Robert Melville never married, although he had a daughter, Charlotte

Melville, whose mother was a slave, it was a not uncommon practice in the

West Indies for Europeans to make alliances of this sort with slaves, as it was

thought by many white people that the heat and prevalence of disease made

the islands unsuitable for white women. Children of such alliances were given

privileges denied to other slaves on the plantation and this did not seem to be

resented by the other slaves. A daughter would be allowed to run her father’s

household, but would not be allowed to take a place in society with

him. General Melville left his daughter very well provided for, provided she

did not ever leave the West lndies.

John Whyte, Robert Melville’s cousin and heir, was closely associated with

Robert Melville in all his interests in both the West Indies and in Scotland.

He was himself heir to estates in Bennochy in Fife. ln 1798 he was given

Royal License to add Melville to his name, and from 1798 much of Robert

Melville’s property was transferred to him. General Melville was blind for the

last few years of his life, and by 1803, six years before his death, John Whyte

Melville was being designated as ‘John Whyte Melville of Strathkinness and

Bennochy’.

CRAIG TON

Lands in John Whyte Melville’s possession in 1803 included:—

Strathkinness lands formerly in the name of Lord Burleigh, Lumbo, por-

tions of the lands of Strathkinness of old, five portions of ‘Baloan’ 68 acres of

Denbrae, part of Hallowhill, parts of the lands of Clatto, the lands of ‘Bonefield’,

The Town and Lands of Poffle of Strathkinness, lands in Bogward,

Denhead, Prior Acres, Craigton, and various lands formerly belonging to

sundry other owners.

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