Martha Hall Commemorative Plaque

Martha Hall Commemorative Plaque
Martha Hall Commemorative Plaque
2010/12449

1950-2000 / B/W / Paper / Photograph / The Wesley Family / Wesley's Chapel
Photograph
c.1950s

Black and white photograph of Martha Hall's memorial plaque on John Wesley's monument at Wesley's Chapel, City Road.

Martha Hall, nee Wesley (1706-1791) was John Wesley's younger sister. She was married to Wes(t)ley Hall, a clergyman, in 1735 and they had 10 children, none of whom reached adulthood. Wes(t)ley was unfaithful to Martha and had many mistresses, eventually running off to the West Indies and leaving Martha behind.

In later life, Martha pursued a lively social life in London, her acquaintances including Dr Samuel Johnson (1709-1784). She died four months after John in 1791 and was buried beside him in the same crypt.