Bishop Edward Hunter: A Biography

BISHOP EDWARD HUNTER. BY OSCAR F. HUNTER, SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH.

ANCESTRY, PARENTAGE AND BIRTH.

Edward Hunter, who was the third Presiding Bishop of the •€hurch, was born in Newton Township, Delaware County, Pennsyl- vania, June 22, 1793. He was the youngest son, and seventh child of the family of Edward Hunter and Hannah Merris, both of whom were born in the same county and state of Pennsylvania. His father, who was better known by the name of Esquire Hunter, held the office of Justice for forty years, and was a man well-known and respected in the community in which he lived. The names of his seven children were: William, Rebecca, Alice, Hannah, Margaret, Elizabeth, and Edward. William Hunter, the grandfather of Bishop Hunter, lived at Easttown, Chester County, Pa. His wife's name was Hannah, a daughter of Edward Woodward. They had two sons, William and Edward, and were considered a family of excellent character and standing, being also well-to-do, and living on a large property bought of the Daniel Williamson estate. Captain John Hunter, the Bishop's great-grandfather, passed over to Ireland in the seventeenth century, serving as lieutenant of cavalry under William of Orange at the battle of The Boyne, where he was wounded. His ancestors were from the North of England, while his mother was of Welsh extraction. The originator of the Hunter family name is supposed to have been "William the Hunter," from whom doubtless came the Hunter lamilies of Medomsley, England, whose ancestors appear in the

610 IMPROVEMENT ERA.

earliest court-rolls of theManor House, called Medomsley Hall, near Newcastle-on-Tyne. The Manor comprised two thousand acres of ground, kept as a country seat, and is still remaining in good condition. The Hunters were prominent in early days of Quaker persecution. Many prominent names of the family are recorded in the Medomsley Church: Sir Thomas, Sir John, Sir Wil- liam, and General Martin Hunter, and a long li3t of others. Captain John Hunter and his wife Margaret Albin emigrated to America, purchasing a large tract of land about thirty miles west, of Philadelphia. He afterwards bought land in Newton, Del- aware County, Pa., about twelve miles west of Philadelphia, where he spent the remainder of his days. He died in 1734, at the age of 70 years, being buried at St. Davis Episcopal Church, of which he was a member. He and General Wayne's father were the principal builders of said church, and were great friends, having come to America together from Ireland. The descendants of Cap- tain John Hunter still possess a wedding-ring, and a holster and pistol used at the battle of The Boyne. Upon the wedding-ring is the following "Keep this in remembrance of me, inscription: 1693." When Captain Hunter came to America from Londonderry, Ireland, he brought with him several families of redemptionists who were bound to him until they should earn their freedom by certain years of personal labor in his employ. Going back over his career in Ireland, it may be mentioned that he was an extensive grazier. His reason for leaving England, his native country, and passing over to Ireland was that he was a strong churchman and had made himself offensive to the opposi- tion, which finally caused him to seek a new home. When William and Mary were called to the throne of England, and with their armies followed the fugitive forces of James II to Ireland, Captain John Hunter entered the Protestant army, in which he fought side by side with Anthony Wayne at the battle of The Boyne. He was wounded in the hip with a musket-ball which caused a slight lame- ness during the remainder of his life. William Hill, who had married the oldest child, Mary, of Cap- tain John Hunter, emigrated toAmerica and settled in Pennsyl- vania; and, as stated, Captain Hunter followed his son-in-law to America, and settled in Chester County, Pa., where he purchased a

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large tract of land, some twenty-five miles west of Philadelphia, but it being so far in the backwoods, his wife refused to live there, and he therefore purchased a thousand acres of land of the Daniel Williamson estate, of which he took title March 17, 1723. Bishop Edward Hunter's mother's maiden name was Hannah Merris, a daughter of Jesse and Rebecca Merris. The original George Merris emigrated from Inksborough, in the county of Wor- chester, England, and located on a tract of land in Springfield, Chester County, Pa., now Delaware County, Pa., which he named the Home House. He was among the most eminent of the first settlers, and was likewise so esteemed in his native country. His certificate recorded at Derby, states, "He hath adorned the gospel of Christ." He held many public trusts, being Justice of the Peace, one of the Judges of the Court, and also a member of the Provin- cial Assembly. He died on the 15th of November, 1705, at the age of about seventy-three years. On Bishop Hunter's mother's side, three generations back, was Robert Owen of North Wales, a man of great means and excellent character, and a firm sympathizer with Cromwell and the Protec- torate. On the restoration of Charles II, he refused to take the oath of allegiance and was therefore imprisoned for a period of five years. After his release from prison, he emigrated to America and purchased land near Philadelphia, the City of brotherly love,whose founder, William Penn, like himself, was a Quaker. His son George, early in life, was called to the public service, being elected to the Provincial Assembly of his native state, and held many offices of public trust. (To be continued.)