Lyman Hall

On May 20, 1752 he married Abigail Burr, daughter of Thaddeus Burr and Abigail Sturges of Fairfield, Connecticut but unfortunately she died a year later.

In 1757, he remarried Mary Osborne, daughter of Rev. Samuel and Hannah Osborne, also of Fairfield, Connecticut. They had a son, John, who died childless and there are no linear descendents of this great personality.

He died on October 19, 1790 in a small plantation known as Burke County, Georgia, where he had moved the same year. He is still remembered as a man of principles, who possessed a strong mind and sense of patriotism.

He was born on 12 April, 1724 in Wallingford, New Haven, Connecticut to John Hall and Mary Street. He was one of the eight children of his parents.

In 1747, he graduated from Yale College, and set a tradition which later on his seven siblings followed

His mother’s father, Rev. Samuel Street, was the first pastor of church in the town. Under his guidance, he entered the study of theology, and also served as a pastor for several proceedings in the church.

His pastorate was opposed after charges against his moral character were allegedly proved and he was dismissed by the Consociation. Later, he was restored on account of community having confidence in his repentance.

During the brief period in which he provided services to the church, he also started studying medicine. He obtained the Doctorate of Medicine degree and started practicing in his native town.

In 1752, he moved to South Carolina because of his personal interest and better prospects for his professional career in medicine. He established himself as a physician among the Congregationalists migrants in Dorchester. He was cordially welcomed and accepted by the community, it was evident by their response that he succeeded in gaining their confidence through his strong views.

In 1757, the people of Dorchester Society after coming to know about sufficient land resources in Georgia began migrating and relocating themselves to Midway District, now in Liberty County of Georgia. He accompanied them and also became an owner of a small plantation few miles of the city during the transition.

During his time in the Sunbury, a newly founded town in St. John’s Parish, he practiced as a physician. As a physician his hands were full as the place was plagued with bilious fever in summer and pleurisies in the winter. He was able to control the infection and prevent the disease in most of the people thereby endearing himself to the community.

His politeness and helping nature was much appreciated and he soon became one of the most respected personalities of the town. He had a lively interest in public gatherings and enjoyed the confidence of his fellow citizens in him.

He was the one of the first citizens of Sunbury, a newly found city in the province of Georgia, and was the first person to represent the province of Georgia in the Second Continental Congress in 1775.

He is significantly remembered for being one of the three appointed delegates who signed the Declaration of Independence on August 2, 1776 from the province of Georgia.

In January 1783, he became the first Governor of the independent state of Georgia.

He proposed giving state land grants to build colleges which eventually resulted in the formation of the present day university system.