In 1778 in Halifax Co., Va. in the court records appears some notices of 
the death of a certain John Hall. This John Hall left 3 heirs (no will 
has appeared): Benjamin Hall; Mildred Hall, a minor child; and James 
Purcell Sr.. James Purcell Sr. was named the guardian of the child, 
Mildred. This James P. was probably married to a daughter of John Hall. 
Her name was Elizabeth. Several entries by James Purcell Sr. in Halifax 
court records show the following facts. James made a trip to Gloucester 
Co., Va. on estate business to see Warner Lewis Jr. about the lease of a 
slave. Later the estate paid to have the slave brought to Halifax. The 
court records also show the names of 5 other slaves being leased to 
Halifax Co. citizens. The rental fees were the source of the income to 
support the minor child, as per the records. The mystery concerns John 
Hall, the deceased. No records have been found of his living in Halifax 
or Pittsylvania counties, Va., where some Hall property was owned. Some 
think Mildred must have been the child of a 2nd marriage since she was 
very much younger than Elizabeth (her supposed half sister) and Benjamin 
(her supposed half brother). In 1791 Mildred Hall married the son of 
James Purcell, James Purcell, Jr. Again, this James Jr. had to be the 
son of a first wife of James Purcell Sr.. Otherwise, Mildred would have 
been the aunt of James Purcell Jr. I descend from Benjamin Hall, whose 
parentage has been my brick wall for 35 years. Since I believe John Hall 
at one time (and probably when he died) lived in Gloucester Co, Va., I 
wonder if there are any loose papers or other type Gloucester Co. 
records that might throw some light on this person. Perhaps Warner Lewis 
journals or other Lewis records.

Other facts about Benjamin: he married Wilmouth Irby, dau., of Anthony 
Irby and they had 3 boys and 3 girls. Benjamin died in 1803. No marriage 
record for Ben and Wilmouth has ever been found, so that is another 
mystery.  Grateful thanks to anyone who can shed some light on this John 
Hall.

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