1. William Meek was born about 1792 according to family legend. Census records indicate that he was born between 1781 and 1790. He died about 1834 according to family legend. He may be the person in the 1820 of Bedford Co., TN age 26-45 with 1 male under 10, 1 male 16-26, 3 females under 10 and 1 female 26-45. There was a person named William Meek listed in the 1830 census of Bedford Co., TN age 40-50. (Males 2 under 5, 1 age 10-15, 1 age 40-50. Females 1 age 10-15, 2 age 15-20, 1 age 20-25 and 1 age 40-50.) This data is not consistent with Home in the Wilderness. This could be a different person or there may have been other people living with them. The identity of the person in the 1830 census is uncertain. There are several deed records in Marshal County with the name William Meek dating from 1811 to 11 May 1833. Some of the land he owned was part of the Adam Meek land grant previously owned by James Meek. There is no record that James sold any of his land. James' will was destroyed but it is known that he willed land to James Franklin Meek from deed records.
He married Mary _____. She was born 9 May 1789 according to the Eli Hopkins bible. She died 20 Nov 1867. She may be the person listed in the 1840 census of Marshall Co., TN age 50-60. Also listed is an unknown male age 10-15. The identity of the person in the census is not certain. She left a will naming her son James and daughters Mary Hopkins and Sarah Robinson.