John Melvin (1652 - 1726)

Born 11 Jul 1652 in Leuchers Parish, Fifeshire, Scotland [uncertain]

Husband of Margaret (Shanesberg) Melvin — married 27 Aug 1696 in Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts Bay

Descendants

Died 21 Aug 1726 at age 74 in Concord, Middlesex, Province of Massachusetts Bay

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Biography

John Melvin is first mentioned in Massachusetts records as a "taylor" living in Charlestown, Middlesex County, and serving as a private under Captain Joseph Sill. The surname Melvin is said to be a corruption of Melville. While there are Melville's in various countries of the world, John Melvin's ancestors are believed to have come from Scotland. His Scottish ancestry is further reinforced by a descendant who has said that his first New England ancestor came from Fifeshire, [Scotland], and the fact that John was a known member of the Scots Charitable Society of Boston, an organization dedicated to helping prisoners shipped to America by England after the battle of Dunbar. ^{[1] [2] [3] [4] [5]}

He married first, in Malden, Massachusetts, Hannah Lewis, daughter of John and Mary (Brown) Lewis. They had seven children, all born in Charlestown, Massachusetts: ^{[3] [6]}

1. John, born August 29, 1679.^[7]
2. Hannah, born August 15, 1681; married April 13, 1713, William Bottrell.^[8][9]
3. Robert, born January (or November) 13, 1683.^[10][11]
4. James, born March 20, 1685.^[12]
5. Jonathan, born May 29, 1688; married February 28, 1714, Sarah Hartwell; died February 11, 1737.^[13][14][15]
6. David, born October 29, 1690; married February 9, 1715-16, Mary Farrar.^[16][17]
7. Benjamin, born February 17, 1694.^[18]

His wife Hannah died in Charlestown on May 27, 1696, at the age of 41. John is thought to have removed to Concord, Massachusetts about this time. ^{[2] [6]}

He married second, Margaret Shamesbury (or Shanesberg); marriage published at Boston, Massachusetts, August 27, 1696. They settled in Concord, Massachusetts, and had two children, twins born in Concord: ^{[3] [6] [19]}

1. Eleazer, born June 28, 1703 (a twin); married Mary Stow.^[20]
2. Margaret, born June 28, 1703 (a twin); married Archibald MacCollo.^[21]

John Melvin died in Concord on August 21, 1726, "in the 74th year of his age" (gravestone). In a 1684 deposition he gave his age as 28 years old, putting his birth between about 1652 and 1656. He was buried at Old Hill Burying Ground in Concord, Massachusetts. ^{[5] [6]}

Research Notes

• Immigration: Before 1676, Charlestown, MA ^{[citation needed]}
• Birth and Parents: "Find A Grave" has chosen to cite that John was the son of Alexander and Elspet (RAMSEY) MELVINE, born 11 Jul 1652 in Leuchars, Fife, Scotland.^[5] This may have been derived from a Christening record citing: Jhone Melvine, son of Alexander Melvine and Elspet Ramsay, christened 11 Jul 1651 in Kennoway, Fife, Scotland.^[22]
  
  "Leavitt" acknowledges a possible birthplace in Fifeshire and cites 2 potential Scottish ancestors: William Melville of Dysart; Rev. Ephrain Melville of Pittenweem.^[1]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} Leavitt: Citing: Possible ancestry: Fifeshire; William Melville of Dysart; Rev. Ephrain Melville of Pittenweem. Page ix.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} Leavitt: Citing: John Melvin "taylor" of Charlestown; Scots Charitable Society; removal to Concord. Page 227-229.
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2} Wyman, Thomas Bellows. The Genealogies and Estates of Charlestown (D. Clapp, Boston, 1879). Citing: MELVIN John 1. Occupation: Tailor; 2 Marriages, Children; Estate. Pages 665-666.
4. ↑ Stearns, Ezra. Genealogical and Family History of the State of New Hampshire (Lewis Publishing Company, 1908) Vol. 2, Page 667.
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1 5.2} Find A Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 20 July 2018), memorial page for John Melvin (11 Jul 1652–21 Aug 1726), Find A Grave: Memorial #20640233, citing Old Hill Burying Ground, Concord, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, USA ; Maintained by William DeCoursey (contributor 46613311).
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3} Leavitt: Citing: 2 Marriages and children; Death. Page 232.
7. ↑ "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FC9M-HLN : 28 September 2017), John Melvin, 29 Aug 1679; citing Birth, Charlestown, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States, , town clerk offices, Massachusetts; FHL microfilm 892,249.
8. ↑ "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/F46P-8QP : 13 July 2016), Hannah Mellven, 15 Aug 1681; citing Birth, Charlestown, Suffolk, Massachusetts, United States, , town clerk offices, Massachusetts; FHL microfilm 740,995.
9. ↑ "Massachusetts Marriages, 1695-1910," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FCWP-S9H : 4 December 2014), William Bottrill and Hanah Meluen, 13 Apr 1713; citing reference ; FHL microfilm 0823762 IT 1.
10. ↑ "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/F46P-6VW : 13 July 2016), Robert Melvin, 13 Jan 1683; citing Birth, Charlestown, Suffolk, Massachusetts, United States, , town clerk offices, Massachusetts; FHL microfilm 740,995.
11. ↑ "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FC99-8YD : 28 September 2017), Robert Melvin, 13 Nov 1683; citing Birth, Charlestown, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States, , town clerk offices, Massachusetts; FHL microfilm 892,249.
12. ↑ "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FC99-2MZ : 28 September 2017), James Melvin, 20 Mar 1685; citing Birth, Charlestown, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States, , town clerk offices, Massachusetts; FHL microfilm 892,249.
13. ↑ "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FC9S-H8N : 28 September 2017), Jonathan Melvin, 29 May 1688; citing Birth, Charlestown, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States, , town clerk offices, Massachusetts; FHL microfilm 892,249.
14. ↑ "Massachusetts Marriages, 1695-1910," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FCWP-QNT : 4 December 2014), Jonathan Meluen and Sarah Hartwell, 28 Feb 1714; citing reference ; FHL microfilm 0823762 IT 1.
15. ↑ Concord, MA Records: Citing: "The Hill Burying Ground: Jonathan Melven, in the 49th year of his age, February 11, 1737" Page 432.
16. ↑ "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FC9S-V8Q : 28 September 2017), David Melvin, 29 Oct 1690; citing Birth, Charlestown, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States, , town clerk offices, Massachusetts; FHL microfilm 892,249.
17. ↑ Concord, MA Records: Citing: "Daued meluen and Mary ffarrar both of Concord was married by y^e Reu^d John Whiting ffebruary 9 day 1715 : 16" Page 90.
18. ↑ "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/F46P-P9G : 13 July 2016), Benjamin Melvin, 17 Feb 1694; citing Birth, Charlestown, Suffolk, Massachusetts, United States, , town clerk offices, Massachusetts; FHL microfilm 740,995.
19. ↑ "Massachusetts Marriages, 1695-1910," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FCQP-NY7 : 4 December 2014), John Melvin and Margaret, 27 Aug 1696; citing reference ; FHL microfilm 0928191 IT 2.
20. ↑ Concord, MA Records: Citing: "Eliazer Melvin y^e son of John Melvin & Margaret his wife was Borne y^e 28th day of June 1703." Page 59.
21. ↑ Concord, MA Records: Citing: "Margaret Melvin y^e daughter of Jn^o Melvin & Margaret his wife was Borne the 28th of June 1703, being a twin." Page 59.
22. ↑ "Scotland Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XBFN-ZD7 : 2 January 2015), Jhone Melvine, 11 Jul 1651; citing KENNOWAY,FIFE,SCOTLAND, reference , index based upon data collected by the Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City; FHL microfilm 1,040,113, 1,040,113, 1,040,114.

See also:

• Leavitt, Emily Wilder. Palmer Groups, John Melvin of Charlestown and Concord, Mass., And His Descendants. Privately Printed. Boston: Press of David Clapp & Son, 1901-1905.
• Concord, Massachusetts Births, Marriages and Deaths 1635-1850. Printed by the Town. Boston: Beacon Press, Thomas Todd, Printer, 1895.