The Quick and Unfortunate Life of Chester Melton

The Greensboro article states, " A fourth pardon goes to Chester Melton, convicted in Stanly County of assault with a deadly weapon and sentenced to eight months on the roads. Melton is 15 and was sentenced in July, and new evidence discovered since the trial seems to establish the innocence of the boy." Greensboro Daily News,  Sunday, August 31, 1913.

Who was Chester Melton of Stanly County? What did he do and how is he tied in to the rest of the Meltons?

The only record of young Chester, was as the nephew of Archie Melton of Albemarle, living with Arch and wife Lundy as a child. He appears in the 1900 and 1910 census records.

Chester Mitton [Chester Milton]
Age:	4
Birth Date:	abt 1896
Birthplace:	North Carolina
Home in 1900:	Albermarle, Stanly, North Carolina
Race:	Black
Gender:	Male
Relation to Head of House:	Nephew
Marital Status:	Single
Father's Birthplace:	North Carolina
Mother's Birthplace:	North Carolina
Occupation:	View on Image
Neighbors:	View others on page
Household Members:	Name Age Archy Mitton 50 Lundy Mitton 51 Chester Mitton 4

Chester Melton
Age in 1910:	14
Birth Year:	abt 1896
Birthplace:	North Carolina
Home in 1910:	Albemarle, Stanly, North Carolina
Race:	Black
Gender:	Male
Relation to Head of House:	Nephew
Marital Status:	Single
Father's Birthplace:	North Carolina
Mother's Birthplace:	North Carolina
Neighbors:	View others on page
Household Members:	Name Age Archie Melton 61 Landy Melton 69 Chester Melton 14

And then, no more...

Was Chester vindicated or did the young man die on the chain gang? More research may or may not tell. His story may be one of the many that evaporated away. 

Was he tied in to the Melton family of Stanly County? Yes, as a nephew of Arch Melton, he was. 

Arch Melton was a son of Charlotte Melton and a mystery many "Arving" or "Orange" Calloway. 

Charlotte Melton was living with James R Melton in 1860. She was indicted as the mother of illegitimate child Elbert Melton in 1841. She was called to testify in the case of Harris Melton and Ann Bird in 1852, as the mother of Harris Melton, along with brothers John Melton, Jr. and James R. Melton, and William Solomon, a brother-in-law.