Hunter of Auchterarder (Perthshire)
Until the reign of King Robert the Bruce the Barony of Auchterarder belonged to the Crown. During his reign it became the property of Sir William de Montifex, appointed justiciar of Scotland in 1332. The family was of Norman extraction; they had estates in England, and a branch settled in Scotland, where Sir William de Montifex had large possessions, being not only proprietor of the Barony of Auchterarder, but of Cargill and other lands in Perthshire. He had three daughters. To his eldest daughter, Marie, he left the estates of Auchterarder and Cargill (Stobhall). She married Sir John Drummond, the seventh Thane of Lennox, ancestor of the Earls of Perth ' in 136o. His eldest daughter, Annabella, married King Robert III., and was crowned with him at Scone in 1390. His great-great-grandson, Sir John Drummond, was created Lord Drummond in 1487. He married Margaret, daughter of Alexander, Duke of Albany,,and grand-daughter of James II. of Scotland, and was succeeded by his great-grandson David, second Lord Drummond, whose second son, the Hon. David Drummond, was created Lord Maderty. His daughter, the Hon. Catherine Drummond, great - great - grand-daughter of, James IV., married Andrew, first Lord Rollo. The Drummond Estates, including Auchterarder, were forfeited to the Crown in 1747, but restored in 1785 to Captain James Drummond, 73rd Regiment of Highlanders, the nearest heir male to Lord John Drummond, in whom the estates were forfeited. He was created Lord Perth in 1797, and shortly thereafter disposed of the Barony of Auchterarder to the Hon. Basil Cochrane, son of Thomas, eighth Earl of Dundonald, by whose trustees it was sold to Lieut.-Colonel James Hunter in 183I, who thus became. the owner of an estate which had belonged to his ancestors for 500 years, he being a lineal descendant of Sir John Drummond, Thane of Lennox, who, in '136o, married Marie de Montifex, heiress of the Barony of Auchterarder, Colonel Hunter's father, Captain Patrick Hunter, having married the Hon. Jean Rollo, daughter of James, seventh Lord Rollo, descended from Andrew, first Lord Rollo, and the Hon. Catherine Drummond, his wife, daughter of James, first Lord Maderty, second son of David, second Lord Drummond.
Lieut.-Colonel James Hunter erected the mansion at Auchterarder. On his death in 1874 he left the estate to his nephew, Major Patrick Hunter, who, in 1887, sold it to the late Mr. James Reid, Lord Dean of Guild of Glasgow. ARMORIAL BEARINGS. No matriculation of coat is recorded at the Lyon Office, but the following have long been used by the family: Arms: Argent, a chevron gules between three bugles vert garnished and stringed of the second. Crest : A stag's head erased proper. Motto: Vigilantia robur voluptas. LINEAGE. I. Robert Hunter, of Dogland, was the fourth son of James Hunter, fourth of Abbotshill. He was Provost of Ayr, 1684-1686, and M.P. for Ayr 1685-1686. He married Agnes, daughter of John Paterson (contract dated January 3, 1657), and had- 1. James, who married Jane Wallace, by whom he had- (1) Robert, born November 18, 1685- (2) William, born August 14, 1694- (3) James, born January 23, 1697, (4) Margaret, born November 13,,1687- 2. Robert (of whom presently). 3. John, born February 18, 1668. 4. William, born February 14, 1670- 5. Yaxley, born May 14, 1676. 6. Andrew, born March 23, 168o. 7. Barbara, born May 26, 1664, married Robert Fullarton, of Craigland, and had issue. 8. Jane, born November 16, 167I- 9. Elizabeth, born February 15, 1675- 10. Janet, born September 30, 1677. 11. Jane (second), born September 9, 168i. Mr. Robert Hunter's second son- II. Robert Hunter, was born at Ayr, 1664. He, married, 1688, Agnes, daughter of James Smith, a magistrate of Glasgow. She died 1702, and was buried at Ayr. Their issue was 1. Robert, born August 11, 1689. 2. Robert (second), born January 22, 1696. 3. James (of whom presently). 4. Robert (third), born November 18, 1699, who went in early life to Virginia, where he died, unmarried, 1780. 5. Agnes, born July 25, 1691. 6. Elizabeth, born April 7, 1693- 7. Jean, born February 12, 1695. Mr. Robert Hunter died in 1706, and was buried at Ayr. His eldest surviving son- III. James Hunter, was born at Ayr, February 3, 1698. He was Provost of Ayr, 1736-1738, and 1740-1742. He, was married at Ayr, September 9, 1726, to Janet, second daughter of James Hunter, seventh of Abbotshill (see P- 5)- She was born at Ayr, September 22,- 1699, and died 1746, being buried there also. Issue- 1. James (of whom presently). 2. Robert, second of Thurston (see P. 37)- 3. Andrew, born at Ayr, October, 1739. Was a physician in the Honourable East India Company's service. Married at St. Andrew's, Holborn, London, May 30, 18o2, to Stewart, youngest daughter of the Rev. Robert Conynghame, of Bolgonie, Fifeshire, and of Bower House, co. Haddington. 4. John, born at Ayr, March, 1746, went early in life to Virginia (nick-named 'American Jack'), and in 18O5 was living on his estate called Ayr Hill, in Norfolk County. He married, 1768, Jane, daughter of Colonel Broadwater, of Norfolk County, Virginia. She died in 18O3. They had- (1) James, born 1769, living in Virginia in 1805. (2) Robert, born 1777, died unmarried in Virginia. (3) George Washington, born 1778, living in Virginia in 1805, married, and had issue. (4) John, bom 1779. In the Honourable East India Company's service. joined the Bengal Army, April 23, 18oi ; appointed Ensign 16th Bengal Native Infantry, January 6, 18O2; Lieutenant, September 30, 18O3 ; Captain, 29th Bengal Native Infantry, January 8, 1816; Major, 58th Ben al Native Infantry, January ig, 1826; Lieut.. Colonel, December 26, 1830. He married Louisa (born 1797, died December, 1869), daughter of Thomas Norris, and died at Bandah, East Indies, September 17, 1836, leaving issue: 1. John Norris, Major - General, Royal (late Madras) Engineers. Born December 9, 1833; educated at Addiscombe Military College, 185i-1852. Dates of Commissions: Second- Lieutenant, Madras Engineers, December-9, -1852; Lieutenant, August 2, 1854; Captain, Royal Engineers, June--29, 186i; M 'or, July 5, 1872; Lieut.-Colonel, August 22, 1877; Colonel, August 22, 188i; Major-General (retired), March 23, 1883. He married, November, 1869, Letitia Eliza, daughter of Genera Johnson, and has issue: (i.) Charles Norris, Captain, Army Pay Department. Born October 9, 1870- Commissions: Second - Lieutenant. Gloucestershire Regiment, November 29, 1890; Lieutenant, April 13, 1892 ; Captain, Army Pay Department, September 20, 1898. Served in the South African War, 1899-1900 (Queen's Medal with one clasp, and King's medal with two clasps). He married, May, 1905, Miss Williams. (ii.) John Norris, born September 23, 187I; educated at Trinity, College, Toronto, Canada (B.A. 1892), and Montreal Theological College. Ordained Deacon 1894, and Priest 1895- Curate of Sherbrooke, Canada, 1894; Missionary at Magdalen Islands, Canada, 1894-1896; Vanleek Hill, Ontario, 18971898; Rector of Williamsburg, Ontario, 1902-1903 and of Eganville, Ontario,1903- (iii.) Herbert Norris, Lieutenant, Royal Navy. Born 1873-Naval Cadet, January 15, 1887; Midshipman, August 15, 1889; Sub-Lieutenant, August 14, 1893; Lieutenant, December 3I, 1895. As Midshipman, H. M.S. T@,,quoise, served in the Naval Brigade under the command of Vice-Admiral the Hon. Sir E. R. Freemantle, K.C.B., Commander - in Chief, East Indies, for the punitive' expedition against the Sultan of Vitu, in East Africa, October, 1890 (General African Medal, with clasp 'Vitu, 1890’). (iv.) Robert Norris, born 1876. Ordained Deacon 1901. Curate of Hurstmonceaux, Sussex, 1901-19O2. ii. Catherine, married Sydney Trevor, and had issue. iii. Louisa, married Major Frederick Harris (died 1863), and had issue. iv. Agnes, married, 1856, General Ernest Travers. v. Matilda Emma, born 1829; married, 1852, Colonel Charles Stuart Belli-Bivar, 1st Madras Cavalry; she died 1896, leaving issue. vi. Maria, married, 1858, Elphinstone Campbell. (5) Anne, married to a Mr. Cundell in Virginia. Living 1805- Had issue. 5. Agnes, born October 13, 1735- 6. Grace, born at Ayr, 1738, and died there in 1765- 7. Janet, born at Ayr. Died there 1753- Mr. James Hunter died October, 1748, and was buried at Ayr. His eldest son IV. James Hunter, was born at Ayr, October, 1727. He was married at Ayr, 1750, to Sarah, daughter of Patrick Ballantine, of Ayr. She died February, 1806. They had- 1. James, born at Ayr, 175I- Was a surgeon in the Honourable East India Company's service at Dacca, where he died 1785 2. Patrick (of whom presently). 3. John, born at Ayr. A cadet in the Honourable East India Company's service. Died, unmarried, on his passage to Bengal, 1780. 4. Robert, born at Ayr. Died, unmarried, on board a man-of-war at Jamaica, 1781. 5. Ann, born at Ayr, 1754; was married there in 1770 to William Wood, of Ayr. Both were living in 1807 6. Grace, born at Ayr, 1763, married there in 1783 to George Charles, M.D., Provost of Ayr. Both living in 1807. 7. Margaret, born at Ayr, 1767, living, unmarried, in 1807. 8. Jane, born at Ayr, 1768, living, unmarried, in 1807. 9. Agnes, born- at Ayr, 1770, living, unmarried, in 1807. 10. Marion, born at Ayr, 1772, married, 1793, to James Mair, surgeon of the Royal Dockyard at Chatham. He died in 1799, leaving issue. Mr. James Hunter died August, 1776, and was buried in the Grey Friars Church, Edinburgh. His second son was- V. Captain Patrick Hunter, Bengal Infantry, born 1757, and whose commissions bear date as follows: Ensign, Bengal Infantry, March 29, 1773 ; Lieutenant, May 26, 1778; Captain, February 20, 1784; retired 1793. He married, March 31, 1795, the Hon. Jean Rollo, daughter of James, seventh Lord Rollo. She died 1838. They had issue- 1. James, of whom presently. 2. Patrick, born July 1, 1797. 3. John,. born March15,1799,a Captain in the army. Commissions dated: Cornet, 6th Dragoons, November 27, 1817; transferred to 4th Dragoon Guards, July 22, 1819; Lieutenant, October 24, 1821 ; on half-pay, October 25, 1821; appointed to 68th Foot, December 11, 1823;'Captain, half- pay, unattached, February 4, 1826. He married Louisa, who died May 7, 1872, daughter of James, second son of Sir George Dunbar, fifth Baronet, of Mochrum, N.B., and had issue two daughters. He died at Heele, near Brussels, July 13, 1840. 4. William Hugh, born. November 13, 1801. He married, in 1825, Elizabeth (died 1832), daughter of Colonel Henry Veitch, J.P., D.L., of Eliock, Dumfriesshire, and died May 10, 1851, leaving issue- (1) Patrick (of whom presently). (2) Henry Veitch, born June 14, 1832, married, October, 1859, his cousin, Matilda Clarke Veitch, daughter of James Veitch, J.P., D.L., of Eliock, and died in 1882 s.p. (3) Eliza Zepharina, born 1828, married, 1848, Thomas Smith Duncan, Esq., W.S., who settled in New Zealand, and had issue six sons and one daughter. (4) Jane, born 182'9, married, 1858, Thomas Graham Stirling, Esq., of Strowan, Perthshire, J.P. and D.L. He served in the 42nd Highlanders. They had issue. 5. Roger Rollo, Lieutenant, Madras Artillery. joined Addiscombe Military College 1825. Gazetted second Lieutenant, Madras Artillery, April 15, 1826; Lieutenant, January 29, 18281- resigned 1833. Died, unmarried, March 10, 1876. 6. Mary, born March 23, 1803; died, unmarried, 1842. 7. Sarah, born April 23, 1804; married her cousin, Patrick Charles, M.D., and had a son. 8. Jane Isabella, born July 17, 18O5, and died unmarried. Captain Patrick Hunter died in' 1822. His eldest son- VI. Lieut.-Colonel James Hunter, J. P., D. L., born February 4, 1796. Purchased the estate of Auchterarder, in Perthshire, which Barony had belonged to his ancestors, the Lords Drummond and Earls of Perth, he being a lineal descendant from that family through his mother, Andrew, first Lord Rollo, having married the Hon. Catherine Drummond, daughter of the first Lord Maderty, son of David, second Lord Drummond. His commissions were dated: Ensign, 70th Foot, April 23, 1812; Lieutenant, August 22, 1815 ; Captain, half-pay, 70th Foot, August 14, 1823 ; appointed to 16th Foot, March 10, 1838; Brevet-Major, June 28, 1838; Brevet-Lieut.-Colonel, November 11, 1851; retired March 26, 1858. He, dying unmarried at Clifton, Bristol, on November 20, 1874, was succeeded by his nephew- VII. Major Patrick Hunter, J.P., D.I,., of Auchterarder, born November 27, 1830. His commissions bear date: Ensign, 96th Foot, June 15, 1849; Lieutenant, July 6, 1852 ; Captain, 82nd Foot, December 29, 1857; Major, October 12, 1870 ; transferred to 63rd Foot, 1871 ; retired 1875- Married, first, at Bath, October 26, 1858, Sophia Storme, daughter of Edmund Pomeroy Gilbert, Esq., a cadet of the ancient family, the Gilberts of Greenway and Compton Castle, Devon, lineally descended from Sir Humphrey Gilbert, knighted by Queen Elizabeth, and grandniece of Sir Walter Raleigh Gilbert, Bart., G.C.B. She died at Simla, in the Himalayas, May 10, 1862, leaving issue- 1. William Hugh, born at Shahjehanpore, East Indies, July 8, 1860, Major Seaforth Highlanders. Commissions: Second Lieutenant, 72nd Highlanders, August 11, 1880; Lieutenant, March 11, 1881; Captain, August 1, 1889; Major, June 6, 1899. While serving with the Egyptian army, and acting as Commandant and Administrator of the Bahr el Ghazal, died at Fort Wau in that province of the Sudan on July 20, 1902. His remains were re-interred in the cemetery at Khartoum with full military honours on November 11, 1903. He served in the Egyptian War of 1882, and was present at the Battle of Tel-el-Kebir (medal and clasp and Khedive's Star) ; served in .Hazara Expedition in 1891 (medal with clasp); served in the Sudan under Lord: Kitchener in 1898, and was present at the Battle of Khartoum (British medal and Khedive's medal and clasp) ; commanded a punitive expedition against the Agar tribe of the Bahr el Ghazal- in 1901-1902, for which he received the thanks of the Egyptian Government, and the Second Class of the Medjidie. 2. Maria Theresa Harris, born in the Palace at Delhi, East Indies, March 15, 1862 ; married Herbert, son of William Pinckney, Esq., J.P., of Wilts, and has issue. Major Patrick Hunter married secondly, in 1865, Clara, daughter of Lieut.Colonel Bradshaw Yorke Reilly, Bengal Engineers. She died at Bruges, Belgiun,, October 5, 1897. They had issue- 1. Norman Fitz-Patrick, born at Bombay in 1868, and died a few days after birth. 2. Ivon Guy Charles, born December 7, 1876. 3. Eva Mabel, born September 12, 187I. 4. Marjorie Clare, born August 8, 1885. 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 reverences to the sources of the information, pedigrees and plates. Information on this site is subject to copyright but may be reproduced for personal use. It may not be sold under any circumstances. Information published by Andrew and Pauline Tweedie Summerhill, Prixford, Barnstaple, EX31 4DW, UK |