John Hall (and 2nd wife Hannah) 1766 Probate

 

JOHN HALL

RAYNHAM

1766

 

Province of the Massachusetts Bay, Bristol

 

To Major. Ebenerer Bosinor, Richard Williams and Ebenerer Britten all freeholders[1]

In the County aforesaid, Greeting

 

You are hereby appointed and impowered to take an Inventory of and (according to your best Skill and Judgment) truly and justly to apprize (in Lawful Money of this Province) all the Estate whereof John Hall late of Raynham _____  died seized, in the aforesaid County; and you are to make Return of this Warrant, with your doings thereon, unto the Probate Office, in the same Country as soon as conveniently may be and they appeared and were found to be faith full _____ ______ of the _____ ______ in them.

 

Given under my hand this 20^th day of November 20^th AD 1766 and the above named  ______ from to the faithfull discharge of the ____ ____ in them.

George Leonard   J Probate

 

 

The account of John Hall adm on the Estate of Mr. John Hall late of Raynham in the county of Bristol Pixled (?)

 

The said accountant ___ ____ him before with personal Estate of said deceased of specified in an inventory thereof exhibited into the registry of court of probate amounting to _____ of £ 6:0:1:3

 

 

To Cash (?) heir of Elnathan Walker	0:0:4:0
Of Gideon Shaw	1:4:0
Of Nathan Hall	1:7:0
Of John Robinson	1:8:0
Of John Tisdale	1:8:0
Of Josiah Dean	2:0:0
Of Chad___Wilbore	2:6:8
Of Nathaniel ____	0:4:5:2
Of Seth Henry	3:15:2
Of Joseph Leonard	7:18:9
Of Simeon Williams	0:12:0
Of Macey (Mary?) Hall	0:14:5:1
Of Ebenerer Crane Jr	0:14:5:1
Of debt ____ Estate ___ note	1:12:0

 

There yet remains ___ from the Old Iron Works in Raynham to said estate 10-18-5 pound in Iron at 22 shillings & C__d   __d

  

And may allowance or to same w/ follows to witt

To funeral charges	8:14:2
McKinsley	0:9:8
Obis	0:15:0
Appraisers	1:4:0
Robert Lycomb	3:7:0
Ebenezer Britten	4:10:3
Capt Joesph Hall	1:0:0
Jonathon __gley	1:18:0
Leiut Ebenezer Robinson	1:7:0
Richard Williams	3:15:4
Capt George Williams	3:2:0
Capt Joshua Leonard	2:5:5
Philip King	3:2:2
Asneriah (?) Hall	2:8:2
Jacob Hall	4:4:0
Nicholas Rock	0:9:6
Beny Elliot	2:8:0
J___ail Tydale	2:14:4:3
James Williams Jr	0:4:6
Maj Seth Williams	1:4:0
____en Shaw	2:4:0
Samuel White Jr	0:2:8
____ Abgail Williams	1:4:0
Ebenerer Briggs	0:3:0
Funeral accounts to _____ to draw ___ ___ _____	2:3:1
Edmond Hall	0:7:8:3
Noah Wiswall	0:14:0:0
Last in ____ ____	0:14:0
One to myself to pay for J Lent ___ ___	1:7:0
Cash paid for my father	3:6:0
47 days print in lettering the Estate at 3 _____	7:1:6
_____ ______ & needing ye inventory _______ allowing and keeps this tiny amount	1:12:8
Pray allowance for a ____ ____ ____ widow for amount y bushful of corn ____ by widow	0:18:8

 

John Hall (signed)

 

Bristol December 5^th 1767

There the aforementioned John Hall personally appraised and made oath to the truth of his above written out of which I do allow of Lords to be of ______

 

George Leonard of Probate

 

In the book of folio 198

 

(signed) George Leonard

 

 

Next page is typewritten/form (most of it)

 

Giving authority to appraise the estate to Ebenezer Robinson, Ebenezer Breton & Richards Williams

 

names deceased as John Hall of Raynham, Bristol County

 

names Hannah Hall as deceased’s widow and says she gets widow’s thirds/dower.  And a third part of ____ if _____ Estate according to Law.

 

December 8, 1767 in the 5^th year of his Majesty’s Reign

 

George Leonard

To the Honorable George Leonard ExS of Norton judge of probate of wills and granting letters of administration for the County of Bristol

 

For obedience to __ current to the Probate office B_____ at December 5, 1967being from before _____ Williams. Paid on the 8^th day of January 1768 ____ ____ ____ of Noah Hall of Raynham an ______ to make an inventory of the Estate of Lieutenant John Hall said deceased an appraised all the personal estate both in and out (?)_______ at one hundred forty nine pounds, ten shillings and eight pence. 

 

Appraise 10 acres of land at a place called pine hill 4:0:0

One small lot in Taunton ____ and cedar swamp that lyeth South of end of th___ of _______ ________ Late Deceased 2:6:0

One small lot that lyeth North of ________ Lot 2:8:1

Small lot high to the North _______ _______ ____ _____ 1:6:0

A small right in the old iron works in Raynham 5:10:0

One seventh part in of _____ right in Taunton old township 0:1:2:5

Two sevenths part of a right in the ______ swamp for widow 2:0:0

_______                       67:12:8

           

That lyeth in Raynham inventory      

All persons ______ being notified we proceed to division of said estate among the legal heirs of the deceased

 

First we left to Hannah Hall widow to the deceased according to her desire for beds and furniture and Waring app____ table lining pitcher and wood and on Hannah to the value of eighteen pounds eight shillings and six pence

 

One black cow with a white face, 2 pounds fourteen shillings

Twelve sheep at three ponds and twelve shillings

And three lots of land for cash 29:5:11

                                                                       

Then we let out for the ____ said widow fifty four pounds and five pence for her full third part of the Estate ____ to this inventory we give her of the ______

 

We left of to John Hall eldest son of the deceased all the aforesaid of five lots of land one small right in the old iron works in Raynham and two seventh parts of apirehis (?)

Rights in old Taunton township ___ ____ ____

Lots of land for cash for forty seven pounds thirteen shillings and seven pence and also fire arms three swords and farming _____ agreeable to the inventory given to him____ other To the value of ten pounds ten shilling and seven pence all which we appraise at seventy five pounds fourteen shillings and ten pence an let of to the enforce ____ John Hall as his full part or D_____ ______.

 

TO BE CONTINUED…In summary the document goes on to mention grandchildren Thomas, Lydia, Ebenezer[2] &  Hannah Studson (Stetson?) , they each get 9:9:4:1.

 

Nothing is left to Joesph Hall son of deceased because he already got a gift in his lifetime of 95 acres estimated at 3 quind (?) and 50 pounds.

 

Nothing is left to Noah Hall son of the deceased because he already got a gift in his lifetime of four (?) pieces of land which are estimated at three hundred pounds the land being about 84 acres. 

 

Raynham March 8 1768

Ebinezer Robinson, Ebenezer Breton & Richards Williams

 

Appraisers

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[1] Originally, a freeholder was a person the British Royal Court considered responsible in character, or in favor with the King, and therefore, worthy as an owner or holder of land grants in the New American Colony. http://www.co.burlington.nj.us/gov/freeholders/definition.htm

[2] Ancestry.com has an Ebenezer Stetson in Dighton, MA in the 1840 census, age 79 & was in the war, born abt 1761 which would make him about 7 years of age in 1768.  

The Halls of New England : genealogical and biographical – Family 19

Timeline

1700?		Birth of John Hall Taunton, MA
		Birth of Mary Brettun
		Marriage of John Hall and Mary Brettun
		Birth of Freelove (or possibly Silence)
1727 JUL 9		Birth of Brian Raynham, MA
		Marriage of John Hall and Hannah Williams
1728 JUL 29		Birth of John Raynham, MA
1730 NOV 11		Birth of Hannah Raynham, MA
1732 DEC 6		Birth of Elkanah Raynham, MA
1735 SEP 10		Birth of Elisha   Raynham, MA
		Birth of  Joseph
		Birth of  Noah
1766 OCT 17	Age 66	Death of John Hall Raynham, MA
		Death of Mary Britton Hall
		Death of Hannah Williams Hall

 

John was a large landholder and farmer, resided in that section of Taunton which became Raynham in 1731, and held town offices several years, as well as other positions of trust. He and his family were members of the First Congregational Church.

 

Crows, blackbirds, blue jays and woodpeckers were very numerous and did much injury to the grain crops of the first settlers so that a price was put upon their heads.  May 23, 1715 the town voted to pay three half pence a head for every flying blackbird or Jaw’s head that should be killed in this town, and the heads brought to the selectman, or John Smith, or Eliezer Fischer, between this time and next March.  It may be interesting for some of our readers to know who the hunters were in those days and we therefore make the following extract from the town records”

 

Sept 19^th, 1715 voted to pay –

To John Hall for killing six birds 00 09[1]

 

John’s children were by Mary, his first wife, and by Hannah Williams, his second wife (who is mentioned in probate records[2])[3].

 

Mary may have had a former husband, Joseph Hall, as on the 14th of Feb 1721, Nicholas Morey (her grandmother’s 3^rd husband) deeded to Mary Hall, widow of Joseph Hall of Taunton, twenty acres of land in that town, and on the 1st of March, 1726, he deeded to the heirs of Joseph Hall, late of Taunton, deceased, “for love and affection” a “little lot in Dighton.” (Bristol Co. Deeds, 59, 190: 45, 41).

 

Mary was born to William Brettun of Taunton (born abt 1679, deceased prior to 1732, possibly 1724) mother is Lydia Leonard.

Name:	William Brittun (Britten, Brittain)
Spouse:	Lydia Leonard
Marriage Date:	26 Oct 1698
Marriage Place:	Taunton
Source:	Vital Records of Taunton
Full Text:	BRITTUN, William (Britten) and Lydia Leonard, Oct. 26, 1698.Intention not recorded.

 

 

Siblings include: William, Abiall, Ebenezer, Pendleton, Lydia, Sarah, Elizabeth, James & Abigail (all mentioned in grandmother’s will – “children of my son William Brettun dcd., late of Taunton”).

 

Mary’s great-great grandfather Brian Pendleton (emigrant from Birmingham parish) died during the winter of 1680-81, either in Winter Harbor or Wells, Maine, at the home her grandmother Mary (Pendleton, Brettun, Cross, Morey). Two Wells men were appointed to take the inventory of his estate, indicating he may have died there[4].

During his lifetime, Brian gave son James 140 acres of land in Sudbury and also 700 acres in Westerly, Rhode Island, that he had obtained in a business transaction. He also apparently turned over business interests in Portsmouth to James. The major’s will left land on the Great Island in Portsmouth to grandsons Pendleton Fletcher and Brian Pendleton, Saco area property to his wife, and housing and land at Wells to Mary and Hannah Pendleton, daughters of James and his first wife. This included “three plantations or lotts.”[5]

 

The will of James-2 Pendleton, names wife, Hannah, sons: Joseph, Edmund and Caleb, daughters Ann Borwn, Eleanor Pendleton and Dorothy Pendleton, “children by my present wife, Hannah,” and daughters Mary and Hannah “had by my former wife.” [6]

No reference is made by Capt. James Pendleton to his sons, James  and Brian, named in his father’s will in 1677, or to any heirs of these sons, and as no mention of any such has elsewhere appeared, it would seem indisputable that James and Brian died without issue. [7]

 

Grandmother is Mary (Pendleton) Morey of Digton born abt 1653 (will dated 10/25/1732), She was married three times: William Brettun, Joseph Cross & Nicholas Morey dcd., her father is James Pendleton (mentioned in will, b abt. 1628 Eng – d. abt 1709 RI) , her grandfather is Briant Pendleton (mentioned in will, b abt. 1599 Eng – d. abt 1680 NH).  Mary’s will mentions rights to lands in “the Province of Newhamshire” belonging to Briant Pendleton her grandfather[8].

 

Mary married (2) Joseph Cross, son of John Cross of Wells, Maine. He was a soldier from Wells in the Indian War of 1677, and died 18 Jun 1684, leaving no children. [9]
 

His will, dated at Wells, 2 March 1683/4, proved 2 Aug 1684, names wife Mary as executrix and makes a bequest to “My wife’s soun Willi: Breeden” (York Deeds, Book v, part 1, folio 28 ) [10].

Mary also married (3) Nicholas Morey before 25 May 1685 in Wells, Maine. Nicholas died 1731 in Dighton, Bristol Co., Massachusetts[11]

 

Name

Year of Birth

Place of Birth

Year of Death

Place of Death

Description

Bibliography

Morey, Nicholas

1663

England

1731

Dighton

Freetown HR 1721M; selectman 1688; M Mary (Pendleton) (Britton) Cross (c1653-1732) in c1685, no ch; innkeeper, carpenter; will. Three black slaves. Moved from Wells to Taunton, Freetown, and Dighton by 1722. No committees.

1956 Pendleton g 42-9; Torrey 518; Bristol Co Prob Abs 1:193, 195

 

The grandchildren are left ¾’s of her real estate to divide equally except James (executor) who gets ¼. Mary’s will states that her granddaughter Mary Hall is to enjoy her part during her lifetime but after her “deceased” her children to enjoy her part equally between them and their heirs[12].  Land includes “land in the meadows” in the county of York in Massachusetts (now Maine), Leindy & Meadows in the Providence of New Hampshire, goes on to mention land of her father, grandfather & former husbands. 

 

 

John Hall had 8 children all of whom lived to adulthood. 

 

With Mary

-          Freelove (Silence ?)

David Hall’s book, The Halls of New England lists a marriage to Jacob Woodward of Vermont in Raynhan, Brian Hall son of Mary and John Hall who married Abiah and died 1778 in his will mentions a brother-in-law Jacob Woodward who was married to Silence to whom he left property to in Providence RI[13].

 

1812	WOODWARD	WOODWARD Jacob, in 85th year, at Providence, Aug. 5, 1822	Death	Providence
1824	WOODWARD	WOODWARD Silence, wife of Jacob, at North Providence, in 76th year, Nov. 26, 1816	Death	Providence

 

 

-          Brian

(Editor’s note: Brian is a direct descendant whose life is outlined in a separate entry under his name)

 

 

With Mary

-          John

The First Book of Raynham[14] mentions Children of John Hall & Hannah his wife: July 29, 1728 John – Monday

 

John is mentioned in his father’s probate record as eldest son.

 

We left of to John Hall eldest son of the deceased all the aforesaid of five lots of land:

 

Appraise 10 acres of land at a place called pine hill 4:0:0

One small lot in Taunton ____ and cedar swamp that lyeth South of end of that of _______ ________ Late Deceased 2:6:0

One small lot that lyeth North of ________ Lot 2:8:1

Small lot high to the North purchase ____ so called 1:6:0

 

One small right in the old iron works in Raynham and two seventh parts of purchase Rights in old Taunton township three lots of land for cash for forty seven pounds thirteen shillings and seven pence and also fire arms three swords and farming utensils agreeable to the inventory given to him turn other To the value of ten pounds ten shilling and seven pence all which we appraise at seventy five pounds fourteen shillings and ten pence an let of to the aforesaid John.  John Hall as his full part or Dubbed portion 75:14:10

 

 

-          Hannah

The First Book of Raynham[15] mentions Children of John Hall & Hannah his wife: Nov 11, 1730 Hannah – Thursday

 

John Hall’s probate mentions grandchildren Thomas, Ebenezer, Hannah & Lydia Stetson (looks like Studson?). – Robert Leo Hall’s book pg/60-61 list these same grandchildren and states that John’s daughter Hannah married Ebenezer Stetson.

 

Cemetery records in Dighton (NEGHS) Sacred to the memory of Mrs. Anna wife of Mr. Ebenezer Stetson she died May 21st 1796 aged 63 years, Dighton Bristol Co. Massachusetts , US, Old cemetery at site of First Church .  In Ancestory, the 1840 census of Dighton mentions an Ebenezer Stetson of Dighton, age 79 who was in the war.   

 

-          Elkanah

The First Book of Raynham[16] mentions Children of John Hall & Hannah his wife: Dec 6, 1732 Elkanah – Wednesday

 

NEGS, Taunton Graveyards – King Burying Ground: (1124) In memory of Elkanah son of Lt John Hall who died Dec 14, 1755 in ye 23d year of his age.

 

Not mentioned in his father’s probate record but is deceased in 1766.

 

 

-          Elisha

The First Book of Raynham[17] mentions Children of John Hall & Hannah his wife: Sept 10, 1735 Elisha – Wednesday

 

Not mentioned in his father’s probate record.

 

 

-          Joseph

Joseph is mentioned in his father’s probate record.

 

Nothing is left to Joseph Hall son of deceased because he already got a gift in his lifetime of 95 acres estimated at 3 quid and 50 pounds.

 

 

-          Noah

Noah is mentioned in his father’s probate record.

 

Nothing is left to Noah Hall son of the deceased because he already got a gift in his lifetime of four (?) pieces of land which are estimated at three hundred pounds the land being about 84 acres. 

 

 

NEHGS.org, Henry Andrews of Taunton pg 18 & 19 includes a map of land drawn in 1728 called Neck Plain which lists J. Hall.  The text speaks of the Neck formerly being called Calves Necke .  In 1683 deeds list land as of John Hall, in 1698 it is listed as land of Hannah, widow of John Hall (John’s mother).

 

 

 

Hannah Hall widow of Lieutenant John Hall deceased and her sons Joseph, James, Benjamin & Jacob all of Taunton, for 5 pounds give to the eldest son John of said John Hall deceased…twenty acres of land in Taunton, eastward from the meeting house lay six acres on the Neck Plain so called and ten acres of land bounded Eastward by 6 acres of plain and Westward by the land of Phillip King and four acres of land joining to the northward side. Ten acres of land is bounded Eastward, Northward and Westward by the land of Thomas Dean which twenty acres of the land by agreement and settlement of the estate of the above Leiutenant John Hall deceased did belong to the above Hannah Hall for her material life…. Signed June 3,1700, 5th year of the reign of Queen Anne over England, Scotland, France & Ireland (Bristol County deeds 16:310) .

 

John later buys additional land on the Neck Plain: Nathanial Williams of Taunton in exchange for 10 pounds 6 shillings paid by John Hall junior of Taunton son of John Hall deceased, for or a certain parcel of land in Taunton called Neck Plain about 6 acres. Bound Eastward by a stake & heap of stones, between said 6 acres and common land, Southward the land of Thomas Caswells, Westward & Northward by land of said John Hall.  Witnesses: John Leonard, Benjamin Williams, April 5, 1707 (not filed until 1764 – Bristol County deeds 47:166).

 

John King of Taunton for 10 pounds paid by John Hall son of John Hall of Taunton deceased, 2 certain tracts of land in Taunton, easterly from the meeting house on the so called Neck Plain 15 acres, NW corner a stake & stones, land out to Benja Hall and running on a direct line to John Hall’s pasture, running northerly to an old fence and stake with stones then in a line to stones & back to the start. Witnesses Jacob Hall & Phillip King. Signed 4/19/1720. (Bristol County deeds 47:172).

 

John Andrews & Hannah H. Andrews his wife of Norton to John Hall of Taunton land near so called pale brook (note: see map) in Taunton, 20 acres more or less by Elisha Dean.  Dated: June 12, 1727, May 22, 1747 signed by Justice of Peace, filed June 30, 1764. Witnesses: Elisha Dean & Seth Dean (Bristol County deeds 47:324).

 

 

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[1] A History of the Town of Norton, Bristol County, Massachusetts, from 1669-1859 (Issac page 484 & 485) published in 1859

Pg 47

[2] Probate records copied as NEGHS by Linda Hall 6/2008

[3] Halls of New England, David B Hall

[4] BRIAN PENDLETON AND HIS DESCENDANTS, 1599-1910, Compiled by Everett Hall Pendleton, Privatley Printed MCMX, found in the DAR Library, Washington, DC. Page 1-77

[5] Wheeler: Brian Pendleton’s will is on pages 722 and 723.

[6] BRIAN PENDLETON AND HIS DESCENDANTS, 1599-1910, Compiled by Everett Hall Pendleton, Privatley Printed MCMX, found in the DAR Library, Washington, DC. Page 1-77

[7] BRIAN PENDLETON AND HIS DESCENDANTS, 1599-1910, Compiled by Everett Hall Pendleton, Privatley Printed MCMX, found in the DAR Library, Washington, DC. Page 1-77

[8] Abstracts Bristol County, MA Probate, 1687-1745, pg 211

[9] BRIAN PENDLETON AND HIS DESCENDANTS, 1599-1910, Compiled by Everett Hall Pendleton, Privatley Printed MCMX, found in the DAR Library, Washington, DC. Page 1-77

[10] BRIAN PENDLETON AND HIS DESCENDANTS, 1599-1910, Compiled by Everett Hall Pendleton, Privatley Printed MCMX, found in the DAR Library, Washington, DC. Page 1-77

[11] BRIAN PENDLETON AND HIS DESCENDANTS, 1599-1910, Compiled by Everett Hall Pendleton, Privatley Printed MCMX, found in the DAR Library, Washington, DC. Page 1-77

[12] Actual copy of probate records pulled at NEGSH (Linda Hall, 6/7/2008 )

[13] Probate records copied 6/2008 by Linda Hall at NEGHS

[14] (Online database: NewEnglandAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2003), (Handwritten unpublished transcription, transcriber unknown, “First Book of Raynham Records,” donated to NEHGS in 1897).

 

[15] (Online database: NewEnglandAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2003), (Handwritten unpublished transcription, transcriber unknown, “First Book of Raynham Records,” donated to NEHGS in 1897).

 

[16] (Online database: NewEnglandAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2003), (Handwritten unpublished transcription, transcriber unknown, “First Book of Raynham Records,” donated to NEHGS in 1897).

 

[17] (Online database: NewEnglandAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2003), (Handwritten unpublished transcription, transcriber unknown, “First Book of Raynham Records,” donated to NEHGS in 1897).