John Hunter
| First name | John |
|---|---|
| Last name | Hunter |
| Country of Origin | Scotland |
| Date of Birth | C1811 |
| Year of Arrival in Australia | C1840 |
| Submitted by | Joan Wickham |
Story
JOHN HUNTER
C1811 Ð 14.1.1860
John was a native of Edinburgh, Scotland who emigrated to New South Wales C1840s. He was the foreman watchmaker for Thomas Dawson, a clock maker of Sydney, from 1843 until the business ceased trading in 1857. John and his wife Anne had four children while they lived in Sydney; John C1842, David 1846, Elizabeth 1848 and Richard 1852.
They moved over the mountains in 1857 attracted to the growth of the township of Bathurst. In June of that year John commenced his own business as a watchmaker in a tiny shop on the corner of George & Howick Streets. Here he sold and repaired watches and clocks of every description, musical boxes and jewellery, all at Sydney prices.
John and his family lived in Howick Street near the shop and enjoyed a large circle of friends in the town. Unfortunately, long and continued ill health forced him to close the shop in 1859. His eldest son had to sell the business and stock. John intended to leave Bathurst early the next year, probably for treatment in Sydney, but died in his home on Saturday 14th January 1860. He was buried in Bathurst according to the rites of the Church of Scotland.
John and Anne have many descendants in country NSW and Sydney.