John Hall was the third child of James Hall & Barbara Wilson born January 9th, 1811 & christened August 11th, 1811 at Shilbottle, nr Morpeth, Northumberland.
John married Margaret Slack on March 27th, 1837 at Houghton-le-Spring, Co Durham. Both were described as of the parish & both made their mark. Witnesses at the wedding were Joseph Slack & George Wilson (church warden). Margaret was born at Alston, Cumberland, & christened January 27th, 1815 at St James, Whitehaven, Cumberland, the daughter of Margaret Smith & Joseph Slack, a tailor.
In 1841 John & Margaret were living at South Hetton, Haswell, Co Durham where John was a coal miner. They had sons – John (2) & James (5 months). Living in nearby Hetton-le-Hole were Margaret’s parents.
John & Margaret were still at South Hetton in 1851 & John was still a miner. They now had 5 children at home – John, Jane (8), Margaret (6), James (4) & William (2).
By 1853 at the time of the birth of their last child, Barbara, John was a deputy overman at South Hetton Colliery. John was unable to write as he made his mark on registration of Barbara’s birth.
A report in the Durham Chronicle of September 28th, 1860 stated that John, a pitman of South Hetton, was accused of threatening to shoot Richard Hilton also of South Hetton. He was bound over to keep the peace for 3 months at the cost of £10 & to pay costs.
In 1861 the family were still living at South Hetton & at home were Margaret (15), James (14), William (12), Ann (9) & Barbara (7).
John died, aged 59, & was buried on February 22nd, 1870 at South Hetton.
Widowed Margaret was still at South Hetton in 1871 with sons James & William, both coal miners, & daughter Barbara.
In 1881 Margaret was living with her sons John & James at Easington Lane, Hetton-le-Hole. They were both coal miners.
Margaret died, aged 73, & was buried on June 16th, 1888 at South Hetton.
The children of John Hall & Margaret Slack were:
ha.1 John Hall christened December 30th,
1838 at South Hetton, Co Durham
ha.2 James Hall christened April 4th, 1841 at South Hetton, Co Durham, buried September 4th, 1842 at South Hetton, Co Durham
ha.3 Jane Hall christened September 3rd,
1843 at South Hetton, Co Durham; buried October 24th, 1912 at St Cuthbert's Anglican Church, Durham
ha.4 Margaret Hall christened May 11th,
1845 at South Hetton, Co Durham; died April-June 1917 at Sunderland
ha.5 James Hall christened March 30th,
1847 at South Hetton, Co Durham; died Oct-December 1907 at Houghton-le-Spring, Co Durham
ha 6 William Hall born April-June 1849 & christened November
7th, 1849 at South Hetton, Co Durham; buried on April 8th, 1920 at St Nicholas Anglican Church, Hetton-le-Hole, Co Durham
ha.7 Ann Hall christened September 2nd,
1851 at South Hetton, Co Durham
ha.8 Barbara Hall born December 29th,
1853 at South Hetton Colliery, Haswell, christened January 16th, 1854 at South
Hetton, Co Durham; died May 6th, 1901 at 14 Gibson Terrace, Ryhope