Person Record
Metadata
Name |
Hunter, Archibald |
Born |
1799 |
Birthplace |
Kilmarnock, Scotland |
Places of residence |
Kilbarchan, Scotland (youngest son born there in 1839), Renfrewshire New York State (1841) Southern Glenelg Durham, Grey County (1842-18__) |
Nationality |
Scottish-American-Canadian |
Notes |
In 1862, Mr. H. J. Middaugh advertised that he now had the "British Hotel" at Durham that had formerly been Mr. Hunter's (The Owen Sound Times, Aug. 29, 1862, p. 4). Archibald Hunter had the stone hotel built in 1854. It stood on the corner of the Durham Road and Garafraxa Street, in upper town Durham. His grand-daughter, Margaret Hunter, had inherited a tintype image of the exterior of the British Hotel, and it was published in a newspaper article in the Sun-Times newspaper. The article mentioned that Archibald and his son William made their way to Oakville, and thence by the Garafraxa Road into the wilderness and had been advised at Oakville to locate on the high land that they would find immediately north of the "Big Saugeen River". Mr. Hunter chose his land on the east side of the road, and William chose his on the right side. The first building at what would become Durham was Archibald Hunter's log house, where he passed the winter of 1842-1843. Within a year he had brought his family to the new home, and had opened his home to the public as an inn (there was then no other inn between Mount Forest and Owen Sound). There are a couple reminscences about the hotel in Dr. W. Brown's book about the Queen's Bush. Archibald Hunter (b. 1799) There might be a copy of a letter to one of his descendents in the museum's geneaology file. A history booklet on Glenelg Township mentioned Archibald Hunter was a native of Kilmarnock, Scotland, and resided in New York State before coming up to what later became Southern Glenelg in the late 1830s to take up land. Mr. William Jamieson and Mr. Pullan took up lots also. They returned to New York State and the Hunter family returned in 1842 and started the settlement at Durham. (Glenelg History: Early Settlement and Pioneer Life, p. 2). As the youngest son James Hill Hunter was born in Scotland in 1839, at Kilbarchan, this late 1830s mention sounds erroneous. William Hunter also was born at Kilbarchan. The H. Belden Historical Atlas includes a posthumous engraving portrait of Archibald Hunter. It also has a portrait of his youngest son , who was an M.P.P. (=James Hill Hunter, elected in 1879). Archibald Hunter's Family: James Hill Hunter (Member of the Provincial Parliament) served for two terms for the riding of "Grey South". He was from Durham. ("Political History of Grey is Varied But Interesting", The Owen Sound Daily Sun Times, July 1, 1927 Old Home Week Edition). Archibald and his wife Elizabeth and other family members are buried at the Durham Cemetery. |
Occupation |
First Settler / Founder of Durham Tavern / Hotel Keeper / British Hotel |
Publications |
Brown, W. (Dr.), _________, 193_, pp. ___ "Opening Garafraxa Road Brought Settlers Northward, Previous Route By Water: Big Stone Hotel Built at Durham by Archibald Hunter in 1854 First to Supplant Log Public Houses in District", OWEN SOUND SUN-TIMES (date not provided on the clipping). A HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF DURHAM 1842-1992 Belden, Henry, Illustrated Historical Atlas of Grey County, 1880 (bio re J. H. Hunter) |
Relationships |
Grand-daughter: Margaret Hunter (Owen Sound) Grandson: _________Hunter (Owen Sound) Grandson: Archibald Sinclair Hunter (b. 1850-d. 1922) Grand-daughter: Margaret Hunter (d. 1968, age 84, in a fire) Grandson: Oliver Sinclair Hunter |
Role |
Business person |
Spouse |
1. Elizabeth Hill, m. 18__ 2.________, m. 18__ |
Children |
William Hunter James Hill Hunter (b. 1839-d. 1891) |
