Barbara Breedlove Rollins' Family Files

THE MEEKS FAMILY AND THE FIRST MARRIAGE OF SARAH ANN FULLERTON COBB MEEKS

  1. The Meeks involving William MEEKS, his son William MEEKS and wife Mary (Molly) NOWLEN and perhaps another unknown wife, and his other son John MEEKS.
  2. The family of Elizabeth IVEY, wife of Littleton MEEKS.
  3. The Rev. Littleton M. MEEKS and wife Elizabeth IVEY.
  4. Mark MEEKS and his first wife Ann CHAMBERS.
  5. Sarah Ann FULLERTON and Her First Marriage to John COBB.
  6. The Marriage of Mark MEEKS and Sarah Ann FULLERTON COBB.
        Names I'm Researching         My Home Genealogy Page

A.)  The Meeks involving William MEEKS, his son William MEEKS and wife Mary (Molly) NOWLEN and perhaps another unknown wife, and his other son John MEEKS.

While I spent years researching my MEEKS line, they were for the most part unsuccessful. Since my interst was rekindled in 2001, I have been given, by the participants in the Rootsweb and Gedcom forums on these two lines, significant information. I have received a great deal more information from Beverly Meeks Daly, the result of her twenty years research on these two lines.

The research I have in my hands is fabulous in its depth and detail on the MEEKS and IVEY lines.. However, I've never encountered any other lines so complex and obtuse, so disinclined to allow for breakthroughs and to reveal their truths. I admire the people who have so carefully pored through the mass of materials.

I got back into genealogical research inadvertently, drawn into an obsession from which I had escaped. I do not regret my fall back into the mire, but I do have other obligations I need to pursue before I devote the years on study such problems as these deserve.

I propose to report here the research I did do, as well as to make a few comments about what I understand the state of knowledge in these areas to be, but I heartily recommend your use of the abundant information available at the Rootsweb.com Meeks List, the Rootsweb.com Meek List, the Genforum Meeks List, the Genforum Meek List and their counterparts set out under the IVEY subhead below.


William MEEKS, born about 1699, in England, was among a list of early MEEKS in England and Ireland compiled by Meeks researchers on the Rootsweb.com list:

William Sr. and a wife whose name is not known had two known sons, William born 1720-25 and John born 1727.

William MEEKS (II), brother of John, was born about 1725. Many believe his first wife was Mary Nowlin/Nolan born about 1726 to 1730 in England died before 1766. William and Mary would have married about 1745, probably in Virginia since the children were born there, and they had eight children: Priddy, Susannah, Athe, Jesse, Martin, John, Sarah and Candace. William died about 1797 in Greenville, Greenville County, South Carolina.

Many researchers say after Mary's death, William married again. The second wife's name is not known, and they had two sons, Littleton and Nacy.

Others look at John, brother of William, as the father of Littleton and Nacy.

By the way, one really neat piece of information was passed on by Beverly Meeks Daly, and that is the fact "Nacy" was a shortened form of Ignatius.

The children of William MEEKS Nowlin were:

Priddy MEEKS
Susannah MEEKS
Athe MEEKS
Jesse MEEKS
Martin MEEKS
John MEEKS
Sarah MEEKS, and
Candace MEEKS

Both Littleton MEEKS and his son Mark MEEKS named a son Nacy MEEKS, which ought to be an unusual name but is a maddeningly common name for the 19th century. The following account tells of Nacy MEEKS, a Baptist preacher, brother of Littleton MEEKS, a Baptist preacher. Nacy, brother of Littleton, named a son Littleton MEEKS, and it is this Littleton MEEKS named in the first line of the quotation. It was written between 1879 and 1891, probably late in the period.

He [Thomas M. MEEKS ] [COMMENT] ... is the son of Littleton and Millie (MORRIS) MEEKS [COMMENT], natives of Franklin County, Ga, the father a prominent planter of his county, who at an early date moved from his native state to middle Tennessee, thence to Mississippi, and settled in Tippah county. He followed farming there for several years and then went to Arkansas, where his wife died. He afterward returned to Mississippi and died there in March, 1848. Both he and wife were members of the Primitive Baptist church.
He has been married three times, his first union being to Miss Susie WOMICK. They had three children: John W., Melissie and Minerva, all deceased. The mother of these children died about 1824, and Mr. MEEKS' second union was to Miss Millie MORRIS, who bore him five children: Mary, Thomas M. (subject), Frances, Sarah, Nacy and James, all deceased but the subject of this sketch. The mother died in July, 1844, and is buried in Arkansas. Mr. MEEKS' third marriage was to Mrs. CONNER. His death occurred in 1848, and his wife followed him to the grave soon afterward. His parents were Nacy and Frances (HOLT) MEEKS, natives of Georgia, it is supposed. Nacy MEEKS was a farmer and a Primitive Baptist minister. He was the father of ten children, of whom Littleton was second in order of birth: John, Littleton, Martin, James, Nacy, Josephus, Martha, Jane, Mary and Nancy, all of whom emigrated to Texas at an early date except three: Littleton and James and Martin, who died in the state of Mississippi. [COMMENT]

That Littleton MEEKS was indeed the brother of the Rev. Nacy MEEKS described above is substantiated in the following, copied from my handwritten notes on reviewing the book Reminiscences of the Early Settlement and Early Settlers of McNairy County, Tennessee by General Marcus J. WRIGHT, Commercial Publishing Co., (Washington D.C., 1882). The book is physically in the Mormon Library in Salt Lake City and available on microfilm at the service centers. (The copier was broken at the local library.)

General John H. MEEKS of English origin. Family in this country descended from two brothers, Littleton and Nacy, who settled in South Carolina. Both were Baptist preachers and were regarded as very able, as well as pious and good men. General John H. MEEKS is the grandson of the eldest of these brothers, Littleton MEEKS and the son of the eldest child of his grandfather. His father moved at an early day to Georgia and there married the eldest daughter of Capt. John HENDERSON, an officer in the Revolutionary army. The subject of this sketch was named John Henderson in honor of his grandfather, by whom he was taken from infancy and brought up, his mother having died soon after his birth. There were two other brothers, Thomas Harvey and Felix Grundy MEEKS, both of whom died in Lincoln County, Tennessee to which county the family had moved in 1811. General MEEKS' father married a second time, by which marriage there were several children, among whom was Col. Orville S. MEEKS, so well-known and highly respected in McNairy County. The elder MEEKS moved to McNairy County in the fall of 1844 and died in March, 1877, being about 90 years.

Another biographical sketch, in a different place in the same book, relates a different parentage for General John Henderson MEEKS. Differences include that John Henderson MEEKS grandfather MEEKS' name was Jesse in one place and Littleton in the other and that in one he was a Primitive Baptist minister, in the other he was a Methodist minister. He was a native of Virginia in one and "of English origin" and "settled in South Carolina" in the other. The general was born in Georgia in one and in Tennessee in the other. The second account reads as follows:

John MEEKS, Sr. Although the subject of this sketch was not one of the earliest settlers of McNairy County he spent, perhaps, 40 years of his life there, and his descendants are among the most prominent of its citizens....
John MEEKS, Sr., was born in the State of Virginia over 100 years ago and was the son of Jesse MEEKS, who was a Methodist minister, and a missionary among the Indians.
When young, John went to Tennessee. He there married a Miss HENDERSON who became the mother of General John H. MEEKS, so long a prominent citizen of McNairy County. He lost his first wife soon after the birth of this son and married a lady of superior personal and mental attractions, who became the mother of three sons and three daughters, all of whom were more than ordinarily gifted.
Orville, eldest - State Legislator
Edwin - popular minister of the gospel
Wiles - great financial talent
Mrs. Mary TULEY
Mrs. Adaline DONNELL
Mrs. Martha GIBSON
John MEEKS, Sr., died at an age of more than 90.

In the 1805 Georgia Land Lottery, "Nace" MEEKS was registered under serial number 706, and his residence is shown as Franklin County. He drew two blank cards, meaning that he did not win the land. The fact that he had two opportunities to draw signifies that he was a free white male with either a wife or a legitimate child and had been a resident of Georgia for at least one year and was a United States citizen. The next year, in 1806 tax rolls, "Nancy" MEEKS of Franklin county, Holcom District, is indicated on page 046 (GDAH microfilm #61/15). In 1807 in the Land Lottery lady luck smiled on him and "Nasse" MEEKS of Franklin County drew lot number 238, District Number 12, Wilkinson County, in Hollingsworth's military District.

Who ever the parents of Littleton and Nacy are, their children are: (How's that for circular reasoning?)

Littleton MEEKS, who married Elizabeth M. IVEY, and who is described in a later following section, and
Nacy MEEKS, who married Frances HOLT, and whose children include
  • John MEEKS, moved to Texas
  • Littleton MEEKS, died 1848 in Mississippi, married
    1. Susie WOMICK (died about 1824)
      • John W. MEEKS
      • Melissie MEEKS
      • Minerva MEEKS
    2. Millie MORRIS, married 1823, died 1844
      • Mary (Polly?) MEEKS, born 1824
      • Thomas M. MEEKS, b 1829 Bedford County, Tennessee, married 1852 Sophia A. MOORE, in Alcorn County, Mississippi after 1879.
      • Frances MEEKS
      • Sarah MEEKS
      • Nacy MEEKS
      • James MEEKS
    3. Mrs. CONNER
  • Martin MEEKS, died in Mississippi
  • James MEEKS, died in Mississippi
  • Josephus MEEKS, moved to Texas
  • Martha MEEKS, moved to Texas
  • Jane MEEKS, moved to Texas
  • Mary MEEKS, moved to Texas
  • Nancy MEEKS, moved to Texas

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B.)   The family of Elizabeth IVEY, wife of Littleton MEEKS.

I've described in the previous section my delimna with the research available on the IVEY family as well as that on the MEEKS. The weatlth of information out there can be sifted through at the Rootsweb.com Ivey List, the Rootsweb.com Ivie List, the Genforum Ivie site, and the Genforum Ivey one.

That said, I'll say a little about the IVEY line. As opposed to the MEEKS line where I had done substantial research in the past, though I didn't get terribly far, I haven't done this research and am relying on what others have said.

John IVEY, died after 1837 in Forsyth, Georgia. He married Nancy GLASS January 29, 1817 in Franklin, Georgia.

John IVIE left a will probated in 1837 in Forsythe County, Georgia:

In the name of God, Amen
I, John Ivie of the State of Georgia and county of Forsyth being weak and feeble in body but perfect in mind and memory, Thanks be given, therefore, I make and ordain this my last will and testament.
And first of all, I give and recommend my soul unto the hands of God that gave it and my boddy. I recommend and wish to be buried in a Christian like and decent manner at the discretion of my Executor.
There of touching such worldly estate wherewith it has pleased God to bless me with in this life.
I give and devise and dispose of the same in the following manner and form it is my will and I do order that in the first place all my just debts and funeral charges be paid and satisfied. I give and bequeath unto my dearly beloved wife, Nancy, my Negro boy Dick during her natural life of widowhood for her own use and support. I give and bequeath unto my beloved son, Stephen, one dollar. I give and bequeath unto my beloved son, Hugh, one dollar. I give and bequeath unto my beloved daughter, Nancy, one dollar. I give and bequeath unto my beloved daughter, Winiford, one dollar. I give and bequeath unto my beloved son, Able, one dollar. I give and bequeath unto my beloved daughter, Susanna, one dollar. I give and bequeath unto my beloved daughter, Nada, one dollar. I give and bequeath unto my beloved daughter, Frances, one dollar. I give and bequeath to my beloved son, Thomas, at the death of my wife Nancy, my Negro boy Dick. And it is my will that he should have him for his own property use and benefit forever. It is my will that all legatees get any of the aforesaid mentioned estate till after the decease of my wife Nancy and then the remaining property with the exception of Dick be sold to pay of the eight just named children.
Lastly, I constitute and appoint Nancy Ivie Executor to this my last will and testament in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 24th of August 1837.
his        
John X Ivie
mark       

Witnesses        James Beach
                            Samuel Reese

John IVEY bought land from Lott Ivey in 1795 on the Conerross in Pendleton District, South Carolina. Littleton MEEKS and wife Elizabeth IVEY also had land on the Coneross. It's certainly a temptation to say Elizabeth is John IVEY's daughter despite her not being named in the will, and some have claimed this to be true but that she was the child of an earlier wife. However, it may be that she's not his daughter, since he lists a bevy children without including her.

We know from other sources Elizabeth IVEY MEEKS had a brother named Thomas. Evidently very old Meeks family records say that Elizabeth was the daughter of John Ivie and had a brother Thomas. Some researchers have taken the language "I give and bequeath to my beloved son, Thomas, at the death of my wife Nancy, my Negro boy Dick." in the will quoted above that Nancy was not the mother of Thomas. That is a possible reading, but it is also possible, in my opinion, for her to be his mother. As a lawyer I've drafted many wills, and I know that in an effort to make the terms of the will absolutely clear and beyond question, you can skew the family relationships. Those are facts, not proven or disproven by the will, though the will is often very good evidence of what the facts are. Those who believe this describes an earlier marriage suggest Elizabeth, Thomas, and possibly Anderson were the children of a first marriage. As proof of this, they site the fact that Littleton MEEKS, Elizabeth IVEY's husband, paid the taxes on Anderson IVEY's Franklin County Property. Lott IVEY in the area was closely aligned with John IVEY and his family, and Lott had a son named John who could possibly be the missing father John IVEY.

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C.)   The Rev. Littleton M. MEEKS and wife Elizabeth IVEY.

The Rev. Littleton M. MEEKS was born February 8, 1766 in Virginia [COMMENT]. His family is described above. He was both a Baptist minister and a physician. Littleton MEEKS died September 22, 1852 near Homer, Franklin (now Banks) County, Georgia, buried September 23, 1852, in Meeks Cemetery between Homer and Maysville, Banks County, Georgia [COMMENT]. About 1785 probably in Surry County, North Carolina, he married Elizabeth IVEY, who was born July 10, 1768, in Virginia, and who died November 22, 1857. "Elizabeth Ivey did not die in Homer. She died at her son's in Habersham and is buried there in the Davis Cemetery (no stone). It was winter and they could not take her body back to the family cemetery near Homer." [COMMENT] Her family is described in the preceding section. She is buried at Hambersham County, Georgia, in the Davis Family Cemetery, three miles north east of Cornelia, Georgia.

In October 1781 Littleton MEEKS was with the troops when CORNWALLIS surrendered at Yorktown. An old DAR message says, "I wish to mention also, the fact that the Revolutionary Services of a man named Littleton MEEKS, born 1760 died 1853, has been filed and cataloged with the State Historian, Miss Ruth BLAIR, in the Historical Archives of the Capitol in Atlanta, Georgia. The State records being incomplete, four sworn affadavits together with a Certified Sketch of the life of Littleton MEEKS was recorded. This is the result of Research by Mrs Robert GOODLOE HARPER, who is one of our members, and through whose efforts the Colonel William CANDLER Chapter was founded in 1914." The affidavit says:

Document located in File II in the Preliminary Descriptive Inventory, Department of Archives and History, 330 Capitol Ave., S.E., Atlanta, GA 30334:
At the time of the Revolutionary War, Littleton was sixteen years of age. He could neither read nor write and was taught by his wife, Elizabeth IVEY, after their marriage. He was very smart and very ingenious, regardless of "book learning."
His grandson states that he remembers often of hearing his grandfather speak of being with a company of soldiers at the time of CORNWALLIS'S SURRENDER. He considered it an OUTSTANDING EVENT IN HIS LIFE. He was not enlisted with the Continental Army, however, but aided the cause in every possible way. He considered it a DUTY, and expected and asked for no remuneration (sic). This is a family trait–to be modest and unassuming. His grandson, John Wellborn Meeks, who is a resident of New Holland, and very much interested in the affairs of today, though ninety-four years of age, stated that he had held many offices, (and records show this to be a fact), but had never asked for a nomination, never asked for a vote and never been defeated. He thought this was nothing unusual and was thoroughly modest in the statement. This is in reference to himself and not his grandfather Littleton Meeks, but only shows the family characteristic. Littleton owned 190 acres of land in what was called Franklin County, – after his death, same was divided between his two sons Nace and Jesse, who bought it from the estate. LITTLETON bought this land in 1803. After Littleton's marriage to Elazabeth Ivey, he learned to read and write, then studied "physics" and Theology, becoming a very well known preacher and doctor of that time. He often did Missionary work among the Indians. His record as a preacher is recorded in the "Georgia Baptist Convention Minutes" after 1847. Previous to this time, the records are kept with the Samuel Colgate Historical Association, Hamilton, New York.
The fact that Littleton Meeks could neither read nor write is mentioned because, it could have been a factor in not making a claim to Revolutionary Services Bounty Land, although it is doubted. DUTY was his GOVERNING PRINCIPLE, and should not be rewarded. Living in the mountainous country also, could have been a factor in not making a claim, but this is also doubted. HE MOST CERTAINLY HAD A REVOLUTIONARY WAR SERVICE RECORD, according to John W. Meeks, whose word is to be accepted as true and correct: regardless of the fact that his name is not listed in the Washington files, which are very incomplete.
William Sheldon Meeks, son of Littleton Meeks, married Rebecca Davis, daughter of Henry Davis and Peggy Stone. Henry Davis was a Baptist Preacher who made his home in Franklin County for many years, and is buried in the Davis Graveyard about three miles from Cornelia, Ga
JOHN WELLBORN MEEKS, son of William Sheldon Meeks and his wife, Rebecca Davis Meeks, was born in 1833, married (1) Miss Carter, (2) married Lula Hollingsworth, daughter of John Hollingsworth, and was reared at the foot of YONAH MOUNTAIN.
JESSE LITTLETON MEEKS, son of John Wellborn Meeks and LULA Hollingsworth Meeks was born _______________________. married Ione Tumlin of Gainesville, Ga.
MARION LITTLETON MEEKS, son of JESSE LITTLETON MEEKS AND IONE TUMLIN MEEKS. Aged five years. "
I hereby certify that the mention of LITTLETON MEEK'S REVOLUTIONARY WAR RECORD is TRUE AND CORRECT, SAME HAVING BEEN TOLD ME MANY TIMES BY JOHN WELLBORN MEEKS.

(signed) Louise G_____ Harper
(signed) R.G. McConnell
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Notary Public.

Littleton was baptized in the Dan River, probably where it loops down in to North Carolina, by Moses SAUNDERS, Baptist Minister. He was ordained Minister in May 1800 by the Sarepta Association of the Baptist Church in South Carolina. The Coneross Church was a branch of the Shoal Creek Church which had been in existence before 1796. These churches were located in what is now Oconee County, South Carolina.

In 1818 the Tugalo Association of the Baptist Church in Georgia was established by pastors from the Nails Creek, the Line, and Leatherwood Churches. The History of Georgia Baptists reported that pastors like Littleton Meeks and his misssionary work among the Indians contributed greatly to the growth of the Baptist Church in Georgia. A flourishing church, situated on the Hightower River, was constituted and kept up the Reverends Dozier Thornton, Littleton Meeks, and Thomas Johnson, who endured great deprivations and hardships in this service.

Littleton was pastor of the Grove Level Baptist Church 1838-1841. The original cornerstone and a plaque in his honor are located in the basement of the present building. Littleton preached many times at the Line Baptist Church (founded September 13, 1802 by Moses Saunders) in Franklin County. According to records of the Line Baptist Church he was pastor from 1810 for "the next thirty-five years." This may be in error. The same history says "The family of Littleton Meeks traveled from Perth, Scotland to England to Virginia. He was baptized in the Danville River, in Danville, Virginia. He came to Flat Rock (near Union Hill Church) in Banks County, via the Carolinas. He is buried between Maysville and Homer." When the Line Church celebrated 150 years of service, C.A. (Columbus A.) Meeks, Littleton's great-great grandson, spoke. The 'Line' was the line that separated the settlers from the Indian lands. He had to be out of the area before dark or the Indians would have killed him. Littleton preached the last sermon at the Tinswattse Mission Church before the Cherokee left of the "Trail of Tears."

The land on which he settled is located on top of a hill overlooking the Grove River, abouth 4.5 miles from Homer. The foundation of the house is still there. The remains of the house burned down in the 1980's. The house was unusual in that it had a living area with bedrooms and a parlor, and a big fireplace. The kitchen was not in the house. The kitchen was built near the spring, and was accessed through a breezeway connected to the main house. The spring still flows. The Meeks Family Graveyard is there. Most of the tombstones are badly worn, but an inventory of the burials and a map of the graves is preserved. The deed to the graveyard assures that it will forever remain in the Meeks family. The site was visited by John Douglas Meeks II in 1997 and by Robert L. Meeks in 1999.

Littleton MEEKS is listed in the 1790 census for the 96th district of Pendleton County, South Carolina, showing one free white male at least sixteen years of age, two free white males under sixteen, and one female (no age ranges were listed for females in 1790 – this is probably Elizabeth.) There are no slaves or servants with the family. Pendleton County in 1790 was west of the present day (and 1790) Greenville County and included the present Anderson, Pickens, and Oconee Counties. It is possible that the family was in Oconee county from before 1790 and through 1800. The 1790 census shows Jesse MEEKS in Laurens County with two males over fifteen and five females. There are no Williams listed nor any Nacys.

There is a South Carolina land grant to Littleton MEEKS in 1801 recorded at Volume 47, page 457. There is also a grant to "Naace" MEEKS which predates this by two years, being in 1799 and recorded at Volume 45, Page 546.

Littleton was the minister at Coneross, Oconee County, South Carolina in 1800, when that congregation joined the Sarepta Association. It is possible that he was ordained in May of that year, the "helps for ordination" being sent from Shoal Creek congregation in Franklin County, Georgia, and including John CLEVELAND, Thomas GILBERT, John DOSS, Francis CALLAWAY, John BARTON, Charles ENGLAND, and James GIBSON. There were close ties between the Shoal Creek church in Franklin County, Georgia, and all of the Baptist congregations in the developing Oconee County, South Carolina. The Shoal Creek church was "not far across the Tugaloo from Chauga." [COMMENT]

In addition to the fact that there were ties between the churches, there were certainly MEEKS ties, too. The International Genealogical Index places Littleton MEEKS and wife Elizabeth IVEY in Franklin County, Georgia, in 1806 and 1811 when their sons Littleton and Nacy were born there. In the 1820 Georgia Land Lottery, Littleton MEEKS of Franklin County drew and won Lot 63, Section 10, Early County, in the Haynes Military District. Seedleton MEEKS of Franklin County won lot 183, section 2, Appling County, in Powels Military District. William MEEKS of Franklin County drew lot 322, section 20, Early County, in Haynes Military District. These people, however, could easily be the next generation of the family. I have no other information placing him there, although the information placing his brother there is cited above. The Rev. Littleton MEEKS and wife Elizabeth are listed on the 1850 census of Georgia in Habersham County on page 325 with his son William MEEKS and his wife Rebecca DAVIS. He is 84; she is 82.

Their children include:

John MEEKS, born 1783 in Virginia [COMMENT], moved early to Georgia, died in McNairy County, Tennessee in 1877, married first on July 23, 1811,
  • Elizabeth HENDERSON, daughter of Capt. John HENDERSON. Their children were
    • John Henderson MEEKS, born Georgia, died McNairy County, Tennessee;
    • Thomas Harvey MEEKS, died after 1811 in Tennessee; and
    • Felix Grundy MEEKS, died after 1811 in Tennessee.
  • John MEEKS married a second time and by that marriage was the father of
    • Orville S. MEEKS;
    • Edwin MEEKS;
    • Wiles MEEKS;
    • Mary MEEKS TULEY, married __ TULEY;
    • Adaline MEEKS DONNELL, married __ DONNELL; and
    • Martha MEEKS GIBSON, married __ GIBSON.
Susan MEEKS HOLCOMBE, born February 11, 1787, in Virginia, married Russell HOLCOMBE January 26, 1823, died in 1880.
Jesse MEEKS, born 1791 in South Carolina, died 1882.
Mark MEEKS, born July 12, 1795, in South Carolina, and died March 7, 1891, married first Ann CHAMBERS and second Sarah Ann FULLERTON COBB COHEN, who is described in the a later section;
William Sheldon MEEKS, born March 20, 1798, in South Carolina, married first Rebecca DAVIS and second Ann B. KELLER. This family is living in Habesham County, Georgia in 1850 (page 325), his parents living with them.
Littleton MEEKS, Jr., born about 1802 in Franklin County, Georgia, married Frances BROWN, died 1866.
Nacy MEEKS, born April 11, 1806, Franklin County, Georgia, married August 4, 1831 Elizabeth CHAMBERS, died December 27, 1894.
Elizabeth MEEKS PERRY, born June 20, 1811, in Franklin County, Georgia, married Patrick PERRY May 7, 1835, died in 1888.

Two other children are listed by Georgia CASON but not by Homer MEEKS, Jr. These are:

Martha MEEKS CLEVELAND, wife of Joseph CLEVELAND (?), and
Iz (Isabella) MEEKS WARREN, wife of Lige WARREN [COMMENT]

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E.)   Mark MEEKS and his first wife Ann CHAMBERS.

Mark MEEKS, born July 12, 1795, is reported in census records to have been born in South Carolina and in the records Georgia CASON has to have been born in Fayette County, Georgia. Mark MEEKS was in Fayette County, Alabama in 1830, so any record in Georgia or South Carolina would predate that. The census records for virtually all of Georgia are lost for 1790, 1800, and 1810. The person I believe to be Mark's uncle, Nacy MEEKS, lived in Franklin County, and the Franklin County census is lost for 1820. The 1830 census record for Georgia shows Jesse MEEKS at page 219 of Franklin County and Littleton at page 217 in the same county. Note that the two stories of the grandfathers of General John Henderson MEEKS quoted above have these two names as the ancestor. There are other MEEKS, but none other in Franklin County and no Marks. Mark MEEKS was in Fayette County, Alabama, in the 1830 Census; in Claib-orne Parish, Louisiana in the 1850 Census; in Claiborne Parish and on a jury panel September 19, 1853 and when he and Sarah married September 21, 1858; in Union Parish, Louisiana, in 1860 Census [COMMENT]; Claiborne Parish, Louisiana in 1870 Census [COMMENT]; and in Limestone County, Texas, in 1880 Census [COMMENT] at age 84 and in 1883 when he and Sarah signed a deed to Willia. It may be that he was living at Hope, Bienville Parish, Louisiana on November 29, 1865, when Willia was born, but for an alternative suggestion, see the discussion of her date of birth in "Section XXII.F." He died in Chillicothe, Hardeman County, Texas after February 22, 1883 when he and Sarah signed a deed to Willia and before the 1900 Census. It seems probable to believe he died after John Jackson KERLEY (T. T. KERLEY's father) who died October 25, 1891, despite the fact this makes Mark at least 97 years of age at death. Whenever he died, it was closer to 1890 than to 1880, because the settlement of Chillicothe didn't happen until very close to 1890. [COMMENT] His parents were both born in Virginia. He married two times, first to Ann CHAMBERS [COMMENT] in 1852, and by that marriage had the following children:

Nacy MEEKS, born July 12, 1827 in Alabama or Georgia, married first July 28, 1852, in Claiborne Parish, Louisiana, Eliza Jane BUFORD, the daughter of Miles BUFORD and Jemima Susan BUFORD. Eliza Jane was born February 25, 1837 and died May 1, 1877. She was the mother of all Nacy's children. His second wife was Elizabeth BURNHAM SNIDER, and that marriage occurred December 24, 1879. She died January 17, 1905. Nacy died October 13, 1918, and is buried in Friendship Cemetery, Haynesville, Claiborne Parish, Louisiana. Nacy was the father of eleven children, all of whom were born in Claiborne Parish, Louisiana:
  • William Mark MEEKS born July 30, 1853, who married Martha Elmira (Mattie) GOREE. William Mark died in June, 1899, and is buried at New Ranob Cemetery, Haynesville, Claiborne Parish, Louisiana; [COMMENT]
  • John Littleton MEEKS, born April 8, 1855, died April 28, 1855;
  • Andrew Jackson MEEKS, born April 24, 1856, died October 4, 1871 without having married;
  • Susan Janie MEEKS SHAW, born April 2, 1858, married Robert SHAW in 1877, died October 20, 1919, buried in Webster Parish, Louisiana;
  • Ann Elizabeth (Bettie) MEEKS McKENZIE, born February 11, 1860, married Thomas D. McKENZIE November 29, 1882, died March 19, 12926;
  • Nacy MEEKS, born July 22, 1862, married Ida WALKER, died July 2, 1934, buried in Claiborne Parish;
  • Joe E. MEEKS, born May 15, 1866, married Sally WALKER, died September 19, 1925, buried in Claiborne Parish;
  • Alice Olivia MEEKS, born September 17, 1868, married James Nathaniel KENDRICK December 6, 1883, died May 24, 1913;
  • James MEEKS, born November 11, 1870, married Georgia PEYTON, died December 12, 1936 in Caddo Parish, Louisiana;
  • Maggie MEEKS HARKINS, born November 1, 1873, married William Garrett HARKINS February 20, 1890, died March 25, 1965, buried at "Haynesville, Claiborne Parish, Louisiana," did genealogical research; and
  • Mattie Lillian MEEKS ROBINSON, born April 1, 1876, married Benjamin B. ROBINSON October 26, 1891, died in September of 1965 at Arcodea, Louisiana. Nacy was a private in Capt. WEBB's company of the Louisiana infantry, enlisting April 4, 1862. He was absent and at Louderdale Springs Hospital December 31, 1862 to October, 1863. He was a prisoner of war, released at Gainesville, Alabama, May 11, 1865. His residence was Claiborne Parish, Louisiana, at that time and throughout his life. [COMMENT]
Joseph MEEKS, born about 1832, Alabama. I believe Joseph was a Confederate soldier, perhaps enlisting twice, which was not unusual. Joseph A. MEEKS was a corporal in Company G, 31st Louisiana Infantry, entering at Monroe, Louisiana May 6, 1862 and discharged February 17, 1863. J. A. MEEKS was a private in Company E, 3rd Louisiana Infantry, listed as a prisoner of war. He was released in Shreveport, Louisiana, June 16, 1865 and listed his residence as Union Parish, Louisiana. Monroe is the nearest town of size in the area and would be accessible from the adjoining Union Parish or from Claiborne Parish which adjoins Union Parish. If Joseph A. is the right name, he is on the 1860 Claiborne Parish Census, page 659, with a wife, initials probably H. A., and five children, four boys and a girl. The handwriting is bad enough I'm not going to guess at the names.
Mark MEEKS, Jr., born about 1834, Alabama, maybe married Caroline ADAMS; if so, a child was Elizabeth or Bettie Jane MEEKS born January 27, 1876, Farmerville, Union Parish, Louisiana [COMMENT]
Sarah Jane MEEKS KIMBELL, married Henry KIMBELL October 21, 1858, at Claiborne Parish, Louisiana. There was a deed of gift of a slave girl from Mark MEEKS to his daughter Sarah Jane MEEKS in the early 1850's there. [COMMENT]
Isabella MEEKS WALDEN, born about 1840, Alabama, married Jackson WALDEN September 17, 1854, recorded at Book 1, Page 89, Claiborne Parish Marriage records.

Mark MEEKS' second marriage, to Sarah Ann FULLERTON COBB (COHEN?), September 21, 1858 in Claiborne Parish, Louisiana, is described in "Section XXII.F" of this chapter.

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F.)   Sarah Ann FULLERTON and Her First Marriage to John COBB.

Sarah Ann FULLERTON [COMMENT] was born May 1823 in South Carolina or possibly Alabama. Her father was James FULLERTON, born in Ireland, her mother was Elizabeth __, born in South Carolina. Her family is described in the following chapter. Sarah is our ancestor through her last marriage (probably her third) to Mark MEEKS. That marriage is described in "Section XXII.F" of this chapter.

Sarah Ann FULLERTON married John COBB in Pickens County, Alabama.[COMMENT] Since the records there were burned, there is no official record of the marriage, but the Pickensville Register on June 19, 1841 reported, "Mr. John COBB was married to Miss Sarah Ann FULLERTON on the 17th instance near Carrollton by the Hon. S. B. MOORE, all of Pickens County." The family in 1850 is shown in Pickens County, Alabama census at Carrollton, taken September 25, shows John COBB, age 34, a tailor, born in South Carolina; Sarah, age 29, born in South Carolina; Mary A. COBB, age seven, born in Alabama; James W. COBB, age three, born in Alabama; and Thomas H. COBB, age 8/12 years, born in Alabama.

The children of John COBB and wife Sarah Ann FULLERTON included the following children:

Marion Wallace COBB FARRINGTON,[COMMENT] shown on the 1850 census as Mary A. , born about 1843-1846 in Alabama, died March 29, 1913 at the age of 67 and is buried in the Chillicothe, Hardeman County, Texas, Cemetery. She married William Oliver FARRINGTON, Jr., M.D., on October 15, 1865. Their children included:
  • Oliver Wood FARRINGTON
  • James Batlin FARRINGTON, born about 1869 in Arkansas
  • John Edward FARRINGTON, born about 1870 in Texas
  • Ina May FARRINGTON MOFFET, born October 3, 1871, died November 16, 1959, buried in Chillicothe, Hardeman County, Cemetery. She was the mother of Texas State Senator George MOFFET, who was an albino
  • Eugene Howe FARRINGTON, born about 1874 in Texas
  • Homer Chester FARRINGTON, born about 1875 in Texas
  • Willie Lou FARRINGTON
  • Thomas/Thompson Murch FARRINGTON, born about 1879 in Texas, and Iris Lillian FARRINGTON ALLENSWORTH, born November 23, 1882, died January 5, 1925, married M. R. ALLENSWORTH
James William/Wilson COBB, born February 11, 1848, Pickensville, Pickens County, Alabama, married August 29, 1867 at Atlanta, Columbia County, Arkansas Mary Elizabeth (called Mollie in 1870 census) BARNES. James died April 30, 1900, at Athens, Claiborne Parish, Louisiana. Their children were
  • William Wilson COBB (October 17, 1868-September 17, 1947),
  • Elizabeth Epsy COBB HUDGENS (May 11, 1870-March 10, 1957),
  • Virginia Viola COBB McCALMAN (August 5, 1872-December 13, 1945), wife of James Devalent McCALMAN (August 20, 1867-February 20, 1899) who were residents at one time of Limestone County, Texas. His death was supposed to be near Mexia.
  • [COMMENT]
  • 4th child: Daniel Dawson COBB (August 15, 1874-May 31, 1884),
  • Marion Melissa COBB WARNER (July 17, 1876-October 6, 1961),
  • Anna Atkins COBB VOLENTINE (July 17, 1878-May 15, 1970),
  • Frances Forrest COBB BRIDGES (November 14, 1880-December 18, 1947),
  • Henry Hercules COBB (August 17, 1883-September 15, 1947),
  • Bertha Barnes COBB MOODY (October 19, 1885-December 31, 1960), and
  • Deroswick Devalist (Val) COBB (December 7, 1888-April 24, 1934).
This family was living with Mark and Sarah MEEKS in 1870 in Claiborne Parish, Louisiana.
Thomas H. COBB, born about January, 1850, evidently died before 1860 in that he is not listed with the family in that census.
Louisiana M. COBB ALLISON, born about 1853 in Alabama, who married John F. ALLISON. When Mark and Sarah MEEKS moved from Claiborne Parish, Louisiana, they went to Limestone County, Texas, where Sarah's oldest daughter, Marion Wallace COBB FARRINGTON and her husband had been for about ten years. They acquired property there about five months after having sold the Claiborne Parish land, but this was jointly owned with John F. ALLISON and his wife Louisiana. The deed for the 60 acres is from J. W. STEPHENS and wife and is located at Volume M, Page 6123, dated May 25, 1880. The next month, the two families appear on the census side by side. Two and a half years later, John F. ALLISON and Louisiana conveyed their land to Mark MEEKS, on October 17, 1882, but the descendants of Willia and Louisiana remained close, even into the 1930's. [COMMENT]

John F. ALLISON, who was born about 1857 in Arkansas, and Louisiana M. COBB ALLISON were married about 1877. They were the parents of eight children, six of whom were alive in 1910. Those children were a daughter
  • Zula M. ALLISON GOOD born about 1875, who married a Mr. GOOD, perhaps called Zeke, about 1895 and was the mother of a daughter Willie Allison GOOD, born about 1902. Zula and Willie lived with her parents and most of her brothers in 1910, although she reported she was married and had been for fifteen years;
  • Torrent T. ALLISON, born about 1881 who married Alma __;
  • Homer C. ALLISON, born about 1883 and unmarried in 1910 [COMMENT];
  • John C. ALLISON, born about 1885 and unmarried in 1910 [COMMENT] ;
  • Earnest F. ALLISON, born about 1889 and unmarried in 1910; and
  • Claud ALLISON, born about 1892.
John F. ALLISON was employed as a real estate agent in Texhoma, Texas County, Oklahoma in 1910, as was his son John. Both Homer and Earnest show on that census as laborers, doing odd jobs. The eldest son Torrent T. ALLISON, the only child living outside the home at the time of the 1910 census, having been married about one year, lists his occupation as carpenter, doing odd jobs.

A post card addressed to their cousin Miss Lena KERLEY and postmarked in October of 1908, however, shows that some of the family had at one time done business as "Allison Bros." The front of the post card shows below a picture, "Street Scene in Texhoma, Oklahoma. Published for Allison Bros." The back of the card notes, "No. 319. Published by The H. D. Lee Merc. Co., Salina, Kansas. made in Germany." The card is difficult to read but appears to say "Dear Lena, I re[ceived] your cards and of course I was glad to hear from you. You can look for me about Christmas l y d." It may be signed Zula, although the Z is unusual if it is. two other children were born to Sarah Ann FULLERTON COBB MEEKS, probably of this marriage (although these could have been born to the marriage to Mark and died early.) [COMMENT]

The following is an old article from the Chillicothe paper:

William Oliver FARRINGTON, Jr., who died at his home in Chillicothe January 3, 1913, was born in Americus Georgia, August 8, 1836. He was of English descent and his grandparents, William and Betsy FARRINGTON settled in South Carolina before the Revolution. To them were born Edward Trescott, Sue, and William Oliver, the later being the father of this sketch, who moved to Georgia and married Christian STEWART. To them were born William Oliver Jr., Katharine and Bottie Ann. The two daughters became Mrs. U. Griffin WOOD and Mrs. Wm. WADDILL, who reared families in Arkansas and passed away. William Oliver FARRINGTON, Sr. died in 1842, leaving a wife and three children. The wife moved to Arkansas in 1844 and there reared her children. The mother was a slave owner and her children reached maturity about the time of the war of secession. The subject of this sketch enlisted for service in the Confederacy at the commencement at the age of 24 years, and cast his lot with the 3rd Arkansas cavalry as second lieutenant and went into active service in the Western Division of the army. He was ordered to the front early in 1862 under General BUCKNER to hold Forts Henry and Donaldson, and in February of that year these forts were attacked by Commodore FEOTE with a gun boat flotilla in the Tennessee river and by the land forces of 35,000 men under Gen. GRANT. Fort Henry was abandoned to strengthen Fort Donaldson and after a two days defense Gen. BUCKNER made an unconditional surrender of 10,000 men and the strong hold of Fort Donaldson into the hands of Gen. GRANT. Lieut. FARRINGTON was one of these men who became a prisoner of war this early in the great struggle. By a ruse made possible by the stormy weather and darkness of the night he made his way through the guard line and escaped to reenlist for later service in the [line(s) missing on copy] captured at Fort Hudson, a very interesting account of which was written by him for the Independent and was published July 14, 1911. In this engagement he became a prisoner of war and was transported to Johnson's Island prison where he remained twenty-one months and was mustered out after the surrender of Appomattox. [Insert: Date of surrender was April 9, 1865] On October 15, 1865 he was married to Marion Wallace COBB and to them were born Oliver Wood, James Batlin, John Edward, Ina May, Eugene Howe, Homer Chester, Willie Lou, Thomas Murch and Iris Lillian. The survivors of this family are his wife, Dr. J. B. and H. Chester FARRINGTON, Mrs. F. L. MOFFETT, Mrs. Maurice R. ALLENSWORTH of Chillicothe, and J. Edward FARRINGTON of Anadarko, Okla. Having received his elementary education in the common schools of that time, he later became a student of English, algebra and Latin while in Johnson's Island Prison and afterward he took a medical course in Tulane University at New Orleans, Louisiana. He began the practice of medicine in Little River County, Arkansas, but on account of the ill health of his young family in that locality he decided to cast his lot in Texas and in the winter of 1869 he moved in an ox wagon to Lime-stone county and settled five miles from where Mexia was later built. He bought and improved here what became his home for the next 22 years and on this place all the children were born except the two oldest. In 1891 he sold this home and bought section 32 in block 10 about four miles northeast of Chillicothe, which he improved and kept as a home-stead.
His Christian life extended through a period of over 40 years. He held firmly to the Primitive Baptist faith, which became his whole consolation in his last days and by both precepts and example he represented the highest type of an American citizen.

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G.)   The Marriage of Mark MEEKS and Sarah Ann FULLERTON COBB COHEN(?).

Mark MEEKS' second marriage, to Sarah Ann FULLERTON COBB COHEN(?),[COMMENT] was September 21, 1858 in Claiborne Parish, Louisiana. Nothing is known about a marriage to a COHEN except that the marriage license, recorded at Marriage Book 1, page 914, records the marriage as between Mark MEEKS and Mrs. Sarah A. COHEN. Mark signed his name, and Sarah made her mark. The marriage was performed by J. W. McKINZIE, J. P.

State of Texas §
LIMESTONE COUNTY §
I, T. T. KERLEY, do solemnly swear that I am 21 years of age, and that Miss W. C. MEEKS is 18/7 years of age, and that there are no legal objections to our Marriage. J. C. WELLS being sworn says that the parents of Miss W. C. MEEKS have given their full consent to the marriage of their daughter to Mr. T. T. KERLEY.

(signed) T. T. KERLEY

(signed) C WELLS

Sworn to and subscribed before me, this 21st day of Oct. 18781

(signed) S. D. WALKER

Clerk of C. C., Limestone County, Texas.

Sarah and Mark lived west of Haynesville in Claiborne Parish for a while and had probably only one child, Willia Celestia MEEKS, the wife of T. T. KERLEY. All of the family records indicate that Willia Celestia MEEKS KERLEY was born November 29, 1865, at Hope, Bienville Parish, Louisiana, and the grave marker indicates a date of birth of 1865. I would suggest, however, that the date of birth may have actually been November 29, 1863 rather than that date in 1865. Obviously, there is no birth certificate. The death certificate is no help, since it indicates a date of birth of November 29, 1886, more than five years after the date of her marriage. It does indicate an age at death of 52, and since the death occurred January 16, 1919, she would have been born in 1866, making the 1886 likely a typographical error. In support of the different birth date, I have three arguments:

She married T(homas?) T(inian?) KERLEY, October 21, 1881 at Mexia, Limestone County, Texas. Willia MEEKS was 17 years old when she married T. T. KERLEY. The marriage license application is signed by J. C. WELLS who swore that the parents of Miss W. C. MEEKS have given their full consent to the marriage of their daughter to Mr. T. T. KERLEY.

By deed dated September 13, 1869, Mark MEEKS conveyed property to James W. COBB, which property was later deeded back to him by James COBB. This could be true deeds as shown on the face of them, or it could represent Mark MEEKS borrowing money from James W. COBB, his wife's son, with the deed actually being a deed of trust.

State of Louisiana §
Parish of Claiborne §
Before me John R. Romsby(?) Recorder and Exoffficio Notary Public, in and for said Parish, personally came and appeared Mark MEEKS, of said parish who declares that for the consideration hereinafter set forth he has this day and does by these presents grant, bargain, sell, transfer and convey with a full guarantee against all Troubles, Debts Mortgages, Claims or other incumbrances whatever unto James W. COBB the following described Land Situated in said parish to wit the southwest quarter of the North West quarter of section Twenty Six and the South half of the North East quarter of Section Twenty seven in Township Twenty three of Range Eight West, one hundred and Twenty acres more or less and with all the improvements thereon to have and to hold the Same unto the Said purchaser his heirs and assigns forever, this Sale is made for and in consideration of the Sum of three Hundred and Twenty Dollars cash in hand paid, Receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, this Deed Signed in presence of the attesting witnesses on this August 13, 1569. Mark Meeks

J. W. Cobb

N. W. Peters

J. E. Cobb (?)

A deed dated December 26, 1879, recorded March 17, 1880 at Page 7, Volume ___, of the Deed Records of Claiborne Parish, Louisiana, records the sale from Mark MEEK (sic) and Sarah MEEK to T. S. EDWARDS and wife Lucinda, for $450.00, of sixty acres of land. It is witnessed by T. N. BOLIN and Nacy MEEKS.

There is a deed at Volume Y, page 394, Deed Records of Limestone County, Texas, from Mark MEEKS and wife Sarah MEEKS of the County of Limestone and State of Texas in consideration of the love and affection they have for their daughter Willia C. KERLEY, granting her 60 acres. It is dated February 22, 1883, filed for record November 16, 1886. The conveyances to him were a deed at Volume M, Page 6123, from J. W. STEPHENS and wife to Mark MEEKS and John F. ALLISON dated May 25, 1880. There is a deed at Volume Y, page 392, from John F. ALLISON and wife to Mark MEEKS dated October 17, 1882. There are no other deeds to or from Mark MEEKS in the existing Limestone County records. I do not know who the ALLISONS are. There is a family of James ALLISON, born about 1828, living near Mark and his sons Joseph and Nacy in the 1860 Claiborne Parish Census, and James ALLISON was on of the appraisers in the estate of James C. FULLERTON, the brother of Sarah Ann FULLERTON COBB COHEN MEEKS.

Sarah died in Chillicothe, Hardeman County, Texas, between 1900 and 1910, and Mark died there March 7, 1891. Chillicothe was settled about 1888, and Alma Ellen ANDERSON BREEDLOVE, who was born in Chillicothe in 1916, grew up knowing that her great grandfather was the third person who was buried in the Chillicothe cemetery. She had always assumed that the great grandfather referred to was John Jackson KERLEY, but since Mark MEEKS died about six months before John Jackson KERLEY, who died October 25, 1891, she now believes that the oral family history could refer to her great grandfather MEEKS rather than her great grandfather KERLEY. T. T. KERLEY did the "monument" work that was done. He wrote in the cement border of the KERLEY family plot at the specific locations "J. J. KERLEY 1818-1891", "Mrs. J. J. KERLEY 1842-1926" (for his stepmother, the third wife of his father), "Mr. MEEKS" and "Mrs. MEEKS".

The life and descendants of Willia Celestia MEEKS KERLEY are described in Chapter XX, The KERLEY Family. [Source]

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