view from Goldenberry hill

Clan Hunter:

The earliest ancestors of the Hunters of Hunterston were Norsemen who had invaded Normandy with Rollo around 700AD, who became Duke of Normandy.

These Norsemen in time became Normans.

In 1066 William, Duke of Normandy, invaded Britain and laid claim to the Throne of England, having beaten in battle Harald, the other contender for the English Crown.

In order to ensure the good behaviour of the Scottish king, Malcolm Canmore, William held his four sons as hostages at the Royal Court in England.

 

Of all these children David, the youngest, was his favourite. All Malcolm Canmore's sons in turn became Kings of Scotland.

However it was David that ruled the longest.

 

Prior to being King, David held the title of Prince of Cumbria. He inherited from his second eldest brother, Edgar, the western half of Scotland.

It was at this time that David invited his Norman friends from the Royal Court to join him in Scotland and hold his lands from Viking invaders who held the islands offshore.

 

The first Hunter Laird was called William Venator (Latin for Hunter). He is named at the inquisition, a Royal court, of David, Prince of Cumbria in 1116AD.

 

2nd Laird: Norman Venator He received a grant of land from King Malcolm IV of Scotland ( 1153 - 1165).

 

3rd Laird: Venator Named in Charters during the reign of King Alexander II (1214 - 1249).

 

4th Laird: John Hunter Witness to a deed of 1233, Glasgow Church Records (Jon Deo Venator).

 

5th Laird: Ardneil Huntar Fought for Alexander III (1249-1286) at the Battle of Largs (1263). It is said that the Hunterston Brooch fell with the Viking owner at this time. The Battle of Largs was the final time that the Vikings attacked mainland Scotland.

 

6th Laird: Norman Huntar. Margaret the 'Maid of Norway' was Queen of Scotland from 1286 - 1290. She never set foot on mainland Scotland.

 

7th Laird: The Huntar. The First Interregnum when the Kingship of Scotland was in question. Edward I 'The Hammer of the Scots' reigned at this time in England. John Balliol (1292-1296) was made King of Scotland by Edward I.

 

8th Laird: Aylmere le Huntar, del Counte de Are ( of the County of Ayr) Aylmere was one of the magnates of Scotland who signed the noted submission to Edward I of England, known as the Ragman Rolls at Berwick on 28th August 1296. The second Interregnum (1296-1306), when William Wallace fought Edward I.

 

9th Laird: Huntar, son of Aylmere. In 1306 Robert the Bruce defeated the English at Bannockburn, near Stirling, and a Scottish King ruled Scotland without English interference (1306-1329).

 

10th Laird: William Huntar. He was granted the land of Ardneil by Robert II (1371-1390) by Royal Charter in 1374. " to our loved and faithful William Huntar for his faithful services rendered".

 

11th Laird: Huntar (d 1447) No other details exist about this Laird.

 

12th Laird: (1447-1454): William Huntar . He died while his son was still under age. His brother John, Hereditary Forrester, became guardian from 1454 - 1456, when Archibald came of age. 28th February 1452 Charter for transfer of lands near Dalry.

 

13th Laird: (1456-1487) Archibald Hunter. Deed dated 1462 show marriage to Margaret Kerr on 14th June and shows transfer of lands to Archibald.

 

14th Laird: (1487-1513) John Huntar of Huntarstoune. Killed at the battle of Flodden with King James IV (1488-1513).

 

15th Laird (1515-1546) Robert Huntar of Huntarstoune. A minor at the time his father died. He became Laird two years later. He added the stairs and Great Hall to Hunterston Castle. As an older man, in 1542, he was granted Royal License by King James 5th exempting him from his support at war, provided he sent his son in his place. 

 

16th Laird: (1546-1547) Kentigern (Mungo) Huntar of Huntarstoune. As his fathers health was dwindling so Mungo was assuming his fathers responsibilities. In 1545 he led the Clan in the storming of Dunbarton Castle for Mary Queen of Scots. On his fathers passing he was to be Laird for only a year. Mungo was killed together with an unknown number of clansmen at Fallside. Supporting Queen Mary at the Battle of Pinkie in September 1547.

 

17th Laird: (1548-1580) Robert Huntar of Huntarstoune, inherited when an infant. His brother John who acted as his son's guardian 1580-1609. It was at this time that Scotland and England were united under a Scottish King, King James 1st of England and VI of Scotland.

 

18th Laird: (1609-1616) Robert Huntar of Huntarstoune. He had no heirs, so the title passed to his sister's line, Jean Cunninghame (nee Huntar).

 

19th Laird: (1616-1665) Jean Cunninghame daughter of Jean and niece of Robert, co-heir with her husband Patrick. They took the name Hunter.

 

20th Laird: (1665- ) Robert Hunter of Hunterston. One of the Founders of Glasgow University in 1627. Lived during the time of the Civil War in England and the Rule of Oliver Cromwell. During this time the Hunters removed to Little Cumbrae.

 

21st Laird: ( d.1699) Patrick Hunter of Hunterston. Title ratified by King William and Queen Mary (1689-1702) in 1698.

 

22nd Laird: ( 1699-1710) Patrick Hunter of Hunterston.

 

23rd Laird: (1710-1796) Robert Hunter of Hunterston.

 

24th Laird: (1796-1851) Eleonora Hunter of Hunterston. Married her 1st cousin Robert Caldwell Hunter in 1796. He had made a fortune in North America in shipping. They commenced the building of Hunterston House following the birth of their son, Robert on the 1st October 1799. They also made significant agricultural improvements by draining the marshes at Hunterston. Hunterston House was completed in 1803.

 

25th Laird: (1851-1880) Robert Hunter of Hunterston Last Laird to be born in Hunterston Castle. He continued with agricultural improvements to Hunterston. Died in March 1880, his funeral hatchment is kept at Hunterston Castle.

 

26th Laird: (1880-1904) Jane Hunter of Hunterston, eldest daughter. Married Gould Weston, who served at Lucknow. Her sister, Eleonora, married R W Cochran - Patrick.

 

27th Laird: (1904-1940) Aylmer Gould Hunter -Weston born in 1864, married Grace Strang-Steel. Served in the army and became General Sir Aylmer. Served as Member of Parliament for North Ayrshire. Had no heirs and his younger brother Reginald, who had emigrated to New Zealand and his heirs gave up all claim to Hunterston. His niece, Eleonora Cochran-Patrick inherited the title, as her older and only brother, Charles (1895-1933) died an aeroplane crash in South Africa.

 

28th Laird: (1940-1969) Born December 1899, Died 1984. Eleonora formerly Cochran-Patrick. Handed Hunterston to her brother, Charles's son, Neil in 1969. She saw the building of the two Nuclear Power Stations on Hunterston Lands. 

 

29th Laird: (1969-1994) Born May 1926, Died October 1994. Neil Aylmer Cochran-Patrick inherited Hunterston and the Chiefship from his Aunt Eleonora Hunter of Hunterston in 1969. Won a Silver Medal for sailing at the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne, and had a passion for Archery. Married Sonia Furlong 1952. They had one daughter, Pauline, his eldest child, and six sons, Charles, Robert, Nigel, John, Angus and Richard.   

 

30th Laird Madam Pauline Hunter of Hunterston (1994- ) Born 6th January 1953, eldest child of Neil and Sonia. Nominated in 1992 she inherited title in 1994 as Madam Pauline Natalie Hunter of Hunterston. Married to Russell James Mullen MA (1945-1997) in 1980 whilst living in Wales. She trained as a Registered General Nurse and subsequently as a District Nurse. Following in the tradition of her ancestors the famous William and John Hunter, Surgeons and Anatomists. Madam Pauline is the Patron of: "The Order of the Royal Huntsman"