Bonnie asks, "I have been working on the Hall Family tree and I am stuck. I have been looking for information on Hiram Sylvester Hall. I have everything showing he was from the Dearing area but that is as far as I have gotten. I have been to the LDS center and still can not find anything on this man. I got his death certificate and it says that his father and mother are unknown. So where do I go now?"
I found a few things that might help you Bonnie. McDuffie was formed in late 1870 from Columbia and Warren Counties so I started there.
The 1870 Columbia County, GA census:
James A. Hall, male, age 47, farmer, born GA
Mary C. Hall, female, age 40, keeping house, born GA
Hiram C. Hall, male, age 16, farm laborer, born GA
Alex S. Hall, male, age 14, farm laborer, born GA
Olivia W. Hall, female, age 11, farm laborer, born GA
Frances R. Hall, female, age 9, born GA
Albcola ? (unreadable) ÝB. Hall, white male, age 7, born GA
Della C. Hall, female, age 4, born GA
James A. Hall, male, age 1, born GA
I can't find this family in the 1860 census.Ý I don't know where they are hiding.
The 1850 Columbia County, GA census:
James Hall, male, age 27, planter
Mary Hall, female, age 20
(Unreadable) Hall, white female, age 5
(Unreadable) Hall, white female age 3
I found a James Alfred Hall who married Mary K. Paul 24 Dec 1844 (Georgia Marriages to 1850 by Jordan Dodd).Ý This date fits the James and Mary on the census. There is also a birth record for a James Hall in 1823 in Columbia County, GA which also fits the age on the census record (IGI record, Family History Library).
I would say that Hiram's parents are most likely James Alfred Hall and Mary K. Paul.Ý In a subsequent email that you sent me you said that your Hiram had a daughter named Mary K. so that fits nicely. Of course all of this is still circumstantial and speculative; however, it will give you somewhere to start.
My next move would be to see if James Alfred Hall or Mary K. Paul Hall had a will that named Hiram Sylvester as a surviving son. I would also check land records and deeds to see if James Alfred Hall owned any land and who got his land after his death. Per Hiram's obituary in The Augusta Chronicle, Elliott Sons Funeral Home handled Hiram's burial. They might have more information than what was on the death certificate. Since Hiram was buried at Sweetwater Baptist, you can check with them to see what records they might have. I would also get Hiram's marriage license to see if there might be some helpful information there.
You still have some avenues to pursue, so don't give up yet!
