John Hall family papers

Descriptive Summary
Title: John Hall family papers
Creator: Hall, John
Inclusive Dates: 1806-1958
Bulk Dates: 1850-1879
Language(s): English
Extent: 1 Linear Feet 2 document boxes
Collection Number: ms3667
Repository: Hargrett Library

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Collection Description

Historical Note

John Hall (ca.1780-1850) acquired land near Milledgeville, Georgia for his plantation. He married Mary Johns (d. 1855) and their children included James Monroe (ca. 1820-1881), who married Mary Havis (d. 1881); Mary Jane, who married James Shinholster; and Pamelia, who married Levi Ezell.

Scope and Content

The collection consists of correspondence, wills and deeds, and accounts of various family members. There are numerous accounts of the settlement of the John Hall estate, of which James M. Hall was executor. Of special interest are the bills of sale for enslaved people, freedmen contracts, and accounts of plantation overseers [enslavers]. The accounts show the growth of the plantation, including purchase of enslaved people and supplies and land, operation of a sawmill, sales of cotton, and labor dealings with the Georgia Penitentiary after the Civil War. There is also a Civil War letter from John W. Shinholster on April 23, 1863 from his camp near Port Hudson, Louisiana.

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Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

John Hall family papers, ms3667, Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library, University of Georgia Libraries.

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Related Materials and Subjects

Subject Terms

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Series Descriptions and Folder Listing

 

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Correspondence, 1854-1881

 

1	2	Wills, 1828-1871
				Last Will and Testament of William Bivins, 1828 March 5
			Variously transfers ownership of enslaved persons named Caroline, Susan, Simon, Peggy, Mary, Julia, Menen [?], and Louie

 

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Deeds, 1806-1871, 1908, 1923

 

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Contracts, including freed persons, 1868, 1869

Contract -- Joe Carlin (freed person) and Lydia Hall, 1869 January 11

Contract -- between William Bales and Cary Duren (freed person), 1868 December 10

Describes terms of contract, exchanging land for shares of goods produced from that land.

 

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Bills of sales and documents for enslaved people, 1817-1856

Bill of sale naming an enslaved woman Francis (17), 1841 January 14

Sale from Mary Ann Lenton to James M Hall. Signed Baldwin County, Georgia. Testified, Nathan C. Keel

Bill of sale for enslaved persons -- from Benjamin Tarbutton to John Hall, 1850 January 4

Names enslaved persons: Charlotte (42), Nathaniel (12), Narow [?] (9), Elisebeth (18), Susan (14), Jain [Jane] (18), and David (16).

Signed Wilkinson County, Georgia

Bill of sale for enslaved persons -- from Benjamin Tarbutton to James M. Hall, 1847 March 31

Names enslaved persons: Kitty (22), Liley (2.5), and Marly Ann (1). Signed Wilkinson, Georgia

Bill of sale for enslaved persons -- from John Scott and James Scott to James M. Hall, 1846 December 7

Names enslaved persons: Jim, Elick, and Daniel. About 20 years of age. It is unclear from the document if Elick's name is meant to be deleted from the bill of sale

Bill of sale naming an enslaved woman Liza (12) -- from John Pattishall to James M Hall, 1845 May 3

Testified by Stephen W. Brown

Bill of sale naming an enslaved man Ransom (25) -- from John and James Scott to John Hall, 1846 December 7

Bill of sale naming an enslaved woman Winford (17) -- from James Gladin to John Hall, 1839 May 8

Witnessed by Benjamin [Bower or Bowen] and James M. Hall

Bill of sale naming two enslaved persons, Tom (12) and Francis (8) -- from John Hall to James M. Hall, 1839 April 8

Testified by James G. Shinholser [or Shinholder]

Bill of sale naming an enslaved person Violet (10), 1817 July

From William Owen [or Orrin] to John Hall. Testified by John R. Smith

Bill of sale naming enslaved persons Henry and Franklin -- from Ebenezer Curry to John Hall, 1839 February 23

Mentions an enslaved woman, the parent of Henry and Franklin. This woman is not named. Testified by Nathan Keel and James Hall. Signed Baldwin County, Georgia. Also signed, as witness, by C. P. Hammond

Wilkinson Court Ordinary -- approval to sell enslaved persons, 1836

Includes names of enslaved persons: Charles, Lem [or Lew], and Celia. Names enslavers: James M. Hall and Mary B. Hall, administrators of the estate of William M. Hall, deceased

Bill of sale naming an enslaved man, Allen -- from James M. Renfroe to John Hall, 1837 November 21

Testified bt James G Shinholser [?] and Lewis A. Golden

Bill of sale naming an enslaved man, Charles -- from John Hall to William M. Hall, 1831 January 18

Includes names of enslaved persons

Bill of sale naming an enslaved man, Charles (between 35-40) -- from Edmund W. Barker to John Hall, 1821 November 1

Testified by Richard Spence. Signed Baldwin County, Georgia

Bill of sale naming an enslaved woman, Charlotte -- from Benjamin Tarbutton to John Hall, 1847 April 6

Bill of sale naming an enslaved woman, Jain [Jane] (18) -- from John Hall to James M. Hall, 1850 February 14

Testified by Lydia Hall. Signed Wilkinson County, Georgia

Deed of transfer naming enslaved persons Ransom (40) and Mariah (30), 1850 December 6

Enslaved persons transferred to Lydia Hall by James M. Hall, as executor of the will of John Hall, deceased

Deed of transfer naming enslaved persons Simon (25) and Charlotte (25), 1850 December 6

Enslaved persons transferred to Mary Jane Shinholser by James M. Hall, as executor of the will of John Hall, deceased. Signed by Mary Jane Shinholser and her husband, James G. Shinholser.

Simon and Charlotte described as a married couple

Deed of transfer naming enslaved persons: Menser (50), Miley (40), and their two younger children, Isaac (4) and Ephrem (2), 1850 December 10

Enslaved persons transferred to Sarah L. Hall by James M. Hall, as executor of the will of John Hall, deceased

Bill of sale naming an enslaved man, Prince (17) -- from Benjamin Tarbutton to Mary Hall, 1851 February 31

Deed of transfer naming an enslaved person, Henry -- from Levi Ezell and Pamelia Ezell to Ebenezer Curry, 1850 December 16

Signed Houston County, Georgia

Bill of sale naming an enslaved man Dave (33), 1852 January 6

Sale from James Taylor (as administrator of Jonathan Hooks, deceased) to James M. Hall

Receipt fragment

"Receipt of Negrowes Delivered by [James] M Hall Recorded"

Deed of transfer naming enslaved persons, 1854 April 1

Deed names enslaved persons: Spenser (40), Jenny (25), and their children Andrew and Eli; Fany (20), and her children Liza (2) and Wash (14); Dick (20); Ras (14); Sarah; Jordan (18); Lucy (18); Joe (20); Henry (30); John (12); and Dan (8).

Signed by legatees (enslavers): James Hall, Lydia Hall, [James] G. Shinholser, Mary J. Shinholser, Levi Ezell, and Pamelia Ezell. Testified by William O'Bannon and Mathew Carawett. Also signed by "S Beall" of the Ordinary Court

Deed of transfer naming enslaved persons, 1854 April 1

Document is a version of Item 24, naming the same enslaved persons categorized by family groups and assigned to specific legatees.

Sarah Hall is to receive Fany a woman and child [Eliza] aged about two years old Wash a boy[,] Lydia Hall is to receive Dicke Ras and Sarah[,] Mary J Shinholser is to receive Jordan Julia and Joe[,] Pamelia Ezell is to receive Spenser a man [Jenny] and their two children Andrew and Eli[,] James M Hall is to receive Henry [Tom] and Dan ... This division not being equal but being produced by a desire to keep families of negrowes together[.]"

Deed of transfer (and appraisal) naming enslaved persons, 1854 April 27

Document is a version of Item 24 and Item 25, with addition of appraisal and signatures of appraisers, as follows: George Murph, Daniel R Tucker, and Peter Fair. Names of enslaved persons are repeated from other items (cited above)

Bill of sale naming two enslaved persons, Elizabeth and her child Ellen -- from James G. Shinholser to James M. Hall, 1856 January 8

Bill of sale naming two enslaved persons, Fany and her child Eliza -- from Sarah L. Hall to James M. Hall, 1854 April 10

William O'Bannon and Lydia Hall, witnesses

 

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Accounts – Georgia Penitentiary, 1852-1857

 

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Accounts -- overseers (enslavers) , 1850-1853

Voucher for payment -- services of overseer (enslaver), 1851 January 20

Two receipts of payment, 1852, 1853

Two receipts for payment for one year of services as overseer (enslaver) paid to (1) John [indecipherable] and (2) Joseph G. Lundy

Receipt of payment, 1850 December 24

Receipt for payment for one year of services as overseer (enslaver) paid to John [indecipherable]

 

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Accounts – John Hall estate , 1850-1851

 

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Accounts – John Hall estate , 1852-1856

 

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Accounts – family share of John Hall estate

 

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Accounts – James M. Hall , 1850-1856

 

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Accounts – James M. Hall , 1857-1879

 

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Accounts – Lydia Hall , 1856, 1882

 

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Accounts – John Manderson family , 1822-1847

 

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Accounts – Charles F. Riley family , 1903-1909

 

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Accounts – Charles F. Riley family , 1910-1958

 

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Accounts – miscellaneous , 1822-1901

 

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Small trunk which housed the documents – covered in decorated oilcloth, lined with wallpaper, and lid trimmed with scalloped leather