Blairquan

Hunter-Blair of Blairquhan

Blairquhan Castle (Ayrshire).

Blairquhan is some thirteen miles from- Ayr, and seven miles from Maybole, and, till the end of the eighteenth century, belonged to the family of Whiteford, who had acquired it in Charles II.'s time from the old possessors, the Kennedys of Blairquhan, a principal branch of the family of Kennedy, Earls of Cassillis, from whom the Hunter-Blairs are maternally descended.
        The old castle of Blairquhan appears to have been an irregular building of large size, and at the period when it was erected, a great part about the year 1570, in the reign of Queen Mary, of considerable magnificence. The most ancient part is said by tradition to have been built by the McQuirters, and supposed to be of remote antiquity. All that remained of it. was a square tower, which bore the name of McQuirter's Tower. The building had become a total ruin when removed by Sir David Hunter-Blair, Bart., in 1824-
        The present mansion was designed by Mr. William Burn, of Edinburgh, and is a specimen of the architecture of Henry Vll.'s time.
        Some curious sculptured stonework, as windows, mouldings, etc., of the ancient castle was preserved, and has been disposed around the inside of the kitchen court with good effect.
        The grounds lie beautifully situated on both sides of the river Girvan.
A picture of Blairquhan Castle, drawn by J. P. Neale, and engraved by H. Bond, in 1826, is given in Neale's 'Views of the Seats of Noblemen and Gentlemen.'

ARMORIAL BEARINGS.

    1. Matriculated, at the Lyon Office, Edinburgh, July 21, 1786, by Sir James Hunter-Blair, first Baronet:

Arms:   Quarterly, first and fourth, argent on a chevron gules
                between three bugles vert stringed of the second an
                annulet or; second and third, argent, a saltire sable with
                eight inascles of the field, in chief a star gules; over all
                 in the centre an escutcheon argent charged with a
                 sinister hand couped and apaumee gules (for title of
                  Baronet).

Crest:    A boar's head couped proper.

Motto:    Virtute et honore.


        2. Matriculated at the Lyon Office, Edinburgh, May 8, I827, by Sir David
Hunter-Blair, third Baronet:

Arms     Quarterly, first, argent, a chevron gules between three
                 bugles vert viroled and stringed of the second; second,
                 argent, on a chevron gules between three cross crosslets
                 fitched sable a fleur-de-lys or, all within a double
                 tressure flowered and counter-flowered with
                 fleur-de-lys of the second; third, argent, on a saltire sable
                  eight mascles of the field, in chief a star gules; fourth,
                  argent, a shakefork sable, and in chief a rose gules
                   surmounted by a mullet of the field, the badge of a
                  British Baronet being placed in surtout.

Crest        A stag's head cabossed proper.

Motto:       Vigilantia robur voluptas.

Supporters : On the dexter side, a dog of chase salient argent, and
                        on the sinister side, an antelope springing proper,
                       gorged with an open crown and a chain hanging
                       thereat or.

        3- Matriculated at the Lyon Office, Edinburgh, May 18, 185o, by Edward
Hunter-Blair of Dunskey (afterwards fourth Baronet).

Arms    Quarterly' first and fourth, argent, a saltire sable, charged
                with eight mascles of the field, in 'chief a star gules; second
                 and third, argent, on a chevron gules, between three
                 bugles vert, stringed of the second, an amulet or.

Crest:     A boar's head couped proper.

Motto:   Virtute et honore.

LINEAGE.

I. John Hunter, of Mainholm and Millquarter, born August 11, 1702, was the third son of James Hunter, the seventh of Abbotshill. He married Anne, daughter and heiress of William Cunninghame, of Brownhill, Ayrshire, by Anne, second daughter and coheiress of Sir Archibald Hamilton, Bart., M.P., of Rosehall, and died at Moffatt in 1755, leaving-

1.     William, Lieut.-Colonel, born August 2, 1739, whose commissions bear date: Ensign, 24th Foot,
September 25, 1757; Lieutenant, December 1, 1758; Captain, Independent Companies (afterwards
104th Foot), January 15, I761; Major, 104th Foot, December 20, 1762; on half-pay, 1763; appointed
to 8th Foot, April r9, I765; transferred to 36th Foot, June 24, 1767; on half-pay, 42nd Foot, March
27, 1770; Brevet Lieut.-Colonel, May 25, 1772. Died in London, unmarried, 1792. An etching of him
appears in Kay's ' Portraits,' Vol. i., P. 92.

2. James, created a Baronet.

The second son-

II. Sir James Hunter-Blair, first Baronet, was born February 21, 1741, and was a banker in Edinburgh in partnership with Sir William Forbes, Lord Provost of, and Member of Parliament for, Edinburgh. He married, in December, 1770, Jane, daughter and heiress of John Blair, of Dunskey (she died 1817), by Anne, sister and co-heir of line (with her only sister Lady Cathcart) of David, tenth Earl of Cassillis, and in 1777, upon his wife succeeding to Dunskey, he added Blair to'his patronymic. He was Member of Parliament for Edinburgh, 1781-1784, and Lord Provost of Edinburgh, 1784-1785, and was created a Baronet on June 27, 1786. During his Provostship he carried through various projects for the improvement of the- city of Edinburgh. Kay, in his 'Portraits,' says: 'As a magistrate, he was upright, liberal, and disinterested. His talents were of the highest order-to an unwearied application he united great knowledge of the world, sagacity in business, and soundness of understanding-and he died unusually respected.' Hunter Square and Blair Street in Edinburgh were named after him. , Etchings of him appear in Kay's 'Portraits,' Vol. i., pp. 62 and 251. By his wife (who died February 2, 1817), he had the following issue :

John, second Baronet (of whom presently).
William, died an infant.
William (second of the name), died an infant.
David, third Baronet (of whom presently).
James, who inherited the estates of Dunskey and Robertland; Lieut.-Colonel, Ayrshire Militia, and thrice Member of Parliament for Wigtonshire (i8i6-i822). Died, unmarried, June 24, i822.
Robert, entered the army as Ensign, 71st Foot, December 10, 1791 became Lieutenant, Independent Company, March 31, 1795 Captain, 117th Foot, May'.27, 1795 ; transferred to 68th Foot, September 6, 1795. Died, unmarried, in Ireland, April, 1799-
Forbes, who succeeded to the estates (Dunskey and Robertland) of his brother James, but died, unmarried, in February, 1833.
Thomas, Major-General, C.B., inheritor of the estates of his brother James. Born December 5, :1782. He entered the army as Ensign on July 24, 1802; became Lieutenant in the 91st Foot on September 14, 1804; Captain, March 28, 18O5; Major, May 30, 1811; Lieut.-Colonel, June 18, 1815 ; exchanged into the 87th Foot in April, 1819; placed on the unattached half-pay list, February 25, 1831; made a Companion of the order of the Bath in October, 1831; became Colonel on January 10, 1837; and Major-General, November 9, 1846. - General Hunter-Blair accompanied the Duke of Wellington's expedition to Portugal in July, 1808, as a Major of Brigade, and was present with Catlin Crauford's Brigade at the affair of Obidos and the Battles of Roleia (August 17, 1808) and Vimeira (August 21, 1808). He was appointed Aide-de-Camp to Sir Hew Dalrymple on that General assuming the command in Portugal; but, on the army advancing into Spain, he became Aidede-Camp to the Earl of Hopetoun, and was present at the affair of Lugo and Battle of Corunna (January 16, 1809). In April, 1809, he re-embarked for Portugal, as a Major of Brigade, with the corps under Lord Hill, and was present with Sir Alan Cameron's Brigade at the capture of Oporto, affair of Salamonde, and Battle of Talavera (July 27 and 28, 1809), where he was severely wounded, and, being taken prisoner in hospital, he was not liberated until the end of that war in 1814, when he obtained the rank of Major, ante-dated to May 30, 1811; also the C.B., and the Peninsula War Medal with four clasps. In December, 1814, he sailed, as Major of Brigade, with the force destined for New Orleans; but, this corps being recalled, he was transferred to the Staff in Flanders, and appointed to the Light Brigade under Sir Frederick Adam, and was severely wounded at Waterloo on June 18, i8I5, for which battle he received the rank of Lieut.-Colonel, the Waterloo Medal, and was also appointed Assistant-Adjutant-General to Sir Thomas Brisbane's Division. On the formation of the Army of Occupation, however, he was nominated Major-de-Place, with duty of Commandant of Valenciennes. In 'May, 1819, he accompanied Sir Charles Colville to Bombay as Military Secretary; but his regiment (the 87th), being ordered on service in September, I825, he resigned the Staff, and joined it in Ava, where he was appointed a Brigadier, and commanded a brigade at the capture of Melloon. General Hunter-Blair married, in i82o, Anne Elizabeth, daughter of J. Norris, Esq., and died August 11, 1849. His widow died in London, August 28, 1858, and both are buried in the Greyfriars Churchyard, Edinburgh.
Archibald, was in the Honourable East India Company's service, and died at sea in 1798.
Henry Dundas, died in 1799.
Anne, born 1771, married, in 1791, to Colonel William Mure, of Caldwell, and had issue. She died 1854, and was buried in the Greyfriars Churchyard, Edinburgh.
Clementina, married, in 1808, to General John Francis Birch, R.E., and died June 19, 1844, leaving issue.
Jane, died, unmarried, in 1831
Jemima, born 1787, died December 22, 1864. Buried in the Greyfriars Churchyard, Edinburgh. Sir James Hunter-Blair died July I, 1787, and was buried in the Greyfriars Churchyard, Edinburgh. He was succeeded by his eldest son-

III. Sir John Hunter-Blair, second Baronet, born February 19, 1773, at whose decease, unmarried, May 24, 1800, the title devolved on his next brother-

IV. Sir David Hunter-Blair, third Baronet, born October 3, 1778. He married, firstly, July 2, 1813, Dorothea, second daughter of Edward Hay Mackenzie, of Newhall and Cromartie (brother of George, seventh Marquis of Tweeddale), by the Hon. Maria Murray Mackenzie, eldest daughter of George, sixth Lord Elibank, by whom (who died May 22, 1820) he had issue-

James, Lieut.-Colonel, Scots Fusilier Guards, and Member of Parliament for Ayrshire, 1852 - 1854. Born March 22, 1817- Commissions dated: Ensign and Lieutenant, Scots Fusilier Guards, April 24, 1835; Lieutenant and Captain, November 9, 1838; Captain and Lieut.-Colonel, March 31, 1848. He served in the Crimean War, and was killed at the Battle of Inkerman, November 5, 1854-
Edward, fourth Baronet (of whom presently).
Maria Dorothea, married, January I5, i839, to Sir Walter Elliot, K.C.S.I., of Wolflee (who died March 1, 1887)- She died December 24, 1890, and left issue.

Sir David Hunter-Blair married, secondly, January 15, 1825, Elizabeth, third daughter of Sir John Hay, Bart., of Hayston, Perthshire, by Mary Elizabeth, second daughter of James, sixteenth Lord Forbes, by whom (who died August 3, 1859) he had-

John, born October 18, 1825- In Madras Civil Service. Married, April 22, 1852, Emily Williams,. youngest daughter of Edward Grant (she died at Balham, Surrey, December 9, 1897, aged sixty-three). He died March 27, 1875, having had-

(1) Penton, born January 5, 1856; died, unmarried, April 26, 1882.
(2) Caroline, married, in 1874, to Walter Morgan, eldest son
of Sir Walter Morgan, Knt., Chief justice of Madras, and has issue.
(3) Elizabeth Montgomery, married, May 25, 1881, to Frank
Napier Thorowgood, and has issue.

David, Lieut.-Colonel, Scots Fusilier.Guards, born January 22, 1827-Entered the army as Ensign, 26th Foot, April 4, 1845; became Lieutenant, November 12, 1847 ; transferred to the 94th Foot, 1848; Captain, unattached, January 5, 1855 ; appointed to Scots Fusilier Guards, 1857; became Captain and Lieut.-Colonel, July 10, 1863; and retired, 1864. Died at Rome, March 31, 1869.

William, born January 18, 1828. Became 2nd Lieutenant, Royal HorseArtillery, August 6, 1846; 1st Lieutenant, March 22, 1847; on half-pay, July 12, 1853- ' Died at St. Leonard's-on-Sea, Sussex, January 23, 1855.

Charles Forbes, born May 15, 1829 ; died in India, 1847.
Archibald Thomas, born January 5, 1832; died January 21, 1872-
Henry Arthur, born June 18, 1833. Educated at Rugby School (1846).Died November 13, 1903-
7. Mary Elizabeth, married, April 22, 1852, to Robert Vans Agnew, M.P.,of Barnbarroch, Wigtonshire (who died September 26, 1893, aged 76). She died at Naples, August 2, 1870, leaving issue.
Jane Anne Eliza, married at St. George's, Hanover Square, London, October 16, 1862, to Philip Lutley Sclater, D.Sc., F.R.S., brother of George, first Lord Basing, and has issue.

        Sir David Hunter-Blair was Colonel of the Ayrshire Militia, and Convener and Vice-Lieutenant of Ayrshire. He died December 26, 1857, and was succeeded by, the eldest surviving son-of his first marriage-

        V Sir Edward Hunter-Blair, fourth Baronet, born March 24, 1818. He first served in the Royal, Navy, and afterwards was gazetted to the 93rd Highlanders as Ensign on'Sept,ernber 29, 1837; became Lieutenant, May 18, 1841 and retired in 1849- Subsequently, Lieut.-Colonel commanding Ayr andWigton ArtilleryVolunteers. He married, June 4, 1850, Elizabeth, daughter of George Wauchope (of the family of Wauchope, of Niddrie), and had issue-

1. David, fifth Baronet (of whom presently).
2. James, born December 12, 1854- Educated at Harrow School. Died
at Harrow, July 25, 1870-
3. George Wauchope, born. February 14, 1857; died March 8, 1858.
4. Edward, Commander (retired), Royal Navy, J.P. and D.L. for Ayrshire, who succeeded to, the property of Blairquhan on his father's death in 1896. Born March 14, 1858. Educated on H.M.S. Britaititia. Naval Cadet, 1871; Midshipman, 1873; Sub-Lieutenant, 1877; Lieutenant, 1882 ; Commander, 1895 ; retired, 1899. Married, July 6, 1886, Cecilia Dora, daughter of Sir William James Farrcr, Knt., of Sandhurst Lodge, Berkshire, and has-

(i) James, born May 7, 1889.
(2) Gaspard- Patrick, born September 21, 1895-

5. Forbes Cromartie, born September 22, 1859. Educated at Reptoll
School (1873-1877) and Trinity College, Cambridge. B.A., 1881 ; LL.B., 1883- Was a Lieutenant, 4th Battalion Royal Scots Fusiliers (Militia).

6. Walter Charles', Colonel,' Royal Artillery. Born September 1, 1860.
Educated at Fettes College, Edinburgh, and the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich. Commissions dated: Lieutenant, February 18, 1880; Captain, July 15, 1888; Major, January 29, 1898; BrevetLieut.-Colonel, November 16, 1898. Served in the Nile Expedition in 1898 (mentioned in despatches, Brevet of Lieut.-Colonel, and medal).

Colonel Hunter-Blair married, July 8, 1888, Ethel Mary,
daughter of David Logan, and has-

(i) John, born October 4, 1903-
(2) Alice Dalrymple, born May 15, 1889.
(3) Cicely Mary, born February 11, 1891.

7. Reginald Stanley, Major, Gordon Highlanders, Born September 18,
1861. Educated at Fettes College, Edinburgh. Dates of Commissions: Lieutenant Gordon Highlanders,'October 22, 1881; Captain,
September 1, 1891 ; Major, January 7, 1900; retired March, 1903 He served in the Egyptian War of 1882 with the 1st Battalion Gordon Highlanders, and was present at the Battle of Tel-el-Kebir (medal with clasp and Khedive's Star) ; also served in the Soudan Expedition in 1884 with the 1st Battalion Gordon Highlanders, and was present in, the engagements at El-Teb and Tamai (two clasps). Served in the Nile Expedition in 1884-1885 with the 1st Battalion Gordon Highlanders, and with the River Column under Major General Earle (clasp). Aide-de-Camp to the Governor and Commander-in-Chief, New Zealand, 1892-1894; Adjutant, 3rd Battalion Gordon Highlanders (Royal Aberdeenshire Militia), 1895-1900.
Major R. S. Hunter-Blair married, October 17, 1893, Emily, daughter of Robert Heaton Rhodes, of Christchurch, New Zealand, and has issue-

(I) David Walter, born July 22, 1894-
(2) Alister, born April 26, 1896.
(3) Ronald, born December 23, 1898.

8. John, born July 26, 1865. Educated at Fettes College, Edinburgh, and
Trinity Hall, Cambridge. Married, June 14, 1890, Maude, daughter of Sandford Mills Sandford, of Compton Castle, Somerset, and has-

(i) Colin Edward, born February 13, 1898.

9. Gilbert Wauchope, born October 25, 1868. Educated at Fettes College,
Edinburgh. Married, January 5, 1904, at Holy Trinity Church, Sloane Street, London, Muriel Frances, eldest daughter of Frank Napier Thorowgood, of Wimbledon. Served in the South African War in 1902 with the Ceylon contingent (medal with two clasps).

10. Dorothea Elizabetfi Thomasina, married, July 13, 1873, to David,
seventh Earl of Glasgow (born May 31, 1833), and has issue.

11. Alicia Mary, married, April 7, 1874, to Sir Charles Dalrymple, Bart., M.P.' and died September 2, 1884, leaving issue.

I2. Helen Constance, married, July 12, 1883, to Captain Stair Hathorne
Johnston Stewart, 20th Hussars, of Physgill and Glasserton (who died April 1, 1904)-

I3. Ada Selina, died December 30, 1886.

        Sir Edward Hunter-Blair died October 7, 1896, and was succeeded in the title only by his eldest son-
        VI. Sir David Hunter-Blair, fifth Baronet, born September 30, 1853. Educated
at Eton College and Magdalen College, Oxford. B.A., 1876; M.A., 1878. Lieutenant, the Prince Regent's Royal Ayrshire Militia, August 3, 1872; Captain, August 8, 1877; resigned, 1879. Was Private Chamberlain of the Sword and Cloak to Pope Pius IX. and Pope Leo XIII. Entered the Benedictine Order, I878;ordained Priest, 1886. Rector of the Abbey' School, Fort Augustus, Inverness-shire, 1890-1895 ; sent on a special mission to Brazil, 1896. Licensed as Master of Hunter-Blair's Hall, Oxford, 1899. Author of 'The Rule of Our Most Holy Father St. Benedict,' 1886 History of the Catholic Church in Scotland' (translated from the German), 4 vols-, 1889-1891 ; 'A Royal and Christian Soul,' 1895 ; 'Jerusalem of Today,' 1901 ; besides numerous articles in magazines and reviews.

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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