Captain Thomas Hale, Sr

A Patriot of the American Revolution for VIRGINIA with the rank of CAPTAIN. DAR Ancestor # A049308

• James Via married Sarah "Sally" Hale (1785-1845) on November 6, 1803 in Franklin County, Virginia. **Surety was Thomas Hale, Minister was Samuel King (Source: Marriage Bonds Registry, #4275, Franklin County, VA., P.101)
• Charles Waid (1787-1823) married Marie Elizabeth "Betsy" Hale on September 1, 1814 in Franklin County, VA : Thomas Hale listed as Surety. (Marriage Bonds - Franklin County, VA, p.107)
• From: Frost, Gilchrist and Related Families
  • (1) "Hale, Nathaniel Claiborne, Roots in Virginia: An Account of Captain Thomas Hale, Virginia Frontiersman, His Descendants and Related Families: with Genealogies and Sketches of the Families of Hale, Saunders, Lucke, Claiborne, Lacy, Tobin, and Contributing Ancestral Lines, Philadelphia. PA: privately published, 1948, p. 29:"
    • THOMAS HALE. Of the Fifth Generation from NICHOLAS HALE (I), the immigrant to Virginia, descending through GEORGE HALE (II) of Lancaster County, Virginia, NICHOLAS HALE (III) of Baltimore County, Maryland, and JOHN HALE (IV), frontiersman. Born 1742, died 1812. Pioneer planter on Virginia's western frontier. Served in Dunmore's War, 1771. Militia officer during American Revolution. Early Justice and Sheriff of Franklin County. Married Jane Armstrong in 1764. . . . Issue: John . . . ; Armstrong . . . ; Jane . . . ; Joseph . . . ; Mary . . . ; Sarah . . . ; Jehu . . . ; Thomas . . . ; Betsy. . . .
    • ["Note by compiler": The lineage of Thomas HALE set forth above appears to be incorrect. According to Maryland, Births and Christenings Index, 1662-1911 [database online], Provo, UT: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011, the John HAILE who was a son of Nicholas HAILE III and Ann LONG was born on 13 September 1743. It that is true, then that John HAILE could not have been the father of Thomas HALE, who was born one year earlier, in 1742.]
  • (2) Hale, Nathaniel Claiborne, Roots in Virginia: An Account of Captain Thomas Hale, Virginia Frontiersman, His Descendants and Related Families: with Genealogies and Sketches of the Families of Hale, Saunders, Lucke, Claiborne, Lacy, Tobin, and Contributing Ancestral Lines, Philadelphia. PA: privately published, 1948, pp. 25-27:
    • Thomas Hale died in 1812. His dear wife, Jane, passed away in 1815. Her life had been truly typical of her time. She shared the hardships of the early border with her husband and reaped the satisfaction of a full and useful life in her old age. Her family, the Armstrongs, were active on the Virginia border at an early date, and played an important role in the opening of the West. Interestingly enough, although in all public references and even in Thomas' writing his wife was referred to as "Jane," she herself signed "Jeane Hale," possibly a feminine affectation.
    • The will of Thomas Hale was ordered recorded by the Court on June 2, 1812. James Via, a son-in-law, appealed the Court's order, stating that he did not believe it to be the true last will and testament of his father-in-law. Evidently he felt that some property previously disposed of should have been distributed by will. However, the Superior Court thought otherwise and on October 17, 1812 directed that a certificate of probate be granted the son, Thomas Hale, with William Crump, Robert Wade, John Hale and Abraham Jones as his securities. On October 19, 1812, Luke Standifer, Charles Waid and George Ferguson made an appraisement which was entered in the record May 13, 1813.
    • The will itself, written on January 13, 1812, is an interesting document of the time and place. It is here quoted in its entirety:
      • "In the name of God, Amen. I Thomas Hale of Franklin County being of sound mind and memory tho weak in body do make this my last will and testament revoking all former wills. In the first place I desire my body to be decently buried trusting and hoping for a future life through the merits of our Savior.
      • "My desire is for all my just debts to be paid. They are very few and small.
      • "I lend to my dear wife Jane Hale all my mantion house tract of land where I now live during her natural life together with all household and kitchen furniture, plantation utensils, horses, hogs, cattle and sheep except as hereafter excepted, also all my stock of grain, provisions, wagons, gears, blacksmith tools, also the following slaves, to wit: Esaw, his wife Judy, Lucy, Moses, Lewis, Frank, and Phill, to have and to hold during her natural life.
      • "I give and bequeath to my son, John Hale, a negro woman, Siller, at my death and at the death of his mother a boy named Daniel to him and his heirs forever.
      • "I give and bequeath to my grandsons, George and Lewis Hale, my tract of land on Pigg River, commonly called the upper place, adjoining their father's land at the death of my wife to have and to hold forever.
      • "I give to my daughter, Sallie Via, a negro woman Jinney and her daughter, Rea, to revert to her brothers and sisters in case she has no lawful heirs of her body.
      • "I give to my daughter, Polley Campbell, a negro girl named Lucy and her increase at the death of my wife to her and her heirs forever. Also I give to my granddaughter, Jinney Campbell, a negro girl named Ann at the death of my wife, to her and her heirs forever together with her increase.
      • "I give to my son, Jehu Hale, a negro boy named Lewis at the death of his mother to him and his heirs.
      • "I give to my son Thomas Hale after the death of his mother the plantation where I now live and the following slaves, to wit: Esaw, Judy his wife, Moses, Comfort and Frank and their increase, together with the stock of every kind on the plantation at the death of his mother, also all the household and kitchen furniture, wagon gear, blacksmith took, and all which property I give to him and his heirs forever.
      • "I give to my daughter, Betsy Hale, a negro woman named Charlotte and her three children, Silvey, German and Jack and their increase, also one bed and furniture and one horse saddle and bridle to her and her heirs forever. If she dies without children my desire is for said negroes to be equally divided amongst her brothers and sisters.
      • "Lastly I appoint my son, John Hale and my son Thomas Hale to be my executors to this my last will and testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 13th day of Jan., 1812.
      • Thomas Hale (S.S.)"
      • Witnesses: William Crump, William Scott, Joseph Pedigo, Hawkins Woods
• So passed from the scene one of the frontier's early pioneers. Indian fighter, Revolutionary militia officer, planter, builder and public servant, he had lived an exciting, full and rewarding life. With Jane he had managed to raise a family and together they had the satisfaction of seeing their children become purposeful and useful citizens in the community. No man could ask more from life.

*"'''Children'''":

	1. Jehu HALE,   b. 1779, Henry [now Franklin] County, VA    [natural]

       2. Sarah HALE,   b. 1777, Henry [now Franklin] County, VA    [natural]

       3. Elizabeth HALE,   b. 1783, Henry [now Franklin] County, VA    [natural]

       4. Thomas HALE,   b. 1781, Henry [now Franklin] County, VA    [natural]

       5. Mary HALE,   b. 1773, Augusta County, VA    [natural]

       6. Armstrong HALE,   b. 1767, Augusta County, VA    [natural]

       7. John HALE,   b. 29 Jul 1765, Augusta County, VA  ,   d. 31 Dec 1815, Franklin County, VA    (Age 50 

           years)  [natural]

	8. Joseph HALE,   b. 1771, Augusta County, VA  ,   d. 29 Oct 1811, Franklin County, VA    (Age 40 years)  

            [natural]

	9. Jane HALE,   b. 1769, Augusta County, VA    [natural]