Nancy
Hall was born about 1790 and married Thomas McFall August 23, 1814 in Albemarle
County, Virginia. Rev. Benjamin Burgher, a Baptist minister, officiated the
ceremony. Their marriage bond states Nancy was the daughter of James Hall,
deceased. Isaiah Humphrey and Thomas McFall, both bound themselves to the
Governor of Virginia in the amount of $150 ensuring a marriage would take place
shortly. Isaiah declared Nancy was over 21 years of age before a court clerk
the same day.
I
wondered if Isaiah Humphrey might be related to either Thomas or Nancy. I found
an “Albemarle County Chancery Cause 1820-014 David Humphrey’s Administrator
& etc. vs. Isaiah Humphrey’s Administratrix, etc”. I discovered David and Isaiah were Nancy’s
uncles. Their sister, Mildred Humphrey, was identified as Nancy’s mother.
The
chancery suit identified Mildred (Humphrey) Hall Bailey's children. Jane (also known as Jean), Nancy, Frances (also called Franky), and Sally were James Hall's daughters. Betsey (also called Elizabeth), John, Lewis D., and Patsey (also known as Martha) were John Bailey's children.
This
was the starting point for new research. The chancery disagreement began after brothers
David Humphrey Jr. and Isaiah Humphrey died. David Junior’s widow and Isaiah’s
widow were the plaintiff and defendant. The dispute likely began after their father David
Humphrey Senior’s death in 1818 and involved the inheritance of David Senior’s
slaves.
Later
research revealed James Hall and Mildred Humphrey married Oct. 14, 1785, in
Albemarle County, Virginia. The Hall daughters were born sometime between 1785
and 1794 when Mildred was with James Hall. She married John Bailey April 2,
1794, at Albemarle County, Virginia. I’m assuming James Hall had died by this
date, and I’m not looking at a divorce.
About
nine months before the widowed Mildred Hall married John Bailey, a curious thing happened. On
September 12, 1793, John Everitt sold a 100-acre parcel to Jean Hall, Nancy
Hall, Franky Hall and Sally Hall all of Albemarle County, Virginia. This land
sale piqued my interest and puzzled me. As James Hall and Mildred Bailey
married in 1785, these girls would not have been old enough to legally buy land
in the State of Virginia. Usually, there are witnesses to land transactions,
but not this time. John Everett brought the indenture to the Albemarle Court and
acknowledged the land sale in September 1793. [Albemarle VA Deed Book 11, pages
93-95]
The
land description mentioned James Hall as a neighbor:
“one tract or parcel of land containing
one hundred acres be the same more or less beginning at a red oak said Everitt’s
corner on John Bolings line thence on the same N13 degrees E 93 poles to pointers
Wm Nelsons corner on said Bolings line thence on said Nelsons line S35 degrees
W120 poles crossing two branches to a red oak John Wilkersons corner thence on
said line to a corner of James Hall thence a new cut line to the head of a
branch to afore & after poplar thence following the meanders of the branch
to bolings line at the beginning”
Beginning
in 1794, Jean, Nancy, Franky and Sally Hall were included on the Albemarle
County land tax list. Each was taxed for a 25-acre tract which was paid until
1807. After that date, they no longer appeared on the tax rolls.
Albemarle
County Deed Book 16, pages 346-347 reveal Jean Hall sold her one fourth share
of the 100-acre parcel on Feb. 15, 1808, to Stephen Moore for 20 Pounds. Jean
signed the indenture with her mark. There were four witnesses to the agreement.
Wm. F. Styles, David Humphrey Jr., Andrew Hart and John Irvin. Wm. F. Styles
and Andrew Hart witnessed the sale in June 1808. Jean’s uncle, David Humphrey
Jr., served as a witness with no date. John Irvin witnessed Jean’s signature in
April 1808 and carried the indenture to Court April 1808 and at a June 1808 Court
where it was fully proved and ordered to be recorded.
The
land description did not include any of the adjoining neighbors mentioned in
the 1793 deed when John Everitt sold the 100 acres to the Hall’s. However, the
parcel was said to be in North Garden bound on the east, south and west by
Stephen Moore. Dabney Minor’s lands bordered on the north.
About
five years later Nancy, Franky, and Sally sold their shares to William
Moore of Albemarle County on Feb. 25, 1813. This indenture was indeed
informative. [Albemarle VA Deed Book 18, pages 314-315]
“This indenture Made this twenty
fifth day of February one thousand eight hundred & thirteen between William
Moore of Albemarle County & Nancy, Franky, & Sally Hall sheweth that
said Moore hath Bought of said Nancy, Franky, & Sally Hall all the right
interest & title they hold in the land they became Seized of in fee simple
by a purchase Made by their dec’d Father of John Everitt who Made them the
title they now hold which they have sold there undivided interest in said land
to said Moore for & in Consideration of the sum of three hundred &
twenty one Dollars to them”
The
wording of the land description seems as if James Hall was alive on September
9, 1793, and purchased the tract from John Everitt in person. John Everitt, in
turn, put the title in the girls’ names. This would explain my concerns about
how minors would be able to legally buy land.
The following year Nancy
would marry Thomas McFall. I did not find anything further
about Jean, but Franky and Sally cropped up in future court records which I
will blog about in the future.
