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  "Mr Hunter succeeded to the estate in a deeply encumbered condition at a period too  perhaps the most depressed and embarrassed which has ever occurred in Scottish  affairs but long ere the close of his life by singular prudence and economy he was  enabled not only to clear off all encumbrances but likewise to leave his successors  in comparative wealth and independence and thus he might well be viewed as a second  founder of his ancient family.
The writer of this brief and imperfect notice though  having been but once and that at a very early period of life in the company of this  venerable and worthy man yet the impression of his appearance and manner has hardly  in any degree yet faded from memory..... lie was quite a tall man yet still pretty erect  in gait and movements Scott's vivid delineation of the Baron of Bradwardine would  have been quite applicable to Hunterston at a similar period of life as doubtless  there were other and more important points of agreeance between the individuals.  Throughout life Mr Hunter had certainly been of a spare and active habit of body His  visage was long the forehead being high and narrow with singularly hollow temples. His  hair was of a sandy fair colour still pretty full and perfectly free from greyness In  every feeling and habit of mind the Laird of Hunterston appears to have been a true  Scottish baron of the genuine age of baronage.
The as it were hereditary tenants of  his property he would in no wise displace from their original possessions frequently  remarking that most of them if not all had held their occupancies from as early a  period as he did himself In politics as in all else the baron of Hunterston was  unalterably Conservative or perhaps more properly Whiggo Conscrvative in the true and  legitimate sense of the term and of course his sympathy and affection were altogether  sincerely and honestly in favour of the unfortunate family of Stuart But he was far  too sensible and prudent a man for a moment to conceive it possible that their ideas  of religion and government could ever again be tolerated in this country. This  venerable and worthy man the last of his class of Scottish society in this locality a  class perhaps now wholly extinct died as before stated in the spring of 1776".

having had issue by Janet Aiteheson his wife

1 Thomas Orhy - Died young

2 Patrick John - Died young

1 Kleonora born 22d October 1764 who succeeded

2 Marion

3 Elizabeth


Elermora Hunter heiress of Hunterston was served as heiress in general to her father  on 28th April 1796 and in the May following married her cousin Robert Caldwell above  named who assumed the name of Hunter in addition to his own He built the present  mansion house of Hunterston and greatly improved the estate, He died on the 22d  August 1826 and his wife on 24th December 1851. Their family consisted of:-

1 Robert who succeeded

2 Patrick died in 1826

3 Norman died in 1836

1 Eleonara died in 1833

2 Marion Oawfurd died in 1830

3 Margaret

4 Janet

Robert Hunter of Hunterston or of that Ilk the present proprietor of Hunterston and  the representative of that ancient house is a Justice of the Peace and a Deputy  Lieutenant of the county of Ayr He married on the 23d day of November 1836 Christian  Macknight eldest daughter of William Macknight Craufurd of Cartsburn cadet of Jordan  hill and descended from the distinguished family of KilbirNie by Jane second daughter  of John Crawford of Broadfield county of Renfrew by whom he has Issue:-

1 Jane married 8th July 1863 to Lieut Colonel Gould Weston of a family of that name  settled for several generations in Dorsetshire (Lane House now in the possession of W  H P Weston of Wolverton having been acquired by Henry Weston the great great great  grandfather of Lieut Colonel Weston in 1699), but whose ancestors were seated at  Woston subter Luz ers county of Stafford in the reign of Henry II. The issue of this  marriage is:
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