Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1833-1938 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
2 boxes
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Born, 1812; educated in a parish school; farm labourer from c1822; became a Methodist, c1828; studied in his spare time and became a preacher at Swinderby and Potter Hanworth, Lincolnshire; went to study at the Wesleyan Theological Institution, Hoxton, 1835; was ordained and married Hannah Summers (b 1812), 1838; Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society missionary to Fiji, 1838-1848; worked in Rewa, Somosomo, Lakemba, and Viwa (Vewa), travelling to visit various mission stations on the Fijian islands; worked on the translation of the Bible, completing the New Testament and beginning the Old Testament; knowledgeable about Fijian culture; his evangelistic work was successful and he was instrumental in the conversion of the warrior Varani, 1845; died of dysentery, 1848; buried at Viwa; survived by his wife and children, including their eldest daughter, Eliza-Ann, and their second daughter, Hannah, who married Lewis Richings. Publications: Memoir of the Rev W Cross ... missionary to the Friendly and Feejee Islands; with a short notice of the early history of the Missions (1846); Entire Sanctification (1853); the Fijian New Testament, published as Ai Vola ni Veiyalayalati Vou ni noda turaga kei na nodai vakabula ko Jisu Kraisiti (1853), was largely his work, and the whole Bible was published as Ai Vola Tabu, a ya e tu kina na Veiyalayalati Makawa, kei na Veiyalayalati Vou (1858-1864).
Archival history
The papers were deposited with the Methodist Missionary Society and form part of the special series of biographical papers of individual missionaries.
GB 0102 MMS/Special Series/Biographical/South Seas/FBN 36-37 (Boxes 649-650) 1833-1938 Collection (fonds) 2 boxes Hunt , John , 1812-1848 , missionary
Born, 1812; educated in a parish school; farm labourer from c1822; became a Methodist, c1828; studied in his spare time and became a preacher at Swinderby and Potter Hanworth, Lincolnshire; went to study at the Wesleyan Theological Institution, Hoxton, 1835; was ordained and married Hannah Summers (b 1812), 1838; Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society missionary to Fiji, 1838-1848; worked in Rewa, Somosomo, Lakemba, and Viwa (Vewa), travelling to visit various mission stations on the Fijian islands; worked on the translation of the Bible, completing the New Testament and beginning the Old Testament; knowledgeable about Fijian culture; his evangelistic work was successful and he was instrumental in the conversion of the warrior Varani, 1845; died of dysentery, 1848; buried at Viwa; survived by his wife and children, including their eldest daughter, Eliza-Ann, and their second daughter, Hannah, who married Lewis Richings. Publications: Memoir of the Rev W Cross ... missionary to the Friendly and Feejee Islands; with a short notice of the early history of the Missions (1846); Entire Sanctification (1853); the Fijian New Testament, published as Ai Vola ni Veiyalayalati Vou ni noda turaga kei na nodai vakabula ko Jisu Kraisiti (1853), was largely his work, and the whole Bible was published as Ai Vola Tabu, a ya e tu kina na Veiyalayalati Makawa, kei na Veiyalayalati Vou (1858-1864).
The papers were deposited with the Methodist Missionary Society and form part of the special series of biographical papers of individual missionaries.
Deposited on permanent loan with the records of the Methodist Missionary Society from 1978.
Papers, 1833-1938, of and relating to John Hunt and his family, comprising correspondence, 1833-1868, of John and Hannah Hunt, the correspondents mainly family members but including some other missionaries; 'scrapbook' kept at the Wesleyan Theological Institution, Hoxton, commencing 1835, containing entries by Hunt on religious subjects; certificates, 1838, of ordination and oath of allegiance; Hunt's journals, 1838-1848, including the journey to Fiji and life and work there, one volume including an autobiographical account of his early life and religious experiences; Hunt's sermon notes and religious writings, largely undated [1830s-1840s], including a volume presented to R B Lyth, 1842; poems by Hunt, including some Fijian verses, undated; Hunt's manuscript memoir of the Rev William Cross [1843-1844]; pen believed to have belonged to John Hunt; photographic copies of a portrait of Hunt; the first Tongan Bible [published in 1839], with an inscription regarding its provenance, 1842; printed letter by James Calvert on Hunt's death, 1848; biographical account of Hunt [by R B Lyth] [after 1848]; notebook [of Hannah Hunt], some entries inscribed E A Hunt and dated 1860, including notes on Lincolnshire and other English localities, the Scriptures, poetry, Shakespeare, and history; notebook of poems from Elsie and Hannah Hunt to their mother [Hannah Hunt], 1875; photograph [of Hannah Hunt]; miscellaneous papers of Hannah Hunt Richings, 1864-1881, including photographs of her and her husband Lewis, undated; notebook of Eliza-Ann Hunt, containing diary entries, 1874-1888, and other entries including poetry and stories; papers, 1920-1938, including letters, press cuttings, and notes, relating to John Hunt, his work in Fiji, and his Lincolnshire connections.
Unrestricted, but only to be viewed on microfiche.
No publication without written permission. Apply to archivist in the first instance.
English, Fijian and Tongan
Unpublished handlist.
Published on microfiche by IDC Publishers. Microfilm in the Mitchell Library, Sydney, Australia.
The School of Oriental and African Studies holds the records of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society (Ref: MMS/WMMS), including a letter from J Hunt and R Lyth in Vewa, 1844 (Ref: MMS/WMMS Australasia Correspondence Fiji).
Manchester University, Methodist Archives and Research Centre, holds Hunt's memoranda book and diary, 1836-1837. The National Library of New Zealand, Alexander Turnbull Library, holds seven volumes of Hunt's journal and sermons, 1841-1848.
Compiled by Rachel Kemsley as part of the RSLP AIM25 project. Sources: Dictionary of National Biography; Biographical Dictionary of Christian Missions, ed Gerald H Anderson (1998); Alphabetical Arrangement of Wesleyan Methodist Ministers (1847); Wesleyan Methodist Church Minutes of Conference (1849), pp 180-1; National Register of Archives; British Library OPAC. Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997. Mar 2002 Age distribution Age groups Childhood Religious institutions Religious movements National cultures Oceanic cultures Religion Religious experience Religious belief Ordained missionaries Vocational education Missionary training Christians Protestants Protestant nonconformists Methodists Social scientists Nonfiction Linguists Diaries Manuscripts Commonplace books Children of missionaries Bibles Religions Ancient religions Christianity Protestantism Protestant nonconformity Methodism Theology Religious doctrines Religious texts Sermons Information sources Documents Primary documents Clergy Visual materials Photographs Prose Autobiographies Press Newspaper press Press cuttings Travel Travel abroad Poetry Wives of missionaries Religious groups Missionaries Evangelistic missionaries Religious activities Missionary work Evangelistic missionary work Literature Literary forms and genres Fiction History Calvert , James , 1813-1892 , missionary Cross , William , d 1842 , missionary Hunt , Eliza-Ann , fl 1860-1888 Hunt , Elsie , fl 1875 Hunt , family , of Lincolnshire and Fiji Hunt , Hannah , b 1812 , née Summers , wife of the missionary John Hunt x Summers , Hannah Hunt , John , 1812-1848 , missionary Lyth , Richard Burdsall , 1810-1887 , missionary Richings , Hannah , fl 1864-1881 , née Hunt x Hunt , Hannah Richings , Lewis , fl c 1864 Shakespeare , William , 1564-1616 , dramatist, poet and actor Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society Wesleyan Theological Institution , Hoxton, London Lincolnshire England UK Western Europe Europe Hoxton Hackney London Fiji Oceania Asia and the Pacific Nonconformists Nonconformity
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Deposited on permanent loan with the records of the Methodist Missionary Society from 1978.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Papers, 1833-1938, of and relating to John Hunt and his family, comprising correspondence, 1833-1868, of John and Hannah Hunt, the correspondents mainly family members but including some other missionaries; 'scrapbook' kept at the Wesleyan Theological Institution, Hoxton, commencing 1835, containing entries by Hunt on religious subjects; certificates, 1838, of ordination and oath of allegiance; Hunt's journals, 1838-1848, including the journey to Fiji and life and work there, one volume including an autobiographical account of his early life and religious experiences; Hunt's sermon notes and religious writings, largely undated [1830s-1840s], including a volume presented to R B Lyth, 1842; poems by Hunt, including some Fijian verses, undated; Hunt's manuscript memoir of the Rev William Cross [1843-1844]; pen believed to have belonged to John Hunt; photographic copies of a portrait of Hunt; the first Tongan Bible [published in 1839], with an inscription regarding its provenance, 1842; printed letter by James Calvert on Hunt's death, 1848; biographical account of Hunt [by R B Lyth] [after 1848]; notebook [of Hannah Hunt], some entries inscribed E A Hunt and dated 1860, including notes on Lincolnshire and other English localities, the Scriptures, poetry, Shakespeare, and history; notebook of poems from Elsie and Hannah Hunt to their mother [Hannah Hunt], 1875; photograph [of Hannah Hunt]; miscellaneous papers of Hannah Hunt Richings, 1864-1881, including photographs of her and her husband Lewis, undated; notebook of Eliza-Ann Hunt, containing diary entries, 1874-1888, and other entries including poetry and stories; papers, 1920-1938, including letters, press cuttings, and notes, relating to John Hunt, his work in Fiji, and his Lincolnshire connections.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Unrestricted, but only to be viewed on microfiche.
Conditions governing reproduction
No publication without written permission. Apply to archivist in the first instance.
Language of material
- English
Script of material
- Latin
Language and script notes
English, Fijian and Tongan
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
The School of Oriental and African Studies holds the records of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society (Ref: MMS/WMMS), including a letter from J Hunt and R Lyth in Vewa, 1844 (Ref: MMS/WMMS Australasia Correspondence Fiji).
Finding aids
Unpublished handlist.
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Published on microfiche by IDC Publishers. Microfilm in the Mitchell Library, Sydney, Australia.
Related units of description
Manchester University, Methodist Archives and Research Centre, holds Hunt's memoranda book and diary, 1836-1837. The National Library of New Zealand, Alexander Turnbull Library, holds seven volumes of Hunt's journal and sermons, 1841-1848.
Publication note
Notes area
Note
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Subject access points
- Age distribution
- Age distribution » Age groups
- Age distribution » Age groups » Childhood
- Religious institutions
- Religious institutions » Religious movements
- National cultures
- National cultures » Oceanic cultures
- Religion
- Religion » Religious experience
- Theology » Religious belief
- Vocational education
- Religious groups » Christians
- Social scientists
- Social scientists » Linguists
- Documents » Manuscripts
- Religions
- Religions » Ancient religions
- Religions » Ancient religions » Christianity
- Religions » Ancient religions » Christianity » Protestantism
- Theology
- Theology » Religious doctrines
- Information sources
- Documents
- Documents » Primary documents
- Religious groups » Clergy
- Visual materials
- Visual materials » Photographs
- Literary forms and genres » Prose
- Press
- Press » Newspaper press
- Press » Newspaper press » Press cuttings
- Travel
- Travel » Travel abroad
- Literary forms and genres » Poetry
- Religious groups
- Religious activities
- Religious activities » Missionary work
- Literature
- Literary forms and genres
- Literary forms and genres » Fiction
- History
Place access points
Name access points
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation revision deletion
Language(s)
- English