Clan Hunter

Clan Hunter is a Scottish clan.<ref name="ScotClans">Clan Hunter Profile scotclans.com. Retrieved 9 October 2013.</ref><ref name="Clan.Encyclopedia.Hunter">Way, George (1994). Squire, Romilly (ed.). Collins Scottish Clan & Family Encyclopedia (Illustrated ed.). Harper Collins Publishers. pp. 172–173. ISBN 978-0-00-470547-7.</ref>

History

Origins of the clan

It is likely that the Hunters went to Scotland with David I of Scotland upon his invitation and were given lands named Hunter's Toune.<ref name="Clan.Encyclopedia.Hunter"/>

In 1296 Aylmer le Hunter of the county of Ayr appears on the Ragman Rolls submitting to Edward I of England.<ref name="Clan.Encyclopedia.Hunter"/>

A charter signed by Robert II of Scotland on 2 May 1374 has survived that confirmed a grant of land to William Hunter for his faithful service rendered and to be rendered to us in return for a silver penny payable to the Sovereign at Hunterston on the Feast of Pentecost.<ref name="Clan.Encyclopedia.Hunter"/> To this day the Laird of Hunterston, chief of Clan Hunter keeps silver pennies, minted in the reigns of Robert II and George V in case of a royal visit on the day appointed for payment of her rent.<ref name="Clan.Encyclopedia.Hunter"/> The William Hunter who received this charter is reckoned to have been the tenth Hunter of Hunterston.<ref name="Clan.Encyclopedia.Hunter"/> In earlier records both William Hunter and Norman Hunter appear using the Latin form of the name, Venator.<ref name="Clan.Encyclopedia.Hunter"/>

15th and 16th centuries

The Hunters were hereditary keepers of the royal forests of Arran and Little Cumbrae by the fifteenth century.<ref name="Clan.Encyclopedia.Hunter"/> The family appear to have held this office from an early date and also claim a long descent from people who held similar offices in England and Normandy before they came to Scotland.<ref name="Clan.Encyclopedia.Hunter"/>

During the sixteenth century the Hunters rendered chiefly military service.<ref name="Clan.Encyclopedia.Hunter"/> John Hunter, the fourteenth Laird was killed with his king at the Battle of Flodden in 1513.<ref name="Clan.Encyclopedia.Hunter"/> His son was Robert who was trouble with sickness and infirmity and was excused from military service in 1542 by James V of Scotland, providing that he sent his eldest son in his place.<ref name="Clan.Encyclopedia.Hunter"/> His son was Mungo who was killed at the Battle of Pinkie Cleugh in 1547.<ref name="Clan.Encyclopedia.Hunter"/>

17th century

Hunterston Castle, historic seat of the chiefs of Clan Hunter

Successive generations of Hunters were more peaceful Lairds and tended to their estates and looked after their tenants.<ref name="Clan.Encyclopedia.Hunter"/> Robert Hunter who was a son of the twentieth Laird graduated at the University of Glasgow in 1643 and was minister of West Kilbride.<ref name="Clan.Encyclopedia.Hunter"/> He bought lands and founded the Hunters of Kirkland branch of the clan.<ref name="Clan.Encyclopedia.Hunter"/>

A grandson of the twentieth Laird was another Robert Hunter who served under Marlborough and was Governor of Virginia and later Governor of New York.<ref name="Clan.Encyclopedia.Hunter"/>

18th and 19th centuries

The family suffered from financial problems in the early eighteenth century.<ref name="Clan.Encyclopedia.Hunter"/> These problems were resolved by yet another Robert Hunter, a younger son of the twenty second Laird who succeeded to the estate and managed it well.<ref name="Clan.Encyclopedia.Hunter"/> He was succeeded by his daughter, Eleanora, who married her cousin, Robert Caldwell.<ref name="Clan.Encyclopedia.Hunter"/> He assumed the name Hunter and together they improved the estate and built the present Hunterston House.<ref name="Clan.Encyclopedia.Hunter"/> Their son had two daughters: Jane Hunter who married Gould Weston and Eleanor who married Robert William Cochran-Patrick.<ref name="Clan.Encyclopedia.Hunter"/>

20th century

Sir Aylmer Hunter-Weston

Jane Hunter-Weston died in 1911 and was succeeded by her son, Lieutenant General Sir Aylmer Hunter-Weston who served on Kitchener's staff during the Egyptian War of 1896.<ref name="Clan.Encyclopedia.Hunter"/> He also served in the Boer Wars and also as a divisional officer of the British Expeditionary Force in World War I.<ref name="Clan.Encyclopedia.Hunter"/> Also during that war he served during the Gallipoli landings and later commanded the 8th Army on the Western Front.<ref name="Clan.Encyclopedia.Hunter"/>

Post clan activity

As times became more settled the Hunters devoted more time to farming their extensive lands, although they still produced soldiers of distinction over the generations. Gould Hunter-Weston, husband of Jane Hunter-Weston (26th Laird) fought in India at Lucknow in 1857 and their eldest son, Aylmer (27th Laird) was a well-known general in the First World War. He later became Member of Parliament for North Ayrshire. During her tenure as Clan Chief, Eleanora (28th Laird) fought in the courts, but lost, a compulsory purchase order for land at Hunterston to build a nuclear power station.

The last Clan Chief, Neil Hunter of Hunterston and of that Ilk, along with his wife Sonia, Madam Hunter of Hunterston, continued the fight against industrialization. He was well known for his sailing prowess and represented the United Kingdom in two Olympic Games, winning a silver medal at Melbourne in 1956. Like many Hunters before him he was in true tradition an expert in archery.

Lady Pauline Hunter of Hunterston and of that Ilk is the 30th Laird and Chief of Clan Hunter. Her mid-19th century ancestor is reported in May, 1859 as furthering the philanthropic tradition of Clan Hunter; "The Lady of Hunterston tries to elevate and benefit her neighbours in the village of West Kilbride", while her husband, the Laird of Hunterston, "seeks the good of his tenants by provoking emulation amongst them, as regards the quality of their stock".<ref>"Memorial to Hunters of Hunterston". 2 July 2013 - Largs and Millport Weekly Times Scotland UK. Retrieved 22 June 2018. The Isle of Cumbrae Pipe Band followed by the Clan Hunter colour party, the Reverend Gordon Fyfe, Clan Chief and 30th Laird Lady Pauline Hunter of Hunterston and a Guard of Honour from...</ref><ref>"An Effort To Elevate". Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald Ayrshire, Scotland - 14 May 1859. Retrieved 24 June 2018. who seeks the good of his tenants, by provoking emulation amongst them, as regards the quality of their stock; and the Lady of Hunterston, who tries to elevate and benefit her neighbours in the village of West Kilbride, by originating, furnishing, and supplying....</ref>

Clan seat and castle

The seat of the chief of Clan Hunter has been at Hunterston Castle for over 800 years.

See also

• Scottish clan
• Barony of Ladyland
• Barnweill Church

External links

• Official website of the Hunter Clan Association in the UK
• Official website of the Hunter Clan Association in Canada
• Detailed Information on the Hunter Family History /
• Detailed information about the Hunterston area – home of the Hunter Family and Clan
• Unofficial website of Clan Hunter
• Clan Hunter ScotClans