Thomas Hunt Sr (8th GGFather) was born c1615 at Keyston, Hunts or Northants, England. He was the son of Thomas Hunt, who was one of John Throgmorton's 35 English families that moved to Westchester, NY from Rhode Island in 1642. At the age of 24, in 1639, Thomas Sr immigrated to America as an indentured servant to William Leete, who became Governor of the New Haven Colony, and after 1662 the Lt. Governor and then Governor of the Connecticut Colony. In the same year he married Cicely Clark, who was born in 1619 and immigrated in 1635 on the ship Planter, with the Tuttle family. By the end of 1639 their first child, Thomas Hunt Jr, (7th GGFather) was born. The next year a daughter, Abigail, was born. Thomas, Cicely and their little family were among the original colonists who settled the Puritan-led New Haven Colony.
However, within 5 years, on 1 Mar 1643, Thomas Sr & Cicely were ordered out of the New Haven Colony for keeping company with a man that was disliked by the ruling elders. They moved south and settled in the newly-formed town of Stamford, where they had 3 more sons, Josiah, John & Joseph.
At the age of 37, in 1652, Thomas Sr purchased land on Spicer and Bracketts Neck from Augustine Harmons, which he named Grove Farm, which was located near today's Throggs Neck bridge. The land was previously purchased from the Indians in 1640 by John Throgmorton. Because the Dutch occupied and controlled the New York area, it would be another 12 years before Thomas Sr would move to Grove Farm. In the mean time, Thomas and his family moved to Newtown, Long Island (now Elmhurst) where he is found in records from 1660 and 1661.
On 6 Sep 1664, Col. Nicholl took possession of "New Amsterdam" and the English took over from the Dutch. Thomas Hunt Sr finally moved onto his Westchester, NY Grove Farm and in October 1664 he is described as "a delegate from Westchester." On 4 Dec 1667 Thomas was granted a patent for Grove Farm by Gov. Nicholl.
From 1664 until his death on 6 Oct 1694, at age 79, Thomas resided on his Grove Farm. He left a will in which he gave 10 pounds each to his 4 sons, Thomas Jr (7th GGFather), Joseph, John, and Josiah, and his one daughter Abigail, and left his Grove Farm, to his grandson Josiah, son of Josiah. You might wonder why Thomas Sr didn't leave his beloved Grove Farm to his first born, Thomas Jr. The answer lies with Edward Jessup.
Thomas Sr's will also stipulated that his "negro man Mungo is to live on the farm seven years and then to be free." It's hard to think that our ancestors were slave owners, particularly being Puritan settlers, but that was the norm during those days, particularly if you owned property. It does make it easier knowing that Mungo was a free black man in 1700, which was almost unprecedented.
OUR CONNECTION TO THOMAS HUNT SR
Burke William Jay (1921-1996) son of James William Jay (1885-1948) son of Wright J Jay (1841-1902) son of William B Jay (1809-1884) son of Joseph Jay (1784-1826) son of John (Jay) Gee (1745-1827) son of William Gee (1704-1772) son of Abigail Hunt (1676-1716) daughter of Thomas Hunt Jr (1639-1719) son of Thomas Hunt Sr (1615-1694) 8th Great Grand Father
