George Hall

son of Dr. Joseph Hall sometimes Bishop of Exeter, and afterwards of Norwich, was born at Waltham Abbey in Essex, (where his Father had been a constant Preacher for above 20 years) had the seeds of virtue sown in him very early by his said Father, who, when this his Son was ripe for the Univ. sent him to Exeter Coll. an. 1628 aged 16 years: Where living in the condition of a commoner under a noted and careful Tutor, he became Fellow of that house, an. 1632, and afterwards proceeding in Arts, took holy Orders, became Archdeacon of Cornwall, and Vicar of Mayhenet in that County. What his sufferings were in the time of rebellion I know not: Sure I am that several years before his Majesties restauration, he was first preacher of S. Barthelmews near to the Old Exchange, and afterwards Vicar of S. Botolphs Church without Aldersgate, in London; and that after his Majesties restauration he became one of his Chaplains, Canon of Windsore in the place of Dr. G. Goodman who had held it in Commendam with the See of Glocester, Doctor of Divinity actually created, and Archdeacon of Canterbury. At length upon the death of Dr. Hen. Ferne, he was consecrated Bishop of Chester, on the eleventh day of May, an. 1662, and about the same time had the rectory of Wigan in Lancashire confer’d on him by Sir Orlando Bridgman then chief Justice of the Common-pleas: Which rich rectory he kept in Commendam with his See to his dying day. He hath written and published,

Several Sermons, viz. (1) Gods appearing for the tribe of Levie, Serm. preached at S. Pauls 8. Nov. 1655 to the Sons of the Ministers, on Rom. 8.31. Lond. 1656. qu. (2) Serm. at Court, on Psal. 7.9. Lond. 1666. oct. &c. He hath also written a book against Papists and Popery entit.

The triumphs of Rome over despised protestancy. Lond. 1655. qu. there again 1667. oct. He paid his last debt to nature in the rectory house at Wigan before mentioned, on the 23. of Aug. in sixteen hundred sixty and eight,1668. and was buried at the east end of the Rectors Chancel there. Over his grave was soon after a large marble stone laid, with this inscription thereon. P. M. S. ejus repostus pulvere in sacro cinis expectat istic ultimae sonum Tubae, mendace qui ne falleret titulo lapis sonum hoc sepulchro jussit incidi suo.

Georgius Hall S. Th. Pr. Ecclesiae dei servus inutilis, sed cordatus, D. Josephi Hall Praesulis pientissimi, primo Exoniensis, dein Norwicensis, scriptis semper victuri filius, (imo umbra potius) sex inter septemque annos sedit, non meruit, Cestriae Episcopus; denatus aetatis suae anno LV. Christi vero MDCLXVIII.—Mirare lector Praesulis modestiam, aliunde quaeras caetera. By his last Will and Test. he gave to Exeter Coll. after the decease of his Wife Gertrude, (who was afterwards buried under the same marble) his Golden cup and all his Estate of land at Trethewen in S. Germans in Cornwall, to the end that they be employed to the best commodity and advantage of the said Coll. by the Rector and Fellows thereof, with the advice of Dr. John Fell Dean of Ch. Ch. if he be then living.