Person:Dorcas Meadors (3)

Dorcas born 1775 died 1858 married 1795

Thomas Meadows . . . and Keziah Moberly . . . Children:
7. Dorcas, b. 1775-81, NC, m. Wiley W. Worley

There is no direct proof that the Dorcas who married Wiley Worley was Dorcas Meadors or that Thomas Meadors even had a daughter named Dorcas. Here is the circumstantial evidence for the theory that Dorcas is the daughter of Thomas Meadors:
+ A Wiley Worley witnessed an 1800 deed from Thomas Meadors, Sr. to Jr. in Anson County, NC.
+ Wiley Worley and Thomas Meadows, Jr. moved to KY around 1805
---»This is based on the birth places of their children and Tax Lists.
+ In the 1810 Census, Wiley Worley was surrounded by Thomas Meadors family:
---»Thomas Meadors, Sr. (supposed father of Dorcas) listed 2 residences away.
---»Thomas Meadors, Jr. (supposed brother of Dorcas) listed 4 residences away.
---»Isiah Meadors (supposed brother of Dorcas) listed 1 residence away.
---»Isham ? Meadors (supposed brother of Dorcas) listed 10 residences away.
+ Thomas Meadors, Jr. had a daughter, b. 1810 named Dorcas.
+ In 1830, there is an older woman living with Dorcas who could have been the widow of Thomas Meadors.

Dorcas is often said to have been born in 1785. The apparent reason is that there is an "official" list of the children of Thomas Meadors up to 1784 that does not include any girls. The problem is that the 1810 Census for Knox County indicates that Wiley and Dorcas had a daughter born between 1794-1800. Even if one assumes that she was born in 1800, then Dorcas would have married Wiley at age 14. In fact, this daughter appears to be Jemima Worley, who m. James Tackett in 1814- which means that she was probably born in 1798 or prior. This assumption makes Dorcas even younger, e.g. age 12! (While there is information which suggests that Dorcas did not marry Wiley until 1816, this information appears to have been false.)

If Dorcas is the daughter of Thomas, she was born before 1780. Unfortunately, we have been unable to locate a listing of the family of Thomas Meadors for the critical time period 1780-1794. If there were any girls on the list born before 1784, that would show that the "official list" is incomplete.

Wiley Worley, 3 m under 10, 1 m 26-44 [Wiley], 1 f under 10, 1 f 10-15, 1 f 26-44 [Dorcus]

Worley, Wiley, 3 males under 10, 2 males 10-15, 1 male 45 and over, 2 females under 10, 1 female 26-45 [Dorcus]

Worley, Dorcas, 1 male 5-9, 2 males 10-14, 1 male 15-19, 1 female 15-19, 1 female 50-59 [Dorcas], 1 female 80-90 [Keziah Moberley Meadows?]

Worley, Dorcas, 2 males 15-19, 1 male 20-29, 1 female 20-29, 1 female 40-49 [Dorcas]

Worley, Dorcas, 75, [no real estate listed], b. NC, unable to read or write

p. 97 – July 1820
Thomas M. Meadows Pltf vs Wiley Worley & wife Deft –
This day came the parties by their attorney and the defendants filed their plea of not guilty and the plaintiffs agree to a jury trial, which found for the plaintiff one dollar in damages
p. 108 – Oct 1820
Wiley Worley and wife vs. Thomas M. Meadows
dismissed by parties

Worley, Dorces/Dorcas
1829, 200 acres Youngs [Ck] entered by Early, Robt., 1 horse
1831, 200 acres Youngs Ck entered by Early, Robt, 2 horses
1833, 200 acres Youngs Ck entered by Early, Robt, 50 acres Youngs Ck. entered by Worley W., 2 horses
1835, 200 acres Youngs entered by Early, R., 90 acres Youngs entered by orley, 1 horse
1845, 225 acres Youngs C. [no horses listed]

Indenture 23 Jan 1835
Between Dorcas Worley and Reuben Worley her son
and
John Hays
who paid $75
for 50 acres of land on Youngs creek
Beginning on two white oak and a maple running thence S75E 36 poles to a black oak thence S86E 32 poles to a black oak thence S17W 62 poles to a white oak thence S68W 29 poles to a dowood [sic] and Black gum thence S1E 16 poles to a white oak thence S89W 18 poles to a deouble dogwood and gum thence N15W 125 poles to a stake thence N83E 57 poles to the Beginning
Signed Dorcus x her mark Worley, Rubon x his mark Worley