Captain Jabez Hall - 1761

In 1761, property lots of approximately 100 acres each were established in New Framingham, Massachusetts (later Lanesborough) and its surrounding fields and forests. These lots were allocated to settlers by a council of peers, though the exact method remains unknown.

Colonial Lots #85 and #86 were granted to Jabez Hall, a young farmer from a New Fairfield, Connecticut family.

According to the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), Ancestry.com, records from Knurow (Berkshire Athenaeum Historical Section), and a few other contemporary sources, Captain Jabez Hall served as a colonial officer under King George III.

He formed a full company at the Hall Tavern to fight in the French and Indian war at Quebec, including his two sons, Gershom and John. His younger son, Lyman, only nineteen at the time, accompanied his father as a valet. Captain Jabez met his end in Quebec, with accounts attributing his death to typhoid, smallpox, poisoning, or excessive drinking.

Lot #85 passed to his son, Lyman Hall Sr., who had also fought in Canada, accompanied by his sixteen-year-old son, Lyman Jr., who served as his orderly. The family continued farming and operated a tavern that was frequented by English troops. With the outbreak of the American Revolution, Lyman Jr. recruited a militia contingent at the tavern and later rose to the rank of Colonel in the American forces. He is buried in the old Lanesborough cemetery.

The remnants of the Hall Tavern still exist, and I will be sharing its story in another blog as we uncover more of its history in the coming year.

Map from the Edward R. Knurow Collection
Courtesy of the Berkshire Athenaeum, Pittsfield's Public Library. © 2025 ©wmdrescher

Lincoln Homestead

The old House , which records call the "Lincoln House" still existed on the property when my parents bought it in 1967. Here are nome photos of it taken by Mr. Knorow in 1959 - 60 which few have ever seen. It had a 3 sided central fireplace but had been abandoned, due to bed bugs, sometime before 1850.

It was called the Lincoln House as in 1833, Lyman Hall Jr. sold ths house and some of the land to Johnathon Lincoln who he was related to by marriage. I still have the mantelpiece and a great old tool chest that was in there.

Photos: Edward R. Knurow Collection
Courtesy of the Berkshire Athenaeum, Pittsfield's Public Library.