The earliest record we have to a provable member of the family is for Priddy Meeks, living with a John Martin in Goochland County Virginia in 1762. There are other records for William, Priddy and Susannah that appear in this county up until 1771. There is however, reason to believe that before Goochland County, the family was living in Hanover County.
In 1788, Littleton's name appears in a deed book selling land that he inherited from John Meeks. This land is on Allen's creek, in Hanover County Virginia. Also mentioned in the same book are John Meeks and Martin Meeks, selling land on Allen's creek in 1783. It mentions that Martin inherited the land from John Meeks also. The deed records mention the following:
- June 1783: John Meeks and Elizabeth his wife of Louisa Co. To Edward Bryers of Hanover County 60 pounds for 67 acres on Allens Creek near the River parting said Meeks and Watson along Watson's line to corner of said Meeks and Martin Meeks and said Joseph Watson......along Martin Meek line to Allens Creek down the Creek to the River. Wit. John Hughes, Isaac Robeson, John Robertson, 4 December 1783, proved by oath of Isaac Robertson, John Robertson and Martin Meeks.
- 7 November 1783: Martin Meeks and Margaret his wife of Hanover County. To Edward Bryers of same 100 pounds 1/3 part of 2 acres on Allens Creek being a Mill Seat on said Creek devised by the last will and testament of John Meeks, decd. Which will being proved in Court of Hanover County. Martin (X) Meeks, Margaret (X) Meeks. Wit. John Hughes, Daniel Hawes, John (X) Farris, William Hawes, John Shelburn. 4 December 1783 acknowledged by Martin Meeks.
- 17 November 1783: Martin Meeks and Margaret his wife of Hanover County. To William Hawes of same for 100 pounds for 50 acres on Allens Creek bounded by Edward Bryers, Joseph Watson and the main run. Wit. Daniel Hawes, Edward Briers, John Hughes, John Farris. 7 May 1784 acknowledged by Martin Meeks and Margaret his wife.
- 2 October 1788: Littleton Meeks and Elizabeth his wife of North Carolina, Surry County, to Frederick Bartlett of Virginia, Hanover County, 117 pounds for 117 acres in St. Martins Parish on south side of Pamunkey River on both sides of one of the branches of Allens Creek which land conveyed to said Littleton by John Meeks by will of said John Meeks of record in court of Hanover. Signed Littleton (X) Meeks. Wit. Thomas Pollard, Walter Coles, Thomas Rogers. 1 January 1789 proved by oath of Thomas Pollard, Thomas Rogers and Walter Coles.
From these records we can sum up the following information:
- There was a John Meeks, who I believe is the brother of William (not proven) that owned land on Allen's creek in Hanover County Virginia. He died before 1783.
- In 1783 there is a John Meeks who lives in Louisa County, sales the land he owns on Allen's Creek. This land is located next to land owned by Martin Meeks.
- In 1783, there is a Martin Meeks who lives in Hanover county, he sales the land he owns on Allen's Creek. He inherited his land from a John Meeks, different from the John Meeks mentioned above.
- In 1788, Littleton Meeks also sold land on Allen's Creek. He inherited this land from a John Meeks. At the time, Littleton Meeks was living in Surrey County North Carolina, the same county William Meeks was living in.
These records imply that John, Martin, and Littleton are the sons of John Meeks. The reason Littleton waited until 1788 to sell his land is because the laws at the time required a person be 21 years of age before they can buy or sell land. Littleton, born in 1766, wasn't old enough to sell in 1783.
From a genealogical standpoint, Hanover County is a bad county to have your ancestors from. Their records; wills, deeds, and marriages, were removed to Richmond during the civil war for safe keeping. The building that was keeping them safe was burnt to the ground by the Union army on April 3, 1865. The only records to survive are deed records covering the years 1734 to 1735, and 1783 to 1792, which is where we obtain the four deed records mentioned above.
It is generally accepted that Nacy is the brother of Littleton, do to the fact that they had the same professions, migrated to Georgia together, and named each others children after each other. Nacy is about two years younger than Littleton, so if he inherited and sold land along Allen's creek, it might've happened after 1792, and the record of it was lost.
Both Littleton and Nacy would've been minors when their father John died, so by law somebody would've adopted them. I believe they went to North Carolina to live with their uncle William. Which is why 100 years later, Dr. Priddy Meeks thought Littleton and Nacy were the children of William. Recently, yDNA has shown that Athe and Priddy, did not share the same father as Littleton and Nacy. But they were related.
Some Parish records from St. Paul's parish did survive in Hanover county that can give us clues about our ancestors. John Meeks appears in Parish records from 1711 to 1739 in Hanover County. On many of these records, he is living next to a John Snead. William Meeks' son Athe, married a Margaret Sneed. According to researcher Marjorie Meeks Perine, land owned by John Meeks in 1739 is the same spot of land that Allen's creek would be located on in the 1780's. This brings up an interesting scenario, since you can't own land until you're at least 21 years old, this John Meeks had to of been born before 1718. Which is likely too old to be the father of Littleton, who was born in 1766. If the John Meeks owning land in 1711 is the same as the one that held land in 1739, then he would've been born before 1690. This leads me to believe that this John, was a grandfather of Littleton, Martin, and John. And by extension, the father of William Meeks.
This is contrary to what Dr. Priddy Meeks told us. But since it is possible that Dr. Priddy skipped a generation or two, this is a likely scenario. It is also unfortunate from a genealogical standpoint, because the farther back in time you go, the less records that are available. In future posts I will be explaining political situations that probably place the immigration year sometime between 1650 and 1700.
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