David Hall (Delaware governor) : biography

For other persons named David Hall, see David Hall (disambiguation)

David Hall (January 4, 1752 – September 18, 1817) was an American lawyer and politician from Lewes, in Sussex County, Delaware. He was an officer in the Continental Army during the American Revolution, and member of the Democratic-Republican Party, who served as Governor of Delaware.

Military career

Hall studied law and was admitted to the Bar in New Castle, Delaware, in 1773. Already a member of the Sussex County militia under General Dagworthy, he joined the 1st Delaware Regiment at the beginning of the War of Independence and served as captain under Colonel John Haslet at the battles of Long Island and White Plains. Following Haslet’s death at Princeton in January 1777, he became the leader of the regiment, and was promoted to colonel in April 1777. He led the regiment at the Battle of Brandywine and again at the Battle of Germantown where he was wounded on October 4, 1777. The following year he spent recovering, recruiting new soldiers in Wilmington and serving on Courts Martial. He returned to active service in June 1779 at the Middlebrook encampment, spent the inactive summer with the regiment, but returned home in October 1779, complaining of his wound and lack of provisioning. When the Delaware Regiment went to South Carolina in April 1780, Hall did not go. Responding to his continuing requests, the General Assembly authorized some payment, but it was never enough, and finally, in April 1782, Hall resigned his commission.

Death and legacy

Hall died at Lewes, and is buried there in the Lewes Presbyterian Church cemetery.

The Col. David Hall House was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.

Places with more information

• Delaware Historical Society; ; 505 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19801; (302) 655-7161
• University of Delaware; ; 181 South College Avenue, Newark, Delaware 19717; (302) 831-2965

Category:1752 births Category:1817 deaths Category:American Presbyterians Category:People from Sussex County, Delaware Category:Continental Army officers from Delaware Category:Delaware lawyers Category:Delaware Democratic-Republicans Category:Governors of Delaware Category:Delaware Court of Common Pleas judges Category:Burials in Sussex County, Delaware Category:Democratic-Republican Party state governors of the United States

Early life and family

Hall was born in Lewes, Delaware, son of David and Mary Kollock Hall. His grandfather was Nathaniel Hall, who known as "the Indian Fighter." He came to Delaware from Connecticut in 1700. His father, David Hall, Sr. was a well known farmer from around Lewes, who was a Justice of the Peace and a frequent member of the Colonial Assembly from 1753 until the American Revolution. In 1776, David Jr. married Catherine Tingley, daughter of Samuel Tingley, the Rector of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church. They had six children: Elizabeth, Mary, Jane, Catherine, Lydia, and Martha. In time he built a home at 107 Kings Highway, across the road from the Zwaanandael Museum. They were members of the Lewes Presbyterian Church.

Almanac

Elections were held the first Tuesday of October. The Governor takes office the third Tuesday of January and had a three-year term. Judges of the Courts of Common Pleas were selected by the General Assembly for the life of the person appointed.