1. Basil Meeks was born about 1796 in Pennsylvania. He married Catherine _______. She was born about 1793 in Ohio. He was reported in the 1830 to 1850 census of Bern TWP, Fairfield Co., OH. Living with them in 1850 was Permillia, age 12. They were reported in the 1860 census of Webster TWP, Hamilton Co., IA. Living with them was Pamelia, age 19.
Living with John in 1850 was Henry Meek age 18. It is not known how this person is related. The 1830 to 1850 censuses indicate that Basil had only one son. He was born between 1825 and 1830 and is clearly John. Basil had seven daughters.
In1870 one John Meeks, age 71 born in Pennsylvania, was living with John. It is not clear who this is.
Also listed in the 1870 census with John Meeks was William H. Meek age 17. This person was listed in the 1860 census living with Alonzo Thompson. His wife was Margaret age 22 born in Ohio. This is likely Margaret, daughter of Basil, It is not clear who William’s parents were. He was listed in the 1880 census of Webster TWP, Hamilton Co., IA with wife Martha E., age 22, and daughter, Grace age 1.
Living with Basil in 1860 was Henry Stark, age 80, and Elizabeth, age 71 PA.
Basil Meek was born about 1776 in Pennsylvania and resided in Bern TWP, Fairfield Co., OH in 1850. In 1860 he resided in Hamilton Co., IA. Marriage abstracts indicate that Basil married Kitty Paugh Oct 1817 in Fairfield Co., OH. REF: OGS Ye Ancient Swain's, p. 3. It is not proven that this is the same Basil.
Living with Basil in 1850 was John Meek born about 1827 in Ohio. This John was also in Hamilton Co., IA. Basil resided in Bern TWP as early as 1827. He is not in the 1820 census of Ohio. Census records indicate that Basil had only one son that being John born about 1827.
Another Basil Meeks was born about 1820 in Ohio and resided in Hocking TWP, Fairfield Co., OH in 1850. In 1860 he is in Jones Co., IA. Also in Hocking TWP in 1850 was John Meeks born about 1819 in Pennsylvania. He also moved to Jones Co., IA.
Bern and Hocking townships are located adjacent to each other. It is reasonable to conclude that these families had some connection to each other.
It seems unlikely that John Meek born about 1819 could be the son Basil Meek born in 1776. Thus it appears that we are dealing with two different but closely related families. It is not possible to conclude that Basil born in 1820 was a son of Basil born about 1776.
In 1920 there was a Jacob Meeks born between 1770 and 1780. The 1820 and 1830 censuses of Hocking TWP indicate that Jacob could be the father of John born about 1819 and Basil born about 1820. However, there is no other connection than the general location.