Jeremiah T. Meek



By Christopher A. Meek

13. Jeremiah T. Meek was born about 1788 according to census records. Census records do not provide a clear picture of his place of birth. A Henry Co., TN deed record dated 24 Dec 1829 Jeremiah sells 16 2/3 acres of land. It is described as “A track of land on the waters of Middle Fork of the Obion River part of 500 acres granted to Polk & Devereaux the same that Jacob Meek, deceased, lived and died on …” . Other children of Jacob Meek have similar deeds selling 16 2/3 acres some of which describe them as heirs or as daughters of Jacob Meek. Jeremiah’s name appears on many records with other children of Jacob Meek.

He was listed in the 1830 census of Henry Co., TN born between 1780 and 1790. On 5 Dec 1831 he was appointed administrator of the estate of Isaac Meek, a brother. He was living in Henry Co., TN in Feb 1835 according to deed records.

Jeremiah was listed in 1837 and 1840 tax list of Carroll Co., AR. He is listed in the 1840 census of Carroll Co., AR. He was listed in the 1850 census of Carrollton TWP, Carroll Co., AR with his wife and two sons.

Carrol Co., AR-23 Sep 1850
Jerry T. Meek, 62, M, Farmer, 1800, PoB unreadable, could not read/write
Elizabeth, 55, F, -, -, KY, could not read/write
William W., 20, M, Farmer, -, Tenn
Joseph J., 19, M, Farmer, -, Do (Tenn)
Note1: Elizabeth is not Betsy Blevins. Betsy Blevins married Jeremiah Meek in 1802 according to Blount Co., TN marriage records. This Elizabeth is too young to have been married in 1802. Jeremiah would only have been 14.
Note2: Jeremiah’s place of birth is undecipherable to this writer. But even if it says Georgia that is arguably not true. There is nothing to indicate that Jeremiah’s father ever lived in Georgia but where he was about 1788 is unknown. The 1860 census of Bell Co., TX lists J. J. Meek age 29 with wife Minerva also lists J. T. Meek age 71. The place of birth is also undecipherable. The 1880 census lists Jeremiah’s children Jacob A., Samuel and Elizabeth where the father’s birth place is given as Tennessee, Georgia and North Carolina. A census record for Jeremiah's younger sister Delilah says she was born in Tennessee which is consistent with her father’s known movement at that time. Delilah's census record also says that her father (Jacob) was born in Pennsylvania. Jacob lived near Nathaniel Meek in Pulaski Co., KY and DNA proves that they were related. Nathaniel came from Washington Co., PA. Where Jeremiah was born remains an important mystery.

Jeremiah moved to Bell Co., TX after September 1850. He signed a petition in Nov 1853 in Bell Co., TX and appears in the 1860 census with his son Joseph. His will was dated 24 Aug 1861 and probated 24 Sep 1868 in Bell Co., TX. His son Joseph was the administrator and only heir.

He married Elizabeth D. Spencer 5 Sep 1809 in Casey Co., KY. She was born about 1795 in Kentucky according to the 1850 census although other factors suggest a somewhat earlier date.

A petition for divorce dated 5 Nov 1856 in Bell Co., TX names Jeremiah T. Meek and Elizabeth D. Spencer. In the petition Jeremiah stated that Elizabeth abandoned him on 8 Mar 1852. He gave his wife's maiden name who was not present for the proceedings. He further states that they were married 5 Sep 1809 in Casey Co., KY. Jeremiah consistently used the middle initial T throughout his life. He is listed in other records of Bell County. His wife’s name was Elizabeth and they would have been married about 1810. The divorce data was provided by Patricia Spencer Jan 2012.

It is believed that Jeremiah’s parents lived near Nathaniel Meek in Pulaski Co., KY. DNA proves that he was related to Nathaniel Meek. Amasa Spencer was a close associate of Nathaniel their families having intermarried at several points. The will of Amasa Spencer was recorded July 21, 1841 (1846) in Jennings Co., IN, will record Vol. I Sept. 20, 1842--August 26, 1862. This will specifically mentions a daughter named Betsy Meek. However, genealogical information regarding Amasa Spencer’s daughter Elizabeth conflicts with that of Jeremiah Meek’s wife regarding the date of birth.

Jeremiah T. Meek and Elizabeth had the following children:

  • 101. Jacob A. Meek was born on 6 Oct 1811 in Kentucky.
  • 102. Evelyn Meek was born about 1812 in Kentucky.
  • 103. Elizabeth Ann Meek was born on 25 Mar 1814 in Tennessee. She married Arthur Asher Baker about 1836. He was born on 20 Jan 1809 in Tennessee. He died on 8 Mar 1890 in Carroll Co., AR. She died on 3 Jun 1899 in Carroll Co.
    • 221. Almeda M. Baker was born 6 FEB 1843 in Carroll Co., AR.
    • 222. Ann Elizabeth Baker was born in 1837.
    • 223. Margaret Baker was born in 1839.
    • 224. Malissa Jane Baker was born in 1841.
    • 225. David Wlaker Baker was born in 1844.
    • 226. Alford T. Baker was born in 1848.
    • 227. Alinda C. Baker was born in 1849
  • 104. Nancy D. Meek was born on 25 Apr 1814 in Tennessee. She married James Chaney about 1829. He was born in 1804 in Kentucky. Note Nancy and Elizabeth were twins. There is a conflict with birth month which needs to be resolved.
  • 105. Samuel S. Meek was born about 1817 in Kentucky. He died on 28 Jan 1896 in Carroll Co., AR. He married Mary Ann Dunlap based on the death certificate of A. P. Meek. She was born about 1826.
    • 231. Harriet J. Meek born about 1846. Married E. Laswell.
    • 232. Arena Frances Meek born about 1848. Married 9 Feb 1873 Jehu W. Poyner.
    • 233. Sultena Jauniline Meek born about 1849. Died about 1883.
    • 234. Alvin P. Meek born 22 Jan 1851 according to his death certificate. He died 10 Dec 1930 in Brown Co., TX. He married Lucille E. Cross. She was born 17 Jul 1861. She died 5 Nov 1949 in Brown County. He parents were F. M. Cross and _____ Watson. In 1870 he was in Berryville with his parents. He went to Bell Co., TX and in 1873 he moved to Brown Co., TX. His name may have been Alvis.
      • 361. W. Arthur Meek was born 12 Apr 1880. He died 17 Feb 1948.
      • 362. Lee Meek was born 16 Jul 1883 in Brownwood, TX. He died 6 Apr 1964. He married Viola Cross adopted daughter of Riley Yares Cross, brother of Francis Marion Cross father of Lucille Cross. She was born 7 Nov 1884. She died 28 Jan 1953.
      • 363. Francis Eugene Meek was born 8 Aug 1891 in Brownwood, TX. He died 23 Apr 1966. He married Rena French. They were divorced in 1935.
      This is the family of Kay Elmore.
    • 235. Elbert N. Meek born in Dec 1852. He married (1) Irene Dora Trantham 29 Mar 1874 in Carroll Co., AR. She was born about 1852 in Tennessee. They are listed in the 1880 census of Carroll Co., TN.
      • 364. Artie Valeria Meek was born 23 May 1875. She died 18 Mar 1913 in Huntsville, AR. She married James P. Reynolds 29 May 1893 in Carr Lane, MO.
      • 365. Clemir Meek was born about 1877. (Male)
      • 366. Moilie Meek was born Oct 1879.

      He married (2) Amelia Trantham on 12 Mar 1882 in Carroll Co., AR. She was born Apr 1863. They are listed in the 1900 census.
      • 367. Lacie E. Meek was born about 1883.
      • 368. Villie O. Meek was born about 1885.
      • 369. Gertrude C. Meek was born Apr 1887. She died 16 Feb 1919. She married Samuel L. Morgan 21 Aug 1910 in Muskogee Co., OK.
      • 370. Duckie J. Meek was born about 1890.
      • 371. Willie M. Meek was born about 1892.
      • 372. Lester L. Meek was born about 1895.
      Information provided by Ann and Rhonda Weldon
    • 236. Martha Evaline Meek born about 1856.
  • 106. Delilah Meek. was born about 1819 in Kentucky. She married James M. Blevins about 1837.
  • 107. Martha Meek. was born about 1822. She was married to William H. Chaney about 1840. He was born about 1816 in Tennessee. He died in 1897 in Los Angeles, Co., CA.
  • 108. William W. Meek was born about 1830.
  • 109. Joseph J. Meek. was born 15 Mar 1831 in Tennessee. He married Minerva M. Boyd who was born about 1833. He was single in the 1850 census and by 1860 he had moved to Bell Co., TX. He died about 1871 in Bell County.
    • 241. Arminta Meek born about 1854. Married M. E. Laswell.
    • 242. Sam Houston Meek born about 1856. He died 13 Aug 1890 in Bell Co., TX.
    • 243. Novenia Isabel Meek born about 1858 in Texas.
    • 244. Mary C. Meek born Feb 1860 in Texas. She married William H. Rodgers 1878 in Bell Co., TX.
    • 245. Robert Lee Meek born 18 Mar 1863 Bell Co., TX. He died 10 Feb 1929 in Ashdown, Little River, AR. He married Victoria Clynes in 1894 Bell Co., TX. He married (2) Addie Beauchamp. He was an M.D. and moved to Arkansas in 1905. He died in Feb 1929 Ashdown, AR.
    • 246. Laura Meek born about 1867. She is listed in the 1870 census but other reporters claim she was the daughter Keziah Farmer who died in childbirth. Laura was placed with the Joseph J. Meek family until her father remarried, then she is back with her family of 2 brothers and 5 half siblings in the Correyell 1880 cencus.

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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