Capt. Simon Hunt
Captain Simon Hunt
1734-1820
Ongoing research conducted and compiled by
Jeffrey D. Miller (6th great-grandson of Simon Hunt)
Or West Company
(Formerly under Col. Francis Faulkner)
Patriotic Observance
Markers placed on Revolutionary Mansion and Liberty Tree
at South Acton
1898
The Liberty Tree house was built by Ebenezer Knight in 1710. When Ebenezer
finished building the house, he planted an English elm tree for shade.
By 1776 the tree had grown quite large and it was to become known as Acton's
Liberty Tree, a rallying point for troops during the American Revolution. Legend has
it that General George Washington tied his horse to the elm tree while visiting
Captain Simon Hunt in 1776.
and the Liberty Tree
Liberty Street, South Acton, Massachusetts
Presented by Marguerite E. White and Eileen L. Travers
Documentary by Acton Historian
Robert L. Nylander
compiled by Jeffrey D. Miller
Biographical Sketch of
Captain Simon Hunt (1734-1820)
Ongoing research conducted and compiled by
Jeffrey D. Miller (6th great-grandson of Simon Hunt)
Although no singular body of writing about his life has heretofore come to fruition, information pieced together from various historical annals and vital records reveal Captain Simon Hunt to have been one of Acton's leading citizens of his time. Aside from his dutiful citizenship, Captain Hunt was a soldier, and a patriot who served with distinction and loyalty in founding the new nation in the American Revolutionary War. His commitment to this new nation's principles did not end there, for he served further after the war as a pillar of his church and community.
As the great-grandson of William Hunt (1605-1667), one of the first settlers of Concord, Massachusetts, Captain Hunt's ancestral lines are deeply rooted in colonial Massachusetts history. Because both Captain Simon Hunt's father and son were also named Simon Hunt, and all three Simon Hunts resided in Acton for at least part of their respective lifetimes, care should be taken when examining genealogical and other historical records to ensure precisely which Simon Hunt is being referenced. Captain Hunt's father was one of the early residents of Acton and he served in various civic roles there, including those of selectman, town clerk, and surveyor of hemp and flax, as well as being a member of the committee to oversee design and construction of Acton's first meeting house (First Church). Undoubtedly, his father's achievements provided inspiration for Captain Hunt in his own adulthood.
Captain Hunt's exemplary military service is summarized as follows:
In April of 1775, when Lieutenant Francis Faulkner left the captaincy of Acton's West Militia Company vacant (having been promoted to Major of the Regiment), the command was filled temporarily by 1st Lieutenant Simon Hunt. He led the West Company to battle at the North Bridge in Concord, Massachusetts, on the morning of 19 April 1775.
On 11 December 1775, a special town meeting was convened in Acton and Simon Hunt and four other men were selected to serve on a committee of correspondence, inspection, and safety. The purpose of this committee was to keep the town in touch with the march of political events, to look after the safety of the community, and to check on subversive movers from within. On 22 July 1776, Simon Hunt asked to be excused from serving on the committee and Lieutenant Thomas Noyes was appointed in his place.
Simon Hunt was commissioned Captain of the 5th Company of Colonel Eleazer Brooks' 3rd Regiment of Massachusetts on 27 March 1776. At that time, the Company was called upon to fortify Dorchester Heights, Massachusetts, during of the evacuation of Boston by British General William Howe. Later in 1776, Simon Hunt became Captain of the 4th Company of the 3rd Regiment, and was ordered to march to Horse Neck (Greenwich, Connecticut) by Brigadier Oliver Prescott on 26 September 1776, with engagement on 27 September 1776.
In September of 1776 another contingent was formed of men from Acton and surrounding Massachusetts towns, and Simon Hunt was appointed Captain of one the companies. This company saw service in White Plains, New York. On 16 November 1776, Simon Hunt received a discharge, having served 62 days, including 11 days and 212 miles of travel.
The year 1776 may have been memorable for Simon Hunt if there is truth in the anecdote that he was called upon by General George Washington at his home in Acton. Allegedly, Washington tied his horse to an elm tree on the southwest side of the house, and the tree was thereafter known as the Liberty Tree. Hunt occupied the house from the time he acquired it from his father in 1755 until about 1802. Today, the house and grounds are known as Liberty Tree Farm, located at 24 Liberty Street in Acton.
At some point during or after 1776, Simon Hunt re-enlisted and may have served as Captain of the company of volunteers from Acton and Concord who were engaged at the Battle of Saratoga, New York, in October 1777. It is said that they witnessed Burgoyne's surrender on 16 October 1777. There is record that in November 1777, Simon Hunt was Captain of the company that guarded the British soldiers who were taken prisoner in Saratoga and brought back to Cambridge, Massachusetts.
On 25 September 1778, Simon Hunt wrote a letter to Colonel Eleazer Brooks requesting resignation from his office as Captain “on account of dissatisfaction in his command and difficulty in obtaining non-commissioned officers,” but his request was declined on 30 September 1778. Two months later, on 28 November 1778, Simon Hunt was captain of a guard company at Cambridge. He was discharged on 15 December 1778, having served 5 months and 13 days at and about Winter Hill in Somerville, Massachusetts.
Simon Hunt apparently re-enlisted again, either immediately after his discharge in 1778, or sometime in 1779. In Acton on 15 October 1779, he wrote and signed a petition to the military Council for resignation of his commission as Captain of Colonel Francis Faulkner's 5th Company of the 3rd Middlesex County Regiment of Massachusetts Militia “on account of the appointment of a junior officer to the rank of 2nd Major.” It was ordered in Council on 10 March 1780 that the resignation be accepted.
In the last years of the war, meeting enlistment quotas became an ever-increasing burden in Acton. Captain Hunt had been voted to constitute a committee to collect the data concerning the war service of the town on 10 March 1777. However, when the situation was not improved by March 1781, Hunt was elected to another committee to assist the assessors in classifying the inhabitants of the town for the purpose of hiring the town's quota in the United States Army. In May 1781, prompted by financial constraints in the Acton town budget, Simon Hunt was one of two men delegated to make representation to the General Court of Massachusetts for the reduction of the town's valuation.
Simon Hunt was a member of the First Church in Acton and was chosen as a deacon on 19 April 1792, an office which he also held in the Second Church for the remaining years of his life until his death in 1820. Accordingly, various historical records (including his gravestone inscription) refer to him as "Deacon Simon Hunt" (not to be confused with his father who was also a deacon in Concord and was principally known as “Deacon Hunt"). Church records note that on 23 March 1797 it was “Voted to choose a committee of three to nominate five persons for singers.” Simon Hunt was one of three men chosen for this committee who duly nominated five individuals to lead the singing in the future.
At the end of the 18th century, a developing interest in literature brought the organization of a "social library" by a group of Acton residents, including Simon Hunt. This was a voluntary association of individuals who contributed to a common fund for the purchase of books. Every member could use the books, but ownership was retained by the group as a whole. Fines were levied for overdue books, soiled pages, grease spots (usually from candles), and loosened leaves. In 1801, Simon Hunt was fined an unknown amount for a spot on page 421 of Stack House.
Following his death on 27 April 1820, Captain Simon Hunt was buried in Woodlawn Cemetery in Acton, Massachusetts. His gravestone is situated between those of his wife, Lucy (Raymond) Hunt, and of his daughter, Ruth Hunt. The inscription on his gravestone is as follows:
SACRED
TO
the memory of
Dea. SIMON HUNT
who died
April 27, 1820
Aet. 86
Death thou has conquered me
I by thy dart am slain
But Christ has conquered thee
"And I shall rise again"
Descendants of Captain Simon Hunt
compiled by Jeffrey D. Miller (6th great-grandson of Simon Hunt)
Generation One
1. Simon1 Hunt was born on 8 April 1734 in Concord, Middlesex County, Massachusetts. He married Lucy Raymond, daughter of Paul Raymond and Tabitha Balch, on 15 April 1755 in Concord, Middlesex County, Massachusetts. He died on 27 April 1820 in Acton, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, at age 86. He was buried in Woodlawn Cemetery, Acton, Middlesex County, Massachusetts.
Lucy Raymond was born on 5 August 1737. She died on 31 March 1808 in Acton, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, at age 70. She was buried in Woodlawn Cemetery, Acton, Middlesex County, Massachusetts.
The 11 known children of Deacon Simon1 Hunt and Lucy Raymond all born in Acton, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, were as follows:
i. Lucy2 Hunt was born on 5 December 1755. She died before 1759.
2. ii. Simon Hunt, born 7 October 1756; married Lydia Brooks; married Lydia (Brooks) Proctor.
3. iii. Lucy Hunt, born 8 July 1758; married Benjamin Hayward.
4. iv. Nathan Hunt, born 17 July 1760; married Abigail Hale.
5. v. Mary Hunt, born 16 July 1762; married Daniel White.
6. vi. Paul Hunt, born 20 October 1764; married Betsey Parkhurst.
7. vii. Elizabeth Hunt, born between 8 August 1766 and 9 August 1766; married Nathaniel Holden; married Lieutenant Simon Tuttle Jr.
viii. Ruth Hunt was born on 18 February 1769. She died on 13 June 1786 at age 17. She was buried in Woodlawn Cemetery, Acton, Middlesex County, Massachusetts.
8. ix. Tabitha Hunt, born 2 April 1771; married Joshua Todd.
9. x. Sarah Hunt, born 4 August 1773; married Joseph Hapgood; divorced Joseph Hapgood; married David Carleton.
10. xi. Joanna Hunt, born 16 November 1779; married Joseph Noyes.
Generation Two
2. Simon2 Hunt (Simon1) was born on 7 October 1756 in Acton, Middlesex County, Massachusetts. He married Lydia Brooks, daughter of Timothy Brooks and Mary Gilbert, on 4 March 1779 in Acton, Middlesex County, Massachusetts. He married Lydia Brooks, daughter of Josiah Brooks and Lydia Heywood, on 16 June 1785 in Westford, Middlesex County, Massachusetts. He died on 13 April 1821 at age 64. He was buried in Fairview Cemetery, Westford, Middlesex County, Massachusetts.
Lydia Brooks was born on 15 June 1759. She died on 3 February 1784 at age 24. She was buried in Woodlawn Cemetery, Acton, Middlesex County, Massachusetts.
The two known children of Simon2 Hunt and Lydia Brooks both born in Acton, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, were as follows:
i. Nancy B.3 Hunt was born on 8 April 1780. She married Martin B. Wood.
ii. Lucy Hunt was born on 5 May 1782.
Lydia Brooks was born between 1758 and 1759 in Massachusetts. She married Jonas Proctor. She died between October 1837 and December 1837. She was buried in Fairview Cemetery, Westford, Middlesex County, Massachusetts.
The eight known children of Simon2 Hunt and Lydia Brooks all born in Westford, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, were as follows:
i. Mary3 Hunt, born 12 June 1788; married Andrew Kelley.
ii. Simon Hunt was born on 4 April 1790.
iii. Timothy Hunt was born on 23 January 1792.
iv. John Hunt, born 14 November 1793; married Nancy Blodgett.
v. Luther Hunt was born on 4 November 1795.
vi. Sally Hunt was born on 27 December 1798. She married John Allen on 17 September 1821 in Westford, Middlesex County, Massachusetts.
vii. Warren Hunt, born 17 February 1801; married Clarissa Wilson.
viii. Betsy Hunt, born 25 October 1803; married Benjamin Abbott Read.
3. Lucy2 Hunt (Simon1) was born on 8 July 1758 in Acton, Middlesex County, Massachusetts. She married Benjamin Hayward between 5 April 1780 and 6 April 1780 in Acton, Middlesex County, Massachusetts. She died on 26 April 1784 at age 25. She was buried in Woodlawn Cemetery, Acton, Middlesex County, Massachusetts.
Benjamin Hayward was born on 1 December 1752 in Acton, Middlesex County, Massachusetts.
He was a resident of Acton, Middlesex County, Massachusetts.
The two known children of Lucy2 Hunt and Benjamin Hayward were as follows:
i. Rebecca3 Hayward.
ii. Moses Hayward was born on 23 August 1783 in Acton, Middlesex County, Massachusetts.
4. Nathan2 Hunt (Simon1) was born on 17 July 1760 in Acton, Middlesex County, Massachusetts. He married Abigail Hale, daughter of Moses Hale and Abigail Emerson, in 1787. He died on 18 July 1853 at age 93.
Abigail Hale was born on 1 February 1768 in Rindge, Cheshire County, New Hampshire.
The 10 known children of Nathan2 Hunt and Abigail Hale were as follows:
i. Abigail3 Hunt was born in November 1788. She married Reuben Streeter. She married Jonathan Webster.
ii. Nathan Hunt was born on 17 April 1791. He married Violentia Hodgman on 10 January 1814.
iii. Grata Hunt was born on 26 June 1793. She married Benjamin Cutter on 9 September 1819. She died on 5 November 1871 at age 78.
iv. Moses Hunt was born on 9 November 1795. He married Maria Rouse on 19 October 1825.
v. Harriet Hunt was born on 1 June 1798. She married Ezra Bennett.
vi. Sally Hunt was born on 3 September 1800. She married David French.
vii. Fanny Hunt was born on 3 December 1802. She married William H. Salisbury.
viii. John Edwards Hunt was born between 9 November 1805 and 24 November 1805. He married Elizabeth White. He married (--?--) (--?--). He married (--?--) (--?--).
ix. Elvira Hunt was born on 24 March 1808. She married George A. Willard.
x. Raymond Hunt was born on 18 May 1810. He married Maria A. Chapman on 25 November 1828.
5. Mary2 Hunt (Simon1) was born on 16 July 1762 in Acton, Middlesex County, Massachusetts. She married Daniel White on 1 January 1784. She died on 2 April 1845 at age 82. She was buried in Woodlawn Cemetery, Acton, Middlesex County, Massachusetts.
The four known children of Mary2 Hunt and Daniel White were as follows:
i. Abel3 White.
ii. John White was born on 24 February 1785.
iii. Polly White was born on 25 December 1786.
iv. Daniel White was born on 6 August 1791.
6. Paul2 Hunt (Simon1) was born on 20 October 1764 in Acton, Middlesex County, Massachusetts. He married Betsey Parkhurst on 19 November 1789. He died in 1848.
The six known children of Paul2 Hunt and Betsey Parkhurst were as follows:
i. John Parkhurst3 Hunt was born on 27 September 1790.
ii. Clarissa Hunt was born on 5 October 1791. She died on 20 September 1826 at age 34.
iii. Betsy Hunt was born on 5 July 1793. She died on 1 October 1852 at age 59.
iv. Paul Hunt was born on 15 April 1795. He married Anna Jewett.
v. Durocsy Hunt was born in 1799.
vi. Addison Hunt was born on 18 February 1803.
7. Elizabeth2 Hunt (Simon1) was born between 8 August 1766 and 9 August 1766 in Acton, Middlesex County, Massachusetts. She married Nathaniel Holden. She married Lieutenant Simon Tuttle Jr. on 14 January 1790. She died on 3 April 1846 at age 79. She was buried in Woodlawn Cemetery, Acton, Middlesex County, Massachusetts.
There were no known children of Elizabeth2 Hunt and Nathaniel Holden.
The seven known children of Elizabeth2 Hunt and Lieutenant Simon Tuttle Jr. were as follows:
i. Francis3 Tuttle was born on 5 January 1791. He married Harriet Weatherbee on 14 July 1812.
ii. Simon Tuttle was born on 7 February 1793. He married Betsy Hapgood in 1814. He married Polly B. Davis in 1820. He married Lydia Holden in 1825. He married Sarah Brooks in 1833.
iii. Charles Tuttle was born on 18 March 1795. He married Maria H. Wright. He married Mary Edwards in 1821.
iv. Eliza Tuttle was born on 4 July 1797. She married E. Jones on 14 March 1821.
v. Horace Tuttle was born on 6 April 1800. He married Eveline Davis in 1824. He married Lucy Jane Jones in 1827.
vi. George W. Tuttle was born on 27 February 1803. He married Charlotte H. Jones on 19 July 1827. He died on 13 November 1831 at age 28.
vii. Joseph W. Tuttle was born on 8 April 1805. He married Henrietta Jones in 1828.
8. Tabitha2 Hunt (Simon1) was born on 2 April 1771 in Acton, Middlesex County, Massachusetts. She married Joshua Todd on 23 February 1796.
The four known children of Tabitha2 Hunt and Joshua Todd were as follows:
i. Levi3 Todd was born on 9 November 1796 in Rindge, Cheshire County, New Hampshire.
ii. Lucia Todd was born on 28 August 1798. She married Joshua Hunt Jr. She died on 8 December 1880 at age 82.
iii. George Washington Todd was born on 9 November 1801 in Rindge, Cheshire County, New Hampshire.
iv. Paul Todd was born on 6 February 1807 in Rindge, Cheshire County, New Hampshire.
9. Sarah2 Hunt (Simon1) was born on 4 August 1773 in Acton, Middlesex County, Massachusetts. She married Joseph Hapgood on 11 February 1798. She and Joseph Hapgood were divorced. She married David Carleton in 1808.
The three known children of Sarah2 Hunt and Joseph Hapgood were as follows:
i. Simon H.3 Hapgood was born on 9 December 1800. He died on 3 September 1802 at age 1. He was buried in Woodlawn Cemetery, Acton, Middlesex County, Massachusetts.
ii. Henry Hapgood.
[Uncertain].
iii. Joseph Hapgood.
[Uncertain].
There were no known children of Sarah2 Hunt and David Carleton.
10. Joanna2 Hunt (Simon1) was born on 16 November 1779 in Acton, Middlesex County, Massachusetts. She married Joseph Noyes on 14 October 1800 in Acton, Middlesex County, Massachusetts. She died on 19 February 1839 in Acton, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, at age 59.
Joseph Noyes was born on 6 August 1778 in Acton, Middlesex County, Massachusetts.
The nine known children of Joanna2 Hunt and Joseph Noyes all born in Acton, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, were as follows:
i. Joanna3 Noyes was born on 16 August 1801. She died on 22 April 1802 in Acton, Middlesex County, Massachusetts. She was buried in Woodlawn Cemetery, Acton, Middlesex County, Massachusetts.
ii. Almira Noyes was born on 26 April 1803.
iii. Thomas Jefferson Noyes was born on 14 September 1805.
iv. Joanna Hunt Noyes was born on 19 September 1807.
v. Joseph Noyes was born on 8 September 1809.
vi. Rebeckah Noyes was born on 14 January 1812.
vii. Luther S. Noyes was born on 31 December 1814.
viii. Elizabeth Wright Noyes was born on 20 November 1817.
ix. Moses Adams Noyes was born on 5 June 1820.
