Person:Jesse Hall (22)

... The oldest man now living in Centerville Precinct is Jesse Hall, whose farm is located on the extreme western border, near the Scott County line. His father, James Hall, was a native of Baltimore County, Md., and emigrated to Kentucky in 1796. He bought the place on which Jesse now lives, from a man named Theobald, who afterward moved to Georgetown, where he kept a tavern. Jesse Hall still occupies the place of his father's original settlement, and is now in his ninety-first year. He has always lived here, except from 1858 to 1873, which interval was spent in Missouri, and in Harrison County. He was a carpenter, and worked at the trade for many years - he helped to build the house now occupied by Mrs. Isabella West, near the noted Russell Cave, in Fayette County. When the draft was made for the war of 1812, he volunteered as representative of his class of ten. He afterward hired a substitute who was killed during the war.

A pioneer family of the name of Shanks lived near where Jacksonville now stands in early times. They were all murdered by the Indians, except one girl, who was carried off a captive. At the same time, they captured a white boy named George Lail, whom they raised and brought up as one of themselves. Lail married a white woman by whom it is alleged he had many children. His parents living here were wealthy. He afterward returned to his native county, and, finding his brother wealthy, wanted a division of the property. His brother refused to accede to his wishes, when he returned to the Indians, saying that they were more honest than the whites.

Mr. Hall says that, at the beginning of the century, the settlers' cabins stood thicker than dwelling houses do at the present day, and that about 1812 the county had 2,800 white voters more than there are now, both white and black. This, however, may be easily accounted for by the difference in extent of territory then and now. The winters, Mr. Hall says, were very mild in those early times, with but little snow, and the cattle kept fat in the woods the year round. Favored as the country was by nature, and adapted to the wants of civilized man, the first years of its occupancy were years of incessant toil and danger, and of almost daily struggles with savage foes. After the close of the war of 1812, peace and security settled down, and prosperity crowned the early privations of the pioneers. ...

usgwarchives.net - WILLS: HALL Surname, Bourbon County, Kentucky [1]

3716
HALL, JESSIE 3 Nov 1881 Probate Dec 9, 1882
Wife: Elizabeth Ann 220a (marriage contract before marriage).
Dau: Annie Simpson (John) 160a Centerville, Ky. 200a Scott Co. on Sheep Farm goes to railroad,
Dau: Pauline Henry, w/o Dr. Henry, 122a Scott Co. house in Newtown, Scott Co., 3708a Scott Co. Sheep Farm, 16a adj. to Sheep Farm for a road to the farm.
Son: James L. balance of land in MO. (guardian of grandson Jessie Moran’s land)
Grandson: Jessie Moran 166a in Andrain Co. Missouri (Coonoal Farm), 40a Missouri (Dowler Tract), 86a (Wright farm adj. Jenkins), 15a adj to my niece 5a Ann Fight., 20a Coon Creek, Missouri, 145a Harrison Co. (Cummins farm), also enough land off of the Texas or Sheep farm to make him equal in value.
Children of Son: Valney, dec’d, except his son Jeremiah and daughter Ellen who married Carter, 220a they live on (Grocery farm of 80a, 425a of Texas Farm).
Exec. James, John Simpson & Dr. John Henry.
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[cos1776 Note: this transcription is not trustworthy. Verification needed.]

916 HALL, JAMES Aug 5, 1822 H/183
Wife: Sarah (plantation & household goods)
Dau: Mary Betsy Massie, $10 (w/o Benj. J. Massie).
Sons: John (1/7 of plantation) Joshua, Jesse (plantation), David.
Exor: Joshua and Jesse, sons.
Oath of Samuel and William Finley