John Hall, the fourth child and third son of Instant and Mary Hall of Prince George, was born January 13, 1709/10 [error-see vital record], and is the other John Hall confused with the John Hall already studied, who married Anne Bolling. He was born and raised in Prince George and the first mention of him in Amelia is the purchase of 200 acres from William Hudson in 1737, which he sells Elisha Estes, in 1742, evidently not liking its location, for, in September of that year he purchases from Henry Robertson of Prince George 150 acres on Deep Creek, adjoining the property of Robert Bolling. He now is located in the same neighborhood of the property of the other John Hall. They therefore must have known each other for a number of years subsequent to this date. In 1745 he adds to this property 779 acres in the same neighborhood which he purchased from William Watson, and his home becomes firmly established. By thrift he prospered so that in 1768 he was able to purchase in the same locality 459 acres on the south side of Deep Creek from Nathaniel Robertson for L240 (the L should have a - thru it), and the next year he with the consent of his wife Elizabeth sells a less desirable tract of 140 acres to Henry Ferguson, which was witnessed by his son Bowler. Without question John Hall was a man of business acumen and had acquired valuable property judicially selected, and that he was of some means is evidenced by the purchase of a number of slaves in 1775 from Edward and Thomas Bolling Munford, the latter his neighbor, and Edward Munford at that date residing in Halifax County, North Carolina. The maiden name of his wife is not known, but his brother William, who lived near married Ann Bott, daughter of Thomas Bott by his second marriage, and it has been surmised that his wife was a daughter of Thomas by his first marriage. There is however no recorded authority to substantiate this. John Hall made his will in February, 1779 and died in June. His wife Elizabeth is devised property for life to revert to his only son Bowler; Bowler is devised practically all his holdings except a negro woman apiece to each of his married daughters, Ann Purnall, Milly DeJarnette, and Dyce Fowlkes, and a negro girl to his granddaughter Dyce Hall. Witnesses to the will were Richard Jones. Thomas Bolling Munford and son Bowler, the first two have already been seen earlier in this study. The name Bowler intrigues one. It is seen in the Cocke family, derived from the marriage of Richard Cocke (1672-1720) to his first wife Ann Bowler (1675-1705), daughter of Col. Thomas Bowler of the Rappahannock River and his wife Tabitha Underwood. Their sonBowler Cocke inherited Bremo and his family was well known to the Bollings and the John Halls. There is no known record of any relationship whatever that caused John Hall to name his only son Bowler. It is also known that the Bowler name was not continued in the Hall descendants. There are no dates known of the members of John Hall's family, and his will shows that he and his wife had the following children: ...
