Sorting out Meeks at Ruardean

I was looking through the forum regarding a message on another topic when I came across messages from a couple of months ago with warnings about distinguishing similarly named MEEK families. I'm having problems with this too and I thought I'd ask if anyone had sorted this one out.

I'm interested in the Joseph MEEK of Ruardean who married Ann HARRIS in 1779. Witnesses at the marriage were Francis MEEK and Joseph HARPER.

They had children John, Joseph, Hannah, Ann, Henry, William, Sarah, Lucy and George between 1780 and 1801 all baptised at Ruardean.

I'm interested in knowing who Joseph's parents were. Joseph's age at burial in 1819 was 69 giving an approximate dob of 1750. Even if I limit myself to considering only Ruardean events (not necessarily a wise decision), I still end up with the following.

Joseph son of James and Elizabeth 24 Jan 1741
Joseph son of Francis and Rachel 9 Nov 1746
Joseph son of William and Alice 10 May 1747
Joseph son of John and Elizabeth 10 Dec 1749
Joseph son of James and Elizabeth 29 Jul 1750

Is this a lost cause? Is there any way for me to distinguish my Joseph from these others (assuming he was baptised at Ruardean)? My favourite is father being Francis to match up to the witness at marriage. But Joseph doesn't name a son Francis but does use the names John and William. Since Joseph doesn't name a daughter after any of these mothers it seems a bit odd.

Any advice?

Regards, Irene

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Hi Irene,

With earlier research, there is always a degree of subjectivity, so I cannot guarantee to be correct, but in my tree I have the Joseph Meek who married Ann Harris 30.12.1779 as being the one baptised 9.11.1746 Ruardean, son of Francis Meek baptised 11.1.1716 & Rachel.

Francis Meek 1716, son of John Meek baptised 16.2.1682 & Clare Bridgeman, married 9.9.1704.

John Meek 1682 son of John Meek abt. 1660 & Elinor.

I too have baptisms for all the children of Joseph Meek & Ann Harris, but have one less than you; John, Joseph, Hannah, Ann, Henry, Sarah, Lucy & George, but not William as you have, do you have a baptism for him ?

I have son Joseph as marrying Hannah Cook with 11 children. Son George as marrying Sarah Brain with 8 children.

John Meek 1682 & Clare Bridgeman are one of my 7 times great grandparents as their son George baptised 15.8.1714 married Margaret and one of their 9 children - Lucy Meek baptised 27.3.1743 married John Marfell 1731, my 5 times great grandfather.

PS. Always ignore the witness Joseph Harper, he signs as witness on hundreds of weddings, obviously connected to the church.

Jim Ashton

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Hi Jim:
Nice to hear from you. This is my husband's family so it seems you are related to him.

I'm a bit confused but hoping that it's a typo for you. The children I mentioned were those of Joseph MEEK and Ann HARRIS not Rachel.

William was baptised 1 May 1796 at Ruardean. This is my husband's line of descent.

William went on to marry Elizabeth GREGORY at Ruardean in 1819. I've had no success with the GREGORYs either so that might be my next plea for help.

I'm interested to know why you chose Francis and Rachel as parents of Joseph. The baptism is 4 years out for Joseph's age at burial - not a terrible problem but there are closer Josephs. And Joseph doesn't name any of his children either Francis or Rachel. Now that is a bit unusual.

So what were your reasons and why did you exclude the others?

If I can just get enough hints and clues to make me feel warm and fuzzy with this potential ancestry then I'm happy to go with it. I'll probably do it anyway with a suitable disclaimer regarding my doubts and lack of evidence but still I'd like to know your thought processes.

Best wishes, Irene

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Hi Irene

Thanks for your note, I have edited my original posting typo.

With regards to my choice of Francis & Rachel, bear in mind that I have been doing it the other way around, starting with Lucy Meek & John Marfell.

Ages at death are notoriously unreliable as in the main the people concerned could not write and did not know ages with any degree of accuracy.

Sometimes you have to go with your instinct. It is always nice when you see postings from others, or receive contact with people who have taken the same route. But sometimes you receive information that contradicts your information, and if there is some substance to the alternate view, you must change your family tree accordingly.

Thank you for the information about William. I will email you via the web site and perhaps we can share information.

We are indeed related, Joseph 1747 is my 1st cousin 7 times removed, his children 2nd cousin 6 times removed and so on...........

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Hi Jim,

Sorry to come back to this subject again, but I too am researching the Meeks as my husband is a descendant of Joseph Meek also, and am totally confused now!
My husband's line of descendancy comes from Joseph Meek and Ann Harris' son George Meek, but the reason I am posting is because in your message you state George marries Sarah Brain and has 8 children, whereas I have George's wife as Elizabeth [and have Elizabeth Davis, their marriage being in 1818] I have gathered this information from the 1841 census where George is shown living with his wife Elizabeth and their children, including Thomas Meek, who is my husband's 3 x great grandfather.
Have I got this wrong do you think?

Kind regards,
Christine

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Hi Irene

Back to subjectivity again. I have George Meek baptised 6.5.1801 Ruardean as married to Sarah Brain 8.6.1824 Ruardean witnesses Samuel & Hannah Hale but no parents shown. George did have a sister Hannah, but I have no marriage for her. I too have census data :

1841 Census
MEEK George 40 1801 Ruardean
Sarah 35 1806 Ruardean
Henry 30 1811 Ruardean
Emanuel 16 1825 Ruardean
Susan 13 1828 Ruardean
George 11 1830 Ruardean
Ann 5 1836 Ruardean
Joseph 3 1838 Ruardean

1851 Census Ruardean Hfd.
George Meek widower 49 Stone Cutter Ruardean
Ann 15 Ruardean
Joseph 13 Ruardean
Lucy 9 Ruardean

The interesting thing in 1841 is Henry age 30 = 1811, obviously not George's son. George did have a brother Henry but he was baptised 25.10.1794. Perhaps I have read his age wrongly.

Jim Ashton

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Hi Jim,

Interesting...

I have....1841, Old Croft, Dean Forest
George Meek 1801 40 Labourer Born in this county
Elizabeth Meek 1801 40 Not born in this county
Thomas Meek 1823 18 Blacksmith Born in this county
Elizabeth Meek 1831 10 Born in this county
William Meek 1833 8 Born in this county
George Meek 1836 5 Born in this county

The only reason I felt my census information was correct was that Thomas Meek, who is my interest is stated as being a Blacksmith - and that was his occupation throughout his life, and ties in with the rest of my info, although I have his birth as 1821 and not 1823.

I could still be wrong though!
Kind regards,
Christine

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