock who was an Indian interpreter), the great purchase from the Indians, of lands at Chippachog, in Westerly, which they called Westerly Manor.  This area was known as Misquamicut, and Kingston, which was afterwards known as the Hall and Knight Purchase. Job was the new son-in-law, as of 1662, of the Elder John Crandall and Mary Opp, and would be thirty years later the father-in-law of Henry's son, James. 

     The abstracts from vol. 1 of, Rhode Island Land Evidences, in the State Archives, pg 3, “Narragansetts in the Collony of Rhod-Island ... have for. Tenn pownds in peage Eight the peny in hand by me the aforesaid Cogamaquoant Received from Richard Knight & Henry Hall both of the Towne of Newport wherwith I the sayd Cogamaqucant doe discharg the said Richard Knight and Henry Halls of all debts. I doe. . .sell. . unto the said Richard Knight & Henry Halls their heires.... a certain percell of Land Scittuate and lyinge in the aforesaid Narraganse-tts Cuntry neere or adjoininge unto the Land Formerly Sould by me unto Mr. John Porter and Mr Samll Wilbore &c at pettacomscutt and is by Esteemation two Miles Square be it more or less being butted and bounded as Followeth Vizt. on the Eastside from a place called in Indian Qumatumpick, southward to a place called chippachuat and soe westerly to a place called Quowachauck and from thence northward to place called Winatompick and so to extand from thence upon a straight line unto the first boundery to be Houlden of our Royall Soverraigne lord Charles the Second not in Capett nor by Knights service but in comon Soccage after the manner of East Greenwich in the County of Kent. Further I the said Cogamoquant doe bind myself in the sum or Bond of Five hundred pounds Starl of good and lawfnl mony of England or to the vallew therofthat the land mentioned in this deed is a good Reall and firme Estate unto the said Richard Knight and Henry Halls and that the said land is ceere and free from all intailments deeds of sale leases mortgages and all other alienation of what nature or kinds whatsoever.and to deere and remove or cause to be removed at or before the first of march next after the date hereof Every Indian or Indians Inhabiting there on and not to suffer or the future any Indian to dwell or plant upon the aforesaid Tract. . .this 19th day of January and in the yeare of our Iord god one Thousand Six hundred Sixty and fower... in pressence of John Archer, The marke of Alse Archer, Richard Bulgar, the marke of Cogamagooant, the marke of Wotomer, an Indian Cobsounk, his mark, an Indian.”

     Roger Williams and his diplomatic skill kept the powerful Narragansett Indians on friendly terms with the settlers; they were even persuaded to assist the colonists during their fight against the Connecticut warlike Pequots Indians. For 50 years while Massasoit was chief, peace prevailed, but his sons did not trust the English. Massasoit was so fond of the English, he ask the General Court in Plymouth to give his sons English names. His son Wamsutta was named Alexander, and son Metacom was named Philip, after ancient kings of Greece. After Massasoit's death, things soon got out of hand. Troops captured the new chief, Wamsutta - Alexander, and forced him to Plymouth, threatened him in a show of superiority, and upon his return home he became ill and died. Matacom Philip, the new chief, blamed the white man and wanted revenge for the death of his brother. 
     From 1675 to 1676 King Philip's War was fought, and during the Great Swamp Fight, over 700 Indian men, women and children perished. The following spring, Providence was burned to the ground, while Rogers Williams watched in disbelief. Both sides were incredibly brutal, 600 colonist died and over 3,000 Indians. Metacom was finally captured and beheaded, which effectively ended the war. His head was displayed on a fort at Plymouth for 25 years.  In 1676, Henry Hall and John Knight rendered service to the Colony in King Philip's War, and on Oct 31, 1677, they were granted land in East Greenwich for service in that war. Each grantee received 100 acres. Henry was about 38 during King Philip's War and John Knight was most likely about age 58, which is based on the fact that he had been married prior to his arrival in MA about 1637. 

     In "Halls of New England", by David Brainard Hall, Henry Hall is mentioned as the son of John Hall of Newport, Rhode Island.  He states, “Henry Hall, Sr., weaver, and Henry Hall, Jr., took the oath of fidelity Sept. 17, 1679, and also James Hall was a free inhabitant of Westerly, 1680.” Henry Hall and four others, purchased on 2 May 1710, 3200 acres of land north of Pawtucket River and west by Wood River. Among the grantees of land near the last purchase in 1710-11, were John Hall, Edward Hall, Henry Hall, and Joseph Hall in 1709. Henry Hall, Jr., m. Constant. He made his will on Nov. 1, 1716, in which he mentioned his sons William, Elisha, Henry, James, John, Edward, and daughters Susannah, Lydia, Elizabeth Button, Cherry (or Mercy) Cottrel stating that Mary and Martha were not of age. (See New England Historical. Genealogy Register, volume 15). 

     On 28 Sep. 1705, Henry Hall's will, proved 5 Nov 1705, executor not named, so the Town Council appointed his son Edward to that office. To wife, a third of all estate real and personal, at her disposal, and son Edward to take care of her. To son Edward, a third of all land and movables. To all children, a third of estate divided equally. To eldest son Henry, 5 shillings. The children all to take care of my wife, their aged mother. Codicil gives to son Henry, half of certain tract of land. Inventory 204 pounds, 4 shillings, viz. 15 sheep 10 lambs, 2 oxen, 10 pigs, 7 swine, 2 mares, 35 loads of hay, 1 loom, 2 guns, a cutlass, 5 cows, 2 calves, 6 horses, 4 mares, also 12 mares and horses, 4 colts, a pair of oxen, a bull, 13 steers, 2 heifers, warming pan, &c.

     The appointment of his son Edward as executor was asked for by following brothers and brothers-in-law, viz.: Henry, James and John Hall, Thomas Stevens, and James Adams. In 1706, in this and following year receipts were given to executor by brothers and brothers-in-law as follows, viz.: Henry, John, and James Hall, Thomas Stevens, James Adams, and Edward Larkin. Oath was also made by John Hall and William Wilkinson, that widow had received her portion. 

JAMES HALL

BIRTH: c1671 Westerly, Washington Co., Rhode Island
DEATH: 17 Apr 1734 Westerly, Washington Co., Rhode Island
FATHER:  Henry Hall
MOTHER: Honor LNU
WIFE: Sarah Babcock
W. FATHER:  Job Babcock
W. MOTHER: 
Sarah Jane Crandall
MARRIED:  c1691 Westerly, Washington Co., Rhode Island
DESCENDING SON: Joseph Hall

CHILDREN:

1.   Sarah Hall b. 12/25/1693, Westerly, Washington Co., Rhode Island
2.   Jane Hall b. 8/29/1695,
Westerly, Washington Co., Rhode Island
3.   Honor Hall b. 8/14/1697,
Westerly, Washington Co., Rhode Island
4.   Elizabeth Hall b. 8/23/1699,
Westerly, Washington Co., Rhode Island
5.   James Hall b. 9/17/1701,
Westerly, Washington Co., Rhode Island
6.   Joseph Hall b. 2/8/1703,
Westerly, Washington Co., Rhode Island
7.   Mary Hall b. 11/10/1705,
Westerly, Washington Co., Rhode Island
8.   Benjamin Hall b. 11/19/1707,
Westerly, Washington Co., Rhode Island
9.   Amey Hall b. 9/26/1709,
Westerly, Washington Co., Rhode Island
10. Jonathan Hall b. 11/18/1711,
Westerly, Washington Co., Rhode Island

 
     Little is known about James’ life, except that he was most likely a weaver as his estate showed he owned 3 linen wheels.  Also, by the sizable amount shown inventoried in his estate, one can assume he was quite successful.

     Sarah's father was Job Babcock, born 1646; he was an Indian Interpreter, as well as a blacksmith and was also called a miller.  Job assisted William Hall who was on a committee to treat with the Indians about drunken- ness; "Seriously to consult and agree of some way to prevent the extreme excess of the Indians' drunkenness." Job was also a member of the Seventh Day Baptist Church.

     Sarah's mother was Jane Crandall, daughter of Elder John Crandall and Mary Opp. John Crandall was persecuted for his religious opinions and after his imprisonment in Boston, he sought safety in Newport. He is one of the six purchasers of Westerly, RI in 1661, and builds his homestead there on Pound Road c1665. He was perhaps the first Baptist Elder in America, later converting to the Seventh Day Baptist faith, holding meetings at his home in Westerly, RI. He returned to Newport because of the dangers of the King Philip Wars in 1676, and, while there, he died. He is buried in the family burial ground on the Homestead (Historical Cemetery #15).  

     On 17 Apr 1734 will, proved 29 Apr 1745 executor son Benjamin. To wife Sarah, a third of all estate real and personal for life, use of best room in the house; and two milk cows and a riding beast forever. To grandson Benjamin Hall, son of James, deceased, 5 shillings. To son Joseph, eastward part of homestead, 80 acres. To son Benjamin, rest of homestead, house, &c., 120 acres, he paying my daughter Mary Hall 10 pounds. To daughters Sarah Hall, Honor Hall, Elizabeth Mackson (Maxson) and Mary Hall, all personal equally. Inventory 394 pounds, 18 shillings, viz: apparel, 24 pounds, 15 shillings, pair of compasses, 3 linen wheels, pair of cards, pewter, a yoke of oxen, pair of steers, 3 cows, 2 heifers, 2 yearlings, mare, 18 sheep, 6 lambs, breeding sow, 6 pigs, &c.

JOSEPH HALL

BIRTH: 8 Feb 1703 Westerly, Washington Co., Rhode Island
DEATH: 5 Dec 1755 Westerly, Washington Co., Rhode Island
FATHER:  James Hall
MOTHER: Sarah Babcock
WIFE: Susan
nah Shelley
W. FATHER:  Benjamin Shelley
W. MOTHER:  Jane Wilcox
MARRIED:  c1723 Westerly, Washington Co., Rhode Island
DESCENDING SON: Benajah Hall
  

 
CHILDREN:
1.   Ezekial Hall b. c1730 Westerly, Washington Co., RI
2.   Joseph Hall b. c1732 Westerly, Washington Co., RI d. Jamestown, Newport Co., RI m. Tamzon Wilcox 12/18/1758
3.   Ebenezer Hall b. c1734 Westerly, Washington Co., RI m. Elizabeth Warren on 4/21/1754 Newport Trinity Church Newport, RI
4.   Hezekiah Hall b. 1736 Westerly, Washington co., RI d. 8/22/1789 Stephentown Rensselaer Co., NY m. Dorcas Peckman 10/11/1759
5.   Benajah Hall b. c1738 Westerly, Washington Co., RI
6.   Susannah Hall b. c1740 Westerly, Washington Co., RI

 

     Joseph Hall was willed the eastward part of his fathers homestead, plus 80 acres in Westerly, and continued to live there until his death in 1755 at the age of 52. Joseph married Susannah Shelley, daughter of Benjamin Shelley and Jane Wilcox.  Jane and Benjamin Shelley, had the following children: Sarah who married William Worden, Jane who married John Tanner, Benjamin, Samuel, Mary who married ? Warren and Susannah Shelley who married Joseph Hall. John Tanner was the son of William Tanner and Mary Babcock, and grandson of Job Babcock and Jane Crandall.  

     The Shelley name is a very rare name in the New England records, and is found very early in the records in Plymouth Co. It appears the Shelley's removed early to New London, Co., CT. Robert Shelley was born about 1610 and died 9/6/1692, and he was located in Scituate as early as 1636, when he had lands granted to him. On 14 May 1637, he became a member of the church in Scituate, was made a freeman of Plymouth Co. in 1638, and in 1640 he removed to Barnstable, MA. Robert Shelley married Judith Garnett of Boston on 9/26/1636 and they had: Hannah 7/2/1637, Mary 10/2/1639, and John 7/31/1642.  John Shelley married Susannah and they had Benjamin, Samuel, Mary, Elizabeth, and Sarah. Benjamin Shelley married Jane Wilcox, parents of Susannah Shelley.  Benjamin Burdick...his widow Jane, whose will was proven Nov 28, 1748, left children by her first husband (Shelley) and named daughters, Sarah Worden, Jane Tanner, Mary Warren, Susannah Hall, wife of Joseph, and she mentions her deceased sons, Benjamin and Samuel.  

     From Vol. 12 Abstracts of Westerly Wills:  Joseph Hall of Westerly, yeoman, will dated 14 Oct 1755 proved on 27 Dec 1755, pages 469-470, mentions wife Susannah Hall, sons Ezekiel Hall, Joseph Hall, Ebenezer Hall, Hekeziah Hall and Benajah Hall, under 21.  Daughter Susannah Hall under 18.  witnessed by Ephraim Hall, Jonathan Hall and Daniel McCoon. 

     In Westerly, RI deeds, Vol. 7 the following deeds are found:
Pages 76-7, Joseph Hall & wife Susanna to John Brown, Taylor, May 26, 1748
Pages 90-1, Joseph Babcock & Susanna his wife to John Crandall, son to Peter, Oct. 6, 1747. Witnesses: Elias Thompson, W. Babcock, Stephen Babcock and Anna Babcock.
Page 280, John Richmond & Mary his wife to Joseph Hall, 32 acres in Westerly bounded by Thomas Mumford, Joseph Odel, Joseph Maxson and Josiah Hill, Feb. 26, 1739/40. Witnesses: Stephen Wilbour and Stephen Babcock.  

 

HALLS OF NEW YORK

BENAJAH HALL

BIRTH: 1738 Westerly, Washington Co., Rhode Island
DEATH: 17 J
ul 1819 Montgomery Co., New York
FATHER:  Joseph Hall
MOTHER: Susannah Shelley
WIFE: Sarah Crandall?
W. FATHER:  FNU Crandall?
MARRIED:  c1758 Westerly, Washington Co., Rhode Island
DESCENDING SON: Jesse Hall
  

 

CHILDREN:
1.  Asa Hall b. c1758 Westerly, Washington Co., Rhode Island m. Sarah Adams
2.  Jesse Hall b. 22 Mar 1760 Westerly, Washington Co., Rhode Island d. 2 Oct 1848 Montgomery Co., Virginia m. Phebe Wilbur b. 13 Jul 1761
3.  Benajah Hall, Jr. b. 1762 Westerly, Washington Co., Rhode Island m. Hepsibah “Sarah” Brown 

 

     The name Benajah was most likely derived from the biblical Benaiah, warrior of David; who proclaimed Solomon King.  Benaiah was the son of Jehoiada of Kebzeel, who had performed mighty deeds, and was made a guard of King David.
Benajah Hall may have married Sarah Crandall, d/o Samuel Crandall and Sarah Worden, and brother of Azariah Crandall, Sr. 

     One connection Benajah Hall, Sr. had between Westerly, RI, Stonington, CT, Dutchess Co., NY and Montgomery Co., VA is Azariah Crandall, Sr., an original settler of the Beekman Patent. Azariah, born 18 May 1739 in Stonington, CT, m. Rebecca Reynolds, daughter of James Reynolds and Rebecca Burdick of Westerly, RI.  Rebecca was the daughter of Robert Burdick and Rebecca Foster, and Robert Burdick's parents were Robert Burdick and Ruth Hubbard. After Ruth Hubbard's death, Robert married the widow Mrs. Jane (Wilcox) Shelley whose daughter Susannah Shelley married Joseph Hall, Benajah's parents.  "The Settlers of the Beekman Patent, Dutchess County, NY, by Frank J. Doherty", states that Azariah Crandall [Jr.] born ca. 1769 and a number of Pawling men went to Virginia, it also states, "Nathan Crandall, [son of Azariah of Beekman] went to Montgomery Co., Virginia with friends from the Beekman area, and died in Montgomery Co., VA." 

     "The Settlers of the Beekman Patent, Dutchess County, NY" shows Azariah located in Pawling by June 1766 (the date he was first taxed), he was assessed in the Beekman and Pawling Precincts from June 1767 through June 1779.  He was in the third Regiment of the DC militia in the Revolution, and was granted Land Bounty Rights for his service.

     Azariah was a Deacon of the Baptist Church in Pawling from 1785 until his death on 11 Feb. 1808, and was buried in the Beekman Cemetery in Poughquaq, NY.  Simeon Crandall b. 15 Jan 1724 (son of Joseph Crandall and Ann Langworthy, and grandson of Rev. Joseph Crandall and Deborah Hubbard Burdick) named three of his sons Jesse, Asa, and Isaac, as did Benajah, Sr, indicating these were Crandall family names.

     Descendants of Samuel Crandall and Sarah Worden, who married in 1731, share a newly recognized royal descent from Peter Worden, the Immigrant.  According to Worden genealogy, Sarah Worden was the daughter of Thomas, son of Samuel, son of Peter Worden, the younger.  The Crandall children born 1733-1751 include Sarah, Eunice (Tupper), Azariah, Nathaniel, Desire (Wilcox), Thomas, Samuel and Gurdon.  The Peter Worden line goes back to William the Lion of Scotland whose ancestry goes to earlier, famous royals (including the earliest French and English Kings).

     Abstracts of Richmond, RI, Land Evidences by Nellie M. C. Beaman: Page 231-232 Joseph Kinyon, Jr. of Rhode Island yeoman, and Catharine Kinyon his wife, and Joseph Kinyon the father of the aforementioned, Joseph Kinyon to Jonathan Potter of Rhode Island yeoman, dated March 27, 1764 ack. 27 September 1764. Witnessed: Benajah Hall, and John Webster. This indicates Benajah Hall, Sr. was still living in Richmond, Washington Co., RI as of 1764, and all children born before 1764 would have been born in RI, and most likely his marriage occurred in Rhode Island as well.

     Richmond, Washington Co., RI, originally belonged to the town of Westerly, but was incorporated as a separate and distinct township in 1747. Hopkinton, Washington Co., RI, was formed from Westerly, RI, in 1757. Many deeds are recorded as partly in Westerly and partly in Stonington (now Connecticut), thus land transferred may have been in what is now Hopkinton, RI, and/or right on and across the border with Connecticut.
     Military documents and pension records show Benajah Hall, Jr., Asa Hall, Isaac Hall and Jesse Hall all enlisted in Dutchess County, New York. Documents state they were born in Rhode Island, and Benajah Hall, Jr.'s state that Richmond, Rhode Island was his hometown.  At the present time, Isaac Hall's military records have not been researched.
Documents Relating to The Colonial History of the State of NY Vol. XV. State Archives,

 

Volume I Albany New York.
Name and Rank, Regiment and Company
Hall, Isaac, private Willet Livingston
Hall, Asa, private Graham Vail
Hall, Benajah, corporal Willet Fonda
Hall, Benajah, private Field Dyckman
Hall, Jesse, private Field Dyckman
Hall, Jesse, private Graham Vail


     From the "Bottskill Baptist Church of Greenwich, NY Early Settlers" 175th Anniversary Nov 1942 History and program.  The date shows when the following Hall’s joined the church, these were all the Hall members.  Sylvester Hall, Benajah Hall 1782, Sabra Hall 1782, Ruth Hall 1790, Susannah Hall, Elias Hall 1802, Ebenezer Hall 1803, Hannah Hall 1803, Rhoda Hall, D. Hall before 1816.  Records also show a Benajah Hall, Jr. as minister of the church. This Sylvester Hall was with a Benajah Hall, Jr. in the 9th Regiment, NY Militia under Van Ness. 

     January 15th 1783 at a conference held at the home of David Petteys: Opened the meeting with singing and prayer to God. Brought forward a matter of complaint of Silvester Hall against brother Benajah Hall first of promising him to give him security. The said Silvester Hall for signing a note with him as security to John Millar and afterward denying of it. And this article appears to be true by brother Whaleys evidence. Second article that brother Hall said that he wished said Millar was dead and that he was to salt him up in the kettle he hired of said Millar. To which brother Hall saith he did say that he would not care if Millar was dead and salted in it. Article the third said Silvester chargeth him of swearing profanity. And brother Benajah Hall acknowledgeth he did profanely swear.  The Brethern is of the mind that he is guilty in each article of the above complaint and for these things and the other matters before against him.

     Church Records: To act on matters of Difficulty existing between Joseph Reynolds and Benajah Hall December ye 21st 1782. At meeting of Conference held at the dwelling house of brother Elisha Coon. Opened the meeting by singing & prayer to God. Brother Joseph Reynolds proceeded to open his matter of difficulty with brother Benajah Hall wherein he accused said Hall of being guilty of the Heinous Sin of Lying in the first article of complaint. 2nd said Reynolds charges him ye said Hall of speaking slanderously of him. These matters being diligently searched into by the Church this body in General finds Brother Hall guilty of the Charges Laid against him. Brother Robert Kinyon & Brother Theophilus Whaley are appointed as messengers to request Sarah Robins & Mary Whaley to attend our next Conference to be three weeks from the Date here of at this house. 

     To attend a counsel at Saratoga on the first Tuesday in June next to be held at Robert Kinyons house. At a worshiping meeting held May ye 11th 1782 at the Dwelling house of Capt. Forster Entred as Members with us Rebecca Burdick and Susannah Hall. May ye 12th 1782 at a meeting of worshiping meeting at the house of William Stewards a number of candidates was baptized by Rev. Lemuel Powers.  Administrators Benajah Hall, Benjamin Worden, Sabra Hall, Mary Ross, Delight Worden, Deborah Fuller, Elizabeth Thornton, Anna Reynolds, Mary Reynolds, Rebecca Burdick, Susannah Hall, and Mary Whaley joined Covenant.  April 27th 1782 at a meeting of worship held at Elisha Coons entered Covenant with us Benajah Hall, Sabra Hall and Mary Ross. 

     On 5 Dec 1806 in Sempronius, Cayuga, New York, Amaziah and Catherine Rust sold to Benajah and Sarah (Sary) Hall, Lot 11 Cayuga Co. according to Cayuga Co., Deed book H, p. 233. Benajah and Sarah Hall signed a mortgage deed to Amaziah Rust for the lot.  The Sheriff sold this same land on 14 Nov 1811 to Daniel Kellogg for $88.00 in unpaid taxes. It was a ferry lot on both side of the lake. The western part was in Niles, while the eastern part was in Spafford, Onondaga, Co., NY according to Cayuga Co., Deed Book I, p 233.

     On 16 Dec 1809, Mayfield, Montgomery, New York Land Deals - Rubin and Polly Davis sold land to Benajah Hall, which was recorded in Fonda Court House Deed book 12, p. 126, 23 Dec, 1809 Sempronius, Cayuga, New York.

     On 17 Jul 1819, Benajah Hall wills land to wife Sary, 147 acres of Land on Lot 7, which would, upon her death, revert to their sons in the following manner: 1/4 Benajah, 1/4 to Jesse, 1/4 to Asa, and 1/4 to Isaac. Asa and Isaac sold their land in 1826 indicating Sary may have died about 1825.  Benajah Hall, Sr. (c1738-1819), died at age 81 and Sarah "Sary" LNU (c1738-c1825), died at age 87.

     No date, Hall, cost $22. 7 acres, 78 rods, land adj. Sary Hall and Silas Cogswell on north, Benajah Hall on east, Joel Mudger on south, and Highway on west, upon her death land reverts 1/4 to Benager, 1/4 Jesse, 1/4 to Asa, and 1/4 to Isaac. This deed was not recorded but contained in the papers of Charles H. Abbott born 1855, son of Chauncey Milton Abbott and Adeline Oakley.

     It is said Benajah Hall was a great scout and upon one occasion he traveled on foot from Dutchess County, NY to Montgomery Co., Va. to see his sons, Asa and Jesse, and then returned home.  Another descendant writes, “My Asa's father walked all the way from New York to pay Asa and his brother, Jesse a visit, he stayed through the winter and walked back in the spring.”  Glenn Hall says he wore a hunting coat and coon skin cap 'made of great stoof' (she was Irish).  Benajah would have been close to 60 at that time.   
A Mr. Luther Waite, 82 yrs. old in l936, said Benajah came home from the army without his pay and 2 years later he went to Washington to collect it.  He returned after a long period  "but his mind was affected by this, so that he could not give any coherent account of his journey, or whether he collected his money or not."   A Phoebe J. Blythe, of Orleans, NY, and great grand daughter of Benajah said the same about Benajah's trip to Washington, except that, "he got the money in gold pieces and strewed them on the way behind him and when he returned home he didn't know his family.”  Benajah was "feeble in mind at least 10 years before he died".  This Benajah died in 1840 according to his physician as stated in his pension application, and was undoubtedly Benajah Hall, Jr

     Benajah Hall, Jr. continued to live in New York until his death in 1840.  He served in the Revolutionary War according to the following documents: (1) Col Peter Van Ness Regiment of Albany Co (24 Jun 1780). Undated service. Benajah listed as 5 feet 9 inches with light complexion and 17 years of age. He is slim and straight built. Born in "Ridgeman Town", Rhode Island. Last place of residence was New Concord, Albany County, NY. (2)  Benajah Hall, fifer Muster Roll from 25 Jul 1780 to at least 25 Oct 1780. Colonel Graham's NY Levies (Pawling), 3rd Regiment, Captain John Heermanse's Company. (3)  The Levies (Pawling) New York in the Revolution as Colony and State - Hall, Benijah, Jr. as an enlisted man, the name of Michael Dyckman is shown on this as a Capt. under Col. Albert Pawling.  (4) A return and pay for Benaijah Hall, undated from 1780 Fields, Dutchess County Regiment, NY Militia, Capt. Joshua Dykman's Co. (West Point 8 days) paid 16'-8".

     Extracts from Pension Claim of Children of Benajah Hall, furnished by the National Archives, Washington, D.C. from the Records of the U.S. Veteran's Administration Revolutionary War S-22814 Benajah Hall: Declaration In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th June 1832. State of New York County of Cayuga .

     On the 23rd day of September 1846 personally appeared before the court then in Session holden at Auburn in and for said County Chloe Powers of Spafford in the County of Onondaga and State aforesaid aged fifty-two years, who being duly sworn according to law doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the Act of Congress passed June  7th 1832. That this deponant is a daughter of the late Benajah Hall late a fifer in the War of the Revolution and who resided at the time of his performing the Service in Dutchess County, New York; that the said Benajah Hall died on the 4th day of November (1840) eighteen hundred and forty leavng no widow and that at his death he left the following children him surviving and that each of them is of the age of twenty-one years and upwards, to wit: Isaac B. Hall of Crawford County, Pa., Phebe Gurnee of Wayne County, New York, Chloe Powers of Onondaga County, New York , and Nancy Williams of Cayuga County, New York.
     This Declaration and application is made for the purpose of obtaining for the  surviving children of the said Benajah Hall the pension due to him at his decease under the Act of Congress passed June 7th 1832 and that the reason the said That he had too much property to be allowed a Pension under the act of March 18th 1818 and that before the passage of Act of June 7th 1832 he became insane and fancied himself very wealthy and still retained the impression that he was not entitled to a Pension unless by reason of his reduced circumstances in life he should be in need of assistance from his Country for support and that the said Benajah Hall continued in that insane state of mind until he died and for that reason he could not be prevailed upon by his friends to make application for a pension. Chloe Powers Subscribed and sworn to before the Court of Common Pleas in open Court the day and date last within written before J.L Richardson First Judge of Cayuga.  The Court certify that the within named Chloe Powers is a respectable person and her statement entitled to full credit. J. L. Richardson First Judge of Cayuga.  The affidavit of William F. Cooper of Niles, Cayuga County, N.Y. aged 45 years, sworn to October 8, 1846 allows that he was a practicing physician in 1840, and that he attended Benajah Hall during his last illness, his last visit being made November 3, 1840, and that said Benajah Hall died Nov. 4, 1840. [note: according to the descendants of this Benajah Hall's son, Benajah Hall, he was also a surviving child but not named in the pension claim. It is thought he may have been estranged from the family and/or had no contact with his siblings].

     According to Sharon Goff Garrett, Howie Moore has a copy of Seventh Day Baptist Church records showing Hepsibah Brown as the wife of Benajah Hall, Jr. (m. 29 Mar 1780). Atwater Sempronius Cemetery in Sempronius, NY lists Mrs. Hepsibah Hall died Dec 2, 1832 ae 67y [born c1765]. Hepsibah Brown was christened on 29 Mar 1761 in Windsor; Hartford, CT Wintonbury church records Stiles, v. 2, p. 120, d. 1832 Kellogsville, Cayuga Co., NY. It is believed Benajah Hall, Jr. is buried in the unmarked grave next to her; a grave marker was recently placed there by his descendants. Hepsibah's grandparents were John Hoskins and Thankful Evans of Windsor, Hartford, CT, and her parents were Ezra Brown, of Poquonock, and Chloe Hoskins (b. 5 Mar 1739), m. 13 Oct 1757 by Rev. Hezekiah Bissell. Marriages - Windsor- Bloomfield Congregational Church, Hartford Co., CT. Early Connecticut Marriages As found on Ancient Church Records Prior to 1800, Vol. 4, Rev. Frederick W. Bailey, 1898.  

     Asa fought in the Revolutionary War, as did his brother Jesse Hall. According to his pension application, he enlisted in the army in Dutchess County, NY March 3, 1776, enlisted again July 1, 1777 and served until December 15, 1777.  He married Sarah Adams in New York and had ten children. He came to Montgomery County, VA about 1795, preceded by his brother Jesse. Sarah died in Virginia about 1800. Asa then married Mary Vanover, daughter of Henry Vanover. They had three daughters, Martha, Mary and Christina. Asa and his brother Jesse acquired land of North Fork of Roanoke by purchase and by grant. Two land grants found for Asa for service in the Revolutionary War were: October 17, 1803, 150 acres in Montgomery Co., VA; and April 1, 1815, 25 acres Montgomery Co., VA. Asa Hall sold to Thomas Jewell 89 acres of land on October 7, 1800 as recorded in the Montgomery County, VA deed book. The land was located on the heads of Keeneys Run, a branch of North Fork of Roanoke River for $600.00.  On January 3, 1831 Asa Hall applied for his Revolutionary War pension. Asa was 72 years old.

     The following is taken from a declaration by Asa Hall, Sr. in Montgomery County on that date: Asa Hall enlisted on the 3rd of March 1776 in the county of Dutchess and the state of New York and was commanded by Captain Nathan Pearce, who having shortly retired from service, he was put under the command of Captain Palding in the regiment commanded by Colonel Richmore….I served but nine months and five days up to the 8th of December…On the 1st of July 1777 enlisted under Captain Salisbury(sic) for three months in the regiment commanded by Colonel Forass (he thinks) When after the taking of Burgoyne he was discharged from a service of five rather than three months. that his discharge is lost and that he has a living brother Jesse Hall the only witness in his knowledge to corroborate his statement….Nor have I any income at all, but that is derived by my labor on a poor bit land on and amid steep mountains, which at sale, but for improvements of houses, fences…of my own labor as affording shelter, and inferior grassland enclosed, and would scarcely command more than fifty or seventy dollars, that my age and property is such that my services me to the provisions of the aforesaid Acts of Congress I shall add the following schedule of my personal property and throw myself on the justice of my country for my future support at this time altogether insufficient for my comfortable subsistence. Schedule of the personal estate of Asa Hall is as follows to wit: one mare and colt $55, 3 cows and 2 calfs $24, seven head of sheep $5, seven head of hogs $5, in the aggregate is $89." Certified…said Asa Hall.  It is the opinion of the court … amount of personal property is $89. After many affidavits, Asa Hall was awarded on June 17, 1833 a pension of $40.55 a year.  

     Mary Hamlin writes in the Roanoke Times and World-News on Sept. 2, 1989 that "present day members of Hall's Church describe Asa Hall as a kind and generous man and say those traits were why the church was named for him." Asa Hall died March 6, 1841, at age 83, and is buried in the cemetery of the church that bears his name.

 

HALLS OF VIRGINIA

JESSE HALL  

BIRTH: 22 Mar 1760 Westerly, Washington Co., Rhode Island
DEATH:
2 Oct 1848 Montgomery Co., Virginia
FATHER: Benajah Hall
MOTHER: Sarah Crandall?
WIFE: Phebe Wilbur
W. FATHER: Christopher Wilbur
W. MOTHER: 
Sarah Vaughan
MARRIED: 
c1778 Dutchess Co., New York
DESCENDING SON:
John Hall

CHILDREN: 
1. Asa Hall, c1779, Dutchess Co., NY, Asa Hall, brother of Jesse, is the only Asa Hall on the 1798 tax list, but two Asa Hall's appear on the 1799 Montgomery Co, VA Personal Property Tax List, one of whom is believed to Asa Hall, age 20, son of Jesse and Phebe Hall with 3 horses being taxed.  Asa Hall, Jr. does not appear on the tax list until 1810 at age 18.  By 1800, Asa Hall, Sr. is once again the only Asa Hall on the tax list, which might indicate the year Jesse's eldest son died.

2. Freeburn Hall, c1781, Dutchess Co., NY m. Catherine Pate born c1789 on 27 Apr 1807; (he is shown as age 69 on the Montgomery Co., VA 1850 census, Catherine is shown as age 61).  Freeburn died 22 May 1876 (Montgomery Co., VA Death Register 1853-1896). Age 95, birthplace NY. cod: pneumonia.

3. David Hall, born c1783, Dutchess Co., NY, (year of birth determined from Jesse's will, mentioned as his second son, indicating he was alive in 1848, no further information)

4. Sarah? Hall born c1785, Dutchess Co., NY, died young.

5.  Susannah Hall, born c1787, Dutchess Co., NY, m. William McNeely marriage bond was dated 25 Dec 1811; (year of birth determined from the age of her last child b. 1828, she would have been 41/42; she was the first daughter named in her father's will). 

6.  Phebe Hall, born c1789, Montgomery Co., VA, died before her father's will in 1848, m. Clayburn Morris 5 Oct 1808; (year of birth determined from the date of her marriage; she was the second daughter named in her father's will.

7.  Jesse Hall, Jr. c1791, Montgomery Co., VA, died as a young man, never married.      
8.  John Hall, born c1793, Montgomery County, VA, m. Sarah "Sally" Pate on 10 Sep 1811; (age 56/57 on the 1850 MCV census, and married to his second wife Susan).

9.  Lydia Hall, born c1795, Montgomery Co., VA, m. Bartlett Martin, bond dated 8 Sep 1828;  (year of birth year from 1850 MCV census, age 55/56, was the third of four daughters named in her father's will).    

10.  Mary "Polly" Hall, c1797, Montgomery Co., VA m. Eli Rumburgh marriage bond 28 Feb 1815, m. 12 May 1815 (year of birth year determined from the date of her marriage, and the fact that she was the last of four daughters named in her father's will).

11.  Charles Hall, c1799 Montgomery Co., VA m. Elizabeth Iddings, d/o William on 3 Jul 1820;  (birth year from the 1850 MCV census, age 50).   

 

     Jesse Hall was born 22 Mar 1760 in Westerly, Washington Co., (later Richmond) RI and died 2 Oct 1848 in Montgomery Co., VA.  He married Phebe Wilbur about 1780 in Dutchess Co., NY, she was born b. 13 Jul 1761 and died between 1810 and 1828.  
Jesse Hall moved to Dutchess County, NY with his family as young child.  Information on his early childhood and education is unknown, but one can determine from his inability to sign his name that a formal education was lacking.  Jesse's date of death is shown as 28 Aug 1848 on his headstone, but that is actually the date of his will.  His will is recorded in Montgomery Co., VA Court Order Book 31, Pg. 183, dated 5 Mar 1849:  "Jessee Hall, pensioner, died 2 Oct 1848, leaving children Freeburn Hall, David Hall, John Hall, Charles Hall, Susanna McNeeley, Lydia Martin and Polly Rumburg." 
     The story of Jesse picks up at the time of the Revolutionary War. During the summer of 1777, a band of Tories from the lower part of the country, to the number of nearly four hundred, came to the neighborhood and made their headquarters at the Presbyterian Church in the Crom Elbow Precinct in Dutchess Co., New York.  Throughout the border settlements such parties were sent out to intimidate the patriots and obtain supplies for the British army.  Then too, such invasions, would naturally frighten the patriot families, and lead them to throw themselves upon the Government for protection, and have a tendency to draw out the volunteers.  The patriots sent a messenger to Sharon, CT where lay a small company, which immediately marched to the relief of their patriotic brethren, receiving additions to their numbers as they passed along the route.  When the force arrived at Washington Hollow, the Tories were upon the interval to the south of the church “on parade,” and did not observe the patriots until they were before them with cocked guns and “glistening bagonets.”  A demand to surrender put them in an excitement, which led them to charge upon the hill, with “quickened tread.”  The Yankees fearful of losing their company, gave them a broadside and killed several which changed the resolution of quite a number of their companions, who saw they could not escape, and ended the affair by giving themselves up as prisoners of war. 

     Jesse Hall and Phebe Wilber are said to have married in Dudley, MA according to several NY Hall researchers, to date no documentation has been located to prove or disprove this marriage. Due to the recent discovery of their son Asa on the Montgomery Co., VA Personal Property Tax list, they would have married in 1778, at age 18.  The tax list shows: 1798 Asa Hall - 3003. The 1799 list has: (3 Apr) Asa Hall - 0003; (2 July) Asa Hall - 3003. From 1800 -1809, there's only one Asa on tax lists. The 1810 list has Essey Hall and Essey Hall Jr.; 1812 has Esey Hall and Asa Hall.

     Moses "Mosey" Asa Hall, son of James R. Hall, and a descendant of Jesse Hall and Phebe Wilbur, passed down the following story about Jesse and Phebe: Jesse went to New York City after he was discharged from the Continental Army and found employment as a coachman for a well-to-do merchant.  Part of Jesse's job was to drive the merchant's young daughter, Miss Phebe Wilber, to various social affairs in the city. It was during these drives that Jesse and Phebe fell deeply in love and wanted to get married, but when Jesse asked Mr. Wilber for her hand in marriage Mr. Wilber became very angry and sacked Jesse on the spot.  Jesse and Phebe eloped soon thereafter.  Jesse enlisted in the regular army at age 16 serving from Feb 1776-Nov 1776, then from Mar 1777-Oct 1777 he served in the Dutchess Co. Militia, and from Mar 1778-Dec 1778 he once again joined the regular army for nine months.  It's possible Jesse and Phebe met after Oct 1777 and married before Mar 1778, with their son Asa born in 1779.
     Phebe was the daughter of Christopher Wilbur and Sarah Vaughan.  Christopher was the son of Benjamin Wilbur and Deborah Gifford, and brother of Judith Wilbur who married David Hall, son of James Hall and Rachel Maccoon, and grandson of James Hall and Sarah Babcock.  Christopher Wilbur was the brother of Joseph Wilbur who married Sarah Hall, daughter of James Hall and Rachel Maccoon.  Phebe's parents had 14 children: Dinah, 3 Aug 1747; Deborah, 2 Jul 1749; Mary, 6 May 1751; Elizabeth, 26 Mar 1753; Sarah 8 Feb 1754; Sarah, 22 Jan 1756; Benjamin, 16 Dec 1757; Lydia, 6 May 1760; Phebe 13 Jul 1761; Mary, 30 May 1763; Joseph, 29 Mar 1765; John, 10 Mar 1766; David, 12 Nov 1771; and Martha c1773.  All were born in Hopkinton, Washington Co., RI, with the exception of David and Martha who were born in Amenia, Dutchess Co., NY.  Jesse and Phebe had four daughters, Susannah, Phebe, Lydia and Mary.  Susannah was named after Jesse's grandmother (or possibly a sister), Phebe after his wife, and it is my guess Lydia and Mary were named after her sisters.   Jesse and Phebe moved to Montgomery County, Virginia in 1789 according to Jesse's Pension Application.
     Previously it was believed Jesse married as his second wife Ann Watterson prior to the birth of his son Charles in 1799, but the following deed proves he was still married to Phebe as of 1807:  Montgomery Co. Deed Book D, Pg. 486, 3 Oct 1807, Jesse Hall and his wife Phebe of Montgomery Co. to Charles G. Lewis, 194 acres both sides south fork Roanoke adj. William Stapleton & Luke Muncy.  Also, Jesse was enumerated with a female over age 45 in the 1810 census, which means Phebe was most likely still living in 1810.  
     In Jesse Hall's Revolutionary War Pension Declaration (Source: Montgomery Co. VA Court Order Book 26 pp. 9-10), Jesse mentions serving at Fort Plain. Colonel Dayton of the Continental Army built Fort Plain in 1776 on the site of today’s Fort Plain Museum. Like other forts in the Mohawk Valley at the time, it was a refuge for neighbors during the savage raids by British forces composed of Tories and Indians. In one such raid, in August of 1780, women helped to “man” Fort Plain. After seeking refuge in the fort, the women donned men’s hats and carried poles. Showing themselves sufficiently above the stockade, the Indians and Tories retreated after seeing the large garrison at the fort. Later in 1780, General Robert Van Rensselaer made Fort Plain his headquarters, renaming Fort Plain after himself, Fort Rensselaer, however the name change did not stick. In June 1781, Colonel Marinus Willett was given command of the forces in the Mohawk Valley and took up headquarters at Fort Plain. Willett, whose home was the British-occupied New York City, was well respected in the valley and was eventually promoted to general. Later, he became mayor of New York City. On July 31, 1783, General George Washington inspected the garrison of Fort Plain and was given a military salute on his tour of the Mohawk Valley near the end of the war.

     Pension Application  (1) - On this 7th day of January 1833 personally appeared before the justices of the county court of Montgomery County in open court, Jesse Hall a resident of said county and state aged 72 years last March, who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832, that he enlisted in the army of the United States in February 1776 for nine months under Capt. Nathan Pierce in Dutchess County state of New York and was attached to and served in the regiment (no. forgotten) commanded by Colonel Richmore, which regiment belonged to the brigade of General McDougal. He was in the battle of the White Plains, he was discharged near Fort Montgomery in the state of New York sometime in the month of December following his enlistment. Again in the month of March 1778 (having in the interval served about seven months in the militia) in the same county and state, he enlisted again under a Capt. Johnston to serve another nine months term in the regular army, and joined the regiment commanded by Colonel Gonzie (don't know that the name is rightly spelled). He was stationed for the greater part of his tour of service at Fort Plank or Blank [Plain] on the Mohawk river; there was no officer at he place above the grade of Colonel, at this latter place he was discharged, his discharges are lost. He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or an annuity except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any agency in any state. Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.

     Jesse Hall

     On this day and year above written Asa Hall a resident of the said county made oath in open court that he was a soldier in the first tour spoken of in the above declaration of Jesse Hall and in the same company and regiment and knows that the time and also the services are correctly stated, and was actually performed, he has resided near the applicant ever since the revolution and knows him well, as also Charles Willis, a resident of said county who declares on oath that the applicant is thought and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution and that he concurs in that opinion, and both declare that he applicant is a man of respectability and entitled to credit. Sworn to and subscribed the day and year above written. Signed by: Asa Hall  and  Charles Willis.

    The said court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states, and the court further certifies that it appears to them that Asa Hall and Charles Willis who signed the preceding certificate are residents in the county aforesaid and are persons of respectability and that their statement is entitled to credit.

     State of Virginia, Montgomery County

     Colonel Gonzie (various spellings) mentioned in both declarations is probably a reference to Colonel Peter Gonsevoort (1749-1812). There was some dispute over this part of Jesse's declaration because no one in the pension department had ever heard of a Colonel "Gonzie" or any similar name. Colonel Gonsevoort was commander of the 3rd NY reg't which was detached at various locations along the Mohawk and Hudson rivers in 1778, which is where Jesse said he was stationed.

     Letter to the Hon. R. Craig, Christiansburg, from J.L. Edwards, War Department Pension Office, 21 Sep 1833:

     Sir, In reply to yours respecting the claim of Jesse Hall, I have the honor to state, that upon examination of his papers there is no objection to the 1st term of nine months which is fully detailed and established by a witness. With respect to the other term of nine months the name of the Col: must be a mistake. There is no knowledge in this office of any New York Col: bearing the name of ''Gonzie'' or even resembling it. The militia service which is asserted in the affidavit, and a part of it which he alleges he could prove by a witness whose testimony is not produced, should be verified by a Court of Record. No claim or a part of a claim can be admitted which has not been asserted before a Court of Record, or in cases of disability only, before a Judge or Magistrate. It will therefore be necessary to make his declaration de novo, embody the answers to the interrogatories, and accompany it with the original papers herewith forwarded.

     Pension Application  (2) - On this 30th day of September 1833 personally appeared before the Judge of the circuit superior court of law and chancery for the county aforesaid, the same being a court of record Jesse Hall a resident of said county and state, age 73 years last March, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provisions made by the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832 - that he enlisted in the army of the United States in February 1776 for nine months, under Capt. Nathan Pierce in Dutchess County State of N. York and was attached to and served in the regiment commanded by Colonel Richmore which regiment belonged to the brigade of General McDougal. He was in the battle of the White Plains, and was discharged near Fort Montgomery in the State of New York sometime in the month of December following his enlistment. Afterwards in the said county of Dutchess and State of N. York on the 1st day of May 1777, being drafted, he again entered as a militia man into the service of the U. States under Colonel Morehouse, in the company of Capt. William Pierce. He was marched to a point about fifteen miles above the city of N. York on the Hudson; at this time the British were in possession of the city of N. York. At this station he remained three months in the regiment commanded by the said Colonel Morehouse and company of Capt. William Pierce. Afterwards, early in August (there being no interruption of his service) he was connected to a division of the army under command of General Putnam, (Morehouse being his Colonel and Pierce his Capt.) and marched near to Fort Montgomery with a view to its relief but the forces to which he belonged was unable to give any assistance and the Fort was taken. He then fell back to the place from which he had started - the point fifteen miles above the city of N. York having been absent one month according to his best recollection. He continued at this latter point after his said return, in the service, three months until the first of December or the early part of that month, where and when he was discharged. he was at the time of his discharge in the regiment of Colonel Morehouse and company of Capt. William Pierce. Afterwards, in the month of March 1778, in the same state and county, he enlisted under a Capt. Johnston, as a regular, for the term of nine months, and joined the regiment commanded by Colonel Gonsay (the name is spelt to give the sound) this applicant was stationed for the greater part of this term of service at Fort Plank or Blank [Plain] on the Mohawk river. Colonel Gonsay during this time had his station some twenty miles higher up the river at Fort Stennock [Stanwix]. There was but a Captain's command at Fort Plank [Plain], and that command was part of Gonsey's regiment. The soldiers all at Fort Plank believed the name of the Colonel to whose regiment they belonged to be Gonsay or Ganzie. The applicant had no personal acquaintance with him. A part of this tour of service was spent in an expedition to a place called Cherry Valley for the purpose of suppressing some Tories and Indians who had done considerable mischief to that neighborhood. While on this expedition he and his company were attached to a militia regiment commanded by one Colonel Clock [Jacob Klock]. He returned again to Fort Plank [Plain] and his nine month tour being expired he was discharged in December 1778. Afterwards in the month of August 1779 in the same county and state he went as a draft in the service of the U. States under the command of Colonel Burcham in the company of Capt. Israel Veal [Vail] and was stationed during the three months for which he was drafted at West Point on the Hudson, where he was discharged in the month of November 1779 having served three months from some period in the preceding August. His discharge having long since been lost.     This applicant was born in the State of Rhode Island on the 22nd of March 1760. He has a record of his age at his own house where he resides. He came an infant from Rhode Island to Dutchess County in the State of New York which latter place was his residence where called into service. His residence for the last 44 years has been in the county of Montgomery State of Virginia. He received discharges but whether he received one at the end of each tour of service he cannot now recollect. He cannot now recollect whether his discharges were signed by a Captain, Colonel or officer of some other grade. He well remembers, however, to have received several of them which he thought would be of no value in future and permitted them to be lost or were cast away. He has no other evidence of his said service, but that accompanying this declaration. Applicant hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any agency in any state. Sworn to and subscribed the day and year above.  Jesse Hall (his mark)

     On the 30th day of September 1833 personally appeared in said court Asa Hall and being first duly sworn saith that he was a soldier in the first tour of service described in the foregoing declaration of Jesse Hall and in the same company and regiment with him said Jesse and knows that his statement as to these services is correct. He states farther that in the year 1779 he saw the applicant in the militia service on the Hudson river, in the State of New York. Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
Asa Hall (his mark)

     We Asa Hall and Bartlett Martin, a clergyman residing in the county of Montgomery, State of Virginia, certify that we are well acquainted with Jesse Hall who has sworn to and subscribed the above declaration, that we believe him to be seventy three years of age, that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution and that we concur in that opinion. Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid. Asa Hall (his mark) Bartlett Martin

     According to the DAR manuscript, Jesse enlisted at the beginning of the Revolutionary War in the NY Militia at age 16, on Feb 1776 under Capt. Nathan Pierce in Dutchess Co, NY, and his brother, Asa, enlisted on 2 Mar 1776.  He was in the battles of Long Island, White Plains, and at the capture of the British General Burgoyne at Ticonderoga. (See Over the Mountain Men, page 64, by Anne Lowry Worrell). (DAR page 4).

     In 1789 Jesse obtained a land grant for his service and moved to Montgomery County, Virginia, and his brother Asa soon followed.   Frederick Bittle Kegley in Kegley’s Virginia Frontier has this to say about Asa and Jesse: Asa Hall and Jesse, his brother, came from New York to Roanoke Valley in Virginia about 1790. They acquired land on the North Fork of Roanoke by purchase and by grant, Asa Hall 253 acres from James Bryan and Mary, 250 acres from Robert Foster and Hannah, 70, 250 and 45 acres on Keeney’s Run by entry; Jesse 253 acres from Thomas Wilson. Jesse Hall moved to South Fork and lived near Allegheny Springs. 

     On August 6, 1792, Hugh Crockett sold to Jesse Hall 45 acres on both sides of South Folk of the Roanoke River.  On 20 Aug 1800 he was granted 210 acres in Montgomery Co. on the waters of Stoney Creek a branch of Roanoke adjacent to the land of Picklesimer and Morris grant 57, page 97. On Feb. 24, 1795 Thomas and Elizabeth Wilson sold to Jesse Hall, 253 acres of North Fork of the Roanoke River.  On 3 Dec. 1796 Jesse Hall and Phebe his wife sold to James Bryan, 253 acres on south branch of North Fork of Roanoke River.  On January 1, 1827 Jesse Hall and Asa Hall paid $100.00 for 100 acres on the south waters of the North Folk of Roanoke and adjoining Thomas Jewell's land.   

     The Hall’s, Watterman’s and Vanover’s appear to have been the moving force behind the establishment of Hall’s Methodist Church, which is still in existence near Ironto as Hall’s United Methodist Church. 

     From the journal and letters of Francis Asbury, one of the earliest Methodist preachers, we learn that on 15 Sep 1801 he shared the pulpit with his appointed traveling companion, Nicholas Snethen, whom Asbury called his "Silver Trumpet" to a very attentive people, which included the Wattersons, Halls, and Vanovers. Knowing the length of sermons of the day we could  talk of the patience of the listeners but feel it wiser to say they enjoyed the "blast" of two trumpets of the Lord - a spiritual feast on a rare occasion. 

     The Deed of Hall's Church says Ewen Thomas Watterson gave land in 1817, along with a log cabin.  The Watterson home was influential in spreading Methodism in the area, and in creating a unifying center in the church.  The Watterson’s, Jesse Hall’s in-laws, no doubt had the church in their hearts and their home before giving land.  Henry Vanover, Asa Hall’s father-in-law, was admitted on trial into the Methodist ministry in 1786, and was licensed in Bedford County to perform marriages while their preacher. Jesse Hall married Ann Watterson on 12 Jan 1798, c1830, daughter of Thomas (son of Henry and Agnes Watterson) in Botetourt Co., and Henry Vanover undoubtedly performed the marriage ceremony.   

    1/12/08 UPDATE: A Brief of Wills & Marriages in Montgomery and Fincastle Counties, Virginia 1733-1833, by Anne Lowry Worrell, has 12 Jan 1798 as date of marriage between Jesse Hall and Ann Watterson. A Montgomery Co. deed dated 3 Oct 1807 mentions Jesse Hall and his wife Phebe of Montgomery Co.  In the 1810 census Jesse was enumerated with a female over age 45, who was most likely his wife Phebe.  A marriage bond is shown between Jesse Hall, Jr. and Ann Watterson, daughter of Thomas Watterson dated 1 Feb 1825 in Marriages in The New River Valley, by Therese A. Fisher.  It is difficult to say with certainty that this was Jesse Hall b. 1760.

     The Bedford Circuit was created in 1784, from 1786-87 Henry Vanover was one of three preachers, and his home was a preaching place on the Botetourt Circuit in 1829.  The Circuit extended from just east of Appomattox, Virginia to the Greenbrier country near present Union, West Virginia to well north of Covington, Virginia. Prior to that date no circuit preacher at that time served this area - between the Blue Ridge and in the area of Roanoke Valley. 

     People of Virginia are prone to brag and proud to point out with pride to spots dear to their hearts. One such brag of many places is "George Washington slept here" and "George Washington ate here." Methodists of Montgomery Co., with equal pride and joy can say,  "Francis Asbury rode by here." Yes, he preached here and slept near by and we have been blessed by the churches founded under his inspiration and ministry. 
Congress granted pensions to Jesse at age 72, and his brother Asa, at age 74 on June 17, 1833.  Jesse died at age 88 in Montgomery Co., Virginia, his will dated 28 Aug 1848, is recorded in Will Book 8, pg 7 in the Montgomery County, Virginia, County Clerks Office, and he names his children as follows: Freeburn, David, John, Charles, heirs of daughter Phebe Morris, deceased; Susannah McNeely, Lydia Martin and Polly Rumburg. Presented at court 6 Nov 1848.  Source:  "The Family Jewells", by Lois A. Henson. 
     Directions to Jesse Hall's grave:  Rt. 11 South/460 West out of Salem, and turn left at the Alleghany Springs Nursing Home on Alleghany Springs Road in Montgomery Co. (this will be the next turn after the Citco Station and Methodist Church, you'll see the First National Bank across from the nursing home).  Go 5 miles after turning, the cemetery is on the left next to a dairy farm, a small dirt road goes up beside the dairy farm, and leads to a chain linked fenced cemetery. There's a dumpster and then a house on the right before reaching the dairy farm, if you reach Camp Alta Mons, you've gone too far.
     It was previously believed that Jesse married Catherine Zoll Huff, daughter of Jacob Zoll, on 12/15/1828, but no proof has been found to verify that this was Jesse Hall born 1760,  age 68 in 1828.  Catherine was the widow of Samuel Huff whose will was probated on Feb 1826, and names wife Catherine and children Samuel, John, Lewis, Francis, William, Christina, Elizabeth, Lydia, Sarah "Sally", and Margaret "Peggy".   

     1/12/08 UPDATE:  On 31 Aug 1829 Samuel Poff and Sally Huff, daughter of Samuel Huff, dec'd, and Catherine Hall.  Peter Huff and Jesse Hall, Surety.  This 1829 deed seems to indicate a marriage occurring prior to 1829 between Catherine Zoll Huff and Jesse Hall.  It is difficult to say with certainty that this was Jesse Hall b. 1760.

JOHN HALL

BIRTH: 1793 Montgomery Co., VA
DEATH:
7 Aug 1866 Montgomery Co., VA
FATHER: Jesse Hall
MOTHER: Phebe Wilbur
WIFE: Sarah “Sally” Pate
W. FATHER: Jeremiah Pate
W. MOTHER: Catherine Fry
MARRIED: 
10 Sep 1811 Montgomery Co., VA
DESCENDING SON:
David Hall

 

CHILDREN:

1.  David Hall 7/1/1812 MCV m. Abigail Iddings d/o Henry Iddings FCV 7/21/1831
2.  Lydia Hall, c1814 MCV m. Costly Connor 6/2/1833
3.  William M. Hall c1816 m. Elizabeth Morton 5/7/1835
4.  Jesse Hall c1818 m. Lydia Thrash 6/25/1836
5.  Sarah Hall c1820 m. H. L. Smith c1840
6.  Gordon Fletcher Hall c1825 m. Bethany Conner 4/22/1845
7.  Charles M. Hall c1828 m. Eliza Cole 7/12/1852
8.  Eliza J. Hall c1831 m. Anthony Showalter 5/17/1854

 

     Sally Pate born 6/3/1794, daughter of Jeremiah Pate and Catherine Fry, m. John Hall on 10 Sep 1811. Jeremiah was the son of Jeremiah Pate and Christina Harmon, and Christina was the daughter of Heinrick Adam Harmon, a German emigrant who came to American. John’s brother, Freeburn Hall married Catherine Pate, Sally’s sister.  John Hall and his wife are buried in Piedmont Cemetery, Otey, Shawsville, VA.    

 

The Pate Family:

     Edward Pate b./a 1500; John Pate and Ellen Saltmarch b/a 1530; Edward Pate and Anne Blount b/a 1560; Thomas Pate b. 1594; Thomas Pate b/a 1620; Thomas Pate and Elizabeth b/a ; John Pate b/a 1675; Anthony Pate and Sarah b 1702 VA d. Montgomery Co.; Jeremiah Pate b. 1732-1812 and Christina Harmon; Jeremiah Pate b. 1754-1819 and Catherine Fry; Sally Pate and John Hall married 10 Sep 1811.


The Harmon Family:

     Heinrich Adam Hermann's (Harman) (Harmon) father fled Moravia in present Czechoslovakia because of his religion. From there he went to Germany where his son was born. Heinrich Adam Hermann B. 1700 Rhine, Germany-d. 1767 on the New River married Oct. 8, 1723 probably near Mannheim to Louisa Katrina Heinrich b. c1700 Rhine Germany d. 3/18/1749 on New River during childbirth. He and his wife had eleven children; Adam, born in Germany 1724, Heinrich, (Henry), Sr. born Isle of Man 1726 (where all immigrants stopped on their way to the new country), George, b 1727,d July 1749, Daniel, born in Pennsylvania 1729 married Anna Bughsen, Mathias, born in Strasberg, VA 1736 married Lydia Skaggs died on Dry Fork, Tazewell Co April 2, 1832, Christina married Jeremiah Pate, Sr., lived Little River, Montgomery Co. VA, Catherine, who married Ulrich Richards of NC, Philipina died Nov. 14, 1751, Valentine on Clinch River in VA in 1771--in KY by 1773 or 1774, Jacob lived in Tazewell 1771 later moved away. Family tradition has them in Penn. in 1726.

     The Harman’s were of Moravian ancestry and the Moravians in Pennsylvania knew of them. It was written "Toward noon we arrived safely at the New River. We were taken across the river to Jacob Herrman, who together with his wife received us with great joy and love. Jacob Herrman told them that his grandfather was by birth a Moravian who had been driven from his country because of his religion." Henry Harman Sr. "Old Skygusta" b. 1726 on the Isle of Man, married in 1758 or 59 and d. 1822 Hollybrook Farm, Bland Co. VA at the age of 95.

     Adam Heinrich Hermann came to America in 1726, with a brief stop over the Isle of Man, where Henry Harman of this sketch was born. (3) Seven Harman brothers emigrated from Germany together, Jacob, Valentine, Mathias, George, Daniel, John, and Heinrich Adam. They first stopped off in Pennsylvania, and then immigrated to the Shenandoah Valley and some on into North Carolina. At least three of these brothers settled in Southwest Virginia, namely, Heinrich Adam, Valentine and Jacob. They were living in the New River German settlement; the first settlement ever made west of the Alleghenies on the "Western Waters", and were living there prior to 1745. In 1749 Moravian Missionaries conducted the first recorded religious services in Southwest VA in the home of Jacob Harman, and Dr. Thomas Walker mentions stopping at the home of Harman on his memorable exploration trip in 1750. Of these three brothers, Indians on New River killed both Valentine and Jacob. Valentine was killed on Sinking Creek in what is now Giles Co., VA. In a land suit filed in the High Court of Chancery in Augusta Co., on the 23rd of July, 1807, Taylor vs Harman, (4) Mathias Harman, nephew of the slain Valentine, says: Valentine was killed by the Indians on New River and at the same time his (Mathias') brother, Daniel Harman and Andrew Moser were taken prisoner. Daniel made his escape, but Andrew was held prisoner.

     The sons of old Heinrich Adam Hermann, the German emigrant, became great hunters and Indian fighters. While most of them were great hunters, one in particular became one of the noted Long Hunters. It is hard to determine just which son this was, but evidence points to the youngest who was Jacob. Henry, the second son of Heinrich Adam, owned land in North Carolina, Giles and Tazewell counties in Virginia. Sometime in the 1750s, he was married to Anna Wilborn of the Moravian settlement in North Carolina, and died at his home at "Holly Brook" on Kimberlin Creek in present day Bland Co., VA, in 1822. In 1789, he and his son, Mathias, founded Harman's Station in KY.

     In a land lawsuit in the High Court of Chancery, Augusta Co., VA, Wynn vs Inglish heirs, (1) Henry Harman, Sr., makes a statement in his deposition, "that one of his sons, Daniel, was killed by the Indians." In the same lawsuit Christopher Marrs, says: "Henry Harman, Sr., had one of his sons killed, scalped and massacred by the Indians in the attempt of settling the land now in dispute, who left a wife and 4 young children."
Pendleton in his History of Tazewell County, page 465, states: Daniel Harman left his house, on the head of Clinch, on a fine morning in the fall of 1791, for the purpose of killing a deer. Where he went for that purpose is not known, but having done so, he started for home with the deer fastened to the cantle of his saddle. Harman was a great hunter, and owned a choice rifle, and the superior structure of its triggers, which were, as usual, of the double kind. So strong was the spring of these that when sprung, the noise might be heard for a considerable distance.

     He was riding a large horse, fleet, and spirited, and had gotten within a mile of home, and was passing through a bottom, near the present residence, and on the lands of Mr. William O. George, when suddenly a party of Indians sprang from behind a log, and fired on him. He was unhurt and putting spurs to his horse away he went through the heavy timber, forgetting all other danger, in his precarious situation. On he went, but his horse, too near a tree, struck the rider's knee, breaking his leg.

DAVID HALL

BIRTH: 2 Jul 1812 Montgomery Co., VA
DEATH:
8 Apr 1880 Floyd Co., VA
FATHER: John Hall
MOTHER: Sarah Pate
WIFE: Abigail Iddings
W. FATHER: Henry B. Iddings II
W. MOTHER: 
Abigail Olive Richardson
MARRIED: 
28 Jul 1831 Floyd Co., VA
DESCENDING SON:
Byrd Hall  

 

CHILDREN:

1.   Henry Hall, 4/23/1832-10/23/1886 m. Alley Iddings, d/o Thomas & Jane, on 3/25/1854 in Franklin Co., Virginia
2.   Sarah E. Hall, (1/14/1834-c1900) m. 1) Edward F. Harrison on 12/22/1858 and 2) Peter Smith on 12/20/1892
3.   Mary Hall, b. 3/4/1836
4.   John Hall, b. 4/29/1838
5.   Gordon Hall, b. 5/29/1840
6.   Jesse W. Hall, b. 10/1/1842
7.   Byrd Hall b. 9/25/1844
8.   Elmira Hall b. 4/27/1848
9.   Juana Hall b. 1850-1928
10. Callohill W. Hall, b. 11/26/1853-9/28/1928 m. Sarah F. Montgomery 9/27/1874 FCV
11.  Ira D. Hall, 12/27/1856-c1911; m. Sarah Amanda Iddings; (2) Mary E. Vest, 10/7/1875

 

     David Hall was born 2 Jul 1812 Montgomery Co., VA, died 8 Apr 1880, at age 68.  Abigail Iddings was born 21 Mar 1811 in Franklin Co., VA, and died 1 Apr 1904, at age 93 in Simpsons, VA.  They married on 28 Jul 1831 in Floyd Co., VA.  Abigail was the daughter of Henry B. Iddings and Abigail Olive Richardson. 


     Iddings Family:

     The Iddings family can be traced back to a Saxon King Ida of Bernicia, 547 AD.  Several books have been written about this family, one called, “The Iddings and their Forebears, Vol, II,” is currently being published.  Wilt (Idwin) Iddings was born about 1590 in Buford, Shropshire, Wales, spouse unknown, they had William (Dwyns) Iddings c1613 in Buford and died 15 Feb 1675/76 in Buford.  He married Ursula about 1634, c1614 in Buford and died 11 Jul 1676 in Buford. They had Richard Iddings born 7 Feb 1635/36 in Buford, and died 1726 in Nantmeal, Chester Co., PA.  He married Margaret Charles 23 Jun 1662 in Morville Parish, England.  She died 1682 in Buford.  They had William Iddings, Sr. born 22 Jan 1675/76 in Buford, and died 27 Jun 1739 in Nantmeal.  He married Mary Moore in 1707, and they had Henry B. Iddings born 1727, and died 1819, he lived in Northum, PA. He married Mary Wynne.and they lived in Northum, PA/  Mary was born 11 Nov 1732, and died c1776.  

     Henry B. Iddings, II was born 25 Dec 1761 in Chester Co., PA Nantmeal and died 24 Jun 1854 in Head of River, Floyd Co., VA.  He married Abigail Olive Richardson 11 Dec 1789 Newberry Township, Miami Co., OH.  Abigail was the daughter of James Richardson and Martha Iddings, daughter of William Iddings and Mary Moore, she was born about 1761 Miami Co., OH, and died 1845 in Ludlow Falls, Miami Co., OH.  

Children of Henry B. and Abigail Olive Richardson Iddings m. 11 Dec 1789:

1.   Henry B. Iddings, III b. 1792 Franklin Co., VA m. Lydia Wilson 1842
2.   Nancy Iddings b. 1796 Franklin Co., VA m. Joseph Weimer
3.   William Iddings b. 1798 Franklin Co., VA m. Sarah Conner in 1818 MCV
4.   Mary Iddings b. 1800 Franklin Co., VA, on the 1860 census as age 60 (idiotic).
5.   Martha A. Iddings b. 1800 Franklin Co., VA d. 1858 m. Charles Vest in 1831
6.   Elizabeth Iddings b. 1802 Franklin Co., VA m. Charles Hall c1799 on 3 Jul 1820
7.   Hannah Iddings b. 1804 Franklin Co., VA m. 1) Jacob Walters and 2) John Duncan.
8.   Thomas Iddings b. 1808 Franklin Co., VA m. Jane Sterling 19 Oct 1830 MCV
9.   Abigail Iddings b. 21 Mar 1811 Franklin Co., VA m. David Hall
10. Lydia Iddings b. 23 Mar 1814 Herny Co., VA m. Bird Smith 13 Sep 1832 FCV

11.  Sarah “Sallie” Iddings 1 Nov 1817 Franklin Co., VA m. Samuel Vest b. 8 Jun 1813

 

     Little is known about David and Abigail’s life except they married at the young ages of 17 and their fathers gave them permission to marry. The handwritten note stated, “this is to certify that you are hereby directed to grant David Hall liens to marry my daughter Abigail, given under my hand this the 16th of July 1831 signed Henry Iddings.” David’s stated, "To the clerk of the court, you are hereby directed to grant David Hall liens under my hand to be married to Abigail Iddings. Signed by John Hall, Witness by Charles Hall”. This Charles Hall is believed to be David’s uncle who married Elizabeth Iddings. A marriage bond was obtained on the 21 day of July 1831, by which David Hall and Charles Hall agreed to be bound to the sum of one hundred and fifty dollars to the Commonwealth of Virginia to obtain a marriage license. Michael Howry, Minister of the Gospel, performed the ceremony in Floyd Co.

     On 1 Sep 1858, David was granted 67 acres on the waters of the Roanoke River in Floyd Co., and he and Abigail lived on and farmed this land until their death.
On Abigail Iddings headstone, which was placed on her grave by her children it reads, “As a star that is lost when the daylight is given, she has faded away to shine brightly in heaven.”
     Direction to David and Abigail’s tombstone, 221 out of Roanoke to 610, turn right, somewhere between a mile and three miles is SR 654. Turn left, there is a building on the corner and behind it are the graves. Go slow it’s hard to find State Route 654.

BYRD HALL

BIRTH: 25 Sep 1844 Montgomery Co., VA
DEATH:
Abt. 1911
FATHER: David Hall
MOTHER: Abigail Iddings
WIFE: Isabell Catherine “Kate” Buchanan b. c1857 WV
W. FATHER: George Buchanan
W. MOTHER: 
Anna “Annie” Caroline Sizemore
MARRIED: 
25 Sep 1879 Wyoming Co., WV
DESCENDING SON:
Burch Hall

 

CHILDREN:

With Susan Elizabeth Munsey m. 7/29/1863, they divorced  in 1875:
1.   Idela Elizabeth Hall b. 1864 Locust Grove Twp., Floyd Co., VA
2.   Elmira Juana Hall b. 1866 Floyd Co., VA
3.   Viola Hall b. 9/29/1868 Floyd Co., VA m. 1) Henry  Epperly 8/13/1886 Floyd 2) 3) David Vest 4/17/1930 Floyd 3) David Link 9/29/1938 Floyd

4.   Alma J. Hall b. 1870 Locust Grove Twp., Floyd Co., VA d. Bfr 1880 Floyd Co., VA
5.   Henry Olway Hall b. 1872 Floyd Co., VA
6.   Arrie Elizabeth Hall (c1874 Floyd Co., VA-7/8/1943 Christiansburg, VA) m. Lee Myers c1890  

With Isabell Catherine Buchanan b. c1857 m. 9/25/1879 Wyoming Co., WV, divorced c1892: (stepson Charles Edward was born in 1879, the 1880 census shows him as age 1):

7.  Stella May Hall, 4 Nov 1882, Wyoming Co., WV, d. aft 1954
8.  Anna Hall, c1885 Wyoming Co., WV, d. aft. 1954
9.  Burch Hall, b. 17 Aug 1887, Wyoming Co., WV, d. 28 Jan 1954
10.  Cora Hall, c1889 Wyoming Co., WV m. Rev Clingenpeel, d. c1954, Cincinnati, Ohio
11. Pinkard / Pinckney Hall, c1891 Wyoming Co., WV, d. bfr. 1954.


 With Aliminta “Ella” Emeline Wood, daughter of William Claiborne Wood and Nancy Ann Hylton b. 1878 m. 4/2/1897 in Raleigh Co., WV, after Byrd’s death in she married Pleasant Lilly b. 1859 Raleigh, WV.  Census shows she had a total of 6 children, with 3 living and married once:

12.  Virginia R. Hall b. 1899 Slab Fork, Raleigh, WV d. Bfr. 1900 Raleigh, WV

13.  Lawrence D. Hall b. 1901 Slab Fork, Raleigh, WV

14.  Lura V. Hall b. 1903 Slab Fork, Raleigh, WV

15.  Louvina E. Hall b. 1905 Slab Fork, Raleigh, WV d. Bfr. 1910 Raleigh, WV

16.  William Hall b. 1907 Slab Fork, Raleigh, WV d. Bfr. 1910 Raleigh, WV

17.  Ivory M. Hall b. 1910 Slab Fork, Raleigh, WV

 

NOTES FOR BYRD HALL: 

1844 - Byrd Hall was born to David and Abigail (Iddings) Hall in Montgomery Co., VA

1850 - Montgomery Co., VA census, shows him as age 5.

1858 - Byrd moved to Floyd Co., VA after his father was granted 67 acres on the waters of the Roanoke River.

1860 - Floyd Co., VA census shows him as age 15.

1863 - Byrd Hall married Susan E. Munsey on 29 Jul 1863 in Stokes Co., NC

1863 - Byrd Hall enlisted on 10 Jul 1863 with the 21st Virginia Cavalry

1875 - Byrd Hall and Susan Elizabeth Munsey divorced after 12 years of marriage.

1879 - Marriage Wyoming Co., WV - Byrd Hall m. Isabell C. Buchanan, 22, 9/25/1879.

1880 – Census records of Wyoming Co, WV, Center Twp, show Byrd Hall, 33, farmer, Isabel C., 23, Charles E., 1, stepson.

1889 - Byrd and Kate left Wyoming Co., WV and moved to Oklahoma during the great Oklahoma Land Rush, acquiring a 160 acres grant.

1892 - Byrd Hall and Isabell Catherine “Kate” Buchanan divorced, Byrd returned to WV, but Kate’s residence after this date is unknown.

1897 - Marriage license Raleigh Co., WV - Hall, Byrd, 46, b. Montgomery Co., VA m. Alminy (Min) Evaline Wood, age 20, on 2 Apr 1897. 

1900 Census, McDowell Co, WV, Browns Crk  pg 96A, # 218 - Bird Hall, 52, b. 1848, Min Woods, 22, m. 3 yrs.  He was born in 1844 (age 55).

1910 - Byrd's son, Burch, m. 14 Arp 1910 in Franklin Co., VA, his marriage license shows his residence as Oklahoma, indicating his mother was still living there, he names his parents Bird and Kate Hall.

1910 – Slab Fork, Raleigh, WV census shows Byrd age 68 and Ella M. age 32 with son Lawrence age 8, Lura V. age 7 and Ivory M. age 3 months, it shows she was married once and had a total of 6 children, with 3 living. 

1920 – Pinch Crk, Raleigh, WV census shows Alminy, 39, Pleasant Lilly, 61, Lawrence Hall, 17, Ivory Hall 10, shown as Pleasant’s stepchildren.


The Buchanan Family:

     The Buchanan’s can be traced back to Tyrone, Ireland immigrating to Charles Co., Maryland about 1730; a brother who emigrated from Ireland was the ancestor of President James Buchanan, Jr.  The Buchanan’s left Maryland and lived in Fairfax Co., VA and were neighbors of George Washington before moving on to the Toe River Valley (Yancey Co., NC and Rutherford Co., NC).  George Buchanan b/a 1650 Deroran Co., Tyrone, Ireland m. unknown spouse about 1675.   Thomas Buchanan b. 1680 Tyrone Co., Ireland m. Jean Buchanan, James Buchanan b/a 1709 Donegal Co., Ire.-1751 Charles Co., MD m. Isabella Games d/o James & Mary, Arthur Buchanan b 1/24/1742 Charles Co, MD-1820 Bakersville NC m Mary Boswell d/o George & Mary, William Buchanan b. 8/23/1765 Charles Co., MD d. 1/5/1856 Yancey Co., NC m. Elizabeth Jones b. 4/8/1793 in Rutherford Co. NC d/o John Jones and Elizabeth Poole. Arthur Buchanan b. 11/16/1804 Rutherford Co., NC d. 1890 Wyoming Co. WV m. in 1822 Isabel O. “Abbi” Wright b. 1807 in NC d. 7/20/1888 Wyoming Co. WV. George Buchanan b. 1832 Yancey Co. NC m. on 5/14/1855 Annie Caroline Sizemore b. 1838 Ashe Co. NC d/o John Sizemore and Jane Arms, Isabel Catherine “Kate” Buchanan b. 1857 Wyoming Co. WV m. Byrd Hall b. 1847 Floyd Co., VA.

 

The Sizemore Family:

     The Sizemore family arrived in Jamestown, Virginia in between 1607-1619 from England, they were later found at Henrico, Hanover and Martin's One Hundred, Virginia. William Sizemore was part of the first colony town of Jamestown, and was one of only two men to survive the Indian massacre. He owned quite a bit of land in Virginia, which he sold and removed to Kentucky. 

     William Sizemore born 1671 Henrico Co., Virginia married about 1705 Mary Owen, their son William Sizemore b/a 1706 married Hart Jackson, a member of the eastern tribe of Cherokee Indians, in Hanover, Virginia.  Their son Edward (Ned) Sizemore b/a 1726 Hanover, Virginia married Elizabeth Jackson, daughter of William Jackson and Dorcus Green, both parents being part Cherokee Indian. Their son George Sizemore b/a 1750 Lunenburg, VA died c1820 NC married 1770 Ashe Co., NC Anna Hart, who was also part Cherokee. Their son Edward B. Sizemore b. 1788 Logan, VA died 1866 Wyoming Co., WV married about 1804 Ashe, NC Annie B. Baldwin born 1786 Logan, VA died about 1850 Wyoming Co., WV daughter of John Baldwin and Virginia (Jenny) born about 1740 Logan, VA, she was also part Cherokee. Their son John Sizemore born 1810 Ashe, NC d. 2/27/1853 Wyoming Co., WV married Jane (Jennie) Arms b. 1807 Ashe, NC died Wyoming Co., WV, they married on 4 Dec. 4, 1831, Jennie is believed to be part Cherokee as well. 

     John Sizemore and Jennie had Anna (Annie) Caroline Sizemore b. 1837 Wyoming Co., WV married George Buchanan May 14, 1855 Wyoming Co., WV. Children: Isabell Katherine, Arthur, Henriette Elizabeth, John, Greenberry, Edward, William Henry, May Louise, George Hargrave, Boyd Sizemore.  Isabell Katherine Buchanan b. 1857 Wyoming Co., WV married Bird Hall b. 1847 Floyd Co., VA married September 25, 1879 Wyoming Co., WV Children: Charles Edward, Burch, Cora, Stella, Pinkard/ Pinckney and Anna (Annie). 

     George Sizemore who married Elizabeth Hart was a first cousin to George “Of All” Sizemore who married Agnes (Aggie) Sheppard.  Their marriage originated from a raid of Indians on the white mans camp where they captured a white girl.  In retaliation, the white men followed and rescued the girl and captured an Indian girl who was later given to a white family to raise (Cornett’s), Aggie is thought to have been a Creek Indian.  George “Of All” undoubtedly lived in both the white man’s world, and the with the Whitetop Cherokee tribe throughout his life, which only naturally led to his marriage to Aggie. 
     Their son George “Goldenhawk” Sizemore fathered close to 50 children, census records show Goldenhawk at one time supporting four different families with 7 to 10 children in each of them.  In 1860, he was indicted for bigamy in Floyd Co., Kentucky, and according to minutes from the hearing, the judge said, “Mr. Sizemore, I understand you have about 50 children, to which Goldenhawk replied, “I guess you’re right.  But, judge, if I’d been half as pretty a man as you are, I’d had more than that.”   There are no known portraits of Goldenhawk, but he was said to be one of the ugliest men that ever was, puzzling his descendants, leading them to believe he had more attractive qualities than good looks.

     Sister to George “of All” Sizemore, Rhoda Sizemore had two sons by Chief Red Bird of the Whitetop Laurel Band of Cherokee Indians, he was murdered by trapper’s shortly after fathering their last son.  Both son’s were given the Sizemore name.  The fact that Rhoda married into the Whitetop Laurel Band leads me to believe that Hart Jackson was also a member of this same band.  It is said that Edward Sizemore who married Elizabeth Jackson was for a short time prior to his death, Chief of this same band.   

     Members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians of North Carolina and their descendants are eligible for enrollment with the Cherokee Band; contact the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs. The Eastern Band of the Cherokee live on the Qualla Boundary, a land area comprised of 56,572 acres directly adjacent to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The more than 10,000 members of the Eastern Band are descendants of those Cherokee who, in the late 1830s, remained in the mountains of North Carolina rather than be forced to march along the infamous "Trail of Tears" to Oklahoma.

     Today, the Eastern Band of the Cherokee is the only tribe of North Carolina’s six recognized tribes which possesses both state and federal recognition, lives on a reservation and is served by the Bureau of Indian Affairs in the US Department of the Interior, the Indian Health Service and the federal departments of Labor, Commerce, and Health and Human Services.  The North Caroline Commission of Indian Affairs subcontracts Community Action Partnership Program (CAPP) funding to the Eastern Band of the Cherokee each year.

     Byrd and Kate removed from Wyoming Co. WV in 1889 to Oklahoma during the great Oklahoma Land Rush and acquired a 160 acre parcel granted to all those who were able to stake a claim during the land rush.  In 1880 there were, according to official figures, no white settlers at all in OK territory (then part of Indian Territory).  By the end of the decade some 259,000 people were living there.  One of the main reasons for this spectacular growth was the Federal purchase of 3 million acres of Indian land for white settlement in 1889.

     By nine o’clock the rushers were massing along the line, and a great buzz went up from them of excited talk, song and argument.  The sound, said one observer, “wasn’t human at all, but like thousands of wild animals penned up.  At last the moment came.  Along the boundary at Arkansas City, young Lieutenant Henry Waite sat his horse calmly in front of the line of troopers holding back the milling mob.  In his hand the officer held his watch while the eager throng of rushers watched their own timepieces, most of which had earlier been set to agree with the Lieutenant’s. Homesteaders gathered on Cherokee Strip at noon on 22 April.  As the hands of the officer’s watch closed on noon, he signaled to his buglers, and the clear notes of, of all things, “mess call,” echoed over the green prairie.  The rush was on, a gun was fired and they galloped off to stake their claims.  By nightfall almost two million acres had been claimed. Byrd lived in Oklahoma until he and Kate divorced in 1892. 

     The Floyd County 1860 census shows him as Bird, the Wyoming County 1880 census shows him as Byrd.  The Virginia State Library Archives, Confederate Rosters card no. 42 shows him as Bird Hall, Troop B, 21st Reg. Vol. 11, page 449.  The 21st Virginia Cavalry of The Virginia Regimental Histories Series, by John E. Olson, shows him as Byrd Hall.  His grandparents were John Hall and Sally Pate, and Sally’s brother was named C. Bird Pate, also the Iddings family had many with the name Byrd.  

     The 21st VA Cavalry, shows Byrd Hall enlisted on 10 Jul 1863 in Co. B, was on detached service 31 Aug 1864, and absent sick on furlough on 31 Oct 1864 and again on the 31 Dec 1864 rolls.  The 1860 Floyd Co. census shows Bird as age 13, and the 1880 Wyoming Co. census shows him as age 33.  The census record’s most likely occurred prior to his birthday, assuming he was born on or about 10 Jul 1846.  Bird would have been age 17 at the time of his enlistment, most likely with the consent of his parents. 

     Organized on 27 Aug 1863, the 21st Virginia Cavalry comprised of companies of the VA State Line and men from counties in southwest Virginia, and was led by Col. William Peters and Lt. Col. David Edmundson.  The Virginia State Line was created in 1862 to raise a volunteer force to defend the western part of Virginia especially the salt mines in the region, and provided the foundation for the formation of the 21st Cavalry. 
     Col. William Elisha Peters in April 1863 requested Gen. Samuel Jones, commander of the Dept. of Western Virginia, permission to organize a regiment of cavalry.  Jones authorized Peters to raise a regiment from the State Line together with recruits from localities where the Conscript Act was not enforceable.  Company B was formed 1 Apr 1863, for the duration of the war.  Co. B Captains were David Edmundson, Charles Burks and Jackson Moore. 

     The men of the 21st Cavalry were primarily Virginians, with about 70 percent of the regiment hailing from the southwest counties of Washington, Montgomery, Floyd, Smyth and Russell counties.  Virtually every county in southwestern Virginia was represented.  North Carolina, especially Ashe County provided 17 percent of the regiment, and Tennessee 4 percent.  The remainder came from other Southern and Border states.  
     As the regiment was being formed, Assistant Surgeon Philip Hanover reported that skin disease was more prevalent in the camp of the 21st Cavalry than in any other he had seen.  This was a forewarning of hardships that were still to come. 

     General Williams supervised the election of the regimental officers of the 21st Cavalry and 457 men effective present for duty and 942 in aggregate.  David Edmond wrote to his mother from Camp Laurel that it was situated on the river near Saltville, “…a beautiful and pleasant encampment.”

     Within days after enlisting, Bird Hall saw his first action in July 1863, while the 21st Cavalry was still being organized.  Yankee raiders comprised of the 2nd West Virginia Cavalry and the 34th Ohio Mounted Infantry moved to attack Wytheville.  On July 17th, they captured a Confederate company at Abb’s Valley; however, one prisoner escaped and was able to warn General Williams late that night of the enemy’s location.  Williams ordered Peters to move from Camp Laurel in the direction of Liberty Hill.  He later became concerned that the Yankees might attempt to attack the salt works, so Peters was ordered to return the 21st Cavalry to Camp Laurel.

     They began their odyssey in the East Tennessee Campaign of 1863, marching by night and fighting by day.  They enjoyed its greatest successes of the war under the command of General William E. “Grumble” Jones.

     In the summer of 1864, Peters’ regiment fought the advance of Hunter’s Yankees, which culminated in the battle of Lynchburg, Virginia  The 21st Cavalry then joined in Jubal Early’s raid on Washington.  Later, during the raid on Chambersburg, the 21st Cavalry gained notoriety for Peters’ refusal of McCausland’s orders to completely burn the town.  Eight days later at Moorefield, disaster stuck.  In a gallant defense against Averell’s Union cavalry, Peters was shot and 20 percent of the regiment was wounded or captured. 

     Prior to the raid on Washington, the men struck an ice cream maker with wagons loaded with his product ready to leave for Baltimore.  George W. Booth, later wrote, “It was a most ludicrous sight to see the ice cream dished out into all conceivable receptacles, and the whole brigade engaged in feasting on this.  A number of the men from southwest VA were not familiar with this delicious food, but were not slow in becoming acquainted with its enticing properties and expressing themselves as being very much satisfied with the “frozen vittles,” as they termed it.” 

     Brig. General Bradley T. Johnson, assigned to command Grumble Jones’ old brigade, wrote of the 21st Cavalry: ”.had about eight hundred half-armed and badly disciplined mountaineers from Southwest VA, who would fight like veterans when they pleased, but had no idea of permitting their own sweet wills to be controlled by any orders, no matter from whom emanating.” 

     On 24 Apr 1864, Lt. Col. Archer Anderson reported:  “Company and battalion drills are rare, and their clothing not good; pantaloons particularly needed.  Fifty-nine men entirely without shoes, 64 entirely without blanket, 197 dismounted men, he also noted that a few companies were armed only with sabers.  Guns were rusty and at least three hundred replacements were needed.  In general, Anderson concluded that the bearing of the brigade was “unmilitary.” 

     The 21st Cavalry fought in numerous battles against Sheridan’s forces in the Shenandoah Valley campaign of 1864, including Winchester and Fisher’s Hill.  As the fortunes of the Confederacy plummeted, the 21st Cavalry continued the struggle until General Lee’s surrender at Appomattox.

     Cora Hall married the Rev. Clingenpeel of Franklin Co.  He was of German descent and a Methodist Minister, they moved to Cincinnati, Ohio after their marriage.  During a shut down in the coalmines, Burch and Nannie Hall lived in Ohio with his sister and brother-in-law for a brief period. 

BURCH HALL

BIRTH: 17 Aug 1887 Wyoming Co., WV
DEATH:
28 Jan 1954 Henry Co., VA
FATHER: Byrd Hall
MOTHER: Catherine “Kate” Buchanan
WIFE: Nannie Beulah Stone
W. FATHER: Charles F. Stone
W. MOTHER: 
Joyce Emery Shelton
MARRIED: 14 Apr 1910 Franklin Co., VA
DESCENDING DAUGHTER:
Mildred Hall  

 

CHILDREN:  

1.   Leroy Hall, b. June 11, 1911 Wilmington, WV d. 3 Feb 1966 Hampton, VA
2.   Charles Edward Hall, b. 12 Apr 1914 Blocton, WV d. 15 Aug 1977 Martinsville, VA
3.   Irene Elizabeth Hall, b. 4 Sep 1916 Blocton, WV d. 25 Aug 1986 Martinsville, VA
4.   Leonard Hall b. 7 Oct 1919 Chattaroy, WV d. 8 Jun 1988 Martinsville, VA
5.   Ralph Hall, b. 11 Sep 1922 Chattaroy, WV d. 16 May 1966 Henry , VA
6.   Clara Ann Hall, b. 25 Mar 1925 Chattaroy, WV d. 1961 Henry, VA
7.   Burch Hall, Jr. b. 7 Aug 1930 Chattaroy, WV
8.   Mildred Hall, b. 3 Jul 1933 Henry Co., VA d. 3 Nov 1992 Martinsville, VA

 

     Burch Hall was born in Wyoming Co., WV in 1887, and at age two, he and his family moved to the Oklahoma Territory to acquire land during the great Oklahoma Land Rush. As a young child, his parents divorced, and he remained in Oklahoma with his mother until he reached age 14.  At 14 he left Oklahoma to live with his father who had returned to WV and to find work.  He started working in the WV coalmines along side his father at age 14.  At age 22, in 1909, Burch met a young man from Franklin Co., VA who worked with him in the coalmines and they started sharing a “batch house.” They soon started traveling together during the holidays to visit their families in that area.  Burch’s grandparents David and Abigail, and numerous cousins still lived in the Floyd Co. area.  This gentlemen’s name was Benjamin Stone and his sister was Nannie Stone.  On 14 Apr 1910 Burch Hall and Nannie Stone were married in Franklin Co., Virginia.  
     Not long after Burch and Nannie were married, Benjamin Stone was injured in a coal mining accident when a large piece of slate fell on him breaking both legs, which left him permanently disabled.  While in the hospital he met a young nurse named Mary Franklin, and they fell in love and were married the following year. Burch continued to work in the coalmines until he retired at age 64.

 

Stone Family:

     Richard Stone b/a 1637, Rugeley, Staffordshire, England, married: Dorothy Belcher born 31 Aug 1637 Honeybourne, Worcester, England, they had John b/a 1664, Rugeley, Staffordshire England who married Mary O'Brissell d/o Thomas and Mary on 10 Nov 1687 Christ Church Parish, Middlesex Co, Virginia.  Children were Eusebious, John, Stephen, Sarah, William, and Nicholas.  Their son William born 1700, Accomac Co., Va. died 1775, Stafford Co., VA. married 1) Unknown 2) Elizabeth Ann and had Elizabeth, Eucebious, William, Jeremiah, Micajah, Noah (Manoah), and Stephen.  Their son Micajah born 1745, Lunenburg Co., Va. died 24 Jun 1799, Bedford Co., Va, married Apphia Hurt b/a 1750 Bedford Co., VA m/a 1771 Bedford Co., VA, they had Bathsheba, Admire, William, John, Micajah, Moses, James, Noah (Manoah), Stephen, Mary and Molly.  Their son Noah H. (Manoah) b/a 1782 Bedford Co. VA died 1868 Henry Co., VA, married: Charlotte Foley b/a 1783 VA, died 1857 Henry Co. married 5 Jan 1805 Henry Co. VA.  They had Mary and Charles. Charles b/a 1810 Henry Co., VA had Stephen, and Stephen b/a 1828 married Cassie Spencer b/a 1830 d/a 1922 (at age 92).  They had Charles Fountain Stone born 25 Dec 1849, Henry Co., VA. died 18 Oct 1916 married Joyce Emery Shelton born 26 Dec 1853, died 21 Jan 1937 Franklin Co., VA, they had Walter m. Allie Jarrett, Grover, Nannie Beulah, Benjamin m. Mary Franklin, Rufus Franklin m. Nannie Cahill, and Callie m. Homer Bryant.  Nannie Beulah Stone born 3 Apr 1889, Franklin Co., VA died 2 Dec 1982, married Burch Hall.


Shelton Family:

     Sir John William Shelton b. c1480 Shelton, Norfolk, Eng. m. Anne Boleyn, d/o William Boleyn and Margaret Boteler.  Anne was the aunt of Anne Boleyn who m. King Henry VIII.  Their son Sir John Shelton b. c1500 m. Margaret Parker and had Sir Ralph Shelton b. 1 Nov 1530 Brome, England who m. Mary Wodehouse, d/o William Wodehouse and Elizabeth Calthorpe. Sir Ralph b. 1 Nov 1560 d. 22 Jul 1628 at the Battle of the Isle of Rhea.  He was Minister to Spain, Secretary to the Prince of Wales, member of Parliament and member of the Second and 3rd VA Companies. He was knighted at Theobald’s in 1607 and was of Shelton Hall, Norfolk, England he m. Jane West.  Their son Capt.  James Shelton b. 1588 m. Anne Hebert.  Capt. James Shelton was a gentleman who came with Lord Delaware (Thomas West) in 1610 to VA, and was a member of the court in 1624.  James and Anne had Thomas Shelton b. 1606 who m. Hannah Wood, and they had James Shelton b. 1627 Barbados Bermuda d. 1690 Cecil Co., MD, who married Mary Bathurst.  Their son Peter Shelton b. 1664 York Co., VA m. Susannah Jackson and had Ralph Shelton b. 12/1685 who m. Mary Jane Crispin of Middlesex Co., VA.  Ralph and Mary's son Thomas Shelton b. 9 Nov 1707 m. Mary Probert and their son Josiah Shelton, Sr. b. 1735 m. Elizabeth Spencer.  Josiah Shelton, Jr. b. 1775 m. Frances "Futhey" Ford and had Gerald "Giles" Shelton b. 19 Jan 1818 who m. Nancy Spencer, and their daughter Joyce Emery Shelton b. 26 Dec 1853 m. Charles Fountain Stone and they had Nannie Beulah Stone b. 3 Apr 1889.

 

Spencer Family:

     The term "Ancient Planter" is applied to those persons, who arrived in Virginia before 1616, remained for a period of three years, paid their passage, and survived the massacre of 1622. They received the first patents of land in the new world as authorized by Sir Thomas Dale in 1618; a William Spencer is listed as an Ancient Planter.

     Thomas Spencer b/a 1670 Charles City Co., New Kent Co., and King William Co., VA married Anne Woodward, they had Abraham b/a 1700.  William I b/a 1750 Hanover Co., VA, son of Abraham, married Elizabeth and they had William II b/a 1772 who married Jane Proctor.  They were the parents of William III b/a 1793, Patrick Co., VA who married Mary “Polly” Adams. They had Nancy Spencer who married Gerald "Giles" Shelton and Cassie Spencer who married Stephen Stone, both daughters being direct ancestors after the marriage of their children, Joyce Emery Shelton and Charles Fountain Stone, who had Nannie Beulah Stone.

     Burch Hall and Nannie Beulah Stone Hall are buried at the Shelton Cemetery in Henry County, Virginia.  Directions:  Take Rt. 220 to Rt. 605 in Henry, the cemetery is 7.3 miles from Rt. 220 on the right.  You can park on the side of the road or drive up to the cemetery using the small dirt road.  Drive slowly as this road needs some repair.