The Crislich Mystery

There were many Melvilles in the parish of Clyne and some in the parish of Golspie throughout the latter part of the 18th century and the 19th century. Those Melvilles were all inter-related and possibly descended from a single ancestor or family resident in the area in the late sixteen hundreds or early seventeen hundreds. Alexander of Crislich was from the lines of Melvilles in which I have a principal interest though there may still be a little doubt as to his exact position within this family.

It is clear for the various records that Sergeant Melville and Alexander Melville were one and the same person mentioned in the 1813 and 1815 tenancies. He was quite possibly the son of John Melville of Doll and his spouse Helen MacDonald though Alexander Melville and Sarah Mackay are also an outside possibility. A further indication that the period of tenancy was more than just a few years is the fact that Alexander Melville of Crislich was married to a Margaret Graham and of their five children born between 1806 and 1816 their third and fifth children were noted as born at Crislich. The Old Parish entry for the fourth child was less specific just indicating Clyne.

The family disappeared from the area around 1820 and despite much searching only one clue to their possible whereabouts came to light.

In response to an article I had published in the Highland Family History Society Journal entitled ‘The Melvilles of the Doll’, correspondence was received from Dr Bangor-Jones, an authority on the Clearances in Sutherland, that the Melville family had left for Dundee . I have no proof, as yet, that they did indeed go there and no proof as to where Alexander and Margaret finally settled. However, later research suggests they might have gone to Edinburgh due to a family member being found there The search goes on in that area for the couple themselves.

Below the OPR entries for the five children of Alexander Melville and Margaret Graham:

Below a section from the OPR for the birth of first born, John Melvin. The spelling is variable in the OPRs but throughout this work I have, in

the text, used the modern spelling used by the family from the middle of the 19^th Century, ie Melville.

The Children of Alexander Melville and Margaret Graham of Crislich born between 1806 and 1816.

The trail having run cold research in other areas of the family history was called for. Much material has been received from correspondents in

Australia

and New Zealand . In particular a descendant of Clyne Melvilles, Richard Snedden in New South Wales, Australia, provided material of great interest and with much detail on the Clyne Melvilles and related families who went to the southern hemisphere. Material from Richard Snedden and the late Heather Melville in New Zealand , another Melville researcher, threw up the name of Adam Graham Melville, Bookseller of Melbourne, who married two sisters from Brora in Sutherland who were, in fact, his cousins.

It seemed reasonable to speculate that this Adam Graham Melville might be connected to the missing Alexander Melville and Margaret Graham. The reason for this speculation centred on the fact that Adam had married two sisters, his cousins, named Melville and that his own name indicated he was a Melville with a link to a Graham family. Either clue, taken by itself, might have been coincidental but the two taken together suggested further research was necessary. Where to start searching for proof was the big question.

Research in Australia by Richard Snedden unearthed some remarkable information on Adam. He did not only marry two sisters but also married for a third time. His first wife was Isabella Melville, born 1837, the daughter of John Melville and Roberta Pope. This couple lived out their lives in Clyne had nine children and at least six of whom went to

Australia

, one via New Zealand . Adam’s second wife, Mary Melville, born 1844, was the sixth child of John and Roberta. The third woman he wed was an Elizabeth McKenney or Trennery. She was the first of six children born to Jacob McKenney and Emily O’Donnell and the widow of John Trennery. At the time of her marriage to Adam her occupation was given as ‘companion’. The marriage was firstly a civil one on 28^th October 1901 and later the couple had a religious marriage in the Church of England in 1902.

Though Isabella was born in Loth in Sutherland her family were from Clyne parish and died in 1870 in Melbourne ,

Australia

. She married Adam Graham Melville, who was born in Edinburgh in 1842, in Edinburgh on 10th April 1860. He was given as aged 19 years and a Bookseller of 12 Calton Hill and she was described as a spinster of 19 years also of 12 Calton Hill. It was noted that although Adam and Isabella gave their address as 12 Calton Hill at marriage they were not listed there in the 1861 census nor in the street directory of that year. This fact suggested that by that time they were on their way to Australia .

As can be seen above, Adam and Isabella were married at Viewfirth Free Church, Newington , Edinburgh and described as ‘cousins german’. Information unearthed later indicated they went to Australia in 1860 and their son, John, was born and died there in 1863. Little is known about their life together in Edinburgh or Australia . It would appear that Isabella went to Edinburgh to work and probably was employed by or, at least, resided with Adam’s family. Adam himself served his apprenticeship in the book business, according to an Australian source, for the Edinburgh firm of Gall and Inglis.

The area of Edinburgh in which Adam Graham Melville lived with his father John and the rest of the family was on the edge of the old and new towns and on the slopes of Calton Hill. The area is well described in a book by Ann Mitchell, ‘The People of Calton Hill’, and though the area surrounding the hill is much changed today the hill itself would still be recognisable to Adam.

The area described by Ann Mitchell’s book covers much more than that of interest in this research with many other streets around Calton Hill described in great detail. The Melvilles, it would appear, resided in the steep street actually known as Calton Hill situated on the western edge of the geographic feature. Today all that remains are the houses on this west side, a dozen or so, and 14 Calton Hill to the north west . It is a pity that number 12, the home of the Melvilles, and the numbers below that have not survived. Demolition took place to make way for a roadway and a multi-storey car park. The remaining houses have, of course, been much changed internally and outwardly. They are fine, strong structures belying their early date of construction.

In the early days a number of trades, including a wright, a mason, a cooper and a bricklayer, were represented by the residents of Calton Hill and some notable early residents included accountants, a solicitor and a writer. By the end of the 17^th century and until her death in 1841 the celebrated friend of the poet Robert Burns, Agnes Maclehose, better known as Clarinda, lived at number 14 Calton Hill.

Ann Mitchell’s book makes much use of post office directory information and information collected at the ten yearly census. She mentions that in 1833 there were thirty-six separate households recorded and in 1841 over sixty. The latter figure was boosted not just by an increase in population but also by the inclusion of lodgers in the census return and not just householders. The street was a busy place with 324 residents and was described once as a ‘steep, narrow, stinking, spiral street’. There were, as noted by Ann Mitchell, many and varied occupations and Adam’s father, John Melville, brass founder and plumber, was just one of the many tradesmen making a living in the area.

Above the upper entry to Calton Hill on the left and the steps to the Hill on the right.

Below is the memorial to Clarinda in the Canongate Kirk Cemetery , Royal Mile, Edinburgh . Who the end of the 17th century and until her death in 1841 lived at number 14 Calton Hill. Near to where the Melvilles were to reside at number 12 Calton Hill.

The birth record in the OPRs for Adam Graham Melville indicated that his father was a John Melville and his mother Agnes Lawson. This information had been available from

Australia

though in a source there his mother had been given as Agnes Moses. A marriage for John Melville and Agnes Lawson had been noted from the fiche but the conflicting names left some doubt. On examination of the OPR the name Lawson was confirmed and further research showed that Agnes Lawson’s mother was a Sarah Moses. Clearly an error had been made on the Australian record. Agnes’s father was William Lawson.

The entry in the OPR for 1829 for the marriage of John Melville and Agnes Lawson is as follows;

John Melville, Plumber, residing in No. 3A Carnegie Street and Agnes Lawson residing in No. 1 Dalrymple Place both in this Parish, Daughter of the deceased William Lawson late soldier of the 1^st Dragoon Guards, have been three times proclaimed in order to marriage, in the Parish Church of St. Cuthbert’s and no objections have been offered. Married on the second day of October thereafter by the Reverend John Johnstone minister of the Relief Congregation, Roxburgh Place.

Unfortunately this OPR, like many, was not as full as hoped for with John Melville’s parents not given.

However, his Death Certificate was much more helpful. This indicated John’s parentage - John Melville, Plumber, aged 52 years son of Alexander Melville, Merchant, and Margaret Graham, both deceased. Clear evidence that while Alexander Melville and Margaret Graham could not be found after their removal from Crislich one of their children could be identified.

There were two daughters as far as can be ascertained. Margaret, described as a Hat Trimmer in the 1851 census, married George Street and had a large family, and Agnes whose gravestone is beside her father’s in GrangeCemetery . This stone indicates that Agnes married an Alexander Thomson, he dying in 1891 and Agnes, herself, at 52 years of age in 1889. Alexander, the eldest son, was described as a Plumber’s Apprentice in the 1851 census.

John Melville, plumber and brass-founder, was in partnership with someone by the name of Robert Hume and gave son William the name Hume as his middle name after this partner. The Post Office street directory for 1856/57 gives John Melville as the householder at 12 Calton Hill and his business as that of Hume and Melville, plumbers, brass-founders and gas-fitters. He was also indicated as living there in 1859/60 though he, in fact, died in 1859. An earlier interesting address for John and family is that in the 1851 census. They were then at 5 High Terrace, Edinburgh . This was a high level terrace above the north side of Leith Street and probably another name for Leith Street Terrace. The properties were demolished in 1965 to make way for the construction of the St James Shopping Centre.

It is worth noting that John was no mean businessman as he would appear to be employing 90 men and boys probably along with Robert Hume who described himself as and employer of 80-90 men and boys. Robert Hume, in 1851, was living at 21 West Register Street and was 38 years of age. His wife Anna, aged 28 years, and two sons also resided there. The street directories show the address of the Hume and Melville business to be 23 West Register Street . By 1857/58 partner Robert had gone up in the world as by then he was residing in a rather better area of the city at Annahill Villa, Grange Road .

Agnes Lawson, John’s wife, was the daughter of a soldier who was given as being in the 1st Dragoon Guards at the time of their marriage on 2nd October 1829 and as a Sergeant in the Scots Greys on her death certificate of 28th August 1865. Since Alexander Melville was designated Sergeant Alexander in one early source then there is the possibly of some army connection leading to the marriage of Alexander’s son, John, and William Lawson’s daughter, Agnes.

A letter from Aadam Graham Melville’s grand-son Charles Bernays Melville, Melbourne ,

Australia

to Una Melville in New Zealand , in 1970, gives information regarding John Melville and son John ‘junior’. He mentions a son Charles of John ‘junior’ who went to

New Zealand

. Charles Bernays also states that two sons of John Melville ‘senior’ went to the USA but this I have not confirmed. Since he is taking about close relatives and though some of the dates in his letter are incorrect it is clearly possible that his information could be accurate.

John was buried in the Grange Cemetery and a search of the burial ground revealed an impressive monument flanked on either side by the graves of his daughters Margaret and Agnes. All three stones provided much information about the families and their inscriptions are recorded below. This information is followed by further details obtained from the records of burials at the cemetery. Those records are now held at the Mortonhall Crematorium.

John Melville’s Gravestone in Grange Cemetery indicates the following; -

Sacred to the memory of John Melville, Plumber, Edinburgh died 2^nd Feby. 1859, aged 52 years.

In memory of James A. Melville, Moray House College , died 29^th May 1895, aged 46 years.

(The date 1895 not very clear but certainly 189? And almost certain it was a 5 at the end.)

Also James M. Barbour, his grandson, son of George J. Scott, died 17^th April 1906, aged 17 months.

(not sure how this fits in – if Barbour was his surname then how is his father George Scott? Was Barbour a ‘second’ forename and the surname taken as being Scott?)

Sacred to the memory of Agnes Melville, beloved wife of Alexander Thomson, died ? Feby. 1889, aged 52 years.

Also The above Alexander Thomson, died 9^th Sept. 1891, aged 62 years. (The year not very clear but appears to be 1891).

The burial plots in Grange Cemetery on first examination appeared to be three in number. However, the information from Mortonhall indicates three grave stones covering four lairs and burials not recorded on the stones. The easiest way to present the information from the Mortonhall records is to transcribe it from the handwritten notes and those are copied here. I have noted all the details given by Mortonhall except the burial depth.

Plot I547

Agnes Melville Aitken, 12 West Newington Place, Died 19-5-1881, Aged 1 yr 1 month

Maria Fraser Aitken, Daughter of George Aitken, 35 George IV Bridge, Died 15-1-1890,

Plot I548

Robert Hume Melville, 47 Great King Street , Died 1-7-1870 of Consumption, Aged 26 yrs.

Isabella Wood Melville, 49 (?47) Great King Street , Died 13-3-1872 of Fever, Aged

Roberta Margaret Melville, 47 Great King Street , Died 22-1-1872 of Bronchitis

Plot I549

Margaret Melville, Wife of George Street, 7 St Patrick’s Square, Died 6-11-1871,

Plot I550

Alfred Alexander Street , Son of George Street , 47 North Hanover Street , Died

Maggie Street , Daughter of George Street , 17 George IV Bridge, Died 25-4-1865

James George Street , Died Sunnyside Cottage, Lasswade, Died 10-6-1870, Aged

Flora Matilda Street , Daughter of George Street , 34 Clerk Street , Died 25-5-1882 Aged 2 yrs.

The impressive group of memorials to John Melville and his family in Grange Cemetery , Edinburgh .

Shipping lists to

Australia

indicate that Adam and his wife, Isabella, sailed to

Australia

in 1860 but on different ships. The reason for this is unclear. Maybe he was to go out slightly earlier to sort out a home or there may not have been space on the first vessel for Isabella. It is, of course, possible that Adam was intent on leaving Scotland on his own and Isabella would have none of it and followed!

The WELLESLEY was a three-masted, square-rigged ship, built at London (Blackwall) by (Richard & Henry) Green, in 1844. 162 x 36.5 x 23.1 feet (length x beam x depth of hold).

The “Merlin” was wooden steamship built in Glasgow in 1850 and sunk in 1882. It was 143 feet in length, 25.6 feet in breadth and had a draft of 14.8 feet.

At this time it is still not certain if Alexander Melville and Margaret Graham reached Edinburgh or if it was only their son John who went to reside there. However, there is a strong possibility that those Melvilles of Clyne, including Isabella Melville, went to Edinburgh , and resided together before some of them then emigrated to the Southern Hemisphere. Much research, including the examination of census records, has taken place in the search for the other children of Alexander Melville and Margaret Graham in hope that their location would determine where the couple finally settled. The search will go one but looking for such a common surname in central Scotland , and particularly seeking three females who may have married, presents considerable difficulty.

On the discovery of Adam Graham Melville’s second marriage, in Australia , on 8th January 1872 to Mary Melville a number of puzzles appeared. At first dates were not clear and there was some question as to what the gentleman had been up to. His relative haste in marrying the sister of his first wife, the fact that he went to South Australia to reside for a short time and marry her and that he described himself there as a bachelor all led to various suspicions.

Adam Graham Melville’s second wife, Mary Melville. Though this picture of Isabella has been found unfortunately to date neither a photograph of Adam nor his other two wives, Isabella and Elizabeth, have not come to light.

The reasons for much of the above became clear when it was discovered that a son, David Graham Melville, was born on 22nd December 1871 to Adam and Mary Melville in Adelaide and the fact that in Australia it was prior to 1871 not possible to marry one’s sister-in-law. The relationship Adam was having at that time with Mary could be legitimised promptly and conveniently by a marriage in South Australia where the law changed in 1871 with the introduction of the South Australian Deceased Wife’s Sister Marriage Act to allow such a marriage. Also their son born in December of 1871 could effectively be legitimised.

Though Adam could legitimately have admitted to a previous marriage it might have been convenient for him not to have to acknowledge his first wife and, indeed, having a son before the marriage and around the time of the introduction of the marriage act might also have proved to be embarrassing if not illegal. Additionally, it could possibly have been surmised that the description of Adam as a bachelor might have been a mistake if it were not for the details recorded at the time of his third marriage to Elizabeth McKenney (Trennery) on 28th October 1901 in Melbourne . This marriage certificate indicates this as the second time that he entered the state of matrimony and not as the third as it clearly was.

Below is a list of Adam’s family to Isabella and Mary. He had no family to Elizabeth McKenney.

In Australia Adam Graham Melville did very well for himself and was highly thought of. He was clearly a person of some knowledge and repute in the literary world and was engaged, on at least one occasion, in presenting his knowledge to the Library Association of Australia. At the Sydney meeting of October 1898 he presented a paper entitled ‘The Book-Trade in Australia Since 1861’. This paper includes a section where Adam mentions an incident in Edinburgh when he was ‘a very little boy’. He tells how he saw a crowd surging round a hackney coach with a policeman sitting beside the driver. This coach he states carried Madeleine Smith who was alleged to have murdered her lover. She was being taken from the High Court to Calton Hill Gaol. This gaol was not far from where he resided. Adam mentions Madeleine Smith’s fair face, large blue eyes and intense gaze and how twenty five years later Madeleine Smith and a gentleman unknown to him entered the library connected with his business in Melbourne . He described how he immediately recognised the much changed woman by the eyes he had seen years before. This ‘very small boy’ would, in fact, have been 14 or 15 years of age at the time of Smith’s trial in 1857 and though there is no mention of Australia in a short biography in a biographical dictionary she did marry an artist-publisher by the name George Wardle.

Madeleine Smith was not the only ‘celebrity’ mentioned and Adam also stated that the author and traveller Rudyard Kipling and Australian poet Adam Lindsay Gordon also used the library. It is impossible to tell whether or not those tales are true but nevertheless he was felt important enough to be given a prestiges platform to present along and well developed paper on the book selling business in Australia from the 1860s to 1898.

Below is a picture of the Calton Gaol close by where Adam Graham Melville lived and worked. It was from this Gaol to the High Court that Madeleine was being taken when Adam says he saw her.

Further evidence of Adam Graham Melville’s achievements is noted in a biographical entry in a book entitled ‘The Early Australian Booksellers’ and in his obituary notice in the Melbourne daily newspaper ‘The Argus’. The former entry, given in full below, states, ‘ With his knowledge of books and of English society, with his urbanity and tact, he created an atmosphere that made Mullen’s Library a literary club and meeting place for the intelligentsia and the elite of Melbourne, rivalling in local society the prestige of Mudie’s Library of London’. The obituary, which is also reproduced later, contains details of his career and in one important passage regarding his work states, ‘He was always ready to place the benefits of his wide reading at the services of patrons and his personality impressed itself upon all with whom he came into contact.’

To give some indication of Adam’s position in the literary circles of Australia and try to put his life into some context various references to him need to be included here.

The biographical entry on Samuel Mullen, bookseller and owner of Mullen's bookshop and library, in the Australian dictionary of biography, v.5, 1851-1890 (Melbourne, Melbourne University Press, 1969), briefly mentioned above, provides a short history of the origins of the booksellers, Melville and Mullen. From the A.D.B. entry the following summary has been made.

In 1859, Samuel Mullen and his brother, William Lowell opened a bookshop and library at 55 Collins Street East , Melbourne . Based on Mudie's of London , his library was the first of its kind in Australia . Several of Mullen's assistants achieved distinction: Adam Graham Melville (1842-1921) took charge of the library in the 1860s; Leonard Slade (1859-1954) served in 1876-1939 and became a partner. Mullens moved in 1879 to larger premises at 31 Collins Street East .

In October 1889 Samuel Mullen sold out to his brother William, A. G. Melville and

A biographical entry in the book ‘The Early Australian Booksellers’, published by the Australian Booksellers Association, 1980, throws more light on this remarkable man.

Born in Scotland in 1842, Adam Graham Melville, served his apprenticeship with the firm of Gall & Inglis, Edinburgh, and came to Melbourne in 1865 when he took charge of Mullen's Library.

With his knowledge of books and of English society, with his urbanity and tact, he created an atmosphere that made Mullen's Library a literary club and a meeting place for the intelligentsia and the elite of Melbourne, rivaling in local society the prestige of Mudie's Library of London.

He became a partner in the firm of Melville, Mullen & Slade in 1889. Ten years later Melville and Mullen purchased the interests of other shareholders and the name was changed to Melville & Mullen.

Melville outlived his partner, retired in 1911, and died on May 24, 1921, aged 79 years.

Also his obituary notice appearing in the daily newspaper, the Argus (Melbourne) on 26 May, 1921, page 6 is also valuable as a piece of family history. The entry reads as follows:

The thousands of people who have patronised the library of Messrs. Melville and Mullen will learn with regret of the death of Mr. A. G. Melville, which occurred at his residence, 15 Dickens Street , St. Kilda on Tuesday evening. He was associated with the Library for many years and those who went there often came to rely upon his sound knowledge of books. He was always ready to place the benefits of his wide reading at the services of patrons and his personality impressed itself upon all who came in contact with him. He was 79 years of age.

Mr. Melville began his business career with the firm of Gall and Inglis, in Edinburgh , and came to Melbourne in 1865 when appointed chief Librarian at Mullen's Library. Later he became a senior partner in the firm of Melville and Mullen and remained with the firm until ten years ago, when he retired from business. He leaves a widow, three sons and one daughter. One son served in the A.I.F.

Above is a pictorial representation of Mullens Bookshop and Library on ‘The Block’, Collins Street , Melbourne in the 1870s. The shop was opened in 1859 by Samuel Mullens and was the first of its kind in Australia . This is where Adam Graham Melville took charge in the early 1860s and it flourished under his management. He became a partner in the business along with W.L. Mullen, Samuels brother, and Leonard Slade and remained in this business until his retirement in 1911. The business was so successful that new premises were founded in 1880

This sketch of Mullen and Melvilles’s Library appeared in 1889 in ‘The Illustrated London News’. It is clear from the sketch that the Library and Bookshop were patronised by high society of the time. Also its fame had spread well beyond the borders of Australia .

The Block on the corner of Collins Street and Elizabeth Street, Melbourne, as it appeared towards the end of Adam Graham Melville’s time in business in the area.

The Block was the meeting place of Melbourne with a reputation as the most popular place to be seen and shop. One enthusiastic visitor commented that “in this street you would see women to equal any in the world for their physical beauty, stature and grace of carriage, they all looked like goddesses as they walk along”.

Information on Adam Graham Melville’s family can be found in the Family History Data printout in the appendix. However, two sons are worth a short special mention. Charles Edward Melville and Adam Gib Melville worked in senior positions in the Colonial Mutual Life Assurance Society Limited. They oversaw the working of offices all over Australia and in what was then the Dominion of New Zealand. In 1917 Charles was Company Manager and Adam Gib was Sub Manager but later, in 1924, Adam was to become Managing Director of the Australian Group & General Assurance Company as the business was then called.

References/Events John Melville & Agnes Lawson

Year Event/Source Address Known Residents

&/or Notes

1806 OPR/Birth of John Melville Crislich, Clyne Alex. Melville

Mgt. Graham

John Melville

1811 On Death Record England Place of birth not

known – parents William Lawson & Sarah Moses

1829 OPR/Marriage 3A Carnegie Street

Edinburgh John Melville

1 Dalrymple street

Edinburgh Agnes Lawson

1830 Birth of Dau., Margaret New Friars Parish John Melville

& Family

1833 Birth of Son, Alexander South Leith Parish John Melville

& Family

1835 Birth of Son, George Grey 73 Rose Street, Edin. John Melville

& Family

1837 Birth of Dau., Agnes 73 Rose Street, Edin. John Melville

& Family

1838 Birth of Son, William Hume Edinburgh John Melville

& Family

1840 Birth of Son, John Edinburgh John Melville

& Family

1842 Birth of Son, Adam 11 South Canal Street John Melville

Edinburgh & Family

c1845 Birth of Son, Robert Edinburgh John Melville

& Family

c1847 Birth of Son, George Edinburgh John Melville

& Family

c1849 Birth of Son, James Edinburgh John Melville

& Family

c1851 Birth of Son, Henry C. Edinburgh John Melville

& Family

Year Event/Source Address Known Residents

&/or Notes

1851 Census 5 High Terrace John Melville

Edinburgh Agnes (Lawson)

Alexander

Agnes

John

Robert

George

James

Henry

1852 Marriage of Dau., Margaret (See George Street & Margaret Melville page)

for details of their family)

1856/56 Street Directory 12 Calton Hill John Melville

(Householder)

1859/60 Street Directory 12 Calton Hill John Melville

(Householder)

1859 Death Record of John Melville 12 Calton Hill Buried Grange Cemetery

1865 Death Record of Agnes Melville 128 Causewayside Buried Grange

(Lawson) Edinburgh Cemetery

References/Events George Street & Margaret Melville

Year Event/Source Address Known Residents

&/or Notes

1830 Birth of Margaret Melville New Friars Parish Parents;-

John Melville &

Agnes Lawson

1852 Marriage of George & Margaret Edinburgh Parish Marriage date on

IGI and cert. of

Birth of children

At variance

1857 Birth of Dau., Susan 6 Brighton Place, Edin.

1859 Birth of Son, George M. Edinburgh

1861 Birth of Son, Alfred A. 47 Hanover Street, Edin.

1861 Death of Son, Alfred A. 47 Hanover Street, Edin.

1862 Birth of Son, Alexander A. 47 Hanover Street, Edin.

1865 Birth of Dau., Maggie George IV Bridge, Edin.

1868 Death of Son, John 41 Lothian Street, Edin.

1868 Death of Son, George 41 Lothian Street, Edin.

1868 Birth of Son, James G. Ray Keillor Street, Edin. Name of street not

clear in record

1870 Death of Son, James G. Sunnyside Cottage, Lasswade

1871 Birth of Male Child (George) 3 Windmill Street, Edin.

1871 Death of Male Child (George) 3 Windmill Street, Edin.

1871 Death of Margaret Street Edinburgh Buried Grange

(Melville) Cemetery

1882 Death of Dau., Matilda 34 Clerk Street, Edin.

References/Events Adam Graham Melville, Wives and Family

Year Event/Source Address Known Residents

&/or Notes

1842 Birth of Adam/OPR 11 South Canal Street

Edinburgh

1860 Marriage of Adam and both at 12 Calton Hill, Edin. Married at

Isabella Melville, his cousin Viewfirth Free

Church,

Newington, Edin.

1862/63 Biographies not he went to Australia Melbourne

1863 Birth of Son, John Carlton, Melbourne, Australia

1863 Death of Son, John Carlton, Melbourne, Australia

1889 The Early Australian Booksellers’ Melbourne

Took charge of Mullens Library

1870 Death of Isabella Melville Melbourne, Australia

1871 Birth of Son, David G. Adelaide To Mary but not

yet married to her

1872 Married Mary Melville Adelaide Isabella’s sister

1873 Birth of Dau., Isabel A. Melbourne, Australia

1875 Birth of Dau., Bertha Melbourne, Australia

1876 Birth of Son, William A. Melbourne, Australia

1877 Birth of Son, Charles E. Melbourne Australia

1880 Birth of Son, Adam G. Melbourne, Australia

1890 ‘The Early Australian Booksellers’ Melbourne

Noted his partnership in business of

Melville, Mullen & Slade

1898 Presented paper to Library Association

of Australia

1901 Death of Mary Melville 274 The Avenue,

Royal Park, Melbourne

1901 Civil Marriage to Elizabeth Adam’s address –

McKenney (Trennery) 274 Park Road Royal Park Elizabeth’s address – 39 Lisson Street, Hawthorn

1902 Church of England Marriage to

Elizabeth McKenney (Trennery)

1921 Death Record of Adam Melville 15 Dickens Street, St Kilda,

Obituary – Argus Newspaper Melbourne, Australia

References/Events John Melville born 1840

Year Event/Source Address Known Residents

&/or Notes

1840 Birth of John Melville Edinburgh, Scotland

1911 Death of John Melville Parkville, Melbourne

Australia

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MISSING MELVILLES - THE CRISLICH MYSTERY

John Melville’s Gravestone in Grange Cemetery indicates the following; -

Plot I547

Plot I548

Plot I549

Plot I550

References/Events John Melville & Agnes Lawson

References/Events George Street & Margaret Melville

References/Events Adam Graham Melville, Wives and Family

References/Events John Melville born 1840