Henry Melton Jr. was born in Louisa County, Virginia, around 1739, to Henry Melton, Sr. and wife Mary, who may have been Mary Whicker. He married Agnes Sears, daughter of John Sears and Violette "Letty" Freeman. They had 10 known children: Stephen, Joanna, Sarah, Catherine, Susanna, John, Elizabeth, James, Pomfrett and Henry. Stephen was the oldest son and John was the second oldest son. Joanna was probably the oldest daughter and Susanna probably the youngest. Sons James, Pomfrett and Henry were still minors upon the death of their father around 1807, and were assigned guardians. John would become "John of Montgomery", who was the father of most of the Stanly County Meltons.
Henry's will was short and sweet. He was a blacksmith and appeared to be a 'no nonsense' kind of fellow.
A glimpse into his personality is given through records of the Hicks and Gresham families, into which his wife Agnes's sisters had married.
An Absalom Hicks died in Granville County and left 3 sons: Bishop, Harris and Absalom. Brothers Harris and Absalom, at the ages of 12 and 14, were bound to Henry Melton to learn the art and mystery of a blacksmith. While still a minor and a 'bound boy' of Henry Melton, Harris Hicks ran away and joined the army. He served under John Farrar and enlisted as a substitute for Jeremiah Frazier. Henry's daughter Elizabeth married Jeremiah Frazier. He also served as a substitute during his tour of duty for his uncle, David Hicks, who had a family.
There was a soldier who served with Harris Hicks who gave a deposition that Harris Hicks was in the tour of Charleston and during his service, had been kicked in the leg by a horse, giving him a "very sore leg". According to the depostion, Henry Melton told Harris Hicks "if he had not ran away from him and joined the army, he would not have had such a sore leg and be obliged to undergo the pain and misery of it. He wished for Harris to come work with him in his shop, telling him if he would do so he would learn him a great deal in the trade which he had never learned him." Harris Hicks declined and went on to seek medical care for his ailments. Apparently, Harris Hicks did not like working under Henry Melton, but he must have learned something, as he also became a blacksmith.
The Will of Henry Melton
In the name of God Amen in the year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and eighty three, I Henry Melton of Granville County and State of North Carolina Blacksmith well knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die and after death Resurection of the body do appoint ordain and constitute this my last will and testament. (more flowery speech about a Christian burial and wordly goods)....I lend unto my well beloved wife all of my estate both real and personal during of her widowhood and should she marry it is my desire that the estate real and personal be equally divided among my children male and female. (comments about the payment of debts, children never named) I do appoint my well beloved wife Hagai and Thomas Ricks and (name marked out) to be my executors.
Witnesses were John Evans, Bart'l Wright, and Alex'dr Gresham
From land records in early Granville County, we see Henry Melton, Jr. first appearing as a taxable poll, along with his brother James in 1764. Prior to that, Henry, Senior was counted as a single poll. A son, Benjamin, would also show up in another year, and a Richard Melton was shown simultaneously as Henry Sr. working as an overseer for William House. Richard could have been a brother or other relative of Henry Sr.
There were some recorded land transactions between Henry Sr., William Craig, and a Roland Gooch of Mecklenburg County, Virginia.
My intentions are not to track the source of the Melton family, but to establish a connection between John Sr. of Montgomery/Stanly county and Joseph Melton the first, who served in the War of 1812 and lived in the same area of Stanly County as John in the same era.
There was also a James Melton in early land records, that was most likely John's younger brother, James.
In Granville deed book K, a land transaction involving William Craig in 1773, mentions a tract of land "Henry Melton Senior took up which he obtained of my Lord Earl of Granville agent bearing date 25 June 1761.
There are two mentions of this property and the date and Benjamin Whicker, Jr. living on this land and property. The customs of the times and consensus of prior researchers seem to suggest that Henry was the son-in-law of Benjamin Whicker.
Feb 2 1767, 6 years after obtaining the Granville grant, Henry sells a portion of his property, "on both sides of Howlet's Creek, bordering the properties of Harris, Ester, and Cook, and "also being the land and plantation Benjamin Whicker Jun' lives on" . Witnesses were Veasey Husbands, Thomas Whicker, Benjamin Whicker.
Here, we will stop the timeline and address the lineage as records suggest.
Henry Melton, Sr. may have married Mary Whicker. The Pomphery names is most likely up the family tree somewhere.
1840's style home in Franklin County, North Carolina
Three known sons: Henry Jr. , James, Benjamin.
Henry Jr. married Agnes Sears, daughter of John Sears Jr. and wife Violett.
Descendants of John Sears Jr. were:
William Sears
Anne Sears Barnette
Agnes Sears Melton
Mary Sears Grisham
Elizabeth Sears Harris
Sarah Sears Hester
Temperance Sears Hicks
The surnames of Agnes's sisters are notable as two of her daughters married sons of her sisters. Also, when her sister Tempy died, her two teen-aged sons, Harris and Absolom were bound to Henry to learn the trade if blacksmithing. Henry was a blacksmith and the trade was also noted with Stanly County Meltons, particularly Elbert, who had a brother named Harris.
Children of Henry Melton, Jr. and Agnes "Aggie" or " Haggie" Sears Melton:
Stephen married Elizabeth Puryear
Elizabeth married Jeremiah Frazier
Joanna married Michael Hester
Susanna married Ezekial Jackson
John married Margaret Wilkinson
Sarah married David Harris
James married Elizabeth Pettypool
Pomfrett married Sally Adcock
Henry III
Stephen was likely the oldest son, as he was the dominant member of the family after the death of his father. John would be the next oldest son, as he was an adult at the time of his father's death about 1808. The sisters were all adults, or wives, at least, as none of them were appointed guardians.
The other 3 sons were appointed guardians, and therefore were under age:
Pomfrett - Stephen Samples
Henry - James Smith
James - Davis Harris, his brother-in-law.
Henry was likely the youngest as he recieved special treatment in the 1822 will of oldest brother Stephen.
Timeline after 1770:
1774 Henry bondsman for J. Pomfrett Davis wedding to Lydia Satterwhite.
1783 Henry makes out his will
1789 Joanna marries Michael Hester
Elizabeth 'Betsy' marries Jeremiah Frasier
1796 In Franklin County, Joseph Melton marries Abigail Bass, Goodwin Soloman bm
1799 Stephen Melton marries Elizabeth Puryear
1802 Sarah Melton marries David Harris
1804 John witness to a Williams wedding in Franklin County
1805 Catherine Melton marries Stephen Sandford
1805 Logestine Pettipool marries Letty Wilkerson
1808 Account of sales of Henry's estate
1809 Report of David Harris as guardian of James
1810 John marries Margaret Wilkerson
1810 Sale of Henry Melton's estate
1813 Pomfrett Melton marries Sarah 'Sally' Adcock
1816 Susannah Melton marries Ezekial Jackson
1819 John Melton is in Person County for the wedding of Rhoda Wilkerson, Peggy's sister, to Israel Eastwood, acts as bondsman
John and Peggy went somewhere in Virginia after this, as a few of their older children were born in Virginia.
1822 Bad year for the family:
Paternal grandfather John Sears, Jr. dies
Stephen Melton makes out his will after serving as bondsman for a number of persons including Peyton Puryear. He favors niece by marriage, Elizabeth Puryear, daughter of Peyton Puryear, and younger brother Henry, in addition to his wife.
1828 Widow Elizabeth Puryear Melton takes family of her husband to court
1830 She gets her dower
1830 John Melton appoints an attorney from Person County, Gabriel Bailey to serve his interest in collecting money from David J Young.
1830 census of Stanly County shows 2 John Meltons, 2 Joseph Meltons and Betsy Melton households. One Joseph is the son of John the elder. His second marriage license to Mary Ann ' Polly' Solomon lists his parents as John and Margaret Melton. Henry shows up in 1840.
