Richard Hall (abt. 1520 - 1602)

Born about 1520 in Swerford, Oxfordshire, England

Descendants

Died 22 Aug 1602 at about age 82 in Idlicote, Warwickshire, England

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Biography

Richard Hall was the son of Edward Hall of Swerford, Oxfordshire. This is confirmed by a deed made in 1562/3 :-
"Rychard Hall of Idlicote in the countie of Warwick gent and Joyce his wyfe on thair party and Rychard Osbaldeston of Swerford ................................ the premisses grannted by one Edward Hall father of the said Rychard Hall". ^[1]

Richard's pedigree has been at times mistakenly mixed with that of Dr. John Hall of Stratford-upon-Avon, a contemporary of Richards. Idlicote is near to Stratford to the SE. However it has been shown that the two men had different coats of arms. A seal on a deed by Richard Hall of Idlicote bears 'Argent an eagle displayed gules'. ^[2] This matches the Hall arms engraved on a monument in the Swerford Parish Church, Oxfordshire. ^[3] Dr. Hall bears the arms 'Sable three talbot's heads erased argent' as seen on his gravestone in Stratford. ^[4] So it can be seen that Richard Hall & Dr. John Hall were not immediately related.

It would seem that Richard was initially in Little Compton, Gloucestershire which is 7 miles west of Swerford and 9 miles south of Idlicote. In a document of 1553 appears Richard Hall of Long Compton. ^[5] At that time Thomas Rainsford lived there, a nephew of Sir William Rainsford of Great Tew, Swerford who married Jane Osbaldeston. ^[4] The Osbaldestons appear in later deeds with Richard Hall of Idlicote.

It appears that Richard was first married to Isabell. The Stratford-upon-Avon Parish registers have the following entries :-
Burial - Jone daughter to Richard Haule.
Burial - Jan 31 1558/9 Isabell wife to Richard Hawle.
The same day also a burial of "Jane Hawle the daughter of [blank]", however it can be assumed mother and baby were buried together.
As the baptism registers only start on the 25 Mar 1558 it cannot be ascertained if Richard & Isabell had any surviving children born before that date. ^[6]

He married 2nd to Joyce Blount formerly Reynolds. Their marital status is mentioned in two wills, that of her father :-
"...& all other the premisses shall remayne unto Richard my sone [in law] Joyse Hall". ^[7]
and the will of her brother Robert :-
"and to Elizabeth Hall and Marye Hall daughters of my saide sister by her nowe husband" ^[8]

The following baptisms are recorded in the Stratford-upon-Avon Parish Register ^[6] :-
14 Feb 1560/1 Elizabeth filia Richardi Hall generos.
17 Mar 1561/2 Maria filia Richardi Hall generos.
As mentioned in her brother's will above it confirms that these are the children of Richard and Joyce.

Richard Hall of Idlicote, Warwickshire, was the father of Elizabeth Hall who married 1st Walter Savage of Broadway, Worcestershire, and 2nd Simon Underhill. The following is an extract from a deed :-
"Richard Hall, of Idlecote, co. Warwick, gent. Marriage settlement of said Richard and Joyce Hall, and also of Walter Savage, one of the sons of Anne Daston, widow, wife of Anthony Daston, esquire, deceased, and formerly the wife of Francis Savage, esquire, also deceased - and Elizabeth Savage, now wife of the said Walter Savage and one of the daughters and heiress apparent of the said Richard Hall; Conveyance by Richard Hall to Anne Daston, William Savage, esquire, and Anthony Savage, gent., two of the sons of said Anne, and brothers of the said Walter, of a farm in Swarforde, co. Oxon, called Lyons Place, and a close called New Close and two other closes called Lyons closes; with land etc. in Hooke Norton, co. Oxon, and A weston upon Avon; and two messuages and three closes in Stretforde-upon-Avon. To have and to hold etc. etc." ^[9]

Does this deed and the wording of Elizabeth as "heiress apparent" mean that Richard had no sons, or only no sons by his 2nd wife Joyce?

The Idlicote Halls were suspected recusants. At the same time a search was being made by Sir Thomas Lucy and Thomas Wilkes in the house of Edward Grant, of Northbrookes, a search was made of "Hall's house of Idlicote", as if something suspicious was to be found there. Wilkes says they found nothing there but the mother of Somerville, who was so ill in body and mind as to be past remembrance. (Note - this shows a connection with the Somerville family of Ederstone [Edstone]). ^{[10] [3]}

Richard Hall was involved in numerous events which are recorded in various Wills, deeds etc. Whether he was a lawyer is conjecture. See the Hall timeline document for a list of documents etc.

Sources

1. ↑ Deed no. MS 3312/397217 held by the Birmingham City Archives, Gloucestershire, England.
2. ↑ Deed no. MS 3312/397343 held by the Birmingham City Archives, Gloucestershire, England.
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} 'New Links with Shakespeare' by E. A. B. Barnard - Cambridge University Press 1930.
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1} 'The Rainsford Family - With sidelights on Shakespeare Southampton, Hall and Hart' by Emily A. Buckland 1932
5. ↑ Deed no. MS 3312/397216 held by the Birmingham City Archives, Gloucestershire, England.
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1} Stratford-upon-Avon Parish Register held by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust.
7. ↑ Will held by the Worcester County Record Office, England. ref 118 of 1861.
8. ↑ Wills proved in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury – The National Archives PROB 11/55.
9. ↑ Deed no. MS 3312/397343 held by the Birmingham City Archives, Gloucestershire, England.
10. ↑ State Papers Dom. Eliz. vol.LXIII, p.55 - The National Archives, London.

SHAKESPEARE'S FAMILY (1901), by Charlotte Stopes, p. 94