Person:Thomas Hunt (25)

Thomas and his family were on the census of Blount County, Tennessee in 1830 and 1840. Research indicates that he is most likely the Thomas Hunt in North Carolina on the Rutherford County census in 1820. A deed recorded there has him selling his land in 1819 about the time of an exodus of Rutherford County families into Tennessee including Blount County. His oldest daughter, Betsy, married James Bedford, the son of Seth Bedford of Rutherford County, North Carolina in Blount County in 1826. Thomas' son, Thomas Jr. was born in North Carolina in 1821, and the next oldest child, Martha Cassandra, was born in Tennessee in 1822. Thomas and his family, including as years went by his grown children and their families, lived in the Cloyd's Creek area of Blount County, and Thomas continued to acquire acreage there.

In the late 1840's, after Texas had become a state and following the War with Mexico, All of the families except James Hunt began a move to Texas. At least two waves were involved with sons Absolom and Madison Hunt and daughters Betsy Bedford, Mahala Bradbury, and Cassandra (Carsa) Harvey and their families arriving in Texas about 1848. Thomas and his other children and families followed in 1851. The latter group arrived in Texas in March. "John W. Hunt lacked from the 10th day of March to the 23rd day of July being 10 years old when they arrived," according to an interview of his son Lobel Watson Hunt in 1964. Thomas sold his land holdings in Tennessee in January 1851 to son James who stayed behind and never made the trip to Texas.

Thomas' first recorded land purchase in Rusk County, Texas was in October 1851. In 1852, he designated a hilltop on his property for a family burying ground. Although not the first to be interred on the hill, when he died about 1856, he was buried there. The exact date of his death is now unknown, but on December 2, 1856, Wm. Howeth of Rusk County filed an affidavit acknowledging that in 1852 he had sold property (for which he now acknowledged payment) to Thomas Hunt of Rusk County "and now dead."

This native Texas stone at the center of the Hunt Cemetery has been pointed out as that of Thomas Hunt Sr. for about 100 years.

1.   Lobel Hunt Interview
   1964.

   "Hunt Cemetery was started the next year after their arrival. One acre of land set aside on hill. An old cemetery had been started in low place that was unsuitable before they came. (This was at the old Pine Springs Church called Greasy Kitchen.) Thomas Hunt Sr. is buried between Andrew Hunt and his nephew Eddie. Eddie and Andrew died same night. were to be buried side by side. But dug into a grave which was Thomas Sr’s that was lost, so moved over and left space between graves." -- Interview by Lynda Tillison Jones, March 15, 1964. Lobel Watson Hunt was 22 years old at his Uncle Andrew's death. If not present at the grave opening, he likely heard the story immediately thereafter.