| Notes |
- Halls of New Enlgand, pp. 211ff
"[John Hall] came from Coventry, Warwickshire, England, in 1630, to Charlestown, Mass., probably in the fleet with Gov. Winthrop. Coventry is about 95 miles north-west of London. It is not known whether he had a family then or not. He was probably about 21 years of age. His name is No. 19 on the list of church members of the first church of Charlestown at its organization, July 30, 1630. There was then no church in Boston; but in 1632, a majority of its members being on that side of Charles river, they caused its removal, and it became the first church of Boston. The remembers [sic.] remaining organized a church in Charlestown, Nov. 2, 1632, consisting of 16 men and their wives and three unmarried men. Among this numer were John Hall and his wife Bethia. John Hall had lot No. 48 in 1633. He was made freeman May 14, 1634. There is little doubt he resided that he resided in Barnstable in 1640; he was recorded as able to bear arms in 1643 and Mr. Paine, the historian of Harwich, Mass., said that John Hall was an inhabitant of Barnstable after 1647, and that he was a resident of Yarmouth in 1653. Barnstable and Yarmouth joined each other and were both incorporated as towns in 1639. That part of Yarmouth where John Hall lived was set off as a separate town in 1793, and named Dennis.
"Josiah S. Hall, one of the descendants of John Hall now (1880) owns and lives upon the old homestead in Dennis, and says he thinks that John Hall moved to it in 1641. Perhaps it might have been at that claimed as part of Barnstable. Josiah S. Hall, who has furnished me with a good deal of information, also says, 'The Halls have occupied a position as good citizens, and I have never heard of any of them being guilty of a crime that would make any one who bore the name to blush. The immigrant ancestor was a man of character, though not much in office.'
"The probability is that several of John Hall's kindred came to this country from Warwickshire. It is the tradition in Sutton that a brother, with his family, came with him in the same ship, and that this brother was the grandfather of Deacon Percival Hall, of Sutton, who appears by the history of Sutton to have been the chief means of procuring the settlement of one of John Hall's descendants as the pastor of the church of Sutton, viz.; the Rev. Dr. David Hall, from Yarmouth.
"The relationship between the Halls of Yarmouth and the Halls of Medford is claimed also by their descendants who settled in Granville, N. Y.
"There are two marriages recorded in the N. E. H. G. Reg., which may have reference to this line of Halls. The first is in vol. 2, p. [ ] 'John Hall of Warwickshire, Eng., married the youngest daughter of John Farmer, of Ansley, Warwickshire. John Farmer died 1669.' The other is in vol. 1, p. 26. '--- Pease married John Hall, of Warwickshire.'
"As to the number of children by John Hall, of Yarmouth, it is believe that he had twelve sons, although we have the names of only ten. But Rev. Dr. David Hall said that he had twelve sons, of whom he had seen seven.
"Arunah Hall, of New Lebanon, N. H., when he was 85 years old, in 1864, said that he had often heard his father say that his emigrant ancestor had twelve sons and no daughters.
"Five of these sons were very probably the children of his wife Bethia, but we find a record of only two. They are among the baptisms in Charlestown. 'John, son of John and Bethia Hall, 13, 3, 1638; Shebar, son of John and Bethia Hall, 9, 12, 1639.' The chidlren baptized in Yarmouth, beginning with Joseph, were the sons of John and Elizabeth Hall.
"John Hall made his will July 15, 1694, in which he mentions eight soms. His will was probated Aug. 29, 1696; he died JUly 23, 1696, and was buried on his farm. The names of his children were :
"1. Samuel, the date of his birth is not known, but probably it was before the birth of John, and there might have been two others born before 1637, of whom no mention is made. Samuel m. Elizabeth Pollard, of Barnstable; after his death she m. 2d, April 27, 1699, Nathaniel Jones. Samuel Hall made his will Oct. 7, 1693, and died Jan 20, 1694. He had no children, but willed his property to his widow and his seven brothers, viz.; John, Joseph, Nathaniel, Gershom, William, Benjamin and Elisha.
"2. John, b. in Charlestown, 1637l bapt. 13, 3, 1638 (Family 2).
"3. Shebar, bapt. in Charlestown, 9, 12, 1639; d. in infancy.
"And by his 2d wife:
"4. Joseph, bapt. in Yarmouth, July 3, 1642 (Family 3).
"5. Benjamin, bapt. July 14, 1644; d. July 13, 1644.
"6. Nathaniel, bapt. Feb. 8, 1646 (Family 4).
"7. Gershom, bapt. March 5, 1648 (Family 5).
"8. William, bapt. June 8, 1651 (Family 6).
"9. Benjamin, bapt. May 29, 1653 (Family 7).
"10. Elisha, b. 1655 (Family 8).
"[The following items are taken from Freeman's History of Cape Cod]
"John Hall, Sen., Nathaniel Hall and Samuel Hall owned pews in the meeting-house of Yarmouth before 1672. Joseph Hall chosen in 1703 to seat the meeting-house. Ensign Elisha Hall and Deacon Joseph Hall were on a committee, 1716, with four others, to attend the gentlemen expected from Yarmouth, to hear and determine the matter about our getting another meeting-house.
"Among the selectmen of Yarmouth were: 1685, John Hall held office one year; 1693, Joseph Hall, Sen., held the office two years; 1701, Joseph Hall held the office 28 years; 1728. Eben Hall held the office 13 years; 1757, Daniel Hall held the office 29 years; 1772, Edward Hall for one year; 1776, John Hall for one year; 1782, Josiah Hall for one year; 1786, Atherton Hall for one year. 1710 Gershom Hall was selectman for Harwich, and held the office three years.
"Among the representative of Yarmouth were: 1703, Elisha Hall held the office five years; 1715, Joseph Hall held the office two years; 1735, Daniel Hall held the office four years; 1751, Joseph Hall held the office three years; 1788, Atherton Hall held the office three years. 1751 and 1752, Thomas Hall prepresented Dennis; he was also selectman ten year from 1845 [sic.] Enoch Hall was selectman of Dennis for twelve years from 1805.
"In a rate bill in Yarmouth, 1676, for the amount of £297, Gershom Hall was rated £1 13s 9d, Samuel Hall £4 8s 9d, John Hall Sen., £3 10s 2d, Joseph Hall £3; William Hall £1 2s, John Hall, Jr., £2 15s, Nathaniel Hall £1 15s.
"Among the soldiers that went from Falmouth to Mt. Hope against the Indians, June 1675, were Joseph Hall, Nathaniel Hall, corporal, Samuel Hall, corporal.
"And in the second Narraganset expedition were Benjamin Hall, Nathaniel Hall, sergeant. And in the third Samuel Hall.
"The names of Joseph Hall, Jr., Samuel Hall and Thomas Hall, Sr., were among the names of freemen of Yarmouth on record at the meeting, 1678; and Samuel Hall and Samuel Hall, Jr., 1679. This Thomas Hall, Sen., may have been taken for Thomas Hull?
"In 1677 Gershom Hall was grand juryman. In 1725 Gershom Hall, Jonathan Hall, Samuel Hall and Edward Hall were heads of families, with children at school in Harwich."
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Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to N.E. 1620-1633, Vols. I-III, pp, 840ff
John Hall
ORIGIN: Unknown
MIGRATION: 1630
FIRST RESIDENCE: Boston
REMOVES: Charlestown 1632, Barnstable 1640, Yarmouth by 1653
CHURCH MEMBERSHIP: Admitted to Boston church as member #19, which would be in the fall of 1630 [BChR 13]; dismissed 14 October 1632 to participate in forming the new church at Charlestown [BChR 16]; on 2 November 1632 John and "Bethiah Haule" were admitted to Charles church as founding members [ChChR 7].
FREEMAN: 14 May 1634 [MBCR 1:369].
EDUCATION: His inventory included "books" valued at 12s.
OFFICES: Barnstable constable, 1 June 1647 [PCR 2:115]. Yarmouth surveyor of Highways, 7 June 1653 [PCR 3:33]. Plymouth grand jury, 3 June 1657, 8 June 1664 [PCR 3:115, 4:61]. Coroner's jury on the death of Mary Chase of Yarmouth, October 1659, and on the death of "the child of Nicolas Nicarson," 30 October 1667 [PCR 3:172, 4:170].
In Barnstable section of 1643 Plymouth Colony list of men able to bear arms [PCR 8:193]
ESTATE: On 10 January 1634/5 received four acres of planting ground at Charlestown [ChTR 12], and in January 1635/6 list of those with four acres of planting ground [ChTR 15]. Alotted one-half share of hayground in 1635, which was increased to a share and a half [ChTR 19, 20,22]. Credited with two and a quarter cow commons in 1637 [ChTR 33], and on 30 December 1638 again with two and a quarter cow commons in the stinted common [ChTR 42]. Held five acres Mystic Side, 1637 [ChTR 27], and in the Mystic Side allotments of 23 APril 1638 had parcels of five, twenty-five and five acres [ChTR 36].
In 1638 Charlestown land inventory "John Haule" held eight parcels of land: half an acre of ground with a dwelling house and garden; four acres arable land in Line Field; two acres meadow in South Mead; two and a quarter milch cow commons; one acre meadow in Mystic Marshes; five acres woodland in Mystic Field; five acres woodland in Mystic Field; and twenty-eight acres of land in Water Field [ChBOP 32-33].
On 1 July 1672 there were recorded the "bounds of the land of John Hall Senior which he and his sons have possesessed upwards of twenty years," all in Yarmouth; fourteen acres "upon Nobscusset Necke"; fifteen acres of upland; and twelve acres of meadow [PCLR 3:233].
In his will, dated 15 July 1694 and proved 25 August 1696, "John Hall senior of Yarmoouth" directed that "all those several parcels and portions of land which I formerly gave to my sons shall stand and remain to them ... forever ... to my eldest son Samuel I give twenty acres"; to "my son John I give twenty acres"; to "my son Benjamin" fifteen acres; to "my son Elisha" twelve acres; "all of which said parcels of land is now in the tenure and occupation of each of them"; to "my son John ... three acres more"; to "my son Elisha ... my parcel of marsh or meadow land lying above the little beach"; to "my son William and to my son ELisha ... my parcel of meadow and broken marsh lying below the little beach" equally divided between them; to "my said son Elisha my now dwelling house, out housing, yards, orchard, together with all my lands and meadows whatsover except such part or parcels as is herein before mentioned"; to "my sons John, Joseph, William, Nathaniel, Gershom, Benjamin and Elisha" residue of moveable estate equally divided; "my two sons John and ELisha" executors [MD 31:36, citing BarnBR 2:23].
The inventory of John Hall was sworn 6 August 1696 and totalled £66 2s 3d., including no real estate [BarnPR 2:24].
BIRTH: By about 1611 (see COMMENTS below) and perhaps earliler.
DEATH: Yarmouth 23 July 1796 [YarVR 129].
MARRIAGE: By about 1636 Bethia ____; she is said to have died at Barnstable 1 February 1683[/4] [Brainerd Anc 141].
CHILDREN:
i SAMUEL, b. say 1636 (called eldest son in father's will); m. by an unknown date Elizabeth Folland (in his will of 1 October 1686 Thomas Folland Sr. of Yarmouth included a bequest to his daughter ELizabeth, wife of Samuel Hall [MD 3:176, citing BarnPR 1:5]; Samuel died without surviving issue and in his will of 7 October 1693 he made bequests to "wife Elizabeth," to "my eldest brother John Hall," to my second brother Joseph Hall," to my thrid brother Nathaniel Hall," to my fourth brother Gershom Hall," to "my fifth brother William Hall," to "my ixth brother Benjamin Hall," to my seventh brother Elisha Hall," and made "my brother-in-law Thomas Follin" one of his overseer [MD 22:185-86, city BarnPR 1:91].
ii JOHN, bp. Charles 13 May 1638 [ChChR 47]; m. by about 1661 Priscilla ____ (eldest child b. Yarmouth before 1663 [YarVR 2; MD 3:37]). (In 1900 Edith G. L. Pecker stated that Priscilla "was probably Priscilla Bearse, daughter of Augustine Bearse of Barnstable, abd born March 10 1643/4" [GenAdv 3:97], and this suggestion has been picked up by others [Brainerd Anc 32]. This is an attractive hypothesis, but the full evidence is not seen.)
iii SHEBAR (son), b. Charlestown 9 January 1639/40 [ChChR 48]; no further record.
iv JOSEPH, bp. Barnstable 3 July 1642 [NEHGR 9L282]; m. by an unknown dateMary Joyce, daughter of John Joyce [TAG 43:1-5; PCLR 4:297].
v BENJAMIN, b. Barnstable 14 July 1644 NEHGR 9:283]; bur. Barnstable 23 July 1644 [NEHGR 9:285].
vi NATHANIEL, bp. Barnstable 8 February 1645/6 [NEHGR 9:283]; m. by 1675 Ann Thornton [Bond 602; NYGBR 42:153-54].
vii GERSHOM, bp. Barnstable 5 March 1647/8 [NEHGR 9:283]; m. (1) by 1669 Bethia Bangs, daughter of EDWARD BANGS; m. (2) Hingham 9 December 1698 Martha Bramhall (recorded Harwich [HarVR 487]).
viii WILLIAM, bp. Barnstable 8 June 1651 [NEHGR 9:284]; m. by 1683 Esther ____ (son, William married in 1708 [Kerry William Bate, The Ebenezer Hanks Story (Provo, Utah, 1982), pp. 152-53]; the same source lists for William and Esther a possible son Isaac who married in 1700 [which would push their date of marriage back to about 1675] and suggests that Esther may have been a daughter of James Mathews, whose daughter Mehitable married William's brother Benjamin; "Easter Hall, wife of Captain William Hall, d. 19 February 1726/7," Mansfield, Connecticut [MansVR 322]).
ix BENJAMIN, bp. Barnstable 29 May 1653 [NEHGR 9:284]; m. Yarmouth 7 February 1677[/8?] Mehitable Matthews [YarVR 127].
x ELISHA, b. about 1655; m. by about 1680 Lydia ____ (eldest child b. Yarmouth 20 November 16[80] [YarVR 10; MD 5:27]).
COMMENTS: Savage and Wyman suggest that this John Hall came from Coventry in England, but there is no evidence for this whatsoever. Banks offers St. Mary Whitechapel, London, as an origin for this man, but cites only "Bank Mss.," so not much weight should be put on this claim either, without further exploration [Topo Dict 102].
John Hall was admitted as an inhabitant of Charlestown in April 1633 [ChTR 9]. He appeared in the lists of Charlestown inhabitants dated 9 January 1633/4 and January 1635/6 [Ch TR 10,15]. He signed his name to the town agreement which established the office of selectmen, 10 February 1634/5 [ChTR 13], and on 1 May 1637 he was warned about making encroachments on the common [ChTR 28].
Both Savage and Pope muddled this John Hall with those of a second man of the same name at Charlestown, whereas Pope distributed the records of two John Halls and one Samuel Hall across two entries under the name John Hall. Jacobus sorted out the confusion in a long note published in 1948 [Brainerd Anc 142-43]; the critical point is to watch the name Bethia as wife of John.
The gap of six years between the first record of Bethia as wife of John Hall (2 November 1632) and the first record of a baptism for a child (13 May 1638) is puzzling. The eldest son, Samuel, was very likelly born during this period, say in 1636, but this still leaves a sizable gap; and if John and Bethia Hall were residing in Charlestown throughout this period, why wasn't a baptism for Samuel recorded? One possible solution derives from the problematic nature of the early Charlestown church records, which were recopied some years after the date of the events recorded. Savage demonstrated that the Charlestown church records have RICHARD KETTLE married to his wife ESTHER WARD some time before the marriage actually took place. The same may have happened with John and Bethia. If that is true John and Bethia may not have married until about 1636, and if she were from some other place other than Charlestown, perhaps Samuel was baptised there, in a church whose reocrds no longer exist. This proposed solution amy also explain the gap of four years between John Hall's admission to Boston church and his admission as a freeman, for he may not yet have been have been twenty-one in 1630.
On 8 June 1655 concerning a "complaint made by John Hall, of Yarmouth, against Francis Baker, of the same town, for abusing Samuell Hall, his son, and servant to the said Baker, by kicking his and otherwise unreasonably striking of him, the Court have order, the the said Samuel Hall shall be and continue with his father until the next Court of elections" [PCR 3:83]; the controversy was ended when on 7 August 1655 the court ordered John Hall to pay Francis Baker £8 for the remainder of Samuel Hall's time [PCR 3:88].
BIBLIOGRAPHIC NOTE: Amos Otis treated his family in his survey of Barnstable families, in the course of which he described som of the lands help by John Hall at Barnstable and Yarmouth [Otis 1:450-56].
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His wife was named Bethia. The identity of her family is not known. It has been suggested she was Bethia Farmer, but this is not proved.
NOTE: He is not the same as the John Hall who married Elizabeth Learned in 1645.
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Abt 1609 - 1696 (~ 87 years)
