Jacob Meek

A26. Jacob Meek was born 8 Mar 1755 in Elkridge, MD according to his pension application. He died 16 May 1840 in Wayne Co., IN according to his obituary.

Note: Jacob's parents are unknown. However he had a brother, John Meek, born about 1754. Facts supporting the relationship between John and Jacob are: (1) 1837 Journal of Jeremiah Lee Meek where he says his father moved to Kentucky "...where his brother, John Meek, had built a station.", (2) Jacob was named administrator of John's will, (3) a 1920 letter written by Basil Meek, grandson of John Meek, where he said of his grandfather “He had a brother Jacob Meek, who was named in the will of John Meek as executer,…” and (4) DNA testing which confirms that they had a common ancestor. He also had a brother, Basil Meek born 1740 in Maryland according to Jacob's obituary.

In his pension application Jacob Meek told the Wayne Co., IN circuit court on 31 Aug 1832:

I was born in Elkridge in the State of Maryland near Baltimore in the year 1755, but in what county I was born I do not know at this time.

Elkridge, MD is in present day Howard County. In 1755 it was part of Anne Arundel County.

Jacob settled in what is now Findley Township, Allegheny Co., PA in 1773 according to his Virginia certificate dated 24 Apr 1780. He received a Pennsylvania patent on this land 8 Apr 1788 according to the Heinz History Warrantee Atlas of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, 1914. This land was in the immediate vicinity of his brother John in Moon Township.

In his pension application Jacob also testifies about his service in the army.

I entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated to wit. In the first part of May in the year 1775 or 1776 I volunteered (I then being a resident of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania) in the company of Captain John Stinson of the Pennsylvania militia and continued in the service in his company for about three months.
Sometimes in the fore part of the summer of the year 1779 perhaps for I cannot recollect the date certainly now I was drafted to protect the frontiers against the Indians, and served under Captain Ralph Cherry of the Pennsylvania militia and was stationed in my own neighborhood at the will of Captain Cherry I served about three months and was discharged sometime in the fall of the year though I cannot recollect the particular date. During the time I was in the company of Captain Cherry the 13th Regiment of Virginia Regulars were stationed at Fort Pitt to protect the frontiers the Regiment was Commanded by Colonel John Gibson.

According to the 1837 Journal of Jeremiah Lee Meek Jacob can be placed in Westmoreland County in 1780.

"I was born in the State of Pennsylvania, on the waters of Jacob Creek, in the year of 1780; near the close of the Revolutionary War. In the course of that year my father bought land about twelve miles from Pittsburg and moved to it the same year."

It is not known why Jacob was in Westmoreland County following his military service. However, his son, Jeremiah Lee Meek may have believed his father purchased his land in 1780 because of the date on the land grant. The grant clearly states the date of settlement was 1773.

The 1781 tax records list Jacob Meeks in Robinson Twp., Washington Co., PA at the time that the county was formed. His name is not in the 1783 tax list but he does appear in the 1790 census in the same area, now Allegheny County. The census, taken in 1789, lists 2 males over 16, 5 males under 16 and 3 females. It is not known who the second older male was.

Jacob sells his land 25 Dec 1789 according to deed records. His wife's name is listed as Nancy. We know that he did not leave the area immediately.

1837 remembrances of Jeremiah Lee Meek
In the month of June 1792 he sold out with the view of going to Kentucky. By the last of November he had built a flat boat and was ready to start.

…and we arrived safely to the place where Cincinnati is now located.

We here left the Ohio and went up the Licking River as far as Cynthiana where father had a brother-in-law residing. We spent the winter there and in the month of March 1793 he moved out to the extreme frontier where his brother, John Meek, had built a station.

In 1794 Jacob appears in the Shelby Co., KY tax list for that year and also in the 1795 special census. He is listed in the 1800 census for Henry Co., KY. This is consistent with his statements in his pension application.

Jacob’s name appears in a deed record dated 8 Aug 1801. His wife’s name is given as Eleanor. In 1805 he sells 10 acres and in 1807 he sells 82 ½ acres. Tax records indicate that he owned as many as 142 acres. In 1806 he owned 132 acres and does not appear in the tax records again.

From his pension application, it is known that Jacob moved to Wayne Co., IN. Jacob, his sons and some of his nephews were listed in the 1807 Territorial census of Indiana. He is listed in the 1820 and 1830 census of Wayne Co., IN. In 1830 his age was 60-70 and his wife's age was 50-60.

He married (1) Nancy ______ based on deed records from Allegheny Co., PA. She apparently died before or near the time that the family left for Kentucky. Her son Jeremiah in discussing the early days in Kentucky mentions his father and step mother guarding the house from the Indians. There is no evidence that Jacob's first wife was named Nancy Warcins or Nancy Marcus. There is no evidence of a family named Warcins or Marcus in S. W. Pennsylvania.

He married (2) Eleanor ______. She was born between 1770 and 1780. She was first mentioned in deed records from Henry Co., KY. She is listed in the 1840 census of Boston TWP, Wayne Co., IN. She is listed alone age 60-70. Her will was signed on 17 Sep 1842 in Wayne Co., IN. It was proven 13 May 1844.

Jacob's will dated 4 Aug 1835 is recorded in the Wayne Co., IN Will Book #2. His will lists his wife, Elenor, and his children:

11. John Meek was born in 1778 in PA. He died in 1841 in Niles, MI. He moved with his parents to Kentucky about 1793. The family moved to Wayne Co., IN about 1806. He moved in 1832 to Niles, Michigan. The previous information comes from A Meek Genealogy by H. B. Meek, 1902. He is mentioned in his father's will. The 1840 census of Niles TWP, lists John Meek born between 1770-1780 1 male age 30-40 and 1 female age 60-70. There is no hard evidence that John, the son of Jacob, is the same person listed in the 1840 census of Niles, MI. He is connected to his son Richard based soley on the book by H. B. Meek. However, the records indicate that the two children, Richard and Sarah, listed here were in both Wayne Co., IN and Niles, MI. The accounts of the children, Richard and Sarah, suggest that John married Margaret _______. She was born about 1774 according to her tombstone and census records. She died 5 Jul 1860 in Audubon Co., IA and is burried in Bowen cemetery.

21. Richard C. Meek was born about 1803. He died 26 Nov 1873 in Audubon Co., IA according to cemetery records. He married Eliza Tatman 22 Jun 1841 in St. Joseph Co., IN according to marriage abstracts. She was born in 1820 according to her tombstone and census records. She died in 1902 in Audubon Co., IA. It appears that they had only one female child who died young. The 1850 census of Howard TWP, Cass Co., Michigan lists Richard C. Meek, age 44 IN, Eliza, age 30 OH, Margaret J., age 2 MI and Margaret, age 76 VA. He is likely the person listed in the 1860 census of Tecumseh, Shawnee Co., KS as Richard Meek 54 KY Meth Clergyman, Elisa M. 40 OH.

According to Dick Barton, a Lewis family researcher, Richard was a Methodist minister who left Michigan and went to Holt Co., MO. In 1855 he moved to Audubon Co., IA. During the Civil War he was at an Indian mission school in Kansas. He married Eliza Tatman who was known as Aunty Meek. Mr. Barton’s source of information is unknown and has not been verified.

WPA Cemetery records confirm that Richard C. Meek (age 79-26 Nov 1873) and Eliza Meek (1820-1902) were in Audubon Co., IA. Eliza is listed in the 1900 census of Audubon Co., IA born Feb 1820. Neither of them can be found in other Audubon County census records. Cemetery records list Margaret Meek age 86 died 5 Jul 1860.
22. Sarah G. Meek was born 19 Jan 1799. An unproven daughter of John Meek. She died 1 Aug 1872 in Exira, Audubon Co., IA according to cemetery records. She married Thomas Todd Lewis 12 Dec 1816 in Wayne Co., IN according to marriage abstracts (Book ZZ ; Page 52). He was born about 1792 in Rowan Co., NC. He died 10 Oct 1852 in Jones Co., IA according to cemetery records. He inherited 160 acres in Wayne Co., IN from his father Abraham Lewis. He purchased 80 acres in Berrien Co, MI on 10 Nov 1832 from William and Catherine Justes. They were listed in the 1850 census of Berrien Co., MI. Sarah was listed in the 1860 census of Audubon Co., IA living with her son Isaac Lewis age 29 IN. Also residing with them was Margaret Meek age 86 VA. This is consistent with Margaret Meek age 76 VA living with Richard Meek in 1850. Sarah was listed in the 1870 census of Audubon Co., IA living with William J. Lewis age 38 IN.
History of Audubon Co. Iowa, HF Andrews editor Indianapolis
BF Bowen & Co. 1915 Reprint LaCrosse, WI Brookhaven Press, 2000

Thomas T. Lewis married Sarah G. Meek, a sister to Rev. Richard C. Meek. They lived in Wayne county, Indiana, whence they moved to Niles, Michigan, in 1833. The family then migrated to Jones county, Iowa; thence to Kansas. Mr. Lewis had died before the family came here, and Mrs. Lewis lived with her son, Isaac, afterwards. The family, consisting of three sons, Richard M., Thomas S., and Isaac V. D., and their families, and a married daughter, the wife of Dennis Parmeley, came to Audubon county in October, 1854.

12. Jeremiah Lee Meek was born in 1780 in PA.
13. Joshua Meek was born in Pennsylvania during the 1780’s. He died before 1835 according to the will of Jacob Meek dated 4 May 1835. “…and to the heirs of my son Joshua Meek deceased one dollar.” Therefore it is known that he lived to adulthood, married and had children. Joshua’s identify is problematic due to an early death, a lack of records and confusion with his cousin Joshua Meek son of John Meek born about 1754.
He arrived in Henry Co., KY in 1793 with his father. His cousin obtained 100 acres of land from his father, John Meek, in 1800. Therefore it is believed that all references to a Joshua Meek in tax and deed records up to 1807 referred to his cousin. It is believed that Joshua moved with his father, brothers and cousins to Wayne Co., IN in 1806. Joshua son of John Meek sells his 100 acres of land in 1807 and probably followed the rest of the family to Indiana. There is a Joshua Meek listed in the 1807 Indiana Territorial Census for Dearborn County. (Wayne County was formed from Dearborn County in 1811.) However this may have been his cousin.
Very few records have been found before 1830 although further search is warranted. A man named Joshua Meek married Jane Galbreath 21 Sep 1818 in Henry Co., KY. A Henry Co., KY deed record dated 24 Sep 1830 refers to Joshua Meek and Jane Meek “of Wayne Co., IN” is probably a residual matter of his cousin’s. Only one Joshua Meek is listed in the 1830 census of Wayne Co., IN (1-0-0-1-0-0-1//1-2-1-0-1-0-1-1). Also in the 1830 census of Wayne Co., IN was Patrey Meek (0-2-2-0-0-0-0-0-0//1-1-0-1-0-1-0-0-0) an apparent widow. The 1850 census of Wayne Co., IN lists Joshua Meek age 65, Jane Meek age 56 and Martha Meek age 20. Therefore the Joshua Meek who married Jane Galbreath could not have been the son of Jacob as he had died before 1835.
Joshua Meek is believed to have married Martha "Patsy" Holman between Jul 1806 and Jul 1810 based on probate records of her father Henry Holman. In a probate record dated Jul 1806 Martha is unmarried. Woodford Co., KY Land & Property Deed Book E, p. 110, dated July 2, 1810 concerning the estate of Henry Holman mentions “…and Joshua Meek and Patsy his wife of Dearborn County Indiana Territory…”. Wayne County was formed from Dearborn County. There is no reason to believe that any other Meek family lived in or near Wayne Co., IN during this time period.
CAUTION: There is no definitive proof that Joshua son of Jacob married Martha Holman. Other genealogies have reported that Joshua’s cousin, Joshua son of John Meek, married Martha Holman. However that person is believed to have married Jane W. Galbreath 21 Sep 1818 in Henry Co., KY. They also moved to Wayne Co., IN and appear in the 1850 census.
14. Isaac Meek was born between 1784 and 1794 in PA. DNA Kit #68563
15. William Meek was born in 1787. DNA Kit #134309
16. Martha (Patsy) Meek was born in 1785. She died 28 May 1865 in Wayne Co., IN. She married Elijah Fisher 20 Jul 1803 in Henry Co., KY. He was born 23 Mar 1780. He died 5 Feb 1852 in Wayne Co., IN.

61. Jacob R. Fisher was born in 1804 in Shelby Co., KY. He married Amelia Lane.
62. Nancy Jane Fisher was born 17 Jul 1806 in Kentucky. She died 24 Oct 1869 in Caldwell Co., MO. She married John Montgomery Esteb 7 Aug 1826 in Wayne Co., IN.
63. Elias J. Fisher was bornin 1808 in Kentucky. He married Elizabeth Haines 18 Feb 1847.
64. Pamela Fisher was born 1810 in Wayne Co., IN. She married Thomas Gentry 30 Sep 1824.
65. Catherine Fisher was born in 1812 in Wayne Co., IN. She married David Moore 21 Sep 1837.
66. Rueann Fisher was born 17 Mar 1812 in Wayne Co., IN. She married William C. Harvey 8 Feb 1842.
67. Martha Jane Fisher was born in 1814 in Wayne Co., IN. She married Charles N. Elmer. 22 Aug 1847.
68. Elizabeth Fisher was born in 1816 in Wayne Co., IN.
69. Effeanne Fisher was born in 1818 in Wayne Co., IN. She married _____ Harvey 13 Mar 1834.
This is the family of Karen Hill Walker

17. Rue Meek was born about 1790. She died on 1 Aug 1861. She married William Holman (son of George Holman and Elizabeth Fisher) about 1810. He was born 20 Apr 1790 in Shelby Co., KY. He died 3 Aug 1867 in Wayne Co., IN and was buried in Louisville KY. Shortly before his death he married Mrs. Martha Martin. Jacob's will refers to his daughter "Rue Holman my daughter wife of William Holman one dollar". The will of Rev. William Holman states "After the death of my beloved wife Rachel Martha Holman". Letters between William J. Uttermohlen and Margaret E, Catanese, the Vice President DePauw University in 1993 confirm that the Rev William Holman set up a trust for the education of the descendants of George Holman and Jacob Meek.
18. Effie Meek married William Grimes before 1835. He was born in Wayne Co., IN.

71. Alexander Grimes is mentioned in Eleanor's will.

If you have any questions, E-mail Chris Meek.

Written in 1837 by Jeremiah Lee Meek, son of Jacob Meek born 1755.
Printed in the Palladium December 3, 1866 (Abstracted)

I was born in the State of Pennsylvania, on the waters of Jacob Creek, in the year of 1780; near the close of the Revolutionary War. In the course of that year my father bought land about twelve miles from Pittsburg and moved to it the same year. In the month of June 1792 he sold out with the view of going to Kentucky. By the last of November he had built a flat boat and was ready to start.

…and we arrived safely to the place where Cincinnati is now located.

We here left the Ohio and went up the Licking River as far as Cynthiana where father had a brother-in-law residing. We spent the winter there and in the month of March 1793 he moved out to the extreme frontier where his brother, John Meek, had built a station.

I was then a mere boy and many a night did I lay up in the block house left and tremble to hear my father up all night watching from one house to the other --my step-mother, with a gun in each hand so that when father emptied one she could hand him another.

It was very seldom the men went to the mill, for the Indians were always watching the road in the dusk of the evening—they shot and scalped several men. Out of Meek’s Station not a man was lost

“In the month of November 1806 I left my father’s house in Kentucky and came to Ohio with the widow Grimes’ family…..”

Pennsylvania Land

Virginia Certificate
"Jacob Meeks produced a certificate from the commissioners for adjusting and settling claims to lands in the counties Yohogania, Monongalia and & Ohio for four hundred acres land in this county on Montour’s Run to include his settlement made in the year 1773.

Pennsylvania Patent

Jacob Meeks
400 Ms Strict measure
Surveyed Apr. 11, 1785 on a
Virginia Certificate,
Patented Apr. 8 1788
to Jacob Meeks on warrant
to accept dated Apr. 11, 1788
p. 12.263
"Walnut Land
Heinz History Warrantee Atlas of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, 1914

Ref: Abstracts Deed Books I and II, Allegheny Co. PA., compiled by Helen L. Harriss, C. G.. 1984, FHL 974.885 2h:
[p. 42] p. 242: 25 Dec 1789. Indent. JACOB MEEK of Allegheny Co. PA and w/NANCY MEEK. To John Newell, Westmo. Co. 76.5 pounds 130 acres 18 pr. On Montour Run, Robinson Tp. Being land granted to JACOB MEEK by Patent 8 Apr 1788. Adj. William Riddek, Joseph Patterson, JACOB MEEK.
Signed: JACOB MEEK, NANCY MEEK
Wit. John Turner, Joseph Scott
Rec. 20 Oct 1790

Obituary

Palladium, Richmond, Indiana May 23, 1840

A Revolutionary Patriot Gone. - Died, - In the vicinity of this city, on Saturday evening, the 16th instant, Jacob Meek, aged 93 years. Mr. Meek was probably the oldest man in the county. He was born in the year 1747, in the state of Maryland, and served throughout the revolutionary war: believing that “To fight In a just cause, and for his country’s glory, Is the best office of the best of men.”

After the close of the revolution, he emigrated to the western part of the State of Pennsylvania, enduring the privations incident to the settlement of that country, which was at that time almost an unbroken wilderness. After remaining there a few years, he moved to Kentucky. Here again he met the savage foe, and assisted in defending the helpless and dependent pioneers from the revengeful and murderous Indians – participating in many of those scenes which gave to Kentucky the appalling title of the ‘dark and bloody ground.’ Peace and safety in a measure restored to the settlements in that State, he again penetrated the then ‘far west,’ and located in this county, – thirty-three years ago – long before such a place as the city of Richmond now is was thought of. Here again, although he had passed beyond the number of years generally allotted to mankind, he contributed his part to the defense of the frontier.

The life of Mr. Meek was one of eventfulness. Born before the revolution, he saw and felt the usurpations of a foreign government upon free born American citizens - joined heart and hand with those patriots who determined to repel the tyrannical measures attempted to be imposed upon the citizens of the colonies - fought by the side of Washington and his illustrious compeers - participated in several bloody and severely contested battles, and finally saw the arms of freedom victorious and peace restored to his country. He as seen that country which in his youth was an unbroken wilderness and the abode of savages, transformed into highly cultivated fields and flourishing cities and villages. In short, he has seen the fruition of all the sanguine hopes that animated the minds of those who broke the yoke of British tyranny, and established our government upon the sacred principles of equal liberty and justice to all men.

'His course is done - his errand done,’ and his spirit has joined those of the immortal dead of other days.

DIED - In the county Henry in the State of Kentucky about six weeks since, Basil Meek, a brother of the above aged one hundred and nine years. He was also a patriot of the revolution.

George Holman was born 11 Feb 1762, Maryland. He died 22 May 1859 and is buried in the Maple Grove Cemetery, removed to Elkhorn Cemetery south of Richmond, Indiana. He married Jane Rue 1757-1831. Children: Joseph; William married Rue Meek; John; Benjamin and Joel; Patsey married William Meek; Rebecca married John Woodkirk; Sarah married John Odell; Greenup married Lethe Druley; Jesse married first Nancy Galbraith, second Sarah Julian; Catherine married Adam Porter; Isaac. Source Page 193, 194, Roster of Soldiers and Patriots of the American Revolution Buried in Indiana, 1938.

Richard Rue was born 1760 Kent County, Maryland. He died 12 Dec 1844 and buried in the Elkhorn Cemetery, south of Richmond, Indiana. Stone. He married Elizabeth Holman who died in 1833. Children: Mary 1785-1858 married Joseph Cox; Polly Elizabeth; Rachel; Sally; Nancy; Henry; Samuel; Nelly Jane. Source Page 321, Roster of Soldiers and Patriots of the American Revolution Buried in Indiana, 1938.

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Jacob Meek

(1755-1840)

By Christopher A. Meek