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 before March 22, 1768, in Bedford County, Virginia) and Elizabeth (Steele) Hunter. His siblings mentioned in his father's will were: James, John, Samuel, Betty, and Alice Hays (and perhaps "Al ?Wilson" added later - order of births unspecified). 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. 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. "Alexander was an eccentric character, and gave himself the nickname of "Devil" Aleck." 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 …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 (no witnesses), Proved 28 Feb 1791."

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. Alexander Hunter supplied 200 pounds of beef to the American Army, in March 1782. 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 The Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) is a lineage-based membership service organization for women who are directly descended from a person involved in the United States' efforts towards independence. A non-profit group, they promote ...

is: A032707. SAR PatriotID: 338789

Estate at death

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

References

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 {{DEFAULTSORT:Hunter, Alexander (Planter) 1750 births 1804 deaths 18th-century American planters People from colonial Virginia Virginia militiamen in the American Revolution American slave owners People from Bedford County, Virginia