This article discusses the structure of the Meek(s) families identified as Group B in the Meek/Meeks DNA project.
Group B is a large complex group. It is divided into two major sub-groups by DNA analysis. It is impossible to know for sure but the two sub-groups appear to have developed a different DNA profile before the year 1500. Since they carry the same surname it is assumed that the split came after the introduction of surnames in England in the 1200’s. The two sub-groups have been given arbitrary names of Group B and Group B3. Group B3 involves the descendants of John Meeks born about 1700 who lived in Pitt Co., NC. It will be discussed separately.
The main Group B is the largest group in the DNA project and represents nine known Revolutionary era ancestors born before 1800 as well as a number of more recent ancestors who have not been connected further back in time. The list of early ancestors closely match a portion of the list of men named in the 1902 book by H. B. Meek as sons of Jacob Meek born 1698 in Lincolnshire, England. This story was expanded by Carleton Meek in his 1962 book. However, other researchers, notably Joseph L. Meek, claimed that the same set of sons belonged to Jacob Meek born 1717 the son of Guy Meek. Unfortunately the DNA project has proven that the total list of sons came from at least three unrelated Meek family. Therefore there is no reliable source as to how the Group B ancestors were related or who their father(s) may have been. There is no reliable information on where they came from. Readers should be very cautious with any source that claims to know this information. See the article The Progenitor Myth.
When H. B. Meek wrote his book he said that he obtained some information from his uncle Basil DuValle Meek born 1828. Basil was a grandson of Basil Meek born about 1763, one of the supposed sons of Jacob Meek. One might assume that H. B. Meek had some reliable information about Basil Meek born 1763. He only provided enough information about the other 12 sons of Jacob Meek to identify three of them. It is through Carleton Meek that we can connect any of these men to actual names found in official records. We do not know where Carleton Meek obtained his information.
Eight of those men named as sons of Jacob Meek lived in S.W. Pennsylvania. In Washington Co., PA there was Isaac, Samuel, Nathaniel and Basil born 1763. Four other men said to be their brothers lived in Allegheny Co., PA. They were Jeremiah, Joshua, John and Jacob. DNA proved that the men in Allegheny County were totally unrelated to the men in Washington County. That raises the question, why did H. B. Meek and Carleton Meek think that were brothers?
The obvious answer is that they did not know how to do genealogy. They simply threw all the Meeks in the same pot and guessed at their relationship. Unfortunately they published books and three generations of genealogists have now been misled by their work.
The article Early Meek Settlers of S. W. Pennsylvania looks at the official records that do exist and details a more expansive list of men named Meek in S. W. Pennsylvania than the early authors knew about. There were unidentified men named Jeremiah Meek and Jacob Meek who made a single appearance in the records. They appeared in the 1783 tax list of Washington County. There is growing reason to believe that these men went to Pulaski Co., KY with Nathaniel and Basil born 1763. It is also known now that there were men named Jeremiah and Jacob Meek in Tennessee who were connected to the men in Washington County by DNA.
We do not know what information H. B. Meek had but it is possible he had a valid list of related ancestors living in Washington Co., PA that formed the basis of his 13 sons of Jacob Meek even if the total list of names was incorrect. It seems unlikely that there was a single father for the men listed. We do not have DNA from a proven descendant of Jacob, son of Guy Meek (or Jacob, son of Adam Meek). Based on the DNA profile of the descendants DNA will not reveal how many fathers are involved. This must be established through traditional genealogical research. However, if a descendant of Guy Meek is ever found it will be known if he was the progenitor or not.
What we know for sure from DNA is that all of the following men shared a common ancestor at some point in history. Following are the ancestors born before 1800 identified in Group B. See the main menu for all genealogies related to this group.
Washington Co., PA 1774-1800
Samuel Meek b: 1732
Isaac Meek b: 1746
Nathaniel Meek
Basil Meek b: 1763
Elisha Meek b: 1765 (not listed by H. B. Meek)
Tennessee/Arkansas 1800>
Jeremiah Meek b: 1771 to 1779
Slightly different DNA Profile
Tennessee/Arkansas 1800>
Jacob Meek b: 1760
Born after 1800
John T. Meek b: >1800
Wesley W. Meek b: 1812
Slightly different DNA Profile
Maryland connection
George Meek b: 1785 MD
Born after 1800
John W. Meeks b: 1815
William Meek b: 1824
It is important to remember that this is incomplete data. Those people who have been DNA tested may not be a representative sample of the family as a whole. It is also not known if we have a complete list of early U. S. ancestors from genealogy. Based on the earliest known date of birth from the list here the common ancestor had to have been born before 1715 and probably earlier. We know little about that person from DNA and have been unable to connect to a proven ancestor through genealogy. We also do not know how far back in time he lived.
The relationship between any of the ancestors listed here in unknown. There is much genealogical work to do to find a connection between some or all of these ancestors. The search for the progenitor is a different matter. One possible interpretation of this data is that there was a large extended family that migrated to different parts of the United States. Where that migration started is unknown. One possibility is that the progenitor lived in the United States. The other possibility is that different groups or family members immigrated to the United States separately. The earliest record of any of these ancestors is about 1775 based on deed records for Samuel Meek.