Joseph Hall

Silversmith Joseph Hall was living in Albany during the War for Independence. A number of same-named contemporaries living in the Northeast leave us with a number of unresolved questions.

This individual is said to have been born in Redding, Connecticut in 1746 and to have been the son of Joshua and Deborah Williams Hall.

He was in Albany by 1775, when he contributed eight shillings toward the relief of Ticonderoga. Afterwards, he was accorded a land bounty right in conjunction with the Albany militia regiment. We seek more information on his activities during the Revolutionary era.

His wife was Johanna Patterson. Between 1777 and 1781, three children were christened at the Albany Dutch church.

In October 1779, his property was valued on an Albany assessment roll. From his placement on the tax list, it appears that he was living in the second ward. During those years, he signed at lease one community-based petition addressed to the governor. In May 1781, he was identified as a silversmith when he posted a hundred pounds bail with the Albany Commissioners.

In 1781, he was among the newcomers who purchased the Freedom of Albany. At that time, he was identified as a silversmith. During the 1780s, he is said to have been the mentor of New York City silversmith Drew Hall. These are among the obvious examples of Joseph Hall's craftsmanship:

In 1785, a Joseph Hall settled on a farm in the what became Rensselaerville. A map made in 1787, showed his lot.

In 1790, four men named Joseph Hall were listed on the census in New York State. All were heads of households located in the southern part of the state. The one-time Albany silversmith was said to have been plying his trade in New York City.

Joseph Hall is said to have died in Cambridge, New York in 1821.

Sources: The life of Joseph Hall is CAP biography number 8312. This sketch is derived chiefly from family and community-based resources.

For his silver, see also F&P; the most comprehensive online family genealogy does not seem to apply.