John Dunn Hunter (ca. 1796–1827), author and adventurer, claimed to be ignorant of his parentage, supposedly having been captured by members of the Kickapoo nation when quite young and living among them until his escape in 1816. He thought that at the point of his departure he had been about nineteen or twenty years of age. Hunter wandered thereafter through the West and South, attaching himself to various expeditions and settlements as he traveled. Among these groups, he learned English, became literate, and was introduced to Christianity. Hunter took the name John Dunn from a man of that name in Missouri whom he regarded as particularly helpful. His surname alluded to the hunting skills he acquired from his captors, who also taught him Native American medicinal practices. Hunter obtained his formal education in Mississippi and Kentucky. He said that he supported himself as a fur trader until he ventured east in the autumn of 1821. A year after he met TJ at Monticello, Hunter published his memoir entitled Manners and Customs of Several Indian Tribes located west of the Mississippi; including some account of the soil, climate, and vegetable productions, and the Indian materia medica: to which is prefixed the history of the author’s life during a residence of several years among them (Philadelphia, 1823; Poor, Jefferson’s Library description begins Nathaniel P. Poor, Catalogue. President Jefferson’s Library, 1829 description ends , 7 [no. 342]). He next traveled to England, where he republished his work with additional material under the title of Memoirs of a Captivity among the Indians of North America, from childhood to the age of nineteen (London, 1823). In 1824 Hunter returned to the United States, and by the following year he was in Texas, where he joined a movement in Nacogdoches to establish Fredonia, a free republic of Indians and white settlers. He was killed in the aftermath of the effort’s failure. Even during his lifetime Hunter was called an impostor, with his life story and motives both called into question (Hunter, Manners and Customs, esp., iv, 12, 109, 114–5, 132, 136, 142; Richard Drinnon, White Savage: The Case of John Dunn Hunter [1972], esp., 5–6, 221–2; North American Review 50 [new ser., 25] [1826]: 94–108; Andy Doolen, “Claiming Indigenous Space: John Dunn Hunter and the Fredonian Rebellion,” Early American Literature 53 [2018]: 685–712; Charleston City Gazette and Commercial Daily Advertiser, 12 May 1827).

On 22 Oct. 1822 TJ paid Hunter $3 to subscribe to his book, Manners and Customs (MB description begins James A. Bear Jr. and Lucia C. Stanton, eds., Jefferson’s Memorandum Books: Accounts, with Legal Records and Miscellany, 1767–1826, 1997, The Papers of Thomas Jefferson, Second Series description ends , 2:1390). Hunter visited James Madison at Montpellier late in November 1822, and they corresponded two years later regarding Hunter’s gift to Madison of a copy of the same work. Hunter visited TJ at Monticello again in the summer or autumn of 1824, when he described his “venerable old friend, in good Health and now, at the advanced age of 82, capable of riding on Horseback with astonishing activity. I think his appearance is more healthy than when I saw him last” (Madison, Papers description begins William T. Hutchinson, Robert A. Rutland, John C. A. Stagg, and others, eds., The Papers of James Madison, 1962– , 43 vols.: Congress. Ser., 17 vols.: Pres. Ser., 11 vols.: Retirement Ser., 3 vols.: Sec. of State Ser., 12 vols. description ends , Retirement Ser., 2:xxxiv, 3:416–7, 419, 685–6n; Hunter to William Philips, Philadelphia, 29 Oct. 1824 [RC in ViU]; Drinnon, White Savage, 156; Elias Norgate, Mr. John Dunn Hunter Defended [London, 1826], 33).

A missing letter from Martin dawson to TJ of 9 Nov. 1822 is recorded in SJL as received two days later from Milton. TJ mistakenly listed it in the column for letters written.

At some point, probably around 15 Nov. 1822, when he presented a copy to Madison, Edwin C. Holland sent TJ his work entitled A Refutation of The Calumnies circulated against The Southern & Western States, respecting the institution and existence of Slavery among them, to which is added, a minute and particular account of the actual state and condition of their Negro Population. together with Historical Notices of All the Insurrections that have taken place since the settlement of the country (Charleston, 1822; TJ’s copy in DLC, inscribed “The Honble Thos: Jefferson. from his obdt Sevt The Author,” with handwritten signature of “Edwin C. Holland” beneath printed attribution of the work only to “A South-Carolinian”) (Madison, Papers description begins William T. Hutchinson, Robert A. Rutland, John C. A. Stagg, and others, eds., The Papers of James Madison, 1962– , 43 vols.: Congress. Ser., 17 vols.: Pres. Ser., 11 vols.: Retirement Ser., 3 vols.: Sec. of State Ser., 12 vols. description ends , Retirement Ser., 2:602, 608).