Person:Richard Hunt (22)

Research Notes

• Surrounding pages in need of work to straighten out facts and relationships!

What was the maiden name of Richard Hunt's wife(ves)?

• Mercer ¹ indicated that Richard possibly had 2 wives - 1st wife Sarah (maiden name unknown) who came with him from England to Bermuda and 2nd wife Frances (possible maiden name Vesey) who was named "my wife Frances" in his will.
• Hallett ⁴ states: "Wife was a Grimsditch and not a Vesey as asserted by Mercer. Daughter Frances married a Vesey."
• Others, such as this example claim that Richard's first wife was "Sarah Bloomfield".
• Q: Richard's Will clearly calls his wife "Frances", but where is the proof that Richard's wife was ever called "Sarah"?

1. ↑ ^1.0 1.1 Richard Hunt, in Mercer, Julia E. Bermuda settlers of the 17th century : genealogical notes from Bermuda. (Baltimore [Maryland]: Genealogical Pub. Co., 1982)
   p 95.

   p 95 -
   ... HUNT
   HENRY DURHAM who was made Governor of Bermuda in November 1682 on the death of Gov. FLORENTIUS SEYMOUR married SARAH HUNT who with her father and mother RICHARD & SARAH HUNT of Bromley, Kent, arrived in Bermuda, 1647.
   (Note: The above statement was given in Obituary notice of HENRY GILBERT HUNT, Royal Gazette, December 2, 1651, but I found in Port Royal Records that HENRY DURHAM married JUDITH HUNT February 14, 1660 and in will of RICHARD HUNT (Old Book No. 3, p. 1) proved 1687 he claimed HENRY DURHAM as his son in law. J.E. Mercer) Another note dated Dec 11, 1677 speaks of RICHARD
   
   p 96 -
   HUNT & his wife FRANCES (possibly a second wife) Son in law Thomas GIBBS & SARAH his wife. Son in law HENRY DURHAM & JUDITH his wife. ...
   
   ... Letter dated May 18, 1683. Brother STRINGER: I being on board RICHARD HUNT's vessel to search for tobacco I found there several barrels oyle whereof I have attached them. The matter is for them to prove where they had that oyle. Therefore I require you forthwith to come to town & put me in security for all damage that may happen in the taking of the said oyle ashore, thereofe fail me not for I will wate at towne this day for your coming, so I rest, your friend & brother, JOHN HUBBARD, Sheriff.
   To Mr. JOHN STRINGER, Agent to the Whalefish ing.
   Examined by me JOHN TUCKER, Secretary.
   
   Deeds No. 7. 1683. Deed of gift from RICHARD HUNT to JOHN WETHERSBY, his son in law to him for life ; house & 1/2 share land in Southampton & at his death to his two children. Wife FRANCES HUNT.
   
   Will of RICHARD HUNT of Southampton Tribe, February 20, 1687.
   Wife FRANCES (nee VESEY) All my sons in law together with son RICHARD having already had some legacies by deed of gift to each of them, my other sons NATHANIEL & JOHN excepted. NATHANIEL & his wife ANGELINA (nee VESEY) and JOHN
   
   p 97 -
   and his wife (nee MARY DICKINSON) to have estate.
   To very loving & trusty friend Capt THOMAS RICHARDS 24/- to buy himself a ring to wear in remembrance of me & as a token of my natural love for him.
   Son in law HENRY DURHAM. Executors: THOS RICHARDS & RICHARD HUNT.
   Witnesses: THOMAS GIBBS, WILLIAM LABORN. ...

2.   Richard Hunt, Governor of Bermuda.

   http://www.geni.com/people/Gov-Richard-Hunt/6000000003244123010
   
   Richard Hunt and his wife, Sarah, emigrated to Bermuda ca. 1647 from Bromley, Kent, England according to [Bermuda Settlers of the 17th Century] probably with oldest daughter Judith, possibly son Nathaniel and daughter Sarah. There is some indication he later married Frances Vezey, and pobably had children Frances, Richard, Richard, Martha, Martha, and John, in Bermuda. Their births and some baptisms of his older children appear in the Southampton Register. (The first named of the duplicated names died as infants.) One source states Richard Hunt was involved in shipping enterprises. According to "Memorials of the Discovery and Early Settlement of the Bermudas 1611-1687" by J. H. Lefroy, Richard Hunt was a member of the governor' s assembly in 1662. His home, on land adjacent to Henry Durham's in Southampton Parish, is described as a 'mansion house'. In 1683, a Port Royal record of John Hubbard, Sheriff, states he "boarded Richard Hunt's vessel to search for tobacco and found there several barrels oyle, whereof I have attached them. The matter is for them to prove where they had that oyle." The notice was sent to John Stringer, Agent to the Whalefishing, and he was asking for help to put him in security when he tried to take the 'oyle' ashore. I wonder who came out ahead on that little disagreement. This is possibly his son Richard. At that time Bermuda was still under charter to The Somers Island (or Bermuda) Company, who were due a share in all profits. Needless to say, much concealing of assets was done to avoid too much sharing of profits. In 1683 he deeded a house and 1/2 share of land in Southampton to his son-in-law, John Wethersby, who married his youngest daughter Martha, possibly they took care of him in his old age. Port Royal records show the will of Richard Hunt of Southampton Tribe, dated Feb. 20, 1687, which mentions his wife, Frances (nee Vezey?), and sons Richard, Nathaniel, and John, son-in-law Henry Durham, and other unnamed sons-in-law. Another record specifically names son-in-law Thomas Gibbs, wife Sarah, and [BO:son-in-law Henry Durham and Judith, his wife.

3. ↑ ^3.0 3.1 Will of Richard Hunt.

   Source: http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=teincnj&id=I086588
   
   [Southampton, Bermuda. Port Royal Will Book 3, part 1, page 1]
   
   HUNT, RICHARD. 22 Feb 1683, proved 31 May 1687.
   In the name of God, Amen, I Richard Hunt ___ Southampton in the Somer Islands als. Bermudas being sick in body but of perfect memory and understanding, doe make and ordain this to be my last will and testament. And I doe revoke, renounce, and make void all former wills by me made, either verball or written. And first off remitt my soul unto the hands of Almighty God my maker, believing that through Jesus Christ my redeemer I shall partake of a glorious resurrection with the saints. And my body I committ unto the earth to bee decently buried in Southampton churchyard as neere unto my children and wife as __ may bee. And for my wordly estate after my funerall charges and just debts are payed, I doe dispose of in manner and form as followeth.
   
   I give and bequeath unto my well beloved wife Frances Hunt all my legacie duringe her naturall life, further willing and requiring that my said wife Frances shall not give, sell, nor dispose of any manner of ways, such lands, goods, and servants and chatills what she shall receive at my death unless she doth make it good unto the estate acquired. And if in case my wife marry that before her marriage security shall bee given to my executors to make good my personall estate for my children , and furthermore that my aforesaid wife shall not dispose of by any manner of ways or means my timber or timber trees, that is standing and or lyinge upon my lands excepting furbish houses which are now upon this land or buildings for tobacco houses she shall build for ____.
   
   All my sonns in law, together with my own son Richard having alloed my said legacies by goods of gift payed to each and every of remembered hand and seal. My two other sonns namely Nathaniell and John Hunt only ___ whereof my will is that all the rest of my land which is yet undivided of by deeds or gift aforesaid, bee equally divided betweene my aforesaid son Nathaniell Hunt and John Hunt . To say the Ma____ house and the equall proportion of land wherever it stands of to my sonn Nathaniell Hunt duringe his own and his wife Angelina their own naturall lives. The other equall proportion to my sonn John Hunt for his own and his wife's naturall life __ ___, after the death of my said wife, sonns Nathaniell and John Hunt and their wifes to __ and each of three Negros forever.
   
   I doe give and bequeath after the death of my aforesaid wife all houses, all servants, goods, and whatelse that I now have or whatever else __ now of equity that I now have that shall bee holdong at my aforesaid wife's death (my Negros Mary, Anthony excepted who shall be so freed at the expiration of six months way after my aforesaid wife's death) unto my first sonn Nathaniell and the said sonn John Hunt estate going first __ ___ fashion ot of the proffit or vallue of the said servants, goods, and shall be, by my said son Richard Hunt, as shall make good and satisfying legacies to all such of my grandchildren which are now livinge as have ___. And I do freely give unto each and every said child the sum of twenty shillings if they live to the age of twenty one years and then to bee gradually paid by my said son Richard. And then immediately after for education as aforesaid the said servants, goods and chattells or the value proof of shall be equally shared amongst my aforesaid three sons.
   
   I give, will and bequeath unto my very loving and truly friend Capt. Thomas Richards twenty four shillings in money to buy himself a ring to wear in remembrance of me, and as a token of my naturall love unto him, who also to go aforesaid to my sonn Richard Hunt. I do constitute and appoint to be my executors to and joyntly or severally as needs shall require. And my son in law Mr Henry Durham to bee surveyor of this my last will and testament. And in confirmation that this is my last and testament I have hereunto put my hand and seal this two and twentieth day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand six hundred eighty and three.
   Sealed and delivered in presence of Thomas Gibbs (part missing)
   
   May 31st 1687
   Hon. Robert Robinson the governor and Ordinary (part missing) and Mr Thomas Gibbs made oath that the above will and testament.....

4.   Richard Hunt, in Hollis Hallett, C. F. E. (Clara Frances Edith). Early Bermuda wills, 1629-1835: summarized and indexed, a genealogical reference book. (Pembroke, Bermuda: Juniperhill Press, c1993 (Canada : University of Toronto Press))
   p 298.

   [cite text]

re: Mercer. Richard Hunt had a daughter named Frances; she married a Vesey.