Martha Hall

Martha BENSON (daughter of John Benson & Marah Williams) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 was christened 3 Nov 1644 in Hingham, Plymouth, Massachusetts. She married 7 Deacon Richard HALL on 1670 in Bradford, Essex, Massachusetts.

Deacon Richard HALL 1, 2 was born ca. 1644 in England. He died 3 4 Mar 1730 in Bradford, Essex, Massachusetts.

They had the following children:

• F i Sarah HALL 1, 2 was born 1671 in Bradford, Essex, Massachusetts. She died 3 6 Jun 1690 in Bradford, Essex, Massachusetts.
• M ii John HALL was born 22 Mar 1673 and died 25 Nov 1763.
• M iii Richard HALL 1, 2 was born 3 6 Feb 1676 in Bradford, Essex, Massachusetts.
• F iv Joanna HALL 1 was born 1678 in Bradford, Essex, Massachusetts.
• M v Deacon Joseph HALL was born 19 Feb 1680 and died 7 Oct 1750.
• F vi Mary HALL 1, 2 was born 3 1684 in Bradford, Essex, Massachusetts.
• F vii Martha HALL 1, 2 was born 3 11 Mar 1687 in Bradford, Essex, Massachusetts

Comments

Private User Writes on 28 February 2022:

• If I have these dates right, I'd like to suggest that Martha (Benson) Hall didn't have a daughter Abigail b. 1/31/1669 CT, (see below) and that her husband wasn't married to a Sarah who died 3/11/1686 one year before Martha and Deacon Richard had had their last daughter Martha 3/11/1687.
• This link (https://www.colonialsociety.org/node/662) shows in Vol.29 of the Records of Suffolk County Court 1671-1680 Part 1, that they were not married by Jan. 31, 1669. I would doubt they would have had a previous illegitimate child, Abigail, before Sarah without being taken to court at that time.
• Deacon Richard Hall of Hull, Haverhill, and Bradford and his wife Martha Benson, escaped from the Hull area in 1671 when they were accused of "fornication" (having a child out of wedlock). They were summoned by the Suffolk County court to appear for sentencing. They fled to Haverhill, and returned to the court in 1672, married, and with a daughter Sarah. While in Haverhill, It is likely that they were wed by a town magistrate, rather than in a church, given the reason for the union.
• P. 23 of the records say "Richard and Martha Hall Presented. Richard Hall & Martha his wife presented for fornication. The Court was informed they were gone to Haverhill and ordered a special warrant to be issued out for their appearance at the next court." P. 119 says, "Hall Sentenced. Richard Hall of Haverhill, late of Hull presented for fornication with Martha his now wife before marriage the court sentenced them to be whipped with fifteen stripes apiece or to pay forty shillings apiece fine to the county in money with fees of court & charge of the Constable of Merrimack six shillings standing committed till the sentence be performed.
• Richard later became a deacon, back "in the good graces" of the church, I would assume.

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GEDCOM Note

Bio notes: m. Richard Hall child: Joseph Hall

References

• http://www.designscience.com/Genealogy/richardhall/JohnBensonFamily... cites
• 1Smith, Ethel Farrington, "Seventeenth Century Hull, Massachusetts and Her People," NEHGR 142:3 (Jul 1988) (New England Historic, Genealogical Society.), p. 270, Los Angeles Public Library.
• 2Pope, Charles Henry, The Pioneers of Massachusetts (Boston: C.H. Pope, 1900.), p. 46, Los Angeles Public Library, Gen 974.4 P826-1.
• 3Holman, Mary Lovering, The Scott Genealogy (Boston, Massachusetts: s.n., 1919.), p. 291, Family History Library, 929.273 Sco84h.
• 4Benson, Richard H., The Benson Family of Colonial Massachusetts (Boston, Massachusetts: Newbury Street Press, 2003.), p. 20, Family History Library, 929.273 B443brh.
• 5Guilford, Joan Sheridan, The Ancestry of Dr. J. P. Guilford (Orange, California: Sheridan Psychological Services, 1990.), 2:349, Family History Library, 929.273 G944g.
• 6Savage, James, A Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England, showing three generations of those who came before 1692 (Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1860-62.), 2:337, Los Angeles Public Library, 929.274 S264.
• 7Torrey, Clarence Almon, New England Marriages Prior to 1700 (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1985.), p. 335, Los Angeles Public Library, Gen 974 T694.
• At a County Court held at Boston April ye 30th 1672 < link > “… Hall Sentanced. Richard Hall of haverill Late of hull presented for fonication wth Martha his now wife before marriage the Court Sentanced them to bee whip’t with fifteen Stripes apiece or to pay forty shillings apeice fine to the County in mony wth fees of Court & charge of the Constable of Merrimack six Shillings Standing committed till the Sentance be performed.”
• Direct Descendants of Richard Hall, Deacon. < PDF >