George Matthew Hunt

We have very little information on George M Hunt before he arrived in Canada. He was probably born in 1954. Some passenger lists indicate Kilcanavee or Waterford as a place of birth. Immigration dates of 1869 and 1975 show on two passenger list. There is a record of William Hunt, probably his father, leasing a house at Kilcanavee in 1850. George was a cousin of Phineas DeVere Hunt who married George’s step-daughter Maggie Glen Bruce. There is a letter from George’s sister Consie to their sister Susan that references their Grandfather who sold Comeragh House to the Pallisers and this fits with Phineas Hunt b.1779, who owned substantial land in Co.Waterford. It is likely that any records on George’s family history lie in the Protestant parishes around Dungarvon or Co. Waterford. Family members do not recall very much about George. He had a drinking problem and started traveling to Jamaica in 1907 when his youngest was 18. He made 5 trips to Jamaica before dying there in 1923. Fran & Ralph relate that Maggie Georgina’s comment upon hearing of her husband’s passing was, ‘pass the marmalde’.

George acquired 2 lots on Couchiching Point in an insurance deal probably in the late 1890s which led to a family legacy.