ROBERT HUNTER OF HUNTERSTON

Robert Hunter of Hunterston here treated is the son of John Hunter of Hunterston. Hunterston Papers: 9

Robert Hunter of Hunterston took possession of the lands of Heless on or before 6 May 1514, the date upon which an instrument of sasine in his favour was executed. In this sasine he is identified as Robert Hunter of Hunterstoune son and heir of the deceased John Hunter. Hunterston Papers: 9-21 He probably also inherited a rental for the island of Little Cumbrae, because he is described as: "forestar of heretage" in a letter dated 28 October 1615 by which James V, King of Scots, confirms that he has appointed Hugh, Earl of Eglinton, as keeper and overseer of the island in his place. The young Laird of Hunterston may still a minor child on this date because he is said to have: "nocht of power to resist the personis that waistis the samyn [the dere, cunyngis and wild bestis] without suple and help." Register of the Privy Seal,Vol. I. A.D. 1488- 1529, number 2654 on pp. 405-06

Death

A date of death has not been identified for Robert Hunter of Hunterston. He was alive on 24 October 1542 but he probably died before 8 May 1546, when his son Mungo took possession of Hunterston called Arneyll. Hunterston Papers: 20-1

Marriage

Robert Hunter of Hunterston married Janet Montgomery. They were married before 7 November 1522, the date upon which she and her husband took joint possession of the lands ofn Hieleis. Her husband had previously resigned these lands into the hands of the feudal superior for re-granting. Janet Montgomery was still alive of 1 January 1541-42. Hunterston Papers: 9-21

Evidence from the National Records of Scotland

                   1

29 July 1527: Huntar of Huntarstoune's sccount of the feu fermes of Little Cumbrae. The Exchequer Rolls of Scotland, A.D. 1523-1529, XV: 305

                    2

6 August 1529: Robert Huntar of Huntarstoune's sccount of the feu fermes of Little Cumbrae. The Exchequer Rolls of Scotland, A.D. 1523-1529, XV: 497

Genealogy

1. M. S. Shaw, WS. for Lt.-General Sir Aylmer Hunter-Weston of Hunterston, Some Family Papers of the Hunters of Hunterston (Scottish Record Society, Edinburgh, 1925), 90 pp.
2. A Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Commoners of Great Britain and Ireland, enjoying territorial possessions or high official rank; but univested with heritable honours, by John Burke, Esq., Vol. II (Henry Colburn, London, MDCCCXXXV), pp. 500-03 for Hunter of Hunterston
3. Stirnet: Hunter 01

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"A minor when his father fell, he inherited on 6th May 1515. He married Janet, (known as Lady Huntarstoune), daughter of John Montgomerie. Robert sold a large amount of Hunter Land in Forfar and other distant parts of Scotland and bought more land in Ayrshire, near to the main Estate. He over-saw the building of the great hall extending the living space in the castle. In 1542 he was granted a license by King James 5th permitting his absence from the Wars, '"he being weak and tender of complexion and troubled with sickness and infirmity." provided he sent his son in his place. He died in 1546. There are a large number of papers in the possession of the family, in connection with the land transfers.'

Clanhunter.org

Robert Huntar of Huntarston or of that ilk who was a minor at the time his father fell but who was infeft by John Lyn of that Ilk as superior of the lands of Hielies on the 6th May 1515. He married Janet, daughter of John Montgomerie of Giffen a branch of the Eglintoun family and widow of John Craufurd of Craufurdland between that date and 1522, as he resigned Hielies in the hands of the superior and was again infect along with his wife in conjunct fee on the 7th November of that year.

During the troublous times consequent upon the Battle of Flodden and the minority of James V the Royal Forest of the Cumray was overrun by those with whom right was might and the young laird of Hunterston finding himself powerless to prevent their aggressions, without supply or help seems to have represented the matter to the King and prayed for assistance for on this ground the Regent Albany in the name of the King granted on the 28th October 1525, a charter to Hugh first Earl of Eglintoun as Fiar Correkar, and supplear of the ile of Litill Comeray setting forth after the customary preamble that:-

"that forsumekle as we and our derrest cotising and tutour Johne Dnke of Albany ete protectour and governour of mire rcnlme ar sikerlie aduertist that the ile of Litill Comeray liand within our baillerie of Cunynghame and schirefdome of Are is waistit ami distroyit be divers personis that slais the dere and cunyugis thairof and pasturis bestis thairintill maisterfully be way of dede without licence tollerance or consent of Robert Huntare of Huntarstoun forestar of heretagc of the said ile the quhilk pereonis the said Robert may nocht resist because he is nocht of substance and power without supple and help Tharcfor we with advise and consent of our said tutour and governour for reformacioun gud reule and saufte of the said ile in tyme cummyng hes maid constitut and ordanit and be thir our letteris niakis constitutis and ordanis our louit cousing and counsalour Hew Erie of Eglingtoun and his assignnis ane or man our fearis correkaris and supplearis of our said ile of Litill Comeray ete ete ete ete"

This charter was to endure until the King was fifteen years of age. Under it "Huntarstoun" appears to have retained certain rights of pasturage and on the 31st May 1527, he procured a charter from the Crown conferring upon him and his spouse full possession of the island which as the text runs the said Robert and his predecessors held as hereditary keepers of and under the King and his predecessors , "Quas quidem insulam et terras cum pertinenciis dictus Robertus et predeoessores sui de nobis et predeccssoribus nostris in cus todia hereditarie prins habuerunt".

The neighbouring proprietors on the mainland appear to have been very anxious to obtain possession of this much coveted island and notwithstanding the above charter, Robert son and heir of William Lord Sempill obtained a grant of it in 1532. He did not however long retain it for by an instrument dated the 12th November 1534 King James V revoked the said grant and confirmed that formerly made to Robert Huntar of Huntarstoun, who shortly after sold the island to the Earl of Eglintoun and made resignation of it in his favour in the hands of King James V from whom the Earl obtained a charter dated 16th March 1535, since which time it has continued the property of the Eglintoun family and has frequently served them as a place of refuge in troublous times.

On the 8th July 1527, Robert Huntar styled in the writ "Lord Huntarstoun", made over his rights in the Holy Isle or Island of Lamlash to James Lord Arran, by resignation, "ad perpetuam remanentiam". In 1532 he sold to William Wood of Bonnytown the lands of Inschok, Banblane, Muir House, Langholls, Housefield of Brownlands,and pertinents in Barony of Innirshallow and shire of Forfar which sale was confirmed by charter of James V on 15th September of that year.

In 1536 he sold the lands of Meikle Calderwood in Lanarkshire to James brother of Robert Hamilton of Torrance and Christian Stewart his spouse which sale was confirmed by James V by charter dated 1st June 1536 On the 25th February 1535 he obtained a charter from

Hugh first Earl of Eglintoun of the lands of Annanhill lying within the Lordship of Roberton and bailliary of Cuninghame, followed by a charter of confirmation by James V dated 16th March following and again by royal charter on 1st January 1541. In 1535 he acquired from William Cuninghame Lord Feuar of the Earldom of Glencairn and Lordship of Kilmaurs the lands of Campbeltown as appears by charter of sale dated 10th November and charter confirming the same by James V of 29th December of the same year. It would appear that he suffered from ill health as he was not present at the Walpynshawing of Cuninghame held at Irvine on the 15th October 1532 the roll bearing record.

The Lard of Hun tar and all his tenandis absent and this supposition is further borne out by the license granted on 24th October 1542 by James V to the said Robert and to William Montgomerie of the Stane, to remain at home from the war on account of their being "vaik and tender of complectioun and trublit with secknes and infirmite and may nocht travell without grete danger of thair lyvis", etc, etc, "Dischargeing all our lieutennentis and all vtheris oure officiaris present and to cum and thare deputis and schireffis in that part of all calling vnlawing proceding attaching arreisting trubling or intro metting with the saidis Maister William Montgomery and Robert Huntar thair landis or guidis thareforo and of thair offices in that part be thir presentis forcuir Prouiding alwayis that the saidis Maister William and Robert send thair eldest sonnys with thair men, tennentis and seruandis, to this our oist and weiris and all weiris, and all vtheris our oistus and weiris, to do ws seruic tharein"

The latest deed in which his name occurs is an instrument sasine in favour of his son Kentigern Huntar in fee and heritage and Robert Huntar and Jonet Montgomerie his wife in life rent of the lands of Campbeltoun, dated 25th May 1542 and he died prior to 1546.

Biography

Robert Huntar of Hunterston and of that Ilk was the son of John Huntar of Hunterston and of that Ilk and Margaret Cathcart.[1] He became "15th Laird of Huntarstoune" on 06 May 1515.

He married Janet Montgomerie, daughter of John Montgomerie of Giffen.[1]

In 1527 he sold Holy Isle and Hill of Amlash estate to James Hamilton, Earl of Arran.[1] In 1551 he reacquired Holy Isle.[1]

Child of Robert Huntar of Hunterston and of that Ilk and Janet Montgomerie

Kentigern Mungo Huntar of Hunterston and of that Ilk+[1] d. 10 Sep 1547 "A minor when his father fell, he inherited on 6th May 1515. He married Janet, (known as Lady Huntarstoune), daughter of John Montgomerie.

The State records make mention of a grant from King James the Fourth by which the Island of Cumbra was conferred upon Robert Hunter and his spouse, Janet Montgomerie on 31 May 1524.

Robert Huntar received a charter from James the Fourth for South Canus and Bute, also a Royal Charter of Arneil Hunter, with tower, frontilace and manor house, with gardens and their pertinents. He sold part of the Island of Cumbra to the Earl of Eglinton, and in this writ he is styled Lord Hunterston. (8 July 1524)

October, 1532, a license was granted to Robert Hunter by King James the Fifth to remain at home from the war on account of his being vaik, and tender of complexion, and trubbled with seekness and infermitee, and may notch travel without grete danger to hys life." His son, Kentigern was sent in his stead.

In 1542 he was granted a license by King James 5th permitting his absence from the Wars, 'he being' weak and tender of complexion and troubled with sickness and infirmity.' He died in 1546.[1]

Sources

↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Mosley, Charles, editor. Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage, 107th edition, 3 volumes. Wilmington, Delaware, U.S.A.: Burke's Peerage (Genealogical Books) Ltd, 2003. Volume 2, page 2002. The Clan Hunter Association, online http://clanhunterweb.co.uk, (Hunterston, Ayrshire, Scotland) http://www.clanhunter.info/ClanHunterCore/html/family_tree.htm M. S. Shaw, compiler, Some Family Papers of the Hunters of Hunterston (in some old Writs called Hunters of that ilk) (Edinburgh, Scotland: Printed by J. Skinner & Company, 1925); page 24 Mary Alice Hunter Bull, Record of Hunter of Hunterston, Ayrshire, Scotland. (Washington, District of Columbia: Mary Alice Hunter Bull, 1902); page 9 Hunter Family History, online http://www.accessgenealogy.com/surnames/hunter; Hunters of Hunterston, Co. Ayr - A license was granted to him by James V, Oct. 24, 1542, to remain at home from the war on account of his being "waik and tender of complectioun." James Patterson History of the County of Ayr and Wigton., Volume III - Cuninghame; part II (Edinburgh, Scotland: James Stillie, 1866); page 344 Original Hunter Family Tree assembled by Gould Hunter-Weston, and has been updated to 1984. The accuracy is not guaranteed, but it has been carefully checked.