Hunt family Ireland

[JWimpress]

I am trying to find information on my ancestor Captain Thomas Hunt of Warwick County,
a Captain in Colonel Chidley Coote's Regiment of Horse in Ireland between 1646-9. He is my direct ancestor and my research sort of hits a dead end. He died in 1658 and his wife was called Esther. Any help would be most appreciated.

[spendlove]

Hi,

I am sure you will have seen this as it gives an image of Debenture due to Thomas, (pg 83A)
Giving the name of his wife and children dated 1658, however would not assume this is date if his death.

https://mural.maynoothuniversity.ie/5242/1/Kevin_McKenny_20140718104429.pdf

It gives many references as to where information can be found.

The following apoears British History

https://www.british-history.ac.uk/no-series/cromwell-army-officers/surnames-h

“ Thomas Hunt
Of Coventry. Brother of Lieutenant Goodere Hunt. He was described by the hostile Mercurius Aulicus as ‘a broken mercer’.
In the early stages of the war Hunt was a lieutenant, commissioned by Colonel John Bridges (governor of Warwick Castle), and commanding 40 dragoons and foot. He is probably (despite the rank) the Captain Hunt named as in Brooke’s force before Stratford-upon-Avon in Feb. 1643. In Apr. 1643 he was amongst the forces ordered to secure Kenilworth Castle and its doubtfully loyal governor. Later captain of dragoons in Warwickshire and governor of Astley, Warwickshire.
In Sept. 1646 Hunt was commissioned captain of a troop of 60 harquebusiers in Chidley Coote’s regiment of horse, raised in 1646 for service in Ireland, and in spring 1648 was commanding a troop stationed in and around Drogheda. He continued to serve after its defeat by Inchiquin, when it served in Ulster, and a debenture survives for payment for his service in Jan.-June 1649.
Possibly the Captain Thomas Hunt who was a captain of foot in Thomas Reade’s regiment of foot in 1656, when his company was stationed at Inverlochy, and was retained as captain in 1659 in a regiment loyal to Monck.
Will proved (Lichfield), 18 Oct. 1661.
References: Hughes, Warwickshire, 196, 208; Firth and Davies, Regimental History, 2.564-6, 643; CSP Ireland,1633- 1647, 517, 548, 565, 569, 601, 611; TNA, SP28/253B (examination of Captain Thomas Hunt); A True Relation of the Death of Lord Brooks (1643), sig. A2r.
Armies: Lord Brooke; Warwickshire; Ireland”

However the info as to his Will cannot be correct, as he died prior to 1658, and the only Will I can find at Litchfield in 1661 is for a Thomas Hunter, of Coleshill, Warwickshire a Husbandsmsn.


Do you know when he married, date of his birth, where he died and have you found a Will?

Spendlove

[JWimpress]

Hi Spendlove,

Thank you so much for helping me with this.

Unfortunately I don't have any of the documents you have asked for and have no idea about how to look for them. Just started looking into this so am a bit of a novice.

I was aware of the debenture but had not seen the actual document before so it is great to have the copy from the article.

I am aware of Thomas' involvement in Cootes mounted horse in Ireland and had read about a Thomas Hunt  being Governor  of Astly Castle in Warwickshire but had not been able to link the 2 together until now with the section from British History so that is a large piece of the jigsaw found. I am so grateful for your help with this.

What would you suggest my next step is? I am doing this for my ancient mum so she can get an idea of where she came from.

Thanks James

[spendlove]

Hi,

There are lots of different stories about Ashley Castle, so would not rely on British History being correct, there were three men named Thomas Hunt in the midlands about the same time.

You say you are a direct descendent, so have you followed your ancestors back from yourself and your
Mother?  How far back have you got?  It is only by doing this that you can say for certain you are related.

This is a connection to one of the many sites re Astley Castle

https://www.englishcivilwar.org/2013/11/astley-castle-and-english-civil-war.html

Note it states he has a brother Lieutenant Goodere Hunt, and that Thomas was Captain of Dragoons.

Six children are named as the children of Thomas & Ester, so you could start by finding their baptisms
If you are a direct ancestor your line must come from one of these children.

Why do you think you are related, is it a family story or have you any paperwork?

Spendlove

[JWimpress]

Spendlove,

Thanks again.

I am related directly to Thomas as I have traced my family back to him using a document called A genealogical and heraldic history of the landed gentry of Ireland. In there there is a section on the Hunts of Danesfort, which starts with Thomas at the top and towards the bottom of this section is my grandfather. All the work was basically done for me by this document.

I then found the info from Astley and had not been able to link together until you shoed me the doc from British History.

I will do what you say and look at his children and see if I can find anything more. It has been so interesting to look into but requires alot of time to research!

James

[spendlove]

Hi,

Found the book on line

https://archive.org/details/genealogicalhera00burkuoft/page/333/mode/1up?q=Hunt

So you are descended from Benjamin the youngest son of Thomas Hunt.

The statement that they were from an ancient family of Warwickshire, probably ties in with the Astley Castle comment about them being shoe makers of Coventry.

Coat of Arms was granted 1647 this may be a good line to investigate, and obtaining a copy of the Will of Benjamin who died 1685 proved Dublin 1685 as he obviously mentions family members.

Think this is the entry on ancestry.co.uk, right hand page third entry down

https://www.ancestry.co.uk/imageviewer/collections/62077/images/62077_b1010170-00148?usePUB=true&_phsrc=CAS4&_phstart=successSource&usePUBJs=true&pId=33655

All the children surviving children of Thomas and Ester married and died in Ireland, so you need to find their  marriages, deaths and Wills in Irish records.

As you say a lot of the work is done for you, but now you have to prove that what is written is correct.

START with your Grandfather and work back.

Here is some info on how to find Irish Wills.

https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/Ireland_Probate_Records

Spendlove

[spendlove]

Hi,

Looks like many Wills were destroyed in 1924,

However previous to this an index had been made, this is connection for Benjamin Hunt d1685,
 top of left hand page.

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9LW-6ZKL?i=259&cat=224404

Spendlove

[cemeteryhunt]

Hello.  If you or any male relatives still carry the Hunt surname you can participate in the Y-DNA Hunt surname project at Family Tree DNA.  It can be costly depending on the type of test you take, but well worth it.  I recommend the Y-111 or Big-Y 700 test.

There are almost 500 testers belonging to 84 distinct Hunt family groups. Some of them trace to Ireland and England.  You may find you belong to one of the existing groups or a brand new untested group.

You can view the results here.

https://www.familytreedna.com/public/Huntsurname?iframe=yresults

More info about Y-DNA testing can be found here.

https://help.familytreedna.com/hc/en-us/articles/4414463886351-Y-chromosome-DNA-Y-DNA-#ancient-migrations-0-2

Regards,

Eric