Individual Details

Ralph Hunt, 22 and younger brother Edward, 19, were passangers on a ship from London in 1635. Founders of Long Island New York. See "Heritage Builders" page 12. His Will is recorded at the Hall of Records, New York, Library 1-2.

!Internet prepared by Col. Sandy B. Hunt, Lubbock, TX (11-1997)
Ralph Hunt, pioneer at Long Island, first appears on Long Island across the East river from Manhattan Island in 1652, apparently at that time with a wife and one daughter (Anna). He subsequently had four sos (Edward, Ralph, John, Samuel) and a daughter Mary b. on Long Island, identified in his will of Jan 1676/77. Administration of that will was granted to his son Edward 25 Feb 1676/77.
Most of his children and grandchildren were pioneer settlers at Maidenhead (Lawrence) and Hopewell Townships, NJ, in the years around 1700 and from there many descendants became explorers and traders along the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers, NC, KY, TN, IA, IL, MS, OK, and across the plains to UT, CA, OR and WA. There has been nothing to indicate that any of this family ever settled in Vermont or elsewhere in New England, although a few moved up the Delaware River and into Western New York State in the 19th Century.
However, Ralph Hunt of LI produced a prolific line of Hunts which had many outstanding people of National significance in the development of the U.S.
(Some NOTS!) Ralph is not a brother of son of the pioneer Thomas Hunt of Westchester, NY. He is not the Ralph that appears in Virginia in 1635 (a 1955 study claims they are not the same people).

Hunt History #1, Ralph Hunt of Long Island. No relation to Thomas Hunt of Westchester. RALPH HUNT.1652, pioneer at Long Island, first appears on Long Island across the East River from Manhattan Island in 1652, apparently at that time with a wife and one daughter (ANNA). He subsequently had four sons (Edward, Ralph, John, Samuel) and la daughter Mary b. on Long Island, identified in his will of Jan 1676/7, administration granted to his son Edward 25 Feb 1676/7. Most of his children and grandchildren were pioneer settlers at Maidenhead (Lawrence) and Hopewell Townships, NJ, in the years around 1700 and from there many descendants became explorers and traders along the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers, NC,KY, TN, IA, IL,MS OK, and across the plains to Utah, CAlifornia, Oregon and Washington. There has been nothing to indicate that any of this family ever settled in Vermont or elsewhere in New England, although a few moved up the Delaware River and into Western New York State in the 19th century. However, RAlph Hunt of LI produced a prolific line of Hunts which had many outstanding people of National significance in the development of the U.S. It is well at this point to point out many of the errors which appear in histories and genealogies respect to Ralph Hunt and his descendants for several generations, errors which have continued to appear in publications up to and through the mid 1900s.
Ralph Hunt has variously been reported (erroneously) as a brother or son of the pioneer Thomas Hunt of Westchester, NY; also as the same Ralph Hunt who appears in Virginia in 1635 (also untrue--a 1955 study which claims to have demonstrated that the two were the same produces evidence to the contrary). Various dates are given for his birth (all incorrect) and statements are made purporting to give the name of his wife (it remains unknown). He is assumed to have come from England (probably true) but extensive contemporary research in early New York records and records in England by a group of dedicated descendants in person and through professional genealogists in New York area and England have failed to come up with any clue as to where he came from or who his ancestors were. His grandson John Hunt (with brothers Samuel, Edward, Ralph--the four sons of the pioneer Ralph's son John) were early settlers in Hopewell NJ, where they are mixed in with various uncles and cousins with similar names. A pervasive legend was started in the mid-1800s that the grandson John Hunt (who married Margaret Moore 8 FEb 1714 at the Presby. Church of Newtown, LI, and settled in Hopewell NJ) was not a descendant of Ralph Hunt and relative of many other Hunts of Hopewell, but a son of John and Elizabeth (Chudleigh) Hunt of an armorial family of Hunts of Chudleigh, the son presumed to have come briefly to Long Island, and then moved Hopewell, NJ where he was "the start of the New Jersey Line of Hunts." This legend , questionable on its face, has been subject of controversy for over 100 years and appears in numerous histories and genealogical works. It should finally be laid to rest by the direct documentary evidence found through the WILLs (two of them) of John's brother Samuel Hunt of Hopewell NJ which identify the John Hunt who married Margaret Moor(e) as the son of John Hunt of LI and grandson of the pioneer Ralph Hunt. This is not to say that the various errors discovered on Ralph Hunt will not continue to be perpetuated--they are found in numerous published works through the mid 20th century; some lists of early Hunts who migrated from England to America include John Hunt who m. Margaret Moore in the list; some professional genealogists in England fed back answers to inquiries giving the same information: all springing from the same fabricated legend."
"Sources of further information are cited below. "[The late Lewis D. Cook, then of Philadelphia, has made the most thorough examination and documentation yet found on the descendants of Ralph Hunt, work extending through the period 1940-1970 and culminating in an unpublished ms of 216 pages which was left with the Pennsylvania Historical Society Library in Philadelphia. The present writer(Mitchell Hunt)was sufficiently impressed with this document that microfilm copies were made and distributed to other libraries (VT. Historical Society, CT STate Library, NEHGS in Boston, NY State Library, and Library of Congress, and a few other places) where it would be available to researchers. The present writer has continued to expand upon the work of COOK and assembled much more data,. especially on the families which were pioneers at Rowan Co., NC, and their wanderings from there. For a brief review of the family of Ralph Hunt in relation to that of his neighbor,Thomas Hunt of Westchester, see Mitchell J. Hunt, "An Evaluation of the Consuelo Furman Manuscript"...Dec. 1985, copies of which were given the same distribution noted for the Cook manuscript above.]" (but no name index-copies are now available with an index-just ask) This completes the discourse on Ralph Hunt and family of which Col. Jonathan Hunt was a descendant. (sbh) Col. Sanford B. Hunt

Some say that this Ralph Hunt came to America in 1635 at age 22. Never proven. Penn. Register of Colonial Dames, p. 221: "Ralph Hunt, Newtown, Long Island, Lieut. under Gov. Nicholls in 1655". We have no problem with this. Will recorded at Hall of Records in N. Y. Will admitted to probate Feb. 26, 1676/7.

The earliest information on Ralph Hunt is his arrival on Long Island near Manhattan Island in an area governed by the Dutch in 1652 "among a party of Englishmen". Some have added "came from England" but that is something not yet established as of 1985. For a meaningful and accurate treatise on this Ralph read Mitchell Hunt's "An Evaluation of the Consuelo Furman Manuscript" 1985. Copies available from LDS. His will dated Jan12 1676 codicil 13 Jan 1676-7, administration granted 25 Feb. 1676-7 to his son Edward as sole executor with Captain Betts and John Burroughs as overseers. He died at Newtown Long Island. Will could be in Hall of Records as stated above. When he came to America is a matter of speculation in spite of other speculative dates published in other genealogies.

Lewis D. Cook of Philadelphia, PA has made the most thorough examination and documentation yet found on the descendants of Ralph Hunt of Long Island. Work extending through the period 1940-1970, with an unpublished manuscript and two other volumes of supporting information filed with the Pennsylvania Historical Society Library in Philadelphia.

THE NAME OF HIS WIFE and where and when they were married has not been found with reliability although there are different versions of her name as Ann, some saying Jessup. (Furman gives her name as Elizabeth Jessup, which is questionable and inconsistent with other dates on the Jessup family)(NOTE: She had a daughter ANNA.) Wife Not mentioned in husbands will. of 1676/77.

!RALPH's WILL

RALPH HUNT, Newtown. "It is my will to have my son Edward sole executor, and he is to give to his other three brothers as they come of age, their portions by equal divisions." "As for my daughter Mary, I doe give her two cows, six sheep, and the feather bed I now lye on." "As to my daughter Anna's three children I give to each of them a sheep." This will of mine being writ when I had my perfect memory, although very sicke and weake. Captain Betts and John Burroughs I do desire to be overseers with my son-in-law Theophilus Phillips." Dated January 12, 1676/7. Witnesses, Edward Stevenson, John Hayter, Thomas Morell.

Codicil January 13, 1676/7, "my daughter Anna shall have as good a portion with that she hath already as any of the rest of my children. And as for the red coat she now has in possession, it is to be valued and one-half given to my daughter Mary." Witnesses, Joseph Burroughs, Edward Hunt. Administration granted to son Edward February 26, 1676/7.

End.

History of Ralph Hunt
Our American Hunt Family compiled by Donald L. Hunt
donald@dcdi.net

Ralph Hunt, age 22, along with a brother by the name of Edward, age 19, sailed for Virginia in the year 1635. Nothing else is known until 1652. This is assumed to be our Ralph Hunt, but his identification is still in question. The time between his coming to America and any further information leaves some doubt.

The land in and around the port of New York was to become known as New Netherlands or New Holland and had been claimed by the Dutch. To this land came a group of British settlers in 1643.

Whatever the circumstances were for Ralph as he arrived in America we will never know for sure. We do know that he was a successful farmer in his own right and he became a large land owner in Newtown (Elmhurst), Queens County, Long Island, New York. A large home was b uilt by the family which was still standing until 1936 when it was torn down for new construction. We do have his will which gives the names of a son Edward, Edward's 3 brothers not named and not yet of age, a daughter Mary, 3 children of a daughter Ann, and Ann herself, a son in law named Theophilus Phillips. Captayne Betts and John Burroughs are Overseers of the Will, which are normally family members or good friends. The Hunts, Phillips, Betts, Titus, and Burroughs families intermarried for some years.

We do know some details of Ralph Hunts life; He was a surveyor who laid out the town plots for the area of Newtown. This shows at least a knowledge of mathematics and some education. He was well thought of by his neighbors; and he was elected to several positions of trust in the community. He was very instrumental in forcing the Dutch Governor Peter Stuyvesant to release control form the area of New York.

He died a very young man by todays standard at 64 years. His late marriage and early death would account for 3 of his Sons still being of minor age when his will was written. His wife is listed by some accounts as Ann. It is believed by some that this was Elizabeth Ann Jessop, daughter of John Jessop. I have no information which will document this relationship. I have lot os information which would bring some doubt. However if this is Ralphs wife then it would explain a lot. The Jessop family was very active in the Separatist movement both in England and Holland. This would explain the intermarriage with the people in the Boston, Plymouth area. There were also several Hunts who married into other Seperatist families in England, Holland and in the Plymouth, Boston area. Also several other families which down though the years marry into the Hunt family also come from this Seperatist and Puritan background.

James Rikker has written the most authoritive account of Newtown's early settlers in his annals.

"Ralph Hunt, founder of the Long Island and New Jersey families, was among the first settlers in what now is Newtown, (Elmhurst) Long Island in 1652. His name appears on the Indian rate of 1658. On June 9, 1653 he was one of secen citizens of trust appointed to conduct the affairs of the town for the ensuing year. He seems to have been a leader in all the public affairs and was foremost amoung his neighbors in defying the authority of the Dutch Govenor Stuyvesant on Manhatten Island. He was one of seven men who went across the Long Island Sound to Westchester in the night and brought Panton with a company of men over to beat arms against the Dutch. When the English family acquired New Netherlands and drove the Dutch away, he was one of the first two Magistrates, (Judges) appointed under the English rule. On April 21, 1665, he was commissioned a Lietenant by the english Govenor Nicoll.

When the Indian title was extinguished and the new town, now called Newtown, erected, March 1, 1664, he was one of the patentees included in the royal charter.

He was one of the first three surveyors appointed to lay out the lots of the new settlers; was appointed one of the magistrates in 1673; and was named as one of the patentees when the charter of the town was confirmed by the Governor. It is said that he enjoyed the confidence of the people and was their guide and counselor in all matters of importance in the communities."

Lewis D. Cook of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania made an examination of the decendants of Ralph Hunt of Long Island during the 1940's to 1970 period. This is on file with the Pennsylvania Historical Society but has not been published. The Hunt Family of Utah made a similar book published in 1962 from which I gained much of my information.

From the History of Elmhurst (Newtown) Queens, New York. Elmhurst can claim to be one of the oldest English settlements on Long Island. It dates to 1643 when the ill-fated Maspat colony, was raised in an Indian war probably in retaliation for the Dutch massacre of Indians living in Connecticut. Nine years later the English colonists moved inland and called the settlement by the Dutch name of Middelburgh or iddleburg. It emerged as New Town in 1664, when the British replaced the Dutch Governor. It had a population of only 99 people clear up to the time of the American Revolution. The British army occupied the area during the Revolution and left the area in bad shape. They even removed the fence posts from the ground.
The will of Ralph Hunt
Dated Feb 26, 1676

"First, I bequethe my soule to God my Maker through my Lord Jesus Christ my redeemer and my body to the earth from whens it came and as for what earthly Estate the Lord hath bestowed on me I by this will of Mine Give and bequeath as follows:

First my will is that all my must debts be truely paid and the Remainder to be disposed of as followeth: It is my will to have my son Edward to be hole and sole administrator of this my estate paying until his three brothers as they come of age their portion be dqual for my daughter Mary I do give to her two cows six sheep and the feather bed which I now ly on. and as for my daughter Anna's three children, I give to each of them a sheepe. This will be mine being Ritt when I had my perfect Memory although very sick and weak. Captayne Betts and John Burroughs I doe desire to be overseers with my son in law Theophilus Phillips of this my will."

his

Ralph Hunt

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Witness: Edward Stevenson John - not legible - Thomas Morrelll

"Memorandum January the 13th in the (year) of our Lord 1676/7. My will and full desire is also that my daughter Anna shall have as full and as good a porshon with that she hath all redy as any of the rest of my children and as for the Red Coate shee hath all redy in her possession it is my will and desire to have it evalued and the one halfe to be given unto my daughter Mary this is my full will and desire."

his

Ralph Hunt

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Witness _____ Burroughs Edward Hunt

Hall of records, New York, Liber 1-2
(Will admitted to probate Feb. 26, 1676/7) FIELD NAME Page

Birth	Abt 1613	London, Middlesex, England, United Kingdom
Marriage	1649	, , New York, United States - Elizabeth Ann JESSUP
Death	Abt 1677	Newton, Long Island, Queens, New York, United States
Christen		Pioneer Of, Long Island, New York

Spouse	Elizabeth Ann JESSUP (1628 - )
Child	Anna HUNT (1650 - 1681)
Child	Edward HUNT (1652 - 1715)
Child	Mary HUNT (1654 - 1735)
Child	Ralph HUNT (1656 - 1727)
Child	John HUNT (1658 - 1735)
Child	Samuel HUNT (1660 - 1720)
Child	Ralph HUNT (1656 - 1733)

Father	Thomas HUNT (1580 - 1669)
Mother	Cicely PAISLEY (1591 - 1675)