Meek Family

of Chester Co., SC


By Christopher A. Meek

1. James Meek was born before 1765 based on census records. He appeared in the 1790 to 1820 censuses of Chester Co., SC. He may have been born in Ireland based on a speculative connection to James Meek #101 below. There were several Meek families living nearby in York County and Mecklenburg Co., NC who immigrated from Ireland in the 1760’s as well as a family who came from Maryland earlier.

Caution: There is no known proof of any connection to other people in Chester Co., SC.

11. Robert Meek was born between 1770 and 1779 based on census records. He appeared in the 1810 to 1830 censuses of Chester Co., SC. He may be the same person in cemetery records born 17 Mar 1772 and died 16 Oct 1839. His wife was named Sarah. She was born 15 Sep 1766 and died 26 Sep 1845. The cemetery is unnamed but is sometimes known as the Meek-Egger Cemetery.

Caution: The only connection between Robert and James below is an unproven assumption that both are the people named in the Meek-Egger Cemetery.

101. James Meek was born about 1809 in South Carolina based on the 1850 census of Chester Co., SC. He may be the same person in the 1840 census of Chester Co., SC age 30 to 39. (2-0-0-0-0-1//0-0-0-0-1-0-0-0-0-1). He was listed in the 1860 to 1880 censuses of York Co., SC. The 1880 census says his parents were born in Ireland. There are two child burials in the Meek-Egger Cemetery with parents named as J. S. and Nancy Meek.

He married Nancy _____. She was born about 1811 in South Carolina.

Caution: Connection to children based on 1850 census. James was listed next to Robert in several censuses.

  • 201. John Meek was born about 1838 in South Carolina. He may be John S. Meek born 15 Nov 1837 in Chester Co., SC according to his death certificate. He died 22 May 1917. He married Mary F. ______ about 1874. She was born Aug 1845 and had 6 children. They were listed in the 1880 to 1910 censuses of York Co., SC.
    • 311. Mary E. Meek was born about 1870 in South Carolina.
    • 312. Samuel Meek was born about 1875 in South Carolina.
    • 313. Elizabeth Meek was born about 1877 in South Carolina.
    • 314. Dora Meek was born about 1879 in South Carolina.
    • 315. Rachel C. Meek was born Jun 1882 in South Carolina.
    • 316. John Meek was born Nov 1887 in South Carolina.
  • 202. Robert R. Meek was born Jul 1839 in South Carolina. He died 12 May 1915 in York, SC according to death records. He married (1) Minerva J. Davidson according to the 1880 census of Bethel TWP, York Co., SC and a son’s death certificate.
    • 301. Payton Meek was born 21 Oct 1875 in South Carolina. He died 23 Jun 1934 in Gaston Co., NC. He married Adeline Wilder Ferguson 10 Jan 1900. They were listed in the 1920 to 1930 censuses of Gaston Co., NC.
      • 401. William Richard Meek was born 17 Oct 1900 in South Carolina. He died 5 Jul 1980 in Gaston Co., NC.
      • 402. Thomas Howard Meek was born 10 Apr 1902 in South Carolina. He died 16 Nov 1974 in Gaston Co., NC.
      • 403. Clyde Turner Meek was born 6 Jan 1904 in South Carolina. He died 15 Aug 1992 in Gaston Co., NC.
      • 404. James Frank Meek was born 24 Nov 1906 in South Carolina. He died 22 Aug 1989 in Gaston Co., NC.
      • 405. Leonard Alexander Meek was born 28 Jul 1908 in North Carolina. He died 11 Mar 2001 in Gaston Co., NC.
      • 406. Arthur Riddle Meek was born 26 Nov 1910 in North Carolina. He died 24 Jun 1983 in Gaston Co., NC.
      • 407. Mary Reese Meek was born 27 Aug 1912 in Gaston Co., NC. She died 30 Dec 2010 in Gaston Co., NC. She married Alvin Hobert Dye.
      • 408. David Meek was born about 1915.
      • 409. Virginia Ruth Meek was born 9 Jul 1916 in North Carolina. She died 24 Feb 1984 in Gaston Co., NC.
      • 410. Wade Hampton Meek was born 12 Aug 1918 in North Carolina. He died 28 Mar 1974 in Gaston Co., NC.
      • 411. Dessie L. Meek was born about 1923.
    • 312. James William Meek was born 14 Sep 1877 in South Carolina census and death records. He died 13 Feb 1958 in Gastonia Co., NC according to his death certificate which names his parents. He married Leslie B. Pursley about 1906. They were listed in the 1910 to 1940 censuses of Gaston Co., NC. Listed with them was a niece, Ellen M. Meek was born about 1926 in North Carolina.
      • 421. Robert L. Meek was born about 1908 in North Carolina.
      • 412. William Everett Meek was born about 1909 in North Carolina.
      • He married Elaine T. _____. They were living with his parents in 1940.
      • 423. Lena E. Meek was born about 1915 in North Carolina.
      • 424. Annie D. Meek was born about 1917 in North Carolina.
      • 425. Mary L. Meek was born about 1921 in North Carolina.
    • 313. Samuel T. Meek was born May 1879 in South Carolina. He married Emma _____ about 1901. They were listed in the 1910 to 1930 censuses of Bethel, York Co., SC next to his parents.
      • 431. Pearl Meek was born about 1902 in South Carolina.
      • 432. Florence Meek was born about 1904 in South Carolina.
      • 433. Carl Meek was born about 1906 in South Carolina.
      • 434. Eunice Meek was born about 1907 in South Carolina.
      • 435. Harrison Meek was born about 1909 in South Carolina.
      • 436. Beauford Meek was born about 1912 in South Carolina.
      • 437. Elmer Meek was born about 1914 in South Carolina.
      • 438. Bulah Meek was born about 1916 in South Carolina. She may be Elinor in the 1930 census.
        • 439. Faye Meek was born about 1926 in South Carolina.
    • 314. Robert Meek was born May 1881 in South Carolina. He was listed in the 1900 and 1910 censuses with his parents.
    • 315. Francis Meek was born 1883 in South Carolina. He was listed in the 1900 and 1910 censuses with his parents.
      • 441. Robert Brice Meek was born 1 Jul 1916. He died 23 Nov 2003. He married Sarah Gladys Johnson on 25 Dec 1949. She was born 24 Oct 1913. She died 29 Mar 1967.
        • 501. Robert Brice Meek was born 26 May 1952. *DNA kit#875848
    • 316. Luke Meek was born Aug 1886 in South Carolina.

    Robert married (2) Martha ______ about 1893. She was born about May 1845 in North Carolina. They were listed in the 1900 and 1910 censuses of York Co., SC.
  • 203. James W. Meek was born 18 Jul 1841 in South Carolina. He died 27 Dec 1847 and is buried in the Meek-Egger Cemetery (son of J. S. and Nancy Meek.)
  • 204. Thomas F. Meek was born about 1843 in South Carolina. He married Mary Cisk. They were listed in the 1910 census of York Co., SC.
  • 205. Sarah E. Meek was born about 1847 in South Carolina.
  • 206. Mary T. Meek was born about 1850 in South Carolina.
  • 207. Nancy Meek was born about 1852 in South Carolina.

Notes:

James Meek appointed Manager of Elections in Chester Co., SC

Source: Report of the Committee on Privileges and Elections dated December 19, 1849 and printed in the 1849 edition of Reports and Resolutions on pages 359 through 382.

Chester County, South Carolina Naturalizations 1783-1850
Original Source: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1985, Compiled by B. H. Holcomb.

The original naturalization records contain much more information and the researcher is advised to consult the original documents to obtain the complete data available. This index of the 1985 publication was compiled by D. Whitesell for South Carolina Genealogy Trails.

The Chester District records were recorded in separate volumes (Vol A - 1802-1832 & Vol B 1832-1868). The volumes are located in the Clerk of Court in Chester and on LDS microfilm.

...South Carolina passed a statute concerning naturalizations on March 26, 1784, and another on February 27, 1788. Congress passed a law on March 26, 1790, stating that "any alien being a free white person who shall have resided in the United States for two years may be admitted a citizen, on application to any common law court of record in any one of the states wherein he shall have resided for the term of one year at least." Also, a law was passed April 14, 1802, stating that "any alien may be admitted to become a citizen . . . [if] he declares his intention in any court three years at least before his admission. . . resides in the United States at least five years, and at least one year in the state or territory.
Meek, James - 3 Nov 1806
Meek, Robert - 3 Nov 1806

Census records
In 1790 Chester County there was James Meek. (2-1-6)

In 1800 Chester County there was James Meek with two men age over 26 to 45 and one over 45. (0-0-0-2-1//1-0-1-0-1) One also sees Adam, Moses and James in York County. In addition there is a Basil Meek. Adam, Moses and James are in Group E of the DNA project while Basil Meek (born 1740) is in Group A. He left the area about 1806.

In 1810 Chester County there was Robert Meek age over 26 to 45. (2-0-0-1//0-1-0-1) Recorded next to him was Jas Meek over 45. (0-0-0-0-1//0-0-0-1-1) One also sees Adam, Moses and James in York County.

In 1820 Chester County there was Robert Meek age over 45. (1-1-0-0-0-1//0-0-0-0-1) Recorded next to him was Jas Meek with two males age 16 to 26 and over 45. One cannot tell which one is James. In addition there were a couple of entries in York County for James Meek.

In 1830 Chester County you can see Robert Meek age 50-60 but no James Meek. (0-0-0-1-0-0-0-1//0-0-0-0-1-0-0-1) A James Meek in York County is age 40-49. This guy is too old for your James. We are missing people here.

In 1840 Chester County we pick up your James age 30-39 with two sons under 5. He appears to be the same person in the 1850 Chester County census who is recorded in York County between 1860 and 1880.

1850 Chester Co., SC
James Meek 40 SC
Nancy 39 SC
John 12 SC
Robert 10 SC
Thomas F. 7 SC
Sarah E. 3 SC
Mary T. 4/12 SC

Information provided in part by Robert B. Meek #501