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- Emigrated in 1774 from Ireland to Ballstown, Albany County, New York, USA
MILITARY SERVICE: 1779 NY Jessup's Rangers- corporalMILITARY DISCHARGE: 1783 New York, NYLAND GRANT: Bef 13 Oct 1784 Edwardsburg Twp., Grenville Co., UCHEIGHT: 5' 8"David Hunter Sr. of South Gower Twp. has been mistaken for David Hunter Sr. of Yonge Twp. since the 1790's. Not only descendants, genealogists and U.E. Loyalists groups, but also government official during their lifetimes made this error. Both men were U.E. Loyalists with large families. Both had sons named James, David Jr., and John/Jonathan. And both had daughters named Elizabeth, nicknamed Betsy. Both were probably married twice.However a 1797 map of Edwardsburgh Twp., clearly shows the 1st David Hunter Sr. living in that township on 100 acres near his in-laws the McIlmoyls. A similarly dated map of Yonge Twp. shows the 2nd David Hunter Sr. on 200 acres on the St. Lawrence River.Other differences between these 2 men- South Gower Twp. was a farmer, whereas Yonge Twp. was a millwright. The first man was born in Ireland in 1761. The 2nd man's birth place/date is unknown. Before the American Revolution the 1st man lived in New York State and the 2nd lived in Vermont. South Gower died at a young age in the fall 1816 according to his brother-in-law Thomas McIlmoyl. Surrogate Court records from that time support this date.David Hunter Sr of Yonge Twp lived until old age and died c. 1833. His signature on many post 1816 documents support the 2 man theory.To illustrate the make-up of the 1st man's family there exists an 1810 Township Census for South Gower. Listing the names and ages of all citizens individually it reads:vDavid Hunter 47,Gette Hunter 27,SamÕl Hunter 18,Jane Hunter 14,David Hunter Jun'r 11,Mary Hunter 8,James Hunter 6,John Hunter 4,Peter Hunter 2,Elizabeth Hunter 0As well, Thomas McIlmoyl submitted to the Surveyor General a signed affadavit in 1831 which attests to the lineage of the 1st David Hunter Sr.'s offspring. It reads:
Grandfather's name was Samuel, he died at New York, in the time of the revolution.Samuel,Jane,David,Mary,James,Peter,Elizabeth,John,Nelson,Frances,Margrat (sic)
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