William Hurt, The Elder - Would like to prove Reverend John Hurt is related to Philemon and William Hurt

Books

John Hurt, the Revolutionary War chaplain Unknown Binding – January 1, 1962
by Oscar H Hurt (Author)

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[Read online]

https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/records/item/285670-the-...

The early Hurt family of Virginia
by Oscar H Hurt | Jan 1, 1958
Unknown Binding
Out of Print--Limited Availability.

Index pp 130 of 142

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285-IIAII5-1778---Rev. John Hurt, the Chaplain, Louisa County, Va.
On May 6, 1778, Rev. John Hurt, the Chaplain of Virginia Continental Line, delivered an address to the Virginia Brigades at the fo do joyo at Valley Forge of the celebration by the Army of the treaty with France. (Virginia Historical Magazine, Vol.17, pages 2l3-214.)

Not transcribed 71 of 142 several references to Rev. John Hurt

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[ Rev John Hurt VVeteran]

https://www.theepochtimes.com/john-hurt-americas-first-chaplain_535...
John Hurt (1752–1824) was born in Virginia shortly before the start of the French and Indian War (1754–1763). While the colonies were at war with the French and various Native American tribes, Hurt was being maneuvered to a more peaceful lifestyle: the ministry.

On Dec. 21, 1774, Hurt was ordained as a minister of the Episcopal Church. While he had been preparing for the priesthood, the colonies were again in an uproar, this time with those they had fought for in the French and Indian War: the British. An influx of taxes had been imposed on the colonists by King George III and Parliament, giving rise to the colonial protestations of “taxation without representation is tyranny.” A week before his being ordained, colonists had raided Fort William and Mary, absconding with weapons and barrels of gunpowder.

A few months before the ordination, one of Hurt’s close friends and fellow Virginians, George Washington, joined a meeting in Philadelphia for what would become the First Continental Congress. Hurt’s occupation appeared to be moving him in the opposite direction of conflict, but Washington would have another idea.

When war officially broke out and Washington was selected as Commander in Chief of the Continental Army, the commander requested the now-Second Continental Congress to establish a chaplain corps in the army. The Congress, however, was unable to acquiesce to this request as it had no money to do so. Nonetheless, Washington wanted chaplains alongside his troops. Hurt was assigned personally by Washington to the Sixth Virginia Regiment, becoming the Continental Army’s first chaplain.

Hurt would fight with and pray for the soldiers of the Army. He would engage in numerous battles, including at Trenton and Charleston, and also ministered to troops during the harsh winter stay at Valley Forge. Hurt never ventured away from danger and in fact was captured by the British in 1781. While trying to gather intelligence as a British captive, he was removed to a British ship until his release.

Jane Riggs Curci
His prayers and bravery in battle were inspirational, and so were his sermons. In his most famous sermon, “The Love of Our Country,” he inspired troops to do their duty and clarified how patriotic duty was connected with God’s calling, stating, “We see then how closely the kind Creator has connected our interest with our duty, and made it each man’s happiness to contribute to the welfare of his country; … indeed the name of Patriot implies, in its true sense, everything that is most great and godlike among men; it carries in it the idea of a public blessing; it implies a power of doing good, exerted and extended to whole communities; and resembles, within its sphere, that universal providence which protects and supports the world.”

By 1791, a decade after Hurt’s capture by the British, the Americans had won the war, a new constitution was settled upon, and Hurt was officially appointed as Army Chaplain. He would be the first in a long line of military chaplains who have served bravely in America’s conflicts, at times even making the greatest sacrifice for, as Hurt stated, “the love of our country.”

[Rev. John Hurt]

https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/05-03-02-0307
To George Washington from John Hurt, 24 August 1789
From John Hurt

New York 24th August 1789.

Sir

As I presume it can be no very great breach of propriety, to trouble you with a letter, written with respect, I beg leave to mention a few circumstances for your consideration, which I hope, & am persuaded, never came within your knowledge.

I make no doubt that it was in a great measure owing to you, Sir, that Congress did from time to time keep up the hopes & expectations of the officers in the Continental army, by promising to do them justice at the end of the war. Accordingly in the worst of times they made an ordinance allowing them halfpay for life, which included the Chaplains as well as others. But some time after this they did by a commutual agreement allow them five years full pay, in lieu of the half pay for life.1 This included all officers except Chaplains & Surgeons, to the former of whom they allowed very little more than one half of the five years full pay: and the regimental Surgeons, if I am not mistaken, had either Captains, Lieutenants or Ensigns commissions granted them before the Commutation took place, so that no injustice was done them.

After this, Congress did by another law, give & grant a certain quantity of Acres of land lying in a certain district, to all the officers in the Continental army, except the Chaplains, for whom no provision was made by Congress: this circumstance I never knew ’till a few days ago, & cannot help thinking it very unjust: especially when I reflect that this district of country was given to Congress by the State of Virginia.2

I fear, Sir, I may be tedious, but as it is for once only I hope you will excuse me. Had the new government been rejected, I never should have troubled, Congress or myself about any thing of this sort: but when it had taken place, & was put in motion, I did, & still do, hope & think, that it is not too late for the interferance of some friend to justice, who will do them that right, which has hitherto been withheld, or denied to the Chaplains of the American army. If it is thought that, I myself have not deserved this justice, & I know no reason why it should be thought so, yet surely others, have dese[r]ved well of the public.

I conclude by observing that as an American Citizen, I have made known to the Chief Magistrate, what I thought to be an instance of injustice & hardship, bearing upon a few individuals. Should it strike you, Sir, in the same light, & should you have the influence & inclination to remedy it, with convenience & facility, I make no doubt but you will.3 I am Sir, your most obedient Servant

John Hurt

ALS, DNA:PCC, item 78.

John Hurt (1752–1824), a Virginia clergyman, was a chaplain for the 6th Virginia Regiment from 1776 to the end of the war. He received a commission as a chaplain in the United States army in 1791 and served until 1794.

1. See Anna Welsh to GW, 12 Nov. 1788. See also JCC, 19:68–70, 20:488, 24:207–210.

2. An act of Congress 22 Oct. 1787 provided that a tract of a million acres of land in the United States’ western territory be set aside exclusively for satisfying military bounties for veterans of the Continental army (JCC, 33:695–96).

3. For GW’s moderately supportive reply, see his letter to Hurt, 28 Aug. 1789, suggesting that “the present Congress is the only Power competent to redress any greivances which may have been suffered by any Individuals or Classes of Men, who have been in the public Service.” Hurt had evidently anticipated GW’s advice since a petition from him, “praying that his claims for services in several military stations, may be liquidated and satisfied,” was read in the House of Representatives on 24 August. On 25 Sept. the committee on claims reported on the petition and it was referred to the secretary of war who reported on 15 Jan. 1790 (DHFC, 3:166, 219, 233, 256, 263–64). A copy of Knox’s report is in DNA: RG 233, Reports of the Secretary of War, vol. 1.

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https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/05-03-02-0324
From George Washington to John Hurt, 28 August 1789
To John Hurt

New York Augst 28th 1789

Sir

I have duly received your letter of the 24th instant, and have to inform you on the subjects mentioned in it, that, according to the best of my recollection the Arrangements respecting the Commutation of the half-pay of the Officers in the late army were made between Congress & a Committee from the Army, without any agency of mine. Nor do I remember to have taken any measures with regard to the particular Resolutions for granting Lands to different descriptions of Men in the Army. Thus unacquainted with the reasons on which Congress acted under the old Confederation, I cannot undertake to give any opinion, farther than that the present Congress is the only Power competent to redress any greivances which may have been suffered by any Individuals or Classes of Men, who have been in the public Service. For myself, I trust I shall be disposed always to give my concurrence to any Public Proceedings, which may come within the sphere of my duty, and which (upon a fair investigation) may be deemed equitable. And I may add, that particularly in the present instance, I should be inclined to pay every proper attention to the subject, being sensible of the Merits of the Gentlemen concerned, and being With great esteem & regard Sir &c.

Copy, in the writing of David Humphreys, DNA: RG 59, Miscellaneous Letters; LB, DLC:GW.

Permanent Link What’s this?
https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/05-03-02-0324

Note: The annotations to this document, and any other modern editorial content, are copyright © The Rector and Visitors of the University of Virginia. All rights reserved.

Jane Riggs Curci

I'm very interested is learning more, thanks for tagging me Erica Howton