Arthur W. Melhuish was born in Surrey, England in 1880. He worked 9 years at the Carter Page & Co., Seed Merchants and Nurserymen in London. A 1912 letter of recommendation highly praised his knowledge and experience. His specialties at that time were Roses, Herbaceous and Alpine Plants.
In 1912, two months prior to the ill-fated Titanic disaster, Arthur and a friend sailed on the ship “Ivernia,” first to Canada, but soon found work at the Charles Pfaff estate in Framingham.
Two years later, in 1914, another glowing reference was written, which would find itself in the hands of Bayard Thayer and his wife. He was hired the following year, and with his wife and 3 children, who emigrated in 1915, remained at Hawthorne Hall until the death of Mrs. Ruth (Simpkins) Thayer in 1943. Among his Massachusetts Horticultural Society (MHS) prize-winning exhibits were his “Cherokee Roses” in 1925, and his “Double-Red Camellias” in 1948, while in the employment of Thayer daughter, Mrs. William Dexter.
Born in Surrey, England Feb. 21, 1880
Married Sarah Ann Westlake in Jan 1903 in Richmond, Surrey, England
Died September 30, 1959, in Sterling, MA
Children:
ELSIE MARION MELHUISH was born in Jan 1906 in Edmonton, Middlesex, England. She died in 1978. She married PATRICK VERRELLI.
ARTHUR GEOFFREY MELHUISH was born on 27 Feb 1909 in Tiverton, Devon, England. He died on 15 Aug 1981 in Holden, Worcester, Massachusetts. He married HELEN G. BRANDT. She was born in 1909 in Worcester, Worcester, Massachusetts. She died on 20 Apr 1971 in Worcester, Worcester, MA.
DAISY W. MELHUISH was born in 1912 in Enfield, Middlesex, England. She died on 24 Sep 2004 in Worcester, Worcester, MA. She married KARL TEMPLE BENEDICT. He was born in 1911 in Framingham, Middlesex, Massachusetts. He died on 03 Jun 2000 in Worcester, Worcester, MA.
