2. Adam Meek was born in 1746 (undocumented) in Londonderry, Ireland based on various undocumented histories. He signed a will on 22 Oct 1823 in Jefferson Co., TN. The will names wife and children/ (Tennessee Cousins, p. 104) He died on 8 Jun 1828 in Jefferson Co., TN (Tombstone/bible records). He was buried in Old Strawberry Plains cemetery, Jefferson Co., TN.
He came to America in 1763, settling on Waxhow Creek, Union District, about 100 miles NE of Charleston, SC. Served in Revolutionary War under Col. Francis Marion, SC troops; wounded in Battle of Cowpens. After the war he moved to Tennessee. He was a surveyor.
"Adam Meek, Sr., ... is said to have been the first settler to build a house in what is now Jefferson County. He came to Jefferson Co. after the close of the Revolution, from over the mountains in Mecklenburg County [NC], and one account declares he was a native of Ireland." (Tennessee Cousins, p. 107.)He received a North Carolina land grant on the Holston River in Greene Co., TN in 1887.
He married Martha Wallace on 23 Mar 1781 in Charlotte, NC (Marriage abstracts). She was born about 1760. She died 20 Nov 1832 according to bible records. She was buried in Old Strawberry Plains cemetery. Adam Meek and Martha Wallace had the following children according to his will.:
History of Tennessee, Goodspeed 1887
The first settlement on Beaver Creek in Quaker Valley was made about 1786 by Adam
Meek. He then had no neighbor west of him and so sparse were the settlements, on the
east that he obtained his meal from the neighborhood of Greeneville. Soon after,
however, a man by the name of Hazelitt built a mill on Beaver Creek. In 1793 it was
replaced by one erected by James Walker.
Hitch Hiking Along The Holston River A History of Strawberry Plains, Jefferson County, Tennessee 1792-1962 by Mayme Parrott Wood
Page 13
In 1788, Dr. J.G.M. Ramsey tells us in his famous history of Tennessee, that Adam Meek made the first settlement on the head of Beaver Creek near Holston River. There were not any neighbors west of him. He was a surveyor from Mecklenburg County in North Carolina. As early as 1785, he explored the country and made surveys on the frontier. A fort or station was formed at the Strawberry Plains residence of Thomas Stringfield. Today, this is the M.J. Parrott home. It was once occupied by the late W.E. Parrott, and now is the property of his children, Sam and James Parrott and Mary Parrott Hust. This fort was formed for protection. Ramsey says, “It soon became the center of enterprising, respectable, and intelligent population. It is still one of the most flourishing and enlightening neighborhoods in the country.” Distinguished for its institutions of learning, its churches its thrift and general prosperity.” All this was said in early 1800.
Page 22-23
WILL OF ADAM MEEK
To show you the will of Adam Meek, tells much of the peoples religious attitude toward those of their household. Would that we had more of it today. God was taken into all their undertakings. Here is the Will copied from the Jefferson County, Tennessee files:
“In the name of God Amen. I Adam Meek of the State of Tennessee and County of Jefferson being weak of body by reason of old age, but of a disposing mind and memory and knowing that it is appointed unto all men once to die, and after death the judgment I do hereby ordain and appoint this to be my last Will and Testament to be executed by the persons here-after to be named, and as to the world by property which god hath been pleased to help me with I appoint to be disposed of in the following manner viz.
1. I bequeath my Soul to God that gave it and my body to dust, to be interred in a decent Christian manner at the discretion of my Executors without any worldly bond or parade, the expenses to be first discharged out of my worldly goods.
2. I allow that all my lawful debts be discharged, if any.
3. I allow to beloved wife Martha Meek the house and land we now live adjoining the land I give my son, Alexander W. Meek running with his line to the river and up the river to the deed of which is not yet given but is in my hands and to run with the lines of the said Adam R. Meeks, the land thus included I allow to her, to have and to hold, with all the stock, viz, horses, cows, sheep and hogs; also, all the farming tools, together with all the household furniture, and all this furniture to be at her disposal, except the Desk and Book Case which I leave to my son Adam at her decease; further, I leave to her the following Negroes, viz, Tom and his wife, Joshia, Rachel during her life – R Toms wife to be given to Sarah McBee at her Mothers decease. Rachel and her children, such children as are not bequeathed in this Will to be at her own disposal, and Tom to be then set free.
4. I allow to my daughter Sarah McBee, Sam and Elizah.
5. I allow my son Alexander W. Meek the above mentioned Joshia at his mothers decease, and the privilege of the spring at the river.
6. I allow to my son Daniel Meek, Frank.
7. I allow to my daughter, Jenny Thornton, Lotty, Jewell and Malinda.
8. I allow to my son Adam R. Meek, Jack, Charles, Mahala, L and Mary, further my Surveying instruments, also my Smith Tools, also my books and the land and the wagon and farming tools, which his mother is to have until her decease or above bequeathed to her. Lastly, I allow if there should remain any of the live stock or any other part of my property which is not herein disposed of to be divided amongst my children at their agreement or if not agreed to be set up by my Executors at Public Sale and to be divided amongst my children share and share alike. This I ordain and appoint to be my last Will and Testament, revoking and disannulling all other Wills and Testaments heretofore, and I appoint my wife, Martha Meek and my sons James S. Meek and Adam K. Meek to be the sole and only Executors of this my last will and Testament.
Signed and sealed by me this twenty second day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty-three in the presence of
James Kennedy
State of Tennessee
Jefferson County Adam Meek (Seal)”
Page 55-56
Chapter VI
HISTORY OF SHUNEM FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
1790-1855
by Daniel Meek, 1850, 1857, February 8, 1850.
The following reminiscences have been written for the particular benefit of those who may feel an interest in the affairs of the settlers of this part of the country.
The ancestors of the writer were Adam and Martha Meek, the former being from the County of Derry Ireland, the latter born in Mecklinburgh, North Carolina near Charlotte. They emigrated to this country about the year 1786 or 1787, settling on Beaver Creek some three miles from this, where they remained some time, there being but a few families with a days ride. In 1790 my father removed to the farm now occupied by my youngest brother, A.H. Meek, where both my parents died; my father on July 8, 1828 and my mother Nov. 27, 1831.
Continues
At this house Rev. J. McCampbell preached though he still preached a part of his time at the old church on Lyon’s Creek. Under the ministry of Mr. McCampbell in the year 1815, the writer with his wife, Betsy L. Meek, (formerly B.L. Campbell) were brought as he humbly trust to embrace the Savior.
Continues