1. Jeremiah Meeks resided in Westmoreland Co., PA. He is not listed in 1773, 1781 or 1783 tax records from the area. However, he is placed in Westmoreland County through deed and probate records. His property was located in the immediate vicinity of Joshua Meeks, John Meek and Jeremiah Meek Jr. It is assumed that these men were his sons. A DNA test from a descendant of Jeremiah's son Joshua proves that Jeremiah was related to the brothers Basil, John and Jacob Meek who lived in Allegheny Co., PA at the same time as Jeremiah lived in Westmoreland County.
Westmoreland County early deed records
929.166 Westmoreland Co., PA, Deeds, Vol I
58: John Meek of Bedford Co, PA, Mt Pleasant TS, for L95 sold to Hugh Neilly, of same, and improvement in Mt. Pleasant bounding Joshua Meeks, Jeremiah Meek, Samuel Newell and David White, 10 Jun 1772. Witness, Adam Hatfiekd, Ralph Cherry. Recorded 17 Jan 1792.
59: Jeremiah Meek Junr of Westmoreland Co for L60 sold to Hugh Neeley of same a certain improvement in Mt. Pleasant bounding Joshua Meeks old line, being his last line, which he ran known by Jeremiah Meeks Sr conditional line concluding 318 A, 8 Oct 1776. Witness, John Manners, Guy Yearian: proved 1 Jan 1792, recorded 14 Jan 1792.
By 1783 Westmoreland County had been subdivided into the counties of Westmoreland, Washington, Fayette and Greene. Court records indicate that a person named Jeremiah Meeks had recently died.
Jeremiah Meeks in Westmoreland County Administration Abstracts, 1783-1784 listed as follows:
JEREMIAH MEEKS. Letters granted 22 Oct. 1783 to Ralph CHERRY. Bond. (pounds) 100 Sureties: John MEASON and Andrew (x) HOBACH. Witnesses Thomas KINCAID and William FRENCH.
The actual court record:
OLD WESTMORELAND, Vol III Num1, August 1982, P. 18
Jeremiah Meeks Memorandum - that on the twenty second
Deceased day of October in the year of our Lord. One
thousand Seven hundred and Eighty three. Letters of
Administration of all and Singular the Goods and Chattels. Rights
and credits, which were of Jeremiah Meeks, late of Westmoreland
County Deceased, were granted to Ralph Cherry, the said Administrator
is to make a true and perfect Inventory of all the Personal
Estate of the said Deceased, and file the same in the Registers
Office, at or before the twenty second day of November next and is
to make a true and just accompt calculation and Reckoning of his
said Administration, on or before the twenty second day of October
next. Ensuing the State hereof.
It is highly probably that the Jeremiah Meeks who died in 1783 was the father of Anne Meeks who married Ralph Cherry, the administrator of Jeremiah’s estate. Jeremiah’s son Joshua Meek was closely associated with the Cherry family going back to Berkeley Co., WV and continuing to Fairfield Co., OH.
Even before DNA testing established a connection between the families in Allegheny and Westmoreland Counties Pennsylvania it was believed that Jeremiah settled first in Allegheny County. A person named Jeremiah Meek sold land next to Jacob Meek in Allegheny County in 1779.
Washington Co., PA deed book 1-A-259 dated 5-1-1779: Jeremiah Meek of Yohogania Co., VA for 900 lbs. Sells to Alex McCandles, Sr. and Alex, Jr. a tract of the above Co., on the waters of Montour Run adjoining, Jacob Meek, on North, containing 400 acres
It is believed but not proven that this Jeremiah Meeks was the same person who died in Westmoreland County in 1783. It is not known if he lived on this land. Tax records for the period 1774 to 1780 have not been found and Jeremiah did not apply for a Virginia land grant. The date the land was sold is consistent with the period between 1777 and 1781 when residents were known to be leaving the area due to problems with the Indians. It was also a period where governmental offices were being established and people were obtaining clear title to their land. Yohogania Co., VA was established in 1776 and the boundary dispute between Pennsylvania and Virginia was coming to a conclusion.
In the same deed The McCandlesses assigned the land to Joseph Smith. Smith sells the land to Joseph Patterson. The property of Jacob Meek and Joseph Patterson are recorded in the Heinz History Warrantee Atlas of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, 1914. These plots were in Findley Township. In the immediate vicinity were Jacob's brother, John Meek born 1754, and Joshua Meek born 1731. Their land was located in Moon Township. Findley township adjoined Moon Township.