Major James Moodie of Melsetter

MAJOR JAMES MOODIE OF MELSETTER

Major James Moodie of Melsetter was born at Melsetter in the Orkney parish of Walls on 12 February 1757. He was baptised there on the same day by the Reverend Mr. David Dunbar, Minister of the Gospel at Olrick in Caithness. His baptismal record reads as follows: "James eldest son to Capt Benjamine Moodie of Melsetter & Henrietta Sinclair his spouse was born 12th day of February 1757 and baptized at Melsetter by the Revd Mr David Dunbar Minr of Olrick in presence of Mr Irvine Minr of Walls and Miss Ann Nicolson sister to Revd Mr Alxr Nicolson Minr at Thurso". [National Records of Scotland, Walls and Flotta Baptisms, 1708-1803, reference OPR.32/1] Image of Baptismal Record

The Melsetter Estate

According to the Marquis of Ruvigny and Raineval, Major James Moodie of Melsetter, here treated, inherited the Melsetter estate in 1769. The Marquis continued: "(He) was forced to sell the estate which had been in his family for more than 500 years, despite his strenuous efforts to save it. [Note] James Moodie died heartbroken and is buried in the Canongate Parish Churchyard in Edinburgh. The breaking up of the Melsetter estate gave rise to an acrimonious and extended legal battle involving, among others, Lord Dundas, and was never settled to the satisfaction of the Moodies. Although the connection between the Moodies and Melsetter in Orkney was irrevocably severed by the sale of the estate in 1818, another Melsetter connection was created years later in another continent. Just before the sale of the estate, the son Benjamin and others had emigrated to Africa and within a few years the Moodies had become one of those pioneering families whose story is interwoven with the history of Southern Africa in the nineteenth century. One of the family, Thomas, led a trek to Gazaland, in what was then Rhodesia, and founded the town of Melsetter at an altitude of 1586 m in the Chimanimani Mountains. The Moodie Book, pp. 52-3

Note: This is an exaggeration. The earliest reference to the family in connection with Orkney is dated 3 July 1492. In a Rental of this date Master William Mudy is identified as the tacksman of the Bull of Hoy. Records of the Earldom of Orkney: 410 Patrick Stewart, Earl of Orkney, gave the three penny land of Melsetter to Adam Mudie of Breckness in exchange for Snelsetter. Orkney Rentals: pp. 141-42

Death

Major James Moodie of Melsetter died on 28 June 1820, at Edinburgh in Midlothian, Scotland. The Moodie Book, pp. 52-3

Marriage and Children

Major James Moodie married Elizabeth Dunbar and had 6 children:

1. Captain Benjamin Moodie of Melsetter
2. Lieutenant Thomas Moodie
3. Lieutenant Donald Moodie, RN
4. John Wedderburn Dunbar Moodie
5. Janet (Jessie) Moodie
6. Henrietta Moodie

Major James Moodie of Melsetter also had an illegitimate son with Elizabeth Taylor. The Moodie Book, pp. 52-3:

1. Lieutenant James Moodie, RN

Evidence from the National Records of Scotland

                   1

3 February 1794: Warrant signed by barons of exchequer for tack under exchequer seal to James Moodie of Melsetter of lands of Island of Walls, Orkney, formerly belonging to bishop of Orkney. National Records of Scotland, Exchequer Records: King's Remembrancer Miscellanea: Leases of crown lands and related papers, reference E350/165

                   2

1 January 1799: Letter by James Moodie of Melsetter nominating Stuart Moodie, advocate, for the appointment of Sheriff of Orkney. National Records of Scotland, Requests made to Henry Dundas and Robert Dundas, 1st and 2nd Viscounts Melville and their successors, for appointments and favours, reference GD51/6/1309/1-2

                   3

8 April 1812: Letter from Miss Jess (Janet) Moodie, eldest daughter of Major James Moodie of Melsetter, to her eldest brother Capt. Benjamin Moodie, Ross Militia, Thurso, concerning a Mr Campbell's proposal of marriage to their younger sister Harriet (Henrietta) and other family matters and referring to Malcolm Nicolson, her future husband. National Records of Scotland, Papers of Heddle family of Melsetter, Orkney, reference GD263/158

                   4

29 October 1813: Letter from Major James Moodie from Surrey to his eldest son Capt. Benjamin Moodie at Melsetter, regarding the latter's behaviour to him and his own financial troubles. He appears to be in a debtor's prison (the Marshalsea?) National Records of Scotland, Papers of Heddle family of Melsetter, Orkney, reference GD263/159

Monumental Inscription

In memory of Major James Moodie of Melsetter, who died 28th June 1820; Also Mrs. Henrietta Moodie or Heddle, wife of Robert Heddle, Esq. of Cletts and Melsetter, who died 2nd July 1833, aged 39; Mrs Eliza D. Heddle or Traill, wife of John H. Traill, Esq., who died 31st July 1844; aged 20; Ellen and Emmeline Heddle, daughters of J. G. Heddle, Esq. of Melsetter; Ellen died 13th February, and Emmeline 11th April, 1862, aged 2 and 7 years. Monumental Inscription in Canongate Cemetery. The Moodie Book: 53

Genealogy

The Moodie Book : Being an Account of the Families of Melsetter, Muir, Cocklaw, Blairhill, Bryanton, Gilchorn, Pitmuies, Arbekie, Masterton, etc. By The Marquis of Ruvigny and Raineval (Printed Privately, 1906), 132 pp.