1. Robert HUNTER, younger or Polmood appears in April of 1718 as a witness to the marriage
of Alexander MURRAY of Cringletie and Katherine STEWART. On 05 September 1721, he married
Veronica MURRAY, daughter of Sir David MURRAY of Stanhope.
Robert HUNTER
(sketch at right from Chamber's HISTORY OF PEEBLESSHIRE, 1864) was the proprietor of a remarkable dog named Algiers. Many local
residents testified that Robert would tie a napkin containing money around the neck of the dog and send him off
on a three mile journey to Lammington in order to purchase snuff for the master. The journey included a swim
across the Tweed but the dog would execute the task faithfully and prevented anyone from laying hold
of stopping him. Residents who knew Robert HUNTER of Polmood ever recalled that, "Algiers could be
sent to Edinburgh with a letter, and bring back an answer to his master."
Polmood was only a place of occasional residence for Robert HUNTER and he was known
to stay at Woodend or Chapel Kingledoors. He happened to be at Polmood when Jacobite forces came
recruiting. Robert saved the property of Polmood from certain forfeiture when he locked up his
nephew (who was then the laird) and in so doing preventing him from joining the troops.
Margaret TWEEDIE earned the moniker "Gudewife o' Herstanes" when Robert grew
old and she "thought it a pity that the family of Polmood should be troubled with him." She provided care
to her Uncle Robert until he died in 1744. Only after his death did Veronica, Lady of Polmood,
attend to her husband when as a duty, she help on with his dead-clothes.
2. Archibald HUNTER was the second son of George HUNTER of Polmood. He was
served heir to his brother, Robert, in 1747. Archibald married but the name of his wife in unknown.
Archibald died in 1752 leaving one son
a. Thomas HUNTER who was born about 1743 and was described as a
'delicate youth' and was sickly throughout his short life. A merchant from Edinburgh became
his tutor and curator and the merchant used this advantage to entice Thomas to entail Polmood
in favour of the merchant. Thomas died 20 March 1766 and the merchant was able to prevail over
several challenges to his title.
