Lyman Hall Passes Away

Today in Masonic History Lyman Hall passes away in 1790.

Lyman Hall was an American politician and signer of the Declaration of Independence.

Hall was born on April 12th, 1724 in Wallingford, Connecticut. He graduated from Yale College in 1747.

In 1749, he was called to the pulpit of Stratfield Parish in Connecticut. When he was first ordained, a group of parishioners opposed his ordination. After two years in the parish, the same group of parishioners accused him of moral misconduct and he was dismissed from the church. It is unclear what the charges were, he did continue to preach for another two years in other parishes. At the same time he was studying medicine and working as a school teacher.

Sometime after 1757, he moved to South Carolina, just outside of Charleston. It was there he became part of a community of Congregationalists who had arrived from Massachusetts. When the group moved on to the future Liberty County in Georgia, he went along. The new town they founded was called Sunbury and Hall became a leader in the new community.

On the eve of the American Revolution, St John's Parish was a hotbed of radical sentiment. This was despite the fact the area, in general, were predominantly loyalists. Hall convinced the members of the parish he should be a delegate and be sent to the Continental Congress, Georgia already missed the opportunity to be represented in the First Continental Congress. In 1775 he was admitted to the Congress and became one of three Georgians who signed the Declaration of Independence. Interestingly he was also one of three doctors who signed as well.

In 1779, the British burned Sunbury and Hall was forced to flee. When he returned, in 1782, he settled in Savannah, Georgia. The following year he was elected as the Governor of Georgia. In office he advocated for education and laid the groundwork for the chartering of the University of Georgia. Hall felt education, especially religious education, resulted in more virtuous citizenry.

Just before his passing in 1790, Hall moved to a plantation in Burke County, Georgia. He passed away on October 19th the same year.

Hall's masonic membership is unclear. It is believed he was a member of Solomon Lodge No. 1 in Savannah, Georgia. Unfortunately the records of the lodge were burned by the British so his membership can not be confirmed.