Family of Nathan Melton, Sr.

(This person can be viewed within the Melton/Sharp Ancestry Chart by clicking here)

 

 

1.  NATHAN³ MELTON, SR.  (ROBERT², RICHARD¹)^1,2,3,4,5 was born Bet. 1735 - 1740 in Orange County, North Carolina^6,7, and died Bet. September 15, 1805 - October 27, 1806 in Edgefield Dist, South Carolina⁸.  He married (1) NANCY ALLEN^9,10 Abt. 1757¹¹, daughter of WILLIAM ALLEN and MARY OWEN.  She was born Abt. 1730.  He married (2) SUSANNAH MCKINNEY CARTER^12,13,14,15 Aft. 1767, daughter of THOMAS CARTER and SUSANNA MCKINNEY.  She was born Abt. 1736, and died Aft. 1805¹⁶.

Nathan's Will

 

Notes for NATHAN MELTON, SR.:

Land grant issued to Nathan MELTON by the British Crown. It was issued July 30, 1760, and is for 300 acres, located on the "N. side Haw River, NC".

 

1768, Moved to Edgefield, South Carolina

 

By the time the Revolutionary War was in progress, the Melton's were living in what is now Saluda Co., SC.

 

1779, Colony, SC Resident Old 96th Dist., pg 50, Colony South Carolina

 

1805, Will in Edgefield, South Carolina

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Robert is prob. son of Nathan who took grant in Burke Co. GA. 1784.

 

Nathan was a brother of Nathaniel, Ancil, Archelus, James and Isham.

 

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Moore County, North Carolina Land Grants, 1759-1834

 

North Carolina, Orange County                  25 October 1759 300 Acres

This plan represents a tract of land Surveyed for Nathan Melton on the North Side Haw River. Beginning at a red oak by the River then running past 87 chains to a red oak then South 65 chains to a white oak then west 10 1/2 chains to a willow oak by the River. Then up the various courses of the River to the first station. Containing Three hundred Acres of land Surveyed the 25th day of October 1759.

Cha Carr\

Robert Patterson\

John Collins                        W Churton\

*Note: Robert Patterson and Isaac Collins were buyers at the sale of Robert Melton's Estate.

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Grant to Nathan Melton, Orange County, North Carolina            30 July 1760      300 Acres

This Indenture made the thirteen day of July in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty, between the right honorable John Earl Granville, Viscount Carteret, and Baron Carteret, of Hawnes in the County of Bedford in the Kingdom of Great Britain, Lord President of his Majesty's Most Honorable Privy Council, and Knight of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, of the one part; and Nathan Melton Orange County in the Province of North Carolina Planter, of the other part.

NOW THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH, That as well for and in Consideration of the sum of Ten Shilling's Sterling Money to the said John Earl Granville in hand paid, by the said Nathan Melton...He, the said Earl HATH Given, Granted, bargained, sold and Confirmed, unto the said Nathan Melton... ALL that Tract or Parcel of vacant land... Being in the Parish of St. Matthew in the County of Orange in the said Province on the North side of Haw River... Containing in the Whole, Three hundred acres of Land...TOGETHER with all Woods, Under Woods, Timber and Timber -- Trees, Water -- Courses; and the privilege of Hunting, Hawking, Fishing and Fowling, in and upon the Premises, and all Mines and Minerals whatsoever thereon to be found, (excepting, and always reserving out of this present Grant unto the King's Most Excellent Majesty, His Heirs and Successors, one Fourth Part of all the Gold and Silver Mines to be found in and upon the Premises)... IN WITNESS where of the Parties above named have to the Presents interchangeably set their Hands in Seals, the Day and Year herein First above written.

SEALED AND DELIVERED in the

Presence of us, Jas Watson, Stephen Poe            Nathan Melton

Examined by us, Tho Jones Richard Nigers

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NANCY (ALLEN) MELTON, Nathan's 1st wife: had 5+ children

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Grantee: Lewis Lowry 18 Apr 1771 to John Street to John Eden to Thos Myers 5 Feb 1779.

Location: SWs PeeDee N. bank Wilkey's Mill Creek.

Money: 30

Acreage: 62 A

Parties: Nathan Melton from Thos Myers

Witnesses: Evan Vaughn, Samuel Myers

Deed Book. & Date: 4:294 26 Feb 1780 Apr. Court [Court] 1783

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From McBee Papers: pg. 25 16 July 1774 Lewis Lowry & wife Susannah, to John Street, all of Anson County, for 25 pds, 96 a on north of Mill Prong of Jones Creek., part of a survey granted Lewis Lowry 18 Apr. 1771.

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NATHAN MELTON, Anson Co. NC.

 

Grantee: Nathan Melton 23 Jul 1774

Location: Wilkey's Mill Creek, N. prong Jones Creek.

Adjacencies: Lewis Lowry

Money: 25

Acreage: 100 A

Parties: Nathan (X) Melton to Robt. Hall

Witnesses: Jno Leverest, Nathan Faulkner, Wm. (X) Kelley, Wm. Rushing, Jr.,

Ensient Betts, Phillip (X) Rushing.

Deed Book & Date: K: 492 2/6/1777 Jan. Court. 1778.

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Wit. John Hurley - Nathan Melton

Ct.[Court] of 12 July 1775 deed of John Street & wife to John Eddins proved by Nathaniel Melton; also one from Lawrence Franklin to John Stanfield.

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Wit. John May - Nathaniel (?) Melton

pg. 31 27 July 1778 W May, Sr., late of Anson to Gideon Brown of same, for_____, 640 A north of Pee Dee on Fork of Jones Creek, being the place where Gideon Brown now lives, granted to Wm. May and Robert Edwards, Edwards sold to James Brooks, north of Wilky's Creek. (Mill), adj. Drury Sims.

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Grantee: Nathan Melton 23 Sept. 1785

Location: N. Bank Middle Prong Jones Creek. McNish's Creek.

Adjacencies: His own, Wm. Ricketts, Gurley or Hurley

Acreage: 200 A

Parties: Nathan Melton from St.[State] of NC.

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Abstracts of Anson County Deeds 1757/1766....on page 12 "note the blanks in this & the preceding deed are occasioned by the original deeds being torn & etc....20 Sept 1809" pg. 51 "The balance of this deed together with 24 pages not to be found in the original books." pg. 55 another note dated 1805.

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SOUTH CAROLINA 1790

MELTON COUNTY M 16 & up M -16 Females All others Slaves

 

Nathan Cheraw 1 2 7 0 0

Nathan Edgefield 1 1 3 0 0

 

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Will in Edgefield Co, SC, Will Book A:230

 

Last Will and Testament of Nathan Melton, Planter

15 Sept. 1805-- My lands, tenements, rents, etc., unto my daughter, Susanna Melton, and my two grandsons, Nathan Melton, Junior's sons, Auston Philips Melton and Robert Auswell (or Caswell) Melton and to William Melton and Nancy Crouch and Naomy Smedly . . . . To my daughter, Susanna, I give all my lands but she is to give to my two grandsons, Nathan Melton's sons, $100.00 or that part of the land that lies on the south side of Indian Creek. . . and I give to my two grandsons four head of cattle and two feather beds out of the beds at this time in the hands of their mother, Naomy Smedly. . . I give two

cows and calves to William Melton, my son, (and) one feather bed and furniture .

. . and to Nancy Crouch I give five head of cattle, bed, furniture and one mare, the whole of which property she has in her possession at this time.

 

Executors: Sampson Pope, William Melton, & Susanna Melton. Proved 27 Oct. 1806, Recorded 11 May 1807.

Witnesses: Aaron Etheridge, Charles Perkins, and Isaac Cawell.

 

Will in Edgefield Co, SC, Will Book A:230, Last Will and Testament of Nathan Melton, Planter

 

Nathan Melton had at least two other children than named in his will, and possibly others. In the newspaper attacks on his son, Col. William Melton in 1794, he made affidavits in which he named a son, Robert Melton, as being also in the American Service in the Revolutionary War and who would be of legal age in 1784, thus born about 1763. Another of his sons was named Thomas Melton who also made an affidavit in 1794 stating that he was living with his brothers, William and Robert in the winter of 1781-1782. That he had a wife named Nancy is proved in the Ledger Diary in the record of his daughter, Naomy Melton, b. 25 Dec. 1768, and her marriage to Thomas Smedley (b. 10 Sept. 1767), in which it is stated that she was the daughter of "Nathan and Nancy Melton

 

 

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1810

 

Edgefield 110 08 Benj Melton 00001 11001

Edgefield 062 01 Mathew Melton 10110 42210

Edgefield 079 10 Michael Melton 10010 10010

Edgefield 086 13 Susan Melton 00000 12010

Edgefield 063 05 Susanah Melton 10000 10012 (Nathan's Widow)

 

 

     

 

 

More About NATHAN MELTON, SR.:

Census 1: 1790, Edgefield Dist, SC - roll11, p511c?¹⁷

Census 2: 1800, Edgefield Co, SC - roll47,p179b?¹⁸

Fact: 1768, Moved from Orange Co, NC to SC

Will 1: September 15, 1805, Written and signed

Will 2: October 27, 1806, Proved

 

Notes for NANCY ALLEN:

NANCY (ALLEN) MELTON, Nathan's 1st wife: had 5+ children

 

More About NATHAN MELTON and NANCY ALLEN:

Marriage: Abt. 1757¹⁹

 

Notes for SUSANNAH MCKINNEY CARTER:

1810

Edgefield 110 08 Benj Melton 00001 11001

Edgefield 062 01 Mathew Melton 10110 42210

Edgefield 079 10 Michael Melton 10010 10010

Edgefield 086 13 Susan Melton 00000 12010

Edgefield 063 05 Susanah Melton 10000 10012 (Nathaniel's Widow)

 

 

 

More About NATHAN MELTON and SUSANNAH CARTER:

Marriage: Aft. 1767

     

Children of NATHAN MELTON and NANCY ALLEN are:

              i.   NATHAN MELTON ^19,20,21

 

More About NATHAN MELTON:

Census: 1790, St. Thomas, Cheraw Dist, SC²²

 

              ii.   THOMAS MELTON ^23,24, b. May 07, 1760, Haw River, Orange County, North Carolina; d. Abt. 1830, Greene County, Alabama; m. ELIZABETH ALLEN^25,26, Abt. 1789; b. March 17, 1772, Edgefield District, South Carolina²⁷; d. Aft. 1829, Alabama or Mississippi²⁸.

 

 

             iii.  WILLIAM MELTON^30,31,32,33, b. July 31, 1761, Haw River, Orange County, North Carolina³³; d. June 06, 1836, Walton County, Georgia; m. (1) REBECCA BATES^33,34, February 04, 1780, Edgefield, South Carolina³⁵; b. April 24, 1762³⁶; d. January 29, 1781³⁷; m. (2) LUCY DANIEL ALLEN^38,39,40, June 03, 1783, Edgefield County, South Carolina⁴¹; b. February 22, 1762, 96th Dist., South Carolina⁴²; d. November 13, 1815, Putnam County, Georgia⁴³; m. (3) REBECCA THOMPSON^43,44, May 09, 1816, Putnam County, Georgia^45,46; b. December 25, 1778⁴⁷; d. Aft. 1853, Meriwether County, Georgia⁴⁸.

 

Notes for WILLIAM MELTON:

Revolutionary War Vet (W 25703, BLW+ 30939-160-55) Joined on May 8, 1778, on the Saluda River in the 96th District, South Carolina, and later as a substitute for his father.  He applied for pension in Walton County, Georgia on March 4, 1833.

 

Transcribed from MELTON FAMILY HISTORY  by James R. Wilson, 1963

 

(The 1800 Census of South Carolina shows that Nathan had at least two other children other than William, but I do not know their names.)

 

    William Allen Melton was born July 31, 1761, on the Haw River in NC, the son of Nathan and Nancy Allen Melton, and died June 6, 1836, in Walton County, Georgia.

    The Melton's were living on the Little Saluda River in South Carolina when the Revolutionary War began. William served in the SC Militia as a sergeant, enlisting on May 8, 1778, at the age of 17.

    In May 1780, the militia of SC was surrendered and received paroles in obedience to the British ultimatum: "Surrender, or have your homes destroyed and all your property confiscated." A year later, the British released the Americans from their paroles and ordered them into British service. William describes this in his pension file: "Here were trying times. The old Whigs, still loyal to their country and regardless of the threats and mandates of Britain, flew to their arms and determined on Freedom or Death."

    During the period the Americans were under parole, the British seized a large amount of rebel property. In order to keep their Negro slaves from falling into British hands, William Melton's fellow officers gave him the slaves to hide from the British and their Tory spies. He kept them concealed for about a month until he was sent word to bring them to Wadmalaw Island, which is just below the city of Charleston. To do this, he had to make a trip of about 130 miles through country infested with British and Tories. He successfully accomplished this journey.  William served in several missions against the British and Indians in northern Georgia and along the Savannah River before the close of the war.

    In 1783, William Allen Melton went to Greene County, Tennessee, in what was then the independent state of Franklin. Here he was commander of a troop of horse, but in 1786, shortly before the rapidly dissolving state of Franklin was subjugated by a United States military force, William moved to Greene County, Georgia. Arriving in November of 1786, he lived in Greene County for 24 years.  At this time in Georgia, there was danger of an Indian uprising and a militia was maintained to protect the settlers from raids by the Indians. William received a commission in the State Militia and from May 28, 1787 until May 9, 1793, he served as the Captain of the Fifth Company, Greene County Regiment of Militia. He received a new commission on May 9, 1793 and from then until September of 1804, he served as a Lieutenant Colonel, commanding the First Regiment, Greene County Militia.

    William was elected to a term in the Georgia House of Representatives from Greene County in 1800.  In March 1800, he moved to Putnam County, Georgia where he lived until December of 1821, when he went to Walton County, Georgia. He lived there until his death in 1836.

    In what is now Saluda County, SC, on February 1, 1780 William Allen Melton married Polly Bates who was born on April 24, 1762. The story of their marriage is related in William Alexander Melton's family Bible: "...Wm. Melton, son of William Melton and Polly, his wife, was born the 29th day of January, 1781. Wm. born two o'clock. The above Polly died the same day about six o'clock. William deceased ninth day of February of the same year." Thus William lost both wife and son in the space of ten days.

 

    On May 9, 1816 in Putnam County, Georgia, William was married to Rebecca Thompson. She was born December 25, 1778. The date of her death is not known; however, she was living in 1853 when she applied for a pension as the widow of William Allen Melton. She was then living in Meriweather County, Georgia.

 

 

The Following was Donated by Karon Mac Smith.

William Melton wrote the following letter dated August 19, 1835 to his son W.A. Melton and sent it to him in Alabama from Georgia.

 

"A history of the age and life of William Melton.  He was born 31 of July 1761 in North Carolina near the Hawfield on Haw/river and in his 7 year of his age his farther Nathan Melton moved from that place to South Carolina then Edgefield District (lived here 15 years and in my 19 year of age I married on 1 day of Jan. 1781 Polley Bates dau Wm. Bates and she departed this life 29 of Jan. 1781 and on the 3 of July 1783 married the widder Williams dau of Robert Allen.  We moved from 96th. Dist. on the 9 of Oct 1783 to Holston River now East (not plain but is Tennessee) from thence on the 16 of November 1786 to State of Georgia, Green County.  We continued there upwards of 24 years to the 10 of March 1810, we moved from Green Co., to Putman Co. and on 13 of Nov. 1815 my wife Lucy departed this life.  We lived together 32 yrs.  We had 13 children, 10 now living with 103 grandchildren.  I then on the 9 of May 1816 married the widder Boren, dau of Seth Thompson.  We had 2 chn.  We moved from Putman to Walton Co. on the 31 of Dec. 1827 where we now live.

To my family as a soldier and an officer, in my 17 yr. of age I turned out as a vol. soldier in the American service in the Florida Expedition on the 8 of May 1778.  Served until the 28 of Aug. following and on the 2 of Sept. I took my fathers place as a soldier in an Exped. to the frontier of George an cont. in his place and on my own in the American Service two yrs. 6 mo. and 10 days in the R. Ware until peace with Great Briton for which the United States allowed me as my pension during my life $80.83 annually.  I was in 7 battles against the British, 6 running fights and one general Battel at Stone Perry on the 20 of June 1779.  On the 5 of Jan. 1787 I was elected Capt. on the frontiers of Georgia and on the 28th of May 1787 the Creeke Indians came into the district I commanded, killed Ezekiel McMichel and Wm. Jones.  Now begins the Creek Ware.  I commanded as Capt. of the district and 4 troops of hors until Jan. 1793 held the command for 15 yrs.  I ware in 13 battles with the Indians, was at the burning of the Indian Village on the Chatehucha River above West Point.  We arrived at the river before day. None knew we where the fouerd ware...two men vollentered their servises to serch out the ffouerd to wit David Adams and Mr. Cribes.  After a long search Cribs returned but no Adams.  At length Adams went into the towm, took an Indian pony which was tide came to the river, found the foured, pilotted 87 men across the river, then we went to the town which was a 1/2 mile, burnt the town, held a grate many indians, took 9 prisoners and returned with out a loss of a man at that place."

 

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More About REBECCA BATES:

Cause of Death: Childbirth, most likely.

 

More About WILLIAM MELTON and REBECCA BATES:

Marriage: February 04, 1780, Edgefield, South Carolina⁴⁹

 

More About WILLIAM MELTON and LUCY ALLEN:

Marriage: June 03, 1783, Edgefield County, South Carolina⁵⁰

 

More About WILLIAM MELTON and REBECCA THOMPSON:

Marriage: May 09, 1816, Putnam County, Georgia^51,52

 

             iv.   CAPT. ROBERT MELTON, SR.^53,54, b. Abt. 1763, Haw River, Orange County, North Carolina⁵⁵; d. Bef. February 1802, Greene County, Georgia⁵⁶; m. (1) ELIZABETH HOLLOWAY⁵⁷; m. (2) ELIZABETH SPENCER⁵⁸, 1784, Greene County, Georgia; b. Abt. 1765, Namsemond County, Virginia; d. 1804, Greene County, Georgia.

 

Notes for CAPT. ROBERT MELTON, SR.:

Greene Co., Ga. Deed Book, AA:201

 

14 Oct. 1800 - DEED OF GIFT from ROBERT MELTON, of Greene Co., Ga., to his wife, ELIZABETH MELTON, for love and good will, two negroes named NED and NELLY and her increase.

Witness: WILLIAM MELTON.

 

COMMENT: In the proof of probate recorded 8 Feb. 1802 WILLIAM MELTON swore that he saw ROBERT MELTON, late of Greene Co., deceased, sign the deed of gift; but he added that the said deed does not express in words or mention that the two above named negroes were given in consideration of two other negroes named AMELIA and BILLY, who were part of the estate of THOMAS HOLLOWAY, LATE OF NANSEMOND COUNTY, VIRGINIA, DECEASED, which the said ROBERT MELTON had disposed of previous to the deed of gift and agreeable to said HOLLOWAY'S Last Will and Testament.

It therefore seems that CAPT. ROBERT MELTON must have married ELIZABETH HOLLOWAY but we do not know if she was the wife, daughter, or sister of THOMAS HOLLOWAY.

 

A younger ROBERT MELTON appears a little later on Greene Co., Ga., records, and it is easy to identify him as the son of LT. COL. WILLIAM MELTON as in the Ledger-Diary he is listed as the eldest son of him and his second wife, LUCY ALLEN, b. 13 Mar. 1784. He would, therefore, have become of legal age 13 Mar. 1805. In the Greene Co. Tax List of 1805 WILLIAM MELTON is taxed on 600 acres of land in that county on Richland Creek. In 1806 this tract is divided into two tracts of which COL. WILLIAM is taxed on 500 acres and ROBERT MELTON, (JR.) or (the younger) is taxed on 100 acres. ROBERT continues until 1809 to be taxed on 100 acres, three negroes, and one two-wheel carriage. After this year we find him in Putnam Co., where his father had moved.

 

 

More About CAPT. ROBERT MELTON, SR.:

MILI: Military: Was a Captain in the Revolutionary War

 

Notes for ELIZABETH SPENCER:

Peggy Loos' family tree shows Elizabeth "Holloway", rather than "Spencer" as she appears on Dean's family tree.

 

 

More About ROBERT MELTON and ELIZABETH SPENCER:

Marriage: 1784, Greene County, Georgia

 

             v.   SUSANNAH MELTON⁵⁹, b. Abt. 1765; m. (1) JAMES WHITEHEAD?, Bef. 1790; m. (2) GABRIEL MILTON, December 23, 1819, Edgefield County, South Carolina.

 

Marriage Notes for SUSANNAH MELTON and JAMES WHITEHEAD?:

Description: Susannah had 4 children with this person.

 

 

More About JAMES WHITEHEAD? and SUSANNAH MELTON:

Marriage: Bef. 1790

 

More About GABRIEL MILTON and SUSANNAH MELTON:

Marriage: December 23, 1819, Edgefield County, South Carolina

 

             vi.   NANCY MELTON ⁵⁹, b. Abt. 1767; m. UNKNOWN CROUCH^60,61.

 

Notes for UNKNOWN CROUCH:

Doug Keys family documentation has the name for Nancy's husband as "Taliver Crouch".

Michael Leisure calls Nancy's husband "Edward Crouch".

 

            vii.   NAOMI MELTON ⁶², b. December 25, 1768, Edgefield County, South Carolina; d. Bef. 1850, Greene County, Georgia; m. THOMAS SMEDLEY⁶³, January 14, 1790, Edgefield County, South Carolina; b. September 10, 1767⁶⁴; d. 1852, Troup County, Georgia.

 

Notes for THOMAS SMEDLEY:

Moved to Troup County by 1837. Most of his children went on to Chambers and Randolf County, Alabama. Hired a man to build house and thread mill near the Chatahoochie River near Grier's Ferry. This may have been the first cotton mill in the South.

 

 

More About THOMAS SMEDLEY and NAOMI MELTON:

Marriage: January 14, 1790, Edgefield County, South Carolina

 

           viii.   ELIZABETH MELTON ⁶⁵, d. Aft. November 07, 1798; m. PETER MARTIN⁶⁶; d. Bef. November 05, 1796.

 

     

Child of NATHAN MELTON and SUSANNAH CARTER is:

             ix.   HINCHEN MELTON, m. SUSANNAH DAY?.