George Meldrum (1737 - 1817)

Born 1737 in Old Meldrum, northern, Scotland

Ancestors

Husband of Marie Angelica Catherine (Chapoton) Meldrum — married 1782 in Detroit, Michigan

Descendants

Died 9 Apr 1817 at about age 80 in Detroit, MI

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• Information posted on http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.meldrum/75.1.1.1.1.1/mb.ashx on 3/9/2010 by Panel Davis:

"George Meldrum arrived in the Detroit area, from Scotland, in the early part of the 1765. As a young man, he married and became a prominent citizen in early Detroit.1. George Meldrum was a partner in the Meldrum and Park Company of Detroit. Through this business he acquired a great deal of property in the Macomb and Saint Clair County area.2. On much of this land, his children settled and began to raise families of their own. The fifth child, a son David, was the beginning of the David Meldrums. This paper shall trace the descendants of this man. The first David Meldrum acquired land claim 192 from his father, George. He lived on this property until his death. His son, David lived on this same property until his death. His son, David lived on the same property until his death. The property was then inherited by his son, Mitchell, whose descendants are living on and farming it, today.3. The third David Meldrum bought property in the city of New Baltimore, Michigan. On this farm, David, the fourth, was born. He, in time, married and moved to Anchorville, Michigan. He fathered a son who was David, the fifth.

1. Michigan Pioneer and Historical Society, Volume 37, p. 426. 2. Ibid., Volume 34, p. 772. 3. Macomb County Abstract, land claim 192, section 52. 4. David Meldrum, (personal interview), April 19, 1965.

George Meldrum

In search of adventure and a new life. George Meldrum left Scotland in the early 1760’s. How he came to Detroit is a mystery but according to records, now in the Detroit historical Museum, he arrived in the city of Detroit in 1765. First mention of the Meldrum name after this date is on the 26 day of May, 1768. At this time George Meldrum voted in the first Detroit election. In this election, Phillipe DeJean was elected to be judge and justice of the district of Detroit and it’s dependencies.5. Six years later, on the 21st of October in 1774, George wrote a letter of apology to the same Phillipe DeJean. This same letter follows:

Detroit 21 Oct. 1774 Sir I confess to have used you very ill in the presence of the committee and several other merchants on the night of the 19th instant by several rash and unbecoming asperations for which I hope you will be so good as to forgive, as it was entirely the effect of liquor, whereof I had drank too freely. “George Meldurm” “To Phillipe DeJean, Esqu.”6. Perhaps disrespect to the “judge” was considered contempt of court. This same Phillpe DeJean later was indicted for the murder of a Frenchman named Contencineau. Also indicted was the lieutenant-governor of Detroit. Henry Hamiton. These two men were also involved in many other illegal acts including bribery.7.

5. C. M. Burton, City of Detroit, Volume l, p. 169 6. ibid., p.194.

George Meldrum married Marie Angelique Catherine Chapoton in 1782.8. They lived for a time in a home on Woodbridge Street near Joseph Campau in Detroit. 9. Later the couple moved to a farm east of Meldrum Avenue, this farm became known as the Meldrum farm. This property, although it had changed hands many times, was valued at one million dollars in the early twentieth century.10.

On July 24, 1788 a new judicial district was established. This district, including Detroit, was called Hesse. Four Justices of the Court of Common Pleas were appointed, along with eight justices of the peace, a clerk, a sheriff and George Meldrum wa appointed as coroner. Of these fifteen men, only two remained on the American side of the Detroit River after the end of thee British occupancy. These two men were Joncaire de Chabert (justice of the peace), and George Meldrum.11.

Copies of bills, drafts, and receipts show that George Meldrum was engaged in trade in the Detroit area.12. The first judgement obtained in the area (Detroit) Supreme Court was in favor of George Meldrum and William Park (Meldrum and Park Company) against Adam Brown for 400.40 ¾. 13. No reason could be found for this judgment being passed.

Marie Angelique Catherine Chapoton Meldrum, wife of George, gave birth to seven children. These children were:

Marie Ann (called Nancy) was born in 1786. She married Dr. William McDowell Scott. They were married by Reverend David Bacon, father of Reverend Leonard Bacon, (one-time president of Yale University). After the death of Dr. Scott, Marie Ann marries Melvin Dorr. John married Sarah Lytle. He was born in 1788 and died in 1825. His wife, Sarah died in 1839. James was born in 1792. He married Eleanor Boyer on June 14, 1810. He died in 1860. William was born in 1794. He married Genevieve Rivard. William died before 1864. Marie Genevieve (called Jane) married Abraham Wendell. She died before 1845. (She was born in 1802). Robert was born in 1804. He married Marie Ann Moras. Robert died shortly after marriage.14.

Long before the second generation was born, Lieutenat-governor P. Sinclair (builder of Fort Mackinac) turned his power of attorney over to Nicholas Boilvin who in turn gave it to David Ross. In 1768, Sinclair’’s rights to his property were sold at an auction. These rights were bought by the firm of Meldrum and Park who took possession of the property on the Pine River in Saint Clair County. The then made improvements, erected two sawmills and a grist mill on this land. 15.

In 1795 it was found that more of Sinclair’s land was not registered with the Deed’s Office. Meldrum and Park received another deed from twenty-six Chippewa chiefs, conveying a tract ten miles along the Saint Clair River by four miles in depth. This was about six times as much land as originally owned by Sinclair. This deed (of Meldrum and Park’s) was not recognized by the United States as a conveyance of title, but possessions taken under it let Meldrum and Park and their grantees obtain patents from the United States in 1810 to almost five thousand acres. 16 George Meldrum died on Apr 9, 1817. 17

13. op. cit., Burton, p. 285 14. ibid., Volume 2. P. 1390 15. op. cit., Michigan Pioneer Volume 39, p. 67. 16. ibid. 17. op. citl, Burton, p. 1390."

From http://www.reocities.com/histmich/meldrum.html :

George Meldrum was born in Scotland in 1737, and emigrated to North American, then traveled to Detroit, where he became a merchant. By the time of his arrival, Michigan had switched from French to British status, but French influences remained strong. He wed Angelique Mary Catherine Chapoton, who's grandfather, John Chapton, had been the first surgeon assigned to Fort Ponchartrain.

George was an active trader who provided merchandise to the British at Fort Michilmackinac, under the instructions of Colonial Lieutenant Governor, Patrick Sinclair. His products consisted of corn, canoews, brass knobs, fishing lines, spears, cloth, thread, grease, and chisels. He also owned a number of parcels of real estate, in the Detroit area, including on the Detroit River near Merchant's Wharf, and in areas that are now part of Hamtramck, and Chesterfield Township, in Macomb County.

In an interesting article published by the Detroit Land Board, in 1774 he is quoted a public apology in part; "I confesss I have used you to very ill in the presence of the committe and several other merchants... by several rash and unbecoming aspersions for which I am very sorry, and which I hope you will be so good as to forgive, as it was entirely the effect of liquor, whereof I had drank too freely."

The Detroit Fire, June 11, 1805, that destroyed much of Detroit, also destroyed George Meldrum's business, the merchant firm of , Meldrum & Park.