According to
William Hall’s Petition to Become a Citizen of the United States, he
arrived in this county in June of 1838. A passenger list has not been
found to confirm his arrival. According to the ship passenger lists on
file with the National Archives, a William Hall arrived in America on
6-11-1838 aboard the Brig P.A. Gambia. This is not the correct William
Hall. His wife, Mary, and some of their children arrived at Philadelphia
on the Bark Bradshaw from Liverpool on August 1, 1839. The information
is recorded in the following manner.
| Name |
Age |
Sex |
Occupation |
| Mary Hall |
30 |
Female |
Spinster |
| John |
13 |
Male |
Labourer |
| Wm |
9 |
Male |
Labourer |
| Robert |
6 |
Male |
Labourer |
| Sally |
30 |
Female |
Labourer |
| John |
1 |
Male |
Labourer |
I believe the first John should be Joshua and the age of Sally should
be 3. If, however, the above information is correct, then I don’t know
who Sally is and I don’t know who the older John is.
The following petition and associated sworn statements were received
from the Armstrong County, Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas. They
indicate that he was born in Donegal County, Ireland, migrated from
Londonderry and arrived in the United States in June of 1838. This is
the only document I have discovered that reveals his birthplace or date
of immigration.
Declaration of Intention of William Hall
Filed 15 June 1846
Pennsylvania
Armstrong County-S.S.
The Declaration of William Hall upon his solemn oath represents that
he was born in Donegal County Ireland that it is bonafide his intention
to become a Citizen of the United States and to renounce forever all
allegiance and fidelity to every foreign prince, potentate sovereignty
whatsoever and particularly to Queen Victoria Queen of the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland of whom he was heretofore a
subject.
And the said William Hall makes report and registry as follows-Name
William Hall Birth Place Donegal County, Ireland. Native
allegiance-Queen Victoria Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland.
Place whence he migrated Londonderry.
Place of intended settlement, Armstrong County, PA.
Sworn and subscribed in open Court this 15th day June 1846
his
Wiliam Hall
mark
Petition of William Hall to become Citizen of U.S.
Filed 19 June 1848
Petition Admitted Ex-Certificate
TO THE HONORABLE
The Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of Armstrong County.
The Petition of William Hall respectfully sheweth, that your petitioner
has heretofore been a subject of Victoria Queen of the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Ireland, and emigrated to the United States in the
month of June A.D. 1838, and has continued to reside within the limits
and under the jurisdiction of the United States ever since: and that he
filed his declaration of intention to become a citizen of the United
State, on the 15th day of June 1846, in the Court of Common Pleas of
said County in open Court.
Your petitioner, therefore, prays your Honorable Court that he may be
admitted to become a citizen of the United States, &c.
his
William Hall
mark
Armstrong County, ss. William Hall
The above named petitioner, on his solemn oath, doth say that the facts
set forth in the foregoing petition are just and true; that he has
resided within the limits and under the jurisdiction of the U. States
for more than five years last past; that he will support the
Constitution of the United States; that he doth hereby relinquish every
order or title of nobility to which he is or may hereafter become
entitled; that he does absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all
allegiance and fidelity to every foreign Prince, Potentate, State and
Sovereignty, whatsoever, and particularly to Victoria queen of the
United Kingdom of Great Britain & Ireland——–of whom he was
heretofore a subject.
Sworn and subscribed, in open Court,
the 19 day of June 1848.
his
William Hall
mark
ARMSTRONG COUNTY, SS.
We, William McElheney & William McCain–Citizens of the United
States, do swear that we are well acquainted with William Hall the
foregoing petitioner; that he has resided within the limits and under
the jurisdiction of the United States for more than five years last
past; that during all that time he has behaved himself as a man of good
moral character, attached to the principles of the Constitution on the
United States, and well disposed to the good order and happiness of the
same.
Sworn and subscribed in open Court
the 19 day of June, 1848
William McElheney
William McCain
In most cases, there would be some type of document recorded which would
indicate that the person was actually admitted as a citizen of the
United States. No such document was supplied with this information from
the Armstrong County Court of Common Pleas, however, the sworn
statements that followed the petition were both dated 19 June 1848. It
is assumed that he was admitted as a citizen on this date.
No will was found for William Hall in the Armstrong County records.
William Hall died on 3 Jul 1871 and is buried in St. Michael’s
Cemetery in Rural Valley, Armstrong County, PA.
