Esther Hunt
Encyclopedia
Esther Hunt was a pioneer who lived on America's frontier as a wife, a mother and a leader in her Quaker faith.
Born Esther Roberts, she was the youngest of five children of Enoch Roberts (1717 – 1782) and Rachel Coles (c. 1715 – 1758). The Roberts family lived at Evesham Township, New Jersey
. Esther's mother died when she was about seven years old. She and Joshua Hunt were married on November 19, 1778, in the Friends Meetinghouse at Moorestown Township
, New Jersey. He was a teacher in the Moorestown Friends School
. While living there Esther and Joshua had six children.
In September 1790, Esther and Joshua and their five children, "with two wagons, seven horses, one cow, and provisions", began a three-week journey to Fayette County
in southwestern Pennsylvania
. Their destination was a small, but growing, community located on the east bank of the Monongahela River
in close proximity to Fort Burd. In those days it was called Redstone Old Fort
, or simply Redstone. Later, the name was changed to Brownsville
.
In early October, the tiny caravan reached the new home where the Hunt family would live in a log cabin
during the winter season. On July 27, 1791 Joshua purchased a property, consisting of a dwelling and 195 acre (0.7891377 km²) of land, from John and Sarah Cadwallader. Located on the south bank of Redstone Creek
, Hunt's farm was about two miles (3 km) east of the creek's confluence with the Monongahela River and slightly to the west of Colvin Run. Their homestead, which they named "Hunt Pleasant", consisted of a log dwelling nestled amidst walnut trees and steep hills.
Rachel Hunt, Esther and Joshua's seventh child and only daughter, was born October 24, 1791.
After returning from a trip back home to Moorestown, Joshua Hunt died February 26, 1792. He was 39 years old. Esther Hunt wrote about her husband and her concerns:
Esther decided to remain at Hunt Pleasant. The ages of her children ranged from Elisha, who was a little over 12 years, to Rachel, who was just four months. Now a widow, Esther continued to run the farm and raise her children alone, without her "dearest companion and bosom friend". Nevertheless, in June 1794 she was appointed an elder
in the Redstone Monthly Meeting, a reflection of the high esteem that she was held by the men and women of her faith.
She traveled extensively, always on horseback. In October and November 1796 she visited Moorestown and Evesham
.
Rachel Hunt and David Roberts, the son of Joseph Roberts and Susanna Coles, were married February 15, 1815 in the Moorestown Meetinghouse.
Esther and her close friend Ann Edwards drowned February 2, 1820 while attempting to cross the Delaware River
in a horse drawn carriage which broke through the ice.
Early life at Moorestown
Evesham Township, New Jersey
Evesham Township is a township in Burlington County, New Jersey, United States. The township population was 45,538 as of the 2010 United States Census....
. Esther's mother died when she was about seven years old. She and Joshua Hunt were married on November 19, 1778, in the Friends Meetinghouse at Moorestown Township
Moorestown Township, New Jersey
-Demographics:At the 2000 census, there were 19,017 people, 6,971 households, and 5,270 families residing in the township. The population density was 1,287.3 per square mile . There were 7,211 housing units at an average density of 488.1 per square mile...
, New Jersey. He was a teacher in the Moorestown Friends School
Moorestown Friends School
Moorestown Friends School is a private Quaker school located at East Main Street and Chester Avenue in Moorestown, New Jersey. As of the 2009-10 school year, the school had an enrollment of 668 students and 81.0 classroom teachers , for a student–teacher ratio of 8.2...
. While living there Esther and Joshua had six children.
In September 1790, Esther and Joshua and their five children, "with two wagons, seven horses, one cow, and provisions", began a three-week journey to Fayette County
Fayette County, Pennsylvania
Fayette County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of the2010 census, the population was 136,606. The county is part of the Pittsburgh Metropolitan Statistical Area....
in southwestern Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. Their destination was a small, but growing, community located on the east bank of the Monongahela River
Monongahela River
The Monongahela River is a river on the Allegheny Plateau in north-central West Virginia and southwestern Pennsylvania in the United States...
in close proximity to Fort Burd. In those days it was called Redstone Old Fort
Redstone Old Fort
Redstone Old Fort or Redstone Fort or Fort Burd on The Nemacolin Trail was the name of the French and Indian War era wooden fort built in 1759 by Pennsylvania Militia Colonel James Burd to guard the ancient Indian trail's river ford on a mound overlooking the eastern shore of the Monongahela River...
, or simply Redstone. Later, the name was changed to Brownsville
Brownsville, Pennsylvania
Brownsville is a borough in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, United States, officially founded in 1785 located 35 miles south of Pittsburgh along the Monongahela River...
.
Life at Brownsville
Log cabin
A log cabin is a house built from logs. It is a fairly simple type of log house. A distinction should be drawn between the traditional meanings of "log cabin" and "log house." Historically most "Log cabins" were a simple one- or 1½-story structures, somewhat impermanent, and less finished or less...
during the winter season. On July 27, 1791 Joshua purchased a property, consisting of a dwelling and 195 acre (0.7891377 km²) of land, from John and Sarah Cadwallader. Located on the south bank of Redstone Creek
Redstone Creek
Redstone Creek is a historically important widemouthed canoe and river boat-navigable brook-sized tributary stream of the Monongahela River in Fayette County, Pennsylvania. The creek is long, running from headwaters on Chestnut Ridge north through the city of Uniontown and reaching the Monongahela...
, Hunt's farm was about two miles (3 km) east of the creek's confluence with the Monongahela River and slightly to the west of Colvin Run. Their homestead, which they named "Hunt Pleasant", consisted of a log dwelling nestled amidst walnut trees and steep hills.
Rachel Hunt, Esther and Joshua's seventh child and only daughter, was born October 24, 1791.
After returning from a trip back home to Moorestown, Joshua Hunt died February 26, 1792. He was 39 years old. Esther Hunt wrote about her husband and her concerns:
He was one endowed with the savor of Truth, a good neighbor, a tender father, able to instruct his children, temporally and spiritually; except the Lord help we shall perish. My loss is inexpressible, having my dear companion taken from me by death, and I left in this strange land with six children, the youngest about four months old. I can but mourn under a sense thereof, though not as one without hope.
Esther decided to remain at Hunt Pleasant. The ages of her children ranged from Elisha, who was a little over 12 years, to Rachel, who was just four months. Now a widow, Esther continued to run the farm and raise her children alone, without her "dearest companion and bosom friend". Nevertheless, in June 1794 she was appointed an elder
Elder (Christianity)
An elder in Christianity is a person valued for his wisdom who accordingly holds a particular position of responsibility in a Christian group. In some Christian traditions an elder is a clergy person who usually serves a local church or churches and who has been ordained to a ministry of Word,...
in the Redstone Monthly Meeting, a reflection of the high esteem that she was held by the men and women of her faith.
She traveled extensively, always on horseback. In October and November 1796 she visited Moorestown and Evesham
Evesham Township, New Jersey
Evesham Township is a township in Burlington County, New Jersey, United States. The township population was 45,538 as of the 2010 United States Census....
.
Later life at Moorestown
On June 3, 1807, Esther Hunt married John Collins, a Quaker minister from Moorestown, in the Redstone Meetinghouse. She had previously conveyed an equal portion of Hunt Pleasant to each of her children. Then Esther and her daughter, Rachel, removed to her husband's home in her previous hometown.Rachel Hunt and David Roberts, the son of Joseph Roberts and Susanna Coles, were married February 15, 1815 in the Moorestown Meetinghouse.
Esther and her close friend Ann Edwards drowned February 2, 1820 while attempting to cross the Delaware River
Delaware River
The Delaware River is a major river on the Atlantic coast of the United States.A Dutch expedition led by Henry Hudson in 1609 first mapped the river. The river was christened the South River in the New Netherland colony that followed, in contrast to the North River, as the Hudson River was then...
in a horse drawn carriage which broke through the ice.
External links
- Biography of Joshua and Esther Hunt by their children
- Hunt family history By E. M. Woodward in History of Burlington County
- Biography of Esther Hunt Recorded in The Friend
- Esther Hunt's fatal accident By Purdy and Lipponcott in Moorestown Old and New
- Website to search the Mirror newspaper Provided by the Burlington County Library