Aquila Hall (1727-1779)
MSA SC 3520-543
Biography
Born: 1727 in Baltimore County; younger surviving son.
Died: Will
probated on April 10, 1779, in Harford County.
Native: Fourth generation.
Resided: Baltimore County (later became part of Harford
County); resided at "Sophia's Dairy."
Family Background
Father: Aquila
Hall (1699-1728), of "Cranberry Hall," Baltimore
County; son of John Hall (ca. 1658-1737). Aquila Sr. was murdered by a slave on December 25, 1728.
Guardian and Uncle: John Hall (1701-1774).
Mother: Johanna Kemp (?-1735), widow of
James Phillips (?-1720).
Brothers: John (1722-1768), of Swantown, Baltimore County, who married Cordelia Holland; Aquila (1724-1724); and
Aquila (1725-1725).
Sister: Martha (1725-1725).
First Cousins: John Hall, Jr. (1737-1770); Josias
Carvil Hall (1746-1814); Benedict Edward Hall
(ca. 1744-1822); Martha Hall, who married Walter Tolley (?-1783); Martha Hall, who married
John Rumsey (ca. 1742-1828); Mary Hall, who
married Benjamin Rumsey (1734-1808); and
Blanche Hall, who married John Beale Howard
(by 1739-1799).
Niece: Susannah Hall, who married James Heath (?-1766).
Married: In 1750, his
cousin Sophia (?-1780), daughter of Col. Thomas
White (1705-1774), of Philadelphia, and wife
Sophia Hall (1709/10-?); stepdaughter of Esther
Hewlings Newman; granddaughter of John Hall
(ca. 1658-1737); niece of John Hall (1701-1774).
Her half brother was William White (1748-1836),
first Protestant Episcopal bishop of the diocese of
Pennsylvania. Her sisters were Mary (?-1827),
who married Robert Morris (1734-1806), a merchant of Philadelphia, financier of the American
Revolution, member of the Continental Congress
from 1776 to 1778, signer of the Declaration of
Independence, member of the Pennsylvania assembly from 1778 to 1780 and from 1785 to 1787,
member of the U.S. Senate from 1789 to 1795,
founder of the Bank of North America; Sarah
Charlotte. Her first cousins were Martha Hall,
who married Walter Tolley (?-1783); Aquila Hall
(1727-1779); John Hall, Jr. (1737-1770); Benedict
Edward Hall (ca. 1744-1822); Josias Carvil Hall
(1746-1814); Martha Hall, who married John
Rumsey (ca. 1742-1828); Mary Hall, who married
Benjamin Rumsey ( 1734-1808); and Blanche Hall,
who married John Beale Howard (by 1739-1799).
Children
Sons: Thomas (1750-1804), a lawyer,
who married Isabella Presbury; James White
(1754-1808); Aquila (1754-1754); William (1756-1818); John (1762-1804), who never married; Edward (1763-?); and Benedict (1771-?).
Daughters: Charlotte (1758-1838), who married Nathaniel Ramsay (1741-1817); Mary (1760-?), who
married Richard K. Heath; Sophia (1765-?), who
married Philip Key (1750-1820); Martha (1768-?),
who married John McHenry, of Allegany County;
and Elizabeth (1770-?).
Private Career
Education: Literate.
Religious Affiliation: Anglican,
St. George's Parish, Harford County.
Social Status and Activities: Gent., 1761, Mr., 1773; Esq., 1779.
Occupational Profile: Merchant, in partnership
with Michael Gilbert in Bushtown, Harford
County, 1771-1776; planter; mill owner.
Public Career
Legislative Service: Lower House,
Baltimore County, 1770 (elected to the 3rd session
to fill vacancy; Accounts 3), 1773, (resigned during or after the 2nd session to become a representative from Harford County); Lower House, Harford County, 1774 (elected to the 3rd session to
represent the newly formed county); Conventions,
Harford County, 1st, 1774 (appointed, but did not
attend), 2nd-3rd, 1774, 6th-8th, 1775-1776; House of Delegates, Harford County, 1777-1778 (Manufactories 2).
Local Offices: Justice, Baltimore
County, 1757-1762, 1769-1773 (quorum, 1769-1773), Harford County, 1774-1779 (quorum,
1774-1779); sheriff, Baltimore County, 1762-1763
(resigned); Committee of Observation, Harford
County, elected 1774; county lieutenant, Harford
County, appointed 1777.
Military Service: Organized a militia company and was elected captain, 1775; colonel, 1776.
Stands on Public/Private Issues: Signed the Bush Declaration on
March 22, 1775.
Wealth During Lifetime
Personal Property: The firm of Hall & Gilbert was
indebted to Christopher Court, a London merchant, for £480.3.10 by 1776. Hall was personally
indebted to Court for £1,282.5.9 by 1776, but the
amount was contested by Hall's heirs and remained unpaid until at least 1807.
Land at First Election: 882 acres in Baltimore County.
Significant Changes in Land Between First Election and Death: Purchased 356.5 acres in
Baltimore County by 1770; his wife inherited a life
estate to more than 3,200 acres in Harford County
from her father in 1774, but the land was entailed
to her children.
Wealth at Death
Personal Property: No inventory;
mentioned 32 slaves in his
will.
Land: 1,233.75 acres in Baltimore and Harford counties, plus land in Frederick County.
Return to Aquila Hall's Introductory Page
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