Jean, Nancy, Franky, and Sally Hall's 100-acre parcel, Albemarle County, Virginia

 

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.