The name Hall, which is still common in England, was originally De Halle, given to those who went to that country from Halle in Saxony.

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Source: "The Halls of New England"

Mr. JOHN HALL, the emigrant ancestor of the Halls of Middletown, was born in the county of Kent, Eng., 1584. His will was dated May 14, 1673, in which he stated that he was then nearly 89 years old and that it was the 40th year of his living in New England. He died in Middletown, Conn., May 26, 1673, in the 89th year of his age.

He married Esther (???). It is probable that she died before the family emigrated.

John Hall came from the west of England to Boston in 1633, settled first in Cambridge and soon after removed to Roxbury where the prefix of respect Mr. was accorded to him on the records of Mr. Elliot's church. In those days the prefix of Mr. was given to only a very few persons; and generally indicated that such persons were entitled to a coat of arms.

John Hall's name is found in a rate bill on the records of Roxbury for 1634, in which his family is recorded as consisting of four persons.

Sept. 4, 1633, John Hall, John Oldham and two other men started for the Connecticut river, where they were reported to be in October. They returned to the Bay towns on the 20th of January, 1634. It was their favorable report of the rich bottom lands on the Connecticut, which led to the migrations from Dorchester to Wethersfield and Windsor, and from Cambridge to Hartford in 1635-6.

Mr. Hall was made freeman in Boston, 1635. He probably joined the Hooker and Stone colony and went to Hartford soon after, but did not remove his family until 1639.

He was a carpenter by trade and was no doubt an efficient aid in constructing the first buildings in Hartford.

Mr. Hall drew the home lot No. 77 of six acres on the brow of Lord's hill, in 1639. He also bought lands the same year of Wm. Hooker and Wm. Bloomfield.

The Hall lot No. 77 is the same as the Sigourney place, and since occupied by Gov. Catlin.

John Hall was a surveyor of highways in Hartford, in 1640.

In 1650, having sold his house and home lot to Wm. Spencer, he removed with his family to Middletown, then called Matabesick, which had been lately purchased of the great Sachem or Sequin Saweheag, being one of the original proprietors.

This home lot containing five acres was located on the north-east corner of Main street and Washington street of Middletown, running to the "Great River" and adjoined the home lot of his son-in-law, Thomas Wetmore on the north.

He was appointed March 19, 1659, by General Court held at Hartford "for the entry and recording such goods as are subject to customs for Middletown." Before as well as after this time Mr. Hall held divers offices of honor and trust, indeed he seemed to be the patriarch and leader of the new settlement.

Mr. Hall was born duringt he reign of Queen Elizabeth, 1584, and lived through a most eventful period of English History.

And he no doubt rejoiced in his old age to see his children settled in a broad and fertile land, and destined to be henceforth in their generations free from the grinding oppression of those upper and lower millstones—the nobility and the hierarchy.

His posterity are very numerous and respectable, but we have been able to collect only a small portion of their names in this genealogy.

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In 1650 the domain of the great Sachem Sowheag, at Mattabeseck, was invaded by the English. He seems to have made the "pale faces" welcome, as he had already given lands at that place to Governor Haynes; and we know he might easily have destroyed the few families who first settled there, had he chosen to do so. His authority extended to Wethersfield and probably to New Haven; as part of that township was purchased of his son Montawese. His fort or castle was on Indian Hill, well above the dwellings of the new-comers, at a distance of half or three-quarters of a mile southwest; a location of great natural beauty, where he was able, by means of his whistle, to call around him many warriors; it is said, to the number of five hundred, whose wigwams were thick on both sides of the Connecticut river. Into this stronghold of the Savages moved John Hall, with his three sons and a daughter, their families and belongings; to make for themselves new homes. A committee appointed to explore the lands had reported that subsistence might be obtained on them for fifteen families. In November, 1653, the place was named Middletown. In 1654, probably about thirty families were living there. The largest collection was near the meeting-house, on the northern end of what is now Main street, above Washington. Twenty years after the first settlement there were only fifty-two householders in the town, among them John Hall, Sen., and his sons—John, Richard and Samuel Hall. It is said, the Halls of Middletown had in England a coat of arms with the motto "Fidelity." We look in vain for any other single word, that can so truly describe the hereditary character of the family.

Atkins says of Long Hill, which lies south of the city of Middletown: "The settlement began near 1675 and the first settlers were Halls. They spread out from the First Society of Middletown Soon other settlers followed. The Halls were stout, strong, intellectual people. There is amongst the old papers in the family at Long Hill a deed of land from John Hall, Ensign, and wife to their son John Hall. Also, a paper conferring on John Hall a Captain's commission signed by John Winthrop, Governor of Connecticut. The early settlers had a great deal of heavy work in clearing off the stones, as the old moss-covered walls will show. Nearly enough stones to fence the land were found on its surface; and in some places were large boulders. These were cut and used for cellar walls."

The first vote of Middletown, of which any record is kept, is the following: "Feb. the 10th, 1652. It was agreed at a meeting at John Hall's hous, to build a meeting hous and to make it twenty fot square and ten fot between sill and plat, the heygt of it." We are glad to know that the meeting to plan for the first meeting-house was held at "John Hall's hous." The fact throws light on his circumstances and standing in the little community. Indeed, "The earliest records of Middletown show that he was a man of distinction among his associates."

Dr. Field says, "The original deed from the Indians to the inhabitants of Middletown was witnessed by John Hall and entered by John Hall Jun. in the old court book of records." The first meeting-house stood near the entrance to the first graveyard, now called Riverside Cemetery. One hundred and fifty acres were laid out for a parsonage, and a large piece of land for a "common." One of the earliest deeds on record is in volume 1, page 4, of the old land records of the town. It is a deed of sale to John Hall, of Buck Point, bounded south and east by Connecticut River. This point is opposite the city where the river turns toward the straits, and is now some distance inland owing to the accumulation around it of sand and debris brought down by the freshets year by year. John Hall, the emigrant ancestor of the Halls of Middletown, was born in 1584, in the county of Kent, England, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth. In 1633 he came from the West of England to Boston. He settled first in Cambridge and soon after removed to Roxbury, where the prefix of respect Mr. was accorded to him on the records of Mr. Eliot's church. In those days the prefix Mr. was given to only a few persons and indicated that they were entitled to great honor. An early rate bill, also of Roxbury, names him, with an estate of twelve acres and a family of four persons. In 1633 John Hall, John Oldham and two other men started for the Connecticut River, where they were reported to be in October of that year. In 1634 they returned to the Bay towns. It was their report of the rich lands on the Connecticut which led to the migration from Dorchester and Cambridge to Wethersfield, Windsor and Hartford in 1635 and 1636. In 1635 John Hall was made freeman in Boston. In 1639 he drew the home-lot, Number 77, of six acres on the brow of Lord's Hill, Hartford, Conn., and the same year he bought lands of William Hooker and of William Bloomfield. The Hall lot, No. 77, is the same as the home of the poetess Lydia H. Sigourney. In 1639 John Hall was named among those who "by courtesy of the town" of Hartford had "the privilege of wood and keeping cows &c. on the common." In 1640 he was surveyor of highways in Hartford. In 1650 he sold his house and home-lot, and removed with his family to Middletown, of which town he was one of the original proprietors. His home-lot, containing five acres, was located on the northeast corner of Main and Washington streets. It extended down to the Great River, and adjoined the home-lot of his son-in-law, Thomas Wetmore. In vol. 1, page 5, Middletown records, John Hall, Sen., had lands recorded under date June 10th, 1654. He was a carpenter by trade. On March 19, 1659, the General Court, held at Hartford, appointed him "For the entry and recording such goods as are subject to Customs for Middletown." Before, as well as after this time, he held divers offices of honor and trust. His will was dated May 14th, 1673, in which he stated that it was the 40th year of his living in New England and that he was then nearly 89 years old. He left a bequest "toward encouraging a reading and writing school in Middletown." It is probable his wife Esther died before the family emigrated from England. After her death he married Anna, daughter of John Willcoke.

In the 1st book of Land Records at Middletown, at the top of page 49, is recorded the death, on May 26th, 1673, of "John Hall, Senior." Directly under this and near to it, is written—"July 20th, 1673 Anna Hall, the wife of John Hall and daughter of John Willcoke ended this life about the 57th year of her age." Both entries are distinctly legible, they stand quite apart from everything else and have the appearanceof belonging together, and of having been written at the same time, by the same person. It is easy to believe that John Hall 2nd placed the record there, as he was Town Clerk and Recorder at Middletown at the time these deaths occurred, and for more than twenty years after.

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Early New York Families, CD #157

John Hall, immigrant ancestor, was born in county Kent, England, in 1584, died in Middletown, Connecticut, May 26, 1673. He came from England to Botson in 1633 and settled first in Cambridge, moving soon to Roxbury, where in the records of Mr. Elliot's church he was called Mr., a title which in those days was seldom given and showed the man to be prominent. In 1634 his name was on a rate bill on the records of Roxbury. On Spetember 4, 1633, he, with John Oldham and two other men, went to the Conecticut river, where they were in October, and returned on January 20, 1634, with a favorable report of the rich lands there which resulted in the migrations from Dorchester to Wethersfield and WIndosr, and from Cambridge to Hartford in 1635-36. He was made freeman in Boston in 1635, and soon after he probably joined the Hooker and Stone Colony and went to Hartford. His family did not move until 1639. He was a carpenter by trade. He had home lot No. 77 of six acres on Lord's hill, in 1639, and he bought lands that year of William Hooker and Bloomfield also. He was surveyor of highways in Hartford in 1640. In 1650 he moved with his family to Matabesick, now Middletown, where he was one of the orignial proprietors. His home lot consisted of five acres on the northeast corner of Main and Washington streets, running to the "Great River," joining the lot of his son-in-law. Thomas Wetmore, on the north. On March 19, 1659, he was appointed by the general court at Hartford to enter and record goods subject to customs for Middletown, and often after this he held offices in the town. He seemed to be one of the leaers and most prominent men in town. He married Esther ____, who probably died in England. Children: John, born in England, 1619; Richard, in England, 1620; Sarah, in England, 1622; Samuel, mentioned below.

Source: "The Halls of New England :. Genealogical and biographical" ³⁶³⁸