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That is interesting - it implies that she had no (living) children or "easily located" relatives. Her death was notified by a nephew - not close enough a relative perhaps?

But the succession law in Scotland is very broad (I have benefitted myself!) and I'm surprised that neither the nephew, nor any of Jim's siblings (he had 10) qualified.

Phyllis was illegitimate, no father being named on any of the records.

I've been looking for the death of James Findlay, without luck.

Details -
  born 16 Mar 1906, Charleton Mains, Montrose.
  parents David Thom Findlay (1881 - 1957) and Ann Melvin (1878 - 1946).
  married Phyllis Dear Collier on 1 June 1935, Arbroath.
 
Phyllis was born 7 Sep 1910, Carnoustie.  She died 5 Sep 1991, at which time she was a widow. Her usual residence was 80 Lochend Rd, Carnoustie.

So he died before 5 Sep 1991.
 
 I have SP certificates for all that.
 
 At his marriage he was a Farm Servant at Monkie; Phyllis was a domestic servant in Dundee.
 
 They lived in New Mains, Inchture, Perth at least 1955-61 - found in 'Register of Electors. Perth And East Perthshire'. I know that they had children, but I have no contact - my Mother did but left nothing behind. I can finds possible certs on SP, but they are not helpful in finding a death.
 
 But I cannot find James Findlay's death recorded anywhere in SP. I cannot find any cemetery records either.
 
 Any ideas - all ideas - very gratefully received.
 
 
 

Well that fills in the descendants of George Melvin and Agnes Stewart (the Schoolmaster's parents) quite a bit.

But little on the their ancestors, who may be my ancestors. Surprisingly that George Melvin, Merchant of Aberdeen, is hard to locate in newspapers of the time.

Thanks for all the pointers folks.

Slainte
Gordon

Many thanks!  I had some of those, but not all.

The news about Robert is exciting, and I'll follow it through tonight. I have found four accounts of George Melvin and all say there were only three children. No doubt someone said three and everyone copied.

Slainte
Gordon

George Melvin was a renowned schoolmaster in Tarves for 21 years from 1843. There are many tales about him in local history circles.

Baptised 7 Nov 1796 (often given as 1797) in Aberdeen. Parents were George Melvin and Agnes Stewart. I cannot find their marriage.

There were two other children:

 - James bapt 21 May 1794; found with his mother and someone else also named Agnes who might be a wife or sister. in Aberdeen 1841 census.

 - Agnes bapt 30 Oct 1802 In Aberdeen

George Melvin the schoolmaster married his housekeeper Jean Angus on his deathbed, so she could get a pension due to schoolmasters' widows! Obviously they had no children. Her parents were John Angus and Isobel Hay.

I want to trace the families of his siblings James and Agnes but no luck: there are far too many George, James and Agnes Melvins and  far too few records.

Has anyone encountered these folk?

Slainte
Gordon