George Melvin, Schoolmaster, Tarves

[GordonFindlay]

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

[CaroleW]

Presumably no connection to your FH?  What is your interest?

Ref James - Whilst not all death entries show mothers maiden name - you could check Scotlands People for those that do & which are a match for his birthyear

In 1841 he was the Rector of a grammer school - is he on the 1851 census or subsequent censuses?

Agnes senior appears to have died 1847 - who reported her death?

Agnes jnr - have you checked later censuses?  If not found in 1851 then she perhaps either married or died between censuses

[ecksdochter]

     George Melvin and Agnes Stewart married 5th June 1793 at Aberdeen. [OPR Marriages 168/A 140 369 Aberdeen] - ScotlandsPeople.
     Regards,     Dod.

[mckha489]

I see he left a bequest to Tarves to build a public hall. Was there any extended family named in his will?

[ecksdochter]

     Family Notice in the "Banffshire Journal" dated Tuesday, 14th December 1847.
     ".....the 30th *nit.,? (*likely to be ult.), 42, Belmont Street, Aberdeen, aged eighty-two, Agnes Stewart, relict of the late George Melvin, Merchant in Aberdeen."
     The above notice is from the British Newspaper Archives - Index. I'm not able to view the full notice.
     Regards,     Dod.

[GordonFindlay]

Thanks folks - some leads there which I will follow up. 

He is possibly part of my family. I have a GF and GGF named George Melvin, and two more generations of Melvins I can pin down. And there are hints that the schoolmaster's extended family overlap with mine - like "I think there was someone who taught in your father's family". But stories aren't facts!


Slainte
Gordon

[Neale1961]

1841 census
James Melvin, with mother Agnes and sister Agnes
https://www.freecen.org.uk/search_records/5a140333f4040b9d6ee780be/james-l-l-d-melvin-1841-aberdeenshire-aberdeen-1796-?locale=en


1851 census
James Melvin and sister Agnes Melvin, both unmarried.
https://www.freecen.org.uk/search_records/5902681ae9379091b1cfb488/james-melvin-1851-aberdeenshire-aberdeen-1795-?locale=en


Aberdeen Sheriff Court Inventories    SC1/36/33
Melvin   James, Dr.             21 / 11 / 1853   
rector of the Grammar School of Aberdeen residing at No. 41 Belmont Street, Aberdeen      

[Neale1961]

Agnes Melvin, Age 72. Death in St Nicholas in 1875 (mother’s maiden name Stewart).

1861 census, Agnes Melvin (unmarried)
https://www.freecen.org.uk/search_records/59026b82e9379091b1ddc694/agnes-melvine-1861-aberdeenshire-aberdeen-1800-?locale=en

1871 census, Agnes Melvin (unmarried)
https://www.freecen.org.uk/search_records/59026f25e9379091b1ece8af/agnes-melvin-1871-aberdeenshire-aberdeen-1800-?locale=en


ADDED
George Melvin and Agnes Stewart also had a son named Robert (Melven) born 22 Feb 1799 in Aberdeen.

[GordonFindlay]

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