I have Halsall in my family line as well. The similarity in your oral history and mine merits some thought.

My Halsall line is from North Meols, a part of present day Southport Lancs. There was a man in the family that was called “Darky Pete,” affectionately I am sure. His name was Peter Halsall. I recently saw a picture in a publication of Southport of long ago and I think I saw what would be him. He was seated in front of his business in the market and was a provision dealer. I confirmed his identity in the 1881 census. The picture was dated 1907. He was born in 1833 or 1834 in North Meols. His brother would be my G.G. grandfather Richard Halsall born 1827 in same town. Their parents were Peter Halsall and Dorothy Hodge.

My parent’s say that my Grandmother, Margaret Jackson, whose maternal line was Halsall had a slightly darker toned complexion also. According to her account of the reason for it was also a shipwreck but of a Portuguese vessel sometime in the past, not sure when.

As for the town of Halsall it is very close to Southport. I have not made any connection of my family’s Halsalls to that town as of yet. I have not been able to find any information as to the origin of the name of the town Halsall.