Person:Thomas Meador (32)

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See: Thomas Meadors, Meadors-312, WikiTree

Biography

Thomas Meadors is sometimes referred to as Thomas Meadows, as some descendent lines changed the family name from Meadors to Meadows; and some of Thomas' records bear the name Meadows. The family name at the time of Thomas' birth, however, was Meadors.

Thomas was born in Virginia sometime between 1736 and 1738. Many undocumented sources claim that Thomas was born in 1737 in Raleigh, Amelia County, North Carolina. Without reference to an original source, or an explanation based on references to original sources, however, that claim is best considered speculation.

Sometime around 1760 Thomas married Keziah Moberly. (Undocumented dates for the marriage can range from 1757 to 1760, but these appear, at best, to be based on estimated dates of birth of their older children, which are also highly variable.) The place of marriage is alternately given as North Carolina and South Carolina. North Carolina seems the more likely place, as Thomas was apparently there in 1770 when he signed a petition requesting that the location of the county court house be moved.

Thomas did not stay in Anson County, however. On 24 January 1770 he received a grant of 200 acres of land in Craven County, South Carolina, and was presumably living there by 2 November 1772 when he was listed as a neighbour for his sister-in-law, Dorcas (Moberly) Hill.

Thomas continued to live in South Carolina through much of the 1770s and perhaps much of the 1780s. He sold some property in 1781, and the rest in 1788, to Samuel Moberly (1781) and to Micajah Moberly (1788).

By 1790, Thomas was back in Anson County, North Carolina, where he appears in the 1790 US Census. He is also listed in the 1800 US Census in Anson County.

By 1805 Thomas had moved to Knox County, Kentucky, where he appeared on the tax lists. Thomas was in Knox County in 1810, when he appears in the US Census, and on 2 Sep 1816 he received a grant of 100 acres of land. The land was no doubt meant for his son Pleasant, who was living with his parents, as Thomas sold the land to Pleasant on the 2nd of December of that year. The sale was made with the understanding that "that the said Thomas Meadows is to have possession during his and his wife’s natural life time.”

Many sources indicate that Thomas died in 1818, but that seems to be a confusion with the death of his son Thomas. Thomas [the elder] was still alive in Aug 1819 when the county court (?) declared him too old to pay taxes. He was also able to attend court and help stand surety for his son Isaiah when Isaiah was accused (and acquitted) of perjury in April 1820. By 17 Sep 1826, however, Thomas was deceased. His widow Keziah, who had not signed the deed of sale of land to their son Pleasant in 1816, had to appear in court and acknowledge that she "was perfectly satisfied and consentive" with the sale, and that she relinquished her dower rights in the property.[13]

1.   WFT.

   Thomas d. 28 Aug 1817, Whitley, Kentucky

2. ↑ Vol B-C, 1807-1828; FHL #0532664, in Knox County (Kentucky). Clerk of the County Court. Record of deeds, 1800-1912. (Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1968)
   Book B, p. 508.

   Indenture 2 Dec 1816
   Between Thomas Meadows Sr. of Knox County, Kentucky
   And Pleasant Meadows of same place
   Thomas Meadows bargains and sells land [no $ mentioned] unto Pleasant Meadows
   Land on Cumberland River Beginning on John Pruitt’s corner a dogwood and sourwood
   Thence up the river with it’s meanders East 14 poles
   Thence South 55 East 26 poles
   Thence South 20 east 36 poles
   Thence S 8 East 22 poles
   Thence S 10 W 31 poles
   Thence S 16 W 18 poles
   Thence S 24 W 32 poles
   Thence South 22 W 60 poles
   Thence South 17 W 49 poles to a black oak and maple
   Thence South 49 E [] poles to a black oak and John Pruitts line
   Thence North 32 poles East 60 poles with said line to a black oak
   Thence North 48 E 30 poles to a pine
   Thence North 24 E 116 poles to the Beginning
   Containing 100 acres more or less
   “but it is to be understood that the said Thomas Meadows is to have possession during his and his wife’s natural life time.”
   Signed Thomas T his mark Meadows, Witness James F. Ballenger DC
   Recorded 28 Aug 1819

3.   Meador, Victor P. (Victor Paul), and Bernal M. Meador. Our Meador families in colonial America: as found in the records of Isle of Wight, Lancaster, (old) Rappahannock, Richmond, Essex and Caroline Counties, Virginia. (Independence, Missouri: V.P. Meador, 1983).

   Thomas Meador d. 1818 Whitley Co, KY

4. ↑ Knox, Kentucky, in Knox, Kentucky, United States. 1810 U.S. Census Population Schedule.

   1810 Census, Knox County, Kentucky
   Thomas Meadows, 1 male 16-25 [Pleasant?], 1 male ovr 45 [Thomas], 1 female over 45 [Keziah]
   Others adjacent on same page include:
   Worley, Wily (26-44), Isaiah Meadows(26-44), Thomas Meadows Jr (26-44)

5. ↑ .

   8/1819 Whitley Co. KY <Order Book 1>
   Ordered by Court that Thomas Meadows be exempt from paying County Tax in the future in this County -- too old.

6. ↑ Kentucky. State Land Office. Tellico land grants, 1803-1853, v. 1-2. (Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1962)
   Vol 1, p. 474, Grant #383.

   Thomas Meadows, 100 acres, Knox County, 12 September 1816
   In consideration of Warrant No. 114 granted by the Circuit Court of Knox in Oct 1812 agreeably to the Several Acts of Assembly for settling and improving the Vacant lands acquired by the Treaty of Tellico, there is granted by the Commonwealth of Kentucky unto Thomas Meadows a certain tract of land containing one hundred acres by Survey bearing date the 10th day of November one thousand and eight hundred and thirteen in Knox county on Cumberland River, bounded as follows
   Beginning on John Pruitts corner a Dogwood & Sourwood thence up the River with its meanders East fourteen poles
   thence South fifty-five East twenty six poles
   thence South twenty East thirty six poles
   thence South eight East twenty two poles
   thence South ten West thirty one poles
   thence South Sixteen West eighteen poles
   thence South twenty four West thirty two poles
   thence South thirty two West sixty poles
   thence South seventeen West forty nine poles to a Black Oak and Maple
   thence South forty nine East eighty six poles to a Black Oak on John Pruitts line
   thence North thirty two East sixty poles with sd line to a Black Oak
   thence North forty eight East thirty poles to a pine
   thence North twenty five East one hundred sixteen poles to the Beginning
   with its appurtenances
   Signed 12 April 1816, Governor Isaac Shelby

7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3} pp. 2, 222, 227, in Hill, George Anderson. Hill & Hill-Moberly connections of Fairfield County, South Carolina. (Ponca City, Oklahoma: Hill, c1961).

   p. 2
   On 2 Nov 1772, Dorcus Hill received a grant of 203 acres in Craven, Branches of Beaver Creek. (Source: Book 15, p. 441, Craven County, S.C.) Immediate neighbors were Thomas Meadows, Allen Beams, Richard Hill, Samuel Mobley. Dorcus would have had to be a widow to receive land, so the Richard Hill may be her deceased husband. Samuel Mobley is probably her brother, while Thomas Meadows is probably her brother-in-law.
   p. 222
   14 May, 1781 - Samuel Mobley, planter to Job Meador. Whereas a grant bearing date 24 Jan 1770 was made to Thomas Meador for a tract containing 200 acres in Fairfield Co. on a branch of Beaver Creek and whereas 160 acres of it was conveyed from said Thomas Meadors to s. Samuel Mobley 21 pounds being paid by said Job Meadors, therefore a deed is executed. Wit: Thomas Meador -- Jason Meador. Book I, p. 442 [Fairfax County, South Carolina]
   p. 227
   Book B, page 32, 1788 - "Thomas Meador and Hagah?, his wife, to Micajah Moberley, land granted to Thomas Meador, on north brnach of Beaver Creek."

8. ↑ 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).

   See Isaiah Meadows Indictment for Perjury for transcription

9. ↑ Whitley County (Kentucky). Clerk of the County Court. Deeds, 1818-1934. (Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1967-1968)
   Book 1, p. 152; FHL #0531629.

   We the undersigned certify that this day Kesiah Meaders Relict of Thomas Meaders deceased appeared before us acting justice of the peace for Whitley County and being privately examined apart from all her friends by us she freely and voluntarily acknowledged that she was perfectly satisfied and consentive and perfectly satisfied with the deed of conveyance made by her deceased husband to their son Pleasant Meadors and that she freely and voluntarily relinquishes her rights of dower to the said one hundred acres of land and acknowledge the deed of conveyance to be her act and Deed
   Signed 14 Sept 1826 Wm B. Creekmore JP, J White JP

10. ↑ Meador, Victor P. (Victor Paul), and Bernal M. Meador. Our Meador families in colonial America: as found in the records of Isle of Wight, Lancaster, (old) Rappahannock, Richmond, Essex and Caroline Counties, Virginia. (Independence, Missouri: V.P. Meador, 1983).

    Thomas Meador b. 1736-8, VA

11. ↑ Hieronymus, Goldie Smith. Descendants of Nathaniel Smith, Knox/Whitley County, Kentucky: son of Elijah Smith, Revolutionary War patriot from New Jersey and Virginia. (Arlington, Virginia: G.S. Hieronymus, 1982)
    p. 83.

    Thomas Meadows/Meadors was taxed in Knox, KY in 1805

12. ↑ Anson, North Carolina, in Anson, North Carolina, United States. 1790 U.S. Census Population Schedule
    p. 188, Image 3 of 12, FamilySearch.org.

    Medows, Thomas, 3 males 16 and over (Isham, Thomas, Thomas), 4 males under 16 (Pleasant, Middleton, Edward, Isaiah), 4 females (Sarah, Dorcas, Keziah, one unknown)
    probable neighbors include: David Jackson, Philip Rushing Jr., Thomas Huntley Sr., John Melton, Jesse Melton

13. ↑ Fayetteville, Anson, North Carolina, in Anson, North Carolina, United States. 1800 U.S. Census Population Schedule
    p. 237, line 3.

    Medders, Thomas Sr. 1 male under 10, 1 male 10-16, 2 males 16-26, 1 male 45 and over, 1 female under 10, 1 female 10-16, 1 female 26-45

14. ↑ Hieronymus, Goldie Smith. Descendants of Nathaniel Smith, Knox/Whitley County, Kentucky: son of Elijah Smith, Revolutionary War patriot from New Jersey and Virginia. (Arlington, Virginia: G.S. Hieronymus, 1982)
    p. 82.

    A petition to the Governor dated 1770 with ref to moving County Court was signed by Jason Sr., Lewis, Jason Jr., Job and Thomas

15. ↑ CREEKMORE-L Archives, DeeDee Shackelford, 9 Jan 2001, Will of Jason Meadows, in RootsWeb Archiver,
    acessed 17 Aug 2014.

    Will Book, pg 16, Anson County, N.C.
    Will of Jason Meador:
    . . . .
    I give unto my Eldest son Lewis five shillings sterling & also Duama Marion and Thomas one Shilling Sterling each.
    Item it is my Will that at the decease of my wife Elizabeth that my plantation and Land and other substance be equally Divided amongst several Children herein named
    Lewis Jason Job and Mariah to them & their heirs and assigns forever
    Lastly I do constitute and appoint my Beloved wife Elizabeth my son Lewis & Jobe sole Executors of this my last Will & Testament. . . .
    Witness my hand & seal this Twenty Third Day of March Anno Domini one Thousnad Seven hundred & Seventy four
    Witnesses: Willim Evess, Job Meador, Charles Bath [ could be Ball], Jason Meadors

16. ↑ Abstracts of County Court Minutes, 1771-1777, in McBee, May Wilson. Anson County, North Carolina abstracts of early records. (Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1985)
    p. 72.

    [11 Oct 1771]
    Thos. Meadows to Lewis Lowry, pr by John May

17. ↑ Minute docket 1771-1776, in North Carolina. County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions (Anson County). Minute docket, 1771-1777, 1848-1858, 1868. (Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1942).

    p. 97, Image 96, FamilySearch.org

18. ↑ ^{18.00 18.01 18.02 18.03 18.04 18.05 18.06 18.07 18.08 18.09 18.10 18.11} Thomas Meadors' Carolina Land Records.

    11 Oct 1771, Anson County, NC
    1784, Anson County, NC
    12 Mar 1787, Anson County, NC
    12 Dec 1788, Anson County, NC
    17 Dec 1788, Anson County, NC
    24 Feb 1797, Anson County, NC
    8 Sep 1797, Anson County, NC
    26 Feb 1800, Anson County, NC
    26 Oct 1804, Anson County, NC
    15 Nov 1806, Anson County, NC
    27 Dec 1806, Anson County, NC