Statement of One Branch of the MEEK family in America

by James W. Meek, Columbus, Ohio

(James W Meek, the author of this history was the son of Isaac Newton Meek's younger brother Probably William Tingley Meek)

submitted by Leon H. Hancock of Pittsburgh, PA

    An examination of the records of  Anne Arundel county, Md. disclosed the fact that Guy Meek, the grandfather of Isaac Meek, settled in that county in 1661.  Other members of the Meek family settling in that county at about the same time were: John Meek, 1663;  Samuel Meek, 1663;  Moses Meek 1670;  William Meek, 1675;  Walter Meek, 1683;  Jeremiah Meek, 1688;  James Meek, 1680.

    From the records of the same county, in the settlement of Guy Meek's estate, mention is made of the following children :  John, Joseph, Isaac, James, David,  Aaron,  Ruth, and William.  The Isaac Meek mentioned in the above list was the  father of the Isaac Meek, whose family register is here given.  Little is known of the father other than that in the year 1757, he sold land on South River, Md. to John Mercer.

    Isaac Meek had several brothers and sisters of whom no information can be found.  At the time of his settlement in Ohio county there was a Robert Meek, who settled in the same county about 1765.  In Washington County, PA adjoining Ohio county, settlement was also made by other members of the Meek family as follows:  John Meek 1785;  Jacob Meek 1779; Joshua Meek, 1785;  Samuel Meek, 1775.  There is also on record in this county a deed from Jeremiah Meek a woman, dated 1779.  William Meek 1774, (blurred record)  members of the family but it has never yet been determined.

ISAAC MEEK AND HIS FAMILY

    Isaac Meek, son of Isaac, son of Guy Meek, settled in what is now Brooke county, WV in the year 1769 or 1770.  The region was known at that time as West Augusta, VA subsequently it was incorporated in Ohio county, and later was made a portion of Brooke county.

    During his residence here and while the territory was known as Ohio county, he was for a  number of terms a member of the county court, and from 1792 to 1794 was Sheriff of the county  In 1778 he was commissioned a Lieutenant of the Virginia militia.  He took an active part in the Indian warfare of his day and family tradition has it that he was with  John McColloch in his gallant dash to the rescue of Fort Henry in 1777, and that he accompanied the expedition of General Broadhead into Ohio in 1781.  On the formation of Brooke county in 1796 he became a member of the first county court of that county.  In 1798 or 1799 he removed to Jefferson county, Ohio and settled on Short Creek, near the present town of Mt Pleasant.  He was elected a member of the first Legislature of Ohio in 1802 and was a prominent factor in the political and religious circles of Jefferson county, helping to found the Holmes meeting house, the first Methodist church in Ohio..

    Of the history of Isaac Meek previous to  his coming to Ohio county in 1769 or 1770, little is known other than that he was born near Annapolis, MD and that an account of some disagreement with his step-mother left home at  the age of seventeen.

    Isaac Meek, born in Annapolis, Province of Maryland 14th day of October 1746.  Died on his farm near Mr. Pleasant, Jefferson county, Oh. December 12, 1840.  Buried on Joshua Meek's farm, formerly belonging to Isaac Meek.        Mary Robinson his first wife, time of birth and marriage unknown.  Died 1791  Buried on farm in Ohio county VA or at West Liberty, VA.....Rachel Hedges, his second wife, was daughter of Joseph Hedges, birth unknown.  Married to Isaac Meeks January 31, 1792  (Ohio county records)  Died after husband's death on  home farm in Jefferson county, Ohio and buried by the side of husband.........Isaac Meek by his first wife Mary   Robinson, had the following children: Sylvester, Rachel, Moses, Joshua Elizabeth, James, John, Jacob, Mary, Aaron, and one died in infancy.  Eleven in all.

SYLVESTER MEEK

    The oldest son, time of birth and marriage no record can be found.  He had children and moved in early times to Elizabeth Indiana.  Harrison county, where he lived in 1826.  If any descendants are living they may be found in northern Kentucky or southern Indiana.

RACHEL MEEK

    Time of birth unknown. Married in Ohio county VA, September 18, 1792 (Ohio county marriage records) to John McComb

MOSES MEEK

    Time of birth unknown, In Ohio county VA.  Married to Margaret Glass, Sept 16, 1796 (Ohio county records)  Moved to Licking county, Ohio in 1804, near little Bowling Green.   Time of death unknown  Had children.  No further information concerning this family.

JOSHUA MEEK

    Born Buffalo Creek, Ohio county VA, March 17, 1773.  Married Elizabeth Hedges, daughter of Silas Hedges October 31, 1797 by Joseph Doddings  (note I think this should be Doddridge GH)  (Brooke county VA marriage records) Died at Byesville, Guernsey county, OHIO Sept 4, 1847.     Elizabeth Hedges died in Byesville Nov 2, 1862.  Joshua and Elizabeth H. Meek had eleven children: Joseph, Mary, Margaret, Love, Pumphrey, Elizabeth, Ruth, Isaac, Susan, Jacob, Solomon and Rebecca.

ELIZABETH MEEK

    Born in Virginia, On Buffalo Creek May 9, 1776.  Married Beal Pumphrey, West Liberty, VA April 17, 1794.  Died  Fairview Guernsey County Ohio, July 27, 1812.  Her husband Sep 27, 1842  Both buried in Fairview Ohio in village burial ground where they have a marker.  They had four sons and one daughter:  Isaac, Absalom Ridgely and Basil.   Mr.  Beal Pumphrey was owner of slaves.

THIS STORY TRANSCRIBED BY GWEN HUBBARD OF BROOKE COUNTY GENEALOGY

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