William Hunt of Concord

Biography

From https://www.werelate.org/wiki/Person:William_Hunt_%286%29

William HUNT left Yorkshire, ENG in 1635 with Peter Bulkley among others and was one of the founders of the town of Concord, MA

June 2, 1641 he was made freeman. He moved to Marlboro, where he resided at the time of his death. He made his will 21 Oct 1667 and it was probated 17 Dec 1667. In his will he leaves to his heirs fifteen parcels of land containing six hundred and twenty-six acres and other property appraised at five hundred and ninety-six pounds twelve shillings, in Concord and property of the value of thirty-six pounds eighteen shillings in Marlborough.

Hunts among "first families" of the MA Bay Colony, the immigrant William Hunt - founder of Concord whose lineage is found in Burke's "American Families of British Descent" a supplement to "Burke's Landed Gentry". According to Burke, William came from Salisbury in Wiltshire, but was born in Halifax, Yorkshire in 1605. The family name had been prominent there as it appeared in England with the conquest of William the Conqueror and his followers from Normandy.

Hunt married Elizabeth Best [SIC] in England and she died 1661 in Concord. He died at Marlboro, MA in 1667 leaving a will in which he mentions children Isaac, Nehemiah, Samuel and Elizabeth.

Source: The Background of Iowa Territorial Pioneers

Family

Parents unknown. Birth seen as January 27, 1604 Halifax, Yorkshire, England, son of Robert Hunt, of Halifax, without supporting evidence

Married

1. Elizabeth (unknown)
2. Mercy (unknown) widow of 1st, Thomas Brigham & 2nd, Edmund Rice

Children

1. Samuel Hunt 1631 – unknown
2. Nehemiah Hunt 1633–1718
3. Isaac Hunt 1647–1680
4. Elizabeth (Hunt) Barnes [Barron]

Family notes

From https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Best-11

"Robert Best of Sudbury, in his will dated 21 June 1654, probated 21 March 1654/5, remembered William Hunt and the latter's five children-- Samuel, Nehemiah, Isaac, Elizabeth and Hannah. Robert referred both to William Hunt and to William's son Samuel as his 'cousin.' [NEHGR 17:155]. Some think that William Hunt's first wife was a near relative of Robert Best. However, although she was then living, Best left nothing to her, and it was William himself whom he called 'cousin.' The exact relationship is not determined, but as 'cousin' was often used for nephew, it is possible that Best was uncle of William Hunt."[1]

Disputed Parents, Wife and Children

From https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Hunt-80

Researchers take care with this profile. It has a lot of errors. No serious genealogist has ever suggested the parents or origins of William Hunt. There is no evidence he was identical to the man up in Halifax. Also three of the children shown: Susannah, Ann and Mary are not his children. For correct information Robert Charles Anderson suggests these three sources for this man: TAG 30:100-3, 175; Hoyt 211; Smith-Hale 135-38. Smith-Hale can be checked out here: Ancestry and posterity of Joseph Smith and Emma Hale His parents and three daughters mentioned above should be detached. Anderson considers the surname "Best" of Elizabeth his wife, to be inconclusive at best [GM2:1:402] because "Cousin" doesn't mean sister.

Wife Elizabeth died 27 Dec 1661. He married second wife in 1664 Mercy (____) who was the widow first of Thomas Brigham and widow second of Edmund Rice.[2],[3]. Her last name has sometimes been referred to as "Hurd" but this has not been documented.

William removed from Concord to Marlborough, Massachusetts, where he died in October 1667.[4][5]. Although some Wood researchers have implied that William had a daughter Ann (who had a "sister" Mary), neither is mentioned in his will. The will is dated 23 Oct 1667 at Marlborough, Massachusetts [6] and mentions wife Mary [should be Marcy or Mercy], sons Samuel, Nehemiah and Isaac; and daughter of Elizabeth Barnes.[7]

Ann Wood (1637-1714) was NOT the daughter of William Hunt (1604 - 1667) & Elizabeth Best (1607 - 1661). Married Thomas Wood.

“Although some Wood researchers have implied that William had a daughter Ann (who had a "sister" Mary), neither is mentioned in his will.”

Old data

WILLIAM1 HUNT (1) was born on 27 Jan 1604/5 at Halifax, Yorkshire, England. He married Elizabeth Best (2) on 10 Nov 1628 at Rossington, Yorkshire, England (Bobbi Dodge, online http://wc.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=robertadbd&id=I3749, Bobbi Dodge (World Connect on Rootsweb), downloaded 27 jan 2008.). He married Mercy Hurd (8) in 1664. He died in Oct 1667 at Marlborough, Massachusetts, at age 62.

He is presumably the William Hunt, b. in the Parish of Halifax, Yorkshire, ENG, 27 Jan 1604/5, son of Robert Hunt of Halifax. He m. Elizabeth Best, sister of Robert Best (he died in Sudbury, MA, in 1654 leaving property to the children of William Hunt). Wife Elizabeth died 27 Dec 1661 and he m. 2nd in 1664 Mercy Hurd who was the widow first of Thomas Brigham and widow second of Edmund Rice. William removed from Concord to Marlborough, MA , where he died in Oct 1667. (Vermont Hunt families in 1791 Census by Mitchell J. Hunt; Oct. 1990). Although some Wood researchers have implied that William had a daughter Ann (who had a "sister" Mary), the absence of mention of either of these in his will makes this unlikely. (ejh). He immigrated in 1635 to Concord, Middlesex County, Massachusetts (Thomas B. Wyman, Genealogy of the Name and Family of Hunt (5, Water Street, Boston, Massachusetts: John Wilson and Son, 1862-3), p 90. Hereinafter cited as Hunt Genealogy.).

Will

He left a will on 23 Oct 1667 at Marlborough, Massachusetts (Bobbi Dodge, 27 jan 2008.) (Thomas B. Wyman, Hunt Genealogy, pp 42-44.);

I WILLIAM HUNT of Marlborough in New England being weake in body but thanks be to god in pfeet memory doe resigne and giue my soule into the hands of almighty God; and doe dispose of my Worldly estate as followeth revoakeing al or any former will or wills whatsoever.

Item I doe give and bequeath to Merey hunt my welbeloved Wife all my Cart and plow Irons hear at Marlborough one spade also one bedsted & cord one paire of Curtians & valionts, one Chest, one Cubord, two Cushion stools, two Ioynestools, three Cushins, two frying pans, one peuter flaggon, one peuter bowle, one peior of Tongs, three smale peuter plates, one winnowing sheete, one forke, one little keeller, two hand pigine pails, one booke, one fine sheet;

Item I doe give and bequeath vnto my Eldest Sonn Samuell hunt my dwelling house in concord with barns and other buildings belonging to yt. alsoe six ackors of land and the orchard adjoyning to It, alsoe four ackors of land purchased of Joshua Edmuns, alsoe a piece of land by estimation ¦ about eight ackors adioyning to the northwest end of the land of Isaake hunt, alsoe a peice of land by estimation twenty ackors, adioyneing to a peice of land in the possession of John heals upon the est and the twenty score upon the west, alsoe ten ackors of medow near to the dwelling house lying upon the riuer, alsoe, elevene ackors of medow cald brooke medow, alsoe five ackors of medow cald Josephs medow, alsoe twenty ackors of land in the twenty score, alsoe one hundred thirtie eight ackors of laud in my second devision; alsoe fiftye ackors of land at brooke medow, alsoe the one halfe of Indson's lot,

Item I doe give and bequeth to my sonn Samuell hunt my best pentor dish one peuter cullender one table earpet one Cushin one ould bedsted in my house in my hous at Concord.

Item I doe give and bequeath vnto my sonn Nehemiah hunt twenty five ackors of land on which his hous standeth called Iudson's lot, alsoe thirtye ackors being my great lot eightene ackors of which I purchast of Mr. Peter Buckley, also one hundred eighty & eight ackors of laud cald second devision, alsoe five ackors of medow cald the bounds medow, alsoe elevene acors of medow cald Wigwam medow, alsoe five ackors of medow within the thirtie ackors cald my great lot, alsoe four acors of land adioyneing to his barne being purchased of Walter Edmuns; alsoe given to my sone Nehemiah hunt one featherbed & boulster the best bedd two pillowes one pilowbeer two cours sheets & one coverlit one bed cord one cushine one peior of andiorons, one smale ketle one owld bible two other books one bushell meassur.

Item, I doe give and bequeath unto my Sonn Isaake hunt seven ackors of land with a hous upon it purchased of Baptist Smedley & Joshua Edmuns alsoe two ackors of medow more or less lying in my second devision, alsoe twenty ackors of upland in the twenty scores, alsoe fiftye ackors of land in second devision already laid out and bounded, alsoe sixteen ackors of the lot purchased of Walter Edmuns running ouer the great hill alsoe two ackors of medow lying within the second devision of Jeams blood alsoe a little peice of medow purchased of John Smedley. alsoe I doe gine and bequeath to my sonn Isaake Hunt one feather bed & boulster two pilloues one red rug one blankit one pillow beer one fine sheet, alsoe the best bedsted in my hous at Concord one great ketle, one sword an belt one Iron Calibo in my hous at Concord.

Item I doe give and bequeath to my daughter Elizabeth barns two oxen in the hands of hinry Kearlye of lanckastor with the rent due for them from the said kearlye one old kow one two year old heifer alsoe one cuberd cloath one Cuberd Cushin & bed valients all of the same work alsoe one smale Cushin alsoe I doe give to her Child one morter & pestle; alsoe my will is that the rest of my peuter not disposed of an a brass scumer be equally devided between my two sonns nehemiah & Isack hunt, alsoe my will is that al that right in the villag belonging to any of my lands in concord be equally devided between my three sons Samuell, Nehemiah & Isack hunt; alsoe given to my sonn nehemiah hunt one winscote Chest, alsoe to his daughter one owlde trunke; alsoe my will is that my sonn Isack shall have that peice of land cald everels lot, also my will is that my sonn samuel hunt should make a deed of salle of that eighteen ackors of land that I soald to Joseph lampson, I say that my will is that my sonn Samuel make the said deed to Joseph Lampson and take twenty shillings ay year (?) for four years, and at the end of that said term to take possession of the said land in cass the said Joseph doe faile to pay fifteen pounds which is the som of the purchase of the said land to be deliuered in the bay in marchentable wheat beife or porke: alsoe I doe giue unto my sonn Samuel that kow or the prise of the kow that is in the hands of goodman bemen at lanckestor which by agreement is four pound ten shillings, further in lue of the owld cow and heifer willd to my daughter barns I doe bequeath to her four pounds ten shillings in the hands of Jeremiah Rogers & four pound five shillings in the hands of Josiah Whiteume both of lanckestor; alsoe to my sonn Samuel I doe bequeath one two year owld heifer for his sonn Wiliam Hunt, alsoe to my sonn Samuel my best Cloath suit & coat and the rest of my cattell not disposd to be devided between my two sonns nehemiah and Isack hunt equally and they to bear the Charg of my funerall and to pay three bushels of wheat to my three ouersecors, alsoe I doe apoint my three Sonns to be my lawful executors; and my beloved frinds Luke Potter thomas Browne & thomas bateman to be my ouerseeors in witnes wherof I haue herevnto set my hand

"William Hunt"

"Signd and seald in the presents of John Rideat senior Thomas Rice: & Peter Bent."

(On the Reverse Side.)

"Wheras tis said in this my will that the rest of the cattell not disposed of shalbe devided between my two sonns nehemiah & Isake hunt my will now is that my sonn nehemiah shale first choose one of my fat oxen two of the said vndisposed cattell being fat oxen and the remainder of the said catel to be devided as in this my will is expresd: further my will and pleesur is that my son Isack hunt shall keep for his own use the rent of my land improved by him this present yeare; as I have made my three sonns execntors together of this my will soe my ¦ will & pleasure is that they should take in all such debts as shall apear to be due to mee and alsoe to discharg any such debts as appeare to be due to any other from mee excepting onely what I have betrusted with my beloved
Coussane poter as witnes my hand this 23. 8. 1667. "William Hunt. [no seal.] "read signd and ownd in the presents of William Ward John Rideat senior and Peter Bemt"

(Will on Sheet 14 1/4X11 1/2, not folded.) "Probate of W. Hunt, Lib. iii. p. 63. At a Coun Court at Charlestowne Decemb 17, 1667 John Rediat sen. & Peter Bent appearing before the Court & being sworne do say that Willm Hunt above named deced signed sealed & declared this instrumt as his last Will & testamt, & yt whe so did he was of sound judgmt & memory. Only they excepted agt those clauses referring to funall Expenses & paying debts. "Tho. Danforth, R."

Left an estate valued at 596 pounds.

________________

• 'The Warren-Clarke genealogy : a record of persons related within the sixth degree to the children of Samuel Dennis Warren and Susan Cornelia Clarke (1894)
• http://www.archive.org/details/warrenclarkegene00hunt
• http://www.archive.org/stream/warrenclarkegene00hunt#page/n210/mode...
• ' Best, Elizabeth.
• Father :
• Mother :
• Birth :
• Death: Concord, Mass. Dec. 27, 1661
• 'Husband : William Hunt.
  • Issue : (See William Hunt.)
• Nehemiah Hunt, John Hunt, Ruth Hunt, Hannah Merriam, Susanna Grout, Samuel Dennis Warren.
• http://www.archive.org/stream/warrenclarkegene00hunt#page/n221/mode...
• ' Hunt, William.
• Father :
• Mother :
• 'Birth : England . . 1605.
• 'Death : Marlborough, Mass. Oct., 1667
• '1st Wife : Elizabeth Best.
  • Issue : 1. Nehemiah Hunt 1631.
  • 2. Samuel Hunt 1633.
  • 3. Elizabeth Hunt.
  • 4. Hannah Hunt Feb. 12, 1640-1.
  • 5. Isaac Hunt 1647.
• '2d Wife : Merry Hurd . . 1664.
  • Issue :
• Nehemiah Hunt, William Hunt, John Hunt, Ruth Hunt, Hannah Merriam, Susanna Grout, Samuel Dennis Warren.
• ' Hurd, Mercy.
• Father :
• Mother :
• Birth :
• Death : Marlborough, Mass. . . Oct 1667.
• 1st Husband : Thomas Bridgeman.
  • Issue :
• 2d Husband : Edmund Rice . . . Mar. 1, 1655.
  • Issue :
• 3d Husband : William Hunt . . . 1664.
  • Issue :

-----------------------------------------

• 'Genealogy of the name and family of Hunt : early established in America from Europe; exhibiting pedigrees of ten thousand persons... (1862)
• http://www.archive.org/details/genealogyofnamef00wyma
• http://www.archive.org/stream/genealogyofnamef00wyma#page/42/mode/1up
• ' WILLIAM HUNT.
• ' William Hunt, one of the first settlers of Concord, was made freeman, June 2, 1641. He was a large landed proprietor, and left considerable estates to his sons. He removed to Marlborough, and died in October, 1667, having made his will on the 21st of the same month. His first wife, and the mother of his children, was Elizabeth ____ , who died at Concord, Dec. 27, 1661 ; and, in 1664, he married Mercy, daughter of Hurd, whose first husband was Thomas Brigham ; and, second, Edmund Rice.
• ' The following is a copy, verbatim et literatim, of the will of William Hunt, now on file at the office of probate, in Cambridge : — . . .
• http://www.archive.org/stream/genealogyofnamef00wyma#page/45/mode/1up
• CHART
• 'WILLIAM HUNT m. Elisabeth of Concord. ch
  • NEHEMIAH HUNT, 1631, m. Mary Toll (1663). ch 1664-86. Mary. John. John. Nehemiah. William. John. Mercy. William. Hannah. Simeon. Elisabeth. Rebecca.
  • SAMUEL HUNT, 1633, m. Elisabeth Redding. ch 1657-70. Samuel. William. Elisabeth. William. Joseph. Peter. Peter.
  • ELISABETH HUNT m. John Barron (1664) ch 1665-72. John. Elisabeth. Moses. Eliz (son). Dorothy.
  • ISAAC HUNT, 1647, m. Mary Stone (1667). ch 1669-77. Isaac. Hannah. Samuel. Isaac. Ebenezer.
• http://www.archive.org/stream/genealogyofnamef00wyma#page/89/mode/1up
• ' WILLIAM HUNT.
• 'WILLIAM1 of Concord. 1605.
• 'ELIZABETH BEST. (?) (Ob. Dec. 27, 1661.)
• 'MERCY RICE. 1664.
• ___
  • 1631, . Nehemiah.1 March 6. 1717-18.
  • 1633, . Samuel.1
  • 16 , . Elizabeth. Barron.
  • 1640-1, Feb. 12. Hannah.
  • 1647, . Isaac.1 Dec. 12, 1680.
• __
• ' The Life of William Hunt.
• ' He was born in England about the year 1605, __ two years after the tedious but glorious reign of the Maiden Queen had ended, and the mild and pacific James Stuart had come from his native realm to rule the three kingdoms; . . . coming to know and practise industry and every good accomplishment that could be an attribute of the intelligent and likely young man; then to the blissful married state, and to be father (before he left England) of at least two sons, __ gifts tender and promising to infold and bring over from the Old World hither, to bear fruit and multiply, replenish the wilderness, and give seed for yet countless generation.
• ' Not long after the bright and happy state of conjugal life had been entered by our revered ancestor, the policy of public affairs grew gloomy: and the hearts and wishes of worthy subjects of the king inclined them to leave the land of their nativity; . . . Could William Hunt go with his friends and neighbors, and build a commonwealth, and hope to live? Ah! the effort was made; the achievement apparently has been accomplished. He sailed in the year 1635, with his companions, . . . Nehemiah, Samuel, and Isaac grew to manhood in the fresh and improving agricultural region of the country, conversant with its charms, and enjoying its delights. . . .
• ' Our pious, noble-hearted, and revered ancestor, after taking to his bosom a second wife, closed his useful life in the town of Marlborough in 1667. . . .
• http://www.archive.org/stream/genealogyofnamef00wyma#page/97/mode/1up
• BEST, Robert, of Sudbury, appears to have been brother-in-law of 'William Hunt of Concord'. He made a will, June 21, 1654; and gave his house and lands to his two nephews, Samuel and Nehemiah Hunt ; or, in failure of their issue, to the rest of the children of 'William Hunt'. He also divides his personal effects among the five children of 'William Hunt' ; giving a silver spoon each to Elizabeth and Hannah Hunt, &c. Inventory was taken July 12, 1655, £39. 10s. 6d. Will proved before Governor and magistrates, 21st of fifth month (July), by testimony of the witnesses. It appears to us conclusive that he was brother of 'Mrs. Elizabeth Hunt'. The name is also found in Yorkshire ; whence we get such extracts of records as show (on page 7) the parentage of our ancestors, the Hunts, with a very confident certainty. And therefore Robert Best doubtless braved the perils of the ocean, side by side with the Concord settlers; coming here and dwelling near his own kin, and leaving to them his entire worldly effects, when the close of life drew near.
• __________________
• 'William Hunt
• 'M, b. 27 January 1605, d. before 17 December 1667
• Father Robert Hunt b. c 1565
• Mother Jane Fysher b. c 1566
• ' William Hunt was christened on 27 January 1605 at Halifax, Yorkshire, England. He married Elizabeth Best, daughter of John Best, circa 1630 at of Concord, Middlesex, MA. William Hunt died before 17 December 1667 at Marlborough, Middlesex, MA.
• 'Family Elizabeth Best b. c 1607, d. 27 Feb 1661
• Child
  • ◦Hannah Hunt+ b. 12 Feb 1640, d. a 25 May 1721
• http://our-royal-titled-noble-and-commoner-ancestors.com/p2392.htm#...

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Ref.: < http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=34480196 >, William Hunt, Find A Grave Memorial# 34480196.

Said to be son of Robert & Jane (Fysher) Hunt. Married Elizabeth ____ in 1631 in Concord MA.