Sarah "Sally" Hall (1802-1881)

Unfortunately, little is known about Sarah. Indeed, although her birth surname is purported to be Hall, there are no known records confirming that. The will of Richard F Marshall (1798-1845) establishes that he had a wife named Sarah “Sally,” and later census records indicate that she is the mother of the children named in Richard's will.

According to her grave marker, Sarah was born on 28.Sep.1802, and various census records shows her birthplace as Maryland. Her parents are unknown.

Census records prior to 1850 provide the name of the head of household and numerical counts of males and female within certain age ranges. By looking at census records in combination with other records, we can infer that Richard and Sarah were together and had one child by the time of the 1820 census.

If Sarah's grave maker gives her correct birth date, she would have been 17 years old at the time of the 1820 census. If Sarah and Richard were legally married by that time, the marriage would have required the permission of Sarah's father or guardian. Although we can't be certain that Richard and Sarah were legally married at the time of the 1820 census, Richard's will and the probate process indicates Sarah was regarded as Richard's legal wife and their children as Richard's legal heirs. So it seems likely that Richard and Sarah were married by 1820 and that Richard was known to Sarah's father or guardian.

There are several known records of land purchases by Richard between 1823 and 1843. There is also one known record for a sale of land, and this included Sarah as a party agreeing to she sale. In the text of the record, Sarah is referred to as Richard's wife Sally. The document is also signed by Richard in what appears to be his own handwriting, while Sarah simply made her mark next to the name written as “Sally Marshel.” Except for Richard's signature, the document appears to have been written by someone not particularly concerned about consistency in spelling, since Richard's surname is variously written as “Marshall,” “Marshal,” and “Marshel” – so there is no reason to believe that Sarah's birth surname was “Marshel.” Later census records indicate that Sarah was not able to read or write, which is consistent with her making a mark as signature.

Sarah died at age 73 on 28.Sep.1802, probably in Waseka, Iroquois, IL at the home of widowed daughter Elizabeth, which is where Sarah resided at the time of the 1880 census. Her grave is in Oak Hill Cemetery in Waseka, Iroquois, IL.

Sarah “Sally” Hall + Richard F. Marshall