125940: James Hunter, Reverend

James Hunter (1817-1882) was born in Barnstaple, England. He worked as a schoolmaster before entering the Church Missionary Society College in Islington, London to train for the ministry. He was ordained in 1844 and sailed with his wife, Ann Unknown on 1 June in a Hudson’s Bay Company ship. On 13 August they reached York Factory, Manitoba and on 26 September, having travelled by York boat, they arrived at Cumberland Station, the new Indian mission at The Pas, on the Saskatchewan River, Manitoba. The missionaries spent an uncomfortable winter because a careless boatman had lost part of their stove en route. Even before he had acquired a proper knowledge of Cree, Hunter began translating religious literature. He advocated Roman characters rather than the syllabic script developed for the Cree in 1840 by the Reverend James Evans.

James was widowed and married Jane Ross, Norway House, Manitoba. The couple had six children only four of whom survived. He and Jane continued the the translation for the Cree.

In the summer of 1865 the Hunters returned to England. He continued to work for the Church Missionary Society until 1867 when he accepted the important charge of vicar of St Matthew’s Church, Bayswater, London, which he retained until his death. So popular was he as a preacher that a new church had to be built to accommodate the worshippers

The tombstone of James and Jane Hunter in Highgate Cemetery, London, bears this tribute: “By their joint labours they gave the Bible and the Prayer Book in their native tongue to the Cree Indians of Northwest America.”