Early Hunnicutt Research Notes

Early Hunnicutt Research Notes

NOTES ON WILLIAM HUNCOTE:

1. Taken from a book called "The original list of Persons of Quality....1600 - 1700" edited by John Camden Hutten and published by Empire State Book Company, NY.:

William HUNCOTE was born in 1600 in England. He emigrated on 24 Jul 1635 from London, England. He died in Surrey County, VA. He was English. On July 24, 1635, William Huncote, age 35, set sail on the ship "Assurance" from the port of London, England to Virginia. He is listed on the passenger list of the "Assurance" as Wm. Huncote. There were no other names on the list that may have been his wife or children. He had taken the oaths of Allegeance and Supremacie" to England, a requirement of those going to the new colony. The male passengers had been examined by the Minister of the Towne of Gravesend of their conformities in Religion. William made his home in Surry County, Virginia.

2. According to the book titled "Lists of Emigrants to America (1600-1700)", Edited by John Camden Hotten, Baltimore Genealogical Publishing Co, 1962; "Our Early Emigrant Ancestors - The Original Lists", Pages 110-114:

24 July 1635

Thesis underwritten names are to be transported to Virginia, imbarqued in the Assurance, de Lo:, ISAAC BROMWELL and GEO. PEWSIE, M^r. [stands for Masters—DLB], examined by the Minister of the Town of Gravesend, of their conformitie in religion, the men have taken the oaths of allegiance and supremacie.

Wm Huncote appears on the list on page 113 of this book as age 35.

3. At some point William anglicized his name to Hunnicutt. Maybe that was the way others thought it was spelled. It is interesting to note that many writers of the 17th century often put double letters on the ends of some words such as "warr" or "likewise" and "cutt". If this had anything to do with the spelling of Hunnicutt or not, I don't know, but it is an interesting observation.

4. Probable son of William Huncote is Austin (probably short for Augustine) Hunicut that appears on the 1668 Surry County, Virginia Census of Tithables.

NOTES ON AUGUSTINE HUNNICUTT, I :

1. On the 1668 Surry County, Virginia Census of Tithables both a Austin Hunicut & John Hunicut appear. Austin Hunicut was marked with 3 tithables and John Hunicut was marked with 1 tithable. John Hunicut listed in this tithable could be the son of Austin/Augustine Hunicut or possibly another son of William Huncote.

2. There is a will for Augustine Hunnicutt dated 1683 in Surry County, VA – as of date I have not uncovered the detail of this will.

3. Augustine Hunnicutt was probably married more then once IF John is indeed his son. This assumption is based on the large gap in birth years between alleged son John and son Augustine Jr. Augustine Sr. did not marry Mary Alice Parke until about 1663 and John was born abt. 1650-55.

NOTES ON AUGUSTINE HUNNICUTT, II : (s/o Augustine Hunnicutt Sr. & Mary Alice Parke)

1. Augustine Hunnicutt Jr. was born ca 1664 in Virginia. He married in Virginia to Margaret Phillips. She was born ca 1664 and died before 16 July 1718 in Surry County, Virginia. Augustine died before May 1710 in Surry County, Virginia.

2. There is an Austin Hunnicutt listed on an Militia Account dated 1687 in Surry County, VA under the “for foot” section. This Militia Account reads as follows:

At a meeting of his Majities Justices of the Peace for the county of Surry Xber 19, 1687.

Prest Major Samll Swann Mr Robert Ruffin Mr Francis Mason Mr Robert Randall

In obedience to an ordr of Councell dated 8br ye 24^th 1687 requireing that the Collonells & Justices of every county doe take an accot of all the ablest Freeholders and Inhabitants in their respective counties that are Quallified either in Estate of pson to finde & maintain a Man & Horse to be Listed in a Troope for that county or go themselves when occation shall require, and likewise an acct of all other Freeholders & Inhabitants that are fitt to be Listed per foot and return the same to his Excellency with all convenient speede. This Court having considered the Capacitie & abilities of the severall Freeholders and Inhabitants of this county doe most humbly present his Excellency the following persons for horse and foot as they are here severall set down (vizt). [names of persons were listed below this memo; I am not detailing it here].

3. Augustine’s will is dated May 1710 in Surry County, Virginia – as of date I have not viewed the detail of this will.

4. Margaret Hunnicutt’s will names son Augustine and four daughters: (1) Elizabeth Rowell, wife of Edward; (2) Mary Hargrave, wife of Bray; (3) Katherine, wife of Charles Pitts; and (4) Anne Berryman, wife of Augustine. Margaret was married three times: first to John Cooper in 1676; second to John Hodge; and third to Augustine Hunnicutt. Margaret left nearly everything she owned to her daughter Anne, she then bequeathed her clothes to all of her daughters to be equally divided. Her daughter Elizabeth was a Cooper, her daughter Mary was a Hodge, and her two daughters Katherine and Anne were Hunnicutt.

5. On 1st March 1680 or 1690 the following was found on County Court Order record of Surry Co., VA.:

…. "having this day rec'd a credible information that Margaret the wife of Augustine Hunnicutt Jun'r doth

most shamefully abuse the orphans of Jno. Hodge desesed. It is therefore ordered that Mr. Robert Ruffin Overseer of decesed's will doe place the said orphans with such (illegible) as to him thought meet."

6. On 4 October 1680 or 1690 Augustine put up bond of 40,000 pounds of tobacco as guradian of Elizabeth, orphan of John Cooper deaceased; a month later another 40,000 pounds as guardian of the orphans of John Hodge deceased. On the 6 Sept. 1680 or 1690 little James Hodge (s/o of John Hodge, Margaret’s 2^nd husband) was placed in the home of Nicholas Johnson, four months later he was placed in the home of John Clarke. John and Mary Clarke are the couple that sold Bray his first acreage in Lawnes Creek Parish, Surry Co.

7. Children of Augustine Hunnicutt Jr. & Margaret Phillips:

Augustine Hunnicutt, b. ca 1690

Katherine Hunnicutt b. ca 1693

Ann Hunnicutt b. ca 1695

NOTES ON JOHN HUNNICUTT, I :

1. This John was the Hunnicutt that was in Bacon's Rebellion. John may have been the son of Augustine Hunnicutt. John lived in Southwarke Parish in 1673. He figured in Bacon's Rebellion of 1676. Probably belonged to the group at Bacon's Castle with William Rookings men. He signed a petition on February 6^th 1676 asking for pardon from the King after Bacon died and the rebellion was in the process of being put down by the British.

2. John died intestate in 1699, his inventory dated 17 Apr 1699 in Surry County, VA, shows Elizabeth Hunnicutt as his executrix (D. & W. 1693-1709, page 173).

3. From "A Genealogical Sketch of the Hunnicutt, Warren, Phillips, and Littleton Family also Beck of England, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and South Carolina" by Jessie Hunnicutt Burgess, 1966, Mrs. Robert V. Burgess, 6819 Waters Road, Savannah, GA; ref. Genealogy 9292-Hunnicutt) the following was extracted:

John Hunniuctt, born ca 1650, died in Surry Co., VA in 1699. In 1668 he is listed in the Lownes Creek Tythables, Surry County, VA. He was in the famous Bacon's Rebellion, and was nearly beheaded. An Inventory of his property was made 17th Apr 1699:

2 small sowes, 9 piges and 3 shoats, at 2.50

1 feather bed, 1 old bed stead, 1 feather pillow, 2 blankets, at 4.00

1 spitt, a p'cell of old lumber, at 1.00

1 small iron pot, and hooks, meal barrel, 2 old skillets, 2 old metal sifters, 2 glass bottles, 1 brass candlestick, 1 small earthern dish, at 1.00;

Total: 8.50

We the subscribers, being sworn and appointed by Ord'd of Court dated 7th day of March 1698/1699, and sworne by Mr. John Edwards, having valued the above particulars to the summe of eight hundred and fifty pounds of tob'o.

John Clark X (his mark)

Thomas Horton X (his mark)

At a court held in Southwarke for the county of Surry 1699, this day appeared in Court, Elizabeth Hunniuctt, and makes oath that the above said was a true and perfect Inv'ry of the said dec'eds estate. Test: Fra: Clements, Cl. Cur.

4. Tithables from 1699 through 1702 show the names of William, John and Thomas Hunnicutt as thithables in the family of Mrs. Elizabeth Hunnicutt, thus indicating them as sons.

5. John Hunnicutt and Elizabeth Warren's marriage contract was recorded in Surry Co., VA Deed and Will Book 1644-1671, page 38; also refer to "Historical Southern Families" Volume I, page 245-246. Also in "Our Heritage Kent England to Surry and Isle of Wight Co., VA" by Louise Epps Neal.

6. Marriage Notes of John Hunnicutt and Elizabeth Warren:

Ø At the home of her father. Marriage contract 26 Feb 1670 (D. & W. 1645-71, page 380; also page 389, John Hunnicutt's receipt to Matthias Marriatt for the estate of his wife Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas Warren, Dec'd.)

Ø Surry Co., VA Court Records; page 380: 24 Feb 1670: John Hunnicutt, who has married Elizabeth Warren, spinster, both of the county have contracted to enter marriage...John Hunnicutt to make over to Elizabeth Warren all household goods that she is possessed with. Wit. John Corker, Jane Warren. 7 Mar 1670.

Ø (D.&W. 1693-1709, p. 173), Surry Co., VA Court Records; page 389

John Hunnicutt, who has married Elizabeth Warren, dau of Mr. Thomas Warren, deceased, has received of Mr. Mathias Marriott his due portion of the estate belonging to ye said Elizabeth as it was given by Mrs. Jane Warren, and to acknowledge unto sd Marriott for the same. 20 Mar 1670. Teste Geo Watkin.

7. Children of John Hunnicutt & Elizabeth Warren:

Augustine Hunnicutt b. Abt. 1671, Lawn’s Creek Parish, Surry Co, VA

John Hunnicutt, Jr. b. Abt. 1673, Lawn's Creek Parish, Surry Co., VA

Robert Hunnicutt b. Abt. 1675, Surry Co, VA

William Hunnicutt b. Abt. 1677, Lawn’s Creek Parish, Surry Co, VA

Thomas Hunnicutt

NOTES ON AUGUSTINE HUNNICUTT: (s/o John Hunnicutt & Elizabeth Warren)

1. Augustine Hunnicutt was born Abt. 1671 in Lawn's Creek Parish, Surry Co., VA. He died Bef. 19 October 1743 in Surry Co., VA. He married Pheobe Crews in Surry County, VA. She was the d/o Thomas Crews.

2. Augustine’s Will was written 14 Jul 1743; probated 19 Oct 1743; Will Book A, page 451, Surry Co., VA. Abstracted from "A Genealogical Sketch of the Hunnicutt, Warren, Phillips, and Littleton Family also Beck of England, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and South Carolina" by Jessie Hunnicutt Burgess, 1966, Mrs. Robert V. Burgess, 6819 Waters Road, Savannah, GA; ref. Genealogy 9292-Hunnicutt: Estate of Augustine Hunnicutt, Surry Co., VA: Hunnicutt, Augustine: Legacy, to my wife the use of my plantation until my son Robert is 21 years old. Wife to have use of household goods, etc. To son Robert, the plantation where I now live, negroes, etc. To daughter, Martha, furniture, etc. To daughter, Mary, furniture, etc. The rest of the estate to be divided between sons John and Robert and daughters Martha and Mary. John and Robert, Executors; Witnesses, William Seward.

NOTES ON JOHN HUNNICUTT, II : (s/o John Hunnicutt & Elizabeth Warren)

1. Established a home for himself near Wareneck and near his father's land. On 24 Oct 1732 a land transaction was recorded in Prince George Co., VA near Upper Chippokes Creek, but there was no indication that John lived there.

NOTES ON ROBERT HUNNICUTT, I : (s/o John Hunnicutt & Elizabeth Warren)

1. Robert married Margaret Wyke and became a member of his wife's church. They lived near the Wyke family home, near Prince George Courthouse and Rte # 10.

2. In 1715 Robert was granted 100 acres in upper Surry, near the Blackwater River. In later years this part of the country became Sussex County (Surry Land Book #10).

3. The Church of England ( Episcopal ) was the only church denomiation welcome in the early colony, when a small group of Quakers came into the colony around 1657, they were surprised to find they were not welcome by Governor Berkeley and members of the Church of England. The Wyke Family must have been among the first group that came from England , looking for freedom to worship as they pleased. By 1710 Gov. Berkeley was called back to England. The new Governor, Spotswood, allowed the churches more freedom, but by 1750 most of the Quakers moved into the Valley of Virginia and south to North Carolina.

4. Robert Hunnicutt, Margaret, six children and her parents moved to Brunswick County. Later they moved farther south. Robert was very active in his church in Prince George and Brunswick. He is listed as a Recorder and Register in the old Meeting House Records at Burleigh and the Blackwater Meeting House. At Gravelly Run, the records refer to Robert Hunnicutt Sr and Family.

5. A rule of the church was a member could not own a slave. Robert and his father-in-law freed their slaves in 1710. The number of slaves was not given. His grandson, Glaister Hunnicutt (s/o Wkye Hunnicutt & Sarah Glaister), freed his six slaves in 1782. Other descendants of Robert Hunnicutt that eventually freed their slaves were William Hunnicutt in 1787, John Hunnicutt in 1787, and Jesse Hunnicutt in 1791. More notes about the freeing of their slaves can be found in my Quaker Hunnicutt Notes page.

6. In 1731 a "deed of Gift" was recorded to Wyke Hunnicutt, s/o Margaret (Wyke) and Robert Hunnicutt, for land in Surry County (‘Guide to Buildings of Surry’ by J.D.Kornwolf, pg 15,16: deed book Surry Courthouse 1730 Pg 120).

7. Around 1705 Quakers were grudgingly tolerated. By 1712 it was estimated that at least 5,000 lived in the colony. During the 1700's they were permitted to thrive in Virginia, and their number increased to well over 10,0000. About the time of the Revolution the Quakers began to move out of Virginia and into Western Carolina and across the Blue Ridge to the west. Soon there were very few left in eastern Virginia.

8. A branch of the family , Edward Rowell and his wife Elizabeth were Quakers. They left their Surry home about 1770 to join their Quaker friends farther south.

9. Around 1779-80 several members of Hartwell-Hunnicutt family sold their land in Surry and moved south to the Carolinas. There they joined some of the other Quaker Families. Not all members of the Hartwell-Hunnicut family were Quakers.

10. Because the Plantation land was becoming overworked and unproductive, many settlers, including a large number of Quakers, sold their homes and land and moved south and west. Another inducement was deeding to new settles at a very small cost. The grants were called Granville Grants. The governor was anxious to increase the state's population at the time.

NOTES ON WILLIAM HUNNICUTT: (s/o John Hunnicutt & Elizabeth Warren)

1. William Hunnicutt was born Abt. 1676 in Lawn's Creek Parish, Surry Co., VA. He died 18 March 1718/19 in Southwark Parish, Surry Co., VA.

2. William was born during the year of Bacon's Rebellion. His parents were living near Hog Island, Chippokes, "RichNeck" area. The family moved to their new home near Wareneck Hill and the Courthouse.

3. John Sr., William's father, died very young at 46 years of age. William was about 23 years old when his father died. The two bachelor sons, John Jr. and William, probably stayed near their mother, Elizabeth, to help care for the farm and family.

4. In the tithable from 1694 and 1698, William was listed as having 51 people on his plantation. This included all male and female servants, white, black, Indians, and any tenants living on the farm. His mother and brother were probably included.

5. William was very ambitious and industrious. On May 25 1793 he brought suit against Mr Taylor and his wife for 871 lbs. of tabacco, due for building a warehouse 32x20x16 ft. "Defendants" replied they had been overcharged. Court ordered Hugh Hunniford and Thomas to value the work. Judgment was that William Hunnicutt Sr. was due 371 lbs. of tobacco on the balance of the account. The tobacco warehouse that William built for Mr. Taylor could have been at wareneck Mill. Between 1652 and 1690 the crossroads settlement did have a tobacco inspection house. The tobacco was sent from the warehouse down Smith's Fort creek (later called Gray's Creek) to large ships in the James River that took the tobacco to London. William also operated the ferry between Swann's Point and Jamestown Island. On May 4, 1708 William Johnson and William Hunnicutt Sr. were given "Liberty to keep a ferry at a Landing formerly belonging to Col. Thomas Swann, deceased, and to row over to Jamestown -one man a royal one man and his horse 2 royally (Surry Order Book 1691 - 1713 pg 345). The boats used for transporting produce and people down the creek were flat bottoms and rafts. They could be floated down and poled back up stream. The ferry boats that crossed the river to Hog Island, Scotland Landing, swann Points and other river wharves were much larger.

6. William was called energetic, ambitious and a man of some wealth. He died at the age 43. His mother, Elizabeth (Warren) Hunnicutt, inventoried his estate in Southwark Parish March 18 1718. The estate was settled July 19 1721 ( Surry Will and Deed Book 17).

NOTES ON THOMAS HUNNICUTT: (s/o John Hunnicutt & Elizabeth Warren)

1. The only reference to Thomas Hunnicutt being the son of John & Elizabeth (Warren) Hunnicutt are the Tithables from 1699 through 1702 showing the names of William, John and Thomas Hunnicutt as thithables in the family of Mrs. Elizabeth Hunnicutt, thus indicating them as sons.