“---- son of Ambros Hunley was bornd Oct’r 22th 1765”. This may have been either Ambrose or Richard. [Minter-Durham family Bible at the Virginia State Archives, Acc. 26856]

Ambrose Hundley was mentioned in the 1771 will of his grandfather Joseph Ryland, who gave £5 to be applied to Ambrose’s education. [Essex County, Virginia, Will Book 12, page 487.]

On 15 February 1799, Ambrose Hundley witnessed three deeds made by Thomas and Catharine Wood to their children Carter Wood, William Wood, and Catharine Dix. [Essex County, Virginia, Deed Book 35, pages 76–79.]

On 20 October 1800, Ambrose Hunley, along with Jno Haile, Charles Howerton, Richard Thomas Haile, William Newbill, George Howerton and Wm Howerton bound themselves $4,000 to Essex County court, as Jno Haile and Charles Howerton were named administrators of the goods of Ambrose Howerton deceased. [Essex County, Virginia, Will Book 16, pages 37–38.]

On 26 January 1801, an appraisal of the estate of Thomas Allen was made by Lewis Dix, James Allen and Ambrose Hunley. No total. Ordered recorded 16 February 1801. [Essex County, Virginia, Will Book 16, pages 57–58.]

On 20 April 1801, Ambrose Hundley purchased 421-3/4 acres from Thomas Roane and his wife Henrietta for 533.3.8. [Essex County, Virginia, Deed Book 35, pages 359–361.]

On 14 October 1806, Ambrose Hundley made purchases at the estate sale of John Boughan. [Essex County, Virginia, Will Book 17, pages 274–275.]

On 22 July 1807, an indenture was made between Richard T. Haile and Judith Todd his wife of the first part, Lewis Dix of the second part, and Ambrose Hunley of the third part. In a deed dated 22 November 1805, Richard T. Haile and Judith T. his wife did convey in trust to Lewis Dix real estate and personal property, provided that Dix would support the Hailes during their lives. After the death of Richard and Judith, Dix was to convey to their children all the property. Included in the property conveyed was a tract of land “devised by Richd T. Haile, decd to Mary Haile his widow, during her life with remainder to John Haile, the son of the said testator & father of Richd T. Haile the party hereto…” The reason for the trust was the Richard T. Haile and Judith his wife were in debt, and Dix was to pay off their creditors while managing the property. A list of the creditors is included in the deed of 22 July 1807. It is now “found to be most conducive to the interest of the said Haile & his wife & their children to sell the said land, or [illegible] aforementioned devised by the said Richd T. Haile, the grandfather as aforementioned to raise money to pay the said debts, & to provide an equivalent to Richard T. Haile, the son of the said Richd T. Haile & wife parties hereto out of a part of the other estate conveyed to the said Dix…” Therefore Richard and Judith Haile and Lewis Dix sell for 400 pounds 10 shillings the land to Ambrose Hunley. This is land on the north side of Piscataway Swamp. Signed R: T: Haile, Judith T. Haile, Lewis Dix. Witnesses: Robt Hill, Wm S--ther, Joseph Hester, Wm his x mark Schools. Recorded 15 October 1807. [Essex County, Virginia, Deed Book 37, pages 273–276.]

On 21 December 1807, Lewis Dix, James Allen, Ambrose Hunley and Edward Wright were bound in the penalty of $8,000 for Lewis Dix’s adminstration of the goods, chattels and credits of James Dix, deceased. [Essex County, Virginia, Will Book 17, pages 46–47.]

On 19 December 1808, an inventory and appraisal of the estate of Mary Haile, deceased, was presented in court by Ambrose Hunley, Thomas Wright, and Carter Croxton, and ordered recorded. [Essex County, Virginia, Will Book 17, pages 98–99.]

On 27 January 1809, Thomas E. Dix, Thomas Dix and Ambrose Hunley were bound to John Chamberlain £22.19.7. Witness: Gabriel Purkins. [Essex County, Virginia, Box Chancery No. 22, item 22-G-60.]

1810 U.S. Census, Essex County, Virginia:
Hundley, Ambrose
2 males under 10 [one of these would be Ambrose III]
1 male 26-45 [this would be Ambrose]
3 females under 10
2 females 10-16 [one of these would be Ann; one would be Mary]
1 female 26-45 [this would be Elizabeth]
17 slaves

In an undated petition from around 1812 or 1813, orators and oratrices Benjamin Jones and Sally Jones and Peggy Jones infants under 21 by Benjamin Jones their next friend, Ambrose Hundley, William Jones and Leonard Jones stated that Benjamin Jones made a gift on 30 August 1808 to his son Richard Jones (father of your orators and oratrices Benjamin, Sally and Peggy), and that Benjamin died in 1812. Ambrose Hundley has bought part of the estate. The children of Benjamin [this is clearly in error and should be Richard] are Benjamin, Joseph, Richard, Thomas, Nancy, Mary Holt, Susanna, Elizabeth, Sarah and Peggy. That Elizabeth has married James Macfarlane. [Essex County, Virginia, Box Chancery No. 22, item 22-M-59.] The division of this property is outlined in Essex County, Virginia, Box Chancery No. 22, item 22-M-60.

Ambrose Hunley purchased at the estate sale of Archibald Ritchie, recorded in an undated paper, 1 pide Cow & Cow Calf for 8.1.0. [Essex County, Virginia, Box Chancery No. 24, item 24-A-17.]

“Ambros Hunley departed this life Jany 18th 1815” [Minter-Durham family Bible at the Virginia State Archives, Acc. 26856]

On 21 February 1815, Robert G. Haile, Lewis Dix, Thomas Wright and John Haile were bound in the penalty of $15,000 for Robert G. Haile’s administration of the goods, chattels and credits of Ambrose Hundley, deceased. [Essex County, Virginia, Will Book 18, pages 117–118.]

On 2 March 1815, an inventory and appraisal of the estate of Ambros Hunley was made by John Richard, William Andrews and James Montague, ordered recorded on 15 May 1815. [Essex County, Virginia, Will Book 18, pages 156–157.]

Sales of the estate of Ambrose Hunley were made on 10 March 1815 (total £932.13-1/2), 15 December 1815 (no total valuation), and 15 December 1816 [sic] (total £2089.89). Sales were made by Robt. G. Haile administrator. Accounts were submitted 16 September 1816. Includes “money found in house $510.80.” [Essex County, Virginia, Will Book 18, pages 323–326.]

The estate of Ambrose Hunley, deceased, in account with Robert G. Haile, administrator, from 1815 to 1817 was settled by John Jones, H W Latané, and Thos. L Latane was returned to court and ordered recorded on 16 December 1817. [Essex County, Virginia, Will Book 18, pages 460–462.]

In about 1818, orator and oratrice Peter Campbell and Mary R. his wife complained to the Chancery Court. That Ambrose Hunley died in ____ intestate leaving a widow Elizabeth Hunley and your oratrix and Susanna D. Hunley, Anne H. Hunley, Caty C. Hunley, Ambrose Hunley, John Hunley, Richard T. Hunley and Sarah M. Hunley his only children. These papers also contain several maps. [Essex County, Virginia, Box Chancery No. 42, item 42-I-14.]

On 21 February 1826, a complaint was filed in the Chancery Court of Essex County by orators & oratrices John Minter & Ann his wife, Robt Mann & Susan his wife, Peter Campbell & Mary his wife, Fontaine Wood, and Ambrose, John, Thomas & Sarah Hunley infants under the age of twenty one years by Elizabeth Hundley their Guardian and next friend, & Josiah Ryland, stating that in 1825 Richard Ryland had died intestate leaving no children and petitioning for the division of his estate. Numerous amendments and affidavits were filed during the course of the case. Papers filed state that Richard left heirs Peter Campbell and Mary R. his wife who was Mary Hundley, Ambrose Hundley, Robert Mann (who died between the decree on 19 Febraury 1827 and the division of the estate on 14 June 1827) and Susan D. his wife who was Susan Hundley, Mary and Thomas Wood, children of Fontaine Wood and Anne H. his wife, deceased, who was Anne H. Hundley, Richard Hundley, John Hundley, Thomas Hundley, and Sarah Hundley, the said Mary, Ambrose, Susan, Anne, Richard, John, Thomas and Sarah being children of Ambrose Hundley deceased, Richard Hundley (who lived in Kershaw District, South Carolina) and Absalom Hundley (long removed from Virginia), the said Ambrose, Richard and Absalom children of Ambrose Hundley and Mary his wife who was Mary Ryland, a sister of the full blood to Richard Ryland [although family Bible records indicate otherwise] and who married after the death of Ambrose a James Ferguson and moved to Kershaw District, South Carolina; Mary “Polly” Shelor (or Shetor, the name appearing both ways), Thomas Shelor, Joseph Shelor and Sally Gee who was Sally Shelor, the said Mary, Thomas, Joseph, and Sally being children of Elizabeth Shelor deceased who was married to Jacob Shelor, Thomas Ryland, John Ryland, Hundley Ryland, John Simmons and Nancy his wife who was Nancy Ryland, the said Thomas, John, and Hundley Ryland and Nancy Simmons and Elizabeth Shelor being children of Thomas Ryland deceased, a brother of the half blood to Richard Ryland; Thomas Jones who died without heir, Robert Jeffries and Elizabeth his wife who was Elizabeth Jones and who had previously married James McFarlane, Richard D. Dunn and Peggy his wife who was Peggy Jones, James Durham and Nancy his wife who was Nancy Jones, Patsy Jones and Betsy Jones, children of Joseph Jones deceased, Mary Thompson who was Mary Jones, Sophronia Jones a daughter of Richard Jones deceased, Benjamin Jones, and Coleman Jones and Susan his wife, the said Thomas, Elizabeth, Peggy, Sally, Nancy, Joseph, Mary, Richard, Benjamin and Susan being children of Elizabeth Jones deceased, a sister of the whole blood to Richard Ryland who had married Richard Jones; John Minter and Ann his wife who was Ann Ryland, a sister of the whole blood to Richard Ryland; Lewis Mickleburrough and Henrietta his wife who was Henrietta Haile, Joseph McTyre and Polly his wife who was Polly Haile, Joseph Haile and Jonathan Haile, the said Henrietta, Polly, Joseph and Jonathan being children of Sally Haile, deceased, wife of Wheeler Haile and who was Sally Croxton, a daughter of Thomas Croxton and Sarah his wife who was Sarah Ryland, a sister of the whole blood to Richard Ryland (the said Thomas and Sarah also having had children Joseph, Thomas, Richard, Susan (who married a Miller) and Mary who have been long removed from Virginia); Lewis Whittemore and Jane his wife who was Jane Ryland and Wyatt Whittemore and Nancy his wife who was Nancy Ryland, the said Jane and Nancy being children of John Ryland a brother of the whole blood to Richard Ryland; George and Samuel Durham, children of Mary Durham deceased who was Mary Faucett, a daughter of Rice Faucett and Susannah his wife who was Susannah Ryland, a sister of the whole blood to Richard Ryland; Edward, Allen, Joseph, Samuel, Elizabeth and Polly Ryland and Joseph Tellman (also Tillman) and Sally his wife who was Sally Ryland, the said Edward, Allen, Joseph, Samuel, Elizabeth, Polly and Sally being children of Iverson Ryland deceased, a brother of the whole blood to Richard Ryland; Josiah Ryland, a brother of the half blood to Richard Ryland who is still living; Parker Tod Hunter and Catharine his wife who was Catharine Ryland, Joseph Barnett and Elizabeth his wife who was Elizabeth Ryland, John, James, Edwin and Joanna Ryland, the said Catharine, Elizabeth, John, James, Edwin and Joanna being children of Joseph Ryland who died in Kentucky, a brother of the half blood to Richard Ryland; and Jacob Tod Hunter and Joanna his wife who was Joanna Ryland, a sister of the half blood to Richard Ryland. The property was divided and distributed by 14 June 1827. [Essex County, Virginia, Box Chancery No. 35, many items in Folder J.]

The estate of John Hundley, deceased. in account with Elizabeth Hundley, administratrix, from 1835 to 1836 was ordered recorded on 15 August 1836. Mentions a negro boy named Davy, sold 29 September 1835. [Essex County, Virginia, Will Book 24, pages 54–55.]

On 12 May 1844, Thomas Boughan and Mary his wife answered a bill of complaint exhibited against them in the Circuit Superior Court of Law and Chancery for Essex County by John A. Parker. They stated that they knew nothing about the demands against Fontaine Wood for debt; that Fontaine did intermarry with Ann, a daughter of Ambrose Hunley deceased and that Ann died many years ago, long before the death of Elizabeth, widow of Ambrose; that the respondents have received an equitable portion of the estate of Elizabeth Hunley; that in 1825 Fontaine became guardian of his children Mary, one of the respondents, and Thomas Wood, with H. H. Boughan as his security, for the purpose of receiving their share of the estate of Ambrose Hunley; that such shares may have been received by Fontaine Wood; that the estate of H. H. Boughan is wholly and hopelessly insolvent. [Essex County, Virginia, Box Chancery No. 54, item 54-K-9.]