Abbotshill

Hunter of Abbotshill and Barjarg   Abbotshill (Ayrshire).               With  the exception of a few of the farm buildings, nothing now remains of the old house at Abbotshill, once a seat of the Hunter family.

The lands of Abbotshill, situated about four miles south of the town of Ayr, originally formed a part of the possessions of Crossraguel Abbey, in Ayrshire.  They were acquired by James Hunter from Alan Stewart, Abbot of Crossraguel, by a charter dated May 9, I569.

The last of the family to reside here was the Rev.  Andrew Hunter, D.D., who sold the property in 1772, and purchased Barjarg Tower in Dumfriesshire.

Barjarg is an old Border tower, or keep, near the banks of the river Nith, in the parish of Keir, about three miles from Auldgirth.  It formerly belonged to the Earl of Morton, from whom it was acquired by Thomas Grierson, under date April 27, I587, and confirmed by King JamesVI., August 1,  I589, and among other lands that of Parkjarg (Barjarg) in the lordship of Keir.

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  He married Helen Crichton, and had three sons.  This Thomas Grierson was alive in 1630.  Towards the end of the seventeenth century one of the Griersons was married to Charles Erskine, afterwards.  Lord justice Clerk, and he purchased the estate of Tinwald, and on his appointment as a Lord of Session, in I742, he assumed the title of Lord Tinwald.  He planted many of the trees now at Barjarg, and notably a fine silver fir at the back of the house, which came from Tinwald in I731. In 1836 this tree was 91 feet in height, but has not apparently increased much since.  Not far from the house the finest oak in Dumfriesshire is to be found.  On the death of his father-in-law, Lord Tinwald succeeded to the estate of Barjarg, and took up his residence there.  He was the third son of Sir Charles Erskine, of Alva, fourth son of John, eighth Earl of Mar.  In I748 he purchased his paternal estate of Alva, and died April 5, 1763.  His only surviving son, James Erskine, succeeded to the estate of Barjarg, and which he sold to the Rev.  Andrew Hunter, D.D., of Abbotshill, Ayrshire, in 1772  On Mr. Erskine being appointed a Lord of Session in 1761 he took the title of Lord Barjarg, which he afterwards changed to Alva.  He died in I796.  
Above a doorway in front of the house is carved on a stone, removed, however, from its original position, the following: 

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16 : J.G. : G.K.
80

  This refers to John Grierson and his wife, Grizel Kirkpatrick, daughter of Kirkpatrick of Closeburn.  They built an addition to the tower at that date.

In the garden is a sundial bearing the following inscription:

 The Rev Mr. Andrew Hunter
of Barjarg, his Dial
1777

A picture of Barjarg Tower, drawn by J. P. Neale and engraved by T. Jeavons, in 1824, is given in Neale's "View of the Seats of Noblemen and Gentlemen."      

ARMORIAL BEARINGS.
   1.     Matriculated at the Lyon Office, Edinburgh, c. 1685, by John Hunter, fifth of Abbotshill:  

Arms
Crest:     A greyhound in full course argent, collared or.
      Motto: Expedite.   

2.       Matriculated at the Lyon Office, Edinburgh, December 31,. 1824, by William Francis Hunter, second of Barjarg:

Arnu:   Vert, three collars, two, and one, or, on a chief indented argent as

Crest : A stag's head erased proper.

  3.         Granted at the College of Arms, London, March 15, 1825, to William Francis Hunter-Arundell, second of Barjarg, and his wife:  

Arms.- Quarterly, first and fourth, Ariindell, sable, six swallows, three, two, and one argent  (a crescent for difference), and (for distinction) a canton or.  Second and third, Hunter (as shown above, NO. 2).

Crests:     Arundell, a wolf passant argent differenced as in the arms, and

Hunter, a stag's head erased proper.

Motto:    Vigilaritia robur voluptas

    Hunter of Abbotshill and Barjarg Lineage  

James Hunter acquired the lands of Abbotshill, in the parish of Ayr, from Alan Stewart, Abbot of Crossraguel,* by a charter dated May 9, I569 (witnesses: John Cunningham in Little Clingan, John Hunter in Corton, and Thomas Ferrie in Riddingrood).He was also lessee in Little Cortoun, Barony of Alloway.He was father, by Janet Neil his wife, of a son and heir-

  *He was the Abbot who was roasted by the Earl of Cassillis in the black vault of Dunure.  This proceeding took place on the 1st and 7th days of September, 1570, the object of the Earl being to obtain possession of the Abbey and its living,. -Paterson

     II. James Hunter, of Abbotshill, etc., who got a new charter of Abbotshill, dated November, I593.  He was also possessed of Riddingrood by sasine, dated November, I593.  He married a daughter of Robert Campbell of Craigdow and Riddingrood.  Their son was-
     

III.  James Hunter, of Abbotshill, etc.  He obtained his charter to the lands of Riddingrood, May 24, 1610, by the hands of James Mason, Town Clerk of Ayr; of Abbotshill, on August 17, 1611; and sasine thereon, September 14, 1611  (witnessed by William Hunter in Bloomsberry-Yards, and William, his son, also by John Hunter in Moat, -and David and Allan, his sons); and of the lands of Little Cortoun in 1612, according to the Rental Book of the Barony of Alloway.  He died in 1617, and was succeeded by his son

IV.  James Hunter, of Abbotshill, etc.  One of his charters is dated 1618.  He obtained his eldest son's consent to settle Abbotshill, Riddingrood, etc., upon his second son, John, on his marriage in 1658.  By the death of William Hunter's, of Bloomsberry-Yards, sons without issue, these mailings were granted to him, in 1664, by the Guid town of Ayr, and to his sons.  He had also Little Cortoun and Dogland.  William Hunter in Bloomsberry-Yards was witness to the Charter of Riddingrood. (The witnesses to this disposition of James, the father, and resignation of James, the eldest son, to John, the second son, on his marriage were David Rowan, merchant and burgess in Ayr, and Rice Greym, messenger and burgess of Ayr, Robert Campbell, merchant, and William Wilson, tailor, there.  The same being written by James Hunter the Younger, and signed by him as agreeing to the same.)

Mr. James Hunter, senior, married Janet Campbell, and had issue-

 1.     James, who consented to the disposition of the property as already stated.

He married Elizabeth Campbell, and had 

        (i)    James, born October 12, 1687
        (ii) Alexander, born March 28, 1690. 
        (iii) Robert, born March 12, 1695. Was Minister of Kirkconnel (1747 - 1770). He
                 married, firstly, Elizabeth (died December 24,.1775), daughter of the Rev. Peter
                 Rae, Minister of Kirkconnel (1732 - 1747), and, secondly, Marion Bell, who died
                 without issue. By his first wife he had a daughter, Elizabeth (born 1743, died 
                 December 6, 1825), who married the Rev. James Young (born 1710, died August,
                 1795), Minister of New Cumnock, and had issue. The Rev. Robert Hunter died 
                 May 9, 1770, and he and his first wife are both buried in Kirkconnel Churchyard.

2. John, of Abbotshill, etc., of whom presently. 

3. Adam, of Abbotshill, etc., of whom presently. 
  
4. Robert, of Dogland, M.P. for Ayr 1685-1686. (Ancestor of the Hunters of Auchterarder, and of Thurston, which see,) 

5 William, of Bynberry-Yards, who obtained a charter in 1675, and is recorded in the Borough Records of Ayr between 1668 and 1678. He married, in 1667 (contract dated June 28, 1667), Anna, daughter of John Adamson, of Woodlands, and died 1708, leaving

        1. James, who married Margaret Lauchlan. 
        2. John. 
  
The elder son, James, had issue: 
  
        i. John, who married Jane Berry and had two sons James and John. The former
            married and had a daughter; the latter enlisted in the army, and became a sergeant
            in the Scots Greys. 

        ii. Agnes, born September18, 1714-

        iii.  Marion, born July 22, 1719-

        iv. Anna, born October 17, 1722. 

        v. Margaret, born July 10, 1726. 


'Mr. James Hunter, on his death, was succeeded by his second son

  
    V. John Hunter, of Abbotshill, etc. He married, in 1658 (contract dated February 17, 1658), Agnes, daughter of Alexander Adam of Glentaig. He matriculated his armorial bearings at the Lyon Office, Edinburgh, c. 1685, as a cadet of the Hunterstoun family. Dying without issue, he was succeeded by his brother-

     VI. Adam Hunter, of Abbotshill, etc., who married, firstly,.Marion, daughter of Thomas Blair, of Balthyock, in the Carse of Gowrie, Perthshire, and had- 

 
        1. James, of whom presently. 
        2. Adam, born February 27, 1675 
        3. John, born May 26, 1682 
        4. Janet, born July 26, 1671
        5. Marion, born January 27, 1674 
        6. Grizel, born July 16, 1677 
        7. Agnes, born November 2, 1678 
        8. Janet (second of name),, born December 24, 1679 
        9. Agnes (second of name), born February 13, 1681 

 
He married, secondly, in 1683 (contract dated October 30, 1683), Janet, 
daughter of Wallace of Mainholm and Woodhead, by whom he had- 

 
        1. Hugh, born April 1, 1686. 
        2. Hugh (second of name), born June 26, 1692. 
        3. Robert, born December 17, 1694 
        4. William, of Mainholm and Millquarter, born 16, who married Elizabeth Coltron,
             and had issue-  

                1. Thomas, born May 23, 1716. 
                2. Agnes, born February 17, 17I4 


        5 Anna, born April 28, 1688. 
        6. Margaret, born April 12, 1690
        7 Janet, born May 15, 1700 
        8. Jane, born May 14, 1713 

  
Mr. Adam Hunter was succeeded by the eldest son of his first marriage- 

      VII. James Hunter, of Abbotshill, etc. He purchased Dogland from his uncle, 
Robert. Born August 5, 1672. Became a Writer in Ayr. He married, on October 
25, 1694, Janet, daughter of John Fergusson, of the family of Craigdarroch, in 
Dumfriesshire, by Janet Cochran, his wife, and had issue- 


        1 Andrew, of whom presently.   
        2. Adam, born January 22, 1697, died January I3, 1736, s.p. 
        3. John, born August 11 1702 (Ancestor of the Hunter-Blairs, of Blairquhan, which
             see.)   
        4. Thomas, born February 19, 1704, died July 12, 1723.   
        5. James, born February 23, 1708, died November 17, 1722-
        6. Agnes, born September 29, 1698, died June 13, 1702. 
         7. Janet, born at Ayr September 22, 1699, who married at Ayr, on September 9, 1726,
              her cousin James Hunter, Provost of Ayr 1736-1738 and 1740-1742, grandson of 
              Robert Hunter, of Dogland, M.P. for Ayrshire. She died in 1746, and was buried at
               Ayr, leaving issue (see P- 30)- 
        8. Anne, born December 3, 1706, married Patrick Ballantyne, and had issue. 
        9. Rachael, born January 15, 1710, died June 19, 1710- 
        10. Agnes (second of name), born June 13, 1711, married July 27, 1747, to Robert
                Hunter, of Thurston, in East Lothian. who, predeceasing her in 1761, left her the
                disposal of his estate, which at her death she bequeathed to Robert Hunter, 
                second son of her sister Janet. Mrs. Agnes Hunter died in 1784- 
        11. Elizabeth, born July 13, 1713, died May 27, 1729. 
        12. Margaret, born September 21, 1714- 

  
Mr. James Hunter, of Abbotshill, died November 1, 1739, and was succeeded by his son- 

    VIII. Andrew Hunter, of Abbotshill, etc. Born August 13, 1695. Became a Writer to the Signet. He married in 1734 (contract dated October 10, 1734) Grizel, daughter of Colonel William Maxwell, of Cardoness, Kirkcudbrightshire, by whom he had- 
 
        1. Nicholas, born January 25, 1736. 
        2. James, born September 6, '1737- 
        3. William, born December 7, 1739- 
        4. Andrew, of Abbotshill and Barjarg (of whom presently). 
        5. John (ancestor of the Hunters of Bonnytoun and Doonholm, which see). 
        6. Janet, married to Robert Aiken. 
        7. Henrietta, married to Alexander Copland, M.D., son of Alexander Copland, of
             Collieston and Blackwood. 
        8. Grizel, married to her cousin, Colonel Christopher Maxwell, 30th Regiment,
              brother of Sir David Maxwell, of Cardoness. She was blind for some years before
              her death, which was caused by her clothes catching fire as she sat by the hearth. 
        9. Agnes ', born February 28, 174I- 
        10.  Nicholas. 

  
Mr. Andrew Hunter, of Abbotshill, died March 22, 177o, and was succeeded by his eldest surviving son- 
  
      IX. Rev. Andrew Hunter, D.D., of Abbotshill, which property he sold in 1772, and purchased that of Barjarg, in Dumfriesshire, which had previously belonged to James Erskine, of Barjarg and Alva, one of the Lords of Session. Dr. Hunter was born at Edinburgh, February 15, 1744, and married, April 14,1779, the Hon. Mainie Schaw, eldest daughter of William, sixth Lord Napier of Ettrick (she died October 9, z8o6). He was educated at the University of Edinburgh (D.D. February 18, 1779) and at Utrecht University, in Holland. Was Minister of the New Church, Dumfries, 1770-1779 ; of the New Greyfriars Church, Edinburgh, 1779-1786; and of the Tron Church, Edinburgh, 1786. Was Professor of Divinity at Edinburgh University 1779-1809, Moderator of the General Assembly in 1792. In Grant's History of the University of Edinburgh, referring to Dr. Hunter, it says that perhaps no man in a public station ever passed through life more respected or with a more unblemished reputation. A portrait of him in oils by Sir Henry Raeburn is at Barjarg Tower. This has been engraved in mezzotint. There are also etchings of him in Kay's 'Edinburgh Portraits,' vol. i., P. 298, and vol. ii.,   
P46, as well as a medallion by James Tassie, done in 1791. His family consisted of- 


        1. Andrew, born March 6, 1781, died March 27, 1781 
        2. William Francis, of Barjarg, etc., of whom presently. 
        3.  John, born November 14, 1788. Doctor of Divinity May 29, 1847, and Minister of
             Swinton in the Merse, Berwickshire, and afterwards of the Tron Church, 
            Edinburgh. Married to Caroline, daughter of Hepburn Mitchelson, of Middleton, 
            and died without issue June 21, 1868. 
        4. Mainie Anne Charlotte, born May 28, 1783, died February 21, 1790- 
         5. Grizel, born June 15, 1784, married, June 27, 18o8, George Ross, advocate and 
              judge of the Consistorial Court in Scotland (born October 25, 1775; died March 17,
             1861), son of Admiral Sir John Lockhart Ross, Bart. She died in Edinburgh, 1864, 
             leaving issue. 
        6. Henrietta Hope, born November 2, 1793, died near York, January 17, 1856, 
             unmarried. 

  
The Rev. Dr. Andrew Hunter died May 21, 1809, being succeeded by his son- 

      X. William Francis Hunter, second of Barjarg, etc., advocate, born July 30, 
1785, and who took the additional surname of Arundell (vide London Gazette, 
February 26, 1825). He married, November 26, 1813, Jane Arundell St. Aubyn 
(who died at Barjarg, December, 1829), daughter, and eventually heiress of, Francis St. Aubyn, of Collin Mixton, by Jane Arundell, his wife, coheiress of the Arundells of Tolverne and Treethall, in Cornwall, and by her had- 

  
        1. Godolphin Arundell, of Barjarg, of whom presently. 
        2. William Francis, of Barjarg, of whom presently. 
        3. Frances St. Aubyn, born August 17, 1814, married, i836, to the Rev. William 
            Murray, of Torquay, Devonshire. She died at Plymouth, October, i886, leaving 
            issue. 
        4. Mariamne Schaw Napier, born August 8, I8I5, married to William  Arthur 
            Woodcock, Esq. She died at St. Leonards, Sussex, June, 1887, leaving issue- 


                (1) Francis, died unmarried 1870, aged thirty-one. 
                (2) Arthur, died unmarried 1871, aged twenty-two. 
                (3) Jane Arundell St. Aubyn, married June 17, 1858, to George Culley, C.B. (born
                       January 26, I834; died September, I893), of Fowberry Tower, 
                      Northumberland, and had issue. She died August, 1897- 
                (4) Amy, died young. 
                (5) Mary Frances Elizabeth, married to Thomas Herbert Wadd, M.R.C.S.E. She
                       died 1888,,Leaving issue- 

                        i..Herbert Francis William Wadd, born May 14, 1874, who is heir to Barjarg. 
                        ii. Arthur St. Aubyn Wadd, born October 27, 1878. 

        5. Jane Arundell, born at Barjarg, August 5, 1817, died October 31, 1817 
        6. Jane Arundell (second of name), born at Barjarg, March 19, 1819, died at the 
             Manse, Swinton, Berwickshire, May 1, 1830- 
        7. A daughter, born August 27, 1822, who died same day. 

  Mr. W. F. Hunter-Arundell died at Barjarg, April 22, 1827, and was succeeded by his son- 
  
        XI. Godolphin Arundell Hunter-Arundell, third of Barjarg, etc. Born at Barjarg, August 9, 1816. Educated at the Edinburgh Academy and Edinburgh University. Dying, unmarried, at St. Mary Church, Devon, in 1848, was succeeded by his brother- 

      XII. William Francis Hunter-Arundell, fourth of Barjarg and Laggan, justice of the Peace. Born at Barjarg, June 16, 1820. Educated at the Edinburgh Academy and Edinburgh University. Married, September 20, 1849, Mary, second daughter of David Dickson, of Kilbucho and Hartree, Peeblesshire, and died in London April 27, 1889, leaving no issue. He disentailed the estate, and left it to the descendants of his second sister, Mariamne, and first to the descendants of her younger daughter, Mary, who married Mr. Thomas Herbert Wadd.

This information is reproduced from A History of Peeblesshire by J. W. Buchan and Rev. H. Paton, published in three volumes between 1925-7 by Jackson, Wylie and Co. of Glasgow. The original book includes many refences to the sources of the information, pedigrees and plates.

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