Last updated: September 22, 2021
Person
Willis Hunt
Quick Facts
Significance:
Mississippi Homesteader
Place of Birth:
Mississippi
Date of Birth:
1855
Homestead #10889 Application Number 22566 Issue Date: 10/31/1896
In 1855 Willis Hunt was born enslaved in Mississippi. He filed for a homestead claim (now located in the Homochitto National Forest) at the age of 35 for 153.65 acres and paid a $14.00 filing fee.
He and his family began living on the land on October 18, 1890, which included his wife Amy Reed-Hunt and seven children - Dora, Edward, Zurilla, Ola, Hada, John, and Willis Jr.
Willis Hunt built one dwelling place, a corn crib, a cotton house, and a stable. Hunt also fenced and cultivated 35 acres that he valued at $150.
On October 28, 1895, Willis stated that he would bring at least two witness to verify his claim to the Meadville Courthouse on December 17, 1895. He stated that his witnesses would be Henry Hunt, Bunyan Dunn, Winston Jackson, and Richard Pickett, all of Whiteapple, Mississippi. However, only Hunt and Dunn testified, and it was approved. (Henry “H.F.M.” Hunt was a former Confederate soldier during the Civil War and the father-in-law of Dunn).
On July 10, 1896, Willis paid ninety cents for his witness statements at the rate of fifteen cents per 100 words (600).
Hunt's Notice for Publication was dated October 29, 1895, at the Land office at Jackson, Mississippi, which stated: Notice is hereby given that the following-named settler has filed notice of his intention to make final proof in support of his claim, and that said proof will be made before the Chancery Clerk of Franklin County at Meadville Miss on December 17, 1895.
After paying five dollars for the notice and fifty cents for the proof, it was printed in the Franklin Advocate newspaper in Meadville, Mississippi, on November 7, 14, 21, 28, and December 5, 12, 1895. Willis Hunt was issued his land patent on October 31, 1896.
~ Contributed by Denise Griggs
About Denise Griggs
Denise I. Griggs is a homestead descendant of America Hunt-Harrell (Harrold) and volunteer for the National Park Service. Denise founded the African American Genealogy Society of Sacramento, CA (AAGSSC), and has served as the Exhibit Chair of the Greater Sacramento African American Genealogy Society’s board.
Denise’s maternal genealogy research led her to Hunt ancestors from the United States to County Tipperary, Ireland, 8th century England and the House of de Vere. Denise is the founder and owner of Glass Tree Books and Blue Eclipse Publishing. As an author, she has written several books for children and young adults on Diversity, Genealogy, and Theology.
Denise attended Oral Roberts University and received an undergraduate degree in Christian Education, magna cum laude, and a graduate degree, with Honors, in Education. Denise and her identical twin sister are lifelong Californians. Their 40-year genealogy research focus is Southwest Mississippi and Arkansas.