Research by Sherry S. Marshall on the question of whether or not Deacon Richard Hall of Bradford, MA was the same person as Richard Hall of Dorchester, MA. The answer she discovers, is that they are two different people who happen to be contemporaries. They may be related in other ways, but they are not the same person: Here’s what Sherry has found: Re: Line of Richard Hall of Bradford, MA Posted by: Sherry Schaller Marshall Date: December 04, 2001 at 15:12:56 In Reply to: Re: Line of Richard Hall of Bradford, MA by Jean Kimball of 18572 In fact, many histories have Richard Hall of Bradford as son of Richard Hall of Dorchester. They are all wrong. As I beginner, fifteen years ago, I searched the land records looking for some proof of the children of Richard Hall of Dorchester. It was there, it was always there. One does not have to be an expert, just curious and tenatious. Land records are primary source documents and take precedence over undocumented genealogies. Suffolk Deeds Vol. 37, 174: " ...Richard and Elizabeth Hall of Roxbury ... to our brethren Jonathan & Joseph Hall of Dorchester ... according to the last Will & Testament of our father Richard Hall late of Dorchester desceased ... on 5 April 1694 ..." Recorded 29 Feb 1729. This is Richard Hall (1656-1727) of Roxbury m. Elizabeth (Hemanway) Holbrook, wid. of John. It also explains the order of the sons as stated in Richard Hall of Dorchester's Will. I have never seen any proof that Richard Hall had a first wife Mary. Sherry Schaller Marshall Re: Line of Richard Hall of Bradford, MA Posted by: Sherry Schaller Marshall Date: December 26, 2001 at 07:18:59 In Reply to: Re: Line of Richard Hall of Bradford, MA by Jean Kimball of 18572 "History of Merrimack & Belknap Co, NH, D. Hamilton Hurd, Philadelphia, 1885 p. 542 - "Dr. A. B. Hall Adino Brackett Hall was born in Northfield, NH. October 17, 1819. He was the son of Jeremiah & Hannah (Haines) Hall, and the seventh in descent of Richard Hall of Dorchester, whose son Richard settled in Bradford, MA in 1673 ... " "Halls of New England", Rev. David B. Hall, Albany, NY, 1883, p. 180 - "Halls of Bradford, MA The emigrant ancestor was (Family 1.) RICHARD Hall, who settled in the town of Bradford as early as 1673. He was made freeman in 1676. It is possible that he had lived previously in Dorchester, and was the son of Richard Hall of that place." The Cutter "... Memoirs ...." you found was printed in 1908. Look at the dates. One person said he might be the son, the next person said he was the son and everyone has been copying the same misinformation ever since. The 'tip off' to the possible error was in Richard Hall of Dorchester's Will. The order of the sons did not match the known ages of the other three sons with the age of Richard of Bradford. That made me suspicious enough to 'dig' further. You will find many, many instances such as this one in genealogy. This case did not involve 'fraud' but that also exists. Someone will cite what looks like a good source. But when you try and locate it, it either doesn't exist or doesn't say what it should. ************************************************* Exact citation that Sherry found and the text that she corrects with that finding: Hall Correction NEHGS NEXUS, Vol. VII, No. 5 (A-139) – HALL – Deacon Richard HALL of Bradford, Mass (ca 1644-1730) is not the son of Richard HALL (ca 1620-1691) of Dorchester, Mass. Cf Suffolk Deeds Vol. 37, 174: “ ..Richard and Elizabeth HALL of Roxbury … to our Brethren Jonathan and Joseph HALL of Dorchester … according to Last Will and Testament of our father Richard HALL late of Dorchester deceased … on 5 Apr. 1694 … “ Recorded 29 Feb. 1729. Richard & Elizabeth are Richard HALL (1656-1727) of Roxbury and his wife Elizabeth (HEMENWAY) HOLBROOK, widow of John. Sherry S. Marshall, 2605 Soapstone Drive, Reston, VA