have hit some huge brick walls with a GGG Grandfather
Van Rensalaer Hall.

I just came across an 1860 and 1880 census from a Farming family of Hall's in Floyd, Iowa who were born in NY and had a son named Van Rensalaer Hall born in 1848.

My VR Hall was born around 1792 and died in 1857 BUT my thoughts are that this is such an unusual name that the father, Edward C. Hall (wife Samantha) may have named his son after his brother.

The following will give you some background on my Van Rensalaer Hall. Also, feel free to visit my website for additional information:

http://demartinofamily.tribalpages.com

Briefly, I have found records of VR Hall’s existence from 1835 through his death in 1857, primarily through his US Navy service records, those records do NOT include anything about his birth date, place of birth or anything prior to his service beginning in 1835.

He is buried in Cypress Hill National Cemetery in Brooklyn, NY where he lived and dies (died at the Brooklyn Navy yard, buried there and re--interred in 1927 at Cypress Hills National Cemetery).

The only mention of a "place of birth" is on his children's death certificates that indicate his place of birth as "upstate NY".

It has been very frustrating not being able to locate any records as his name is unusual, Van Rensalaer Hall.

I have finally come across a reference in the 1851 publication of HISTORY OF THE CAYUGA BAPTIST ASSOCIATION, COMPILED FROM AUTHENTIC RECORDS, AT THE REQUEST OF THE ASSOCIATION, by A. Russell Belden.

The reference simply says: a Van Rensalaer Hall was the PASTOR of the Genoa and Locke Baptist Church from 1823-1826.

Additionally, I have searched records in Albany and Columbia counties -NY. What lead me there was not only the information that was listed on the death certificates of VR’s children (although VR died at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, was in the Navy for some 20+ years and was buried first at the Brooklyn Navy Yard I have been unable to locate a death certificate with the Navy or NYC) that said Fathers Place of Birth, “Upstate NY” but also that fact that his wife, Charlotte (the other brick wall) has listed on her death certificate Born in “Kinderhook”, to be buried in “Albany” and her maiden name was “Van Deusen (Van Duzen)”.