Tag Archives: Seth Hall

Lydia Leonard (1721/22-1763), Hannah Keith (1721-1796), wives of Jonathan4 Hall, Jr.

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Jonathan’s4 first wife, Lydia Leonard, died 26 June 1763 in Raynham, Bristol, Massachusetts, at the age of 42 years. She is buried in the Hall plot in what is now known as the Pleasant Street Cemetery in Raynham Center. Based on her age at death, her birth year would have been 1721-22. Lydia would have been about 17 years old when she married Jonathan on 28 December 1738 (Raynham Town Records).

Photo Courtesy of Brady Fitts

Photo Courtesy of Brady Fitts

Early female ancestors are difficult enough to trace when primary sources are available, and are made much more difficult to find when the original records have been destroyed. In 1838 the original records of Taunton, Bristol County, Massachusetts were destroyed by a fire and town officials set about to restore those records to the best of their ability using sources such as family bibles, church records and headstone inscriptions. Because the original records were destroyed, there is no record of Lydia’s birth identifying her parents or when she was born.

In researching Lydia over the years, some genealogies gave her parents as Ensign Seth Leonard and his wife, Dorcas White, while other documents presumed that she must have been of another Leonard family. While most of those genealogies contained no sources at all, some did use secondary sources as their evidence. In the reconstruction of the birth records of the children of Seth and Dorcas White Leonard, Lydia was not mentioned. Anyone who has researched the early Taunton, Massachusetts records, while the town officials did a commendable job in attempting to reconstruct the early records the best that they could, knows that many gaps were left never to be filled in. It takes finding other types of primary documents to take the place of vital records.

Without the benefit of primary vital records, we initially looked to the naming patterns of the first few male children to try to help identify Lydia’s parents. The first son born to Jonathan and Lydia was named Jonathan, which would fit in naming the first born son after Jonathan Hall, Sr. The second born son was named Seth. It also fits the naming pattern of the 1700’s that the second born son might be named after the wife’s father. There were no Seth’s in Jonathan’s ancestry. The third born son was named Silas. No one in Jonathan’s family was named Silas, so we looked deeper into the Leonard family and found that Lydia had a first cousin born in 1708, the Reverend Silas Leonard. It is therefore conceivable that Jonathan and Lydia named their third born son after Lydia’s cousin. And even though the recorded birth in the Raynham Town Records shows him listed merely as Silas Hall, in various documents and records of later years he is identified as either Silas L. Hall or more often as Silas Leonard Hall. Since it was highly unusual for a child to be given a middle name in the early- to mid-1700’s, this extended name provided us with valuable information.

During email conversations with a Leonard researcher in the continued attempt to document Lydia’s birth date and parents, it was learned that a document existed in the Seth Leonard Estate papers whereby “children and near relations” signed a petition to have Seth Leonard declared incompetent and placed under guardianship. Learning about these sorts of documents is like finding a huge nugget of gold, estate papers being wonderful primary sources. I ordered the estate papers from Bristol County and the packet did indeed contain the Petition to have Seth Leonard declared Non Compos Mentis and in need of a guardian, dated Raynham, September 15, 1761. The Petition was signed by those described in the document as “children and near relations”. Jonathan4 Hall, Jr. was one of the 18 signers of the Petition. Jonathan Hall also signed the obligation bond, dated October 3, 1761. In addition, the Petition was signed by Seth Hall, probably the grandson of Seth Leonard and son of Jonathan and Lydia Leonard Hall, and by Amariah Hall, a first cousin of Jonathan Hall. This document, coupled with the naming patterns of Jonathan and Lydia’s first three sons gave us both the primary and strong circumstantial evidence we needed to declare Lydia the daughter of Ensign Seth Leonard and his wife, Dorcas White, when no vital records were available.

In addition, although Seth Leonard’s headstone has never been found, the headstone of his wife, Dorcas White Leonard, is found in the row next to the Jonathan Hall family in the Pleasant Street Cemetery in Raynham Center, Massachusetts.

Dorcas White, wife of Ensign Seth Leonard

Dorcas White, wife of Ensign Seth Leonard

Not quite a year after Lydia’s death, Jonathan married Hannah Keith Leach Hall on 25 April 1764 (Raynham Town Records). At the time of Lydia’s death, Jonathan was left with 7 children under the age of 20 years in his home. Jonathan was Hannah’s third husband. She was born 7 April 1721 in Bridgewater, Plymouth, Massachusetts to John Keith and his wife, Hannah Washburn. Hannah married first Benjamin Leach, 10 January 1739/40, second to Philip Hall (a great-grandson of George Hall of Taunton [not related to the subject Hall family]), and third to Jonathan Hall. After Jonathan died on 25 February 1789, she married Israel Washburn on 14 June 1790. Hannah died 4 January 1796 and is buried in the Pleasant Street Cemetery in Raynham Center, Bristol, Massachusetts.

Last Will and Testament of Jonathan Hall, Jr.

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In the Name of God Amen!

I Jonathan Hall, the Eldest of that name in Raynham in the County of Bristol and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, being advanced in age, but thro’ devine goodness of a sound and disposing mind, do in the first place give my soul to that God who gave it, and my body to the grave, decently to be interr’d by my Executor, In a firm belief a Resurrection to come, and in regard to my worldly interest, I give and dispose of it in the manner following ~ viz

1. I give to my beloved Wife Hannah Hall, after the payment of my just debts and funeral charges — the best room in my dwelling house with a privilege in the Buttery, Oven and Cellar, as much as may be necessary for her own use; Also the easterly half of my Barn with a right of passing to and from it, at all times; To have, use and enjoy all the above privileges during her natural life — Also I give to my said wife the improvement of all my land lying on the south easterly side of the Brook which comes thro’ the land of Samuel Jones, below his barn, and on said Brook as it now runs, to the bridge below my house — Together with one half of my orchard, adjoining to ye house, during her natural life; also I give unto my sd wife, ye use of my half of the pew in the Meeting House during her life and after her, I give it to my Son Seth Hall, to him and his Heirs forever.

2. I give to my Son Linus Hall, the remainder of my dwelling house together with a strip of land from the Brook below the house to the road before the door, to be two rods wide from the line which passes between my Son Seth Hall’s house and mine, a straight line from the Brook to the road — To him, his Heirs and assigns forever, together with the whole of my dwelling house after the death of my said wife.

3. I give to my Son Seth Hall, half an acre of land where his barn now stands, to him and his Heirs, immediately after my decease, together with the westerly part of my barn, one half my orchard, with all the remainder of my lands lying on the westerly side of the above mentioned Brook, immediately after my decease, with all the lands on ye other side of the Brook, after my wife’s decease, to him and his Heirs and assigns forever on condition that he the said Seth Hall pay out the following Legacies ~ viz,

Unto my Son Silas Hall five pounds, in one year after my decease, — To my Son Hezekiah Hall, ten pounds, in two years after my decease, provided he brings no account against my Estates, which if he does, Tis my will that the amount be deducted from the above named sum — also, that he pay unto my Son Jonathan Hall in three years after my death the sum of twelve pounds. And in four years after my decease that my Son Seth Hall pay unto my Son Obed Hall, the sum of twelve pounds — and that he also pay unto my Son Ebenezer Hall the same sum within five years after my decease — also I order my Son Seth Hall to pay to my Daughter Lydia Richmond two pounds in six years after my decease — and to my Daughter Jemima Williams one pound ten shillings in seven years after my death; all the above Legacies I order to be paid out in farm produce at the Common Market Price — I also give to my Wife Hannah Hall, all the household goods she bro’t with her upon marriage, with all the household goods that she and I have procured since we lived together, with two of my best cows and one swine to be at her own disposal — The remainder of my stock, cattle, swine and moveables not disposed of before, I give them all unto my Son Seth Hall and to his Heirs forever — and I do Constitute and appoint my Son Seth Hall to be the Sole Executor of this my Last Will and Testament.

In Witness Whereof I do here unto set my Hand and Seal, Signed, Sealed and Delivered this 21st Day of Feby, 1788.

Jonathan Hall

In Presence of Us:

Perez Fobes
Anonyma Fobes
Molly Wales Fobes

The Last Will and Testament of Jonathan Hall was filed March 12, 1789; Proved May 2, 1789. On March 17, 1791 Seth Hall, Administrator of his father’s estate, filed a petition with the court to have his father’s estate declared insolvent and requested that the court appoint a commission to examine into the claims of debtors against his father’s estate. What these debtors claims were, we do not know, as no further Administration papers have been found. Neither do we know what happened to the extensive land holdings that Jonathan had inherited from his father. We are trying to secure and sort out all of the various deeds for Jonathan Hall. What we do know is that the Legacies that Jonathan had requested in his Will, to be distributed to his children over a seven year period after his death, did not happen. An inventory of his Estate was conducted by Major Shaw, Samuel Hall, and Daniel White on March 16, 1792; it amounted to 21 Pounds, 2 Shillings and 3 Pence. The inventory was allowed April 2, 1792.

Jonathan4 Hall, Jr. (1716-1789)

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Edward1 Hall of Rehoboth, Massachusetts

Samuel2 Hall married Abigail Pratt

Jonathan3 Hall married 1st Sarah Ockington, 2nd Sarah Smith

Jonathan4 Hall, Jr.

Jonathan4 Hall, Jr., the second of that name, was born May 3, 1716 to Jonathan Hall and his first wife, Sarah Ockington (First Book of Raynham Records), in that part of Taunton, Bristol County, Massachusetts that became Raynham in 1731.

Jonathan lived his entire life in Raynham, more particularly in that area known as Raynham Center. He was a prominent member and deacon of the Raynham Congregational Church, and he served in numerous town positions. As the eldest son of Jonathan and Sarah, he inherited extensive acreage as stipulated in his father’s will. He appeared on the Raynham Tax Records for 1746, assessed for both real and personal property (Old Colony Historical Society, Taunton, MA).

Many of the town records are missing, but of those surviving Jonathan’s name appeared in all of the accounts, with his town positions having ranged from selectman to constable, treasurer and moderator.

  • March 22, 1762, chosen surveyor of highways
  • March 17, 1763, chosen surveyor of wheat and flour
  • March 19, 1764, named constable
  • November 27, 1771, chosen moderator
  • November 30, 1772, Deacon Jonathan Hall contributed to support of the town hall
  • October 4, 1773, name drawn to serve as a juror for Superior Court
  • May 2, 1775, signed a town document
  • March 4, 1775, elected selectman
  • June 24, 1779, chosen moderator
  • January 6, 1785, signed a town document
  • March 7, 1785, chosen treasurer
  • October 12, 1786, chosen moderator
  • October 15, 1787, chosen moderator

Jonathan and Lydia Leonard, daughter of Seth and Dorcas (White) Leonard, were married by the Rev. Mr. Wales on December 28, 1738 (Raynham Congregational Church Records). Jonathan was 22 years of age and Lydia would have been about 17 years old when they married. Jonathan and Lydia had 11 known children (First Book of Raynham Records) with their youngest child, Abigail, born June 6, 1762, being just a few days over one year old when Lydia died at the age of 42 years on June 26, 1763. Jonathan and Lydia had been married for 25 years at the time of her death.  Lydia is buried in the Hall Plot in the Town Cemetery at Raynham Center, now known as the Pleasant Street Cemetery.

Children of Jonathan and Lydia (Leonard) Hall (all births recorded in Raynham and children baptized at the Raynham Congregational Church):

  1. Jonathan5 Hall, born September 26, 1739, died November 22, 1739.
  2. Seth5 Hall, born October 4, 1740, baptized November 7, 1740, married March 23, 1769 to Diadamia Leach, daughter of Benjamin Leach, Jr. and Hannah Keith, died February 12, 1824, age 83 years, at Westmoreland, Cheshire, New Hampshire. Diadamia died April 30, 1842 at Westmoreland.
  3. Silas5 Hall, born Friday, February 4, 1743 (year determined by day of birth using Julian Calendar), baptized March 20, 1743, married the widow Eunice Titus on April 4, 1774 in Salisbury, Litchfield, Connecticut, died after 1820 at Danby, Tompkins County, New York.  Silas will be addressed fully in Generation 5.
  4. Prudence5 Hall, born Wednesday, March 20, 1745 (year determined by day of birth using Julian Calendar), baptized April 21, 1745, died June 21, 1752, age 7 years, buried in the town cemetery at Raynham Center.
  5. Lydia5 Hall, born October 21, 1747. She was called Lydia Richmond in her father’s Will, written in 1788. Nothing further is known about Lydia or her husband.
  6. Jemima5 Hall, born August 14, 1750, baptized September 23, 1750, married Nathaniel Williams, son of Nathaniel and Mary (Atherton) Williams, on August 24, 1769 and removed to Spencer, Worcester, Massachusetts, where she died on May 20, 1824, age 73 years.
  7. Jonathan5 Hall, born June 10, 1753, baptized July 29, 1753, died January 3, 1792, age 38 years.  A deed identifies Jonathan’s wife as being named Sarah.  He is probably the Jonathan Hall on the 1790 census for Raynham with seven family members, including himself and his wife.  Nothing further is known about Jonathan.
  8. Hezekiah5 Hall, born November 12, 1755, baptized January 18, 1756, married Sarah Carver, daughter of Jonathan and Sarah (Holmes) Carver, about 1776.  Sarah died February 18, 1800 at Bridgewater, Plymouth, Massachusetts and she is buried in the Old Grave Yard at Bridgewater, Massachusetts.  A death date and place has not yet been identified for Hezekiah.
  9. Obed5 Hall, born December 23, 1757, baptized February 26, 1758, married first Abigail Dean, probably the daughter of Josiah and Jane (Washburn) Dean, whose first born daughter was Abigail, born September 21, 1740 (First Book of Raynham Records). They had no children. Obed and Abigail removed to Bartlett, New Hampshire where Abigail died November 10, 1804, aged 64 years, at Bartlett, Carroll (then Coos) County, New Hampshire. Abigail is buried in the Garland Ridge Cemetery in Bartlett.  Obed married second Eliza Fox, June 11, 1805 in Lee, Strafford County, New Hampshire.  Obed died on April 25, 1828 (NARA Pension Papers) at Bartlett, New Hampshire and was buried in the Garland Ridge Cemetery; reinterment in Evergreen Cemetery, Portland, Maine.  Biographical Directory of the United States Congress has Obed’s death month and day as April 1, however, NARA Pension papers have his death day as April 25, which agrees with the inscription on his original headstone found in the Garland Ridge Cemetery. After Obed’s death, Eliza married Richard Odell, in November 1832,  and removed to Portland, Cumberland, Maine.
  10. Ebenezer5 Hall, born December 25, 1759, baptized May(?) 25, 1760, removed to New Hampshire where he married Lydia Dinsmore, daughter of Elijah and Sarah Glazier (Willey) Dinsmore, on October 23, 1793 at Conway, Carroll (then Grafton) County, New Hampshire. They resided in Bartlett, New Hampshire where Ebenezer died on November 18, 1834.  He is buried in the Garland Ridge Cemetery in Bartlett, Carroll County, New Hampshire.  The death date of Lydia is unknown but believed to have been sometime after November 1850.  Her headstone has not been found.
  11. Abigail5 Hall, born June 6, 1762, died April 8, 1765, at the age of 3 years. She is buried in the town cemetery at Raynham Center.

Not quite a year after Lydia’s death, Jonathan married Hannah (Keith) Hall, the widow of Philip Hall (of the George Hall of Taunton Halls) on April 26, 1764 (First Book of Raynham Records, Congregational Church Records).  At that time, Jonathan had seven children under the age of 20 years.  Jonathan and Hannah had one child:

  1. Linus5 Hall, born May 17, 1765, baptized September 15, 1765, married Celia Shaw, daughter of Joseph and Mary Shaw, on March 23, 1786 (Raynham Congregational Church Records).  At some point they removed to Bartlett, New Hampshire where brothers Obed and Ebenezer resided.  Linus died some time after the 1850 census was taken in November 1850 and although his headstone has not been found, there is room for a burial next to his wife, Celia, in the Garland Ridge Cemetery.  Celia died at Bartlett, New Hampshire on September 15, 1840.

Jonathan4 wrote his Last Will and Testament on February 21, 1788 and he died on February 25, 1789, age 72 years. Burial was in the Hall Plot at the Town Cemetery at Raynham Center, now Pleasant Street Cemetery.

Photo courtesy of Brady Fitts

After Jonathan’s death, Hannah Hall married as her 4th husband, Israel Washburn, son of Israel and Waitstill (Sumner) Washburn.  She died on January 4, 1796 and is buried in the Pleasant Street Cemetery, Raynham Center, Massachusetts.