Person:John Meadors (23)

Parents and Birth

John is often reported as the son of Thomas and Keziah (Moberly) Meadors^[22] None of these sources, however, provide documentation. They presumably rely on John's move to Whitley County, Kentucky and his continued association with Thomas Meadows and other members of Thomas's family. A biography of John's grandson, John Meadors,^[16] however, names Jason Meadors as John's father. John could still have migrated with Thomas, but it is much more likely that Thomas was, in fact, John's father. First, the claims that Jason was John's father appear to come from family stories. The genealogy recounted in those stories is consistent with documented records back to John as a grandfather, but begins to fall apart at that point, showing both conflation with other family members and confusion regarding earlier generations.^[16] At the same time, a detailed examination of deed records for Thomas prior to his move to Kentucky shows that he and John maintained a close relationship, similar to that of a father and son, while in the Carolinas, where John served as a witness for Thomas on several occasions, and also bought property from him.

Reported ages in the 1830 and 1840 census records give John Meadows/Meadors a birth date between 1761 and 1770, a range that is within that suggested by reported ages in earlier census records.^[4][5][2][3] The specificity of the date reported by so many undocumented sources (including ^[8][6]) suggests that an original source may exist somewhere, at least for the date. Citation of such a source, however, has not been found. His most likely place of birth was South Carolina, where both Jason and Thomas Meadows were living in the 1760s.

Revolutionary War Service

There is a belief, apparently of long standing, that John served in the Revolutionary War.^[10][23] The evidence for this belief is questionable, and has been challenged by the DAR. There was a John Meadows who may have served in the Revolution, but he was born in Granville County, North Carolina, which is in the north of the state, on the Virginia border. He apparently settled in Georgia, where he was living when he applied for a pension in 1838, his wife's maiden name was Jester, he had a son named Barney, and his father was probably named William.^[24][25][11] The John Meadows who married Jemima Melton and Delila Jones, on the other hand, was probably born in South Carolina (or possibly in Anson County, North Carolina, which is on the South Carolina border) and was living in Kentucky in the 1830s. There is, as yet, no evidence to suggest that he served in the Revolutionary War.

Death

Although John's death date is listed by one source as 1839, there is no documentation. Given John's appearance in the 1840 census and his continued payment of taxes, through at least 1846, a death date of 1839 seems unlikely. Again, using tax records as a guide, he may well have lived through 1849, and possibly longer.

Since tax lists were drawn up during the year previous to when taxes were paid, John's presence on the 1850 list suggests that he was still living in 1849. There were also at least two other John Meadows/Meadors on the 1850 tax list for Whitley County. (Broyle shows three others, a second John with one tithable and one horse but no property, listed in 1848 and 1849. This, however, seems most likely to be the same John who was listed with one tithable and one horse in 1850, whom Broyle has included with the John Meadows/Meadors paying taxes on the Cumberland River in 1820--1846.) One of the John Meadows/Meadors paying taxes in 1850 lived on the Jellico Creek watershed and was most likely the son of Rueben, who would receive land on Ryan's Creek, a tributary of Jellico Creek, from his father in 1851. The other lived on the Cumberland River watershed and owned 175 acres of land. Whether he should more properly be grouped with the John paying taxes on Cumberland River drainage, leaving the John Meadows/Meadors who did not own property as a separate person, is a question that needs to be clarified through land records. Either way, the tax records indicate that as of 1849, there appear to be at least two and possibly three John Meadows/Meadors living in Whitley County, one of whom is most likely this John.

In 1850, there were two, rather than three, John Meadors/Meadows listed in the Whitley County Census who were old enough to be taxed, neither of whom were old enough to this John, and both of whom appear to be the same person, the son of Reuben (and grandson of this John), in a double listing. Unfortunately, Delilah, wife of John, does not appear in the 1850 Census for Whitley County, so it is possible that the tax records refer only to two people, both living in 1850, with this John missed by the census taker who counted John's grandson twice. In any event, it seems clear that John probably lived through 1849, and possibly longer, but had died before 1860, when his widow Delilah appears living with her daughter Elizabeth in Tennessee.

1. ↑ Family file - kmparker@@austin.rr.com.
2. ↑ ^2.0 2.1 Whitley, Kentucky, in United States. 1820 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publication M33).

   John Meadors, Sr., 1 male 10-15 [Thomas], 2 males 18-28 [William, Jacob], 1 male over 45 [John], 4 females under 10 [Elizabeth, Delilah, Keziah, Mary Jane], 1 female 16-25 [Lurany], 1 female 26-44 [Delilah]; 4 engaged in agriculture

3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2} Lancaster District, South Carolina, in United States. 1800 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publication M32).

   John Meadows, 3 males under 10 [Reuben, Joseph, Jacob], 1 male 26-44 [John], 1 female 26-44 [Delilah]

   In 1800, Lancaster District, South Carolina was partially adjacent to what was then Anson County, North Carolina. See South Carolina Census Year with Modern Map overlayed

4. ↑ ^4.0 4.1 Whitley, Kentucky, in United States. 1830 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publication M19)
   pg 276 line 4.

   John Meaders, 1 male 60-69 [John], 1 female 5-9 [Elizabeth], 1 female 15-19 [Delilah], 1 female 60-69 [Delilah]

5. ↑ ^5.0 5.1 Whitley, Kentucky, in United States. 1840 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publication M704)
   page 21 (image 40).

   John Meadows, 1 male 70-79 [John], 1 female 15-19 [Elizabeth], 1 female 60-69 [Delilah]

6. ↑ ^6.0 6.1 Meadows Update, in Knox County Genealogical Society (Louisville, Kentucky). Knox County, Kentucky kinfolk. (Louisville, Kentucky: Knox County Genealogical Society [Kentucky], 1977?]-)
   10:04 (Oct 1986); FHL #976.9125 D25k.

   Information from M. R. “Russ” Meadors of Indianapolis, IN
   Thomas Meadows, [and] Keziah Moberly Children:
   1. John, b. 18 Mar 1762, NC, d. 28 Sep 1832, m1 Jemima Melton, m2 Delilah Jones

7. ↑ Frances Wallace Pension Application, in Meadows Family Documents.
8. ↑ Assorted birthdates and places.

   Birth date : parker-wernet database Feb 18, 1762
   jwat52 file Mar 18,1762
   jackdignan file Mar 18, 1762
   earlinewyant file 1770
   Birth places: Granville Co., NC Anson Co., NC

9. ↑ ^{9.0 9.1 9.2} Whitley County (Kentucky). Tax Assessor. Tax books, 1819-1875. (Frankfort, Kentucky: Kentucky State Historical Society, 1952-1953).

   1820, John Meadors, 34 acres, 1 horse, $200
   1821, John Meadows, 34 acres, Redbird, 1 horse, $136
   1823, John Meadows, 50 acres, C River, 1 horse, $300,
   1824, John Meadows, 50 acres + 50acres, 2 horses, $300,
   1826, John Meaders, 50 acres, C River, 1 horse, $200,
   1827, John Meadows, 50 acres 1st rate, C. River, 1 horse, $225,
   1829, John Meadows, 50 acres 2nd rate, Cumberland R, 1 horse, $300,
   1830, John Meadows, 54 acres 2d rate, Cumberland, 1 horse, $184,

10. ↑ Mary Lou Hudson's posting, in Meadors Family Genealogy Forum.

    indicates that John was born in Granville Co., NC.
    March 1779 - enlisted at the age of 17 while a resident of Caswell Co., NC
    Served five months in Capt. Berryman Turner's Co. He was in the battle of Stano.
    Jan 1781 - enlisted and served with Captain Elijah Moore's Co. He was in the battle of Guilford.
    Sept 1781- enlisted and served with Captain Buggs and John Stalling's Co. (Georgia). He was in the siege of Savannah, GA
    After the war he lived a short time in GA before moving to Whitley Co., KY

11. ↑ Janet Moore posting #476:, in Genforum Genealogy.com
    September 20, 1999 .

    "William Meador/Meadows . . . is the father of John Meadows b. 3-18-1762 in Granville Co. NC, later lived a short time in Caswell Co. NC where he enlisted in the Revolutionary War. He then moved to Spartanburg SC where he is living next to his father, William and brothers Joseph and Thomas in the census records. John is living in Wilkinson County GA with the family of Joseph Meadows in the 1840 census. I have a copy of John Meadows pension records and also found a mention of John in a book published of the final pension payments...In 1848 he is asking to have his pension re-instated. He is not in the 1850 census however, so I think he must have passed on between 1848 and 1850."

12. ↑ Whitley, Kentucky, in United States. 1820 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publication M33).

    John Meadors, Sr., 1 m 10-15 [Thomas Jefferson], 2 m 16-25 [Jacob, William], 1 m 45 and over [John], 4 f under 10 [Mary Jane, Keziah, Delila, Elizabeth], 1 f 10-15 [Lurana], 1 f 16-25 [Delila]

13. ↑ Order Books A-C, Circuit Court, Whitley, Kentucky; FHL #1028619, in Kentucky. Circuit Court (Whitley County). Court records, 1818-1918 ; indexes to court records, 1860-1958. (Frankfort, Kentucky: Kentucky Division of Archives and Libraries, 1978, 1992)
    pp. 43, 49.

    See Isaiah Meadows Indictment for Perjury for transcription

14. ↑ ^14.0 14.1 Broyles, Stephen H. Whitley County, Kentucky tax list summary, 1819-1850. (Newton, Massachusetts: S.H. Broyles, c1991)
    p. 146.

    Meadors, John, on Cumberland River, 1 tithable, 1 horse:
    1820 (34 acres)
    1826 (50 acres)
    1830 (54 acres) - as John Meadows
    1835 (150 acres)
    1840 (50 acres) - as John Meadows
    1846 (50 acres)
    1850 - no acres, 1 tithable, 1 horse

    Information in Broyles book is listed by person, with the date a person first appears on the tax lists, then for years ending in 0 or 5 (or the nearest equivalent if those years are missing), then the last year the individual appears on the record.
    Tithables are males 21 years of age and older. Once a man reached the age of 21, he was listed, whether he owned property or not.
    Property ownership is indicated by water course, allowing owners to be linked from one year to the next.

15. ↑ Circuit Court Order Books A-C, in Kentucky. Circuit Court (Whitley County). Court records, 1818-1918 ; indexes to court records, 1860-1958. (Frankfort, Kentucky: Kentucky Division of Archives and Libraries, 1978, 1992)
    p. 3 – Aug 1818; FHL #1028619, May 1818-Mar 1832.

    Gilbert Faris Plaintiff vs John Meadows Defendant – Trespass, Assault and Battery & Imprisonment
    Jury found for the Plaintiff, Defendant fined $20 and damages

16. ↑ ^16.0 16.1 History of Benton, Washington, Carroll, Madison, Crawford, Franklin and Sebastian Counties, Arkansas: from the earliest time to the present ; including a department devoted to the preservation of sundrey personal, business, professional, and private records .. (Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1957)
    p. 1173-4.

    p. 1173 - John Meadors was the son of Jason Meadors and a Miss Mobley. John Meadors' wife was Delila Jones. Their son Jacob M. married Jane W. Harman, a daughter of Valentine and Sarah (Baken) Harmen.
    p. 1174 - John Meadors was born in North Carolina, was a Revolutionary Soldier, came to Whitley County, Kentucky in 1811. His father came to America from Scotland as a young man and lived and died in North Carolina.

17. ↑ ^{17.0 17.1 17.2} Thomas Meadors' Carolina Land Records.

    12 Mar 1787, 12 Dec 1788, 17 Dec 1788, 21 Nov 1796 (witnessed deeds)
    26 Oct 1804 (purchased property) (Note: John Melton was one of witnesses)

18. ↑ North Carolina. County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions (Anson County), and North Carolina. Superior Court (Anson County). Anson County deeds, 1749-1926; indexes, 1748-1962, 1749-1962. (Raleigh, North Carolina: North Carolina Department of Archives and History, 1962)
    Vol. H2, p. 505, Image 880 FamilySearch.org.

    Indenture 1 March 1796
    Betweet John Meadors of Anson, NC
    and Hardy Oguin [sic -- Guin or Gwin] of smae place
    who paid 60£ for land in Anson County on the southwest side of Pee Dee river
    Beginning at a post oak standing in a hollow above Smith's Cabin on hights branch of Little Brown Creek near Whites Lick
    and runs S63E 76 poles
    then along the old patent line to the dividing line
    then along the dividing line to a corner
    then along the old line to Beginning
    containing 100 acres more or less
    Being half of 200 acres granted to Malachi Watts 24 May 1773 as Patent annexed
    signed John Meadors
    Witnesses Michael Melton, Thomas Meador
    Proved April 1803

19. ↑ Abraham Rushing (Sr) Land Records.

    Indenture 18 Nov 1790, Jacob Rushing to Abraham Rushing (John, Thomas Meador, Isham Melton witnessed deed for Abraham Rushing (husband of Mariah Meador)

20. ↑ In 1800, Lancaster District, South Carolina was partially adjacent to what was then Anson County, North Carolina. See South Carolina Census Year with Modern Map overlayed
21. ↑ ^21.0 21.1 According to the deed records, John sold the 100 acre property on Little Brown Creek in Anson County, North Carolina 8 years before he purchased it. It is not clear what was actually happening, but it is worth noting that the persons involved in both actions were the same: John Meador (grantee and grantor), his father Thomas Meador (grantor and witness), Michael Melton (witness), and Hardy Guin (witness and grantee).
    
    One possible explanation is that there was an error made for the date of John's sale to Hardy Guin in the transcription of the original record. (Other transcriptions errors have been noted in the transcriptions of various records in this data set.) The particular property in question was owned by Richard Odom when he sold it on 31 December 1787 to Lewis Summersett. (Anson County Deed Records, Vol. L, p. 157, Image 430 FamilySearch.org) Lewis Summersett sold the property to Thomas Meador on 12 December 1788.(Thomas Meadors' Carolina Land Records) Thomas sold the property to John on 26 October 1804.
    
    An alternative, highly speculative, explanation would be that Hardy Guin actually began occupation of the land about 1796, and that the sale of land from Thomas to John to Hardy gave Hardy Guin legal possession of the land while allowing Thomas to provide money to his son John, with both the sale to John and sale to Hardy Guin occurring at the same time.
22. ↑ email, Coleen Wilburn, 11 Dec 1999; Descendants of Daniel Meador on Dan Gilbert's site; multiple submissions on WorldConnect and Ancestral File for example
23. ↑ Daughters of the American Revolution, Genealogical Research System Ancestor Search, Ancestor #A076885
24. ↑ Daughters of the American Revolution, Genealogical Research System Ancestor Search, Ancestor #A076884
25. ↑ Letter, 23 June 1930, E. W. Morgan to Mrs. M. C. Pearce, p. 41 in Pension File 7221, Revolutionary War Pensions, Georgia, John Meadows. Footnote