Edward Hall's Land Claims in Kentucky

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(Updated October 2003)
Edward Hall said in his pension statement that he was at Boonesborough in early April 1779. Thomas Hall, brother of Edward, said they were at Boonesborough late March or early April 1779.

Ralph Morgan and others (Halls not mentioned) made their journey from Virginia and arrived at Boonesborough on April 7, 1779. During the same time period, Capt. Starnes and party left Boonesborough and all were killed by Indians except Jacob Starnes.

The following concerns land that Edward Hall claimed in the summer of 1779. The land claim was not granted until October 24, 1834 or early 1835. The land was recorded in Montgomery County, but is located in (present day) Menifee County, Kentucky. Edward Hall made his last Will on January 23, 1835.

Edward Hall would have marked the trees, build a small cabin, and planted corn on his 1779 land claim. Many of the early cabins were used by hunters on long hunts. Ralph Morgan’s Station (Montgomery County) was established in 1789 and attacked by Indians in 1793. The Edward Hall land claim was not a very safe place to live until the late 1700s.

Thomas Hall, brother of Edward, filed for his Revolutionary War pension in Montgomery County, Kentucky. It seems possible that Thomas Hall may have lived on Edward Hall’s land claim. Thomas Hall’s pension statment mentioned no wife or children.

Edward and Thomas Hall had other land claims that were not won. On December 5, 1795 it was reported in the Kentucky Gazette (newspaper) that there was a land claim for Edward Hall, Thomas Hall and Higgarson Grubbs. The Hall’s are mentioned as heir to William Hall and it is not known if William is their brother who died at Boonesborough or their father. Capt. Higgarson Grubbs was an early Boonesborough pioneer.

1779 Land Claim by Edward Hall
Transcribed by Sue VonderBrink
[Written in the right margin]
John Allen
50 acres
Montgomery County

[Written in the left margin]
Edward Hall 50 acres Montgomery County

James T Morehead, Esq Lieutnant and acting Governor of the Commonwealth
of Kentucky To all to whom these presents shall come greeting, know
at by virture and in consideration of a land office warrant No 24299 there is
granted by the said Commonwealth unto Edward Hall who was assigned
___ Bollard who was ____ of William Trinables & Co. a certain track or parcel
of land containing fifty acres by survey bearing date of 16th day of
___ one thounsand eight hundred and thirty two lying and being
of Montgomery on the Peter Trace Fork of slate creek & bounded as follows
Beginning at a chestnut oak lettered JH corner of James Halls 100 a survey
S West ___ poles to a sugartree and white oak thence S East poles _______
No65? West __ poles to a stake thence ____ poles to beech _____.
were survey thence with his line ___ poles ___
100 acre survey thence with his line ________.