Thomas Hunt I1,2,3

M, b. circa 1620, d. 8 February 1694/95
Thomas Hunt's home at Grove Farm
built sometime after 1667 and torn
down in 1962 - oldest surviving building
at that time
     Thomas was born circa 1620 probably at Keyston, Huntingdonshire, England. On 26 June 1637, Thomas left their home in England aboard the ship, "Hector", bound for New England. Listed among the passengers was Theophilus Eaton, a future governor of New Haven, Edward Hopkins, a future governor of Connecticut and William Leete of Keyston, Huntingdonshire, also a future governor of Connecticut, for whom Thomas was an indentured servant. By 1 June 1639, Thomas is found in New Haven, where William signed the covenant for the New Haven Colony..4 Thomas married Cicely Clark circa 1640 in New Haven, New Haven County, Connecticut.5 According to the New Haven Colony Records, on 1 March 1643, Goodman Hunt and his wife were banished from the New Haven Colony. Quoting from the records, "Goodman Hunt and his wife for keepeing the councells of the said Willaim Harding, bakeing him a pasty and plum cakes, and keeping company with him on the Lords day, and she suffering Harding to kisse her, they being onely admitted to sojourne in this plantation upon their good behavior, was ordered to be sent out of the town with one moneth after the date hereof, yea in a shorter time, if any miscaryage be found in them." Mr. Harding himself was convicted "of a great deale of base carryage and filthy dalliances with divers yong girles, together with his inticeing and corrupting divers servants in this plantation, haunting with them in night meetings and juncketting etc." Shortly after 1 March 1643, they are residing in Stamford, Connecticut. He first appeared of record in 1652 in Rye, New York. Shortly after 1652, Thomas Sr. purchased fifty morgen of land from Augustine Hermans, who had purchased it from the original owner, John Throckmorton. He bought a large parcel of land known as "Throckmorton's Neck' and later under Hunt's ownership became known as "Grove Farm", This property was patented to him by Governor Nicholls of New York in 1667, it contained appoximately 106 acres. He was of Newtown, Long Island by 1661 and was listed as a "freeman" in Rye in 1663. He was a man of principles as he was a high churchman; in 1664, he was elected representative of RYE. Thomas was at court in 1665 vs. Pomoquecee Indians in an action of taking a canoe. Again in 1670, Thomas is accused "in the behalf of the town" a woman, Harryson, of being a witch. was eventually ordered off. Thomas made his will on 1 October 1694 at "Grove Farm", Throgs Neck, Westchester County, New York.

In the name of God, Amen - I Thomas Hunt Sen. of ye Grove Farm in Westchester County & colllony of New Yorke being at this time weak of body but of perfect memory through mercy am resolved to make this my last will and testament in order to settle and distribute my estate as hereafter followeth to prevent all discord and trouble that might otherwise arise amongst my children for want thereof revoking all former wills and declaring them to be void and of none effect and thus to remain in full force and virtue. Imprist I give my soul to God who give it me and my body to be decently buried. Item I will that all debts which are justly due to any person or persons whatsoever be first payd out of my out of my living stock as cattle and other creatures. Item I give and bequeath unto my grandsonn Josiah Hunt eldest son on my son Josiah Hunt and unto his heirs male lawfully begotten all my lands and meadows known by or called by the name of ye Grove Farme aforesaid as mentioned in my pattent granted by Govenor Nicolls dated the 4th day of December one thousand six hundred sixty seven together with all and singular my houses orchards and other improvements thereon with all and singular my household stuff and carts plows and all other utensils for husbandry as likewise all my carpenter tools and arms together with all my living stock of creatures of what kind soever and all my corn of what sort soever and ye sider which shall bee found in my seller att my decease all thee before recited goods & chattels I give and bequeath unto my grandson Josiah Hunt aforesaid his heirs & assigns forever I do hereby entail and confirme the said lands meadows & improvements unto my said grandson Josiah Hunt eldest sonn of my sonn Josiah Hunt and his heirs male lawfully begotten and to his male heirs from generation to generation forever that no part or parcel shall be sould made away or disposed off nor the property altered to this my will but to continue according to the plaine intent and true meaning of these express words without any collution force or deceit and the said lands and premises to continue a firme entailed estate to my said grandson Josiah Hunt eldest son of my son Josiah Hunt an his issue male lawfully begottened forever declaring my son Josiah Hunt to be sole executor of this my last will and testament to succeed me in possession and enjoyment of thee Grove Farm before expresst for and in the behalf of my granson Josiah Hunt aforesaid provided always that if my grandson Josiah Hunt aforesaid should die without any issue male lawfully begotten then his next survioant brother shall possess and enjoy the said lands & others the promises in manner & form as before exprest. Item I give and bequeath unto my four sons Thomas Hunt Joseph Hunt John Hunt and Josiah Hunt the sume of fourty pounds to be paid within one year afrer my decease. Item I give and bequeath unto my daughter Abigall Pinkney ten pounds to be payd her within one year after my decease in cloath belonging to her mother as they sahll apprized by two indifferent men. Item I give and bequeath unto my grand daughter Abigall Hunt daughter of my sonn Thomas Hunt one feather bed two blanketts. Item I give and bequeath unto my grand daughter Abigall Hunt daughter of my sonn Josiah Hunt one feather bed and two blanketts. Item I give and bequeath to my granddaughter Martha Hunt daughter of my sonn Joseph Hunt four sheep. Item I will also that my negro man named Mingo shall live upon the Grove Farm the full term of seven uears after my decease and att ye expiration of seven years as aforesaid to be sett free from his servitude forever and the negro child named Sarah which is born in my house I bequeath unto my sonn Joseph Hunt to live with him or with his heirs untill she comes to the age of five and twenty years and then to be free from her servitude forever. Lastly I Define authorize and appoint my friends William Lawrence of Flushing and Thomas Stevenson of New Town to be my overseers and executors in trust to see this my last will and testament punctually performed and fullfilled. In witness whereof I the said Thomas Hunt Sr. have hereunto putt to my hand seale the sixt day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand six hundred ninety four the mark of Thomas Hunt [seal] David Jamison secretary signed sealed and perfected in presence of us Robert Hustest Joseph Havidland Edward Collier.6

Thomas departed this life on Tuesday, 8 February 1694/95 in Throgs Neck, Westchester County, New York, at Grove Farm.7 The inventory of Thomas's estate was taken on Monday, 14 February 1694/95 Taken and appraised by John Drake and Edward Collier. The real property was valued at £226 16s 6d. Household items, Living Stock, and farming equipment all valued separately.8 His will was probated on 27 February 1695.

Additional Notes: Cicely's maiden name has been thought of as being Pasely, but recently there has been evidence brought to light that indicates a strong possiblity that her maiden name was Clark and that she came to Boston with the William Tuttle family of Ringstead, England in the ship "Planter", in 1635 at the age of 16 years. She moved with the family to New Haven in 1639. Research has produced no evidence of a Cicely Pasely or any other name variations. It has been noted that Thomas came to this country as an indentured servant, and Cicely also as a servant. The people that Thomas and Cicely worked for were both in New Haven by 1639. It seems likely that either the families that they lived with introduced them to one another or as servants, it is just as likely they met in their own circle. Although there is no definitive proof that Cicely was a Clark, there is no proof that she was a Pasely. Circumstantial evidence makes the Hunt Clark marriage a most likely scenario. It is a known fact that Thomas married a Cicely. More research on this marriage is needed.
- KLM.

Family

Cicely Clark b. c 1619, d. a 9 Apr 1691
Children

Citations

  1. [S30] New York Historical Society, Collections of the New York Historical Society Abstract of Wills, pages 256-257.
  2. [S151] Charles Jeremy Hoadly, Records of the Colony and Plantation of New Haven, 1638 to 1649, Transscribed and Edited in accordance with a Resolution of the General Assembly of Connecticut with occasioal notes and an appendix.
    Volume I    , pages 81 & 84.
  3. [S506] Note: the pioneer Thomas Hunt left his Grove Farm to his grandson Josiah who left it to his son Jacob who died without heirs and title passed to Jacob's brother Caleb and then to Caleb's son Gilbert, who died without children leaving a Will which authorized his mother, brothers, and unmarried sisters to live on the farm for 12 years after which it was to be sold and the proceeds divided. The property was sold by Gilbert's brother Marmaduke in 1760, and then purchased in 1775 by John Ferris who was m. to Marianne (usually seen as Miana or Myana) Hunt. This gets us to the Ferris family, intermarried several times with the Westchester Hunt families, and early proprietors in NH Charters for several Vermont towns.
    [Courtesy of Everett Hunt of Santa Barbara, California]
  4. [S1757] The Great Migration: Passengers of the Hector, 1637 & 1638: The immigrants had sold their belongings in preparation for their immigration to New England, but the government impressed the "Hector" for its own service. The owners petitioned for its release in January 1637, but was not freed until May. It arrived at Boston, from London, on June 26, 1637 according to the records of John Winthrop. The "Hector" was a large ship of 250 tons, the average ship being in the low hundreds. Passengers: Theophilius Eaton & his family, Edward Hopkins, - www.geni.com/projects/Great-Migration-Passengers-of -the-Hector-1637-1638/6511.
  5. [S1501] John G. Hunt, Orgins of the families of Hunt, Fowler, Barnes, Kirke, and Embree, of Westchesther, N. H. & of Hunt of Charleston, Northhampton, Mass., page 63-64 - . . . This Thomas died in Westchester, N.Y., in 1695. In 1660 he had been of Stamford, Conn., to which place he had moved from New Haven, Conn.; this removal was by court order, dated first day, first month, 1643, because Hunt and his wife Cicely, had "kept the councils" of one William Harding, whom the New Haven elders detested. . . . The elder Hunt had come to New Haven in 1639 as an indentured servant to William Leete of Keyston, Hunts., later governor of Connecticut.
    page 64 - footnote - According to Banks "Planters of the Commonwealth" William Tuttle, aged 26, husbandman, of Ringstead, Northants, came to New England with his family in 1635. With them came Cicely Clark, aged 16 years. it is noted that Ringstead, Northants., adjoins Keyston, Hunts., on the west.
  6. [S1507] Will of Thomas Hunt 1694: Courtesy of Robin Assenza - Transcribed by Kathy & Larry McCurdy on 18 August 2013. - https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/…
  7. [S506] Note: Thomas' death date was noted on the inventory of his estate.
  8. [S1507] Will of Thomas Hunt 1694: Courtesy of Robin Assenza - https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/…