Page 4 of 14
During the first eight descents of the Huntars but little is now to be found in addition to that above recorded, nor indeed can the name of the immediate successor of Aylmar de la Huntar with any certainty be affirmed. Many of the earliest charters and documents of the family have been lost in the troublous times of our history in which its members played their part or have perished owing to carelessness or neglect.
Even some of those very carefully perused by Crawfurd as above mentioned no longer find a place in the Hunterston charter chest and but for the record contained in the lands themselves it would have been impossible to bridge over the chasm thus ereated with aught more reliable than a theory more trustworthy than an assertion or to fill up the breach of forgotten names, save but with traditions more or less mythical or legendary But whilst the parchments have perished the broad aeres of which they told have remained and they in their integrity dispel all doubts and resolve all difficulties.
The next on record is
William Huntar of Arneil or Ardneil who obtained a Crown Charter from King Robert II, "for faithful services rendered", to that monarch of all that land of Arucle which had been held by "Andre Cambell militis", and had been duly resigned by him. This ancient charter which is in excellent preservation and the facsimile of which forms the frontispiece of this volume is the earliest original document now in the possession of the family, and is dated at Stirling the second day of May, in the fourth year of the King's reign (ad 1374) and runs as follows:-
Robertus dci gratia Rex Scotorum Omnibus probis hominibus totius terre sue clericis et laicis salutem Sciatis nos dedisse conccssisse et hac presenti carta nostra confirmasso dilecto et fideli nostro Willmo Huntar pro fideli servicio suo nobis impenso et impendendo totam illam terram do Arnell cum pertinenciis que fuit Andre Cambell mi litis et quam idem Andreas non vi aut metn ductus nee errore lapsus sed mera et spontanea voluntate sua nobis per fustum et baculum sursum reddidit purcque et simpliciter resignavit ac totum jus et olameum quod in dicta terra cum pertinenciis babuit seu habere potuit pro se et heredibus suis omnino quietum clamauit in perpetum Tenend et Habend dicto Willmo et heredibus suis masculis do corpore suo legitime proercatis sou proereandis dc nobis et heredibus nostris in fcodo et hereditote per omncs rectos metas et divisas suas cum omnibus et singulis libertatibus commoditatibus aysiamentis et iustis pertinenciis quibuseunquo ad dictam terram spectantibus seu quo quomodo iuste spectare Tolentibus in futurum libere quiete plenarie integre bene et in pace Reddeddo inde annuatim nobis et heredibus nostris dictus Willmus et heredes sui predicti unum denarium argenti apud dictam terrara do Ainele ad fcstum pentecostes nomine albc firme tantum pro Wardis rcloviis maritagiis omnibus et aliis serviciis quibus cunque In cujus rei testimonium presenti carte nostre nostrum precessimus npponi Sigillum Testibus Venerabile in Christo patre Willmo Episcopo Suncti Andrec Johanne primogcnito nostro Comite de Carryk Sencscallo Scocic Roberto Com i to de Fyff et de Mencteth filio nostro dilecto Willmo Comite de Douglas Johanne de Carryk Cancellario Jacobo de Lindesay nepote nostro et Roberto de Erskyne militibus apud Strivelyne secundo die Maij anno Regni nostro quarto "
It would seem probable that the lands granted to Norman Huntar,and held by his descendants down to Aylmer de la Huntar - whom we have seen was an adherent of John Baliol were forfeited in the wars of succession either by Aylmer or as appears more probable by his immediate descendant, of whose name consequently no record as we have stated has been preserved.
Sir Andrew Campbell was doubtless the Knight of Loudon who was Sheriff of Ayr in 1367, and who died in the reign of Robert II and he and his father Sir Duncan may have held the estate during the reigns of Robert I and David II William Huntar only obtaining reinstatement of the change of dynasty for faithful services rendered to King Robert II. It is possible however, that Sir Andrew Campbell may have held the hinds temporarily on a grant of non entry from the Crown such being a casualty of ordinary occurrence the Crown enjoying the privilege of giving away the non entry or escheat of its vassals.
As the next Laird of Arnele Huntar on record paid on his entry eleven years arrears of blench duty duly accounted for in the Exchequer Roll for 1447, in addition to the double fee as entry money it may be concluded that William Huntar died about the year 1436 and that his successor whose name has not come down to us died in the interval between 1436 and 1447 without paying fees on entry the next laird on record being probably the grandson of the above named William Huntar.
William Huntar of Arnele Huntar was infeft in his estate prior to 1447 as appears from the subjoined extract from the Exchequer Rolls the duplication of the blench duty of one penny in silver being payable to the Crown on entry only:-
"Idem compotans onerat Be &c &c &c Et de lid de albo firmo per duplicationem terrarum de Arncle Huntar per sasinam datam Willo Huntar de eisdem. Et de Xld, albe firme dictarura terrarum do Arnele IIuntar de undecim annis infra hoc computum"
During the first eight descents of the Huntars but little is now to be found in addition to that above recorded, nor indeed can the name of the immediate successor of Aylmar de la Huntar with any certainty be affirmed. Many of the earliest charters and documents of the family have been lost in the troublous times of our history in which its members played their part or have perished owing to carelessness or neglect.
Even some of those very carefully perused by Crawfurd as above mentioned no longer find a place in the Hunterston charter chest and but for the record contained in the lands themselves it would have been impossible to bridge over the chasm thus ereated with aught more reliable than a theory more trustworthy than an assertion or to fill up the breach of forgotten names, save but with traditions more or less mythical or legendary But whilst the parchments have perished the broad aeres of which they told have remained and they in their integrity dispel all doubts and resolve all difficulties.
The next on record is
William Huntar of Arneil or Ardneil who obtained a Crown Charter from King Robert II, "for faithful services rendered", to that monarch of all that land of Arucle which had been held by "Andre Cambell militis", and had been duly resigned by him. This ancient charter which is in excellent preservation and the facsimile of which forms the frontispiece of this volume is the earliest original document now in the possession of the family, and is dated at Stirling the second day of May, in the fourth year of the King's reign (ad 1374) and runs as follows:-
Robertus dci gratia Rex Scotorum Omnibus probis hominibus totius terre sue clericis et laicis salutem Sciatis nos dedisse conccssisse et hac presenti carta nostra confirmasso dilecto et fideli nostro Willmo Huntar pro fideli servicio suo nobis impenso et impendendo totam illam terram do Arnell cum pertinenciis que fuit Andre Cambell mi litis et quam idem Andreas non vi aut metn ductus nee errore lapsus sed mera et spontanea voluntate sua nobis per fustum et baculum sursum reddidit purcque et simpliciter resignavit ac totum jus et olameum quod in dicta terra cum pertinenciis babuit seu habere potuit pro se et heredibus suis omnino quietum clamauit in perpetum Tenend et Habend dicto Willmo et heredibus suis masculis do corpore suo legitime proercatis sou proereandis dc nobis et heredibus nostris in fcodo et hereditote per omncs rectos metas et divisas suas cum omnibus et singulis libertatibus commoditatibus aysiamentis et iustis pertinenciis quibuseunquo ad dictam terram spectantibus seu quo quomodo iuste spectare Tolentibus in futurum libere quiete plenarie integre bene et in pace Reddeddo inde annuatim nobis et heredibus nostris dictus Willmus et heredes sui predicti unum denarium argenti apud dictam terrara do Ainele ad fcstum pentecostes nomine albc firme tantum pro Wardis rcloviis maritagiis omnibus et aliis serviciis quibus cunque In cujus rei testimonium presenti carte nostre nostrum precessimus npponi Sigillum Testibus Venerabile in Christo patre Willmo Episcopo Suncti Andrec Johanne primogcnito nostro Comite de Carryk Sencscallo Scocic Roberto Com i to de Fyff et de Mencteth filio nostro dilecto Willmo Comite de Douglas Johanne de Carryk Cancellario Jacobo de Lindesay nepote nostro et Roberto de Erskyne militibus apud Strivelyne secundo die Maij anno Regni nostro quarto "
It would seem probable that the lands granted to Norman Huntar,and held by his descendants down to Aylmer de la Huntar - whom we have seen was an adherent of John Baliol were forfeited in the wars of succession either by Aylmer or as appears more probable by his immediate descendant, of whose name consequently no record as we have stated has been preserved.
Sir Andrew Campbell was doubtless the Knight of Loudon who was Sheriff of Ayr in 1367, and who died in the reign of Robert II and he and his father Sir Duncan may have held the estate during the reigns of Robert I and David II William Huntar only obtaining reinstatement of the change of dynasty for faithful services rendered to King Robert II. It is possible however, that Sir Andrew Campbell may have held the hinds temporarily on a grant of non entry from the Crown such being a casualty of ordinary occurrence the Crown enjoying the privilege of giving away the non entry or escheat of its vassals.
As the next Laird of Arnele Huntar on record paid on his entry eleven years arrears of blench duty duly accounted for in the Exchequer Roll for 1447, in addition to the double fee as entry money it may be concluded that William Huntar died about the year 1436 and that his successor whose name has not come down to us died in the interval between 1436 and 1447 without paying fees on entry the next laird on record being probably the grandson of the above named William Huntar.
William Huntar of Arnele Huntar was infeft in his estate prior to 1447 as appears from the subjoined extract from the Exchequer Rolls the duplication of the blench duty of one penny in silver being payable to the Crown on entry only:-
"Idem compotans onerat Be &c &c &c Et de lid de albo firmo per duplicationem terrarum de Arncle Huntar per sasinam datam Willo Huntar de eisdem. Et de Xld, albe firme dictarura terrarum do Arnele IIuntar de undecim annis infra hoc computum"
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