As a young man he "walked Guy's Hospital" as part of his training to
be a doctor. However, according to family legend he abandoned this career
in order take up the inheritance of Shackerstone. On 22 November 1815 he
married his first cousin and they settled in a very
pleasant part of London, on the south bank of the Thames, called Walcot
Place, which is in the parish of Lambeth. From London they moved to Lambourne
in Essex.
In October 1829 with his wife and six children he embarked on the "Protector"
arriving in Western Australia on 26 February 1830. Shortly afterwards one
more child, Edward Frank, was born. He brought several servants and qualified
for a grant of 8360 acres selected at Mandurah. Later the family moved
to "Wungong", Armadale.
In early 1834 his wife took two children, Sarah Louisa and Henry Hastings,
back to England for their education as well as to attempt to sort out some
of the family's finances. She returned on the "Adam" in November 1834.
Also in November 1834, their son, the five-year-old James Anderton, was
lost but, after almost two days, found by two aboriginals.
In 1835 Captain Frederick Chidley Irwin, in his book "The State and
Position of Western Australia Commonly Called the Swan River Settlement"
made the following observations: "Mr. Hall is a man of singular firmness
and intrepidity. He is residing with his wife and
children and his servants on the left bank of the river, and other
settlers being located on the opposite side. This gentleman has mingled
more with the aborigines in that district and obtained a greater influence
over them than any other settler. He has been known to pass several days
together alone with them in the bush, and has thus acquired a considerable
knowledge of their habits and language.
A favourite project of his just before the author left the colony was
a fishery which he had actually commenced with the assistance of the natives,
and on one occasion he came to Fremantle along the coast in his boat manned
and rowed by a party of them. The circumstance, whilst it shows the remarkable
influence this settler had acquired, evinces
also the docility and quickness of the natives. Mr. Hall is of commanding
appearance, and is generally habited in a singular costume, of which a
conical hat usually worn by Malays forms not the least conspicuous part."
In July 1863 Henry Hastings Hall drew his fellow colonists' attention
to the plight of the native people at Mandurah and elsewhere during the
winter months by writing to the "Inquirer" newspaper. On trading enterprises,
he made frequent visits overseas with his
sons. He was also a merchant, farmer, medical practitioner and hotel
proprietor.
Source: Leo van de Pas |
