Hall family papers

The Hall family papers consists of deeds, agreements, releases for land, and account books, dated from 1734 to 1857. The collection includes records of properties bought and sold by Andrew Hall, Stephen Hall, Benjamin Hall, Richard Hall, Ebenezer Hall, and Ebenezer Hall, Jr. Most of the deeds include the signature of the wife and a statement that she is freely relinquishing her right to dower in the property and her power of thirds. Much of the language is boilerplate, but occasionally the document reveals that the property came into the family from the wife herself. Usually the husband sells the land alone, but, especially in the later deeds, the land is sold jointly by both husband and wife. Some of the deeds show women (including married women) selling land in their own right, usually after having inherited it from a parent or spouse

There are additionally deeds and agreements of other Medford citizens. An account book dated 1787-1791 contains sales of commodities like beef, rum, salt, leather and skins, and shoes. A receipt book of Ebenezer Hall, dated 1821-1828, records purchases of cattle and oxen. There is also a commonplace book with news clippings pasted in, and one receipt for items lent to an unknown individual including a bed and pillows, dated approximately 1783-1787.