Update on Melton Family Tree

My recent trip to London, England where I was close to the Village of our Melton ancestor who came from England to America, has resulted in some new research findings regarding the Melton Family Tree. Our English ancestor has not changed. I still have him as William Melton I, born in 1615 likely in Longham Norfolk, England, 100 miles northeast of London. He was married to Hanna Ross who was born in 1615. William I was Anglican and baptized on May 28, 1615. He came to America-- New Kent County, Virginia at age 38 as an indentured servant to Colonel Edward Hill. He died in 1670 in Charles City which is a part of New Kent County.

William I had four children: Edward born in 1642; Thomas born in 1645; William Michael II born in 1647; and John born in 1650. My research up until 2023 showed our Meltons descended from his son William II above and his son William III, born 1698, and on down the family line.....

Then in 2023, as a gift for my 70th Birthday, daughter Kate had a Historian research our family tree. His research, conducted further down our family tree, centered on the Reverend Archelous (sometimes Archibald or Archie) born in 1828, who was Father of John Wesley born in 1853. John Wesley was father of Ira Herbert born in 1889. Ira Herbert was Father of Ira Bailey born December 21, 1918.

This Historian resource of Kate's concluded from his research that Rev. Archelous' Father was NOT Elisha " Lige" as I had concluded from my Dad's research ( with his professional genealogist), and Cousin Lucy's Research ( who was a semi professional ). This Historian discovered that Archelous' Father was Daniel!! This would mean our earlier ancestor was not William III above but his brother Robert born in New Kent VA on May 17, 1696.

Oh my! " Who was right?" I asked. So I did some further research to find out. From everything I could find online with Ancestry.com, etc., it looks like Kate's Historian was right!! So here is the corrected line of our Meltons from Archelous back.......Archelous' Father was Daniel, born in 1801 in Chesterfield County, SC ( near the City of Cheraw). And his Father was Archelous ( the elder) born in 1767 in Orange County, NC ( County seat is Chapel Hill). And his Father was Isham who was also born in Orange County, NC in 1747. And his Father was Robert who was born May 17, 1696 in New Kent County, VA. And his Father was Richard born around 1670 in New Kent County, VA . And his Father was William Michael II born 1647 in New Kent. And his father was William I from England!!

So if all this research is correct, we still come from William I who came from Longham Norfolk, England to New Kent County, VA, and had his son William II, who was the first of our Meltons born in the New World!! But it was NOT William II's son William III above we descended from, but his brother Robert above. So now we have some new direct Melton line ancestors to get to know in SC and NC. 👍