Birthdate estimation 1625-1630

Ralph Hunt arrived in Manhattan aka New Amsterdam in 1652 with a wife and a small child. He is called a beloved "brother in -law" in Edward Jessup's 1666 Will. Ralph Hunt & his brother-in-law Edward Jessup were both appointed (Schepen) Magistrates during Dutch governance. The Dutch colony of New Amsterdam was taken by the English in 1664 and renamed as the Providence of New York and the town renamed Hastings then Newtown.

Ralph Hunt is NOT the same Ralph Hunt of Virginia Colony who arrived on the ship Primrose from England. York County Records pg1672-1675 page 158. Ralph Hunt of Virginia Colony was deceased March 1675/76 and his estate was granted to his son Richard. Ralph Hunt of Newtown did not have a son named Richard.

Ralph Hunt was a Planter and slave owner; he was the town surveyor and overseer. During re-occupation by the Dutch was appointed Schepen or Magistrate. He died early in 1677 leaving sons Ralph, Edward and, John, Samuel and daughters Anne and Mary

Ralph Hunt married the sister of Edward Jessup, this has been proven in the 1666 Will of Edward Jessup of West Farms in which he names John Burroughs and Ralph Hunt as his beloved brother in laws.

Ralphs wife's first name is unknown she died before him and is not mentioned in his will. The 1666 Will of Edward Jessup proves that she had a sister Elizabeth the widow of Thomas Reed who was married to John Burroughs.

John Burroughs a Cooper from England and wife Anne Thompson came from Salem to New Haven colony in 1644 when the colony began the construction of an ocean-going vessel known as the Phantom Ship in Longfellow's poem. The colony would have need for a Cooper who made barrels and did repairs. John Jessup a lawyer and merchant adventurer was involved in coastal trade and would have had need for a Cooper. After the ship sank on its maiden voyage to England it caused many to lose investments and many moved to Long Island. In 1664 John Burroughs was appointed the town clerk of Newtown in same year that he married Elizabeth the widow of Thomas Reed- the birth their son John Burroughs Jr. was announced in Newtown Court and is recorded in Newtown Court Minutes Record of 1665-- this proves that Elizabeth was the sister of Edward Jessup- Ralph Hunts wife's name could not have been Elizabeth -- The confusion could be that Edward Jessup's adult daughter "Elizabeth Hunt" and a grandchild are mentioned in his Will---she was the wife of Thomas Hunt.

"Ralph Hunt, pioneer of Long Island first appears on Long Island across Manhattan Island in 1652, apparently at that time with a wife and one daughter" (Note) Manhattan was first mapped by the Dutch East India Company in 1609 and became a permanent settlement of New Amsterdam.

In theory Ralph Hunt who was married to a Jessup could have migrated from Southampton--to Hempstead New Amsterdam and arrived in Middleborough New Amsterdam with Rev Moore in 1652 or arrived with Edward Jessup, Thomas and William Reed and Sameul Toe in 1652 from Stamford Ct. In early records John Jessup is record in Southampton Long Island with Rev John Moore. Rev John Moore of Southampton (English Colony) was the minister of the Presbyterian Church of Hempstead in New Amsterdam for a short time before coming to Middleborough. It was not long after the English settlers arrived that the Dutch Anglo War began. The new English settlers decided return by ship to Connecticut and waited until 1654 when the war ended to return. It was not long after their return that Indian upheavals began that forced many to rush to and stay at the nearby Fort for their safety.

In 1655 Ralph Hunt served as an Officer in the colonial troops that were raised by the English during the Indian upheavals that began after the first Anglo-Dutch War. These same troops were with the British Troops when they seized New Amsterdam declaring it a English territory. After the seizure of the Dutch colony Gov. Nicholl raised English militias in the townships of Long Island, on the 21st of April 16, 1665, he issued commissions, constituting Thomas Lawrence Captain, Ralph Hunt, Lieutaenant and Gershom Moore, Ensign.

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. Mitchell J. Hunt of Willow Grove PA has refined and corrected this material in March 1990.

"Ralph Hunt has variously been reported as a brother of pioneer Thomas Hunt of Westchester NY also as the same Ralph Hunt who appears in Virginia in 1635- a study claims to have demonstrated that the two were the same produces evidence to the contrary -- professional genealogists have failed to come up with a clue as where he came from and who his ancestors were." (This was written before DNA testing was available)

It is possible that Ralph Hunt's family came to Virginia colony in 1635. John Jessup was involved in costal trade and could have easily known the Hunts of Virginia Colony. (The origin of Ralph Hunt's lineage can only be proven through DNA testing).

NOTE- It is unknown if this was the family of Ralph Hunt

Ralph Hunt of Virginia colony

Ralph Hunt age 22 by authority of certificate issued by the Minister of Gravesend, sailed from England to Virginia aboard the Primrose on July 27, 1635. Ralph Hunt m. Elinore --- John Hunt 1612-1679 arrived in 1635 on the ship George to Virginia. John Hunt m. Margaret and had a son Ralph Hunt.

York County Records 1672-1676 pg. 158

At a court held for York County, March 1675/76, administration of the estate of Mr. Ralph Hunt dec'd was granted to Richard Hunt the deceased son and estate to be appraised by Charles Dunn, Mr. William Wise and Robert Curtis. Mr. John Hunt became security for his nephew Richard Hunt.

The Hunt family who arrived in Virginia colony were likely tobacco planters and merchants. Possible members of the Joint Stock London Company and received a land grant in Virginia Colony???

William Fiennes, 1st Viscount of Sele & Saye was educated at Oxford College, Boughton Castle was twenty two miles from the township of Whitney, he established the Joint Stock Providence Island Company. He was influential in the founding of Connecticut colony and involved in many other ventures. William Jessop a London attorney was the secretary of the Providence Company and Robert Hunt a Military Officer was sent to Providence Island Colony and was administrator from 1636-1638

Immigration from Connecticut to Long Island

It was more profitable to immigrate to the Dutch Colonies, The New Haven colony merchants invested in the building of an 80-ton ship that was lost at sea during its maiden voyage to England and the colony lost about a third of Its wealth. Many of the settlers immigrated to Long Island.

In Middleburg New Amsterdam the Dutch allowed English merchants to profit from trade on the condition they use Dutch India Company ships. On Maspeth Creek there was the Trading House established by the Dutch West India Trading Company where several valuable cargos of beaver and other skins were shipped from the area. The Dutch also established a centre for milling building Tide mills along Newtown Creek and Maspeth Creek, and their tributaries that served as a centre of trade in New Amsterdam

(The will of Ralph Hunt is recorded at the Hall of Records, New York, Liber 1-2)

First, I "Ralph Hunt" bequeath my soule to God my Maker through my Lord Jesus Christ my redeemer and my body to the earth from whense 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 debts must be truly paid and the remainder to be disposed as followeth; It is my desire that my son Edward be sole administrator of my estate until his other three brothers come of age shall give their share of equal division; For my daughter Mary I do give to her two cows, six sheep and the feather bed which I now lye on. And as for my daughter Ann' three children I give to each of them a sheepe.

This Will of mine being ritt when I had my perfect memory although very sick and weak 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."

His Ralph Hunt Mark---Witness _____Burroughs Edward Hunt

Note: it is very hard to sort out the Hunt descendants who left for New Jersey----Ralph Hunt the progenitor of the Hunt family had four sons Edward, Ralph Jr. John & Samuel who each had sons named Ralph Hunt.