John Huntar of Ardneil and Huntarstoune (14th Laird)

John Hunter of Ardneil and Huntarstoune (born 1474) between 1487 and 1513. He was born in Ayrshire at Hunterston Castle.

He married Margaret Cathcart, daughter of John, 2nd Lord of Cathcart in 1494 and had two children.

• David Hunter (b. 1495) (d. 1600)
• Robert Hunter (b. 1497) (d. 1546)

John was left the estate and paid dues on his sasine in the Island of Lamlash, or Holy Isle, and in the office of hereitary forester.

John was called before the Court of Justices in Ayr to answer a charge of estimated arrears concerning payment of feus and land taxes. He produced the Charter granted to his ancestor, before the Court, showing that his lands were held in Blench of the Crown on payment for one silver penny and after validation of the charter was exonerated from all claims.

John was killed leading the Clan at the Battle of Flodden on the 9th of September 1513 in the service of the Crown of Scotland.

He was the hereditry keeper for the Royal Forrest on Little Cumbrae Island.

(1505.) Confirmation that Arnele held in alba firma. Instrument, dated 13th June 1505), certifying that on that date JOHN HUNTAR OF ARNELE, with Constantine Dunlop of that ilk, his Counsel, appeared at Ayr in the Court of the Justice Aire before Andrew Lord Gray, Justiciary of our supreme Lord the King on the south side of the Water of Forth, and produced a Charter by King Robert the Second to prove that his lands of ARNELE are held of the Crown for payment of one penny silver money in full of all duties and services, which holding was recognised and he was exonerated from all other claims.

Original Latin as written on The Instrument No. 4

In Dei nomine Amen : Per hoc presens publicum instrumentum cunctis pateat evidenter Quod anno incarnationis dominice millesimo quingentesimo quinto mensis vero Junij die decimo tertio Indictione Octava Pontificatus Sanctissimi in Christo patris et Domini nostri Domini Julij divina providentia pape Secundi Anno Secundo. In mei notarij publici et testium subscriptorum presentia Sedente pro tribunali in pretorio burgi de Aire, In curia Itineris Justiciarie tenta et inchoata apud burgum predictum die veneris decimo tertio die mensis Junij anno Domini Millesimo quingentesimo quinto Coram nobili et potent! Domino Andrea Domino Gray Justiciario Supremi Domini nostri Regis ex parte australi aque de Forth generaliter constituto : Quiquidem Dominus Justiciarius vocare fecit DOMINUM DE ARNELE ad presentandum in hujus modi curia Sectatorem pro terris suis de ARNELE ; Comparebat in Judicio JOHANNES HUNTAR DE ARNELE una cum Constantino Dunlope de Eodem suo prelocutore, quiquidem Constantinus nomine quo supra dixit quod ipse Johannes non tenetur presentare Sectatorem in dicta curia pro eisdem terris, ex eo quod tenuit easdem de supremo domino nostro rege in alba firma ; et desuper judicialiter ostendebat unara cartam confectam per quondam bone memorie Robertum regem Scottorum continen. in eadam clausulam sequentem : Reddendo inde annuatim Domino nostro regi et suis successoribus pro eisdem terris de Arnele unum denarium argenti apud dictam terram de Arnele ad festum Penthecostes tantum pro vardis, releviis, maritagiis, oneribus et aliis servitiis quibuscunque. Quam quidem cartam idem Dominus Justiciarius judicialiter perlegi fecit, qua sic perlecta visa et considerata, easdem terras de Arnele de Supremo Domino nostro rege in alba firma tentas invenit : Qua propter eundem Johannem Huntar de Arnele ab omni presentatione Sectatoris in hujusmodi curia Justiciarie penitus et omnino liberavit et quietum clamavit ac exoneravit imperpetuum per presentes, quibus Sigillum officii Justiciarie antedicte apponi precepit et mandavit. Super quibus omnibus et Singulis prefatus Constantinus nomine quo supra sibi fieri petiit hoc presens publicum instrumentum seu publica instrumenta : Acta erant hec in pretorio antedicto hora undecima ante meridiem sub anno mense die Indictione et pontificatu- quibus supra, Presentibus ibidem Reverendo in Christo patre Willelmo Episcopo Abirdonensi, Matheo Comite de Levinax Jacobo Abbate de Dunfermlin Johanne Domino Cathcart Magistris Ricardo Lausone de Hieriggis clerico Justiciarie Domini nostri Regis, Jacobo Henrisone David Androsone et Johanne Lausone cum multis aliis Testibus ad premissa vocatis pariter et rogatis.

Et Ego Jasperus Mayne clericus Sancti Andree dioceseos publicus autoritatibus apostolica, imperiali et regali notarius Quia premissis omni- bus et singulis dum sic ut premittitur dicerentur agerentur et fierent una cum prenominatis testibus presens personaliter interfui Eaque omnia et singula sic fieri dici vidi scivi et audivi ac in notam recepi Ideo hoc presens publicum instrumentum manu mea propria scriptum exinde confeci signoque nomine et subscriptione meis solitis et consuetis signavi Rogatus et requisitus una cum appensione sigilli officii Justiciarie antedicti in fidem et testimonium omnium et singulorum premissorum.

Jasperus Mayne.

The following is a translation of the Instrument No. 4 : In the name of God, Amen. Be it clearly made known to all by this present public instrument that upon the thirteenth day of June in the year of the Lord one thousand five hundred and five, in the eighth indiction of the Pontificate of the most holy father in Christ and our Lord Lord Julius the Second by divine providence Pope the second year. • In presence of me notary public and witnesses subscribing sitting for judgment in the Tolbooth of the burgh of Ayr in the Court of the Justice Aire held and begun at the burgh foresaid on Friday the thirteenth day of June the year of the Lord one thousand five hundred and five before a noble and potent Lord Andrew Lord Gray Justiciar of our Sovereign Lord the King on the south side of the Water of Forth generally constituted, which Lord Justiciar caused the LAIRD OF ARNELE to be called to present suit in this Court for his lands of ARNELE. Compeared in judgment JOHN HUNTAR OF ARNELE together with Constantine Dunlop of that ilk, his prolocutor, which Constantine in name as above said that the said John is not bound to present suit in the said Court for the said lands because he held the same in blench farm of our Supreme Lord the King, and thereupon judicially showed a charter granted by the late Robert King of Scotland of blessed memory containing therein the following clause : paying thence yearly to our Lord the King and his successors for the said lands of Arnele one penny silver at the said land of Arnele at the feast of Pentecost for the wards, reliefs, marriages, burdens and other services whatso- ever : which charter the said Lord of Justiciary caused to be read judicially ; which being so read over, seen and considered he found the said lands of Arnele to be held of our Sovereign Lord the King in blench farm by reason whereof he wholly and entirely freed and relieved and exonored the said John Huntar of Arnele for ever from all presentation of suits in this Court of Justiciary by these presents to which the seal of office of Justiciar foresaid is ordered and commanded to be appended ; upon which all and whole the said Constantine in name as above asked this present public instrument or public instruments to be made to him. These things were done in the said Tolbooth the hour of eleven forenoon in the year, month and dav indiction and pontificate as above. Before these witnesses, the Reverend Father in Christ William Bishop of Aberdeen, Mathew Earl of Lennox, James Abbot of Dunfermline, John Lord Cathcart, Mr. Richard Lausone of Hieriggis, clerk of Justiciary to our Lord the King, Mr. James Henrisone, Mr. David Androsone and Mr. John Lausone, with many other witnesses to the premises equally called and required.

And I Jasper Mayne, clerk, of the diocese of Saint Andrews by apostolic, imperial and royal authorities, notary public, Because I with the fore- named witnesses was personally present while all and sundry the premises as aforesaid were spoken, acted and done and all and sundry so done I saw, knew and heard and took a note thereof from which I have made this present public instrument written with my own hand and have signed it with my sign name and subscription used and wont being called and required, together with the appending of the seal of the office of Justiciary foresaid in faith and testimony of all and singular the premises.

Jasper Mayne,