Buckingham Notables: Dr. William P. Hall
Perry Hill, Courtesy Virginia Department of Historic Resources
Judge Alexander Stuart Hall has been the subject of several posts at Slate River Ramblings. His father, Dr. William P. Hall, of Perry Hill in Buckingham County, earned an especially lengthy obituary in the Staunton Spectator on April 11, 1888. Many thanks to Mary Carolyn Mitton for sharing it!
Death of Dr. Wm. P. Hall.
Dr. William Paxton Hall, eldest son of the late Alexander S. Hall, long a leading Staunton merchant, and one of its most honored citizens, died at his residence, “Perry Hall” (sic) Buckingham county, on the 2nd instant, in the 66th year of his age. The deceased, after acquiring a good education, studied medicine with the late Dr. Addison Waddell, and afterwards graduated at Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia.
He commenced, the practice of his profession at Prince Edward C. H., but soon removed to Howardsville, a thriving commercial town on James River in Albemarle county, where he soon became proficient in his profession and very popular with the people.
A few years after his location there, he married the only daughter of the late Col. Thomas M. Bondurant a distinguished member of the Virginia Senate, one of the largest property-holders in Buckingham county, and for thirty years preceding his death, the largest holder of the stock of the Richmond Whig newspaper establishment.
After marriage, Dr. Hall settled upon a patrimonial estate near Buckingham Court-house where he continued to reside to the close of life. An only daughter died some years since. He leaves a widow and three sons, Alexander S., Judge of Buckingham County Court, one in Lynchburg, and one at home.
Of his brothers and sisters, four reside in this city, Mrs. Wm. B. Kayser, Mrs. C. H. Tipping, Mrs. Virginia L. Thompson, and Edward. Three other brothers, Dr. Lucien and Major Houston in Albemarle and Alexander in Maryland, also survive him.
On his maternal side, Dr. Hall was descended from the Paxtons of the North River Valley in Rockbridge, distinguished for their adherence to the tenets of the Presbyterian church and in upholding the cause of civil and religious liberty in colonial times. From both father and mother he inherited sterling qualities which were prominent through his life. He was highly esteemed by the people with whom he cast his lot, and all mourn his death.
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slate river ramblings . . . . 
Dear Reader:
This lovely Buckingham County home called “Perry Hill” was built by Thomas Moseley Bondurant for his daughter Angelina Judith upon her marriage to Mr. Hall. Col. Bondurant was the owner of The Richmond Whig and served in the Virginia State Senate. Mrs. Hall’s mother was the former Marcia Moseley, sister of Dr. William P. Moseley of “Wheatland.” She and Col. Bondurant were members of the family of Robert Moseley of “Willow Lake,” who settled in Buckingham County before the Revolution. The Moseleys of “Marshall Place” in Buckingham are the last “Moseleys” of this once very conspicuous Buckingham family. Living descendants of the Moseleys of “Wheatland” would include Joanne Johnson King Herring of Houston, who was presented to us in that marvelous, recent film, Charlie Wilson’s War.
Dear Harry, Many thanks for your comment. We’ll be hearing more about Col. Thomas M. Bondurant in subsequent posts. Joanne