John Melvin

John Melvin is my great grandfather but I am interested in his claim to be in O'Harts pedigrees because as far as I know it was not a family that would find itself in such a book. Having said that he was a remarkable man.

Is Melvin an Irish name?
Any advice gratefully received

BENEFACTOR OF CHURCHES IN THE MIDLANDS By the death of Mr John Melvin at his residence, St. Bernard's Grange, Olton, on Tuesday, Birmingham's commerce, and the archdiocese in particular, lose one of their outstanding personalities. Mr Melvin, who was in his ninetieth year. was a remarkable man. Almost to the end of his long life his physical and mental attributes were equal to those of men thirty years his junior.

Head of the firm of John Melvin and Son, produce merchants, Smithfield Wholesale Market, Mr Melvin had been an importer of produce from the British colonies during many decades. But the ramifications of his business interests in the Midlands were so important that no large company meeting in Birmingham seemed complete without his presence. For many years he took a big part in the metal trade.

Mr Melvin came of ancient Irish ancestry, his family being mentioned in O'Hart's Irish Pedigrees. As a Catholic he inherited the staunchness of his forbears, for Mother Church took first place throughout his life. Many churches in the Midlands found in him a most generous benefactor, and his private acts of philanthropy were many and fruitful. Mrs Melvin died in ',WO. They had a family of two sons and six daughters, the elder son being Sir Martin Melvin, let., le.C.S.G., of Billesiey Manor.

Died 1940 aged 90