Hungerford Family Genealogy & History

Margaret Wolfe Hungerford, an acclaimed Irish novelist born in 1855, gained popularity in the late 19th century for her light romantic fiction, often published under the pseudonym "The Duchess." Known for her best-selling novel, "Molly Bawn," she famously coined the idiom "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder." Hungerford's writing methodically captured Victorian society's tone with charming plots and flirtatious dialogue, making her works widely appreciated across the English-speaking world.

Margaret was born in County Cork, Ireland, to Canon Fitzjohn Stannus Hamilton, a rector and vicar-choral at St. Faughnan's Cathedral. She married twice, first to Dublin solicitor Edward Argles, with whom she had three daughters, and later to Thomas Henry Hungerford, with whom she had two sons and a daughter.

Orville Hungerford was a prominent 19th-century figure, serving as a two-term U.S. Representative for New York's 19th District. He was also a successful merchant, banker, and railroad president based in Watertown, New York. Hungerford rose from humble beginnings, starting as a clerk in his brother-in-law's store, to becoming a key player in the largest mercantile business in the region during the War of 1812. His business acumen extended to philanthropy and freemasonry, marking him as a significant industrialist of his time.

Born on October 29, 1790, in Farmington, Connecticut, Orville Hungerford was the youngest of seven children. His family lineage traces back to Thomas Hungerford of Hartford, Connecticut, who arrived in America before 1640. Orville's father, Timothy Hungerford, relocated the family to Watertown, New York, in 1801, setting the stage for Orville's future endeavors in commerce and public service.

Mary Hungerford, Baroness Botreaux, Hungerford, and Moleyns (c.1468 – before 10 July 1533), was a prominent English noblewoman who held the title of suo jure 5th Baroness Botreaux. Her titles were expanded to include Baroness Hungerford and Moleyns after the reversal of her family's attainders in 1485. Mary was married first to Edward Hastings, 2nd Baron Hastings, and later to Sir Richard Sacheverell. She is noted for her distinguished lineage and her burial alongside her second husband in the Collegiate Church of St. Mary in Leicester.

Mary Hungerford was the daughter of Sir Thomas Hungerford and Anne Percy, a descendant of the noble Percy family through Henry Percy, 3rd Earl of Northumberland. Her maternal lineage included connections to Sir William Moleyns and Anne Whalesborough, linking her to notable medieval English families. Her family history is marked by the significant reversal of attainders, restoring the family's noble status and titles.

Baron Hungerford is a historic title in the Peerage of England, first established in 1426 for Walter Hungerford, a distinguished figure known for his roles as Member of Parliament, Speaker of the House, and Lord High Treasurer. He was honored as a Knight of the Order of the Garter. The title merged with Baron de Moleyns in 1459 and faced periods of forfeiture and abeyance, finally resting with the Philipps family of the Viscounts of St Davids. This rich lineage reflects a tapestry of English nobility, marked by its ties to the Earls of Huntingdon and Marquesses of Hastings, contributing to the legacy of British aristocracy.