Short Biography of Samuel Hall

A very interesting sketch of the lives of the 1st John Hall and his sons may be gathered from the early records of Middletown, in which they constantly reappear in one capacity or another. Here is an extract dated 1679: "It was voated that a belle which is purchased by parte of the inhabitants of the towne and properly belongs to the purchasers and their heirs after them, that if they be willing the sayd belle shall be hanged up in the meeting house that now is belonging to the sayd towne whether the towne will as a towne defraye ye charge of the sufficient hanging and fitting to suitable ringing of the sayd belle for the benefit of the towne and to pay yearly ye charge of ye ringing at all suitable seasons and so to continue soe long as ye said purchasers shall see cause. The towne voated accepted the same above sayd." The names of the owners of the bell are recorded. Among them are John Hall, Sr., John Hall, Jr., Richard Hall and Samuel Hall, Jr.

Samuel Hall, youngest child of John and Esther Hall, was born in 1626, and at the age of seven years came to Boston with his father, two brothers and a sister. The family was afterward in Hartford and arrived in Middletown, Ct., in 1650. June 10, 1655, Samuel Hall had lands recorded at Middletown. His home-lot of five acres was located on the east side of Main street, and extended to the river. The Mansion House block occupies a part of the front of this lot, on Main street. He was a farmer of many acres, and he also learned the carpenter's trade. In 1654 he was made freeman. In 1662 he married Elizabeth Cooke. She was born in 1640, and was the eldest child of the first Thomas Cooke of Guilford and of his wife Elizabeth. After the death of Samuel Hall, his widow removed from Middletown to Guilford and lived there with her son Thomas. The following is from New Haven probate record: "Our honored father did in his lifetime, by word, will that his grandchild Thomas Hall, son to his daughter Elizabeth Hall should enjoy as his own inheritance, &c. To this will of our honored father, we his children freely consent." Signed by Thomas Cooke and Elizabeth Hall October 19, 1668, Samuel Hall was admitted to the church in Middletown. October 29, 1676, his wife was admitted to the same church.

Source: "Memoranda Relating to the Ancestry and Family of Sophia Fidelia Hall" ⁶⁰¹⁴

Samuel, son of John Hall, was born in county Kent, England, in 1626, died in Middletown, Connecticut, in 1690. He was made freeman at Middletown in 1654, and on June 10, 1655, had lands recorded. His home lot consisted of five acres on the east side of Main street, extending to the river. The Mansion House block occupies a part of this land on Main street. He was a farmer and owned much land. He also knew his father's trade, that of a carpenter. He was admitted to the church at Middletown, October 18, 1663, and his wife was admitted, October 29, 1676. She moved to Guilford, Connecticut, after his death, to the home of her son Thomas. He made his will February 13, 1690, and his estate was inventoried at 324 pounds. To Samuel he left the house and barns, to John the town lot; to Thomas, two acres of the home lot; and to Samuel and John the carpenter's tools. He married, 1662, Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Cooke, of Guilford; Thomas Cooke came to Guilford with Rev. Henry Whitfield; he was one of the signers of the plantation covenant of June 1, 1639, made on the passage from county Kent, England. Children: Samuel, born February 3, 1663-64; John, August 7, 1668; Thomas, mentioned below.

Source: "Genealogical and family history of central New York : a record of the achievements of her people in the making of a commonwealth and the building of a nation" ³³³⁷