By Barbara Emery Moseley

NOTE: This series chronicles the generations of Vernon’s Hunt family, all related to Jonathan Hunt of “Governor Hunt Road” fame. If you’ve missed any installments in this series, you can catch up here!

The Jonathan Hunt who built his impressive “mansion” in Vernon (on the road now named for him) was the great-grandson of another Jonathan who left England in 1637. Landing in Boston, he made his way to the Connecticut River Valley, found a wife in Hartford, and settled in Northampton. (Coincidentally, he had emigrated from Northampton, England, a city known for its making of boots and shoes.)

Two generations later, his descendants were living in the beleaguered settlement of Northfield. Twice it had been attacked, burned, and rebuilt. It was here that “our” Jonathan was born in 1738.

Remember, this was long before the American Revolution. Colonists were considered the “loving subjects” of the King of England. His appointed provincial governors were not so amicable, however.

The land that was to become Vernon was claimed by both the provincial governors of New York and New Hampshire. At the same time, Ethan Allen and his Green Mountain Boys were determined to carve out the state of Vermont, disregarding all other claims.

The Hunts (Samuel, Jonathan, Arad, and Elisha) were to play significant roles. Until next month …

Image: Jonathan Hunt, from the Vermont Historical Gazetteer