Category Archives: Edward Hall, Immigrant Ancestor

Edward Hall, 1611-1670: Family and Later Years

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We know that Edward was named a Supervisor of the Highways in Duxbury, Plymouth Colony, in June 1647.  There are no further records to be found until the birth of his son, John, in 1650, as written in the Braintree vital records.

Edward met and married Esther or Hester (herein after referred to as Esther) probably by 1649, but where?  Who was Esther Hall?  Braintree was part of the Massachusetts Bay Colony and from what little written information there is on old Braintree, once settled it was a closed settlement. Because of this I assume that Edward had to have been invited into the town.  There are no records of him owning land there so he likely lived with a family already established in the settlement.  Was this Esther’s family?  Edward and Esther’s first two children were born in Braintree, Massachusetts Bay Colony; the remaining known 6 children were born in Rehoboth, Plymouth Colony, as recorded in the Rehoboth vital records.  Edward would have been 39 years old when his first child was born in 1650/51.

  • John, born January 23, 1650/51, Braintree (July 5, 2018, please note: the birth date of John Hall has been changed to reflect the correct birth information that has now been obtained from the original records of Braintree. The Julian calendar was in use in 1650 and the 11th month would be January, not November. Therefore, his “genealogically correct” birth date would be 23 Jan 1650/51. That record can be viewed here; married Mary Newell, died September 1721 in Rehoboth.
  • Hester (Esther), born October 23, 1654, Braintree, *may have* married John Kenrick about 1672 or she *may have*  married Thomas Jordan in Rehoboth in 1674. We just haven’t been able to find any documented proof and there is some speculation that it was the Widow Hall who married Thomas Jordan (Jordaine) instead.  Her marriage, therefore, is a work in progress.
  • Samuel, born October 24, 1656, Rehoboth; married Abigail Pratt, died August 30, 1716 in  Taunton.
  • Jeremiah, born July 28, 1658, Rehoboth; died before May 1715.
  • Thomas, born March 31, 1661, Rehoboth; married Abigail Martin, died April 29, 1717 in Dedham.
  • Preserved, born March 20, 1663, Rehoboth; married widows Lydia (Jackson) Leavitt and Hannah (Damon) May; died August 5, 1740, in Hingham.
  • Andrew, born May 10, 1665, Rehoboth; married first, Susanna Capen; second, Mary Bennett, died December 1756 in Newton.
  • Benjamin, born August 7, 1668, Rehoboth; married Sarah Fisher, died August 25, 1726, in Wrentham.

We need to wrap up some unfinished business for Edward Hall as noted in the Plymouth Colony Records before moving on to records for Braintree and Rehoboth:

  • March 2, 1651, at the General Court at New Plymouth, Steven and Abigail Bryant complained against John Haward, Edward Hall, and Susanna Haward of Duxborrow in an action of slander and defamation to the damage of 500 pounds. The jury found for the plaintiffs damage of 5 pounds equally and jointly (PCR 7:57).
  • Circa 1651 there is a subsequent entry to the description of the land of Mr. John Alden describing the boundary:  The bounds of a parcel of marsh meadow, bought of Edward Hall in the year 1651, which meadow was primarily Mr. William Collyiars (sic), and by him given to Mr. Constant Southworth, and by him sold to Edward Hall, aforsaid, and bought by me, John Alden and is as followeth: viz: layed out at the first for five acres, and bounded with a creek, commonly called and known by the name Indian Creek; and from thence to run to the meadow land of Philip Delano, deceased; and so it runs on the northerly side as the river runs to the Mill Creek (PCR 1:71).
  • October 7, 1651, Edward Hall(e) was presented by the General Enquest for felling of timber and selling of it out of the colony, which timber is on the town commons; Released and aquite (PCR 2:174.

The only record found in Braintree mentioning Edward Hall is published in the Massachusetts Colony Records, vol. 3, pages 309-310 and vol. 4, part 1, page 145.  These entries have to do with the law case of Wilson v. Faxon in which the widow Wilson brought suit against Thomas Faxon concerning her son, Joseph Wilson.  In these records, No. 188, 8th paper, states that Edward Hall was deposed in this case, dated March 10, 1652 (NEHGR 62:93-94).

Edward and Esther spent a brief time in Braintree, Massachusetts Bay Colony, approximately 5 years, 1650-1655.  By October 1656, when their son, Samuel, was born, Edward and Esther are back in the Plymouth Colony at Rehoboth, where Edward remained for the rest of his life.

  • 1658, Edward Hall appears on the list of those who took the Oath of Fidelity at Rehoboth (PCR 8:178)
  • June 22, 1658, Edward Hall was No. 41 out of 49 persons who drew in order of the settlers estates for meadow lands which lie on the north side of the town, at town meeting of Rehoboth (Rehoboth Vital Records).
  • August 3, 1665, Edward Hall conveys 10 acres of land lying at Namassakeesit, given to him by the town, to Robert Barker who hath now peaceably enjoyed the same space for 17 years, with all the appurtenances (Old Records, town of Duxbury, p. 19).
  • May 26, 1668, Lots drawn for meadow lands in the North Purchase, now Attleboro, Cumberland, R.I., and parts of Norton and Mansfield (Rehoboth Vital Records).

It’s likely that the above lot drawn in 1668 was for 50 acres, as Edward gave to his son, John, by will, 40 acres in the North Purchase, with the remainder to his wife, Esther.  A Sketch of the History of Attleborough, p. 99, called it 50 acres at “the Falls” Attleborough, as given to his son, John, by will.

Edward Hall’s will was written November 23, 1670.

Will of Edward Hall of Rehoboth

Be it knowne to all men of these presents that I Edward Hall of Rehoboth in the colonie of Plymouth in New England: being in my fresh memory, do ordaine and make this my last Will and Testament.

Item. I give to my son John forty acres as upon my share of land on the North Purchase; which is to be his full Share of land:

Item. I give my house orchyard Garden Barne homlott and all my other lands and meddowes in the Town of Rehoboth or on the North Purchase or elsewhere as alsoe my household Goods Cattle or Chattles whatsoever I have or did enjoy or posess; unto my beloved wife Ester; whom I ordaine and make my sole exequitrix: That is to pay all my debts; To Improve for to bring up my Children; and to dispose of it unto them according to her wisdome; but if my wife should Marry then she shall have the third of my land; and the other two thirds shall be divided as above said. This is my last will and Testament; With my hand

Edward Hall (his mark)

In the presence of John Meller Senior, John Peck

John Meller Senior hath attested the truth of this will upon oath before me Henery Smith July 4th 1671.

(Plymouth Colony Records, Wills, Volume 3, Part 1, Page 36)

Edward Hall died on November 27, 1670 (Rehoboth Vital Records).  He would have been 59 years of age.  The inventory of his estate was made March 6, 1671 and presented to the Court held at Plymouth on October 29, 1671, valued at £ 84.   It is said that he is buried in an unmarked grave in the Newman Cemetery, Rumford, Providence, Rhode Island (once a part of Rehoboth).

At the time of Edward’s death, his first born child, John, would have been 20 years old.  The remaining 7 children would have ranged in ages from 16 years down to 2 years old.  Quite a responsibility for a presumably young widow and for her oldest son, John, who had not yet himself reached legal age.

Did Edward Hall leave the Colony a debtor in 1652?

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Before moving on to Edward Hall’s family and later years, I’d like to take a look at the statement that Edward Hall left the Colony a debtor in 1652, as written in Winsor’s History of the town of Duxbury, Massachusetts, published in 1849.  This has carried over into other publications about Edward Hall.

The entry appears in the genealogical section of Winsor’s book (full view on Google Books) on page 263, as follows:

“1. Edward, Dux., 1638, permitted to build in Dux.; 1637, 10 acres at G.H. path; 1638, sold his house to Wm. Wetherill; 1641, he appears of Taunton; 1642, had a house at Hounds Ditch; 1645, prop. of Bridgew.; 1652, left the colony a debtor.”

Clearly, this entry seems to indicate that these events are from the life of one individual and not just random findings in the records on various Edward Halls of the time.  There are no source citations for these entries, although all of the above can be found in the Plymouth Colony Records except for Edward Hall being of Taunton in 1641.  I have not yet found where that information came from.

Considered the primary source for seventeenth century research in the Colony, the Records of the Colony of New Plymouth in New England (volume 3), edited by Nathaniel B. Shurtleff, shed some light on where this statement likely originated.

The first entry of interest is dated  7 December 1652 wherein the Court speaks of a “beast tendered from the estate” (my emphasis) of Edward Hall and attached until the next Court session (in March).  Constant Southworth was ordered by the court to winter the beast and it was ordered that any charge for loss or wintering would be payable from the estate of said Hall (PCR 3:21).  The next page contains another entry regarding the estate of Edward Hall, this being at a Court session the first of March 1652/53 and begins:  “Whereas Edward Hall is departed the government endebted unto divers men much more than his estate (again, my emphasis) will amount unto and satisfy….”  It goes on to say that all creditors should show full proof of what is owing them by the first of May next (PCR 3:22).  The last entry is dated 7 June 1653 wherein the Court found that a debt was due a Captain Willett and a Mr. Paddy, from Edward Hall, in the amount of 4 pound and 4s and the Court ordered that it be paid out of the estate (PCR 3:34).

According to the above this was another Edward Hall who had lived in the Colony and had died sometime previous to the first Court Order dated 7 December 1652.  All entries mention the estate of Edward Hall, thereby confirming that this Edward Hall was deceased.  This particular Edward Hall appeared to not have a large enough estate to pay off his indebtedness. The language in the entry dated March 1, 1652/53, describing the deceased Edward Hall as departed the government and indebted for much more than his estate is worth, is what I believe was picked up and published in Winsor’s History of the town of Duxbury, Massachusetts as well as in other subsequent publications and carried over into a few genealogies.

The problem as I see it is that it was quickly assumed that this was Edward Hall of Duxbury, late of Henbury, and that he left the Colony a debtor in 1652.  However, the keyword here is estate.  Clearly that should have been a clue to Mr. Winsor that those particular Plymouth Colony Records entries pertained to a different, and a deceased, Edward Hall.

Edward Hall, 1611-1670: Arrival and Early Years

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Edward Hall, the immigrant ancestor was born in England, a son of Francis Hall of Henborough (Henbury), Gloucestershire.  He was baptized in Henbury on September 29, 1611.  Edward was about 25 years of age when he immigrated.  Burke’s American Families with British Ancestry says that he left Great Britain in 1636 and settled in Massachusetts Bay, however the first deed we find for him is dated October 2, 1637 when 10 acres of land were granted to Edward Hall in Duxbury, Plymouth Colony.  Additional land transactions are found for Edward Hall in Duxbury for another 10-12 years.

Although it is likely that he gained passage to the Colony on a ship in the Governor Winthrop fleet, his name does not appear on any of the passenger lists that have survived. A ship of interest to me is the Mary Rose that was destroyed when its own powder ignited while at anchor in the Boston Harbor at “Charles Towne” on July 27, 1640.  This ship interests me because of entries found in Thomas Lechford’s Note-Book:  July 15, 1640 an entry is made certifying the health of “Edward Hall, late of the parish of Henborough in the County of Gloucester carpenter and now of Duxbury in New England sonne of Francis Hall”, given by his [Edward’s] own oath and that of James Smith, Mariner.  A subsequent entry dated July 27, 1640 tells of the Mary Rose blowing up in the harbor and mentions that, among others, James Smith, Mariner, fell victim to the explosion.  This, of course, is merely an “I wonder” if it might be possible that Edward arrived on the Mary Rose?  It does pose the possibility since James Smith must have known Edward well enough to have attested to his good health. Could that acquaintance have been made while Edward traveled from England to the Colony aboard this vessel?  But then, of course, we have the problem of the passage of time between Edward’s arrived in 1636/37 and 1640 when the Certificate of his health was made.  Unfortunately, we will probably never know what ship he arrived on.

Tidbits of information appear in many sources regarding Edward Hall; that he was at Duxboro (also written as Duxborough, Duxborrow or Duxbury) 1636-7-8; at Braintree 1640; Taunton 1640 or1641; another states that he sold his house in Taunton in 1642; back to Duxboro in 1643-44; removed to Bridgewater in 1644-45, left the jurisdiction in 1652 (Winsor’s History of Duxbury, Massachusetts says he left the Colony in 1652 a debtor, but I do not agree with that statement and that will be addressed in a later post); that he had a family in Braintree from 1650-1655 and that he removed to Rehoboth in 1655.  Some but not all of the above has been documented; some is possibly misinformation or just misleading.  Some statements could be valid but if there is documentation I have not found it.  Here is what I have found regarding land deeds and other entries, 1637-1642:

  • October 2, 1637, Duxborrow, ten acres of land were granted to Edward Hall “lying crosse to Greenes Harbr Payth.”  Ten acres granted to John Tisdall, the lands of George Hall lying on the south side and the lands of Edward Hall lying on the north side. (PCR 1:66).  Note:  George Hall and Edward Hall were not related.
  • January 1638, Edward Hall sold to William Wetherell his dwelling house and garden place containing about 2 acres in Duxborrow; described as being between the lands of Mr. Ralph Partrich (sic) and Nicholas Robins (sic) (PCR Deeds, p. 57).
  • February 4, 1638/39, License was granted to Edward Hall of Duxborrow to build upon his lot (PCR 1:112).
  • November 30, 1640, Duxborrow, Edward Hall is granted 25 acres of land at Manassacuset (PCR 1:168).
  • March 2, 1640/41, Edward Hall, servant to Francis Doughty, for swearing profanely is censured to sit in the stocks which was done accordingly (PCR 2:9).
  • March 2, 1640/41, Edward Hall of Taunton presented for swearing. Censured. (PCR 2:12).
  • January 1642, Edward Hall sold to Thomas Gannett his dwelling house and 10 acres of land in Duxborrow (PCR, Deeds, p. 88).

1642-deed_plymouth-colony2

The above deed describes the land location and the conditions of payment when Edward Hall sold to Thomas Gannett.  I think the old Plymouth Colony deeds are neat to read and decided to add this one here because of its complexity and because it is also interesting to read that Edward’s land bordered on land owned by John Alden.

Some sources of a more general nature that identify Edward Hall:

  • Edward Hall  was in Duxbury in 1636…a proprietor at the settlement of Bridgewater in 1645…made his will 23 November 1670. (Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England, Savage, James: vol. 2, p. 332).
  • Edward Hall son of Francis Hall of Henbury (Henborough), England. (Directory of the Ancestral Heads of New England Families, 1620-1700, p. 105).
  • Edward Hall of Duxbury in New England was son of Francis Hall of Henborough, Gloucestershire, England. (The New England Historical and Genealogical Register: v. 40, p. 271).
  • Edward Hall of Henbury, Gloucester left Great Britain in 1636 and settled in Massachusetts Bay becoming the founder of this family in America. (Burke’s American Families with British Ancestry: Burke, Bernard, Sir, p. 272).

What has been established so far is that Edward was first documented in Duxbury when land was granted to him and recorded in the Plymouth Colony Records on October 2, 1637. There is another land transaction January 1638; in February 1638/39 he was granted a license to build upon his lot in Duxbury, November 30, 1640 he was granted additional land and January 1642 he sold to Thomas Gannett.  This tells me that Edward Hall was consistently a land owner in Duxbury from late 1637 through the first month of 1642.  Additional records lead me to believe that Edward was of Duxbury up and until the time that he is recorded as having a family in Braintree, Massachusetts Bay Colony, and that he continued to own land in Duxbury during that time. He may have been in Taunton briefly in 1640 in the employ of Francis Doughty; I find no evidence so far that he was in Braintree as early as 1640.

On March 2, 1640/41 an Edward Hall was presented and censured for swearing.  In the one entry, he was called the servant of Francis Doughty, who was of Taunton, Massachusetts.  I have not been able to find any deeds where Edward Hall either purchased or sold land or a dwelling house in Taunton, Massachusetts.  It has been established that his trade was that of a carpenter and so I have to wonder if he was temporarily in the employ of Francis Doughty in Taunton, because of his trade, and possibly living with his employer or another family during this time. It’s fairly certain that he was still a single man at that time and so it would have been easy for him to take up temporary quarters away from Duxbury.  From other records that follow, I would put the time that he was in Taunton as March 1640 rather than 1641.  I’ve read that Francis Doughty left Taunton in 1641, making 1640 even more plausible as the time that Edward Hall could have been in Taunton.

Additional records identifying Edward Hall being of Duxbury, Massachusetts:

  • January 2, 1637/38, the last will and testament of John Cole was proved this Court, upon the oaths of John Maynard and Edward Hall (PCR 1:75).
  • July 15, 1640, a certificate of health was issued by the Governor of Massachusetts Bay for Edward Hall of Duxbury, carpenter, late of Henborough, son of Francis Hall, deceased (Lechford’s Note-Book, p. 263).
  • July 15, 1640, additional entries found in Lechford’s Note-Book, p. 264 identifying Edward Hall of Duxbury.

The entries in the Lechford Note-Book are of particular interest.  The certificate of health identifies where Edward Hall was from, the name of his deceased father, his occupation, and where he was residing  Below is page 263 from that Note-Book:

lechfords-notebook_edward_hall_page_11

The following page, 264 below gives us the name of Edward’s brother who was supposed to have come to the Colony with him, as well as a request for payment to be made to James Smith, Mariner; below that is the entry telling of the accident involving the ship Mary Rose:

lechfords-notebook_edward_hall_page_21

Both entries give us quite a bit of information about Edward Hall.

Additional records found:

  • March 21, 1641, bond issued to James Pollard by Edward Hall of Duxbury, carpenter and late of Henborough, County of Gloucs., payable October 9, 1641 at the Tolsey in Bristoll (Lechford’s Note-Book, p. 396).
  • August 1643, Edward Hall appears on the Duxborrow list of males 16-60 years of age able to bear arms (PCR 8:190).
  • March 28, 1645, Edward Hall appears on the list of original proprietors of Bridgewater (PCR).
  • August 1645 Edward Hall is listed as one of six men from Duxborrow who served against the Narragansetts (PCR 2:90).
  • January 5, 1646/47, Edward Hall complained against Capt. Standish and Jonathan Bruster and others for payment due him for building in Duxbury. The Court ordered that they satisfy and pay him according to their agreement (PCR 2:110).
  • June 1, 1647, Edward Hall and John Browne named as Supervisors of the Highways for Duxborough (PCR 2:115).
  • 1647, Goodman Hall of Duxbury is mentioned in the will of John Gove of Charlestown (NEHGR 7:170).

The above entries 1641 through 1647 consistently place Edward Hall in Duxbury.  Edward Hall, being a proprietor of Duxbury, was granted land in Bridgewater in 1645, but there is no evidence that he ever moved from Duxbury to Bridgewater.  It would seem to me that Edward Hall lived in Duxbury, Massachusetts for a period of at least 10 years, 1637-1647, and probably remained there until for whatever reason he removed to Braintree, Massachusetts Bay Colony, where his first known child was born in 1650.

There are no further entries in the Plymouth Colony Records, or any other records that I can find for Edward Hall until 1650 when his first child is born, as noted in the Braintree, Massachusetts Vital Records; he sells land to John Alden in 1651, and proceeds to get into a bit more trouble with the Court.

Edward Hall, from about 1650 until his death in 1670, as well as his family, will be discussed in a future post.