Ancestors Who Fought in the Revolution – part 3

This is the last of three blog posts about my direct ancestors that were involved in service during the Revolutionary War.  These two direct ancestors noted below lived in the Baltimore and Harford areas of Maryland.

Aquila Hall (1750-1815), a 4^th great grandfather

Walter Tolley (~1715-1783), a 5^th great grandfather

 

Aquila Hall (1750-1815)  Colonel Aquila Hall (also known as Aquila Hall Jr to distinguish him from an older uncle also named Aquila Hall) was born in Harford County, Maryland to a wealthy landholding family.  Aquila was directly descended from John Hall who was transported from England to Maryland in 1640 [see the January 2021 blog post, Legacy of Enslavement].

Aquila was well educated and became a lawyer in 1774 just as the Revolution was gaining ground.  Early in 1775, Aquila was appointed to a special committee that drew up and signed a document known as the Bush River Declaration [see the blog post, Path to Independence, published on my blog in July 2020].   This document is made up of resolutions that advocated more self-government for the Colonies, and it is historically regarded as an important step in the movement towards Independence.

Before year end, Aquila was authorized to purchase 20 half-barrels of gunpowder and 4,000 weights of lead for the local militia.  In December 1775, he married Ann Tolley of Baltimore.  Aquila and Ann had a dozen children, though 2 died in infancy.

Soon after his marriage, in January of 1776, Aquila was appointed Colonel of the Upper Battalion of the Harford County Militia.  At one point General Washington was entertained by him and his staff at Aquila’s home in Havre de Grace, which later resulted in the British burning Aquila’s home in retaliation.  I’m not sure if he ever engaged in battle, or simply served in the planning and operations activities for the Baltimore Continental militia.

During much of Aquila Hall’s lifetime, he and Ann lived at their home estate known as Long Green in Baltimore County.  He died at Long Green in 1815 at the age of 65.

 

Walter Tolley (~1715-1783) was also born and raised in Baltimore County, Maryland.  He was the father of Ann Tolley and the father-in-law of Aquila Hall noted above.  I’m not sure how he was involved with the Revolution but he shows up in a source titled the “Abstract of Graves of Revolutionary Patriots”.

Walter was a large land owner and planter.  He served in the Lower House of the Legislature in Baltimore County in 1751 and as a tobacco inspector between 1754-1757.  Walter Tolley also served as a captain in the local Baltimore County militia in 1756 though he was already in his 60’s by the time of the Revolution.  I have no doubt that he did his part to support Colonial efforts seeking Independence and to be counted as a Revolutionary Patriot.

Walter Tolley first married Marry Garrettson in 1735, and after her death he married Martha Hall in 1751.  Martha Hall was also a great granddaughter of the 1640 immigrant, John Hall from whom Aquila Hall was descended.  Walter’s daughter, Ann Tolley, who married Aquila Hall was a child of his second marriage.  Walter died at the age of 69 in 1783 in Baltimore County, Maryland.  At his death he owned about 3,000 acres in Baltimore and Harford Counties.

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Notes: 

If you are interested in the supporting documentation sources available for any of the individuals and their Revolutionary service, please don’t hesitate to contact me, and I will be happy to share.

- Jane Scribner McCrary