John Hunter (Westchester County, NY)

John Hunter (August 4, 1778 – September 12, 1852) was an American businessman and politician from New York.

Life

He was born on August 4, 1778, the son of Robert Hunter (c. 1735–1800) and Ruth Hunter (c. 1757–1840). In 1806, Ruth married Lt. Gov. John Broome (1738–1810).^[1] John Hunter graduated from Columbia College. In 1799, he married Elizabeth Desbrosses (d. 1839), a wealthy heiress.

Hunter's mansion

Sometime before 1812, he bought "Appleby's Island", which became afterwards known as Hunter's Island, located off the shore of the Town of Pelham, in Westchester County, and now part of Orchard Beach in the Bronx. Hunter built a large mansion there. Hunter was originally buried on his island estate, but was re-interred in Beechwoods Cemetery in New Rochelle after the estate was sold to Mayor Ambrose Kingsland in 1866.^[2]

Hunter was a member of the New York State Senate (2nd D.) in 1823; and again from 1836 to 1843, sitting in the 59th, 60th, 61st, 62nd, 63rd, 64th, 65th and 66th New York State Legislatures.^[3]

He died on September 12, 1852.

References

1. John Broome and Rebecca Lloyd by Barbara Broome Semans & Letitia Broome Schwarz (2009; ISBN 978-1-4363-2384-0; pg. 51ff)
2. Historic Pelham - Burial Place of John Hunter
3. The New York Civil List compiled by Franklin Benjamin Hough (pages 125, 131ff and 142: Weed, Parsons and Co., 1858)