Hunt, William, 1733-1772

William Hunt was a Quaker minister born near Philadelphia who spent much of his adult life in Guilford, North Carolina.

William was a very sober, religious child, and began to preach at the age of fifteen. Finding himself somewhat vain of the gift, which was encouraged by the elder Friends, he held his peace for some time, and finally began all over again, becoming eventually one of the foremost ministers of his denomination. He married early, before his majority, Sarah Mills, in 4mo.1753. Just before this, the minutes of Cane Creek, N.C. under date, 11mo. 4, 1752, state that William Hunt produced a certificate of removal from the Monthly Meeting of Hopewell, Virginia, dated 6mo. 1, 1752. Unfortunately, the Hopewell minutes have been destroyed by fire. He eventually became a resident nt Guilford, N.C., with which most of his later life is associated. He had eight children, one of them his famous son Nathan. He traveled much in the ministry, one of his descendants writing, "he had at one time preached in nearly all the Friends' meeting houses in America." His cousin John Hunt of New Jersey relates in his own Journal under date, 4mo. 11, 1771 that William Hunt attended meeting at Upper Springfield at that time and preached an impressive sermon. He was making a farewell visit to his early home before sailing for England. John Hunt says "he told us to note it down; that there was little hope for this generation, but it was his belief that the next would make better progress in the Truth." Exactly a year to the day before his cousin John Woolman sailed, William Hunt embarked on the same vessel. John Hunt writes, "My wife, her sister, Elizabeth Haines, brother Robert and myself went to Philadelphia to take leave of Cousin William who was about to sail for old England on a religious visit. Divers friends went on board the vessel with him, and we had a meeting in the cabin,in which Cousin William preached and prayed in a very affectionate manner, and we took leave of him in dear and tender love, with strong desires for each other's preservation."

William Hunt was accompanied by his nephew, Thomas Thornborough. They reached London after a short voyage. A letter to John Hunt and Peter and Mary Harvey brought the family word of their arrival.

During the year the two visited Yorkshire, Lancashire and Ireland, meeting John Woolman in London in June, 1772. They sailed thence to Holland, a letter which William Hunt wrote his wife from Amsterdam, dated "8mo. 1772" reaching her after his death. Embarking on the return to England for Scarborough, they were forced by contrary winds into Shields, where they landed the 16th of August, and went to the house of James King at Newcastle-upon- Tyne. They attended meetins there on the 27th, and William Hunt preached. Being asked where he intended going next, he replied that he "saw no further at present than Newcastle." Next day he was taken with an illness which on the fourth day proved to be smallpox. He was devotedly nursed by Elizabeth Carter. His nephew had not had the disease, and at his desire, Thomas Thornborough removed to the house of Joseph King at Kenton. William Hunt died September 9th, 1772, his last words being "Truth reigns over all!." Esther Tuke whose good offices were extended so soon to John Woolman under similar circumstances, wrote a sympathetic letter to his children, dated "York 26th 10mo. 1772."

From the Dictionary of Quaker Biography, Haverford College.