Thomas Hall
MAURY COUNTY, TN - COURT - Thomas Hall, Proof of Race Affidavits
Contributor's Notes: I would like to share these two Tennessee documents.
Document number one is a Proof of Race affidavit document acquired by my Great
Great Grandfather Thomas Hall, on September 19, 1835, in Maury County,
Tennessee when he appeared before Justice of the Peace, James L. Crawford.
The second document seems to be a certification by William E. Erwin, Clerk of
the Court of Pleas and quarter session for Maury County, that James L.
Crawford had full authority to issue the Proof of Race document. This
document was dated October 13, 1835.
On June 26, 1843, these documents were filed in Marion County at Yelleville,
Arkansas.
In 1850 he moved to Oregon County, Missouri and they were recorded there and
filed on February 13, 1850, by J. R. Woodside, Clerk of that county. The
documents were recorded again in Howell County, Missouri on May 5, 1890. at
9: o'clock A.M. by T.B. Carmical, Recorder.
This was recorded after Thomas Hall's death on December 30, in 1888, in
Howell County, Missouri. This was filed after his death because his
children's children were expelled from school because they were dark and
caused of being Negroes. There were several trials in Missouri and Oklahoma.
The trials proved that they were of Portuguese descent and not Negroes.
1835 Proof of Race affidavits from MAURY County, Tennessee
Recorded in Oregon County, Missouri 1850
Recorded in Howell County, Missouri 1890
State of Tennessee Maury County
I William E. Erwin Clerk of the Court of please and quarter sessions for
said County do hereby certify that James L Crawford is an acting justice of
the peace in and for said County of Murry in the State of Tennessee duly
commission and qualified according to law and that all his official acts are
intitled to full faith and credit given under my hand and the seal of my
office at office this 13 day of October 1835 and 60 th year of American
Independence
Wm E Erwin clk.
Filed February 13, 1850 J. R. Woodside Typed exactly as written:
State of Tennessee Maury County this day personally appeared before me James
L: Crawford one of the Justices of the peace in and for said county THOMAS
HALL and made proff by private testomony that the said THOMAS HALL is intitled
to all of the privileges of a private citizen THOMAS HALL great grand father
on his fathers sid was a poutagee and his great grand father on his mothers
sid was a inglish - man, and THOMAS HALL grand on his fathers side was of the
poutagee desent, and his grand father on Mothers sid was an Irishman and his
own father was of the poutugee decent and his mother was a white american
born woman. sworn to and executed before me this the 19th dayof september
1835.
James L. Crawford J.P. his
PRESCOTT X NUPANS (seal)
mark
his
LONNEY X HALLS (seal)
mark
HOWELL COUNTY GAZETTE
Aug. 23, 1906 West Plains, Missouri
Are They Negroes?
Questions About Henderson Halls Descendants.
In the Indian Territory Wesley Hall -- His Children Were Excluded from the White
School..
In the taking of depositions here Saturday all these facts were brought out.
In addition it was shown that Jeff Hall has photographs and locks of hair of
a number of his ancestors and he even introduced land titles which were given
members of his family in Tennessee before the war showing conclusively that
they were not negroes, for blacks could not own land in those days.
Wherever they have gone the Halls have had difficulty with the school boards
for refusing to permit their children to attend the white schools. In every
instance they have won their case for they are able to prove that they are of
Portuguese origin instead of having negro blood course through their veins,
as many might believe from their appearances.
