Alexander Hunter (planter)

Alexander Hunter (born 1750 in Bedford County, Virginia- died 1804 in Henry County, Virginia) was a noted 18th century tobacco planter in Southwestern Virginia, and supplier to the American Revolutionary Army. His home, "Hunter's Place", was along the Smith River (Virginia) in Henry County.

Personal life

Alexander Hunter was the son of Alexander Hunter, Sr., (died December 21, 1767 in Bedford County, Virginia) and Mary N. Hunter. There is some indication that Alexander Hunter, Sr., had been previously married, but the children of this marriage included Alexander and his brother, Samuel. Other children, perhaps of a first marriage, were: James Hunter, John Hunter, and Betty Hunter. The order of birth and dates of these siblings are uncertain.

Alexander Hunter married Martha Patsy Hairston (June 6, 1753- June 3, 1832), daughter of Robert Hairston and Ruth Stovall Hairston, on June 3, 1769. Their child was Mary Polly Hunter (1775-1862) who married Burwell Bassett.[1]

Martha Hunter, wife of Alexander Hunter, appeared in the Henry County court and using her dower conveyed 179 acres of land to Archibald Hughes, Esq. on March 23, 1780, for an undisclosed sum.[2]

"Alexander was an eccentric character, and gave himself the nickname of "Devil" Aleck."[3]

There was quite a bit of land selling and land acquisition during his lifetime. Alexander Hunter evidently owned land or had landed interests in neighboring Patrick County, Virginia, as well as in Bedford County and Henry County. "Alexander Hunter of Henry County to James Baker of the same sells and conveys for the sum of seven pounds ten shillings a tract of land containing 100 acres on the branches of Blackberry Creek[4] …on the north side up the branch of the south fork of the branch to Hunter's old line to John Goings. Signed: Alexander Hunter. Wit: none. Proved 28 Feb 1791."[5]

Revolutionary War

Alexander Hunter enlisted as a private in Colonel William R. Lee's Regiment of the Continental Troops on November 14, 1777. He later appears on a muster roll of a detachment of Lee's Regiment commanded by Lt. Colonel Wm. Smith, Esq., late under the command of Captain Jonathan Drown, for the month of May, 1778.[6]

Alexander Hunter supplied 200 pounds of beef to the American Army, in March 1782.[7] He was also involved with his father-in-law as support to the sheriff of Henry County, and in his support as a supplier of goods and provender for the American Revolutionary Army. The "Ancestor Number" for Alexander Hunter by the Daughters of the American Revolution is: A032707.

Estate at death

Alexander Hunter owned over 1,500 acres of tobacco land spread over several counties when he died.[8] He also owned at least seven slaves.[9] Alexander Hunter is buried at the Graves Knob Cemetery in Bassett, Virginia.

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References
  1. Hadden, Robert Lee. The Shamrock and the Fleur De Lys: The Family Histories of the William James Hadden Family and the Whitney Shumate Family. Greenville, N.C. (1600 E. 6th St., Greenville 27834): Hadden Pub. Association, 1990. Pages 271-272. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/23051809
  2. Blunt, Charles P. Complete Index and Abstract of the Henry County Order Books #1 and #2, 1777-1782. Richmond: Distributed by Briarwood Publications, 1978. Page 73.
  3. "Alexander Hunter".
  4. Blackberry Creek flows eastward out of foothills in the eastern edge of Patrick County and joins the Smith River about 5 miles to the west in Henry County. Before a boundary change in 1856 a mile or two more of the creek was in Patrick County than is the case now.
  5. Abstracts of Henry County, Virginia Deed Books III and IV August 1784-June 1792 – Compiled by Lela C. Adams. Pages 182-183: 24 Feb 1791. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/11155178
  6. National Archives and Records Service. File Designation 5868. Office of the Army, Paymaster General. Ordered by the US Congress on July 1, 1783, to settle all accounts with the soldiers of the US Army. Journal American Congress, Volume 4, page 237. Report. Volume 3, page 202.
  7. Abercrombie, Janice L., and Richard Slatten. Virginia Revolutionary "Publick" Claims. Athens, Ga: Iberian Pub. Co, 1992. Volume II, Page 510.
  8. Circuit Court of Bedford County, Virginia. Will Book #1. Page 50.
  9. Fothergill, Augusta B., and John Mark Naugle. Virginia Tax Payers, 1782-87: Other Than Those Published by the United States Census Bureau. Baltimore: Genealogical Pub. Co, 1966. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/4684446

Bibliography
  • Bassett, Mary Henrian. The Bassett Family in Henry County, Virginia, with Stories, Mainly of the Woodson Bassett Branch. Martinsville, Va: Bassett, 1976. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/2856828
  • Blunt, Charles P. Complete Index and Abstract of the Henry County Order Books #1 and #2, 1777-1782. Richmond: Distributed by Briarwood Publications, 1978. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/3892004
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