From National Daughters of the American Revolution
Elmore Autauga News
On Saturday, November 2nd, a large crowd gathered as the Captain William Bibb Chapter National Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR) dedicated an America 250! Real Daughter grave for Mary Bibb Hall and rededicated the NSDAR grave marker for Revolutionary War Patriot Bolling Hall at the Hall-Rawlinson Cemetery in Millbrook, Alabama. At the entrance of the cemetery, a table draped with a long white cloth held the registry book alongside a wicker basket decorated with a stars and stripes bow held the programs. Captain William Bibb Daughters were joined for this special commemoration by Daughters from chapters around the State, ASDAR officers, members of the Alabama Society Sons of the American Revolution (ALSSAR), as well as several descendants of Mary Bibb Hall and Bolling Hall.
The setting of fall leaves, heirloom climbing roses and red berried nandinas was perfect as the ceremony began with the presentation of the colors by the ALSSAR Color Guard and with an invocation given by Alicia Chalker, Captain William Bibb Chaplain. State Page Co-chair, Kathleen Tobias sang the National Anthem, and the Pledge of Allegiance was led by chapter Daughter Jessie Burris and her son, Henry Hughes. Reading of the Preamble and American’s Creed was by chapter Daughter and State Americanism Chair Elizabeth Gillian. Chapter Regent Jane Burris welcomed all in attendance to this special dedication to honor Mary Bibb Hall and her father, Bolling Hall. Regent Burris recognized special guests. Greetings were brought by ASDAR Chaplain Rebecca Riddick and General John Archer Elmore ALSSAR President, Dr. James “Skip” Dotherow. Jeanne Hall Ashley, a descendant of Bolling Hall, presented a brief family history.
Bolling Hall was born on December 25, 1767, in Dinwiddie, Virginia to Hugh and Mary Dixon Hall. Bolling entered the war at the age of sixteen. He married Jane Abercrombie on October 25, 1798, in Sparta, Georgia. Bolling died on February 25, 1836, in Autauga County, Alabama and was buried at Ellerslie.
Mary Bibb Hall was born on August 17, 1821, in Autauga County, Alabama, to Bolling and Jane Abercrombie Hall. She married William B. Hall on November 24, 1836, in her hometown. She died January 9, 1909, in Elmore County, Alabama and was buried at Ellerslie.
Mary Bibb Hall is a Real Daughter. In other words, she is the biological daughter of a person who served in the Revolutionary War, and a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Mary Bibb Hall, a member of the Joseph Habersham Chapter NSDAR in Atlanta, Georgia, was one of only 767 Real Daughters across the United
States. Her application was accepted by the NSDAR Board of Management on December 5, 1900.
The ceremony continued with the unveiling of NSDAR Real Daughter marker by Chapter Registrar and Bolling Hall descendant, Cheryll Bass. The NSDAR Patriot Marker at Bolling Hall’s grave was originally placed by the Francis Marion Chapter NSDAR in 1928. Francis Marion DAR Regent Amanda Gunn and Recording Secretary Janice Davis presided over the rededication of Patriot Bolling Hall’s marker.
The ceremony concluded with the ALSSAR Honor Guard performing a musket volley, playing taps by bugler James Quakenbush of Bugles Across America and the retiring of colors by ALSSAR Color Guard.
Those who attended the ceremony were invited to a reception held on the lawn of Ellerslie. Jeanne Hall Ashley graciously opened Bolling Hall’s home for tours during the reception.
The Captain William Bibb Chapter was blessed with a beautiful day for this commemoration and wishes to express its gratitude to all of those that helped make the ceremony possible, especially the John Archer Elmore Chapter of SAR, Jeanne Hall Ashley, and Daniel Killingsworth.
The DAR is a service organization with genealogically based membership. Its mission is patriotism, education, and historic preservation. If interested in learning more about DAR membership, contact the Captain William Bibb Chapter directly at [email protected] or visit the National Society’s website at Dar.org.
