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Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => Topic started by: Tgapitbull on Monday 01 April 24 02:22 BST (UK)
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Grateful for any assistance to identify the parents of a Robert A[Alexander] HUNTER born c 1857, Scotland. County not known.
What I know: Robert A Hunter b 1857, Scotland immigrated to the USA (Michigan) c 1876 (source US 1920 census record). He married Elizabeth Wotherspoon in the USA sometime between 1877-1886. She was b c 1858, Scotland. She arrived in the USA c 1877.
They had a son Robert A Hunter (Jnr) born 4 July 1886 Detroit, Michigan. He married Rossie Bowman in 1920. Robert A Hunter Jnr died in 1965 in Custer, Mason, Michigan, USA. The 1920 census gives Robert Snr occupation as Confectioner.
Checked: Familysearch, Ancestry Public Family Trees, US census 1910, 1920 and 1940. The 1940 census gives the transcribed surname as "Huster", living at Mason, Michigan. Contacted 3 Ancestry account holders who have these people in their family tree - no response to date.
I have a low DNA match to a Hunter family from around Dalry, Ayrshire. I found a John Hunter b 6 January 1827, Templand, Dalry but not sure if there is a connection. I have had trouble searching due to the common names in the area. It appears that their occupation may have been Baker.
Any assistance appreciated.
TPB
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Have you ruled out the only Robert Alexander I can see on Scotland's People?
HUNTER
ROBERT ALEXANDE
(mmm = MELROSE)
M
1855
312 / 1 / 237
MONTROSE BURGH
I am pretty sure that 1855 is the magic year with much more information than was subsequently collected.
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Have I the correct family? Is another son John Auld HUNTER? born 1881? Have you worked out where AULD comes from?
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Many thanks mckha489 for your postings.
Went back and took another look at the US census records and found that Robert A Hunter was born in July 1855 - occ Candy maker so could be the one you mention who is born 10/7/1855 in Montrose, Angus, Scotland. Father: Robert Hunter and Mother Helen Melrose.
Familysearch shows a marriage of a Robert Hunter/Helen Melrose on 7 August 1853, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland. Helen's father is James Melrose. Unfortunately Robert's father is not stated.
They had the following children:
Robert Alexander Hunter b 10/7/1855 Montrose
James Sinclair Hunter b 6/11/1856, Glasgow
John Melrose Hunter b 30/6/1858, Dunbartonshire
David Hunter b 23/11/1859 Leith
Alexander Hunter b 15/10/1861 Leith
Helen Elizabeth Wood Hunter b 18/7/1863 Leith
Amelia Hunter b 25/4/1868 Glasgow
Christina Davidson Hunter b 14/7/1871 Glasgow
Not certain whether John Auld Hunter is in this family - will take a look.
Thanks again
TPB
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John Auld b 1881 is the son of Robert the candy maker.
Brother of Robert Alexander junior
Do you think Robert (1857) was always a confectioner?
Added…because in 1880 he could be a Clerk. He and Elizabeth have a daughter Jessie 9mths old.
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Also…what about the sister in law Mary D Hunter. (In 1910 census) Who is she?
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Thanks for your postings.
Yes Robert snr was a Candy Maker in one census and confectioner in another.
In the 1910 US census Mary D Hunter is given as sister-in-law to Robert age 48yrs widowed. If I read it correctly she arrived in the US in 1890, occ Nurse.
In the 1920 US census she is Mary D Wilcox, sister-in-law age 60 years widowed.
I wonder if Wilcox is her maiden name? Will take a look at this
TPB
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I’ve added to reply #4
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Jessie died just after the census of Cholera Infantum
Robert’s baptism. Father is a confectioner
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9BZD-DZ6?i=124&cc=1923472&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AQGRB-X1P3
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QPW8-QRN2
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Ah, here we go.
Roberts death
Name Robert A Hunter
Gender Male
Race White
Marital Status Married
Death Age 72
Birth Date 4 Jul 1851
Birth Place Glases Scotland
Death Date 4 Jun 1924
Death Place Detroit, Wayne, Michigan, USA
Father
James Hunter
Mother
Jane Auld
File Number 040760
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So maybe this birth?
Although father’s name is different!
HUNTER
ROBERT
HUGH HUNTER/JEAN AULD FR988 (FR988)
M
29/06/1851
599
40 / 137
KILWINNING
Kilwinning is in Ayrshire
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So maybe this birth?
Although father’s name is different!
HUNTER
ROBERT
HUGH HUNTER/JEAN AULD FR988 (FR988)
M
29/06/1851
599
40 / 137
KILWINNING
Kilwinning is in Ayrshire
1851 was his baptism, but birth year was 1847.
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There are also a series of John Hunter /Jean FAULDS births perhaps worth keeping in mind. including a Robert, but also 1847.
Eaglesham. Which is just outside Glasgow (if that is what the Glases on the death cert is meant to indicate)
The last one is in 1858 so potentially a more comprehensive entry.
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So maybe this birth?
Although father’s name is different!
HUNTER
ROBERT
HUGH HUNTER/JEAN AULD FR988 (FR988)
M
29/06/1851
599
40 / 137
KILWINNING
Kilwinning is in Ayrshire
1851 was his baptism, but birth year was 1847.
I wonder if 1847 is a mid-transcription of 1849. Would need to see an image of the original record.
That Robert looks to have been illegitimate.
This is him in 1851 census. He is still with his mother in 1861 and 1871 census (storekeeper).
https://www.freecen.org.uk/search_records/59027ad8e9379091b11c7f01/robt-hunter-1851-ayrshire-ayr-1850-?locale=en
1900 USA census has him migrating in 1876 and married in 1878.
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Can you see any DNA connections with this family?
John AULD baptism 10/10/1785 Kilwinning
Parents – Robert AULD and Christian MITCHEL
John AULD Marriage 2 Dec 1808 Kilwinning to Marian Cunningham CLARK / CLERK
Marrion Cunningham CLARK baptism 14/06/1786 Kilwinning
Parents – David CLERK and Elizabeth PRINGLE
CHILDREN of John Auld and Marrion Clark baptised in Kilwinning
• Robert 1809
• Elizabeth 1811
• Christiana 1814
• Barbara 1816
• David 1819
• John 1820
• Jean / Jane AULD - 23 Oct 1823 (mother of Robert Hunter born 1847/49 Kilwinning)
• Mary 1827
• James 1830
Jean / Jane Auld died in Kilwinning in 1900. She doesn’t seem to have married – was living with her brother John in 1871, 1881, 1891.
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Thanks Neale1961 for your postings.
I have not been able to see any DNA connections to the people you mention but will keep checking. There are two people with Hunter connections - one in NZ and I have been in contact with him and the other in the US. Message sent to him but no response so far
Thanks also mckha489 for your postings.
Will take a little time to take a look at the info as found on Familysearch other "Robert A Hunter" in Detroit around similar time frame so need to eliminate these.
Will look to concentrate on Robert A Hunter snr .
Thanks again
TPB
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Hi TBP
This looks to be Elizabeth Wotherspoon's death, registered by son John Hunter (guess it is son?) www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KFQW-1WH
Her birth date on this is recorded as 11 November 1849. So, I would be open minded about birth years for Robert also as census ages likely not accurate.
Monica
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MonicaL, many thanks for your posting which is much appreciated. Also your advice
Informant likely to be son John Hunter as I found John and his Mother Elizabeth in the 1930 US census in the same household.
I have previously gone down a few rabbit holes re names and dates.
thanks again
TPB
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I am sure you have ;D
Just some thoughts from me.
As you may have seen by now from Elizabeth Wotherspoon's death reg., her mother was reported as Mary de Forest. Elizabeth also showed with the middle name of Russell for the first time.
I think her parents may have more likely been a John Wotherspoon and Janet Duncan. This is the family in 1851 www.freecen.org.uk/search_records/59027aace9379091b11bc611/elisabeth-witherspoon-1851-ayrshire-ayr-1847-?locale=en
As part of the entries for this family, there is this entry for Elizabeth (the date will be either birth or christening):
ELISABETH WOTHERSPOON
Parents JOHN WOTHERSPOON/JANET DUNCAN
23/12/1848
Ref: 596 20 / 202
Kilbirnie
The family's 1871 entry:
John Wotherspoon 61 Oversman at Furnace b.New Monkland, Lanarkshire
Janet Wotherspoon 56 b. Cambuslang, Lanarkshire
Elizabeth Wotherspoon 22 Teacher of Female School b. Kilbirnie, Ayrshire
Mary Wotherspoon 20 b. Kilbirnie, Ayrshire
Address Chemical Row, Stevenson, Ayrshire
I can't see any sign of a death for an Elizabeth Wotherspoon, with mother's maiden name Duncan that fits for this Elizabeth. I think this is the Elizabeth who headed off to Michigan and married Robert Alexander. Something else that makes me think that is Elizabeth's younger sister Mary...
Monica
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if that is what the Glases on the death cert is meant to indicate
There is a parish called Glass in Aberdeenshire.
This information may or may not be relevant.
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Mary looks to be the youngest in the Wotherspoon family. Her entry in the parish records:
MARY WOTHERSPOON
Parents JOHN WOTHERSPOON/JANET DUNCAN
05/12/1850
Ref 596 20 / 221
Kilbirnie
I think the Mary D Wilcox who shows in the Hunter Household in 1910 and 1920 as sister in law to Robert is this Mary. I think an error was made showing her as Hunter in 1910.
Mary is still in Scotland for the 1881 census:
John Wotherspoon 71 Retired Furnace Manager b.New Monkland, Lanarkshire
Janet Wotherspoon 66 b. Cambuslang, Lanarkshire
Mary Wotherspoon 29 Daughter b. Kilbirnie, Ayrshire
Address 449 St Vincent St, Glasgow/ Anderston
I think I can now see where the name Forrest comes in (and given in error on Elizabeth's death registration). Her maternal grandmother looks to have had the maiden name of Forrest.
Janet Duncan or Wotherspoon died in Ardrossan Old, Ayrshire in 1890 at the age of 75. Her mother's maiden name is showing as Forrest.
Similarly, John Wotherspoon looks to have died in the Anderston area of Glasgow in 1888 at the age of 78. His mother's name is showing as Russell on the index (the middle name showing for Elizabeth on her death registration....looks like both her grandmothers made their stamp on that registration!).
Monica
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From the Death certificate (informant was Robert A Hunter)
Mary D Wilcox [Mary D Wetherspoon]
Gender Female
Race White
Occupation Retired school teacher
Marital Status Widowed
Death Age 62
Birth Date 1858
Birth Place Glasgow Scotland
Death Date 10 Feb. 1920
Death Place Detroit, Wayne, Michigan, USA
Father - John Wetherspoon
Mother - Jane Russell ( We know now, this surname not correct)
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Mary B Weatherspoon, Age 35
Marriage Date 6 Dec. 1892
Marriage Place Hopkins, Mason, Michigan, USA
Spouse Levi Wilcox
Mary's birth place is recorded as Scotland, and both parents "unknown".
The 1900 census, shows her husband Levi Wilcox is a farmer aged 74.
Mary born Oct 1864 (aged 37)
Doesn't she love to play around with her age! It's all over the place!! :)
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1871 census Stevenston Ayrshire, Chemical Row
John Wotherspoon 61 born New Monkland, furnace worker
Janet Wotherspoon 56 born Cambuslang
Mary Wotherspoon 20 daughter born Kilbirnie
Elizabeth Wotherspoon 22 daughter born Kilbirnie, teacher
SAME FAMILY that Monica has posted about, reply #20.
This is the family in 1851 census
https://www.freecen.org.uk/search_records/59027aace9379091b11bc614/mary-witherspoon-1851-ayrshire-ayr-1847-?locale=en
There was another son (Alexander) born in 1854
The family in 1841 in Rutherglen
https://www.freecen.org.uk/search_records/5a14dd4af4040b9d6ee30ee3/john-wotherspoon-1841-lanarkshire-rutherglen-1811-?locale=en
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Many thanks Neale1961, MonicaL and Forfarian for your postings. The information is very interesting and helpful.
It is likely that the Mother of Robert A Hunter (snr) is Jean/Jane Auld.
There are a couple of possibilities for his father - is there one more likely - to clarify?
Thanks
TPB
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Re reply #14
Since found on Familysearch as family tree for Jane AULD which indicates that Jane married on 15 July 1843 at Ayr a Francis MCCALL. Francis was b 1825 and died 1875.
Jane AULD and Hugh Hunter had a son Robert Hunter 1847.
Hugh Hunter was born 1817 Kilwinning - no parents stated.
I have contacted account holder in Canada, fingers crossed he responds!
TPB
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Yes he did respond but not able to assist with further information.
TPB
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Hugh Hunter was born 1817 Kilwinning - no parents stated.
Unless there is a supporting record, or a DNA match, I would say that is a total guess.
If you look at the census in 1841 and 1851 for possible Hugh Hunters of the approx. age in Kilwinning and neighbouring parishes, there are scores to choose from.
Parents of an illegitimate birth might be mentioned in the kirk sessions, but from my recollection, I looked, and there were not any for the time period in question.
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Many thanks Neale1961 - I thought that might be the case.
TPB
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James W and Elizabeth Russell had 9 of a family. Spelling is very variable.
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Many thanks Forfarian for this information which is much appreciated.
Thank you to all who have read and replied to my posting.
I will now close this posting while I work with this information to see if there is any connection to "my" Hunter family.
TPB