George Hallmark Born 1742 - Jeri Charlene Holcomb Watson's Side Of The Family

GEORGE HALLMARK BORN 1742: (Jeri Charlene Holcomb Watson's direct ancester 8 generations) George Hallmark, the presumed progenitor of all the Hallmark Family in the United States is believed to have been born illegitamately in 1742 in Marbury, England to Mary Hallmark. He died in northern Alabama in the United States about 70 plus years later, having fathered at least 10 children. He had traveled from England to Virginia, Tennessee and finally Alabama before his death. The Crown Court Papers, February 9, 1766, Shrewsbury, Oxford Circuit states that George is charged with stealing a linen handkerchief containing monies. He pleaded not guilty. The Summer 1764 Lent 1767 Court Records show that "George Candiland alias Hallmark was indicted for Felony Stealing One Linnen Herkerchief Value 2d, half a sovereign in gold and eleven shillings in monies of Andre Mansell the Younger at the Parish of Whitchurch, North Shropshire on the borders of Cheshire, 12 January sixth year of the reign of George 3." (1766) "Proved guilty. No goods. To be transported for seven years." At the Assizes of Shrewbury held 22 day of March 6th year of Lord Sovereign George III King of Great Britian etc..." Oxford Circuit of Crown Papers. (Source Olwen Allmark Taylor, White Cottage, 2 Townside Haddenham, Aylesbury, Bucks HP17 8BG.) It is assumed he served 7 years as an indentured servant. The first documented reference to George Hallmark in America is in Virginia in Fincastle County where he was listed as delinquent in his taxes on a list by Daniel Trigg, Deputy Sheriff for the year 1773. A a court held for Fincastle December 6, 1774 a list of delinquents in the New River and Reed Creek area was recorded by the court as that part ought to be received by the vestry of the Parish of Botetourt. George Holmark was on this list. By circa 1773, George had married or "taken up" with Leanna MYNATT. (The only legal marriage at this time was one performed by an Episcopal Priest and as such was very expensive, and often not within the mean of most people) Leannah was the daughter of the English immigrants, Richard MYNATT and Sarah CUMMINS. Richard has worked for four years beginning 2-12-1850 in the kitchen of Stratford Hall, the ancestral home of the LEE's of Virginia. He earned eight pounds sterling per year, a good wage for a cook. His place in history is secured by the fact that he was the first indentured servant to sue successfully for his release from his master, Phillip Ludwell Lee on July 31, 1734.
• While in Tennessee, George helped to establish the first church in Grainger County in 1788 which was located at the mouth of the Richland River. He served as the clerk of this church, called appropriately Richland Baptist Church. The minutes, which survive from the period of April 11, 1791 until August 8, 1795, were written by George.
• According to DAR documentation, George "rendered patriotic service in Botetourt County, VA" and that service was validated February 14, 1782. It is believed that he delivered supplies to the Revolutionary Army. See Public Service Claims Commission, Book I, Page 167, dated July 30, 1783 where George Halmark is cited as having been given a warrant for delivering goods to the Revolutionary Army in January of 1781.

HISTORY OF THE FIRST HALLMARK IN AMERICA:
by James Hallmark of Crockett, Texas
Hallmark Historical Quarterly is: 526 Caravaca Dr, Garland,TX 75043 (c/o William O. Hallmark)
"George Hallmark, the presumed progenitor of all the Hallmarks in the United States, is believed to have been born in 1742 in Marbury, England, the illegitimate son of Mary Hallmark. He died some seventy plus years later in northern Alabama, having fathered some ten or eleven children who survived to adulthood. In 1989 there were 1231 family units with the last name of Hallmark listed in phone directories throughout the continental United States. All these families are believed to be descendants of George Hallmark and his wife Leanna Mynatt (Hallmarks Across America)." In the preface to the Paul Henderson"Hallmark" listing of 1995, written by Gloria Hallmark Jo hnson, who had visited
Olwen Taylor in England just a little before writing this. "The first reference we have to George is his baptismal record dated 23 June 1742. He was listed in the church records of St. Oswald's (Anglican) Church, Malpas, England, as the "illegitimate son of Mary Hallmark," and as such was
given her surname. The name of the father was not given nor has it been determined."
"St. Oswald's Church rest on a small hill in the center of the small town of Malpas, Cheshir e County, east of Wales. It is an old Norman town built during the Middle Ages with the duty of keeping the peace in the nearby Welsh borderlands. Inside the church at the back wall, one can still find the stone baptismal font with its oak cover on which is carved the date of 1627. It was here that the infant George Hallmark was brought to be baptized. Along the tops of the columns in the central aisle are embellished family crest. The nave ceiling has a rich array of carvings, bosses, and angels." (Malpas, Chester History Sheet 3)
"Crown Papers" - 1764 - 1767
Found in Mrs. Taylor's book is the following:
"Crown Papers, Summer 1764 to Lent 1767"
"George Candiland alias Halmark"

"...The next reference to George can be found in the records of the Crown Court Papers, February 9, 1766, Shrewsbury, county of Shropshire, Oxford Circuit, where George is c harged with stealing a
linen handkerchief containing monies. He pleaded "not guilty." The Summer 1764-Lent 1767 Court Records show that "George Candiland alias Hallmark" was indicted "for Felony Stealing One Linnen Hand kerchief Value 2d, half a sovereign in gold and eleven
shillings in monies of Andrew Mansell the Younger at the Parish of Whitchurch, North Shropshi re on the borders of Cheshire, 12 January sixth year of the reign of George the Third."
(1766) "Proved guilty. No goods. To be transported for seven years...
At the Assizes of Shrewsbury held 22 day March sixth year of Lord Sovereign George III King of Great Britain..." Oxford Circuit of Crown Papers.
Charles Pigott, Esq., Sheriff"
*Note from Olwen: . . . . "Modern money = just about one American dollar!
Pleaded "not guilty" nor "fled" No ship's name was given."
In "Bonded Passengers to America, 1663-1775," by Peter Wilson Coldham, a 3 volume set, there is a volume sub-titled "Western Oxford, Norfolk, Northern and Midland Circuits" which mentions George Halmark. His name is to be found in Shropshire, page 57, where he is listed as "Candiland alias Hallmark, George" or on page 60 as "Halmark, George see Candiland." It is assumed by some that Candiland was his real father's name.
Olwen Allmark Taylor reports that there were families of that last name in this area at the time. There is no evidence, however, to support or dispute this supposition which has been further perpetuated by entry into the Ancestral File, TN
Vers. 4.2, of the Latter Day Saints Genealogy Files. It is assumed that he served his seven years as an indentured servant, in the colony of Virginia.
*Hallmark research compiled by: Olwen Allmark Taylor of England for the Guild of One Name Studies for the name Hallmark/Allmark. In a letter to Jimmie Meadors dated 6 Sep 1993, Olwen said "The more you learn of ancient history and the legal laws of the 1700-1800, the more
likely it is that George was innocent. He pleaded not guilty--no goods (the
handerchief) were found on him, and he "did not flee". Labour was short on
some plantations and just like the "pressgangs" of the navy, so I believe
there were "rich pickings" for transporting men across the seas. I would
like to think you-all gave my kinsman the benefit of the doubt. We all do
here. He came from a family (through Mary) who were always connected with
the Church--Church Wardens, Oversears of the Poor, etc.
The first documented reference to George Hallmark in America was in Virginia in what is now B otetourt County (then Fincastle County) where he appeared on a list of delinquent tax payers returned by Daniel Trigg, Deputy Sheriff for the year 1773. (Fincastle County was created in 1772 from Botetort and abolished in 1777) At a court held for Fincastle December 6, 1774, a list of delinquents in the New River and reed Creek Area was recorded by the court as that part containing tithables that ought to be received by the vestry of the Parish of Botetort. George Holmark [Hallmark] was on this list. (Kegley, pp. 103-06) It is thought he served 7 years on a plantation in the Chesapeake Bay area of Virginia, wher e he might have met Richard Mynatt, Leannah's Father, who was an indentured servant at Stratford Hall, the Lee Family plantation. We have found a Candiland family in the Norbury area of England about the time of his birth, but nothing has been proven. By circa 1773, George had married or "taken up with" Leannah Mynott. There appears to be no recorded documentation of a marriage. Marriages at this time, however, were performed by the Episcopal (Anglican) Church and were very expensive, often not within the means of most people. Leannah was the daughter of Richard Mynatt and Sarah Cummings, also English immigrants. Richard had been indentured at the age of 20 for four years as a cook to
the honorable Thomas Lee, Esquire of Virginia. He earned eight pounds sterling per year cooking in the kitchen of the Lee's, a good wage for a cook. His place in history is secured by his being the first indentured servant to sue successfully for release from his master, Phillip Ludwell Lee, heir of Thomas Lee, July 31, 1754. (Kamikaw and Westmoreland Orders) "Rev. War Record" - 1780 - 1782
Abstract of Record Virginia State Library, Richmond, VA 23219 George Halmark's claim for payment for service as a butcher and drover [driver] during the American Revolution were ordered to be paid at a meeting of the Botetourt County C ourt, on April 11, 1782.(Public Service Claims, Botetourt Court, p19) Again on July 30, 1783 George Hallmark was granted a warrant for horsehire services to the militia in January of 1781. (Public Service Claims Commission Book I, p166) According to DAR documentation of Mary Spence Wooters, DAR National #562047, George "rendered patriotic service in
Botetourt County, Va." She cites the same reference, page 167. It would appear that George had trouble getting paid for delivering goods to the militia of our revolutionary army.
"North Carolina Land Grants in Tennessee", 1778-1791
Land Grant, #1843, issued to George Halmark, for 350 acres on both sides of Lick Creek in wha t is now Greene County. In 1787 area was known as the State of Franklin, which existed from 1784 to 1788 (though never admitted to the United States as a state).
On June 7, 1783, in the state of North Carolina, John Armstrong, Entry Officer of Claims in t he Western Lands, issued warrant #254 which was a request for a land survey for Geo. Hallmark's homestead. The land survey warrant was entered on October 22, 1783. The survey was made on December 10, 1784. On September 20, 1787 George was [officially] granted his land. He paid ten pounds British Sterling for each hundred acres of land. (NC land Grants in TN, 1787, Greene Co.)
On February 8, 1792, George sold his land on Lick Creek. He sold the 140 acres on the north s ide of the creek to Andrew McFerran for forty-five pounds Sterling and 210 acres on the south side to John Blair for one hundred pounds. (Greene Co. TN land records book)
After selling his land in Greene County, TN, George Hallmark and family moved further west in to Grainger County. In 1792 he was a member of the first church founded in Grainger County, established by the Baptists in 1788 at the mouth of the Richland River in what is now the town of Blaine. "The names of the first members could not be ascertained, but the delegates to the (Baptist or Holston) Association in 1794"...included George Hallmark. (Goodspeed's History of TN; and Richland Baptist Church Minutes) "Clerk of Richland Baptist Church, Holston Baptist Association, TN" 1792- 1795 (Minutes of this church are published in "Tennessee Ancestors", Vol. #3,
(2), Aug 1987)
1. p1 of Church Record says "Church Book of Richland Baptist Church,
Holston Baptist Association, TN. From 11 April 1791 to 8 August 1795.
2. p2 says, "Richland Baptist Manual Christian Church Book, 11 April 1791,
Robert Field, Clerk (George Hallmark is now clerk.)
3. During a meeting 2nd October 1792, "Brother Hallmark" was elected "Clark".
4. During a meeting of 14 Feb 1795 at Richland Church, George Hallmark and
wife "Leonah" asked for a letter of dismissal from the Church. Signed by
order of the Church, George Hallmark Clerk.
5. According to Tennessee Ancestors, the last date George Hallmark signed
the church minutes as clerk was 11 June 1795. Does not say why he
continued to stay after asking for dismissal.
6. The "Regeler Baptist Church Covenant" is signed by a number of people
belonging to this church. Names found among them are George Hallmark,
Clerk, Leonah Hallmark, William Mynatt and Lileah Mynatt.
As stated above, George served as a clerk of Richland Baptist Church from October 2, 1792 unt il at least August 8, 1795. The minutes which survive from the period of April 11, 1791, through August 8, 1795, note George's appointment as "clerk" spelled in the English fashion, as "clark". mentioned in the minutes are other familiar family
names--William Mynatt (Leannah's brother) and his wife Lileah or Lydia, David Satterwhite, Samuel and Kiziah Hughes, and Edward Freels. In the 1795 minutes for February 14th and March 14th church meetings, it is mentioned that the Hallmark and the Mynatt families were authorized to have "a letter of Dismission" from the church. They were moving on, but apparently did not do so at least until after August 8th, 1795 as George remained clerk through that time. (TN Ancestors transcripts, Aug 1987)
No record has been found of George's ownership of any land in the period after he sold the land in Greene County in February 1792 until he purchased land in Knox County in August 1795. During this period George Hallmark's family attended Richland Baptist Church in Blaine, Grainger County. Travel was slow and arduous at this time, and it is likely that they lived somewhere in the vicinity of Blaine in Grainger County. A record dated August 21, 1795, shows that George Hallmark purchased 400 acres in Knox County from Joseph Beard. (Knox Co. TN land records, book B 1, pp. 286-7) In 1797 George Hallmark was listed as a founding member of the Little Flat Creek Baptist Chur ch in Knox County
(Flat Creek is now called Corryton). Flat Creek Church was organized August 18, 1797, with John Parker as moderator and George Hallmark as clerk. It may be the oldest church congregation in the county still in existence. The original log cabin church was standing as of 1987, although in deteriorated condition. Some of the land in the Flat Creek area belonged to the Mynatt Family, and in 1826, Martin Mynatt reserved an acre where the graveyard and old church stands--at the present railroad crossing on Emory Road. The minutes of the Little Flat Creek Church show that
on the third Saturday of October of 1799, George Hallmark was selected to be ordained a Deacon of that church on July 3, 1801. (History of Little Flat Creek Church 1797-1986 and also 1981 newspaper article on same, pg176 of notes of Miss Mary Hallmark and Fred McCaleb)
"On the 25th of December 1802 delegates from nineteen Baptist Churches, formerly belonging t o the Holston Association, assembled at Beaver Creek Meeting-house in Knox County, and organized the Tennesee Baptist (or River) Association, depending on which source you read. The Reverend William Johnson was chosen moderator and Francis Hamilton, clerk...Of the nineteen churches represented, five were located in Knox County. They were Beaver Ridge, Hickory Creek, Fork of Holston, French Broad, and Little Flat Creek represented by Richard Newport, Eli Scraggs, and George Hallmark..." In 1803 George was again a delegate from Flat Creek to the Association, and the church was
reported to have thirty-six members. Again in 1804, George was among the delegates from Flat Creek, reported to have sixty-two members. In October of 1805, the church had fifty-two members, with the Reverend William Johnson at its head. George Hallmark and the Reverend Johnson were delegates to the [1805] meeting.(Goodspeed's History of Tennessee, pp. 898-99; The French Broad-Holston Country: A History of Knox County TN by the East TN Historical Society, 1946; and Brief Baptist Biographies, 1707-1982 by Robert Hamby) On January 29, 1806, George sold four hundred acres to George Faust for $800. (Knox County La nd Records, Book M 1, pp. 87-88) George Hallmark was listed again in Knox County, TN in 1806 as a member of Captain John Reynold's Company. This is a group of property owners organized into military like units for the purpose of tax collection. George was listed because he owed taxes on the property that he owned the previous year. (Volume 26, East
TN Historical Society Publ. of Early East TN Taxpayers, 1806, compiled by Pollyanna Creekmore, Knox Co., TN) Little mention is made of George's wife Leannah Mynatt Hallmark who spent her life with George and bore him one daughter and perhaps as many as ten surviving sons. She is listed along with her brother and sister-in-law, William and Lileah Mynatt, in the minutes of the Richland Baptist Church in 1795 as a signer of the "Regeler Baptist Church Covenant". According to Paul Henderson's account, Leannah died and was buried in the Mynatt Family Cemetery, Knox County, TN. (It is assumed that she died before the family left Knox County, perhaps around the time that George
sold the land there in 1806.) In an 1809 account of a Rhea County,TN newspaper, mention is made of 'passing by' the old Hal lmark place. Apparently George and his family, probably after Leannah's death, had lived there for some time. By 1809 they were located in the Mississippi Territory (which later became Madison County, Alabama) according to the territorial census of adult men. George Hallmark was listed as a taxpayer as were sons George, Richard, and William. This is the last
verifiable recorded mention of George. The 1816 Madison County, Mississippi Territory census lists a George and Richard Hallmark. Some have assumed that this was George Sr., but it is more likely to have been his son since only one George was mentioned. The Federal census of 1820 did not list a George Hallmark in the older George's age group. It is assumed, therefore, that George died prior to the census. George Hallmark traveled from England to Alabama, from Anglicanism to Primitive Baptist, from convicted criminal to avid church member. He was a citizen of the times who was strong enough to flourish in this wilderness country. I admire his perserverance and spirit. I am proud to be his descendant. In 1809, George buys 160 acres of land at Allreds Creek, Madison County, M.T., AL.
1809 "Squatter's Census" Madison Co., M.T. AL p. 8
George Hallmark Senr. 1m over 21 2 f over 21 2m under 21
Madison Co., MS Territory. Squatter's Census - 1809
From "Valley Leaves", published by TN Valley Genealogical Society,
Huntsville, Madison County, AL Vol. 6, #4, June 1972, p8.
George Hallmark, Senr.
3 males under 21 1 male over 212 females over 21
(Others listed with families on this census were William, George Jr. and
Richard Hallmark)(From same source.)
Madison Co, MS Terr. 1809 Register of Applications & Permissions:
George Hallmark, #206, 30 Jan 1809 Allreds Creek, R1E, T5, Sec.4, 160 acres,
Permission granted 8 Feb 1809.
(Also listed in the above were "permissions" for William Hallmark and George
Hallmark, Jr.)
"By 1805 pioneers began making unauthorized settlements in the area known
today as Madison County, Alabama, but in 1805 this land belonged to the
Cherokee and Chickasaw Indians. Soon, however, the Indians ceded a
triangular shaped section of land to the U.S. government so that a legal
place of residence could be established for the settlers. Thomas Freeman, a
Government Surveyor, was assigned to survey the lands in the "Triangle"
which became Madison County, Mississippi Territory on December 13, 1808. At
this time no one owned, or could own, any of this land, thus these pioneers
were "squatting" on public domain, most with the hope of being allowed to
purchase their homesteads. A census of the inhabitants within the bounds of
the newly-formed county was taken in January 1809 by Mr. Freeman. Also
empowered to act as Registrar, he received the "squatters" applications to
buy their land and, after a small fee was paid, permission was granted them
to remain as "tenants at will" on their lands with rights to purchase at
auction at a Public Land Sale. The first sale of land in this county was
held in August 1809 in Nashville, Tennessee, and through the public sale of
Federal lands, fee simple titles were established. Prior to 1818, Madison
County was the only legally settled area in what is now North Alabama.
All the 1809 documents are filed under "Letters Received from the
Surveyor General of Mississippi" - General Land Office (RG 49), National
Archives, Washington, DC 20408."
"Census of Madison County, Mississippi Territory" - 1810
(The area where George Hallmark & Family lived is now in Madison County,Alabama)
1. Benjamin Stidham, Madison County, MS Territory.*
2. George Hallmark, Madison County, MS Territory.
3. George, Jr. Hallmark, Madison County, MS Territory. 4. George, Hallmark, Madison County, Indian Creek.
5. George, Jr. Hallmark, Madison County, Indian Creek.
6. Richard Hallmark, Madison County, MS Territory.
7. Wm. Hallmark, Madison County, MS Territory.
8. Wm. Hallmark, Madison County, Indian Creek.
*(Benjamin Stidham was the father of Isaac Stidham who married George's daughter Mary (Polly ) Hallmark 3 Nov
1809, Madison County, MS Territory.)
More About George Hallmarke:
Christening: June 24, 1742, illegitimate son of Mary Hallmark
Father:: biological fathers name: Candiland
Immigration: 1766, Bondage ship, "Ann"
Location: 1809, buys 160 acres of land in Madison Co., AL
Name (Facts Pg): spelling changed to Hallmark in America
Occupation: 1790, church clerk in Grainger Co., TN .