More on David and Samuel Hall

David and Samuel Hall - Biography

BIOGRAPHY: A Revolutionary War Soldier's Home ... in our midst. Originally Published by Senior Living. Written by Jack Campbell

In 1780, twin brothers, David and Samuel Hall fought together in the Battle of Kings Mountain, considered to be the "turning point in the South" of the Revolutionary War. A year later, the Revolutionary War ended and, although confrontations with Indians continued throughout much of the Carolinas and Tennessee, the brothers began thinking about a more peaceful future for themselves. In 1784 David Hall married. Hall served his country well as a soldier and an Indian spy and for it the government awarded him 428 acres in Tennessee. At about the same time, in 1795, Samuel Hall bought 100 acres in the Claxton, Tennessee area from Aquila Lowe. This marked the beginning of the Hall brothers in this area and the beginning of David Hall's log cabin that has stood the test of time for over 200 years.

The Claxton area was still not considered safe for families as late as 1792 as confrontations with Indians were still being experienced, as was noted in a report from Gen. John Sevier to then governor, William Blount.  Clifford Seeber notes in his book, "A Historical Background of Anderson County," that Sevier's report proclaimed that the fort at South West Point (present-day Kingston, Tennessee) had been completed. This permitted regular patrolling of Claxton and surrounding areas by Regular Army forces.

So, in 1799, in virtually what is now the shadow of the towering, modern chimney of the Bull Run Steam plant, just across the river from Oak Ridge, David Hall built his log cabin home with an inn and tavern next door. And, the amazing thing is: it's still there! And, if walls could talk, what a tale that cabin's walls would tell. They might tell about discussions about a petition that David I Hall and 270 fellow area settlers signed to establish a new county, Anderson, out of Knox and Grainger counties. This petition passed in 1801 and the new county was born. Interestingly, the new county wasted little time in creating taxes. In 1802 it established a tax on land of 6 cents per 100 acres and a tax for "one stud horse" of 25 cents. The county also set rates for ferry operators $1.00 for a wagon and a team, 8 1/3 cents for a man and horse, and 3 cents per head for cattle, hogs, and sheep. Further, rates were set for "public houses." A "good," comfortable dinner was 25 cents, comfortable breakfast with "good" coffee was 15 2/3 cents, comfortable lodging was 6 cents, 24-hour lodging for one's horse with hay was 25 cents, and a quart of good beer was 6 cents.

In 1807, Samuel Hall moved on to Morgan County, Tennessee and is considered one of its first settlers. He died there in 1819. David Hall remained in the Claxton area until he died. During that time he had peach and apple orchards from whence came the makings for the brandy sold as his tavern. He also farmed the vegetables and livestock that he served. And, he and his wife, Obedience, raised 12 children as well. In 1837 he died and was buried near his cabin. He was 77 years old. David Hall passed, but the cabin continued to stand to serve a role in the Civil War which would be starting up in 1861. Another amazing fact about the cabin is that during its life of over 200 years, it has only been owned by-three families: Halls, Arnolds, and Thomasons. The current owner is Libby Bumgardner, who is the granddaughter of Walter Thomason. And what tales she can tell about the cabin, too. She discovered a trunk-size box of letters, clippings, and notes one day in the rarely visited upstairs of the cabin and is still sorting through them. The box included receipts, letters, bills, IOUs, brochures, Bible verses, and Christmas and Valentine Day cards from the 1800's.       (submitted by dawnydoodle57, 30 Oct 2008)