Other Melvilles/Melvins In 18th Century Dorchester County

Allen Melville

11 Aug 1749: For £25, Allen Melville sold two tracts, both 77 acres, to Thomas Foster: Mount Pleasure and Poynt Lookout, the latter described as the "dwelling place of said Melvill".  Witnesses: B. Ennals and William Clarkson.[1]

9 Sep 1749: Allen Melvill, planter, sold 1 horse, 1 cow and yearling, 2 ewes and 1 ram to Nehemiah Causey for £10.3.10.3 and 709 pounds of tobacco.  Witness: Thomas Foster.

8 May 1753: David Melville Senior bequeathed his tract Hog Harbor to Allen Melville, without specifying Allen's relationship. 

1756: Along with John Reed and Thomas Wietet, Allen Melvill witnessed the will of John Hackney of Kent County, DE.  Kent County borders Dorchester.  The will was proved 11 Aug 1756.[2]

7 Jul 1763: When the widow and children of the late David Melvill [Senior] sold several parcels to Richard Lloyd of Kent County, MD for £200, one was 200 acres called Lookout except that part conveyed by David Melvill to "a certain Allen Melvill".[3]

1766: Allen Melvill sold livestock to John Campbell.  Witness: Thomas White.[4]

Allen Melville may have also been called Allen Thomas.  Both had an undefined relationship to David Melville Senior, both were the recipients of his generosity, and both owned tracts called Lookout.  There's no record of Allen Melville obtaining Lookout, instead David had deeded Lookout to Allen Thomas. One relationship that might explain this situation is that Allen Thomas/Melville was the illegitimate son of David Melville, born to a woman named ______ Thomas.  On the other hand, Grant Pinnix believes that Allen Thomas/Melville was David's grandson or grandson-in-law, the son of William Thomas.  After all, William Thomas was the son-in-law of David's second wife Catherine, so obviously he was married to an unknown daughter of David, Catherine, or both.  If raised by his grandparents, Allen might have considered himself more of a Melville than a Thomas.

10 Sep 1742: When Joshua Wall sold 71 acres called Welcome to Allen Thomas, planter, for £25, the price was paid by David Melvill.  The parcel was located on the east side of the Choptank River at the mouth of Ingram's Creek adjoining Morefields, now in the possession of Thomas Foster.   Witnesses: Henry Hooper and Henry Hooper Junior.[5]  Was Foster in possession of Welcome or Morfields? 

15 Sep 1742: "David Melvell Senior", a "talyer" for "good and natural affection" deeded a 52 acre tract called Lookout on the south side of Ingram's Creek adjoining Morfields to Allen Thomas.  The parcel was described, but the writing is very difficult to read.  Once again, Thomas Foster was in possession of the tract.  Witnesses: Henry Hooper and Henry Hooper Junior.[6]  How could David Senior gift the land to Allen Thomas if it was "in the possession of"  Thomas Foster?

1 Apr 1776: Thomas Causey bequeathed part of his estate to grandson William Thomas, the son of his son-in-law Allen Thomas.  But was he the same Allen Thomas?[7]

John & Eleanor Melville/Melvin Family

The surname Melvin is a variant of Melville.  The name of this family varied from record to record, but there's no indication of association with our Melvilles.  A Y-chromosome test might be very instructive.

8 Nov 1737: John Melvin of Dorchester County patented a tract called  Melvin's Goose Pond.  According to Randy Leighty, John Melville (c. 1680 - 1754) married Elinor, who died in Caroline County in 1799.  They had children Edmund (died 1751, Kent County, DE; m. Ann Cain), John, Honor, Sarah, Mary, Joshua, and Solomon (born 1740 in Denton, Caroline County, MD).  The family resided in Dorchester and Caroline Counties.

17 Nov 1755: Elianor Melville, Elizabeth Pearson, and James Holland testified that they had witnessed a codicil to the will of Timothy McCarthy, who desired that his grandson William should have his land and his granddaughter Mary the rest of his estate.[8]  See also 1783. 

1764: Melvill's Mill was described in a deed as lying on the road from Marshyhope.[9]  The mill may have been owned by the family of David Melville.

2 Nov 1767: Edmond Melvill, planter of Dorchester County, mortgaged 121 acres called Addition to Goose Pond adjoining the fork of Robins' Branch to Edward Lloyd of Talbot County for £31.6.6.  This tract came to Edmond through "absolute estate of inheritance in fee simple".  If, however, Edmond was to pay the £31.6.6 plus legal interest, along with the recording fee and the "alienation fine" due Lord Baltimore, the deed would then be void.  Payment was scheduled: £16.6.6 due the following November and £15 due 1 No 1769, plus interest.  Edmund signed with his mark.  Witnesses: Edward Tripp and William Haskins.[10]  Our David Melville had many connections to the Lloyds, but then, the Lloyds were a very wealthy family. 

19 Dec 1769: Edmond Milvill, planter, and wife Mary sold 121 acres known as Addition to Goose Pond to Habbakkuk Morgan for £60.  The tract adjoined a fork of Robinses Branch where Marshy Prong joined that branch, and was "a little below the said Melville's plantation".  Both Edmond and Mary signed with their marks.[11]

1783 Dorchester County Tax List, Upper District Hundred: Nelly Melvill was listed, but with no acreage specified. 

1783 Caroline Caroline County Tax List: John Mevill was taxed for 103 acres of Hap Hazard in the Lower Choptank District Hundred. 

Aug 1784: Daniel Sullivane, son of John and Margaret Sullivane, sold 2 parcels in Caroline County, MD to John Melvill: 1) 56 acres, part of Devonshire; 2) 42 acres, part of Haphazard Enlarged.[12]   The acreage of Devonshire was actually 58 1/2.

5 Nov 1788: John and Nancy Melvin/Melvill [surname appears both ways]  sold 58 1/2 acres called Devonshire and 42 acres called Haphazard Enlarged to Michael Todd for 120 pounds current money.[13]

20 Aug 1791: A Sarah Melvin married Henry Dean in Dorchester County. 

If you have material about any individuals included in Nancy's Dead Relatives, can add well-documented family lines, have corrections and/or comments, or wish to establish a link to or from this site, please contact me at nancy@nancysdeadrelatives.com.  However, the decision whether or not to include any submitted material is the webmaster's (mine) alone. 

Nancy Denty Breidenthal

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