John Meeks of Pitt Co., NC



By Christopher A. Meek

CAUTION - THIS DATA IS NOT VERIFIED AND MAY BE WRONG!

1. John Meeks died about 1772 in Pitt Co., NC. He was first mentioned in the 1755 poll tax of Beaufort Co., NC with a son. (Pitt County was formed from Beaufort County.) He received a land grant on 5 Mar 1761 from Lord Granville for 542 acres on Grindal Pocosin, joining Edward Collins and David Hataway. The surveyed was dated 22 Apr 1756. He signed with the mark "I". Deed records suggest that he had sons named John, Walter, Francis and James. The last deed record was dated 22 Jan 1772 for 100 acres to James Meek. Tax records also list the names Thomas and Nathan Meeks.

It is believed that John had a father or brother named James in this same area. James obtained land on 6 Dec 1747 in what is now Pitt Co., NC 100 acres from Joseph Barrow of Beauford County on the east side of Coneto Creek at Thomas Little's line. John sells this land on 1 Mar 1757. Court records place James in North Carolina in Bertie precinct on July 1727. James died before 1757.

DNA implications: Genealogies for this family are inconsistent. Some claim the progenitor was James Meeks rather than John. Dates of birth vary widely. Except for a few deed records showing the transfer land between John Meek and men listed here as sons there is no documentation known to this author regarding the relationship between James and John or who their sons were.

Six men claiming descent from John Meeks have matching DNA signatures and are known as Group B3. Five of them claim descent from three different sons of Francis Meek who married Darcus and one from his probable brother John Meek. To the extent that the genealogies are correct the results show that these six men shared a common ancestor. This set of results alone does not prove that Francis and John were brothers or prove who their father(s) may have been.

The DNA samples show a unique DNA profile which separates this group from other Pre-Revolutionary ancestors in the United States. However, this profile does show a similarity to a group of ancestors named Meek that lived in Washington Co., PA and Tennessee in the late 1700’s. The Group B men tested shared a common ancestor with this group but any connection likely predates the settlement of the United States.

The ancestral values of Group B3 are very close to those of Group B. They differ on DYS389, DYS570 and CDY. Considering that these represent what the DNA looked like in the early 1700’s this difference is significant. However, the two groups match on numerous key markers and there is no question that they were related. The connection probably goes back to the 1500’s but surely pre-dates any migration to America. Men with other surnames also have a similar signature. This should lead back to a group of people in England before the use of surnames.

A descendant of Thomas Meeks born about 1768 also matches the Group B3. This ancestor lived in Monongalia Co., VA now West Virginia. There is no known connection to the men who lived in Pitt Co., NC and Thomas may not descend from them. Family lore says he was born in Scotland. However, he may actually have been born in Maryland. Either way he may represent a separate branch that descended from the common ancestor of Group B3.

More than one member of this group ordered a special DNA test places Group B and Group B3 in the “R” Haplogroup. The specific SNP marker is R-L11 and is carried by a large percentage of European men. They were negative for all downstream SNPs.

  • 2. John Meeks was born before 1739. He owned 100 acres in Pitt Co., NC on 24 Nov 1762 received from from John Meeks. He owned on 10 Dec 1778 in Edgecombe Co., NC. He died before 1790.
    • 10. James Meeks was born about 1756.
    • 11. William Meeks was born about 1759.
    • 12a. Simon Meeks
    • 12b. Benjamin Meeks
      • A. Howell Meeks
        • 1. Benjamin Meeks Meeks
          • a. Laudus Meeks Meeks
            • 1. Lamar Meeks Meeks
              • a. Jim Meeks Meeks *DNA Kit#11391
  • 3. Walter Meeks was born about 1740. He owned 50 acres in Pitt Co., NC on 15 Jan 1764 recieved from John Meeks. He died before 1789. Chrildren derived from deed records
    • 13. Edward Meeks died before 1789. Np children
    • 14. Shadrach Meeks died before 1799. No children
    • 15. Jacob Meeks resided in 1800 in Duplin Co., NC.
    • 16. Severn Meeks
    • 17. Henry Meeks
    • 18. Mary Meeks married Francis Meeks (son of Francis Meeks and Darcus Unknown). He was born between 1765 and 1770 in North Carolina. He died in 1822 in Emanuel Co., GA.
    • 19. Diana Meeks
    • 20. Annithe Meeks
    • 21. Lucy Meeks was married to Unknown Wersley.
    • 22. Nancy Meeks was married to Shadrack May.
  • 4. Francis Meeks was born about 1747. DNA Kit #27995, #49070, #52441, #28172, #179506
  • 5. Thomas Meeks was born between 1742 and 1744. He resided in 1762 in Pitt Co., NC according to the tax list.
  • 6. James Meeks was born between 1742 and 1745. He resided in 1762 in Pitt Co., NC. Head of household in 1762. He appeared on the census in 1790 in Pitt Co., NC. (2 sons under 16) Deed records mention father John/sold land in 1793 may have left the state
  • 7. Nathan Meeks was born about 1837 or 1746 depending on the source. On a deed dated 17 January 1801 Francis Meeks is selling 50 acres of land to Willis Randolph. This described 50 acres of land is the "dower of Elizabeth Meeks the widow of Nathan Meeks deceased. Taxed in John's household in 1762. He owned 50 acres on 21 Mar 1782 in Pitt Co., NC received from Walter Meeks.
    • 29. Numan Meeks was born about 1790. He died about 1890 in Greensboro, AL. He married Keziah Thigpen. She was born 1787 Greene Co., NC. She in Greensboro, Hale Co., AL.
    • 30. Ruth Meeks married _____ Britt.
    • 31. Silus Meeks sells his land to Willis Randolph on 31 December 1801 and states "my father Nathan Meeks left me by will".
  • 8. Robert Meeks was born after 1745. He appeared in the census in 1775 in Pitt Co., NC. (Males 1 16-50; 1 under 16; 1 adult female and 1 female child) He served in the military on 27 Feb 1780. Discharged after 3 years. He appeared in the census in 1790 in Pitt Co., NC. (1 male over 16 and 4 females) He resided in 1800 in Edgecombe Co., NC. Did not own land
  • 9. Matthew Meeks was born after 1745. He appeared on the census in 1790 in Pitt Co., NC. (1 male over 16 and 2 females) Witnessed deeds of brothers in 1773 and 1778

Disclaimer: This genealogy was prepared by the author using undocumented and/or unverified sources. Some facts presented here MAY NOT be correct. Never accept as factual any information you find in a library, the Internet or from other genealogist unless it is supported by documentation. Documentation DOES NOT include the undocumented genealogies of other people including those on this web site.

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