My earliest known Hunters lived in Co. Monaghan, Province of Ulster, Ireland. Joseph (b.c1772) & Jane (b. c1782) Hunter emigrated to Toronto Twp., Peel Co., Ontario, Canada, some time between the last known birth of a child in Ireland in 1825 and 1836 when Joseph purchased land at Lot 10, Concession 3W, Chinguacousy Township, Peel County, Ontario.

Children of Joseph and Jane Hunter:

James Hunter (b. c1799) m. Eliza Jane Anderson (b. c1804)

Elizabeth Hunter (b. c1803) m. Thomas Lundy

Nancy Hunter (b. c1805) m. William Oliver (b. c 1803)

David Hunter (b. 1807) m. Jane Hamilton (b. c 1815)

Joseph Hunter (b. 1810) m. Margaret Scott (b. 1821)

Sarah Hunter (b. 1814) m. John Nelson (b. 1814)

Nathaniel Hunter (b. 1816) m. Margaret Hamilton (b. 1824)

William Hunter (b. c1817) m. Rachel Smith (b. c1823)

Mary Hunter (b. c1819) m. John Scott (b. c1817)

Charlotte Hunter (b. 1820) m. James Scott (b. c1820)

Thomas Hunter (b. 1823) m. Sarah Reeve (b. 1824)

John Hunter (b. 1825) m. Amelia Lundy (b. 1830)

George Hunter

Nathaniel & Margaret (Hamilton) Hunter were married on 15 Apr 1841 in Toronto Twp., Ontario, Canada. It was a double ceremony with Margaret’s sister, Ann Hamilton, marrying John Lundy on the same day. Reverend Porter was the officiating minister and the witnesses were Joseph McKeown & Wm. Watson.

Nathaniel had already purchased for £50 a 100-acre portion of the lot in Chinguacousy Twp. that his father had bought in 1836. His brother Joseph bought the other 100 acres. A third brother, William, purchased land across the road and all three brothers put up large brick homes....Nathaniel’s is still standing today, though in danger of the wrecking ball as new home developments spring up all around. Ann & John Lundy also built a lovely home across the road – now designated a heritage site.

Nathaniel & Margaret raised their family in the home that now sits near the corner of Chinguacousy Rd. And Hwy. 7 just outside of Brampton, Ontario. They farmed there until their deaths – Nathaniel on 23 Aug 1886, and Margaret on 24 Dec 1904.

Children of Nathaniel and Margaret Hunter:

Josiah Hunter (b. 22 Dec 1842) m1 Sarah Jane Lundy m2 Mary Doak (b. 11 Jun 1849)

Ann Jane Hunter (b.c1844) m. Francis Tennant

Nathaniel Hunter (b. c1853)

John Henry Hunter (b. 1855) m. Elizabeth Jane Fraser (b. 1861)

Their first-born, Josiah, married his cousin, Sarah Jane Lundy (daughter of Ann and John Lundy), about 1867. They lived on their farm at Lot 10, Conc.2E, Chinguacousy Twp., Peel Co., Ontario. Twenty-five days after the birth of their third child, Sarah died on 27 November 1872, and is buried in Brampton Cemetery alongside her in-laws.

Children of Josiah and Sarah Jane Hunter:

Alice Josephine (b. 1869) m. William Sharpe (b. 29 Jun 1878)

Annie Hellena (b. 19 Apr 1870) m. Arthur Mollard

Wm. Frederick (b. 2 Nov 1872) m. Marlin (Martha) Mollard

Josiah was married again in Toronto on 5 Nov 1874, to Mary Doak, the daughter of John Doak and Jane Atwell who emigrated from Co. Tyrone, Ireland, and settled in Vaughan Twp., York Co. Their first child, Margaret Jane (m. Albert Wright) was born on 31 Jan 1876. On 10 Apr 1876, Josiah answered the call to "Go west, young man" and applied for a 160 acre land grant at NE-23-13-2-W1, Meadow Lea, Manitoba. He left his wife and four children behind to clear the land, built a home and begin the planting. On 4 October, 1877, Josiah put all his livestock, farm implements and household goods up for auction. The farm in Ontario was to be rented out. Sometime before the birth of their second child, Minnie, in June 1878, Mary, who was likely pregnant at the time, with four children under the age of nine, made the arduous 2300 km journey by cart, canoe and foot through mosquito- and black fly-infested northern woods to settle in their new home. The rest of the children were born in Manitoba.

The children of Josiah and Mary Hunter

Mary (Minnie) (b. 15 Jun 1878) m. Davey Jones

Robert John (b. 4 Feb 1880) m. Louanna Erratt

Nathaniel (b. 2 Nov 1881) m. Ethel M. Bowler

Beatrice Sarah (b.3 Jun 1883 - must have died very young)

Hamilton Josiah (b.13 Sep 1885) m. Gertrude Lobb (b. 28 Sep 1887)

Ethel Maud (b.4 Dec 1887 – must also have died young).

The community of Meadow Lea, Manitoba, was staunchly Methodist. Josiah became the first councilor for Ward 1, serving from 1880-1881 and again 1892 - 1894. He donated land for the local school. The younger boys would go over early in the mornings to start the fire in the school house. Mary’s brother, sisters and later her father all moved out west to be near them.

Josiah passed away 25 Jan 1919 and Mary 15 Jan 1929. They are buried in Brookside Cemetery in Winnipeg, MB.

Hamilton Josiah, the youngest of the Hunter family, met Gertrude Lobb when she emigrated from St. Gerrans, Cornwall, England, to live with her brother, Arthur Lobb, and his wife, Bertha Doak (Mary’s niece). They married in 1909 and farmed Josiah’s land until about 1918, when Gertie’s poor health prompted them to move to Winnipeg. Ham took a job as a night watchman at the T. Eaton Co. They had six children altogether, two dying very young. All but the youngest were born in Meadow Lea. Gertie’s health continued to fail, and she died of cancer in 1933. She is buried in Brookside Cemetery.

Children of Hamilton and Gertrude Hunter:

Evelyn (b. Abt. 1910 d. abt 1916)

Garnet (b. abt 1910 d. 1910)

Queenie (b. 22 Feb 1912) m. Howard McLean

Stanley Hamilton (b. 1914) died in a POW camp in Hong Kong in 1943

Arthur Hilton (b. 19 Oct 1916) m. Mary Brown

Herbert John (Jack) m. Sara Ferenczi

Ham was married again on 28 Aug 1945 to Josephine (Joe) McGrath, a school teacher from Northern Ireland. He passed on 15 Apr 1971 and is buried in Brookside Cemetery by Mary. Joe died on 3 Mar 1988, and is also buried at Brookside.