11. David Meek was born between 1760 and 1769 based on the 1830 census of Fountain Co., IN.
David Meek is reported to be the son of George Meek born 1741. The name David Meek appears in deed records for Centre Co., PA. An 1802 deed names his wife, Mary. An 1807 deed transfers land to Rachel Meek. A deed dated 17 Mar 1808 indicates he is a resident of Armstrong Co., PA. The 1810 census of Armstrong County names David Meek age 26 to 44 with the oldest female being the same age. There were 2 males and 1 female born between 1795 and 1799. There were 3 males and 2 females born between 1800 and 1810. Connection to Fountain Co., IN is based on the following; several of the Fountain County children were born in Pennsylvania. The obituary of William Meek born about 1805 says he was born in Halfmoon TWP, Centre Co., PA.
He may have been the person named David Meek age >45 in the 1820 census of Butler Co., OH. While there is no evidence to connect him to the subject of this genealogy also listed on the same page was Abner Meek age 16 to 25. Both names were uncommon for their respective time periods.
David Meek was listed in the 1830 census of Fountain Co., IN age 60 to 69. Also listed were 3 other males age 15 to 19 and 1 females age 15 to 19, and 1 female age 50 to 59. Recorded next to David was George Meek age 30 to 39 followed by Abner Meek whose name and data is difficult to read but the oldest female was age 30 to 39.
The 1840 Troy TWP, Fountain Co., IN census records sequentially lists William Meek age 20 to 29, Richard Meek age 30 to 39, Jane Newell age 20 to 29, Abner Meek age 40 to 49, Mary Meek age 70 to 79. These people are believed to be the wife and children of David Meek. Also listed, after Mary, was Matthew Matheson age 30 to 39.
Support for the hypothesis that the Meek family from DeKalb Co., MO was the same family who previously lived in Fountain Co., IN is provided by the 1836 Fountain County marriage record of Richard Meek.
Family legend says that David married Mary Bailey. Mary Meek in the 1840 census has been reported to be the wife of David Meek. David’s absence from the 1840 census of Fountain County does not prove that he was deceased nor does the presence of an older female named Mary without a husband prove that David was deceased or that Mary was David’s wife. However, it is the hypothesis of this author that Mary in the 1840 census was the widow of David Meek. Living with Mary in the 1840 census was an unidentified male age 40 to 49 and an unidentified female age 40 to 49. These two people could have been two children, a child and spouse or people totally unrelated to Mary.
The names of David’s children was provided by a grandson, Benjamin Meek of Clarksdale, MO, and reported in a 1929 paper by Cora Beach who collected information from family members. David’s grandchildren remembered their grandmother, Mary. There is no known proof that the following is an accurate or complete list of children.
Y-DNA implecation: A possible descendants of John Meek #104 below and William Meek #106 below have 35/37 marker Y-DNA match indicating that they shared a common Meek ancestor. Y-DNA alone does not prove that the ancestor was David Meek. A single descendant of Robert Meek born 1769, a reported brother of David, does not match the Y-DNA of descendants of David. The conflict cannot be resolved without additional Y-DNA testing.