John & Mary Hunter

John was born in Bruslee, County Antrim in 1832 and christened at the Ballyeaston Church. His father Samuel Hunter was a farmer at Bruslee and it is believed that he rented property from the Marquis of Donegall which he then purchased. Other records lead us to believe that his mother was Mary A. Cameron. We understand that John had the following siblings: William, Letitia (or Lettita?), Elizabeth, David and possibly a Samuel who may have died at a young age. Research is ongoing to confirm this data.
Mary was a foundling born C1835 and called Mary Linney on her marriage to John in 1856 at Ballylinney. At the time of his marriage John's occupation was noted as a weaver. Two boys were born in County Antrim and the family then moved to the Dalmellington area C1860. Here, he took up employment with the iron company and resided in their cottages for the next 20 years. The remaining members of the family were born there and as the boys reached working age probably took up employment with the iron company in the mines and iron works. At least one girl was employed as a domestic servant away from home. Mary took the maiden name of Campbell for the births recorded in Scotland (It is believed that she was fostered by a family of that name)
In 1882 John & Mary arrived in Adelaide, South Australia deciding to emmigrate after receiving a letter from sons James & John who had already travelled there.
It is not known what employment that John took up on arrival but it could either be working as a labourer on local Norton Summit properties or in the local quarries. In 1883 John received a legacy of 20 pounds from his brother William on his taking over the farm owned by Samuel in Bruslee and who had stipulated this payment to John in his will. Samuel had left the farm as a life interest to his daughter Elizabeth and then on her death the farm went to his eldest son William.
In 1892/3 John took up land at Montacute with the help of the Hank family and with his 4 younger sons set up a market garden & orchard. Thomas was to move to W.A. around 1895. A few years later he transferred the property to the 3 sons remaining in S.A who had helped in operating the property; William, David & Robert. It is believed that John & Mary lived in the Magill area in the early part of the 20th century. It is later assumed that as they became older and less able, John & Mary lived with their son David. John died in 1917 and is buried in the Norton Summit cemetery. When David sold his interest to his 2 brothers his mother Mary, came to live with David's family in Adelaide at Evandale. She remained there until her death in 1923 and subsequent burial in Norton Summit cemetery. A family member recalls that she spent much of the day napping and because of this she would wander around the house at night keeping other family members from sleeping.

John & Mary and 9 of their children travelled to Australia on the sailing ship 'Nebo" which left Plymouth in November, 1881 and arrived in Adelaide, South Australia in February, 1882. To see picture of a similar ship to the Nebo click here and it will open in new window. It is understood that the Nebo was renamed the Forthbank and there is a postcard/photo of the ship in the Mortlock Library, Adelaide dated C1895. The "Nebo" was a fast sailing ship similar to the "Cutty Sark" and reached Australia in one of the shortest sailing times available at that time without steam assistance.
Not much is known about the journey although David Hunter recalled the ship being hailed by another boat which requested supplies of lime juice as they had cases of scurvy on board. (Scurvy is caused by a deficiency of vitamin C in the diet).
Another anecdote supported by evidence is the interest of a member of the crew in the family. Perhaps it was because of his attraction to the girls in the family - in particular Mary Ann that they were befriended by a young officer. On arrival in Adelaide he left his photo and a telescope as a memento of their encounter. Click here to see a photo of this unknown officer in a new page which was taken at Largs Bay, South Australia. The telescope of brass is now with my brother Brian Hunter on a boat which he keeps at Nelson Bay (NSW) and sails in the area.. Click here to see a photo of the telescope on the table in the boat where he charts his courses when sailing. He has made a leather holder so that you can grip the telescope when it is in use.
It is also understood that Robert Hunter named his son Marsey after either a crew member or the captain of the Nebo.
Moving to another country half way across the world with a large family would mean that very few large items could be taken with them. The main luggage would no doubt consists of clothing and probably linen and items for the household in their new land. It is believed that they brought a chest of drawers out with them and it is conjectured that they used this to carry their linen and other items in it. It is also believed that a chiming "steeple clock" was brought out with them too. (Click here for a picture of the clock to open in a new window). The cedar chest of drawers is now in the home of Rosemary and Bob (dec'd) Shearer a descendent of Mary Ann Hank (nee Hunter) The clock is held by David Hunter, a great grandson of Mary & John Hunter. The age of the clock is unknown but as it has a picture of Melrose Abbey (which is in the border region of Scotland) on the door. It is thought it was bought in Scotland during the period they stayed there between 1860 and 1882. The fact that they were prepared to bring these items out does indicate that they had sentimental value to the family.

James was born in Ballyclare, County Antrim and died in East Fremantle, Western Australia. James and his brother John are said to have come out to Adelaide in C1877. According to my father they paid their own fare and travelled to Adelaide on a steamer. A 3rd class (steerage) ticket would have cost between 16 & 20 pounds at that time. (At 2001 values this would be over 1,000 pounds or $A2,500!) Alternatively, it is possible that they arrived at Port Adelaide in the Forfarshire on 3rd October, 1877. The passenger list shows a James Hunter, aged 20 Agricultural Labourer but not a John Hunter his brother. Another family story is that James & John came out individually before the rest of the family! All these stories have been told within the Hunter families and as yet are not confirmed one way or the other. However the following could have been the scenario based on the 3 stories - James came out as an assisted migrant in 1877 on the Forfarshire. John came out later on a steamer as a paying passenger. Perhaps James suggested John come out and may have paid for the ticket having settled down successfully in South Australia.
The brothers then wrote back to encourage the remainder of the family to immigrate which they did in 1882.
He married Louisa Goodridge from Saddleworth in South Australia in 1880. He was working as a carrier in the area. To see a photo of James with his wife Louise (nee Goodridge) taken in Fremantle C1900 click here to open in a new window.
He with 3 brothers later moved to West Wallsend, NSW to work on the mine shaft there, returning to Adelaide and then moving to Western Australia where the family settled. He probably went to Collie initially to work in the coalmines there. He had 8 children (4 boys and 4 girls); 3 born in South Australia and 5 in West Wallsend. At the time of his death his occupation was shown as quarry owner thereby completing a lifetime of work in the mining and associated industries.

Alfred was born in County Antrim and died in West Wallsend, NSW. Alfred was 24 years old when he arrived with other family members in Australia. According to his grandson Ron Hunter, he was quite a good soccer player in Scotland before he moved to Australia. He and 3 brothers went to West Wallsend to work on the sinking of a new shaft for a mine. He married Janet Davie - (she apparently called herself Jessie because she thought that her name had conotations of "plain Jane"!) in West Wallsend where he had settled. They had 8 children (2 boys & 6 girls). Two of the children died one shortly after birth and one aged 9 years. He worked most of his life with the NSW railways as an engine driver; operating a train between West Wallsend and the main line at Cockle Creek. Ron Hunter (his grandson) told an amusing tale about Alfred. When driving a train with a passenger carriage he travelled some distance down the line and realized that the carriage had not been connected to the train. He had to back up to retrieve it before they could continue the journey to Cockle Creek and the main line! He was often teased about this incident by his workmates over the years.
To see photo of Alfred on his steam engine getting hot water for tea click here to open in new window.
To see Alfred (standing in centre with coat over arm) at what is believed to be Cockle Creek click here to open in new window.

John Hunter was born in Dalmellington, Scotland and died at Collie, Western Australia. John is believed to have travelled to Adelaide on a steamer in the period 1877 - 1880 and have been a paying passenger.
John was known to have worked in Pzysey's quarry in the Norton Summit area. Other brothers may have also worked there using their skills learnt in Dalmellington. His first wife was Emily Hank whom he married in Adelaide. They had 5 children (4 boys, 1 girl); 2 of whom were born in New South Wales where he had gone with 3 of his brothers to sink the mine shaft at West Wallsend. He returned to Adelaide and here his first wife died. It is believed that he obtained a housekeeper to look after his young family. He then left Adelaide with 3 of his brothers and moved to Western Australia. He settled in Collie where he probably worked in the coalmines there. Here he married the housekeeper, Martha Spry (who was a single mother with a daughter) and they had a son. John visited Adelaide from time to time as he was in regular contact with Robert Hunter and my father remembered him well.
To see a photo believed to be of his first wife Emma Hunter (nee Hank) with a child click here to open in a new window.
To see a photo of John's family in front of their house in Collie around C1900 click here to open in a new window. Note the name of the house "Mossgiel". This was the name of the farm which Robert Burns leased in Scotland. The people shown are from left to right - John Campbell (b1883) with Ruby Adelaide (Martha's child before her marriage) E. Martha (nee Spry), probably Herbert Alfred (b1892), Mary Christina (b1890), Reginald Charles (b1885), and probably Walter David (b1887) (killed 1912). Hard to tell between Herbert and Walter David as the face on the far right is blurred but is believed to be Walter David as he was 5 years older than Herbert.

Samuel Hunter was born in Dalmellington, Scotland and died in Collie, Western Australia. He died from a heart attack at the age of 40. He went to Collie W.A., to work in the mines there after returning from the mine work in West Wallsend N.S.W. He married Frances L. Roots while working in West Wallsend, NSW. They had 3 surviving children, one male having died in West Wallsend in 1896 (1 boy & 2 girls); Margeret was born in NSW and 2 (Mary and Samuel) were born in Western Australia with Samuel born one month after the death of his father. His widow re-married a Roderick McCaskill who was a widower with 4 young children. This melded family was brought up together

Mary was born in Dalmellington Scotland and died in Adelaide. She is believed to have died from TB. Mary married Herman Carl Hank in Adelaide and they had 4 children (3 boys & 1 girl). Herman re-married a Margaret A. Sutton but there were no children. Two grandsons of Mary became well known Australian Rules footballers for West Torrens in Adelaide.
You may have noticed the small bald spot at the beginning of the parting in her hair. She was a bit of a tom boy and once when wrestling with some of her brothers a missile was thrown which hit her in that spot, breaking the skin. The result was that when the damaged area healed no hair re-grew in the area. When I first saw this picture in Mary's album I was struck by the uncanny resemblence to my aunt Nancy M. Hunter who is Mary Ann's niece.
To see the marriage photo of Mary & Herman click here to open in a new window.

Jane was born in Dalmellington and died in Norton Summit, Adelaide. She married William Smith and they had 5 children (2 boys & 3 girls) In this group photo with Mary (C1910) the two girls are from the left; Elizabeth then Jane & their mother Mary Hunter.

Thomas was born in Dalmellington and died in Western Australia. Photo is taken in Adelaide C1885. Thomas remained in Adelaide originally as he was probably too young to go to NSW with 4 of his brothers. He remained with his family and was probably working with his father and 3 other brothers at the Montacute property when they set up the market garden and orchard in the 1890's When 3 of the brothers returned from NSW he joined with them and travelled to Western Australia probably to Collie initially. He married Elizabeth E. Stafford in 1900. They were both working on a property named "Illawarra", (an apple orchard) at Canning Mills, at the time. After the birth of their two children Henry and Harriet, they moved to Bullsbrook north of Perth where he purchased property and established a market garden and orchard. All the family were involved in the market garden. He spent the rest of his life working the garden which his son continued after his death adding another property where he established an orchard and grew strawberries. Harriet married and her husband worked in the garden also. Henry did not marry although it is thought he had a fiancee who died at a young age.

Elizabeth was born in Dalmellington and died in Norton Summit, Adelaide. In the photo with Mary (see entry for Jane), Elizabeth is on the left of the photo. She married William Warren Brooks and they had 2 children; a boy and a girl.
William had done some training in medicine and was a great believer in natural remedies which he practised on members of his family. Unfortunately this was not always practical and on at least one occasion when she was ill, David Hunter (her brother) interceded on her behalf to urge William to allow her to be attended by a doctor.

William Hunter was born in Dalmellington and died in Holmsdale, South Australia. He married Nellie S. Norton and they had 5 children (3 boys & 2 girls) William remained in Adelaide and when his father took up land at Montacute he with 2 other younger brothers worked the property which became a garden and orchard. The 3 brothers became joint owners when they took the property over from their father. He took up land in the Murray Mallee area of South Australia about 60kms from Loxton in the 1920's. So that he could farm the land properly he did a one year course at the Roseworthy Agriculture College. His brother Robert assisted in the building of a house on the new property between 1922 & 1923 and the family moved there in April 1923. In 1934 Robert bought out Williams share of the Montacute property. In 1938 after a stroke, William moved to Adelaide where he spent the remainder of his life.

David Hunter was born in Dalmellington and died in Adelaide, South Australia. He married Ethel M. Smith and they had 6 children (2 boys and 4 girls) 1 girl survived only for 2 days. As a child David, like his brother Robert had rheumatic fever and this led to his heart being weakened, which caused his semi invalidity in the last years of his life. David worked the property at Montacute with 2 of his brothers and became joint owners with them. It is understood that there was some disagreement about the property or its operation causing him to sell his share to Robert & William Hunter and move to Adelaide (C1918) where he became the full time gardener at the residence of F.W. Porter (a sharebroker) in College Park. He was both a keen fisherman and a player of cricket. He followed the test cricket avidly in his latter years and passed on his love of fishing to his son Hugh. Hugh was around 3 years of age when his father first took him fishing. David was also quite proficient as an artist although only one of his paintings survive. It is of ericas a native flower, in oil and on an old photo backing card. He and younger brother Robert had lessons from a local artist, Mrs. Scott in Montacute. Click here to see image in new window.
To see a photo of David and his wife Ethel taken in C1925 Click here to open in a new window.

Robert Hunter was born at Dalmellington and died in Adelaide, South Australia. he married Mabel Smith and they had 2 children; a boy and a girl. Robert operated the property at Montacute with 2 of his brothers which his father eventually transferred to them jointly. By 1925 Robert had bought out both his brothers. He then operated the property becoming well known for his prize cherries. When he was young he had rheumatic fever and during a bout of this he had a high temperature and to cool his head plunged it into cold water! The effect of this was that his hair fell out and he became bald. To overcome this he had a wig made from hair provided by his sisters. He maintained some contact with the family of his brother John in W.A. and his son Marsey bought property there which he operated with a share farmer. He also visited W.A. from time to time and this photo of him was taken there. He regularly sent cherries to the family in W.A. During the 1930's he became a member of parliament in South Australia. My father Hugh Hunter recalls that one of his first speeches to the parliament concerned the practice of selling items such as melons by the piece and not the pound. He thought this was unfair to producers as because they varied in weight the sellers did not get the benefit of this fact in the price they received.