Mystery Meeks Family Part one

This Family has made me crazy for years -   My ggg grandfather James Meeks apparently used the name Harris for quite a while in his youth   That is the name he gave when he married and was even listed on death certificate as "Meeks alias Harris"  also Charley Harris is named as his father and simply "Meeks" as mother
His brother Thomas has father unknown and Martha Meeks as mother. I have not yet located any records of  the oldest son Jackson beyond the 1870 census .  What I have tried to do is gather bits and pieces as I have seen them in the hope that it will someday  it will all "Click!"  So far , nothing.
Here are some of the notes- they may or may not be accurate, many are message board post.  My line is Martha to James to Wm "Paps" to Bessie. any other mentions that say "My" or  "I" are probably someone else's statement
...........MEEKS NOTES .....................................
THESE ARE NOTES FROM OTHERS trying to figure out their own MEEKS problems

Given Name: Samuel  Meeks
Sex: M
Birth: Abt 1788 in Tennessee/ North Carolina
 Father: Asa MEEKS b: 1771   Mother: Rachel WILLIAMS b: 1780 c: 1829
Marriage 1 Polly Ann BERTRAM b: 1825 in Wayne County Kentucky
Married: 13 Jan 1845 in Wayne County,Ky
----------------
= there was a Sam Meeks that was involved in some way during the Civil war
F Co. 11th Cav. Reg. Ky. Pvt. (Morgan's Raiders, under General John Hunt Morgan).
and I think he died at  prison camp called Camp Douglas in Illinois
(some try to say it is older Sam Meeks but he would have been well into his 79's when the war started
and the younger Sam apparently married because I found this about him
  " Anderson HARRIS, all we know is parents were from Va.. He was in Kentucky
and served with Co.F   with the 11th Kentucky Cavalry as a Private.
He married Anna S. HORTON   12/01/1847 in Garrard Co. Ky.
and had a daughter Sarah Elizabeth HARRIS
who was born Jan. 1849. She married on 03/22/1870 in Madison Co. Ky.
 to Samuel MEEKS, son of Samuel MEEKS and Polly Ann BERTRAM,
of Wayne Co. Ky.. I'm looking for information on both HARRIS, ANDERSON,
and HORTON. Thanks, a lost cousin, Kathleen  "

 Samuel Meeks July 27-1845 Wayne KY  died may 6 1925 Harrison KY
Father Samuel Meeks TN  \Mother Vian Bertram Meeks TN
or THIS
Samuel Meeks is from Tennessee County, North Carolina. Which is misleading
because the county itself is just south of Wayne Co., KY. Tennessee wasn't
a state until after Samuel was born. It was called North Carolina back then.
OR THIS
Issac ( ? Think this is Denny) went to Kentucky where he married Patsey Meeks whose family also came
from South Carolina. Patsey was the daughter of Priddy Meeks. Priddy and his sister, Sarah Meeks
 and her husband, Paul Meachum were involved in transporting and freeing slaves from the Carolinas to Indiana
in the early 1800’s.
The Meeks family traces back to William Meeks of co. Westmoreland, England, who immigrated to
 Hanover County,Virginia. The family is recorded on the tax list at Middle Plantation ,
 Virginia in 1646- 8 Pride Meeks, son of William and Molly (Nolan) Meeks, married Elizabeth Denny.
The Denny family migrated from Albemarle County, Virginia. (TL NOTE my Thomas Meeks married a Nancy Denny)
..
===============
19 Oct 1876 Zachariah Hampton     married             Susan Meeks
19 Oct 1876 Res. WCK age 57 4th m blacksmith      Res. WCK age 53 1st m
b. RCK; pb RCK                b. unk; pb unk      Susannah?
bond: Zachariah Hampton and Elijah McDaniel
===================
---------
AND THIS might be a hint
 about missing unknown father of the three boys or the missing Meeks brother Jackson
"and somewhere in there was a Meeks who was a RIVERBOAT PORTER, he was supposed to be
a blacksheep of the family and apparently spread the family name up and down the river -
don't know which river."
----------
   Elizabeth was married to Hiram Meeks.
 George Baldwin Meeks lists her as his mother on his marriage certificate to Nannie Johnson:
   James C. Meeks also lists her as his mother - under her nickname, "Bettie" - on his marriage
certificate to Allie Johnson:
   However, Samuel Lathiat's older sister, Sophrona, lists her father's name as "Hiram Meeks"
 and her mother's name as "Jane Meeks" on her marriage certificate.
and here is ANOTHER
 On Samuel's Marriage Certificate he states his mother's name is "Catherine Meeks".
On Fronie's Marriage Certificate she states her mother's name was "Jane Meeks".
On James C.'s Marriage Certificate he state his mother's name was "Bettie Meek".
On George's Marriage Certificate he states his mother's name is "Elizabeth Meeks".
And as of 1892, Hiram and Elizabeth were still alive and living in Wayne Co., KY.

1900 Pulaski Co., KY Census Point Precinct:
#132. Meeks, King Head 2/56 M KY KY KY Day Laborer (TL NOTE Could this be missing King Soloman?)
Mary Wife 3/52 M 11 KY NC AL
Etta J. Dau 7/93 S KY KY KY
William M. Son 8/95 S KY KY KY
Rebeca Mother 2/29 S KY KY KY
#133. Meeks, High Head 3/35 M KY KY KY Day Laborer
Easter E. Wife 3/39 M8 KY KY KY
Fronie Dau 5/75 S KY KY KY
Samuel Son 4/79 S KY KY KY
Sallie Dau 12/80 S KY KY KY
William Son 12/85 S KY KY KY-----
.Hiram's(MEEKS) birthday is sometime in March of 1838, and he was still alive in
> 1900, in Burn Town, as was Elizabeth. Elizabeth also was born March,
> 1839, and went by the name "Easter E." Meeks on the census. Hiram went
> by the name of "High." He was a day laborer - occupation unspecified.
> Hiram, Easter, my great grandmother Sallie - all but one child - Samuel
> - could read. Samuel could read, but he could not write.
>
> If I remember correctly, my great grandmother Sallie traveled quite a
> bit before she passed away 22 October 1958.........
-----------

Notes Gregory Family, Wayne Co., KY

Notes found Gregory family
(TL NOTE The best research I have seen is done by Marilyn Gregory Fisher    
  Watch for her name. the website I have for her is http://e-m-books.com/gregorykin/home.html )


 Name:  Mordecai Gregory

Birth:  abt 1776 - Virginia, Virginia, United States
Death:  Oct 1850 - District 2, Wayne, Kentucky
 U.S. Federal Census Mortality Schedules Index

WAYNE COUNTY KENTUCKY MORTALITY INDEX

1850 GREGORY MORDICAH WAYNE CO. KY 74 M OCT VA  cause of death BURNED occupation BLACKSMITH  ID #MRT197_127383  (TL NOTE my gggg-grandfather )

1860 GREGORY MORDICAH WAYNE CO. KY 51 M AUG KY CONSUMPTION CARPENTER, JOINER MRT197_127382 (TL NOTE this is brother of my ggg-grandfather Johnathan)

Marriages
21 Sep 1876    John T. Vaughn                Elizabeth Jane Gregory
21 Sep 1876    Res. WCK age 28 1st m farmer            Res. WCK age 24 1st m
                        b. WCK; pb WCK                              b. WCK; pb WCK
bond:  John T. Vaughn and Peter Gregory to be married at Mordica Gregory’s
minister didn’t sign

05 Sep 1862    Mordecah Gregory  and  Nancy Matthews.  Bond, James M. Vaughan
                        To be married at Merrit Matthews’ on 5 September 1862
            Mordecah aged 21 years, b. WCK; parents:  Hayden and Polly Gregory
            Nancy aged 20 years, b. WCK; parents:  Merrit and Betsey Matthews

Miscellaneous (found message board post)
Judy, my info has Henry and Mary with nine children..Sciotha, born 1843, Mahala,
 1844, Jacob (Jake) 1845, John Tom, 1847,William Henry 1849. Martha Jane, 1852,
Andrew Jackson, 1856, George Matthew, 1859, and Lucinda, 1875. You are correct
in that Jacob Meece and Joanna Nevil were George's grandparents....My great
grandfather was Jacob(Jake) and my grandfather was James Marion...
.Andrew Jackson and Lucinda were both still living during my youth and
I remember them quite well...Leo...
---
Sarah Meece married  Roland Gregory  16 Jan 1867 Pulaski Coat the home of Henry Meece' LDS file #1761022

Obituary in the church minutes 1924 minutes
Bro. Rollin Gregory was born about 78 years ago & professed a hope in Christ at an early age& lived a devoted Christian till death which occurred July 18 1924 Leaves a wife and five children.

.,KY PULASKI  KY   Mortality Index (TL NOTE  never figured out who this is,  probably sister in law of my Jacob  Meece) --1850 MEECE CHRISTENA PULASKI CO. KY 59 F AUG VA FEVER NONE LISTED MRT197_220537

Breakfast of Ancestors

Like so many people my New Years Resolution, Diet
Today that little bowl of oatmeal is less than appetizing so I had to wonder,
what did the ancestors eat?  I am currently working on many families.in the mid 1800's
 so that is today's search

 1853 breakfast menu suggestions in a cookbook
 Hot cakes, cold bread, sausages,
 Hot bread, cold bread, chops, omelet.
 omelet, a nice hash, fried potatoes
 Corn bread, stew, Boiled eggs.
 And the morning cup of coffee cost 12-18 cents a pound
 By 1861 the price would rise to  15-20 cents/lb

People  apparently ate a hardy breakfast, a large lunch ,  a mid afternoon tea or snack
and / or light supper( most likely leftovers in some form)
 the suggested tea menu found was a bread and either stewed fruit
 or oysters or fish

Breads seem to have been mostly some type of cornbread or corn base pancake.
Desserts were seldom made with sugar but more likely honey or sorghum molasses.
My "Hot Grandma" Elizabeth kept several bee hives, be sure to read her story.

My Earliest Turner notes

   There was a John Turner who signed the Mayflower Compact. In William Bradford’s list of "Increasings and Decreasings" for 1650, he wrote "John Turner and his two sons all died in the first sickness." No Turners today descend from actual Mayflower pilgrims though many try to make the case that later Turners were relatives.  I don't think so.

Thomas & Susanna (Anthony) Turner of Pennsylvania
John Ellis b nov 1726 bap Jan 24 1732 witness Thomas Turner and Susanna Turner
John Ellis of Manatawny Twp, son Evan Ellis b Dec 1724 baptized Feb 24, 1732
witness  Thomas Turner and Susanna Turner, William Richard. (TL NOTE dates are odd?)
   Susanna may have been a 2nd wife of Thomas' but no records show that either way.

Antony Turner son Anthony Turner was baptized 10 February 1732 (born January 21, 1732) The witnesses for the baptism were John Ellis, Thomas Turner and Susannah Turner.
SOURCE Early Lutheran Baptisms and Marriages in Southeastern Pennsylvania The Records of Rev. John Casper Stoever form 1730 to 1799------
--(TL NOTE-My line is thru their son Roger-)

-Roger Turner
"[Lease) Between Morgan Bryan & Martha his wife of Frederick County [to] Roger Turner of the same place ... Consideration of five Shillings Tract of Land being part of a Tract of Land containing four hundred Acres Granted unto said Morgan Bryan by patent dated the 12th Nov. 1735 ...Containing one hundred and twenty five Acres . . Yielding & paying one pepper corn on 29th Sept. only if the same be demanded Wit: Edw. Hughes Morgan Bryan John Grayson Martha (M) Bryan, David Crockatt Recorded: xth Feb. 1743"Release] Between Morgan Bryan & Martha his wife of Frederick County [to] Roger Turner of the same place ... Consideration of twenty five pounds Tract of Land being part of a Tract of Land containing four hundred Acres Granted unto said Morgan Bryan by patent dated the 12th Nov. 1735 ... Containing one hundred and twenty five Acres. Wit: Edw, Hughes Morgan Bryan Martha (M) Bryan John Grayson David Crockatt Recorded: xth Feb. 1743SOURCE Feb. 1743 Deed Bk 1, page 38 - 8 Jan. 1743," Frederick County Virginia, Deed Books 1,2,3,4 1743-1758" Abstracted and Compliled by Ameliia C. Gilreath -"Bk 1, page 37 - 7   Jan. 1743---
-
(TL NOTE Bryans are Daniel Boone’s wife’s grandparents and David Crockatt was Davey Crockatt’s grandfather)

-------In a diary kept by the Moravians, Leonhard Schnell and Robert Hussey, "they came down the Great Wagon Road to Opeckon, on 18 Nov., 1743, crossing the Patomac at Williams' Ferry and en route to Joset Hite's "On the 19th we went to Roger Turner, who married the sister of Bro Evans and lives 10 miles from here." "On the 20th we continued our journey. Roger Turner accompanied us part of the way and showed us the right road"
SOURCE Virginia Magazine of History & Biography // Moravian Diaries Through Virginia Vol 11 page 373　

Roger & Elizabeth Turner
"Roger TURNER and Elizabeth, his wife, sell to Jost DUBBS of Lancaster Co., PA.
March 31, 1746--SOURCE Frederick Co., VA Deed Book 1 page 271

Roger & John Turner 1748 "A list of tithables from the mouth of Falling River Upwards for the Year 1748 taken by John PHELPS--Roger TURNER 1 tithe John TURNER 1 tithe

April, 1748 Roger TURNER, Jr 400 acres beg at the Indian fort 3 or 4 miles above the mouth of Hatchet River on Pig River.

"1749 List taken by Nicholas HAILE: Lunenburg Co., VA
Roger TURNER and Roger TURNER 2 tithes John TURNER 1 tithe

" 19 Aug 1751 Rodger Turner, Sr., a plat drawn for 640 acres in Anson County, NC on the north bank of the Yadkin River "a little below the mouth of Turners Creek." Granted to Rodger Turner by Lord Granville. Grant issued 26 Jan 1761. Chain bearers Rodger Turner, Jr., Morgan Bryant and Charles Robinson. Surveyed by Charles Robinson.

page 9 (II:469) 13 July 1763 On Motion it is Ordered that a Waggon Road the Best and Nearest and Best way from the Shallow ford upon the Yadkin River to the Town of Salisbury,and the following Persons are appointed to Lay of, and mark the Same, to wit:..Samuel Bryan, Morgan Bryan, James Bryan, Roger Turner, Mathew Sparks, Edward Roberts, Daniel Boon, Barnet Stagner, David Johnston, James McMahan, Robert Forbush & Thomas Turner and accordingly they appear upon Notice and be Qualified before the nearest Magistrate for their Faithful discharge of their office &c.

"The Records of the Moravians" notes that in 1773, at the age of 84, Roger Turner was the oldest man in the Neighborhood and that he was blind.

Oath

Today,there was a story about some Marines who had allegedly misbehaved.
A comment made about the standards Marines are supposed to strive for  led me to searching out the word oath on my computer.
Here are some that I found

1639, the Freeman's Oath ( swearing allegiance to the colony)
    "I, _____, being by God's providence, an Inhabitant and Freeman within
the Jurisdiction of this Commonwealth: do freely acknowledge myself to
be subject to the Government thereof: And therefore do here swear by the
great and dreadful Name of the Ever-living God, that I will be true and faithful
to the same, and will accordingly yield assistance and support
thereunto, with my person and estate, as in equity I am bound!
 and will also truly endeavor to maintain and preserve all the liberties and privileges
 thereof, submitting myself to the wholesome Laws and Orders made and established
 by the same. And further that I will not plot or practice any evil
against it, or consent to any that shall so do; but will timely discover
and reveal the same to the lawful Authority now here established for the
speedy preventing thereof.  Moreover, I do solemnly bind myself in the sight of God that when I
shall be called to give my voyce touching any matter of this State in
which Freemen are to deal, I will give my vote and suffrage as I shall
judge in mine own conscience may best conduce to tend to the public weal
of the body. So help me God in the Lord Jesus Christ."
(TL NOTE Abbotts, Wallen, Warren, Church, Sprague are some that were here for this)

1775 Oath of the Continental Army
   "I _____ have, this day, voluntarily enlisted myself,
as a soldier, in the American continental army, for one year, unless sooner
 discharged: And I do bind myself to conform, in all instances, to such rules
and regulations, as are, or shall be, established for the government of the said Army."
(TL NOTE Turner family fought on both sides in this war)

1862 Military Oath (Union)
    "I,________ do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I have never borne arms a
gainst the United States since  I have been a citizen thereof; that I have
 voluntarily given no aid, countenance, counsel, or encouragement to persons
 engaged in armed hostility thereto; that I have neither sought nor accepted nor
attempted to exercise the functions of any office whatsoever under
any authority or pretended authority in hostility to the United States;
that I have not yielded voluntary support to any pretended government,
authority, power, or constitution within the United States, hostile or
inimical thereto. And I do further swear (or affirm) that, to the best
 of my knowledge and ability, I will support and defend the Constitution
of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will
bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this
 obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose
 of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties
of the office on which I am about to enter, so help me God."
 (TL NOTE At least 3, Turner, Johnson, Gregory fought Union side)

1865 Virgina Confederate Soldier & Supporters
Oath of Allegiance to The United States of America
   I___  do solemnly swear in the presence of Almighty God,
that I will henceforth support, protect, and defend the Constitution of the
United States and the union of the states tunder ; and that I will in like manner
 abide by and faithfully support all laws and proclamations which have been made
during the existing rebellion with reference to the emancipation of slaves.
I do solemnly swear, that I will uphold and defend the Government of Virginia as
 restored by the Convention which assembled at Wheeling on the 11th day of June, 1861.


I can not help but wonder how any of my grandfathers would view these Marines .

Thomas Day, Murder Mystery

Thomas Day  born about 1651 died abou 1705
 about married  at least twice. First to a Dorothy and second wife was Elizabeth.


On February 9 1699 Mary Hodges,  a neighbor, found Elizabeth Day dead .  Her deposition described the body as   "most horrod and barborey mannor all gored in blood " Two other neighbor women were called and gave similar testimony that Thomas was found to hav " his face and eyes most greviously brused with severall wound and bruses upon his head" and no clear reason for his wounds.  He said "how he hurt himself he answered the Lord Knows, I know not" and to another he said his facial wounds resulted from hitting his head over a "potrack."

The Verdict
 Sworn before me the day and yeare above written. Rich'd Covington in Place of Coronor. An Inquisition Ind.... and taken at ye house of Thomas Dayes in Ffarnham Parish in Essex County ye 10 day of February in ye yeare 1699 before me. Rich'd Covington one of his Majesties Justices of ye Peace for ye County of Essex upon view of the body of Elizabeth day ye wife of Thomas Day....then and there lying dead and ye Jurors being good and lawfull men and Sworne to trye and inquire in ye behalfe of our Sovereigne Lord & King,,,,,, so we Jurors say that in ye parish and county aforsd and on the eight or ninth of this instant to wit: in ye dwelling house of ye sd. Tho. Day that ye Sd. Eliza. Day was barbarously murdered and by all manner of Circumstances we can find or gather that ye aforesaid Thom. Day is Guilty of ye murdering ye said Elizabeth Day.
Richard Covington in ye Place of Coronor
Sam. Farry, Tho. Ewell, Henry Perkins, Richd. Taylor, Tho. Crants, Tho. Johnsone, Tho. Greene, Wm. Price, Sam. Coates, John Brooks, Tho. Cooper, Henry Geare, Jeffrey Dyer, Tho. Williamson
February 10, 1699.

Now we get an interesting twist

ACQUITTAL
Aprill 1700 Generall Court "Thomas Day of Essex County for ye Murder of Eliz'a Day wife of Thomas Day of Essex. Acquitted and discharged."
"In October 1700 Generall Court John Smith for Felony & ye murder of Eliz'a Day wife of Thomas Day of Essex County. Found Guilty. Condemned and was Executed."
This almost seems anticlimatic, doesn't it? No other explanation has been located that tells why  or how this John came to be found guilty.

The stress of all this seems to have taken a toll on poor Thomas. Here he sold his property.
Mar 1702 Essex Co., VA "I Thomas Day of South Farnham Parish in Essex County, Planter, doe assigne and sett over all my right title clayme and interest unto the within written deed unto Jacob Devillard of the aforesd county, Churgion his heires and assignes forever with warranty from all persons whatsoever that shall lay any just claime or title unto the within menconed land or Plantacon As witness my hand this seaventeenth day of March 1701/2
signed: Thomas (X) Day
wit: John Watkins, Saml Coates

Then in 1705 WILL OF THOMAS DAY

"5 Dec 1705 signed Tho x Day Wit: John Fargason ,Wm. Aylett, Adam Denning Ack and rec 11 Feb 1705/6
 To all to who these presents shall come Greting know yee that I thomas Day of the parish of South Farnham in the County of Essex in Virginia being in a sickly weake and low condition and noe(ways) waies Capable to tke care of, or provide for myself and that little Estate it hath pleased God to bestow upon me (it chiefly lying in Perishable Creatures) have and by these presents doe Bargain Sell Bind and firmly make over unto Jn'o Fargason of the parish and County aforsaid planter all and singular my said Estate", etc. In consideration Fargason "to maintain and keep me the said Day During my naturall life with sufficient accomodation of victuals Cloathes washing and lodging and give to Eliza a Mary Angillica Day my Daughter when whe arrive to the age of Eighteen or when married one Cowe and Calfe." 

Do you believe he was guilty or not?

Sidetracked, again

    I have searched for years to find my Smith family. I even got my father to sign up for the Smith DNA   project. which has only given us one match and the names they have mean nothing right now to me,.
    I have been "told" we are related to  a George and Rebecca (Bowen) Smith.  While they have a very romantic story, it has no evidence to support it.
    So one again I spent the holidays just plugging in names I know are right into Google and Ancestry  to see what might turn up.  I know it is not the most effective search method , but when just killing time it is usually interesting.  This time I think I  hit on  gold.
     I was trying to locate my gg-grandfather Henry Hill (b abt 1840)  in 1870 .I found his marriage record in TN. That led me to what appeared to be him in the 1860 Scott co. TN census, living next to a Nancy Smith.  Duh! I had read that she insisted on taking back her maiden name when she divorced Henry's father, Berry Hill, and there she was with her  Hill children .  And on the same page was a Henry Smith and his wife Creecy, the name Henry would give his eldest daughter.  Now I have spent nearly two weeks trying to find evidence to show that this family is who I think they are, I think Henry was a cousin to my hard to find Smith family!  The names are too similar, the eldest family members were born in VA where the DNA test has placed the family. I have a theory that works perfectly in my head, if I can just find that bit of paper that will prove it . 
  And the sidetrack? I still have not found Henry Hill in 1870 census,  but I found the rest of the "family"