Notes for James HALL Individual note: This history of James Hall was given to Billie Rowland Smith by Agnes Cleveland Sandifer of Spartanburg, S.C., in the spring of 1976. (Original source unknown). Next, a copy was sent to Durward Hall who in turn sent a copy to his daughter, Linda L. Hall Ellison at PO Box 708, Albany, OR. 97321 <mushroom@proaxis.com> Cousin, Linda sent me this copy. I hope that some one can add to this information. Harley Rush, gggrandson of John Payten Hall Sr. born 1808 in Macon County, NC. =============== The period of time from 1745 to 1800 is very interesting to a lover of history. What is now North Carolina was a wilderness then, which was no doubt untouched by human hands except by the savage. About that time many white men who came from Pennsylvania, "Virginia and Maryland began to settle here. These people of Scotch-Irish descent were led by the same guiding star - the hope of civil and religious liberties. For this they were willing to endure hardships and conquer the wilderness of America. They erected their rude cabins and these families and their descendants have for more than a hundred and fifty years been leaders in the country, the church, the society and are some of the highest types of Christian citizens. Among these settlers were James Hall and his wife Prudence Hall and their nine children. One son, Alexander, was born after they located in North Carolina. With the following church certificate (note the spelling) in their possession they sought a new home. "That James Hall and his wife Prudence Hall hath lived in this congregation ever since it was erected and heave behaved themselves cristionly and scherly without aney publicke scandel known to us and heave been pertacken of sealing ordernancas amonghst us and may be received into aney cristion society wherever God in his providence shall order their lett is certified this 20th day of Augast 1751 by the Session att Conewage." Little is known of the early life of James Hall and his wife. He and his widowed mother left their native Ireland for America in 1720. James Hall's mother died on the journey and was buried at sea. The youth landed "a stranger in a strange land." So far as is known his first work in America was in Philadelphia; later he moved to the country, there met and married Prudence Roddy. In 1751 they emigrated north and built their home in North Carolina in the northern part of Rowen Country (which is now Iredell.) They built their home on the northern bank of Fifth Creek about one mile south east of where Betghany Church now stands. Mr. and Mrs. Hall helped to plaut the Conewago Church, in Pennsylvania, and, also, assisted in the founding of Bethany Church in 1775. Mr. Hall was an Irish Presbyterian and possessed in a marked degree those strong points of character that distinguished that class of the Irish population. Mr. Hall's land was granted to him by the Earl of Granville in 1751. This deed is still in possession of the Hall family and part of the original tract of land has been in possession of some of the Halls ever since it was granted. "the old roads leading to the original Hall home are easily traveled. There is a walnut tree that marks the old place. =========== Notes for Thomas HALL The following hand written notes by Agnes Cleveland Sandifer of Spartanburg, S.C., accompanied the above document. -------------------------------------------- James Hall, the first ancestor we know anything about, was born in the North of Ireland. In 1720, young James Hall and his widowed mother started for America and while on the voyage, his mother died and was buried at sea. After a three months trip, the boy landed in Philadelphia where he remained for only a short time, going from there to Carlisle, Pa., where other Halls, kinsmen were living. There he married Prudence Roddy. He and his wife were Charter Members of the Presbyterian Church at Carlisle. In 1751 he moved to Iredell County N.C., and settled on a farm eight miles from Statesville. At this time he had seven children and was a man of some means, as he owned in addition to his home place, a farm on the Yadkin River. He had ten children in all, all married except Dr. James Hall of Revolutionary fame. James and Prudence Hall are buried in the old Church graveyard (Presbyterian) at Statesville, N.C. James Hall's son Thomas was our ancestor. He lived and died in Bethany Congregation near the old home place in Iredell and raised eleven children. =============== Note -- The above documents contain several pages of history on Dr. (Doctor of Divinity) James Hall which I will be glad to send to any interested party. Harley Rush