Suspected of duplicity for his accommodation to the Hessians, Hunt was charged with treason, but was acquitted and went on to serve in the cause for American independence.

[1] Hunt became a wealthy land owner and the principal merchant in Trenton who conducted a successful business in general merchandise from a shop connected with his home on the corner of King and Second Streets.

Hunt was also among the men from Hunterdon County and Trenton who played an active role in the preliminary agitation and also served on the first General Committee of Correspondence appointed by the Provincial Assembly, July 21, 1774.

[11] A meeting of Hunterdon county residents was held on July 8, 1774, at the house of John Ringo in Amwell, with Samuel Tucker as chairman.

Tucker expressed his loyalty to King George III, but nevertheless protested against infringement on colonial rights, and appointed Hunt and several others to a committee for the purpose of uniting with the other counties in choosing delegates to Congress.

[12] By the time Hunt had joined the American Revolutionary War, he had already established himself with the rebels, serving on the local Committee of Correspondence.

In an apparent effort to render the commander less than capable for military duty Hunt supplied Rall and his officers with plenty of food and drink into the late hours of the night.

[18] The Patriots were especially suspicious because the Colonel Rall of the Hessians had made use of his lavish and abundant provisions during the war, especially just before the Battle of Trenton.

[20] On Christmas night a heavy snowfall led Hessian commander Colonel Johann Rall to further assume that no Patriot attack of any consequence would occur.

[22][23][24][25] Late in the evening, a Loyalist farmer came calling at Hunt's house for Colonel Rall who was still celebrating and preoccupied with drink and playing cards.

Upon receiving the note, Rall slipped it into his vest pocket without reading it and continued with his drinking and card game.

[26][27] Early in the morning the next day, under cover of darkness and heavy snowfall, General George Washington, along with General Henry Knox had crossed the icy Delaware River with troops, horses and cannon, organized their forces and began marching toward Trenton, where commander Rall and his Hessians mercenaries were still held up at Hunt's residence.

During the evening, as Rall and others were still drinking and playing cards, by morning Washington and his troops launched a two-pronged surprise attack.

[5][19] After a touch and go battle the Hessians finally scattered, were outmaneuvered, and were defeated by Washington's forces, where many of them were captured and taken prisoner.

[15] In a letter of July 20, 1789, Washington, under the advice of Colonel Thomas Lowrey, wrote to Hunt inquiring about any horses that he might purchase from him.