Biographical Notes on Wesley White Hall Sr.

Wesley White Hall Sr. was born in Dickson County ,TN on March 08, 1819.  He was the son of John Hall Jr. and Susanna White. He is named in the Will of John Hall Jr.:  “It is my Will that my son WESLEY HALL have my Negro boy named Robert. Also the other half of my home tract of land on which I now live but not to have possession in full until the death of my wife or intermarriage, the dwelling house, orchard, and buildings to be kept for her support during life or widowhood. At her death or intermarriage the said tract as to value will be equally divided between my two last named sons. I also give ABRAHAM a horse saddle and birdie to be worth one hundred dollars. “[1]

After the death of John Hall, there was a migration of Halls from Tennessee to Alabama, Mississippi and Texas. James Petty Hall wrote: “As to his brothers and sisters, I know but little, I know of the following ones to wit, JOSEPH, who lived in Eutaw many years prior to his death. DAVID and WESLEY who lived many years prior to their death in Mississippi. BERRYMAN and JOSHUA who lived many years and died in southern Texas, both having several children. JESSIE remained in Tennessee and died there leaving no children. [2] 
This migration seems to have begun when several of the brothers and perhaps Susanna moved to Green County Al, near the present location of Eutaw.  John Hall (1795-1870) and his son Allen were both in Green County as early as 1823.  [3] Joseph White Hall (1793-1868)  was there in 1829 [4].  The 1830 US Census for Green Co. shows Berriman, David, Joshua, and Joseph Hall all on the same page. [5] With Joseph are 2 White males 10-15 Years of age and one white female 50-60. Of the several Halls in this census, this is the only one with a woman and child of appropriate age to be Susanna White Hall, and Wesley White Hall.  On this point we have conflicting information: Suzie Lee says “Susannah went on to Alabama to join her sons and received a land grant in Sumter Co, AL.  [6]  On the 1840 Census there is an elderly woman of the right age to be her.”  Conversely, Nova Wade Says, “Susanna was b. 18 May 1773, d. Jan 30 1825, 53 yr, 8 mo, 12 days”.  [7].   According to information provided by Linda Cushing, [8] Susannah lived until 1828, at least.

Old Demopolis Land Office Records  show a 39.9-acre parcel of land in Sumter County, T15NR2WS4, deeded to Wesley Hall on 1/18/36. Also there is a similar grant to Susan Hall (Susanna?) in the same section on the same date.[9].  

Wesley married Matilda C. Ezell on 8/29/1839.in Sumter County, AL.[10] There was apparently no issue from this marriage.  Wesley remarried about three years later.  We have no information as to what happened to Matilda.

In the 1840 Census for Sumter Co, AL, we find Joshua Hall [11],  “Westley” Hall [12], Susannah Hall [13], Berry Hall [14] and Joseph Hall [15].  Also, John Ezell [16], father of Matilda M. Ezell. Confusingly, we also find a David Hall in the 1840 US Census of Lauderdale Co, MS. [17].  For more on this subject see my notes on David Hall.

In the household of Wesley Hall [12]:

Males of 20 and under 30	1	Wesley (1819)
Females of 16 and under 20	1	Matilda Ezell (?)

and Susannah two lines below Wesley.

Males of 15 and under 20	1
Females of 5 and under 10	1
Females of 30 and under 40	1
Females of 70 and under 80	1	Susannah White (1773) ?
Susanna was 67 in 1840, so either there is an enumeration error, or this is not our Susanna.	

 Lauderdale County Marriage records show that on 12 November 1842, Wesley White Hall married Sara Amanda Eastis [18].  This marriage lasted until Amanda’s death in 1881, and Amanda bore all known children of W. W. Hall.  Amanda was the daughter of Andrew Eastis and Margaret Henson Eastis. [19]

From the History of Salem Baptist Church, Alamucha, Lauderdale, Al, p. 15

“2/4/1843   ----- now in circulation was true or false. Dismissed Sister Amanda Hall by letter. ----“ [20]

Wesley does not seem to have been a member of Salem Baptist Church at this time.  The minutes do not state to whence Amanda was released.
History of Salem Baptist Church, page 15:
“Saturday before 1st Sabbath May 1844
	Sermon by Bro. Moses D. White. Elder Lewis Spinks chosen moderator. Received Bro. Wesley Hall and his wife, Amanda, by letter. The church excluded Bro. Jeremiah Hayman.” [21]

The minutes do not show where they were received from.  This is the first of many references to Wesley in the Church minutes.  Wesley served this church in various capacities - As clerk [22], treasurer [23], commissioner to various conferences [24], member of the executive board and as mediator of various issues [26].

The US Census of 1850 [27] shows Wesley (age 31) and Amanda (age 25) living in Lauderdale County with sons Joseph J. Hall, age 4 and Lattimore Hall, age 1.  Also in the home was Mary Porter, age 30, relationship unknown. In the US census of 1860 [28], we find Wesley and Amanda with sons Joseph J. Hall, age 14 and Wesley W. Hall, Age 11.  Lattimore is no longer there.  This news-paper clipping tells the sad, but not unusual story:

“Died near Alamucha, in this county, 6/15/1855, Lattimore A. Hall, son of Wesley W. Hall and Amanda Hall, age 6 years 3 mos.” [29].  Lattimore’s death is not mentioned in records of Salem Baptist Church, probably because he was below the age of reason.   Unbaptized children of believers apparently were not considered members in the Baptist Church.

Secular Historical Records indicate that a W.W. Hall was a State Representative from Lauderdale County from 1858 to 1860.[30], [31]

According to Lauderdale County Court Records, W.W. Hall was a Justice of the Peace.  [32]
He was also President of the Board of Police in 1856 and 1857. [33]
The minutes of the Salem Baptist Church refer to W.W. Hall over 35 times between the dates of his initial reception in 1844 and his dismissal in 1881.   He was relatively inactive from 1865 until 1881.  These minutes make few references to the Civil War or Reconstruction.  In two Instances the deaths of members in the war are recorded. [34].  During reconstruction, the church experienced difficulties and on at least one occasion, met to consider dissolution - however the church is still operation. [35]

In February 1878 This entry appears in the Church Minutes.  “ -----Received Bro. W.W. Hall by letter from the Meridian Baptist Church (formerly the Oakey Valley Baptist Church). [36] This is probably Dr. Wesley White Hall, Jr
 
In the US Census of 1880, we find Wesley age 61 and Amanda, age 54, in Lauderdale County with a nephew, Robert Hall, age 10 and a servant, Sara Green, age 28. [37].  This census also shows W.W. Hall, Jr, his wife and four children in a separate residence [38].  The nephew, Robert, is actually Wesley’s grand-nephew Robert Pugh Hall, b.19 Nov 1869 in Eutaw, Green Co. AL.  Robert was the son of Wesley’s nephew, Winter Payne Hall, b. 20 Jan 1840, Eutaw, AL; d. 22 Jan 1879.  Winter was a son of Wesley’s brother, Joseph White Hall. [39]

Wesley White Hall, Sr’s wife Amanda died on January 4, 1881 [40].  Amanda is listed in cemetery records as being buried at Salem, near the graves of her parents Andrew and Margaret Eastis. [40]  A  damaged gravestone, from which the inscription is lost, has been tentatively identified as hers by correlation of surviving gravestones with the cemetery records.  Her inscription as given in the records [41]., was:  

Amanda Hall
Wife of W.W. Hall
Born Feb. 9, 1826
Died Jan. 4, 1881

In March, 1881, We find this entry in the Church minutes:  “Bro. W.W. Hall granted letter of dismission.” [42]  We assume, but cannot be certain, that this W.W. Hall, is W.W. Hall, Sr.  We do not know why he left Salem Baptist Church at this time.  

Barely three months after Amanda’s death, Wesley married Maggie (Margaret) E. Hill, his third Wife, on April 7, 1881.[43].

According to the Minutes of the Fellowship Baptist Church, W. W. Hall* was received by the Church in June 1883. [44].  An editorial note accompanying this entry states, “*W.W. Hall, former member of Salem Baptist Church, Alamucha and member of Board of Police, Lauderdale County.”  In August 1884, at his own request, W.W. Hall is released from a committee to raise funds for the building of a new house of worship.  At this same meeting he served as interim moderator.[45]  This is the last dated reference to W.W.Hall, Sr. in the minutes of the Fellowship Baptist Church.  However an undated roll gives: “: “W. W. Hall - joined by letter 6/1883 - dismissed by letter [46].  In an undated entry appearing between minutes for June 1885 and June 1888, his son, Dr. Wesley White Hall Jr. gives testimony in a church court.[47].

 Wesley White Hall Sr. died on August 21, 1886 in Lauderdale Co., MS.  His grave is located in the cemetery of the Long Creek Baptist Church near Meridian, MS.  The marker [48] reads:

HON.  W. W. HALL
BORN
MAR. 8, 1819.
DIED
AUG. 21, 1886.

His grave marker is a vertical white marble tombstone, which is broken off along the lower edge of the inscription.  The broken off upper part was resting at the base of the erect portion of the marker when the grave was visited by Miles Causey and Toxey Hall around 1994.

We are not sure of the basis for the honorific “HON”.  In a statement for the "Marion County Historical Research Project", WPA, Ca 1936, MDAH [31], his grandson Toxey Hall (1882-1973) referred to him as Col. Wesley White Hall, and stated that ” Col. Hall represented Lauderdale County in the Legislature during two terms, just before or during the Civil War.” It is possible that the title “Hon” is based on his legislative service.  The basis of the title “Col” is unknown.  Wilshire [49] lists him and also his son (Joseph J.) Hall in the, in the 6th MS Cavalry. 

Issues Outstanding

1. Why did Wesley Move in later life.

	His second and principal  Wife, Amanda Sarah Eastis died on January 4, 1881.  She is buried in the Salem Baptist Church Cemetery, near the graves of Her parents, Andrew Eastis and Margaret Henson Eastis.  He Married Margaret E. (Maggie) Hill on April 7, 1881.  He was released from Salem Baptist Church in March 1881.  In less than three months, he lost his wife, remarried and left the church to which he had belonged for 37 years. Why did he leave Salem? Was there an estrangement between Wesley and the Eastis family or the church?  In June 1883, he was received by Fellowship.  Why that particular church? And where had he been for two years.  Was this the church that Margaret Hill belonged to?  The surviving minutes of Fellowship Baptist Church do not show her being received, but there are several other Hills (John, M.C., Ralph) on the roll.  Wesley died on August 21, 1886 and is buried at Long Creek Baptist Church at Toomsuba.  Why there? A possible explanation might be that Maggie was a member of Long Creek, but we did not see her grave there.  This could be a topic for further research.

2.	W. W. Hall President of the Board of Police.  
It would be improper to ignore a possible second W.W. Hall in Lauderdale County.   Lauderdale Marriage records reflect a marriage between  W.W. Hall and Margaret E. Saul on January 20, 1856 [50].  The license is signed by Wesly (sic) W. Hall, President of the board of Police.  The groom in this marriage is Wesley W. Hall, the son of Wesley White Hall’s brother David Hall   We have found very little information regarding this Wesley W. Hall.  What we have found will be included in a report on the descendants of David Hall, in preparation.  It is an interesting that both of the Wesleys married women named Margaret Elizabeth

	Toxey A. Hall
	Merritt Island, Florida
	October 16, 2006

Notes and References

1.	Dickson County, TN Will book, p. 40, Last Will and Testament of John Hall (Junior), No. 25.  This will is posted on the Daniel Anderson Home Page, http://www.familytreemaker.com/users/a/n/d/Daniel-C-Anderson/GENE6-0001.HTML
2.	A Brief Sketch Of The Family History Of John Hall, Sr. And Family, by James Petty Hall; June 1, 1926; obtained by Imogene Springer, Calhoun City, MS; edited and reformatted by Charles I. Black, May 26, 1997.
3.	Source:  http://magnolia.cyriv.com/GreeneAlGenWeb/History/EarlySettlers_GH.asp
4.	http://magnolia.cyriv.com/GreeneAlGenWeb/History/LandOwners.asp
5.	The 1830 US Census, Greene County, AL Series M19, Roll 2, Page 399A, lines 16-19.  shows the following Halls: Berryman, David, Joshua, Joseph. With Joseph (White) Hall, (line 19) we find the following:

	Males under 5	1	Josephus Marion (1830)
	Males of 5 and under 10	1	?
	Male of 10 and under 15	2	John Elijah (1820), Wesley White (1819) ?
	Males of 30 and under 40	1	Joseph White (1793)
	Females under 5	2	Flavalia (1825), Elvira Alice (1929)
	Females of 5 and under 10	1	Susanna (1823)
	Females of 20 and Under 30	1	Elvira was 29	
	Females of 50 and Under 60	1	Susannah White (1773) ?
6.	Descendants of John Hall Sr., a Genealogical Report by Suzie Lee, received from her around Sept 27, 1999.
7.	From Nova Wade, via Miles Causey,  around Sept 23, 1999
8.  “Susanna Hall and Jesse Hall, executors for John Hall, filed an inventory of the property of deceased, 2 Apr 1823 and again, July 1828 (p. 177-8) (Abstracted from microfilm entitled Dickson Co. Administrator Apr1823 to Jun 1841. Dickson County, TN  Handbook.”  From a genealogical report by Linda Cushing, dated November 13, 2000, received from her around 2001.
9.	Old Demopolis Land Office Records & Military Warrants, 1818-1860 and Records of the  Vine and Olive Colony, Marilyn Davis Barefield,( 1988), Southern Historical Press Inc.
10.	 Alabama Records, Volume 132, By Kathleen Paul Jones and Pauline J. Gandrud, page 98,  “Wesley Hall & Matilda C. Ezell 8/29/1838.  James P. Ezell, Bondsman, consent of John Ezell who says his daughter is under age 18.   This is the first of Wesley’s three marriages.  Also, Sumter County, AL Court Records, Film # 1293884-1293839.
11.	1840 US Federal Census, Sumter County, AL, M704, Roll 15, Page 122, line 29.
12.	 1840 US Federal Census, Sumter County, AL, M704, Roll 15, Page 123A, line3.
13.	 1840 US Federal Census, Sumter County, AL, M704, Roll 15, Page 123A, line 8.
14.	 1840 US Federal Census, Sumter County, AL, M704, Roll 15, Page 157A, line 8.
15.	 1840 US Federal Census, Sumter County, AL, M704, Roll 15, Page 158A, line 9.
16.	 1840 US Federal Census, Sumter County, AL, M704, Roll 15, Page 138A, line 12
17.	 1840 US Federal Census, Sumter County, AL, M704, Roll 216, Page 39A, line 1.
18.	 Lauderdale County, MS Court Records, Log entry indicates that a marriage ceremony between  Wesley W. Hall and Amanda Estes was performed on November 24, 1842. by Ambrose Yarbrough, Mg. Licensee Issued November 12, 1842.,  Film # 0899112-0899116 & 0899122-0899127
19.	 Andrew Eastis was a Deacon of Salem Baptist Church.
20.	 Minutes, Salem Baptist Church Minutes, Almucha (Lauderdale County) Mississippi, Edited Edition, Publication Number 1, Abstracted and Compiled By James T. Dawson, Lauderdale County Department of Archives and History, Inc., PO BOX 5511 Meridian, MS 39302, p.15.
21.	 ibid, p. 17
22.	 ibid p. 62
23.	 ibid, p. 20
24.	 ibid, p. 38
25.	 Reserved
26.	Robert Lowry and William H. McCardle, A History Of Mississippi (Jackson, MS: R.H. Henry, 1891).
27. US Census of 1850, Lauderdale County, MS, Family No. 945

Family  No.	

Names	Age	Sex	Color	

Occupation, etc	Birthplace	
545	Wesley W. Hall	31	M	W	Farmer	Tenn	
	Amanda S. Hall	25	F	W		Ala	
	Joseph J. Hall	4	M	W		Miss	
	Lattimore W. Hall	1	M	W		Miss	
	Mary Porter	30	F	W		Unk	

28. US Census of 1860, Lauderdale  County, MS, Family no. 1237

Family  No.	

Names	Age	Sex	Color	

Occupation, etc	Birthplace	
1237	W. W. Hall	41	m	W	Farmer	Tenn	
	Amanda Hall	35	f	W		Ala	
	Joseph J. Hall	14	m	W		Miss	
	Wesley W. Hall	10	m	W		Miss	

29. Book - Miss. News. Alst.1850-1861, V.4, Gen. 929.3762 Wil. V.4.  Research by Jesse Andrew Hall.
30. Robert Lowry and William H. McCardle, A History of Mississippi, Jackson, MS: R.H. Henry, 1891.,p.TBD
31	Extract from "Marion County Historical Research Project", WPA, Ca 1936, MDAH.  Toxey Hall of Columbia, Marion County, Mississippi, District Attorney of the Fifteenth Judicial District of Mississippi, was born September 18, 1882, at Chunkey, Lauderdale County.  He is the Son of Dr. Wesley White Hall and Julia Emma (Wright ) Hall of Meridian, Mississippi and of Opelika, Alabama.  His father was native of Meridian, Mississippi, near which city he practiced medicine for some four years, thence removing to Rose Hill, Jasper County, where he continued his profession for several years, after which he moved to Estabuchie, Jones County, where after a practice extending over three years, he died in 1902.  He was a graduate of Mobile Medical College.  He (Dr. Wesley White Hall) was the Son of Colonel Wesley White Hall and Sara Amanda Eastis, who lived near Meridian, Miss.  Col. Hall represented Lauderdale County in the Legislature during  two terms, just before or during the Civil War. Mr. Hall's mother was the daughter of William Wright and Lucinda Robinson who lived at Opelika, AL, from which place, the family removed to Mississippi, where it has since resided.  He received his early education in Poplarville High School.
32.	 Lauderdale County MS Court Records, Mississippi Department of Archives and History, per Miles A. Causey, this is the most definitive reference we have at this time.
33.	Dawson, Jim; History, Board of Police, 1832-1870; Board of Supervisors, 1870-1992; Lauderdale County Department of Archives and History, Inc. 410 Constitution Avenue, P.0. Box 5511, Meridian,MS 39201.
34.	One of the combat deaths was Wesley’s nephew Berryman Hall, the son of Wesley’s brother, David., Dawson, op. Cit. pp. 106 and 107.  Also Suzie Lee provides the following: “Information received on Mississippi Troops, CSA:  ***"Berryman Hall, Co. E, Pvt-3rd Lt. enrolled at Macon-Alamutche by G. T. Weir, enlisted at Corinth by P. H. Bozeman.  Born in Alamutche, a farmer, lived near Alamutche, is 20 years old, married, 5'8" tall, fair complexion, hazel eyes and light hair.  To travel 183 miles."  This description does nor fully identify the unit of Asignment.  This writer has thus far been unable to find Berryman in other unit or grave records.  See note 6 above.
35. Dawson, op cit, pp. 82,83.
36. Dawson, op cit, p. 96.
37. US Census of 1880, Lauderdale County, MS, ED-92, p.47, Family no. unk, Sheet 12, Line 15
Family  No.	

Names

	Color	Sex	Age Prior to June ist	Month of Birth if Born in Census Year	

Occupation, etc	Birthplace 	Birthplace of Mother	Birthplace of Father	
1237	W. W. Hall	W	M	61		Farmer	TN	NC	NC	
	Amanda S. Hall	W	F	54		Wife	AL	NC	NC	
	Sarah Green	W	F	28		Svt (Cook)	AL	-	-	
	Robert Hall	W	M	10		Nephew	AL	AL	AL	

38. 	US Census of 1880, Lauderdale County, MS, ED-96, p.12, Line 29.    The head of this family is Dr. Wesley White Hall.  The 4 year old son is Dr. Wesley William Hall, this writer’s grandfather.

Family  No.	

Names

	Color	Sex	Age Prior to June ist	Month of Birth if Born in Census Year	

Occupation, etc	Birthplace 	Birthplace of Mother	Birthplace of Father	
1237	W. W. Hall Jr.	W	M	30			MS	AL	TN	
	Julia E. Hall	W	F	27		Wife	AL	SC	SC	
	Amanda Hall	W	F	6		Dtr	MS	AL	MS	
	Wesley W. Hall	W	M	4		Son	MS	AL	MS	
	Jessie A. Hall	W	M	2		Son	MS	AL	MS	
	Mary E. Hall	W	F	2/12		 Dtr	MS	AL	MS	
 
39.	From a Hall Family History provided by Linda Cushing, a descendant of Joseph White Hall.
40. 	Hobgood and Clayton, Cemetery Records of Lauderdale County, Mississippi, Vol I, p. 271.
41.	Hazel R. Collins, Privately Printed (1965), These Sacred Places: Salem Cemetery, Lauderdale Co., Miss., p. 176

42. 	Dawson, op. cit. p.100

43. 	Lauderdale Co., MS court Records. Family Search Microfilm, Batch No. M516993, Source Call No 0899113V.B-B1.

44. 	Fellowship Baptist Church Minutes, Lauderdale County, Mississippi,  Edited Edition, 
		Abstracted and Compiled by Jim Dawson, LCDA&H 4, LCDA&H, INC Meridian, Mississippi, p.62. 
45.	ibid. p. 63,64.
46.	bid. p. 78.
47.	ibid. p. 66
48.	Transcribed from grave marker at the Long Creek Baptist Church Cemetery near ToomSuba, Lauderdale Co., MS, in 1994.
49.	Wilshire, Betty Couch, Mississippi Confederate Graves Registrations, A-Z., Heritage Books Inc (1991), 1540 E. Pointer Ridge Place, Bowie, MD 20716, p.165.

	Hall, JJ	6th MS Cav	1846 -1926	Laud	Laud
	Hall, Leonidas R	7th MS Inf	1840 -1910	Fran	Fran
Hall, W. W.		6th MS Cav		1819 – 1886		Laud		Laud

50.	Lauderdale County, MS Court Records, Film # 089122-0899116 & 0899127.