By Randle Beaver
Father and grandson James and William Moore
My family’s history has always carried a strong thread of Scottish heritage, but none of those ancestral ties has meant more to us than our connection to Clan Hunter. Over the years, my curiosity about our lineage grew into a desire to honor the people whose courage and resilience shaped the generations that followed.
What follows is a brief account of my family’s journey—from the Hunters of North Carolina to the Moores of Tennessee. It is our way of remembering where we came from, and of honoring the clan whose legacy continues to guide us today.
The American Revolution and the family history
I am descended from Brigadier General Griffith Rutherford of the American Revolution. Through that branch of my family, I trace my ancestry to many of the historic Border noble houses—“riding families”—as well as Lowland clans like the Lindsays of Craigie and the Douglases. Although I’ve been involved with several of their heritage associations, I was always told that I was not considered an actual member of those clans or houses.
I know that clans and riding families today are not the same as they were centuries ago, when a wrong done to one family member could rally an entire kin-group into action. Even so, the clan structures still exist in meaningful ways. For example, the Chief of Clan Lamont has appointed individuals as chieftains even when they are not descended from the original line.
Clan Hunter comes to me through my mother, and in our family it is considered her clan. It was also the ancestral clan of the Union soldier in our line who died during the American Civil War, a connection we take great pride in.
For many years I have honored my Scottish heritage, but I never expected to have any direct contact with noble leaders—the Earl of Home, the Earl of Crawford, or even the Chief of Clan Lamont. You are the only chief with whom I have ever had the chance to communicate. When I looked at the certificate issued by the Clan Hunter group in the U.S., I noticed that it states that I am a member of Clan Hunter, not merely of its association. It has long been a dream of mine to be acknowledged as a true clan member by a chief.
Family History
On December 26, 1813, Nancy Hunter married George Moore. These are my 4-times-great-grandparents. The origins of both families are uncertain. Nancy is believed to have been related either to Andrew Hunter of Faith Rock—known in Randolph County, North Carolina, during the Revolutionary era—or to James Hunter of Caswell County, North Carolina.
George Moore was born in 1791. His brothers—Dempsey, born in 1789, and Laney, born in 1800—accompanied him for much of his life. There may also have been a fourth brother named Alfred. Nancy was born in 1793 in Randolph County. The boys’ mother may have been an Elder or possibly a Hunter herself.
All three Moore brothers eventually moved to McNairy County, Tennessee, before 1839. Laney settled in Purdy on the county’s eastern side and served as sheriff for a time. George and Dempsey moved west to the Rose Creek area. Dempsey prospered, owning about 1,200 acres by his death in 1856. He donated land for the cemetery where generations of Moores are buried.
George and Nancy raised at least seven or eight children. Their sons were Laney, Alson, George, and Franklin, and their youngest daughter was Katherine. The names of their two eldest daughters are unknown. The 1840 census also lists an additional female who does not appear later, suggesting another daughter lost to time.
The 1839 Family Tragedy
In March 1839, George joined members of Dempsey’s family on a journey to the Republic of Texas to consider relocating. The group traveled through Arkansas and Louisiana to Austin. During the trip, George helped hunt for food, build camps for the Texas Army, and even fought alongside them.
Deciding against moving to Texas, the party traveled to New Orleans and boarded a Mississippi River boat northbound. Soon after departure, George contracted yellow fever. Despite worsening illness, he attempted to continue working as a deckhand. Near Island No. 8, the boat wrecked. Though pulled ashore alive by his nephew Clinton, George was delirious and died about an hour later. His burial place is unknown.
Nancy was left a widow with a large family. By then, the two eldest daughters had likely married. Her son Laney, born in 1820, assumed the role of head of household. He appears as such in the 1840 census.
The Family History deepens
Laney Moore and the Hunter Connection
Laney cared for his mother until his brothers were grown. Around 1848, he married Mary Tull (1830–1911). Nancy, Laney, and the Tull family lived within a mile or two of one another.
The Schoolhouse Cemetery
Nearby lived James and Mary Hunter, likely Nancy’s brother and sister-in-law. This further supports the belief that Nancy belonged to the Hunter family of North Carolina.
Laney and Mary had seven children, the first being Laney Allison Moore, my 3-times-great-grandfather, born in 1851.
Nancy Hunter Moore died sometime between 1850 and 1860 and was buried in the cemetery founded by Dempsey Moore.
Civil War Service
McNairy County voted to secede, but Unionist landowner Fielding Hurst opposed secession and was imprisoned until Union forces captured Nashville. He later formed the Sixth Tennessee Cavalry (Union)—a regiment infamous among Confederates because it operated in strongly Confederate territory and old local grudges surfaced on both sides.
Colonel Fielding Hurst Sixth Tennessee Cavalry USA
In early 1864, Laney Moore, son of George and Nancy, enlisted. He supplied his own horse because the regiment lacked mounts. His detachment was sent to Helena, Arkansas, under Major General Stephen Hurlbut. There, on May 14, 1864, Laney died of typhoid fever, one of many from his unit to perish there. Initially buried in Helena, his remains were later moved and interred as an unknown soldier at the Memphis National Cemetery. I placed a memorial stone for him at Moore Schoolhouse Cemetery in the early 2000s.
Laney’s widow Mary raised their children alone for the rest of the war. She received wartime widow’s support consisting of food staples, fodder, and household goods. Through the efforts of Judge Levi Hurst, a former officer of the Sixth Tennessee, Mary also received Laney’s pension until she remarried.
Mary later married Laney’s first cousin, Barton Moore, a Confederate veteran. They had children together and were both buried at Moore Schoolhouse Cemetery.
Clan Hunter and My Mother’s Line
My mother’s family is where the Moores and the Hunters come together. She has other Scottish ancestry as well, as do I on my father’s side. My mother chose Clan Hunter as her family’s Scottish clan in honor of Laney Moore, the only Civil War ancestor on either side of my family who gave his life in service to his country. We honor Clan Hunter in memory of Grandfather Laney and his mother, Nancy Hunter Moore, who we believe was descended from the Scottish Clan Hunter.
Interested in researching your Hunter family ancestry? Explore our genealogy FB group where there is lots of information and links that will help you on your way. Hunter Genealogy | Facebook
