I looked into the marriages of the Melton family in both Stanly and Rowan, as some of them relocated to Rowan County, after the death of John Sr.
There was only one Melton marriage to be found in Montgomery County for the 19th century, and that was of James M. Melton, who was of the Moore County Meltons. There were various groups of related Meltons in Anson, descended from Jesse, and another large group in Rutherford County, as well as Moore. The Meltons seemed to have drifted into the border counties of NC from Virginia, and then from there into the other counties and westward and south. The Montgomery/Moore/Rutherford and Anson Meltons are possibly connected a few generations back, but I have not yet looked into that. Just the ones who ended up in Montgomerty/Stanly county. Some of the Rutherford ones, in particular, seem to be connected in the least, to Joseph Sr.
Melton (and some connected family) marriages: Stanly County, North Carolina
Jackson H. Bird and Sarah Smith Jan. 8, 1854 (son of Henry Bird)
William Bird and Charlotte Austin Jan 28, 1864
Almond Boysworth and Frances Smith Apr. 7, 1864
George Melton and Elizabeth Crawford Mar. 9, 1863
Green Melton and M. C. Melchor Oct 29, 1863
Carolina Melton and James Mabry Sept 7, 1856
Elizer (corruption of Eliza) Melton and Franklin Cauble Aug 11, 1851
Margaret Melton and R. G. H. Huneycutt Sept 20, 1860
Susan Melton and Joseph Mabry Apr. 11, 1859
The above were in the old marriage book, where the parents names were not given. The below are the postwar era marriages, which usually gave the ages of the bride and groom as well as the names of their parents.
Elisha H. Milton and Frances Marbary Mar 13, 1862 by J. O Ross, JP
daughter of Isaac and Tobitha Marbary (Marbary is seen spelled Mabry, Marbry, Mayberry and several other ways, but seems to have started as one family, just as Milton and Melton were interchangeable and seen spelled both way on the same individuals, not indicating a rift in families but a translastion of some record recorders handwriting. As such, Tobitha is also spelled Tabitha. Alfred Hinson bondsman. (note: Nancy Melton, aunt of Elisha, married James Hinson).
Isiah Mabry to Adline Hinson Jul. 29, 1855
George W. Melton (21) to Rosie E. Lampley (20) Dec 26 1898
son of W. J. and Eliza J. Melton, daughter of BF and Mary E. Lampley
Marshall Melton (18) to Cora B. Stoker (18) Jul 21 1899
son of John and Kate Melton and daughter of E.L. and Mary Stoker
Atlas D. Melton (35) and Mary F. Melton (22) Jan 25, 1881
son of Joseph and Clementine Melton and daughter of Henry and Martha Melton
note: This was the second marriage for Atlas, after his return to Stanly County after the war. It is also a first cousin marriage as Henry and Joseph were brothers.
D H Melton to S. A. Hearne November 2, 1870
son of J. R. (James R.) and Mary Ann Melton and daughter of Joshua and Elizabeth Hearne.
J. D. Milton (21) and Beady Huneycutt (20) Novemeber 30, 1888
son of Joseph and Mary Melton and daughter of RGH and (d) Huneycutt
Note: This is also a cousin marriage. John D. Melton was the son of Joseph and his second wife Mary Ann "Polly" Solomon Melton. Beady Huneycutt was the daughter of Margaret Melton in the list above. J. D. was a half-brother to Atlas is the list above.
Joseph D. Melton and Polly Ann Solomon Sept 3, 1868
son of John and Margaret Melton and daughter of Elizabeth Solomon. No father listed.
Note: These are the parents of J. D. Milton above who would marry 20 years later. Joseph D. was the son of John Melton Sr. and Margaret "Peggy" Wilkenson Melton
J Franklin Milton (49) and Dockey Simpson (35) Oct 12, 1899
son of parents deceased and not named and John B Simpson, mother deceased, not named.
John Milton (20) and Catherine Keth (20) Dec 31 1877
son of David and Mary Melton and daughter of Jack and Mosey Keth (I've seen this surname as Keith, also)
L. D. Melton (25) and A. E. Calloway (26) Feb 28, 1885
son of Henry and Martha Melton and daughter of G.W. and Bettie Calloway
P. W. Melton (22) and Elizar Smith (16) Mar 26, 1874
son of Joseph and Clementine Melton and daughter of James and Elizabeth Smith
S. H. Milton (27) and Paulina Harris (17) Dec. 16, 1877
son of H. H. and Martha Milton and daughter of Richard and Kate Harris. Kate deceased.
W. T. Milton (21) and Ida Wilhoit (18)
Son of Eben and Tabby Milton and daughter of William and Polly Harris
William Milton (20) and Eliza Jane Snuggs (25) Dec 22, 1875
son of David and Mary Milton and daughter of JRD and Sally Snuggs
William T. Milton (23) and Isabelle Myers Apr 18, 1876
son of JR and Mary Ann Milton and daughter of John Myers, no mother mentioned, deceased.
John Solomon and Martha Tolbert Aug 1 1869
son of John Bruster and Nancy Solomon and daughter of Thomas and Nancy Tolbert
Annie Melton (19) and Algie Parker (22) April 15, 1900
daughter of WJ and Eliza J Melton and son of John and Isabelle Parker
Frances Melton and Ervin Whitley Jan 28 1870
daughter of Isaac and Tobitha Marbry and son of George and Keziah Whitley
Note: Widow of Elisha H. Melton
Rowan County marriages 1868 - 1900
Meltons and other (Stanly County) associated marriages.
Ellen Melton to Gabriel Kerr Oct 11 1878
Ann Melton to Richard Julian Dec 28, 1871 widow of Harris
Mary Melton to Emmanuel Archy Jan 24, 1849 daughter of Elbert
Charlotte S. Crump to James Varker May 13 1872 Charlotte was a great-granddaughter of Job and granddaughter of James M. Davis, one of the many descendants of Charlotte Freeman Winfield to carry her name.
Elisha B Melton to Daisy L. Brown Aug 6 1896
James Milton to Lizzie Chunn Dec 31 1885
John Milton to Mollie Young Feb 2 1896
Rosa L Milton to Joe M Vanhoy Jul 15, 1907
Beulah Melton to James W Trueblood Apr 5 1903
Gladys Melton to Willie Hart Dec 4 1921
Julia Melton to Tom McCulloh Sept 9, 1907
Lillian Adeline Melton to Thomas Houston Kesler Aug 8 1908
Minnie O Melton to Arch J Kearns May 24 1903
Rachel Melton to John A Robertson Jan 20 1902
Laura Melton, daughter of John Melton Jr. and Nancy Boysworth Melton married James A. Gill.
Alene Gill to Gilbert Hairston Feb 15 1923
Curenna Gill to Walter Parlee Mar 19 1918
Elizabeth Gene Gill to W L Palmer May 10 1910
John E Milton to Beatrice Mills Jan 15 1917
Bright Melton to Laura Lee Ross Dec 7 1918
Claudy Roscoe Melton to Lena Rivers Wagoner Dec 8 1918
Elbert Melton to Vandella Belle Jan 2 1918 This is Elbert Melton III son of Elbert Jr.
Elbert Melton to Mary Mitchell Jan 12 1919 I had to do a double-take with these dates. His first bride did not last long. She died June 14 1918.
Elijah Steven Melton to Mamie A Gain Dec 23 1902
Elijah S. Melton to Catherine M. Kent Dec 26 1916
James Ray Melton to Myrtle Brooks Sept 2 1912