"We now believe that William and his family may have migrated to Ireland sometime between the period 1653 to 1685 before coming to America."⁽³⁰⁾)

---

"In 1685, during the reign of James II, William Hunter arrived in the upper parish of Nansemond County, Virginia. The land on which he settled was in the coastal Albemarle region and the native homeland of the Nansemond, the Meherrin, and the Chowanac Indians. It would become Chowan and Gates Counties of northeastern North Carolina. Today the old Hunter tracts are near the town of Sunbury.

"In 1685 William was among seven persons Charles Rountree transported to 'Up. Par. Of Nanzamund... by the Scypress Sw.' Rountree's land patent, dated 4 November, lists 'Willm. Hunter, Nicho. Hunter, Joane Hunter, Rebecka Hunter, Charles Rountree, Robert Rountree, John Sayer' (Virginia Patent Book, Vol. 7, p. 487)... The order of the listings in Rountree's original patent (father and son, then woman and woman) suggests that Joane and Rebecka were William and Nicholas's respective spouses... Rountree was granted fifty acres for each of these persons he brought to the royal colony." ⁽¹⁹⁾

"On 21 April 1695 William Hunter was granted a headright of his own, '200 acres on the eastward side of the main cypress swamp that runs out of Bennetts Creek' for having imported four Negro slaves (Virginia Patent Book, Vol. 8, p. 431). On 8 June 1699 William was listed as a clerk of Nansemond County (Virginia Magazine of History & Biography, I, June 1894, 232).

"On 25 April 1702 he was granted an additional 240 acres adjoining his tract in Upper Parish on the southeastern side of Meherrin Swamp. To this land “beginning at a white oak standing on a small branch or corner tree of a patent formerly granted to ye sd. Hunter” he transported five persons: “Wm. Hunter & his wife & his daughter Alice & his son Nicho. Hunter. Mary Cohon” (Virginia Patent Book, Vol. 9, pp. 309‑310)." ⁽¹⁹⁾

"In 1702 William was listed among magistrates and militia officers in Nansemond (Cecil Hedlam, ed. Calendar of State Papers, Colonial Series. Vol. 20: America and West Indies, Jan.‑Dec. 1, 1702, Preserved in Public Record Office [Vaduz: Kraus Reprint Ltd., 1964], first published in London: HMSO, 1912, pp. 155‑160). ⁽¹⁹⁾

"In 1702‑1714 William was a clerk, or justice of the peace in Nansemond (Virginia Magazine of History & Biography, I (June 1894), 368).

"Captain William Hunter was enumerated in A Compleat List of the Rent Roll of the Land in Nansemond County in anno 1704, with 800 acres (The Quick Rents of Virginia, compiled and alphabetized by Annie Laurie Wright Smith, 1957)." ⁽¹⁹⁾

William's "lost will, destroyed perhaps in courthouse fires that burned the Nansemond records, was signed before 1729. It is mentioned in a Chowan deed that Thomas Rountree, attorney for Nicholas Hunter and his wife Rebecca of Carteret County, transferred from Nicholas to his son William Hunter, the land cited as a bequest to Nicholas from his father William Hunter on 27 March 1729: '...one hundred & twenty acres more or less being part of a patent formerly granted to Wm. Hunter, late of the Upper Parish of Nansemond, deceased, father of the afsd. Nichs Hunter, party to these presents as by patent from the authority of Virginia bearing date the 25 of April 1701, doth & may appear, & by the last will & testament of the afsd Wm. Hunter deceased descended to Nics. Hunter'' (Chowan Deed Book C 1, pp. 599‑601).

The lost will is mentioned also in an indenture made 16 February 1742 in which Robert Hunter sold his brother Isaac a tract Robert had been willed by their father: 'the said land being part of two patents the first being a patent formerly granted to William Hunter late of the upper parish of Nansemond deceast being lawful father of the aforesaid Isaac Hunter and Robert Hunter both the parties for the quantity of two hundred acres as by a patent being dated the twenty first day of April which was in the year of our Lord Christ sixteen hundred and ninety five both and may appear and by the last will & testament of the said William Hunter deceased to his son Robert Hunter' (Chowan County, N. C., Deed Book A, pp. 257‑259). ⁽¹⁹

Historians frequently use nicknames to distinguish numerous men with the same name in the same location. Historians have used two different nicknames to identify Isaac Hunt, b. 1833. He may appear in research as Isaac (Crabtree) or Isaac (Tavern), derived as below: ⁽²⁸⁾

• Isaac "Crabtree"
  Isaac Hunter lived on 584 acres north of Crabtree Creek in Wake County, North Carolina. He purchased that property on March 3, 1762, for a sum of twelve pounds.
• Isaac "Tavern"
  Isaac Hunter received permission on Feb. 28, 1769, to open a tavern at his home. The site on the Cross Creek-to-Petersburg stage road was a well known and popular stopping place. In 1788, when the Hillsborough Convention was held to consider ratification of the U.S. Constitution, it decreed that the permanent capital of North Carolina be located within ten miles of Isaac Hunter's tavern.

Isaac Hunter was a Justice of the Peace in 1741. ⁽²⁸⁾

In 1787, the General Assembly of North Carolina was faced with an important decision. It was time to call a Convention to consider the adoption of the Constitution of the United States. Were North Carolina to become one of the United States, then it would need a capital city. The General Assembly decreed that a suitable location be found to designate as the "unalterable seat of government".

"In those days, government representatives would have to travel from all corners of North Carolina to conduct their official duties. As these folks made the long journey across the state, word began to spread of a place called Isaac Hunter's Tavern.

"Isaac Hunter's hospitality was known throughout the land. His tavern offered clean beds, quality food, and fine spirits for the weary travelers. Often times, officials would host meetings at Isaac Hunter's itself because they were so fond of the tavern.

"In 1791, the time came to pick a plot of land to build the new capital city. The members of the General Assembly had all spent their fair share of time at Isaac Hunter's Tavern, and they knew a good thing when they saw it. They selected 9 commissioners and issued them strict instructions: fix the unalterable seat of government within 10 miles of Isaac Hunter's Tavern.

"Those 9 commissioners were dispatched to meet at Isaac Hunter's Tavern and ascertain the perfect spot for a new capital city. The commissioners names might sound familiar:

"Joseph McDowell, James Martin, Thomas Person, Thomas Blount Edenton, William Johnston Dawson, Frederick Hargett, Henry William Harrington, James Bloodworth and Willie Jones.

"Various plots of land were submitted as suitable sites for the commission to review, including a plot owned by Isaac Hunter's close friend, Joel Lane. The commissioners spent eight days visiting the each plot, returning each night to Isaac Hunter's. After reviewing each plot, it was time for the commission to vote. On the first ballot, Joel Lane's slightly swampy plot only received two votes, while his Father-in-Law John Hinton's land received three votes. Neither plot received enough votes to secure a decision so a second ballot was necessary.

"Legend has it that when the first ballot failed to show a consensus, Joel Lane and Isaac Hunter decided to work together. The two of them threw the grandest party that North Carolina had ever seen. Joel Lane introduced the commissioners to a the 'jammiest bits of local jam' while Isaac Hunter poured his Cherry Bounce whiskey with a heavy hand. The festivities lasted all night, and into early morning.

"The next day, a second ballot was cast. With bleary eyes and throbbing heads, the commissioners voted 5-1 for Joel Lane's land, leaving poor John Hinton out in the cold. The deal was sealed, and Raleigh was built on Joel Lane's plot of land. If it wasn't for Isaac Hunter's Tavern, none of us would be here this very day."
sister of Martha Alston, daughter of Solo
— Text from the About page of a 21st Century tavern in Raleigh, North Carolina, which uses the Isaac Hunter name

Additional documentation for Isaac Hunter's Tavern:

• Profile of Isaac Hunter, NCPedia, by Thornton W. Mitchell, 1988
• "Before there was a Raleigh, there was Isaac Hunter's tavern. It was lost, now it's found.", News & Observer, by Craig Jarvis, Aug. 18, 2017
• "Isaac Hunter's Tavern: A new future for the forgotten history of a place critical to Raleigh's past", ABC 11, by Heather Leah, Jan. 25, 2019

"At the time of his death, Hunter had a reputation for intemperance, which apparently contributed to his death. He was heavily in debt when he died, and by 1825 his remaining property was sold to settle his accounts."
— William S. Powell ⁽²⁹⁾

"Isaac Hunter sold the tavern property to William Camp, his son-in-law. By 1822, his property was reduced to 650 acres and two slaves. His remaining property was sold in 1825 to settle his accounts."
— Harold Mott ⁽²⁸⁾

After the death of Anderson Hunter, his widow, Martha was remarried to Archibard Wilson Baldwin Hopkins, Feb. 25, 1824, Wake County, North carolina. ⁽¹⁵⁾ Archibard was born 1802, Wake County, North Carolina; he died after 1850 in Greene County, Alabama. The Federal census of 1830 lists Archibald's household in St Matthews, Wake County, North Carolina. The household included these white males and females: 2 persons under 5; 1 person 5-10; 1 person 10-15; 3 persons 15-20; 1 person 20-30; 1 person 30-40. The record for the children 15-20 match the three Hunter children. ⁽¹⁶⁾

Wake County, North Carolina, court records dated Feb. 21, 1825, show that Archibald Hopkins became the official guardian of the minors Benjamin, Mildred, and Archibald Hunter. As part of the guardianship process, a sum of $10,000 was paid to the Trustees of the Court of Pleas in trust for the tuition of the three children. ^{(9, sheet 9 of 72)}

Archibald Hopkins and Martha had at least one child, known as Sarah Willis Hopkins ⁽¹⁸⁾, b. 1826 North Carolina; d. 1867; m. Minor Darius Wynne, July 26, 1848, Greene County, Alabama. ⁽¹⁷⁾

The last known record for Archibald Hopkins appears in the 1850 Federal census of Greene County, Alabama. He household appears under the name of "Arch'd W H Hopkins," though transcribed and indexed as "Arc'D D K Hopkins." The household then included Mary C. Hopkins, age 39; a male age 23 transcribed and indexed as "H* Hopkins (possibly Huck); a male age 21 transcribed and indexed as *Immons Hopkins"; and Marsha Hopkins age 14. Mary C. Hopkins may be the oldest child in the 1830 census. Marsha Hopkins's birth seems to coincide with the date of death for Martha C. Ward Hunter Hopkins.

1840 Federal Census, Greene County, Alabama ⁽³⁾

• Benjamin Hunter, head of household, male, age 20-30, unmarried living alone

1850 Federal Census, Greene County, Alabama ⁽²⁾

• Samuel A Johnsten, head of household, male, age 38, clerk, b. South Carolina
• Sarah T Johnsten, female, age 33, b. South Carolina
• Caroline Johnsten, female, age 15, b. South Carolina
• Surginer Johnsten, male, age 12, b. Alabama
• Harrison Johnsten, male, age 10, b. Alabama
• Cora Johnsten, female, age 8, b. Alabama
• Pattie Johnsten, female, age 6, b. Alabama
• Tailor Johnsten, male, age 4, b. Alabama
• Graham Johnsten, male, age 0, b. Alabama
• Benjamin P Hunter, male, age 33, b. North Carolina, physician
• Laura Hunter, female, age 11, b. Alabama
• William Hunter, male, age 9, b. Alabama
• Cora Hunter, female, age 6, b. Alabama

1860 Federal Census, Boligee, Greene County, Alabama ⁽¹⁴⁾

• S E Johnston, head of household, male, planter, age 50, b. South Carolina
• S T Johnston, female, age 40, b. South Carolina
• S H Johnston, male, clerk, age 20, b. Alabama
• C A Johnston, female, age 18, b. Alabama
• P C Johnston, female, age 15, b. Alabama
• M T Johnston, male, age 13, b. Alabama
• S G S Johnston, male, age 10, b. Alabama
• M D Johnston, male, age 7, b. Alabama
• S R Johnston, female, age 4, b. Alabama
• M H Johnston, male, age 1, b. Alabama
• B P Hunter, male, age 44, b. Alabama, physician and planter
• M A Hunter, female, age 20, b. Alabama
• W L Hunter, male, age 18, b. Alabama
• C B Hunter, female, age 17, b. Alabama
• N Friend, male, age 26, b. Alabama

1866 State Census, Greene County, Alabama ⁽⁶⁾

• 1 male, age 20-30
• 1 male, age 40-50
• 1 female, age 20-30

1870 State Census, Boligee, Greene County, Alabama ⁽¹³⁾

• B P Hunter, male, age 58, physician, b. North Carolina

1860 Federal Census, Orange County, North Carolina ⁽¹²⁾

• A C Hunter, head of household, male, age 40, b. North Carolina
• Eliza Hunter, female, age 40, b. North Carolina
• Elizabeth Hunter, female, age 50, b. North Carolina
• Sarah J. Hunter, female, age 14, b. North Carolina
• Martha Hunter, female, age 12, b. North Carolina
• Mary Hunter, female, age 12, b. North Carolina
• Julia Hunter, female, age 10, b. North Carolina
• Susaan Hunter, female, age 8, b. North Carolina
• Anna H. Hunter, female, age 6, b. North Carolina
• Leroy Hunter, male, age 4, b. North Carolina
• Willie Hunter, male, age 1, b. North Carolina
• Henry Thompson, male, age 25, b. North Carolina

1870 Federal Census, Hillsborough Township, Orange County, North Carolina ⁽¹¹⁾

• Arch C Hunter, head of household, male, age 50, b. North Carolina
• Eliza Hunter, female, age 45, b. North Carolina
• Sarah J Hunter, female, age 24, b. North Carolina
• Julia Hunter, female, age 20, b. North Carolina
• Melissa Hunter, female, age 20, b. North Carolina
• Leroy Hunter, male, age 14, b. North Carolina
• William Hunter, male, age 12, b. North Carolina
• Elizabeth Hunter, female, age 52, b. North Carolina

1880 Federal Census, Orange County, North Carolina ⁽¹⁰⁾

• Thomas Crabtree, head of household, male, age 70, b. North Carolina
• Martha Crabtree, female, age 28, b. North Carolina
• Archie Hunter, male, age 60, b. North Carolina
• Eliza Hunter, female, age 54, b. North Carolina
• Halcot Mcaulay, male, 25, b. North Carolina

1900 Federal Census, Little River Township, Orange County, North Carolina ⁽⁷⁾

• Archibald C. Hunter, head, male, age 82, b. North Carolina
• Mary J. Hunter, daughter, female, age 54, b. North Carolina
• Malvina Piatt, sister-in-law, female, age 78, b. North Carolina

"Theophilus Hunter was Justice of the Peace in Johnston County, North Carolina, 1759.

"In the legislative act of 27 Dec 1770 creating Wake County, Hunter was named one of the commissioners to lay off land for the construction of a courthouse, jail, and stocks, and to contract with workmen for the construction. He was alson on the commission ro run the line between Wake, Johnston, Cumberland, and Orange counties.<

"Theophilus Hunter was presiding judge at the first Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions for the new Wake County and was a justice of the court throughout the colonial period."

"In 1783 Theophilus Hunter represented Wake County in the North Carolina House of Commons. In 1793 he and James Bloodworth deed the property to Wake County where the present courthouse is located."
— Harold Mott ⁽²⁸⁾

"When Governor Tryon marched against the Regulators [a large group of North Carolina colonists who opposed the taxation and fee system imposed by colonial officials in the late 1760s], in 1771, he stayed 5-8 May at Hunter's Lodge, the home of Theophilus Hunter, about 4 miles south of the present Raleigh. After the Battle of Alamance, at which the Regulators were defeated, Tryon's militia marched back and the Wake County regiment was disbanded at Hunter's Lodge.

"On 23 Dec 1776 he was named to a committee to obtain arms and ammunition for the Continental Army.
— Harold Mott ⁽²⁸⁾

"A return, undated but between 1732 and 1774, of the Officers of the North Carolina Militia of the Johnston County Regiment places Reuben Hunter as an Ensign in the company of Captain Theophilus Hunter. The date was before 1771 because Theophilus Hunter was senior to camptain's rank in 1771, when Governor Tryon organized and disbanded troops at his home.
— Harold Mott ⁽²⁸⁾

Reuben Hunter may have been killed by three men.

"In the Wake County, NC, Court Minutes, 1793-1796, Book III, is this report: 'On motion of William Nash Attorney for the County that an inquiry be made into the charge against Allen Brewer, Charles Thomas, and Joel Parish touching the death of Reuben Hunter the Court gave it as their opinion that the said Brewer, Thomas, and Parish are are only chargeable with a violent assult and battery on the body of the said Hunter and directs that the said Brewer, Thomas and Parish are bound to appear at next Court to ansnwer etc.' One source said that at least one of the assailants was a law officer."
— Harold Mott ⁽²⁸⁾

Isaac Hunter amassed property in the upper Albemarle of North Carolina.

Isaac bought "land from his brother Robert Hunter in 1742 and from Thomas Morris in 1744. In 1739 he purchased a piece of his father’s original Nansemond grant from his nephew and namesake, Isaac Hunter of Northampton Co., N. C. This consisted of '384 acres, part of a patent to William Hunter, late of Virginia, and given by him to his son Nicholas [brother of Isaac] and sold by him to his son [Isaac Hunter of Northampton] on Meherrin Swamp issuing out of Bennett’s Creek.'

In 1744‑45 Isaac bought a water mill from John Rice. In 1746 he bought 300 acres at Pitch Landing from William Pugh. In 1748 he bought 312 acres on the Chowan River (Bertie County) from Thomas Hansford. In 1750 he sold his son Elisha 140 acres of the Pitch Landing tract on the south side of the Chowan River. The transaction was witnessed by Isaac’s sons Jacob and Jesse."
— Hunters of Nansemond, Hunter Cole, publisher ⁽²⁾

Vestry records of St. Paul’s Parish in Chowan County, North Carolina, document twenty‑years of service by Isaac as a vestryman and church warden.

"In 1741 the parish ordered the construction of Costen's Chapel at Meherrin near Isaac's land, and he served the chapel as a lay 'reader of the Divine Service.' Henry Mouzon's map of North Carolina, 1775, notes the location of Costen's. For two decades and until his death in 1752 Isaac remained a faithful member of the vestry. Many times the parish minutes mention him, his sons, brothers, and nephews."
— Hunters of Nansemond, Hunter Cole, publisher ⁽²⁾

Isaac Hunter's will was probated in 1753, Chowan County, North Carolina. ⁽²³⁾

"(Isaac signed his will as) 'Isaac Hunter' in 1752 and sealed it with his signet of a dragon... The will and the inventory of his possessions detail a large estate of land, chattels, and slaves to be divided among his children and grandchildren. He left the mill to Jacob, the tract in Bertie County to Isaac, the tract bought from Morris to Jesse, and the plantation where he lived in Chowan to Elisha, his executor."
— Hunters of Nansemond, Hunter Cole, publisher ⁽¹⁹⁾