Family:Thomas Hunter and Ann Dayton (1)

Thomas Hunter b 1824 either in Middletown, Bucks Co, PA, or Philadelphia, Jefferson Co, NY. His father Daniel Hunter opened account in Philadelphia NY in 1809 and owned 60 acres in Philadelphia, Jeff Co, NY in 1845. So Daniel and wife Sarah likely living in Philadelphia NY in 1824 when Thomas was born. Court records from Bucks PA in 1820 for Andrew Hunter's last will show Hugh Hunter (son) as executor of estate in Bucks Co, PA and Daniel Hunter (son) of Philadelphia Township, Jefferson Co, NY, suggesting Daniel and wife Sarah living in Jefferson Co NY in 1820s.

In 1850 Fed Census for Orleans, Jeff Co, NY (which included Philadelphia area) Daniel and Sarah living w/ three sons, Thomas b 1824, Henry b 1825, Philadelphia, NY and William b 1830 Philadelphia, NY (and William's wife Almira Mandigo whom he married in 1849).

Thomas's father Daniel Hunter appears to have died Dec 1865, and buried at Spragueville Cemetery, Antwerp, Jefferson Co, NY (about 6 miles from Philadelphia, NY).

Thomas m. abt 1863 Ann Dayton, (who was the widow of William Shannon, d 1854 by whom she had Gilbert and Dorinda Shannon) Ann Dayton,--- prior to her marriage abt 1863 to Thomas Hunter,---- had been first married to William Shannon b, 1829 Plessis NY. He married Ann Dayton, 'of Vermont', in 1844, when she was just 15 yrs old. They had a daughter Derinda [likely named after Ann Dayton's sister Derinda Dayton (Spalsbury), and a son Gilbert b 1851. William Shannon d. 1854,age 25 and Ann w/ two children lived as widow. She was shown in 1860 Fed Census as widow, w/ two children: Gilbert and Direnda (aka Derinda).

1865 Alexandria, Jefferson Co, NY Census---Thomas Hunter is 41 and married to Ann D [Dayton] Shannon age 36. He was born in Jefferson County and had 2 step-children (Gilbert E. Shannon age 14, and Derinda E. Shannon) and a daughter Minnie E. Hunter, age 4 months old.

1870 Census Town of Alexandria (page 37): Thomas Hunter age 49 has real estate valued at $3510 and value of personal estate is $5342. Ann, age 41, Minnie E. is 5, Alvaro J is 3, Gilbert Shannon is 19 and a farm laborer, Margaret Shannon is 16.

In 1880s, Thomas Hunter and son Alvaro are shown as members of Plessis Methodist Church, Plessis, Jeff Co, NY (per Methodist Church Account Records of St. Lawrence Co, NY 1886-1888 under Plessis Charge the Rev. Asa Lynds Smith), along w/ Thomas's step-son Gilbert Shannon.

1890 Business journal report: "Hunter, Thomas, (Plessis) farm 250, h and 5 acres Wall" and about his son "Hunter, Alvaro J., (Plessis) r 61, 20 cows, breeder of grade Ayrshire cattle, farmer, leases of Thomas [Hunter, his father] 250 acres." This confirms he was now living on Wall St., Plessis, in retirement and leasing to his son Alvaro the 250 acre farmlands he still owned.

Alvaro and his wife Ida Blevins moved into the "Hunter Farm" on the hill on Hunter Road owned by Thomas Hunter, likely near the "Shannon Farm" that had been owned by Ann's first husband, William Shannon, which was passed to her son Gilbert Shannon. The "Hunter Farm" of Thomas Hunter was not built from scratch. Thomas added to the house, including building a cheese cellar, and some barns. It is possible Thomas's father Daniel was still living there before his death in 1865.

According to Alvaro's son Earl A. Hunter, "My father (Alvaro J) purchased the [old Hunter] farm from my grandfather (Thomas)...and I have in my possession a small tin box containing cancelled notes and obligation bearing both the signature of my father and grandfather". The box and its content are missing.

Thomas Hunter d. 1893 is-- together w/ wife Ann Dayton Hunter--- buried in Brookside Cemetery, Plessis, Jeff Co, NY.