Person:Patrick Hunter (4)

From “The Muir Book, for the descendants of Sir William Muir, KCSI, and Elizabeth Huntly Wemyss” by Maj Gen G.F.L. Marshall (1930, Dwelly, England), Rankin information from Robert Reid, Hill Cottage, Irvine. Book sent by K. Sillars. Robert Rankin (1776-1853) married Janet Hunter (1782-1823), daughter of Patrick Hunter (1736-1800), Irvine writer. Janet d. aged 41. Scottish archives have the will of Elizabeth Hunter, widow of Patrick Hunter, writer in Irvine, reg 1813 Glasgow (scotlandspeople). There is a headstone of Patrick Hunter (1732-1802), who was involved with the Buchanites, in Irvine churchyard (web). Patrick Hunter d. 9aug1802, aged 66; his wife Elizabeth Francis d. 9dec1812, aged 72 (information, W. Kerr). Elizabeth and Jean Francis were daughters of Joseph Francis, maltster, who probably d. sep1760 and was probably descended from an old Irvine family “Francis of Stane” (Stanecastle) (W. Kerr).

From W. Kerr: Jean Francis and her spouse James Garven were low profile members of the sect. Jean was a daughter of maltster Joseph Francis. Little is known of her husband James other than he was as a carpenter and for a time Deacon of the Irvine trade guild the Wrights and Squaremen. He (James Garven) died 2nd Aug 1800 aged 57.

  Elizabeth Francis (Jean’s elder sister) and her husband Patrick Hunter were however, more fanatical supporters of the society.  She nevertheless, abandoned the congregation at Nithsdale on June 1786 in protest against the cult’s fasting regime, which was gravely endangering the lives of her two young children.  She returned a month later with a warrant and three constables to claim her offspring and an unwilling Patrick.  It is recorded in the Old Parish Kirk Session records dated 18th Nov 1787, that Elizabeth Francis ‘professed her sorrow on account of being misled by the errors of Mrs Buchan and desired to be restored to Christian privilege.’   She died 9th Dec 1812 aged 72. 

The zealous Patrick Hunter was burgh fiscal, with business interests in the local coal and shipping trade. A kenspeckle character, known as ‘Humphy’ due to a physical deformity, he was regarded by many as a harmless eccentric. After his obligatory homecoming he was strictly watched by family and friends to prevent further contact with his former brethren. He believed in the immortality of Elspeth Buchan, known as Lucky Buckie, to the end of his days, and when informed by a horse-dealer just returned from Dumfries Fair that his old friend was dead, he replied “Oh no! That is not the case, and never will be in this world.” “Well” said his acquaintance, “if she is not dead, her friends in Galloway have played her a devilish trick, for they have buried her.” Humphy Hunter died like other folk on 9th Aug 1802 aged 66.

1.   International Genealogical Index. ( The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint, 1999-2008).