Moses Meek of Dickson Co, TN

(1755-1807)


By Christopher A. Meek

1. Moses Meek died in Mecklenburg Co., NC before 1790. Court records refer to his estate in 1793. The first mention of him was in a deed record dated 1765 where he was a witness. A deed records dated 17 Mar 1780 records the purchase of 178 acres. It is unclear how old this person was but he could not have been Moses Meek born 1755.

There was also an unidentified man named James Meek with a wife named Mary. They were mentioned in Deed records dated 16 Nov 1764, Jan 30, 1773 and Nov 21 1777. He may have been the person named James Meek, Esq. in the 1790 census.

One of these men may have been the father of the following Moses Meek who may have been too young to have witnessed a deed in 1765. The period of the mid 1760's was a time when many people immigrated to the Carolinas due to incentives offered by the government. Moses born 1755 certainly came with a parent or relative.

2. Moses Meek was born about 1755 in Ireland based on written accounts of the family by his grandchildren. He is thought to be the person records in the 1790 census of Mecklenburg Co., NC. In 1806 he sold his property in Mecklenburg and set out for Dickson Co., TN where his daughter Rachel and her husband had preceded him. While enroute he stopped in Jefferson Co., TN to visit Adam Meek. He died there and his will was written on Nov. 5, 1807 by Adam Meek but never signed. It was recorded Nov. 12, 1807 in Knox Co., TN. (Adam Meek is thought to be the Adam Meek born about 1746 from Jefferson Co., TN.)

He married Margaret _______. She is mentioned in deed records.

Moses and Margaret had intentions of purchasing two pieces of property near their daughter, Rachel, and son-in-law, James Martin on Jones Creek, southeast of Charlotte in Dickson County, TN. At the time of Moses' death the transaction had not been made, and he left instructions in his Will to complete the deal. On December 20, 1807, less than two months after his death, a deed was executed between John Daviss/Davis and Margaret Meek for 400 acres. Another was executed between James Martin (son-in-law) and Margaret Meek for 60 acres. On January 14, 1809 the 400 acre tract was divided equally between sons, Josiah and Moses. Josiah and his wife Margaret migrated from Mecklenburg Co., NC in 1809 and built a cabin on this acreage. Moses' widow, Margaret Meek, lived on the 60 acre tract until her death. (Source: article #891 The Meek Family of Dickson County Early Pioneers of the County from The Heritage of Dickson County, Tennessee 1803-2006 book compiled by Dickson County Heritage Book Committee.)

  • 5. Rachel Meek was born about 1779 in North Carolina. She married James Martin before 1801. They resided in Dickson Co., TN.
    • 15. Susan Martin was born about 1801. She married William Sanders.
    • 16. Nancy Martin was born about 1806.
    • 17. Johm Leeper Martin was born in 1808. He died about 1818. He married Minerva J. Hobbs.
    • 18. Elizabeth Martin was born in 1814. She married George W. Larkins.
    • 19. Mary Martin was born about 1816.
    • 20. Emily Martin was born in 1817. She died in 1884. She married Joseph N. Larkin.
  • 6. Josiah Meek was born between 1780 and 1787 in Mecklenburg., NC. He died between 1823 and 1830. He married Margaret Edmondson in Cabarrus Co., NC. She died in 1830. He moved to Dickson Co., TN about 1808. There is a person named Josiah listed in the 1820 census index for Dickson County. He benefitted from his father's will.
    • 21. Rachel Meek was born 15 Sep 1803 in Mecklenburg., NC. She died in 1888 in Hill Co., Texas. She married Silas Tidwell.
    • 22. John Meek was born 27 Nov 1805 in Mecklenburg. DNA=Kit#63411
    • 23. Moses Harvey Meek. was born 22 Jan 1810 in Dickson Co., TN. He died in 1893 in Ellis Co., TX. He married Artemissia Davidson.
    • 24. Christopher Meek was born in 1811 in Dickson Co., TN. DNA=Kit#54094
    • 25. Lucinda Meek. was born 22 Sep 1815 in Dickson Co., TN. She died in 1906 in Hickman Co., TN. She married Benjamin Tidwell
    • 26. Ann Meek. was born about 1814 in Dickson Co., TN. She died in 1885 in Hood Co., TX. (DOB may be 10 Dec 1813.) She was listed with her borther Christopher in the 1850 census. She was listed in the 1880 census with Moses Harvey Meek.
    • 27. James C. Meek. was born about 1818 in Dickson Co., TN. He died in 1888 in Texas. He married (1) Harriet Bull. He married (2) Mrs. Emeline Redmond.
  • 7. Moses Meek was born about 1782 in Mecklenburg Co., NC. He married Elizabeth Miller 11 Dec 1803 in Davidson Co., TN. (Source unknown) He benefitted from his father's will.
  • 8. Elizabeth Meek was born about 1784. She benefitted from father's will.
  • 9. Jennett Meek was born about 1786. She benefitted from father's will.
  • 10. Agnes Meek was born about 1790. She benefitted from father's will.

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.

Information provided in part by Lois Ams

Moses Meek Will

In the name of God Amen. I, Moses Meek considering all men are mortal and that its appointed for all men once to die, I do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament.

First -- I bequeath my Soul into the hands of the Supreme Power who gave it.
Second -- That my just should be paid at the discretion of my Executors, and
Thirdly -- That land I bought from John Daviss I allow to be equally divided between my two sons Joshua (Josiah) and Moses Meek, and
Fourthly -- I likewise do ordain that my son Moses shall pay unto his Sister Elizabeth one hundred dollars and likewise ordain my loving Wife Margaret to pay James Martin three hundred dollars for that piece of land I bought from him he making a deed of conveyance agreeable to contract, And I likewise ordain that one of the Negro boys should be sold, which one my wife choses and the other one to be hers and at her disposal and likewise my waggon and Team with all the household furniture with that land I bought from james Martin to be at her disposal only that she is to divide with my Daughter Agniss as she thinks proper. Only horse, saddle & bed and furniture at her marriage and the Negro at he mothers decease if she lives longest and likewise I do bequeath to my Daughter Jennett Genier, the sum of thirty dollars and all the remainder and seversions and portion thereof of the Estate either real or personal that is not mentioned in this my last Will and Testament I do Bequeath to my beloved Wife, and lastly I do nominate and appoint my Wife Margaret and my son-in-law James Martin Executors to this my last Will and Testament.

Signed, sealed and delivered as my act and deed this 5th of November 1807.

(no signature) (Seal)

State of Tennessee, Knox County. This day came before me Adam Meek and on his solemn oath saith that he said Meek wrote the annexed Will at the request of said Moses Meek dec'd and that the said Moses divided and worded said Will as it is wrote and I read it to him three different times and he said Moses was pleased with every part thereof and wanted to assign then but was requested to let that be until there would be more people who would be witnesses and it was afterwards neglected and the said Moses was in his proper sense and reason as ever I saw him and further this deponant saith not ________

Sworn to and subscribed this 11th November 1807
Samuel Sample J.P.
Adam Meek State of Tennessee I Charles W. Clung, Clerk of the Court, Knox County of Pleas and Quarter Sessions of the County of Knox by John H. Gamble my deputy do certify that Samuel Sample before whom this within deposition was taken was at the time of the taking thereof and now is an acting Justice of the Peace within the County aforesaid and that due faith and credit is and of right ought to be given to his official acts as such. Given under my ahnd and seal of office at Office in Knoxville this 12th day of November 1807

Charles W. Clung
deputy
John N. Gamble

This is from article #891 "The Meek Family of Dickson County Early Pioneers of the County" from THE HERITAGE OF DICKSON COUNTY, TENNESSEE 1803-2006 book compiled by Dickson County Heritage Book Committee.

In the early 1800s Rachel Meek and her husband, James Martin, moved to Dickson County, Tennessee. In 1806, Moses sold his "plantation" on Stony Creek in Carrabus County, North Carolina, in order to join his daughter and son-in-law in Dickson County where they arranged to buy some of James Martin's land on Jones Creek, southeast of Charlotte. On the way they stopped at the homestead of Adam Meek in Strawberry Plains, Tennessee, area along the Knox and Jefferson County, Tennessee, border. It is believed that Adam was a first or second cousin to Moses. While at Adam's place, Moses Meek died between 5 and 11 November 1807. It is unknown if he was ill when the family stopped or if something happened during the visit. Adam Meek wrote out his will but Moses did not sign it, wishing to have more witnesses. Adam Meek recorded it in Knox County and then it is believed Margaret Meek and her children took the will to Dickson to prove inheritance and instructions to complete the land deal. The will was recorded a second time in Dickson County. On 20 December 1807, less than two months after his death, a deed was executed between John Davis and Margaret Meek for 400 acres. Another transaction was executed between James and Margaret Meek for 60 acres. Margaret Meek lived on the 60 acre tract until her death in 1823. On 14 January 1809 the 400 acres was divided equally between sons Josiah Meek (b. 1780) and Moses Meek (b. 1782).

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