Archibald Hunter (13th Laird)

Archibald Hunter was born around 1450 and was the 13th chief of Clan Hunter. Born in Ayrshire at Hunterston Castle.

He was married twice. First to Margaret Kerr on 14 June 1462 with whom he had one child, and to Ellen Shaw in 1470 which took place at Wedderburn Castle in Berwickshire.

Childs Name	Birth	Death	Spouse
John Huntar	1474	1513	Margaret Cathcart

As he was not of age at his fathers death he did not inherit the estate until 1456 and to 1487. His uncle John retained the title of hereditary forester.

Records of Archibald are shown in a deed dated 1462 in the Charter Chest of the Earl of Eglinton: this details the marriage of Archibald to Margaret Kerr on 14 June 1462. This deed concerns land transfers. In addition the following extract from the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland 1488: (Translated).Account of Robert Chamberlaine of Bute: . . . and he charges himself with 30 shillings being the rent of the land of Almolach (The Holy Island which is close to Arran and was also Hunter Land) and for the office of Forester of Arran and with 30 shillings and 3 chalders of oats and two silver pennies being for payment of the BLENCH FERME due to the King by John Hunter.This excerpt shows that the Hunters of Hunterston were, in the 15th Century the Kings foresters in Cumbrae and the Island of Arran.Blench Duty or Blench Feu was a fee paid on demand. This was a nominal sum (one silver penny) payable to the King, usually as rent for land granted by the Crown. It was not a regular payment.

Original Latin as written on 1462 Deed

Be it maidekennyt till all men be thir present letteris, ws Robert Crawfurde off Achinhamis ande Archibalde Crawfurde off Pryveke, conjunctly and seueraly, till hafe resawyte and fullely till haffe hade, be the handis off ane vorschipfull man, Vilzame Ker, Larde of Kerislande, in dawry, ane hundreth mark off vsuale mone off the kynric off Scotland, for all and hall the.sovme acht till us be the said Vilzam for the manage off oure cusynge ARCHIBALDE HUNTAR, LARDE OFF AKUNEILL, pertenande till ws, the quhilk foisuth mariage we sellyt and gaffe to the saide Yilzame Ker, to bis dochtir Mergarete Ker, for the sayde sovme of ane hundreth mark as sayde is : Off the quhilk forsayde sovme of ane hundreth mark, we halde ws weyll content ande payit, and in all tbinge acht for the saide mariage fullely assythit for euermar ; and the forsayde Vilzame, his ayeris, and all vtheris quham it afferis, or may affer, for ws, our ayeris, and all vtheris quhilkis has or may haffe thar off be law or resoun ony interes, quhitclamys be thir oure presente letteris : In witnes off the quhilk tbinge we the sayde Robert Craufurde and Archibalde Craufurde to thir oure presente letteris of quhitclame and discharge we haff bungyng oure propir seillis, at Achinhamys, the forten day off the moneth off June, the yher off oure Lorde a thoussande four hundreth sexty ande twa yheris.

The following Extract from The Exchequer Rolls of Scotland, Vol. X, p. 5 shewing that the Hunters of Hunterston had the Offices of Forester of Arran and of Forester of Cumbrae is supposed to refer to John Huntar, uncle of Archibalde Huntar, who on the death of his brother William had succeeded to these offices in the minority of his nephew Archibalde.

Note. -this excerpt shows that the Hunters of Hunterston were in the 15th Century the King's Foresters in Arran and Cumbrae. Earlier entries shew the dues paid by the Exchequer to the Hunters as keepers of the deer in the Island of Little" Cumbrae, e.g., to William Huntar in 1454.

"Almolach" is the Holy Island of Lamlash. The Island was so called because Saint Molaise of the 6th Century lived in a cave on it. It was " Eilean Molaise" or the Island of St. Molaise, or "Almolach." This name became further corrupted to "Almeslache" and was applied to the Bay and the adjoining lands hence " Lamlash."