James Hall of Harlan County Kentucky

On November 4, 1833, personally appeared before four justices of the Harlan County, Kentucky Court, James Hall a resident of Cumberland River in the county of Harlan. Hall stated his age to be "82 years on the 10th of May last past." He made the following statements to obtain benefit of the Act of Congress of June 7, 1832. " That he was drafted in May, 1776 for a tour of two months in the State of South Carolina, District of 96, between Broad River and Tiger's about 6 miles from Fish Dam Ford on the Broad River, where he then resided." He served under Captain Thomas Branum, Lieutenant Joseph Jolly, Ensign William Grant and Colonel John Thomas. "We marched from Colonel Thomas Mile ( the place of rendevous and encampment for one month) to the Cherokee Nation. Before we got to the Nation we were joined by Colonel Neill off of the Catawba. We destroyed a great many towns by burning down their corn. One of the towns was named Eastatta, where we were stationed--after my two months was out--I and many other volunteered to stay as long as our officers had need of us. We were relieved by fresh troops when the corn was hard and went home."

In the fall or latter part of 1777, Hall enlisted , while still living in 96, in the state troops of Georgia called the "minute men." The officers were Lieutenant Carrinton, Captain David Dixon, Colonel Samuel Jack and Lt. Colonel William Ferret. We vendevoused at a place called Wells Fort on Ozuche River, The line between the whites and the Indians. We were forted here to guard the Frontier until the Florida expediation come on under General Howe. I then march to Augusta, where " it was proposed to the soldiers if they would volunteer and go to the Florida expedition under General Robert Howe, we were to receive a pension for our two years service--I with many men volunteered and we joind the Georgia militia at Augusta. My same officers accompanied us on this expedition, this was as well as I remember in May or June, 1778."

"At Reid's Bluff we come in sight of the American Army under General Howe. Howe marched one day ahead of us until we came to St. Mary's River at a place called Burntfoot Brown's Breastwork-he was a Tory, but fled upon our approach. We joined General Howe, and a difference here occurred between our officers and General Howe.As I understand it, General Howe wanted to be head commander of all the troops and our officers were unwilling. Howe left us with his Army and we marched to a place called Little St. Mary, where the enemy had whipped some of our folks a while before. When we got there they had evacuated the place. We then retreated back into the State of Georgia. At Midway Meeting House in Liberty County I was discharged for the service. I received a written discharge form Colonel Samuel Jack."

In the winter before Charleston was taken (1779-80) Hall was drafted for a tour of two months in the State of South Carolina in 96 District, where he lived. The officers were Lt. Phil Trammel, Captain William Fair,and Major Bullock. They march to Birch Island in the month of December or January . There they joined "Colonel Pickens--our company at this time was light-horse." they were stationed there a little while then march to Georgia and joined some troops under Colonel Twigs and marched back to Birch Island and were there discharged.

"In the summer of 1781, I was drafted under Major Benjamin Jolly and Captain George Avery while living in 96 District. We marched to Anchonam's old place on the Congaree River, then we crossed the river and joined General Pickens the day before the Battle of the Eutaw Springs. We joined General Greens on the 8th of September in 1781 and we fought the Battle of the Eutaw Springs. I well remember this day, for I received a wound in my right wrist which destroyed the joint and has left we a cripple to this day. Orders came for all the wounded to go to the hospital in the high hills of Santee, but by the interceding of my officers , I was permitted to return home. My wound had rendered me unfit for duty, as it has left me unfit for hard labor ever since. I know of no person living by whom I can prove any of my services."

"I was born in Loudon County, Virginia on May 10, 1751. I have no record in my possession of my age, though I have seen it frequently in the Bible (his parent's Bible). I was living in the State of South Carolina in 96 District when called into the service. I lived in South Carolina until it was laid off in counties. I then moved to the North state to Buncombe County. From there, to Harlan County, Kentucky (which was then Knox) where I have resided for 23 or 24 years and still reside." James Hall is listed as one of four Hall's who were heads of familys in Knox County, Kentucky in the 1810 census, in the book, Pioneers of Eastern and Southeastern Kentucky by Kozee.

"I am known to every person in the surrounding country, having been engaged for 14 yearslast past in trying to preach the Gospel of Jesus. My stiff wrist could but be observed by my audiences and the canass upon fit occasion freely explained for I took pride in giving an accout of those days which tried men's love of liberty.

James Hall married Elizabeth Sousby or Susby (she didn't know how to spell her maiden name) about the year 1798 in the county of Buncombe in North Carolina. The pastor was Gabriel Keith. Their children included:

Hannah born Feb. 1800.....Anthony born March 29, 1802, who lived in Benton Co. Arkansas in 1857...

Elizabeth birth unknown.....Allen born 1807.....Daughtity born 1810.....Sarah born 1812.....Ester born 1814.....

Mary born 1816.....Martha born 1818.....Sampson born 1821.

James Hall died on July 27, 1837 while living in Harlan County Kentucky. His wife Elizabeth applied for widows pension and for bounty land in 1857 while living Benton County Arkansas. Shadrick Johnson age 56 and John Johnson age 52 testified on behalf of Elizabeth Hall on Nov. 7, 1857. They stated that they had known James and Elizabeth to be husband and wife as they had lived as neighbors to them in Harlan County, Kentucky for several years before James Hall died.