"The Genealogy and Personal History of Western Pennsylvania", 1915 by John Jordan
Volumn II, page 258-260.
Joshua, John and Jacob Meek were among the early settlers of Moon township, Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, coming from Virginia about 1769. The Meek patent was dated April 7, 1788, and the warrant for survey dated September 15, 1784. They were of Welsh descent. They were obliged to flee on account of the Indians some time after coming here, and went to old Fort Redstone, where they remained for several years. Joshua Meek was riding home one night across his lands shortly after his settlement, and drew reins to let his horse drink at a spring. Suddenly a gun snapped, and his horse whirled and ran away with him. An examination of the ground the next day revealed by the moccasin tracks that an Indian had been concealed in the bush. He had snapped his gun, but the powder had flashed in the pan, thus saving the life of his intended victim. The Joshua Meek old log house was recently standing on the land now owned by his grandson, W. J. Meek.
Mrs. Meek also had a narrow escape from death by the tomahawk of an Indian. She had attained fame as a midwife, and one night was called to Vances Fort. Accompanied by a man from the Fort, she and he discovered that they were followed by Indians. Being on horseback, they struck a faster gallop, but one of the savages got close enough to throw his tomahawk, which narrowly missed Mrs. Meek, striking a tree near, the bark of the tree striking Mrs. Meek in the face.
In 1802 there was an action taken in the courts by the heirs of Colonel George Creghan for the ejectment of settlers on lands embracing 100000 acres of land. Among those whom this act would affect was Joshua Meek. He and a neighbor, Mr. Vance, put up a strong resistance, and warned away the surveyors who thought it wise to obey; and by putting up a fight Mr. Meek and others saved their houses.
(I) Joshua Meek was born in Virginia about 1730, and died at eighty-six years of age. His mother was a member of the Lee family of Virginia He was a farmer and an extensive landowner. He brought four slaves with him to Pennsylvania, two of whom ran away; the others remained and died with their master. He was twice married. There were no children by his first wife. His second marriage was with Margaret Mitchell, a young woman who lived to be eighty-seven years of age, there being a difference in their ages of thirty-seven years. She bore him ten children, the last when her husband was eighty years of age. Children: Elizabeth, born August 16, 1791; Sally, June 11, 1793; Rachel, February 25, 1795; Hannah, April 6, 1797; Jane, April 29, 1798; Joshua, June 8, 1800; Nancy, October 20, 1802; Jeremiah, March 6, 18o4; Susannah, November Nov, 1806; Bazaleel, of whom further. Joshua Meek was an Episcopalian, and his old prayer-book, well thumbed, is now in the possession of his great grandson, Frederick Meek Cooper. This book was printed in 1795.
(II) Bazaleel Meek, the youngest child, was reared and spent his entire life on the farm on which he was born, and died at the age of ninety four years. He was a farmer, and cleared much of his farm. In religion he was a member of the Presbyterian Church. He married Nancy Hand, of Moon township. She here him two children: William J., who resides on the old homestead; and Margaret J., wife of C. A. Cooper, of Corapolis, Pennsylvania.
Christopher Meek 5/18/2000