1. James Meek was born about 1774 in Virginia according to census records. He was listed in the 1810 census of Greenup Co., KY. He married Mary Greenslate 24 Oct 1817 in Greenup Co., KY. They were listed in the 1820-1840 censuses of Greenup Co., KY. They were listed in the 1850 census of Greenup Co., KY living next to Suter Meek born 1823 and John Meek born 1820. They were listed in the 1860 census of Greenup Co., KY living next to James Meek born 1826.
There is no proof who the children of James Meek were. He was born about 1774 and appears in Greenup county census records from 1810 to 1860. Census records before 1850 suggest that he had six sons.
In addition to James the 1840 census listed Joseph age 50-60 and Samuel age 20-30. Joseph’s age in the 1850 census is 57 so there is some issue about his date of birth. Regardless of his age he does not appear to be listed with James in the 1830 census. That does not mean Joseph was not a son or otherwise related to James. There is no infomration to show that Joseph was related to James.
Samuel Meek age 37 is listed in the 1850 census and could have been one of the younger men with James in the 1830 census. He also could have been a son of Joseph or not related to any of the other Meeks.
The 1850 census lists six men named Meek in addition to James. None are living with James. In addition to Joseph and Samuel are John born about 1820, Suter born about 1823, James born about 1826 and William born about 1829. These four men closely match the ages of the younger males living with James in the 1840 census. In the 1850 census William was living with John and has been presumed to be a brother (see next paragraph).
In the 1860 census John and William are believed to be listed in Jackson Co., MO. The names ages of their wives was the same as was the name and age of John's oldest son Thomas. William's widow and children returned to Greenup Co., KY and was listed in the 1870 census there. John and William appears to be related if not brothers.
DNA from descendants of both John Meek born about 1820 and his assumed brother William Meek reveals that the descendants are not related. There are possible explanations for this conflict which would not necessarily impact the validity of the earlier genealogical information. Therefore additional DNA tests are required to explain the conflict and to determine how the DNA information impacts the genealogical information. The genealogical information should also be verified and enhanced.
DNA for the descendant of William Meek matches a descendant of the Meek family living in Johnson Co., KY, previously Floyd County. The DNA tests coupled with the presence of a man named Joseph Meek born before 1793 as well as the lack of positive proof of relationships raises the possibility that there were two unrelated Meek families in Greenup Co., KY. In addition the indications are that at least some of the men named Meek in Greenup County were related to the Meek family in Johnson County.
Caution is advised! Given the lack of proof for genealogical connections and contradictory DNA results no one should assume that this genealogy is correct.
Information provided in part by George Meek, Robert H. Meek and Kerri Jack.
Census records
1810 James Meek 1-0-1-1-0//1-0-0-1-0-4 1820 James Meek 4-1-0-0-1//1-0-1-0 1830 James Meek 3-1-1-1-0-0-0-1//0-2-1-0-0-1 1840 James Meek 0-1-1-2-0-0-0-0-1//2-0-1-1-1-0-0-1 Joseph Meek 50-60//0-0-0-0-1 (surname difficult to read) Samuel Meek 0-0-0-0-1//2-0-0-0-1 1850 KY Greenup District 1 194 198 James Meek 24 KY Eliza 23 KY Thomas E. 1 KY Mary F. 4/12 KY 237 241 Joseph Meek M 57 KY Dysey 27 F KY 258 262 John Meek 30 M KY Elizabeth 28 F KY Mary C 8 F KY Thomas 1 M KY William 20 M KY Julian 21 F KY 259 263 Suter Meek M 27 KY Mary 25 F KY J. W. 3 M KY Mary A. 3 F KY 260 264 James Meek 76 M VA Mary 57 F KY Mary 15 F KY Abigail 25 F KY Amanda 13 F KY 182 186 Samuel Meek 37 KY Hannah 39 KY Margaret Lovejoy 14 Emily Lovejoy 14 Sarah 9 Mary 7 Lewis 6 Samuel 4 Godfrey 1 1860 KY Greenup 113 113 James Meek 33 KY Mary J. 22 Ann 6 ? Fe 2/12 114 115 James Meek Sr. 87 VA Mary 60 KY Arnigale 34 KY 1860 MO Jackson Blue TWP 730 670 John Meek 40 M KY Elizabeth 39 F KY Thomas 11 M KY Robert 10 M KY John 7 M KY James M. 6 M KY Nancy 5 F MO George 3 M MO Frances 1/12 F MO 1860 MO Jackson Div 35 1656 1718 William Meeks 31 KY Julia A. 31 KY James R. 7 KY Lucy J. 5 KY Mary 4 KY George W. 3 MO John 1/12 MO