Abijah Hunt was a native of New Jersey, settled in the Mississippi Territory before 1800 to enter the mercantile business, and was killed on June 8, 1811, by George Poindexter. His nephew and successor, David Hunt, carried on business operations at Natchez, Port Gibson, Huntston (Greenville), Rodney and Coles Creek.

The collection includes six letters written by Abijah Hunt, seven by David Hunt, two by William R. Thurston, six by Elijah Smith, two by Josiah F. Smith, one by J. Dunbar, one by John Chamberlain, one by Thomas B. Reed, and letters of Andrew, Charles A., H. S., Jesse, John W., and S. T. Hunt. Also included are three receipts printed (unrecorded Mississippi imprints) before 1810 of Abijah Hunt's Coles Creek Gin, October 22, 1810–January 3, 1811; and a photostat of the marriage license of David Hunt and Mary Calvitt, December 17, 1808. One item, containing 21 pages and dated May 1, 1811, is entitled "Inventory of Notes due the late Firm of Hunt & Smith, Gibson Port."

The papers are distributed by date as follows:

• n.d., 6 pieces
• 1798–1799, 3 pieces
• 1800–1809; 36 pieces
• 1810–1819; 20 pieces
• 1820–1829, 16 pieces
• 1830–1839, 12 pieces
• 1840, 1 piece

A portion of this collection is available on microfilm. (MF Roll # 36004)