Mad Jack Hall
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{{Use British English|date=August 2019}}
'Mad' Jack Hall (John Hall; also known as Crazy Jack Hall) (1672 – 13 July 1716) was an English Jacobite leader and property owner and a Justice of Peace in Northumberland. He was a member of Clan Hall, a Border Reiver clan of Norman descent and owned the Otterburn Tower in Redesdale, Northumberland;{{cite book|last=Ainsworth|first=William Harrison|title=Preston fight: or, The insurrection of 1715 : a tale|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=csU_AAAAYAAJ|accessdate=4 July 2011|date=1899|publisher=G. Routledge}} his initials are still carved over a doorway today.
Early life and background
He was born John Hall, probably at Otterburn Tower, in 1672. His father, John Hall, was born in 1624 and died in 1692. John "Mad Jack" Hall's wife was Alderman Hutchison's daughter, Mary. They were married in Newcastle.Marriage Bond found dated 1701 Nov 4, Longbenton Parish. Hall had served many years as a Justice of Peace in Northumberland.
Rebellion and execution
He was a major figure during the Jacobite rising of 1715.{{cite book|author=John and Jean Lang|title=Stories of the Border Marches|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=W3nNaJobkXwC&pg=PA50|accessdate=4 July 2011|date=1 January 2007|publisher=Echo Library|isbn=978-1-4068-1509-2|page=50}}
He was taken into captivity in Preston and was reportedly reprieved at least five times before being executed. While awaiting trial in prison, Hall remarked to a fellow prisoner "Our fathers gained land in Cromwell's time as sequestrators of rebels, now we are going to lose them for being rebels." He was beheaded at Tyburn for high treason on 13 July 1716.
He was described as a "violent, passionate and indiscreet man" but who was highly generous and beloved by his men.{{cite book|last=Hibbert|first=Samuel|title=Lancashire memorials of the rebellion, MDCCXV.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2UoJAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA222|accessdate=4 July 2011|year=1845|publisher=Printed for the Chetham society|page=222}}{{cite book|last=Richardson|first=Moses Aaron|authorlink=Moses Aaron Richardson|title=The local historian's table book, of remarkable occurrences, historical facts, traditions, legendary and descriptive ballads [&c.] connected with the counties of Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland and Durham. Legendary division|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yhcHAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA10|accessdate=4 July 2011|year=1843|publisher=M. A. Richardson|page=10}}
It was his fiery and energetic temper which procured him the name of "Mad Jack Hall of Otterburn".
References
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Category:People from Northumberland
Category:Executed Scottish people
Category:People executed at Tyburn
Category:People executed for treason against the United Kingdom
Category:People executed by the Kingdom of Great Britain
Category:Otterburn, Northumberland
Category:People executed by the United Kingdom by decapitation
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