- 19 Aug 1847, heirs named: Widow Penelope Meador, seven children Elizabeth Thorn (wife of Turner Thorn), James Meador, Reason Meador, all of age 21 Bethena Meador, Julia Ann Meador, Jackson Meador, Caroline Meador, minors all residents of Sumter County, Alabama
Joel Meador, 2 males 15-19 (Reason, James),1 male 40-49 (Joel), 2 females under 5 (Bethune?, Julia Ann?), 1 female 20-29 (Penelope)
↑ Bethena and Julia were the oldest of the minor children named in Joel's probate records. They are presumably the 2 young girls in his household in the 1840 Census. They could be the children of Joel's last wife, married in 1838, but the timing is tight. Alternately, they could be the children of a previous wife, possibly Catherine, although so far she is not known to be the mother of any other children.