Major Thomas Melville

Notes:

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.

Thomas married Priscilla Scollay on 30 Aug 1774 in Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts. Priscilla (daughter of John Scollay, Esq and Mercy Greenleaf) was born on 15 Aug 1755 in Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Allan married Maria Catherine Gansevoort on 4 Oct 1814 in Albany, Albany County, New York. Maria was born in 1791. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Famous Kin: American Novelist

Notes:

Note: NOVELIST, POET
AUTHOR OF "MOBY DICK" (1851)
WROTE THE SHORT STORY, "BARTLEBY THE SCRIVENER" (1853)
CLOSE FRIEND OF AUTHOR NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE
At the age of 20, Herman went off to sea as a cabin boy. He returned
to the U.S. and taught school for a while then shipped off on a
whaling vessel for the South Seas. He jumped ship in the Marquesas Islands and encountered a tribe of cannibals. In 1843, he enlisted as a seaman aboard the U.S. Navy frigate "United States." Discharged in 1844, Melville turned to writing and completed his famous novel MOBY DICK in 1851, though it was not received well and made little money. In fact, most of Melville's work went almost completely unrecognized until after his death. Today he is considered one of America's greatest writers. His last work BILLY BUDD, FORETOPMAN was completed just before his death in 1891, but was not published until 1924. It was later turned into an opera by Benjamin Britten. "Call me Ishmael. Some years ago--never mind how long precisely--having little or no money in my purse, and nothing particular to interest me on shore, I thought I would sail about a little and see the watery part of the world. It is a way I have of
driving off the spleen, and regulating the circulation." --Herman
Melville, from MOBY DICK.Melville