Hall, John Copland

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John "Jack" Hall outside Cruddas Terrace
John "Jack" Hall outside Cruddas Terrace

John Copland Hall was born in Castleton, Roxburghshire and lived in 5 Cruddas Terrace Bellingham from at least 1921 to his death in 1966. He was born in Castleton, Roxburghshire on 1 August 1883, the son of James, a farm servant, and Isabella. Both his parents and two older brothers were born in Dumfriesshire but they were living at Duilabyre, Castleton at John’s birth. In 1901 he was working as a ploughman for William Nichol, a farmer at Phillhope, Roberton, Roxburghshire. His whereabouts in 1901 are uncertain but in 1909 (first quarter) he married Elizabeth Baty Hutton from Falstone, in Bellingham. In 1911 he, Betty and one year old James Hall were living in High Street, Bellingham and John was working as a water bailiff for the fishery board. His wife, Elizabeth Baty Hall died in the second quarter of 1911. He served in the First World War as a private and sergeant in the 23rd Battalion of the Northumberland Fusiliers. In 1918 he was awarded the Victory Medal and the British War Medal. He was discharged on 19 February 1919. In 1921 he was living in 5 Cruddas Terrace and working as a school attendance officer. It is indicated on his census form that he was a widower but that he was the father of two un-named children aged 4 and 11. On Census night 1921 his children, James Hall (aged 11, born Bellingham) and Margaret (aged 4, born Benwell) were on holiday in Laburnum House, Alnmouth with their maternal grandmother, Margaret Hutton. Significantly a fourth member of that party was Isabella Haig, a 29 year old schoolteacher from Clailand School, Roxburghshire. In the second quarter of 1922 John Hall married Isabella Haig in Newcastle. In 1939 John and Isabella were living in 5 Cruddas Terrace with 22 year old Margaret, a hairdresser, John H Hall, aged 17, an apprentice motor mechanic and 7 year old Elizabeth who was at school. (A further two entries are redacted. John died in 1966. Probate was granted on 28 December to John Haig Hall, a motor mechanic. The estate was valued at £909 and although he died at 12A Westlands, Bellingham his home address was 5 Cruddas Terrace.

Anecdotal Memories from Clive Dalton

"The only one (person) we kids from further up the road knew was that ‘MR’ Jack Hall lived in the one nearest Percy Street as HE was the School Board Inspector who called in regularly to check the register to see if we were attending. He had another scary feature for us infants - a growth on the top of a middle finger on his right hand the size of a Stanley Telfer home made sausage! The poor bloke couldn’t hide it from us kids. Mr Hall to us was the father of Jock who was mechanic and eventual boss at the Northern and daughter Myrtle has just died I believe. I think she joined the forces and went nursing."