Melville, James Scott.

James Scott Melville's diary seems primarily to record his emigration in 1833 from New York State to Boston, and from there by sea to Quebec, on the Brig Mars out of Liverpool, under the command of Captain Watt . On 7 March 1833 Melville left his home in New York State, probably Fowlerville, the next day reaching Avon, also in Livingston County . Melville then traveled to Le Roy in Genesee County, and perhaps Orangeville as well, reaching Waterville in Oneida County by 19 April 1833. By 11 May 1833 Melville took ship at Boston bound for Quebec, making a stop enroute at Barrington, Novia Scotia on 27 July 1833.

A penciled draft by Melville of a testimonial to the ship's Captain Watt, states that Melvlle had been delegated by the other passengers to deliver the encomium upon the safe completion of their journey. Other entries indicate that he was interested in court trials, and may have had training in the law from the succinct manner in which he records the court proceedings and witness interviews for a fairly colorful domestic dispute, involving a contrived marriage scheme tried at Orangeville in Genesee County, N.Y .

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