'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 Northumberland () is a county in Northern England, one of two counties in England which border with Scotland. Notable landmarks in the county include Alnwick Castle, Bamburgh Castle, Hadrian's Wall and Hexham Abbey. It is bordered by land ...

. He was a member of

Clan Hall Clan Hall is a clan of Norman descent. The clan has no position under Scots law as contrary to modern myth they were not Scots, nor considered themselves as such, and have no chief recognised by the Court of the Lord Lyon. History Scottish hist ...

, a Scottish clan of Norman descent and owned the Otterburn Tower in

Redesdale Redesdale is a valley in western Northumberland, England. It is formed by the River Rede, which rises in the Cheviots and flows down to join the North Tyne at Redesmouth. Redesdale is traversed by the A68 trunk road, which enters Scotland vi ...

, Northumberland; 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 1624 and died 1692. John "Mad Jack" Hall's wife was Alderman Hutchison's daughter, Mary. They were married in

Newcastle Newcastle usually refers to: *Newcastle upon Tyne, a city and metropolitan borough in Tyne and Wear, England *Newcastle-under-Lyme, a town in Staffordshire, England *Newcastle, New South Wales, a metropolitan area in Australia, named after 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 The Jacobite rising of 1715 ( gd, Bliadhna Sheumais ; or 'the Fifteen') was the attempt by James Edward Stuart (the Old Pretender) to regain the thrones of England, Ireland and Scotland for the exiled Stuarts. At Braemar, Aberdeenshire ...

. 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 Oliver Cromwell (25 April 15993 September 1658) was an English politician and military officer who is widely regarded as one of the most important statesmen in English history. He came to prominence during the 1639 to 1651 Wars of the Three Ki ...

's time as sequestrators of rebels, now we are going to lose them for being rebels." He was beheaded at

Tyburn Tyburn was a manor (estate) in the county of Middlesex, one of two which were served by the parish of Marylebone. The parish, probably therefore also the manor, was bounded by Roman roads to the west (modern Edgware Road) and south (modern O ...

for

high treason Treason is the crime of attacking a state authority to which one owes allegiance. This typically includes acts such as participating in a war against one's native country, attempting to overthrow its government, spying on its military, its diplo ...

on 13 July 1716. He was described as a "violent, passionate and indiscreet man" but who was highly generous and beloved by his men. It was his fiery and energetic temper which procured him the name of "Mad Jack Hall of Otterburn".

References

1716 deaths English Jacobites People from Northumberland Executed Scottish people People executed at Tyburn People executed for treason against the United Kingdom People executed by the Kingdom of Great Britain Otterburn, Northumberland 1672 births People executed by the United Kingdom by decapitation {{Scotland-bio-stub