II »-". -tl- 
 
 
 O E ISr T E n^ IsTI J^X 
 
 ADDRESSES. 
 
 1875- 
 
 Printed at Tipton Record Office, Crvhujton, Tenn,, 1885, 
 
CENTENNIAL ADDRESSES 
 
 on THE 
 
 (3^^LIFE AMD CHdBdCTER-'^D 
 
 OF- 
 
 lim l^^i PA&i, 
 
 _ ^^ ^^^ _ ^^ ^^ ^ _^^ ^, ^ ^^Aa»^^ 
 
 till l|wt Sl^ti|i$ il t|a 
 
 MINISTERS OF THE GOSPEL 
 
 WHO HAVE DESCENDED FKOxM 
 
 JAMES AND PRUDENCE HALL. 
 
 ., w %i. *s ^ S. H V *v X -^ -^-^v -V -V ^ '^ "N ^ *V>. ^ -"V 
 
 COVINGTON, TENN: 
 Tipton Record Power Presses. 
 
 1885. 
 
^OK:l^O■^A^IJSIIDC3-E13^^E!l^^T. 
 
 To tlie Rev. E. F. Rockwell, D. D., is due the sincere thanks of every 
 descendant of Juraes Hall and Prudence Roddy, hi^: wife, for his manifest 
 interest in the history of their family; for his disinterested labor in collecting 
 and placing in suitable forna for preservation "Sketches" ©f those among their 
 posterity, who have entered the Gospel Ministry. In token of our apprecia- 
 tion of his efforts, we, the descendants of James i.d Prudence Hall, now 
 residing in Tipton County, Tennessee, do publish and de<licate to him this 
 little volume. 
 
HH" 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 In the year 1751, James Hall, with his wife and a family of nine children, 
 settled on Fifth Creek in what is now Iredell County, North Carolina. The 
 place of settlement was near where Bethany Church was afterwards built. 
 From the cenificate of church membership brought by the father and mother, 
 we learn that they came from the Presbyterian congregation ot Conewago, 
 York County, Pennsylvania. From this certificate we further learn, that the 
 parents were among the number who founded the Conewago Church, as that 
 instrument states **that they had lived in that congregation ever since it was 
 erected in 1738." Of the early history of Mr. Hall but little is known. 
 While yet a young man, about the year 1720, he left bis native Ireland, 
 accompanied by his widowed mother, tor A merica. During the voyage tha 
 mother died and the youth landed on our shores an orphan boy, a stranger in 
 a strange land. So far as it is known, his first employment in America was 
 in the city of Philadelphia. The next account we have of him he had left 
 the city and removed into the country. It was ther« that he met and married 
 Prudence Roddy. Mr. Hall was ati Irish Presbyterian, and possessed in a 
 marked degree those strong points of character that distinguish this class of the 
 Irish population. Among the many descendants of his family there remain 
 to this day, two distiuguisliing characteristics, great force of character and an 
 adherence to the Presbyterian form of faith. Having assisted in planting the 
 Conewago Church in Pennsylvania, he was also one of the founders of Beth- 
 any church in his adopted State in 1775. Under the inftuence and control 
 of his immediate descendants, this church and its schools became renowned, 
 and the community famous for its moral and intellectual culture. The com- 
 munities in the West, to the formation of wkich Bethany has contributed, 
 have felt the influence of her culture, a'ld those immigrating to such commu- 
 nities have left an impress upon the institutions and the society of their new 
 homes. So interwoven with the history of this (Bethany) church is that of 
 Mr. Hall's family, and so marked have been the impress ©f that family upon 
 all that relates to either church or community, that at the ''Bethany Ceaten- 
 uial," held on the 25lh day of August, 1875, the leading feature ot that oc- 
 
casion was the reading of the papers that compose these pages. The ''Beth- 
 any Centennial" was an occasion of profound interest, not only to those who 
 new live within its bounds, but to hundreds scattered throughout 
 many states of the Union, who look back to tkat community, 
 with an interest excited b^-- the fact that it was the birth- 
 place of their ancestry. Those who feel an interest in the matters 
 that relate to th« Hall family Cdngratnlate themselves that the Centennial 
 vras productive of papers so full of interest to them as the address of the Rev. 
 F. PI. Johnston, D.D., upon the life, character and labors of Dr. Hall, and 
 the "Sketches" of the ministerial part of the famil}', prepared by the disinter- 
 ested labors of Prof. Kockwell. These papers will have the effect of reviving 
 in tiie descendants of James and Prudence Hall a deeper interest in the his 
 tory of a family that for more than a centur) has furnished to the country, 
 the church and society some of the hit^hest types of the patriot, Christian, 
 cit'zen. 
 
BETHANY CENTENNIAL, 
 
 Address of Rev. F.H. Johnston,I).B,, Winston, K,C. 
 
 Bethany and James Hall are names that cannot be separated from each 
 other in history, as they are not in the memory of some now living, nor in the 
 unwritten traditions which have come down to us from a hundred years ago. 
 A commemoration of the hundredth anniversary of this church would be alto- 
 gether incomplete, if not absolutely void of all attractiveness, were it not at 
 the same time the ci^mmemoration of the man whose life was, for nearly half 
 a century, identified with its history as the most active and infiueiitial element 
 in its growth and prosperity. It would be something like telling the story ©f 
 Israel's exodus and ills wanderings in the wilderness without mention of Moses; 
 or of his settlement in Canaan without refereicce to Joshua. 
 
 The charches of Iredell county are chif'fly interested in the day 
 we celebrate, but not exclusively; other regions both within and without 
 North Carolina might also well unite with them in these CeuLenuial demon- 
 strations. The ntiine of James Hall is associated wiih extensive labors 
 throughout the Southern Country as a missionary, and with a manly and ef- 
 fectual defense of the principles of constitutional liberty both by his eioquenc?' 
 and his sword in "times that tried men's souls." To him, therefore, whose 
 life as a patriot and christian teacher, bore no unimportant relation to the 
 early development of the principles of religious and civil liberty in this com^ 
 mon wealth, and who gave his best years to their maintenance; who impressed 
 the men of hjs generation as a man of uncommon power, both of heart and 
 brain; who left behind him a name embalmed in the grateful memories ot his 
 people; a chief place is most worthily given in the commemoration exercises 
 of this day. 
 
 It would be impossible within the limits to be observed on the present occa- 
 sion to give anything more than the condensed review \ii a subject which de- 
 serves a volume written by a competent and enthusiastic biographer. We 
 must be content with such a view of the man as the railway traveller gets of 
 the country through which he is passing — brief, hasty and imperfect. 
 
 That the impression^ nevertheless, to be lelt on the mind to-day, of the life 
 and work of Dr. Hall, may not be altogether a vague one.^ I shall endeavor 
 to group the principal facts of his life around a few salient points — those 
 points in which the man was brought into most impressive contact with his 
 contemporaries, and is projected into the view of posterity; namely, as the 
 
patriot soldier, the lUyoal and wtell'geni educator, the earnest and succej<s.fvl 
 preacher and pastor. 
 
 TLis sketch would he wanting, however, without some brief account of the 
 early life •i' Dr. Hall and his preparation for his work, for the facts concern- 
 ing wtiich I must acknowledge ruyselt indel)te(I principally t© the author of 
 the "Sketches of North Carolina." 
 
 In common with the majrr part of the early settlers of this section of the 
 State lying between the Yadkin and Catawba rivei*s, James Hall was of 
 Scotch-Irish parentafre. The third son of James Hall, of Carlisle, Pa., and 
 born 22d August, 1744, he removed, while yet a boy, with his father's family 
 to this State and into this region at that time embraced within the limits of 
 Rowan county. Of his chddhood and early youtl) little is known. Still, 
 we may readily imagine how those early years must have jjlided by with hitn 
 under the parental roof, because they canntt have differed much fr'>m the 
 years many another youth passes, whose lot has fallen in the household of a 
 plain and thrifty but intelligent Christian farmer. Uneventful such a youth- 
 hood may have been, and giving^ no distinct foreshadowing of the greatness of 
 the man; yet it was with him a seed-tinae which could not have been neglected. 
 Trained to habits of industry in the ireest of occupations men can pursue, the 
 culture of the soil; tra'ned above all in the principles ot God's word and the 
 habits of religion by careful hands and prayerful hearts, to what true eleva- 
 tions of greatness, with the divine guidance and favor, may not the 3^outh 
 attain? Who can tell ? The foundation is being laid wisely by patient and 
 loving hands far away frern the gaze of men in the obscurity and slielter of a 
 wilderness of woods;Jbye and bye we shall see a man among men, by the 
 grace of God — a man fitted for a work none but a man can do, and doing it to 
 tne glory of God, and the praise of men. These woods resounded once tn 
 the fall of the axe lifted up against the trees by this sturdy youth, but they 
 shall resound again to higher and more powerful notes when the mature man 
 lifts his voice, not in vain, to inspire his countrynaen with the ardors of a 
 noble patriotism; or awaken them to life and immortality with the sound of a 
 trum )et and earnest gospel pleading. 
 
 W ^nla'^out twenty years old Mr. Hall united with the church; the exact date 
 of his profession of faith is uncertain, though it is probable that it occurred during 
 the visitation of ministers sent into Cart^lina from time to time by the Synod 
 et New York and Philadelphia "to organize the congregations and administer 
 the ordinances," for these visits were very generally followed by many hopeful 
 conversions and additions to the church. 
 
 Soon after his first comforts in the experience of religion, as he himself tells 
 us, Mr. Mall "felt a strong desire to preach the gospel," but this desire ap- 
 pears to have remained his own carefully-guarded secret for a number ot years; 
 under the impression that it was vain to cherish it, as no door seemed to opem 
 to him for its fulfilment. 
 
 After waiting, however, feur or five years the difficulties, whether supposed 
 or real, were removed, and he commenced the study of the classics. This 
 was in his twenty -sixth year, an age when p mind of more than ordinary natu- 
 ral powers, and now mature, would under unremitting application such as 
 Mr. Hall conscientiously gave to his studio? make very rapid progress. He 
 was a special adept in the exact sciences. M^ith^piatica was his favorite study 
 
and he turned its principles often to practical use. This taste was developed 
 in him while yet a youth, having at the age of seventeen chanced upon a copy 
 ( f Euclid and mastered its content, unaided by any instructor. "By the help 
 plates" we are told "he constructed a quadrant, and amused himself and triends 
 by measuring the height ol trees and the distance of objects." \ears a.ter- 
 wards in the midst of professional labors his taste for this science cleaved to 
 him and tradition tells us that he constructed a piece of mecha: ism which at- 
 tached to his traveling carriage measured off the miles and noted their num- 
 ber, a useful contrivance in those days when mile posts were still growing m 
 the woods, and distances through the mazes of a Carolina forest unascertained.^ 
 
 Mr. Hall pursued his collegiate studies at the College of New Jersey m 
 Princeton, N. J., where he was graduated in the Bachel .r's degree in ^ 1774. 
 Dr. John Witberspoon was president of the college at the time^ and it was 
 at the feet of this distinguished patriot and divine that James Hall sat as a 
 pupil not only in the Sciences, but also in Theology. It is an evidence of the 
 high estimate at wkoh Mr. Hall was held by that great man as well as o his 
 proficiency as a scholar that -the position of tutor in Mathematics was^tendered 
 him in the College after his graduation. This post ot honor and usefulness he 
 declined out of fidehty to a solemn covenant he had made with bod yeara 
 bef »re that if the way should ever be opened for his entering the sacred ottice 
 of the ministry, he would devote his whole life to its duties, a fidelity m which 
 he persevered throughout the entire course of a long lite. -vr u 
 
 When his course was finished at Princeton, Mr. Hall returned to JSorth 
 Carolina, and was soon afterwards licensed by the Presbytery of Orange, nnd 
 in April, 1778, he was installed pastor of the united congregations ot J^ourth 
 Creek, Concord and Bethany. 
 
 In stature Mr. Hall was above the medium height (over six feet) withtroad 
 shoulders, full chest, strong, muscular limbs, and he trod the earth with hrm 
 step— a man whose appearance at once commanded respect and invited conn- 
 deuce. "I^" says one, "a casual observer who had only the most crude^ no- 
 tions of phrenology, had at any time noticed that large head, and especially 
 that broad, massive forehead, and then thought of the volume ef brain it cen- 
 tained, he would have said that the man with such a head had a vigorous in- 
 tellect and great decision of character." To these physical attribute's he united 
 the qualities of head and heart that fitted him to gain and to hold the respect, 
 confidence and affections of men in no small degree. We may sum them up 
 xis follows : Undoubted piety and practical religion; undaunted courage, t)Otli 
 moral and physical; coolness in judgment and decision in action; great ^ readi- 
 ness and skill in applying his knowledge ot things to practical uses; mflexi- 
 bility and earnestness of purpose; enthusiastic devotion in a good cause; great 
 kindness and tenderness of feeling; amiableness of disposition, and last, but 
 not least, engaging manners. He was a perfect gentleman in society, attable, 
 courteous, as attractive in his bearing as in his personal appearance. Ail 
 the«e combined to give him a strong bold on the popular will and atfectiong. 
 Men looked up to him with reverence and love in the homes ot their child- 
 hood, and with ccmfidence, alike in the camp of the soldier and in the house 
 
 of God. 1/. 
 
 Dr. Hall never married, and in this thing he appears as a martyr to a seit- 
 
 impoged obligation. Having devoted his whole life to God in the ministry of 
 
Jesus Christ, he conceived, whether rightly or wrongly, the assumption of the 
 marriage relation in his own case as interfering with the discharge of that obli- 
 gation; yet it was a decision which was, as has been truly said, "in opposition 
 to that tenderaess of heart and affectionate disposition he was known to possess 
 from his earliest boyhood to his latest breath." In the providence of God he 
 was called in times of peculiar emergency t) do larijely the work of an evange- 
 list in frontier regions, the spiritual desolation whereof could not be reached . 
 except through the most self-denynig love and labor; a work, therefore, which 
 like that of the Apostle Paul, was the more likely to be best dona by men who 
 were free from domestic ties and cares. 
 
 We have come now to the period when Dr. Hall, having finished his scho- 
 lastic course, had entered in earnest upon his life work. That work was one, 
 yet manifold. Although he had consecrated himself wholly to the work of 
 the Ministry, and never ceased from it until disabled by the iafirmities 
 of age; yet he was called by the exigencies of the times to take a leading 
 and influential part in the political and educational interests of his 
 country. Nevertheless, be always subordinated his movements in these di- 
 rections to the one grand purpose of his life. The preacher never disap- 
 peared in the military expedition, or in the superintendence and conduct 
 of the sckool. There was that versatile capacity in him, which combined 
 with great powers of endurance, enabled him to do the work of a soldier 
 or of an instructor in the sciences, without detracting from his fidelity or 
 usefulness as a minister of God; one proof whereof lies in the fact that he 
 maintained unsullied in the eyes of m^n the dignity of his office, and deepened 
 their reverence and respect both for it and for himself amid the throes of a 
 great revolution and the ravages of desolating war. Not to every mm has 
 this grace been given — to be faithful to his holy calling as a pieacher of right- 
 eousness — and yet, if need be, to descend in persou into the arena of secular 
 turmoil and conflict; but to James Hall this grace was given. By nature, by 
 Providence and by grace, he was eminently fitted to be a man for the times. 
 
 Let \ii look at him Jird as the p.ttr lot and soldier. Dr. Hall was an intelli- 
 gent enthusiast in the cause of American inaependence, and in this section of 
 the State one of its most eloquent and able defenders. This devotion to the 
 cause of civil liberty was not peculiar to Mr. Hall, but he shared, acc)rding 
 to his aieasura, in a feeling ommon to the great mass of Scotch-Irish emi- 
 graats and their descendants, and especially of the Presbyterian ministry, a 
 hatred of tyranny and intolerance iu church or State. The great battle for 
 freedom of onscience wliich impirted to Scotland its p3culiar hist )ric.il chir- 
 acter and rendered her name illustrious among the nations resulted in the 
 deposit of that principle as of a seed in the j^'rimnd, which sliould grow anti 
 spread until all superstition and tyranny be ..v/ept from tlie face of the earth. 
 It found root and room for expansion in the providence of God, in the virgin 
 soil of the New World, and civil liberty in its purest form is a part ol its 
 blessed fruits. The inheritors and guardians of this principle in this land, 
 could n(jt bow down meekly to tyranny and oppression, and among those who 
 espou.sed and advocated the cause of freedom with intelligence and elo([uence 
 we find the clergymen of the revolution. It found an earnest champion in 
 John Witherspoon, a signer of the Declaration of Independence — a man alike 
 
distinguished for integrity of principle, patriotic courage and zeal, as tor learn- 
 ing and eloquence, and from hira James Hall doubtless imbibed as a pupil 
 much of that enthusiasm and constancy and intrepidity for which he was 
 afterwards distinguished when the war with England came on. A speech of 
 his delivered as we infer at the time of his leaving Nassau Hall is devoted in 
 part to the state of the country, and is full of the fire of patriotism. And we 
 may well believe when afterwards, during the progress of tne conflict he em- 
 braced oppo)rt unities of meeting and ar dressing the citizens of this region 
 according to Foote in his ''Sketches," "he infused his spirit and inflamed their 
 love of liberty and strengthened their purpose of maintaining their rights at 
 all hazards." 
 
 The fact that there was but little Toryism in this part of the State, and 
 much unanimity of feeling and purpose among the patriots was in no small 
 measure due to his personal eloquence and exertion. In response to his fervid 
 appeals made here to his own congregations, a company of cavalry was organ- 
 ized, the command of which was devolved upon himself by a unanimous 
 vote, and which he carefully drilled and led into the field. He was at the 
 same time its chaplain, and he discharged the duties of both positions with 
 acceptance during a campaign cf several months duration in the upper and 
 western part of South Carolina, then overrun by the British torces under 
 Com wail is. 
 
 He once narrowly escaped the peril of capture by a party of dragoons 
 during this expedition. On another occasion, when two of his men fdl into 
 the hands of the enemy, he made their case the subject, f prayer both private- 
 ly and in public, and had the satisfaction of seeing them restored in safety to 
 the company, they having efl'ected their escape with thanks to a drowsy suard. 
 He had the honor subsequently to be selected ft)r a cf-mmission as Briga- 
 dier General by Gen. (ireen to take the place of the gallant and lamented 
 Davidson, who fell in the fight at Ctjwau's Ford. This ofl'er he declined, but 
 the incident shows that his abilities as a soldier were recognized and apprecia- 
 ted in high quarters. That he possessed the qualities which are demanded 
 in a successful and trusted leader there can be no doubt. His fine com- 
 manding person, his skill in planning operations, and precision in carrying 
 them out, his coolness and courage in the midst of danger, admirably fitted 
 him to lead men into the tented field. 
 
 But his delight was not in war. He felt it to be his duty indeed to buckle 
 on the sword and lead the men of his flock, as once did the j-atriarch 
 Abraham, ao:ainst the foe that threatened their homes, their lives and 
 their rights with destruction. The emergency was peculiar and pressing, and 
 James Hall was the last man to refuse to defend with his right arm what he 
 so eloquently defiended with his lips. Yet his great mission was to preach the 
 gospel of peace, and no honors or awards could tempt him to lay aside the 
 duties of his holy calling. 
 
 But beside the political welfare of his country there was another important 
 interest of society in which Dr. Hall's feelings and eflbrts were warmV enlisted. 
 
 We refer to the education of youth. 
 
 His work in this connection was of immense value and lasting benefit both 
 to the church and to the state. 
 
In the ^^cliool he foimdeil and supcrinteii<kMl, as well as that which he per- 
 sonally taught ia iiis own house, raany valuable men received their classical 
 ediicaUon, and many ministers their theological traiuinc:. 
 
 There i.^ a spot not far from this place upon which stood a building famil- 
 iarly knowii ior sometime as the Latin school-house, but atterwards by the 
 more euph()ni(;us and sue^gestive name ot Clio's Nursery. It has been de- 
 scril e I as 1 eautiful for situation in an intelligent Presbyteiian neighborhood, 
 commanding a fine prospect, the country for miles around being both pictu- 
 resque and healthy, and so far elevated that the pirnncle ef Pilot Mountain 
 could he seen in the north and the top of the Blue Rid^^^e in the west. This 
 institution was founded by Dr. Hall soyn after his retuin from Princeton, and 
 under his superintendence it flourished many years. Many youth who in 
 their day filled posts of honor and usefulness in the country, were here taught 
 with ability and success. Dr. F( ote mentions the names of the "Rev. Rich- 
 ara King, of Tennessee, esteemed tie man of the finest powers of mind ever 
 trained iis Western North Carolina, Dr. Waddell, of South Carolina, Judges 
 Laurie, Harriss and Smith." Moses \yaddell was famous afterwards as a 
 teacherjjno. C.Calhoun and other prominent public men having been his pupils. 
 
 Besides the Clio Nur.«:ery, Mr. Hall opened a school in his own house as an 
 "Academy of the Sciences," for the benetit of young men who could not 
 afford to go to the northern colleges. Many young men also pursued their 
 theological studies under his direction — young men that were led by him to 
 seek the gospel ministry, and who became emiaent preachers. We select a few 
 names from Fooie's SketcheSy as Drs. John Robinson and John M. Wilson, of 
 North Carolina, Francis Cummins, D.D., of Geor2;ia, James Adams, Thomas 
 Price, Andrew Fleiiit, D.D., of S(j»uth Carolina, James Blythe, D.D., of Ken- 
 tucky. .^ ^^ 
 
 Besides all this, we are told that in order to promote useful knowledge in his 
 congregation he formed a grammar class which he met every Saturday. 
 
 Books were scarce, and he ^^rotea system of grammar, and circulated MS. 
 copies among the members of the class. 'J he grammar was afterwards pub- 
 lished and extensively used. He also founded a circulating library in his 
 charge, and encouraged debating societies among the young people. Thrse 
 facts show the wonderful capacity for work;'nd the energy of the man. He 
 was not less "apt to teach" than he was brave and skiHful as a soldier. He 
 had great facility in imparting instruction and experienced profound pleasure 
 in tiie employment, while his hi^^ih aim was to elevate society around him to a 
 standard of i'ltellisence worthy of freemen. 
 
 But we must hasten to take a view (;f Mr. Ha.ll iii his own clioscn sphere of 
 preacJurr and imdor. 
 
 In this sphere he excelled, if we niay accept the concurring testimony of 
 history and tradition. 
 
 ,As a preacher. Dr. Plall was distinguished more for the power than the 
 t,n'aces of oratory. His sermons are said to have becH strong and earnest, 
 the Ivddus, ordo was their characteiistic, and that unction of the Spirit which 
 is the certain mark of pul])it power. His manner was full of tendf r'less and 
 feeling and he was often affected to tears. He was also the wise, faithful and 
 
devoted pastor, briiiiiing tlie treasures of a rich experience to aid him iii lead- 
 ing awakened souls to tlie Savior, or in administering consolation to the af- 
 flicted i)eopIe ot God. Says one, "he was always the first to visit the sick 
 and dying throughout the hounds ot his congregation, and in order to ascer- 
 tain who were sick, he enjoined it upon the physicians praclicinir within the 
 limits of his parish to give him regularly a list of the sick and the afflicted, 
 the distressed and the disconsolate, so that he might immediately visit them. 
 ]^or did he confine his visits to these (mly who regularly attended his adminis- 
 tration of the ordinances ot the go.>pel at his church, but to all of every name 
 and denomination. He had a heart as open as the day to heavenly cha-ity, and 
 many were the poor and needy who received from him pecuniary aid from 
 his o*wu private funds." He was in the habit of regularly catechising the 
 grown members ef his congregation, non-communicants as well as c tmmuni- 
 cants, and also the children at stated periods. 
 
 After the war was over, Dr. Hall gave his undivided energies and atten- 
 tion to his charge, and it was soon greatly blessed by an outpouring of the 
 Spirit. At one communion season, we are told, eighty persons were received 
 on profession, and at a succeeding communion sixty more were added. In tlie 
 year 1790 he was released from the pasroral charge of two of the congregations 
 hitherto included in it, viz: Fourth Creek (now Statesville) and Concord. 
 He was from this time to the date of his death pastor of Bethany alone; but 
 his labors were not confined to this charge. 
 
 The scarcity of ministers, and the wide-spread destitutions of the Southern 
 country requfred that settled ministers should spend no inconsiderable portion 
 of their time in missionary labors. Dr. Hall made extensive tours under the 
 direction of the General Assembly and the Synod of the Carolinas. Some of 
 them covered i period of nine months, and extended as far south and west as 
 Natchez on the Mississippi river. The eastern part of this State (N. C.) 
 was also several times the scene of these visitations. Besides numerous short 
 excursions into adjoining counties, we learn that he made "fourteen long and 
 toilsome missions, and that his labors, always praiseworthily performed, con- 
 ferred lasting obligations on the State and the Southern country." 
 
 Dr. Hall ranked with the best as a presbyter. He was regular in his at- 
 tendance on the meetings of his Presbytery and other courts of the church. 
 He attended the meetings of the General Assembly in Philadelphia as commis- 
 sioner sixteen times, and at the meeting of that body in the year 1803, he 
 was chosen Moderator, and we may add that he was the first and only presi- 
 ding officer of that venerable body from North Carolina before the division ot 
 1861. He was the last Mederator of the Synod of the Carolinas in 1812. 
 He was a Director also of the Seminary at Princeton for some years. He 
 was a good friend of the Bible cause, was present at the formation of the 
 American Bible Society,. and became a life member; was first president of the 
 North Carolina State Bible Society, and attended all its meetings in Raleigh 
 punctually, beside those of the Presbytery and Synod. It might be truly 
 said »>f him m comparison with others, as Paul said of himself in the spirit ot 
 modest but just self vindication m reference to his judaizing detractors, "Are 
 they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool.} I am niore, in labors more 
 abundant. 
 
His honorary degree of D.D. was conferred on bim both by his Alma ^Ntater, 
 the College of New Jersey, and by the University of North Carolina, an 
 honor worthily conferred, if remarkable abilities as a theologian, a preacher 
 and a teacher and many valuable services rendered in the best interests of 
 humauicy entitle one to distinction. It may be further mentioned as a token 
 of the public appreciation of the man and his services that the name of Hall 
 was given to one of the northeastern counties of Ge-jrgia, of which Gaines- 
 ville is the seat of justice.^ 
 
 Dr. Hall preached his last sermon iu the year 1819, and died July 25th, 
 1826 in the eighty-second year of his age. 
 
 This interval of seven years was marked by a general decadence of his men- 
 tal and physical powers, accompanied by great languor and aepressiou of 
 spirits, which seems to have been a constitutional infirmity, from attacks of 
 which he frequently suffered. 
 
 In his religious history there was a correspondent feature of spiritual deser- 
 tiou and distress which was sometimes of long continuance, and of such grav- 
 ity as to silence his preaching. But this was overruled and sanctified, so that 
 as pastor and friend of souls in spiritual darkne?;s and sorrow he specialJy 
 excelled in administering consolation and in applying the balm of Gilead to 
 the wounded spirit. Says a writer in the Princeton Review, remarking upon 
 the review of Dr. Hall, contained in ''Sprague's Annals," "One result of 
 these desertions of soul was that he sympathized in an extraordinary degree 
 with persons laboring under similar depressions, so that he would go miles out 
 or the way to administer coraf)rt to such amidst his frequent visits to the 
 north. In these journeys, which were always either on horseback or in his 
 own gig, Dr. Hall had so many friends at every stage to welcome him that >ye 
 remember his having said that in coming to the General Assembly he once paid 
 no more than half a dollar. 
 
 On an Arctic summer's dav the evening twilight is long, but it never sinks 
 into total darkness. Something like this was the evening of the loncj day of 
 activity and usefulness of this eminent servant ot God. The shadows gath- 
 ered around him for a few declining years, but the end was still "like sunset 
 at the poles when the last departing rays of light are the first also of the rising 
 
 [*.Siiice tljis attdress was delivMMTd, tlirougli the kindness of Kev. Dr. E. F. 
 Kockw ell, soijie data respecting the library and publications ol' Dr. Hall have been 
 lurnished. These are appended now. The doctor, it is known, possessed an extensive 
 library. He gave to the University Library at Chapel Hill. N. C, a large number of 
 Latin works in Theology, >retapliysics and Logic, also several volumes to tlie Library of 
 tiie Tbeulogical Seminary at Princeton in 1815. What has become of the residue at hia 
 death is not known. 
 
 His extant writings and i)ul)licatio s, so far as known, are: iSermon at the ordination 
 of Hev. Sijiiuel C. Caldwell, at Sugar Creek Church, 1792. 
 
 Another in 1795 (Home. School and Cliurch, vol. LV., page 17G). 
 
 Sermon on Prov. 14: .34, at opening ot Church court in South Carolina, Narrative of 
 State of Religion in North Carolina, 1802. 
 Report of Mississippi. Tour through Mississippi and the south west. 
 Als'^ Sermon ou the Will, in library at Davidson College. — F. H. J.] 
 
morn"— of a morn to the faithful soldier of Christ, whose sun sets nevermore. 
 
 There is in the adjacent graveyard a monument in stone, graven with suit- 
 able inscriptions, erected by an affectionate people to the memory of the 
 beloved pastor and devoted patriot. 
 
 There is an imperishable monument reared in the life of this man which all 
 would do well to mark, for 
 
 '•The lives of ^'reat men all remind us 
 
 We can make our lives sublime, 
 And departing, leave behind us 
 
 Footprints in the sands of time." 
 
 Take him all in all, James Hall was a great man in the best sense, and 
 therefore a model man. 
 
 He is a study for those of u? who. like him, are charged witli an^ embassy 
 to men from the great king and Savior; and for the y©ung men of this genera- 
 tion who are looking forward to the honorable and useful stations of life which 
 await their coming. 
 
 It h»$ been beautifully said: "Wear'' like sons who have inherited the 
 wealth their fathers won," Dut while we enjoy with humble and thankful spirit 
 the rich blessings of religious and civil liberty in this broad and goodly land, 
 stretching with varied magnificence and beauty between the oceans, let us not 
 forget the wealth we inherit in the noble names and lives of the fathers them- 
 selves. The other might be lost, this we can never lose. It is an undying 
 inspiration, rebuking the degenerate spirit that shrinks from the responsibility 
 and the self-denying labor, which are the conditions of true guceess in life, 
 and moving the soul bravely to maintain, and diligently to improve its splen- 
 did heritage of Religion and Freedom. 
 
SKETCHES OF THE MINISTERS OF THE GOSPEL WHO HAYE DESCENDED 
 FROM JAMES AND PRUDENCE HALL, • 
 
 BETlIi^lVY CJE?^TEiV>I^VL., lH7o. 
 
 Rev. Robert Hall was the son of the first James Hall and brother of Rev. 
 James Hall, D.D. He was educated at the Clio School, near Snow Creek, 
 was licensed by Orange Presbytery in the year 178-1, and the next year was 
 called to the churches of upper Long Cane and Saluda, in South Carolina, 
 where he was ordained by the Presbytery of South Carolina, July 27th, 1785, 
 at a stand midway between the two congregations. Key. Francis Cummins, 
 who had probably been his teacher at Clio, preached the sermon from Ezekiel 
 33, 7. 
 
 Soon after his ordination his health became much impaired, and at leuijth 
 in April, 1793, he was dismissed by the Presbytery from his pastoral charge. 
 He had then for a long time been unable to preach. He removed to Pendle- 
 ton District, South Carolina, and soon after died while traveling in the west 
 for his health. 
 
 Rev. Rob. J. Hall, of Ohio, in a letter dated Dec. 2n(l, 1873, says: ''He 
 died away from home, in Greenville, Tenn., near where he kad gone to attend 
 the Warm Spriogs. He had gone over to Greenville to attend church, 
 died that same night and was buried at that place. He is reported 
 in the minutes of the General Assembly of 1797 as without chtirge, and his 
 death is reported as occurrin'j: August 31st, 1797. He left two sons, Roddy 
 and John. His widow married Hugh Reed, after which the family removed 
 to (Jeorgia. 
 
 Mr Hall was [present at Ccutre Churcii, m North Carolina, in 1788 at a 
 meeting of the Synod of the Carolinas and was one of the clerks. At a meet- 
 ing of Synod held at Bethany, October Gth, 1790, it is to be })resumed that he 
 was present, as he is not noted among the absentees. That occasion was his 
 last visit to his uatiye place. 
 
 Richard Hug^?, ^big was the s(m of James and Sarah (Hall) l^ing, and 
 grandson of the elder James Hall. He was born in Iredell county, in 17(17, 
 at the old family residence on Snow Creek. He received his preparatory ed- 
 ucation at the Clio .school, near his father's, and was graduated at Princeton 
 College, N. J., in the year 1786. After leaving college he studied law; be- 
 came a })olitician, engaging in the political debates of the day. He was a 
 member of Bethany church. Yet at a revival meeting in 1801-2 he profess- 
 ed to have vixperienced a change of heart tor the fir*t time. He attended the 
 
JRandoiph raeetiug iu 1802, became much excited, and only returned home 
 with his friends after much solicitatijii. He preached the ne^'t 
 Sabbath and for sometime afterwards iu that vicinity. He con- 
 tinued to preached near his father's residence to large audiences. The 
 place of assembling was a hill-side, and a projecting rock served for a pulpit. 
 In company with a frie^nd he went on a tour of two weeks into the forks of the 
 Yadkin. He says of this tour, *'I went with no license from man, without a 
 D.D., or the the title of Reverena, but to preach as Richard Hugg King, 
 Esq." While at college he had i.ssumed the name ©f "Hugg" from a fellow 
 student, who, in like manner, had taken the name of "Kmg." About the 
 year 1804 or 5 he was licensed to preach by Bishop Asbury, of the M. E. 
 church. ^ In 1808 a time was appointed for his ordination, to the full work 
 of the ministry in that church. The failure ot the Bishop to meet the ap- 
 pointment l©tt to that denomination his future service. Always Calvinistic 
 in sentiment, in 1810 he joined the Presbytery of Concord. He refused a 
 call to the churches of Concord and Bethany, because the call was not unan- 
 imous. September 13th, 1816 he was ordained an evangelist. Soon after 
 this event he renaoved to East Tenne-ssee, where he becam.e, first, stated sup- 
 ply, subsequently, the pastor of Ebenezer and Pie^SKuc Forest churches, 
 which he served many years. Resignir)g his charge, he removed to Mary- 
 ville, Tenn., and lived with his son-in-law, D. D. Foute, until his death in 
 1825. His wife survived him until 1834. They were both buried at 
 Maryville. He was a man ©f great mental power, and no little eloquence of 
 
 speech. 
 
 Rev. Thomas James Hall was a sou of Thomas and Elizabeth (Sloan) Hall, 
 and grandson of the first James Hall. He was born in Bethany congregation. 
 His early education was obtained at the school of the Rev. James Hall, D.D., 
 at the Crawford place. Later he became assistant in the school and continu- 
 ed it for many years. Among his pupils were the Rev. Samuel Williamson, 
 D D., Iatej3resident of D..vidson College; Rev. Robert J. Hall, of Ohio, and 
 the Rev. William A, Hall of Tennessee. He became a candidate for the min- 
 istry in 1793; was licaused by Concord Presbytery as a missicmary to the Car- 
 olinas and Georgia in 1802, and was ordained to the full work of the ministry 
 in 1807. After his oidmation he taught school for a while at Liberty Hill, 
 Iredell county, North Carolina. In 1808 he preached at Liberty Hill and 
 Concord. So great was his eloquence that immense crowds were attracted by 
 his preaching. In 1812 he was dismissed to the Presbytery of West Ten- 
 nessee. His work was in Bedford county of that state, where he had as a 
 charge Rock Creek and another church. He difd at Bowling Green, Ky., 
 where he had gone to reside with a daughter, after ceasing to preach. His 
 remains were brought back to Rock Creek, and buried by the side of his wife 
 and children who had died before him. 
 
 Rev. Robert James Hall of Oxfcml. Ohio, was the son of Alexander and 
 Ann (Dol)son) Hall, a grandson of the first James Hall. He was born and 
 educated in the Bethany congregation; he taught several years and thus ob- 
 tained the means for a collegiate course. He entered the University at Chap- 
 el Hill, N. C, in 1822; was graduated in 1824. Upon leaving college he 
 acrain engaged in teaching. In 1827 he removed to East Tennessee, where he 
 
beoame a teaolier in Wasliingtou College, near Jonesbcro. Wiiile tluig engag. 
 ed he studied Theol'^gy under Dr. Bovile. In 1829 be was licensed to 
 preacb by Hoist n Presb} tery. The same year he married Nancy Turner, 
 daughter of tbe Rev. JamesTurner and removed to the state of Ohio. He 
 located near the city of Cincinnati. After sixteen years of labor bis health 
 gave way. Being afflicted with bronchitis, he ceased to preacb, yet continued 
 10 labor in the capacity of colporteur^ I^l'*^^'^ he wasstill alive, residing a/i 
 Oxford, But'er C'ujpiy, Ohio, 
 
 Rev. William Alexander Hall, son of James Thomas and Rachel (Johnston) 
 Hall, and a great grandson of the first James Hall; was born in Bethan) con- 
 gregation July 20, 1799. He prepared for college under the tuition of the 
 Rev. John Mushat, of Sfatesville, a teacher ot much celebrity at that time. 
 In the summer of 1822 ho 2:raduated from the 8fate University at Chapel 
 Hill. After leaving the University he ens^aged in teaching at Bethany 
 church, and became the founder, at that place, of Ebenezer Academy, an 
 institution that gained much celebrity as a classical sc'hool. His uncle, Rob- 
 ert ^!. Hall, succeeded him as principal of the school, and he was succeeded 
 by Hugh R. Hall, a pupil of William A., who continued his connection 
 with it for more than thirty years. A number ot the pupils of William 
 A. have become distinguished in both church and state. One a member 
 of the United States Senate, one a member of the House of Representatives, 
 one a State Senator, one a Bishop of the Episcopal Church, anothei a For- 
 eign Missionary. Among the remainder are fuund ministers, lawyers and 
 teachers. During the s«cond year of his professorship at Ebenezer he connec- 
 ted himself with Bethany church and decided to enter the ministry. The 
 next year he was received under the care of the Concord Pre.^bytery. In that 
 da}' there was no Theological Seminary south of Princeton, and candidates 
 for the ministry prosecuted their studies under the tutorship of individual min- 
 isters. The Theological studies of xMr. Hall were directed by the Rev. John 
 M. Erwin, at that time pastor of Bethany church. A year later he resigned 
 his charge of Ebenezer Academy, and removed to York, South Carolina, 
 where he again engaged in teaching, at the same time continuing his ministe- 
 rial preparations under the direction ot Rev. James Adams. He remained 
 there one year, after which he returned to Bethany, and was licensed to 
 preach by the Presbytery of Concord at its meeting at Salisbury, in Au- 
 gust, 182*7. The succeeding year he was ordained to the full work of the 
 gospel ministry, and was installed as pastor of the churches of Joppa, near 
 Mocksville and Unity in Rowan county. For twenty-five years he faithfully 
 and earnestly labored in these churches. During the period of his pastorate 
 there he organized Franklin church and supplied the same until it became 
 self-supporting. On December 18th. 1828, he was married to Miss Olivia 
 C. Hall, of the Bethany congregation. In 1850 he received and accepted 
 an iuritation to take charije of the churches of Trenton and Zion in Gibson 
 county, Tennessee. In 1852 he joined the Presbytery of the Western Dis- 
 trict. He served the Trenton and Zion churches for two years, after which 
 he removed to another section of the county, where he labored with great suc- 
 cess, for many years. He organized a number of churches within the bounds 
 of that Presbytery among the number the churches of Yorkyille, Dyers- 
 burg and Smyrna. After a residence of ?«5Yenteen yea^rs in Gibson,^ 
 
having been deprived bj death of the companionship of his wife, his chil- 
 dren having married, he removed, in January, 1867, in company with his 
 onlj son, to the Mount Carmel community in Tipton county, where his father 
 and mother were buried, and where resided a number of brothers and other 
 near relatives. 
 
 At the time of his removal to Tipton he had reached that period of life 
 ■when the infirmities of age begin to grow burdensome, and men usually 
 desire retirement from active work. His condition and surroundings would 
 have influenced a maj?>rity to this course. A home provided with ample com- 
 forts and means to enable him to «njov, through the remaining^ days of his 
 life, ease and quiet, failed to divorce him from his life's work. With him life 
 meant werk. In the spring succeeding his removal to Tipten he accepted the 
 care of the church at Belmont, fifteen miles distant from his home. Soon 
 after taking charge of this church he succeeded in removing it to Masen, a 
 thriving lown on the Louisville and Nashville Railroad, and was instrumental 
 in securing the erection of a commodious church building at that place. For 
 five or more years her^^gularly ministered to that people. The earnestness ot 
 his efforts, the gentleness and meekness of his life won for him an abiding 
 lore in the hearts of his flock. One of his eiders urged him to make his fam- 
 ily his home. Long will his memory remain green in the hearts of the Mason 
 people. His next field tti labor was in a community knewa as Centre, about 
 twelve miles from his home. His congregation at that point were without a 
 house of worship. He was permitted the use of a Baptist churck in the 
 vicinity. Through his efforts a church building was soon erecfsd, and the 
 congregation insisted on naMing the church in honor of him. This ke 
 declined, and the church was called Centre. This was his last regular charge. 
 After a few years of faithful labor in this field he was forced by the increasing 
 infirmities of age to retire from active labor. He continued to preach, as 
 oDportunity presented, until the close of life. On the morning or the 30th 
 of AugUBt, 1877, an angel came and closed down the shutters ovf r the win- 
 dows ♦jf life. He who had so ofien been the instrument of blessings to others 
 was himself blessed. Humanity is heir to many faults and infirmities; the 
 most perfect ch:*racter has its lig^hts and shades. He doubtless had his; if so, 
 they were hid from view by the resplendence of those virtues that adorned 
 his life. Meekness and charity did for his life that which the sculptor's chisel 
 does for the rough stone. Smoothing, polishing and beautifyino; the rough 
 points brings to yiew a form of beauty and grace. His life and character, in 
 a preeminent manner, illustrated the beauty and power of faith 
 and love. He was the embodiment of gentleness and love, yet 
 not effeminate. His convictioas Tvere deep; his will strong; his 
 integrity immovable. So gentle was his life that the casual ac- 
 quaintance failed to discover how strong were the undercurrents of his nature. 
 So perfect was his self-discipline that those who came in contact with him only 
 remember his christian beneficence and unbounded charily. His life was too 
 full of Heavenly grace for selfishness, ostentation or pride to find a lodgement. 
 The remembrance of his life is like unto that of a sweet psalm, or the minor 
 note of a soft melody. His virtues and graces attracted all classes and condi- 
 tions. The exalted purity and earnestness of his life commanded their rev- 
 
erence a^ad admiration. It can be said of him that the world is better for his 
 h&vlno: Jived in it. The words selected bv the Rev. S. B. O. Wilson for his 
 funeral discourse were peculiarly appropriate : "For he was a good man and 
 full ot the Holy Ghost and of faith." His fifty years of zealous labor in the 
 ministry wa* crowned by the most gratifying results, the full measure of which 
 will only be realized m eternity. 
 
 He was buried at the Mount Carmel Cemetery by the side of his wife and 
 daughter. The life of this good man was a Yolurae of sermons; when com- 
 j^leted God closed the lid« and he was carried by the angels to glory.* 
 
 Key. James Davidson Hall, brother of William A. Hall, was born at his 
 father's ©Id place, three miles from Statesville, in 1806. He was the seventh 
 of a family of ten children, all of whom came to mature age. He obtained 
 his preparatory education in the school of his brother \Villiam A. Hall at 
 Bethany church. 
 
 Here he spent f )ur years preparing to join the junior class at Cliapel Hill; 
 the fourth year under Kobeit Sloan Hall, his uncle, who both preceeded and 
 succeeded William A. Hall as teacher in Ebenezer Academy. He entered the 
 junior class in the University of North Carolina in the summer of 1826, grad- 
 uated in 1828, when Drs. Caldwell, Mitchell and Hooper were professors, and 
 Hiatz was instructor in modern languages. From 1828 to 1830 he taught 
 an Academy at Washington, North Carolina. He then went to Union Sem- 
 inary, Virginia, remaining until the spring of 1833, when he was licensed 
 April 6th, 1833. by Concoi'd Fresbytery at Rocky River church. 
 
 He then v>'ent as a domestic missionary to Rocking^ham county, North 
 Carolina, preaching at various points in that and in Guilford county. Here 
 he joined Orange Presbytery, and was ordained as aa evangelist, and married 
 his first wife, Miss Elizabeth Scott. Iq the spring of 1836 he removed to 
 Rowan county and took charge of Thyatria and Franklin churches, the former 
 an old, the latter a new church, which had been ministered to by his brother 
 Will'am A. Hall, and remauied in charge of these churches until the fall of 
 1846, when he remov«d '.o that part of Lincoln county, now embraced in 
 Gaston county, where he still resides. He has served as trustee of Davidson 
 College twenty-nine years; supplied tht churches of Goshen and New Hope 
 twelve years, preaching alternately at each, and on the fifth Sabbaths and on 
 week days at Oluey, which at that time had very few members. After a time 
 he became ])astor ftf the three churches, and in all served Goshen twent3'-four 
 years. New Hope, eighteen, and Oluey seven teeu years, haying received in 
 all his ministry into his churches by examination six hundred members and 
 still surrives, August, 1875. 
 
 Rev. Thomas Stanhope King was the son of Andrew and Elizabeth Nis- 
 bet King, a grandson of James and Sarah Hall King and great grandson of 
 the first James Hall. He was born in Iredell County, North Carolina, in the 
 year 1808. He entered Franklin College at Athens, Georgia, as an irregular 
 
 *The memory of this sainted man ii so precious to his many friends in Tipton that 
 tboy have taken the liberty of extending the skotch of bim. 
 
student, but prosecuted his studies but a short while. After the death 
 of his wife, he removed to Rankin County, Mississippi, and became a minister 
 of the Baptist denomination. At a subsequent periv^d hs removed to the 
 state of Arkansas, where he died in 1872. 
 
 Kev. Junius Brevard King was the sen of Samuel and Cynthia (Winslow) 
 King, grandson ol James nnd Sarah(Hall) King and great grandson of the first 
 James Hall. He was born and raised on Snow Creek, Iredell Conutj, North 
 Carolina; prepared for college at New Clio, in his father's neighborhood, under 
 tke instruction of Prof. Hugh R. Hall, and was graduated at Chapel Hill in 
 the year 1833. 
 
 In November of that year he went to XJiiion Theological Seminary, in Vir- 
 ginia, took the regular course and was licensed to preach by CoBcard Presby- 
 tery in 1836. 
 
 Going to Alabama he took charge of Valley Creek church r.ear Selma, and 
 preached with great acceptance and usefulness until his death by cholera in 
 1849. HehiTd been to Texas to settle some business connected with the es- 
 tate of his brother, James Albert King, where he took the disease, returned 
 home, died on Saturday, and the Rev. R. B. Cater, who v/aa called to attend 
 his funeral the next day, died also on Monday of the same disease. 
 
 Mrs. King, originally Miss Eugenia Knox, whom he had married iu 1841, 
 died soon atter her husband. 
 
 Rev. Thomas Pinkney Johnston was a son of William Smiley and Mary 
 Hall Johnston and a great-grandson of the first James Hall, through his son 
 Thomas. He was born in the Third Creek Congregation, Rswaa county. 
 North Carolina. Pie received his preparatory course at Ebenezer Academy 
 at Betkany, and graduated at the University of North Carolina in the year 
 1828. After completing his collegiate course he taught one term at Jonesboro, 
 Tennessee, also taugkt one term at Washington College, near that place. In 
 1832 he graduated from Urion Theological Seminary, Virginia. The same 
 year he was licensed to preach at Unity, Lincoln county. He was ordained 
 to the full work of the ministry at Bethany church on October 4tb, 1833. He 
 WPS the first missionary sent to a foreign land by the Synod of North Carolina. 
 In the year 1834 he went to Constantinople under the auspices of the Ameri- 
 can Board of Foreign Mission. In that city he remained a year, preparing:, 
 by studying the language, for his mission. He established a Mission station 
 at Trebizond and continued it until 1844. In September of that year he 
 rem()ved to Smyrna, where he labored until 1853, when he returned to 
 America. The winters of 1854-5 were spent in lecturing on the manners and 
 customs of the Turks. For three mouths of the year 1855 he supplied the 
 church at Charlotte. In June ke removed to lievrcastle, Tennessee, where he 
 took charge of a Fear ale Institute. In July, 1856, he was appointed agent for 
 the American Bible Society for North Mississippi. In this field he eontinued 
 to labor until interrupted by the war in 1861. Between this period and 1866 
 he supplied several churches in that section of country. About that year he 
 returned to North Carolina and took charge of the churches ot Drusilla, in 
 McDowell county, and Silver Creek Chapel in Burke county. He remained 
 jn charge ef these congregations until 1873, since which time he has been 
 
engaged in the woik of colportagc iu Western North Carolina, ii. which he is 
 DOW labonni' with i^reat success aud usefulness. 
 
 Rev. Robert Alexander Johnston, a brother of the last abovt, was born in 
 Third Creek Cong:ref(ation, and prepared for college in the Ebenezer Acad- 
 emy under the tuitiou of Hugh R. Hall; iu 1834 entered the Freshman class 
 iii Centre College, DauYJlle, Kentucky, then undtr the presidency of Rev. 
 Jno. C. Young, D.D., where he graduated in 1838. He was engaged as 
 tutor in the preparatory department in the year 1839, studying TheoUgy at 
 the same time. In 1840 he entered the Theological Seminary at Princeton, 
 where he remained until May, 1842. 
 
 In October, 1842, he was licensed to preach by Transylvania Presbytery, 
 and was immediately invited to take charge •£ the churches of Lancaster and 
 Paint Lick in that Presbytery, and in August, 1843, was ordained aud in- 
 stalled their pastor. In 1845 he ceased to serve the former of these two 
 churches, but continued the pastor of the latter until the fall of 1865. Then 
 the relation of pastor to that church was dissolved with the view of becoming: 
 the Financial Agent of the Danville The«iogical Seminary and Centre Col- 
 lege. He continued in thii office until June, 1872, when hs ceased to act for 
 the College, but has continued the agency for the Theological Seminary until 
 the present time. In the meantime he has preached the Gospel to several 
 vacant churches in the vicinity of Danville, where he is still engaged in the 
 work of the Holy Ministry, together with the work of his agency. 
 
 Rev. Wm. Hall Johnston, son of Rol)ert and Dorcas (Hall) Johnston, 
 ^aodson of Hugh Hall aud great-grandson ef the first James Hall, a native 
 >i{ Third Creek (Congregation in Rowan county, Nortn Carolina; attended 
 Ebenezer Academy under Hugh R. Hall; graduated at Davidson College in 
 1840; went to Princeton Theological Seminary ia 1841, awd was licensed by 
 
 He preached in the bounds of Cherokee Presbytery, Georgia; died at York- 
 ville, South Caroliaa, in 1859, and was buried at Bethel church. 
 
 i^tv. r>o]),rt McCutcheon Hall was a gen ot Robert Sloan and Anna 
 fkiug) Hall, and a grandson of Thoi. Hall, and great-grandson of the_ first 
 James Hall; was born in Washington county, Indiana, in 1841. In 1853 he 
 removed with his parents and family to Plymouth, Illinois, where, in 1855, he 
 united with the Congregational Church. He was the tenth and youngest 
 child of his parents. Here he received his English education and entered 
 Knox Academy in 1864, Knox College, 1865. and was graduated in 1869; 
 entered the Theological Seminary in September ot the same year, and at the 
 end ot a year thereafter was licensed to preach for four monthi by the Cen- 
 tral West Association, Congregational, at Galesburg, Illinois, May, 1S70. 
 During this time he supplied two Congcreejational churches in Illinois, after 
 which he went to Andover Theological Seminary, Masa , but in a few weeks 
 was compelled to leave on account of ill-health. He returned home and 
 worked on a farm for a year. In April, 1871, he"was licensed to preach for 
 two years by the Quiucy Association at LaHarp. 
 
In October •£ that year he entered Lane ITieological Semipary near Cin- 
 cinnati, where he completed his Theological course, May, 1873, having been 
 received into the Presbyte'-y of Cincinnati th« month before as a lictntiate, 
 iprefsrring both the doctrijies and government of that church. Soon after he 
 (loft the Seminary he was appointed by the Committee of Freedmen of the 
 !Northern Presbyterian church. Professor in Biddle Institute at Charlotte, 
 J&^orth Carolina, and missionary to the colored people. 
 
 In April, 1874, he was ordained by the Catawba Presbytery. 
 
 Rev. James McEwen Hall Adams, son of Rer. JaiMes and Erixena 
 '(McEwen) Adams, was born in Lincoln County, North ("arolina, . Dec. 25th, 
 1810. His mother was the daughter and only child ef Rev. James McEwen, 
 who married Jane, the daughter of the first James Hall, about the year 
 1778, then the widow Rosebrough, and sister of Rev. James Hall, D.D., se 
 that he rightly inherited the nanae of James McEwen Hall Adams. He was 
 ithus the great-grandson of the first James Hall. His preparatory course was 
 at Bethel Academy, York district, South Carelina; went to College at seyen- 
 teen years of age; graduated at Franklia College, Athens, Georgia, 1829, and 
 was the first <^t the list of graduates of the Theological Seminary at Colum- 
 'bia, South Carolina, in 1833. 
 
 He proposed to go with some of his class on a Foreign Mission, but the 
 condition of his father's family would net permit it. 
 
 He was licensed by Bethel Presbytery in 1833, and ordained at Bethel 
 church by the same Presbytery in 1834 as an evangelist. 
 
 He had charge ot Unity church, Lincoln county. North Carolina, Bethel 
 church, situated in Mecklenburg:, N. C, until 1837, Third Creek Church in 
 Rowan county from 1837 till 1850. where he was much beloved; thence he 
 went to Asheville in 1849, but returned to Third Creek in 1850; lupplied 
 Thyatira and Back Creek for a time; went to Yorkville, South Carolina, 
 preached and taught a female school until his death, March 31st, 1862. He 
 was baptized, prepared for college, licensed, ordained and buried at Bethel 
 church, the church ot his fathers, in York county. South Carolina. At the 
 time of his death he was Moderator of the Synod of South Carolina. A 
 brother minister whe knew him well says ot him: "He was one of the no- 
 blest ministers I ever knew. His memory is precious." 
 
 Rev. Hugh Wilson, son of Rev. Louis Feuilleteau Wilson and 
 Margaret (Hall) ° Wilson was the grandson of Hugh Hall and the 
 great-grandson of the first James Hall; bora in Bethany con 
 greeation March 16th, 1794; prepared for college at the school of 
 Rev. John McCamie Wilson, D.D., of Rocky River; was graduated at 
 Princeton College, New Jersey, in 1819; finished his course in Princeton The- 
 ological Seminary in 1822; married Ethalinda Hall, sister of Rev. William A. 
 and James Davidson Hall, June 12th, 1822; licensed the same year by Con- 
 cord Presbytery. Soon afterwards he was ordained by the same 
 Presbytery at this place (Bethany) to be a missionary, and went on a 
 mission te the Chectaw Indians in Georgia, among whom he remained threa 
 years. 
 
He iheu went to the Chickasaw Natiou and established a mission on Cano 
 Creek, ei(;hteeii miles from Tuscumbia, AUbania, where he remained about 
 seven years, thus spending ten years ot his life among the Indians, After 
 their removal by the Government of the United States beyond the Mississippi 
 river he removed to 'lipton county. West Tennessee. In 1834 he organized 
 the Blount Carmel Church, at that time the only Presbyterian churcK in that 
 county. He was assisted at its organization by Mr. James Holmes, who had 
 been his c<)-laborer among the Indians, and wh© later became the Rev. Jam«s 
 Helmes, D.D. He spent several years in labors tlere that resulted in the 
 establishment of a church that remains to this day a very bulwark of Presby- 
 terianism. In the year 1837 he went on an explorius: t»urto the then Repub- 
 lic of Texas, and in the sprins^ of 1838 removed his family there. He organ- 
 ized the first Presbyterian church in Texas at San Augustine in the same year. 
 In October of that year he went to Independence, Washington county ard 
 spent two V'-ars. la the winter ot 1840-1 he organized a church at Gay Hill 
 and remained there until 1850, when he removed to Burleson county. In 
 May, 1852, he organized a church at String Prairie, to which he ministered 
 with faithfulness and success until death ended his labors, March 8th, 1868, in 
 his seventy-fourth year, leaving his second wife a widow and two daughters 
 orphans. 
 
 He was a forcible, earnest preacher and a devoted christian. 
 
 Rev. Louis Feuilleteau ^Yllsou, brother of Rev. Hugh Wilson, 
 last above, waft born here (Bethany) August lOth, 1804. He pre- 
 pared in part at Eljeaezer Academy for college under Rev. Wil- 
 liam A. Hall from ]822 t» 1823, who says of him "That he was a 
 nice youth and a natural orator." In 1826 he went to th© University of 
 Nashville, Tenn.; in 1830 went to Princeton Seminary. He was licensed by 
 the Presbytery of New Brunswick in 1832; he went to Woodstock, Shenan- 
 doah county, Virginia, in 1833. 
 
 In 1834 he wais called to Strasburg and Woodstock churches in the valley 
 of Virgiflia. Then, in 1836, U^ Gerrardstown, Tusciirora and Falling 
 Waters in Barkeley county, Virginia, and installed there in 1837. 
 
 In 1853 he conn'ned his labors" to the last place mentioned, in connection 
 with Hancock, Maryland, but after a time resumed Tuscarora and continued 
 uatil 1872, when he retired to a farm in Jefferson county, Virginia, where he 
 died March, 1873. He trained * large number of youag men for the gospel 
 
 ministry. 
 
 Rev. Frontis Howe Johnston, sm of Rev. Thos Pinkney and Mary Aime 
 (Howq) Johnston, and fourth in descent from the first James Hall, through 
 his son Thomas, was born in Constantinople in Turkey in Europe. He re- 
 ceived his earl v^ education and preparation lor college in Trebizond and 
 Smyrna in Asia; was graduated at Davidson College in this State, (North 
 Carolina) in 1855; took a full course in Theology in Union Theological Serai- 
 nary, Virginia, and was licensed by Concord Presbytery soon «fier leaving 
 the Seminliry in the year 1858; supplied the church of Philadelphia, Mecklen- 
 bursi county, North Carolina, to the end of the year, and in January, 1859, 
 went to Lexington, North Carolina, where he centinues to preach. He also 
 serves Wiustcn church, Forsythe county. North Carolina, which he organized 
 
iu Oct®ber, 1862, a part of his time. 
 
 Rer. William Curtis JohnstoD, brother of the last above, graduated at Yale 
 College in 1860; the same year entered Danville, Kentucky. Theological S«ra- 
 inftry, and continued for two years, when he was licensed and ordained bj 
 Transylvania Presbytery, and became chaplain of a Kentuck}'' regiment in the 
 Federal army. He died the gam« year and was buried at Munfordsville, 
 Kentucky. He was born while his parents were at the Missionary station in 
 Trebizond iu Asia Minor. 
 
 Rev. Samuel Harris Stevenson, was a son of Thomas and Lydia (Harris) 
 Stevenson, a native of Concord congregation in this (Iredell) County, N. C, 
 wa« born October 19, 1813. His father, Thos Stevenson, was the son of 
 Prudence (Hall) Stevenson, the daujg^hter of Thomas Hall, who was the son 
 of the first James Hall. He received his primary eduf'ation in Concord con- 
 gregation, preparation for college in Ebenezer Academy, under Hugh R. 
 Hall; went to Danville, Ky., and entered the freshman clags in Center Col- 
 lege in the spring of 1835, and was graduated in September 183S. 
 
 In the tall of 1840 he entered tbe Theological Seminary at Princeton, but 
 owing to sickness he was forced to give up his studies and return hoine. 
 
 In the fall of 1841 he returned to Princeton, N. J , entered the Theological 
 Seminary at the beginning of the term, and pursued his studies four months. 
 In August, 1843 he was married and took charge of the Richmond, Ky., 
 Female Seminary, which he continued for three years, and then removed to 
 Danville, Ky., to take char2:e of a female school in the fall of 1846, in charge 
 ot which he continued until June, 1854. 
 
 In the year 1853 the Theological Seminary was located in Danville, and as 
 they occupied Center College buildings, the professors conducted the exercises 
 in the afternoon, he arrangins; his classes in school so that he could hear them in 
 the forenoon. He attended the Theological lectures and recitations in the 
 afternoon and thus pursued his studies in the Seminary the first year. In the 
 spring of 1854 he sold his school property to the Theological Seminary and 
 continued his studies another year, when he was licensed by Transylvania ' 
 Presbytery. In a month or two afterwards he fouad a field of labor in two 
 small^churches in Illinois, one located in Clinton, DeWitt County, and the 
 other in Randolph Grove, McLean County, (now called Hey worth,) where 
 he commenced his ministry the last Sabbath in July, 1855. He was ©rdain- 
 ed and installed by Peoria Presbytery pastor of these churches in Septembar, 
 1856 and continued to preach to both of th»nft until October, 1858, whec, at 
 the request ot the people of ^Randolph Grove (now Heyworth) Presbytery 
 released him from Clinton, that he might sive his whole time to the latter 
 church. H«re he continued until May, 1866, where he accepted a call from 
 Union Grove Church, in Putnam Co., 111., to which church Presbytery trans- 
 ferred him, where he continued for five years. Failing to receive an adequate 
 support, on account of the weakened condition of the church by deaths and 
 removals, he was released to take charge of a graded school in Heyworth, 
 where he continued two years. While conductiug this school he supplied a 
 small church near by lor eighteen months. Compelled by the failing health 
 
of his wife to give up both the s«hooI and his ehurch, he removed to a farm- 
 near Gilman, III., whtr« he resided eighteen months, preachings part of the 
 time to a small church in the neighborhood. After the death of his vrife, in 
 January, 1872, he comraenccd preaching again to some small churches, con- 
 tinuing tor six months when he received an invitation to supply Jersey church, 
 Champaign Co., 111., which he now serves, entering upon his labors th.ere the 
 first Sabbath in October, 1872. Here God has greatly blessed him in his 
 
 labors. 
 
 Rer. Wm. Andrew Wood, son of Wm.B. and Margaret D. (Knox) Wood,, 
 a great £jran<dson of the first James Hall, through hid son Hugh, and grand- 
 aaughter, Dorcas, a native of Third Creek: Congregation, Kowan Co., N. C. 
 Attended Ebenezer Academy under Hugh R. Hall, Esq., graduated at Da- 
 vidson College in 1852, went to Princeton Seminary and spent two years, 
 1854-1855, then went to Edinburgh, Scotland one year and then toCwlumbia 
 Seminary one year. Licensed at Statesrille by Concord Presbytery in 1858. 
 July 23, 1859. he was installed pastor ef Bethany, Tabor and Fifth Creek. 
 After continuing here two years he went to Washington, N. C, where he 
 remained until the place was occupied by the federal forces. Then he went 
 te Aiheville, N. C, in 1862, continuing until 1864 after which he returned 
 to Third Creek, Fitth Creek and Unity Churches. In 1869 he was called 
 to Fourth Creek Church, where he still remains, August, 1875, in the midst 
 ef hia uftefuluess v*ud labors. 
 
 Rev. William Thomas Hall, now of Lynchburg, Va., is the son ef Rev, 
 James Davidson and Mrs. Isabella (Scott) Hall, the fourth in descent from 
 the first James Hall through hig son Thomas; was prepared for College by his 
 father at his residence in Gaston County, North Carolina. He entered Da- 
 vidson Collegia in the midf le of the Sophomore year, and graduated in 1854; 
 pursued his Theological studies at Columbia, South Carolina, where he com- 
 pleted his course in 1858. He was licensed by Concord Presbytery in the 
 ■pring of 1358. Soon after he entered upon the work of the miuistry at Lan- 
 casterviile, South Carolina, but remained there only three menths; yet in that 
 time twenty persons united with the church on profession, most of them in 
 the prim© of life, well educated and wealthy. They still remain the pillars of 
 that church. Earlv in 1859 he was called to Ebenezer church, York County, 
 South Carolina, and was ordained there by Bethel Presbjtery. For three 
 years his labors were greatly blessed. In 1861 he went to Canton, Misj^issippi, 
 where he was pastor ten years. A part ot this time, from the battle of Chica- 
 manga to the final surrender at Greensboro, North Carolina, he served as 
 chaplain in the confederate army of Tennessee. During his stay at Canton 
 the church increased from fifty to one hundred and thirty-five members, the 
 house of worship was repaired and a parsonage built. In 1872 he was called 
 to Lynchbure. Va. lu two years that church has grown from two hundred 
 and twelve to two hundred and eighty-five members and has built a chapel in 
 a destitute portion of the city. In 1877 the Southwestern University confer- 
 red the degree of D.D. upon him. 
 
 Rev. Edwin Lindsey Wilson, son of Kev. Louis Feuilleteau Wils(.n, was 
 
born in Barklej County, Virginia, July 14, 1845. His education before en- 
 tering College was obtained mostly at home. He spent one year with Rev. 
 James R. Grfiham at Winchester, Virginia. He entered Hampden Sidney 
 ColIeg;e in September, 1866, where he graduated in 1869, in June; and the 
 tulloTviug fkll entered the Union Theological Seminary, Virginia, an<l gradu- 
 at«d in Maf , 1872. His iather at that time being in declining healtb, insist 
 ed that he should remain with him at Falling Waters, where he had been 
 pastor nearly all of his ministerial lite, a period ot thirty-six years. He con- 
 tinued there, preaching tvrice each Sabl)ath, till the nniddle of Auajust in ihat 
 auxnmcr. At that time he received a call to the church at Haiicock, Md,, 
 then unaer the care of the Northern x\ssembly. He accepted the call, on 
 condition that they would join the Presb3Mery ot Winchester, connected with 
 the Southern Assembly, to which they geographically belo!i»;ed. This thev 
 did at once, and he was ordained and installed pastor of that church October 
 3rd, 1872. He continued here till February, 1874, where lie was called to 
 the church ©t Gerrardstow n, where he had preached a [)Hrt (d the time that 
 he assisted his father. He was installed past- r of this church March 29, 1874. 
 The congregatioM was formerly cunnecteil with the Falling Waters congre- 
 gation aiid a part of his father's charge. Since he has heeu ihere (November 
 1875) there have been thirty additions to the church, and thev have a bright 
 prospect before them. June 18th, 1873, he was married to Miss Nannie E. 
 Dup.iy. daughter of John ^V. and Ann K. Dupuy, of Cumberland County, 
 Virginia, of Huguenot descent. 
 
 Rev. John Ivy Sharp, fourth in descent from th.e first James Hall, is the 
 sou of Silas Davidson and Mary (Feimster) Sharp, th<-. latter the da\ighter 
 of Mrs. J«hn Feimster (^Margaret) who was the daughter of Mrs Sarah 
 (Hall) King, who was the daughter of the first James Hall. He was educated 
 in part by Rev. Staiiord C. Miller, D.D., of Iredell county, North Carolina, 
 and graduated at Emory and Henry College in Vu'gitna about Lha year 1850. 
 He had been licensed to preach by the North Carolina Conference (M. E.) In 
 1848 he removed to Nashville, Tenn., where he labored in the ministry for 
 sonie years; then engaged for sometime in teaching, and still lives there a loc;' 
 preacher; he was born in lt«dell county. North CartJina, November 29, 1832. 
 
 Rev. James Reece 8croggs is the sob of J. Hill Scrogirs and Sarah Jane 
 (Stevenson) Scrt)gL^s; Sarah Jane Stevenson (Mrs. Scroggs) is the daughter 
 of William Ross Stevenson, the son of Prudeiu e (Hall) Stevenson, the 
 daughter of Thomas Hall, the son of the first James Hall. He was T)orn in 
 Concord Congregation December 2, 1848, educated by Professor James Henry 
 Hill and Rev. E. F. Rockwell, in Statesville; w^as licensed by the North 
 Cartdina Conference (M. E.) in December, 1873, and is now (1875) pre^? 
 iog on the Stokes circuit in Stokes county in this State. 
 
 This Hall race, descending from the fird James Hall, so often mentioned 
 in these sketclies, is quite as prolific of minister's wives as of ministers. 
 
 .Tane Hal), daughter of tiie first James Hall, married Rev. .Tames McEwin. of South 
 Carolina. 
 
 Rev. .Tames Adams married Erixena, daughter of Rev. James and Jane (Hail) McEwin. 
 
 KLPROJEC 
 
Rev. William H. Johnston married Susan, a daughter of Rev. James and Erixena 
 Adams 
 
 Rev. Louis Feuilleteau Wilson. M. I)., married a daughter of Hugli Uall. son of the 
 Mrst James Hall. 
 
 Rev. Hugh Wilson married Ei]ialin<la, the daughter of James Thomas Hall, son of 
 Jhonias I 'all, who was son of the tirst James Hall. 
 
 Rev William A. Hall married Olivia, daughter ©f Samuel Hall, son of Hugh Hall, the 
 <on of the tirst .James Hall. 
 
 Rev. A. Y Lockreuge, of Georgia, married Eliza Carolina, daughter of Mary (Hall) 
 Johnston, daughter of Thomas Hall, son of the tirst James Hall. 
 
 Rev. Samuel W. Calvert married Eliza O. Hall, daughter of Thomas James Hall, son ut 
 Thonias Hall, son of the lirst .JaiMe.s Hall, 
 
 Rev. Hervey Wood married .Malinda Cecilia Hall, si.ster of Mrs. E. C. (Hall) Calvert 
 last mentioned. 
 
 Rev. Peter L'onan married Emma C, anothcrsi.ster of Mrs Calvert and Mrs H. W^ood, 
 all daughters of Rev. T. J. Hall. 
 
 Rev William L. Tarbett married Emma Hall Calvert, a daughter of Rev. Samuel AV. 
 and Eliza Calveri, just mentioned above; and now (is75) resides in Varden, Illinois. 
 
 Rev. Robert Mci'ntcheon Hall married a daughter of Rev. James David.son Hall, No. 7 
 ' f these sic t'teh«.s. 
 
 Rev. Robt-rt .McCutcheon married M ry M. Knox, daughter of Sarah Hall Knox, 
 daughter of Thoma.'S Hall, .son of tiie IJrst James Hall. 
 
 Rev. Claudius Martin married Sarah, a sister of Mrs Mary M. McCutcheon, last above. 
 
 R*^v. H. Nelson Pharr, married Dovey Amanda, daughter of Samuel King, son of Sarah 
 Hall) King danu'hter of tir.<t James Hall. 
 
 ll'-y George E. Eagleton married Etha Fout;N daughter of Mrs. D. D. Foute, daughter 
 f Rev. Paehard Hugg King., son oi Sarah (Hall) King, daughter of the first James Hall. 
 
 Rev. William H. Purviance first married Lydia Harris, and she dviriij, he married iier 
 alt si>ter. Eveline; the fir.'^t the dauirhter of Alary (Stevens(in) Harris, ihe daughter of 
 
 rudt-nce (Hall) Stevenson, the daughter of Thomas Hah. son of the lirst James Hall 
 
 The second (Eveline) the daughter of Mrs Wilson Harris, the daughter of Mrs. 
 
 ■nus Feuilleteau Wilson. Sen., and sister of Revs- Hugh and Louis F Wilson, daugh 
 -r of Hugh Hall, fm of tht- lirst Jatnes Hall. 
 
 Pvev. .\!ch. .\llen married Mary Adalioe Tucker, daughter of Mrs. Thomas Tucker, 
 . lughter of Mrs. J(^hn Feimster, daught^T of Mrs Sarah (Hall) King, daugliter of first 
 ames Hall. 
 
 Rev. J. S. Burnett married Margaret Jerusha Tucker, sister of Mrs. Allen, last above 
 mentioned 
 
 Ilev. Menry LeQueux married .Margaret McLaughlin, daughter of Margaret (Hall) 
 McLaughlin, daughter of Joseph Hall, .son of Alexander Hall, son of the Jirst Jamef Hall. 
 
 Lev. James Reece Scroggsniarried Su.san Gunn, danu'hter of Mrs. Marv Ann (Sharp) 
 ' Miin and .^ister of Rev. John Ivy Sharp (see Sketch No. 20). 
 
 Rev. Samuel vVilliam.son. I). I)., married Ann Adams, daughter of Rev. Jame.s and 
 Erixena (McEvvin) Adams (mentioned in Sketch 14), and sister of James McEvven Hall 
 Adani'^. 
 
 R<-v. Amos Stevenson m.Trricd Jane Hill, daughter of Prudence (Hall) Hill, daughter 
 i Hugh Hall, son of the first James Hall. 
 
 Rev. W. I). Lee M.D.. married Saiah Ann BailrT. jirand daughter of Mrs. Lemuel 
 .Jolinstoii, daughter of Thomas Hall son of the first James Hall. '' 
 
 llev. E. H. Gre'^n married ("atherine HaJ, dautihter of Josiaii Hall; a brother of Revs. 
 \\ illiam A. and James David.son Hall (see Sketches 6th and 7th.) 
 
 Eli7.a,daugl!ter of Rev. Janus Adams and Erixena McEwin Hall Adams married Rev. 
 Villiam B. Davis, of York county, South Carolina, who, (1875) is still living.