Notes |
- Boston Tea Party:
Major Thomas (3), only son of Allan and Jean (Cargill) Melvill, was
born in Boston, Massachusetts, January 16, 1751. Losing his mother at
the early age of eight years, his care and education devolved upon his
maternal grandmother, Mary (Abernethy) Cargill. She was a sister of
the noted Dr. Abernethy, and was a woman of great intelligence. Her
memory was ever warmly cherished by her grandson during life. At the
age of fifteen he entered Princeton College, where he was graduated in
1769. He was destined for the ministry and devoted more than a year to
the study of theology, but finding his health impaired and his
constitution too frail for that arduous profession, he changed his
plan of life. In 1771 he visited Scotland, the home of his ancestors,
on business as heir-at-law to his cousin, General Roland Melvil, and
was received with marked attention, receiving a degree from the St.
Andrews College, Edinburg, together with the freedom of the city. He
remained in Scotland and England two years, returning to Boston in
1773. From this period the cause of civil liberty engaged his
attention and its progress was marked with deep interest to the
termination of his life. He took part in many of the important and
stirring events preceding the revolution. He was one of the youthful
disciples and confidential associates of Samuel and John Hancock,
whose friendship and intimacy he ever retained. He was one of the band
of Indians, who, on the night of December 16, 1773, held the famous
"Tea Party" in Boston Harbor. Some of the tea that he found in his
shoes after his return home that night he preserved, and in after
years exhibited it to such a distinguished visitor as General
Lafayette as a precious souvenir of that memorable party. He was
selected by General Warren as one of his aides a short time previous
to the death of the latter at the battle of Bunker Hill. In 1776 he
was commissioned captain by the state of Massachusetts in an artillery
regiment commanded by Colonel Thomas Crafts, and in 1777 was promoted
major of the same regiment. For a time he was on garrison in and about
Boston. When the British evacuated that city in 1776, a portion of
their fleet was left in Nantasket Roads to prevent any British vessels
from entering the harbor and falling into the hands of the patriots.
Major Melvill commanded a detachment of artillery sent to drive them
from their station. A battery was erected under heavy fire from the
British ships and Major Melvill aimed and fired the first gun which,
followed by others equally well aimed, soon drove the enemy to sea. He
served with Colonel Craft's regiment in 1777 in Rhode Island, under
General Spencer, and was with the regiment in 1779 at the battle of
Rhode Island under General Sullivan. He also served on the committee
of correspondence and on the town committee to obtain its quota of
troops for the continental army. Prior to the organizations of the
general government, Major Melvill, in 1787, was chosen, three years in
succession by the Massachusetts legislature as naval officer of the
port of Boston. His first election was from fifteen candidates, one of
them, Mr. Otis, being a member of the legislature, and brother of the
speaker. Upon the adoption of the federal constitution the appointment
of custom house officers was transferred to the president of the
United States. For the port of Boston President Washington appointed
General Lincoln, collector; James Lowell, naval officer; and Major
Melvill, surveyor and inspector. He held this office until the death
of James Lowell, when he was appointed naval officer by President
Madison. This office he continued to hold under successive presidents
until 1829, when he fell a victim to the pernicious doctrine "To the
victors belong the spoils," and was removed from office by President
Andrew Jackson. There was no pretence that he was incapable or
unfaithful to the duties of his office. The victorious party wanted
the office and took it. The old hero bitterly resented his removal and
often referred to it as the "bitterest insult" of his long life. At
the first state election held after his removal from office he was
chosen one of the representatives from Boston in the state
legislature, and held by successive reelections during the remainder
of his life. In 1779 he was chosen one of the fire wardens of Boston
and continued to be reelected until the reorganization of the fire
department in 1825, a period of forty-seven years. For twenty-five
years he was chairman of the board. On his retirement he was presented
with a silver pitcher as a token of personal respect and a public
testimonial of his faithful services. One of the engines and companies
bore his name and ever honored his memory. The Massachusetts
legislature appointed him a director of the State Bank and other
public institutions, and he was chosen as delegate to the convention
that revised the state constitution. He had many warm friends among
the military and public men of his day. He was known among these as
"the last of the cocked hats," from the fact that until his death he
always wore a three-cornered cocked hat and knee breeches. Being once
asked why he did not add a final e. to his name, the reply was: "My
father did not." The leading and prominent traits of his character
were a sound judgment, a quick discernment, firmness and decision in
time of danger and pressing emergency; a strong sense of justice; the
strictest fidelity to engagements, public and private; an ardent
attachment to personal friends; great tenderness and the most
considerate regard for his family and those depending on him.
Notwithstanding an intense aversion to the disclosure of religious
feeling, it was manifest to his intimate friends that the highest of
all obligations were daily and habitually remembered. He died
peacefully at his home in Boston, September, 16, 1832, in his
eighty-second year.
He married, in Boston, August 20, 1774, Priscilla, daughter of John
Scollay, granddaughter of James Scollay, who came from Orkney Island
to America, and great-granddaughter of Malcolm Scollay, of Scotland,
born 1648, died 1746, at the great age of ninety-eight years. The name
is perpetuated in Boston by "Scollay Square" and other memorials.
Priscilla (Scollay) Melvill survived her husband with whom she spent a
congenial, happy life, continuing fifty-eight years. Children:
Thomas (2), born June 26, 1776, educated at Boston Academy, was a
merchant in Boston, was sent to Paris by his employers at the age of
eighteen, became a banker of note, and remained in France fourteen
years, except two years spent in Spain; married a French girl of
Spanish mother, Fran
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