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John Meador[1]

Male 1658 - 1721  (63 years)


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  • Name John Meador  [2, 3
    Birth 31 Jul 1658  Charles Parish, York, Virginia, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [2, 4
    Gender Male 
    Residence 1704  , Essex, Virginia, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [5
    Death 17 Oct 1721  , Essex, Virginia, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [4
    Probate 21 Nov 1721  , Essex, Virginia, USA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Will probated. 
    Person ID I3090  Master
    Last Modified 14 Jul 2021 

    Father Thomas Meador,   b. 1638, Virginia Beach, Independent Cities, Virginia, USA Find all individuals with events at this locationd. Apr 1662, , Essex, Virginia, USA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 24 years) 
    Mother Sarah Hoskins,   b. 1637, , , Virginia, USA Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 1672, , , Virginia, USA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 35 years) 
    Marriage 1657 
    Family ID F4340  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 1 Elizabeth White,   b. 1660, , Essex, Virginia, USA Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 17 Aug 1694, , Essex, Virginia, USA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 34 years) 
    Marriage 1677  Farnham, Richmond, Virginia, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [3
    Children 
    +1. Richard Meador,   b. 1678, , Essex, Virginia, USA Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 15 May 1716, , Essex, Virginia, USA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 38 years)
     2. John Meador, Jr.,   b. 1680, , Essex, Virginia, USA Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 14 May 1720, , Essex, Virginia, USA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 40 years)
     3. Elizabeth Meador,   b. 1682, , Essex, Virginia, USA Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 1748 (Age 66 years)
     4. Rachel Meador,   b. 1685   d. , Amelia, Virginia, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [Father: Natural]  [Mother: Natural]
     5. Hope Meador,   b. 1690, , Essex, Virginia, USA Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 17 Oct 1721 (Age 31 years)
     6. Esther Meador,   b. 1691, , Essex, Virginia, USA Find all individuals with events at this location
     7. Jonas Meador,   b. 1693, , Essex, Virginia, USA Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 1768 (Age 75 years)  [Father: Natural]  [Mother: Natural]
    Family ID F821  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 24 Jun 2019 

    Family 2 Mary Frances Awbrey,   b. 1678, , Essex, Virginia, USA Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 17 Oct 1721, , Essex, Virginia, USA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 43 years) 
    Marriage 1695  , Essex, Virginia, USA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Children 
    +1. Dinah Esther Meador,   b. 1696, , Essex, Virginia, USA Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 1741, , Caroline, Virginia, USA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 45 years)
     2. Jonas Meador,   b. 1698, , Essex, Virginia, USA Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 5 May 1768, , Cumberland, Virginia, USA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 70 years)
     3. Mary Meador,   b. 1698   d. 1700 (Age 2 years)  [Father: Natural]  [Mother: Natural]
     4. Mary Meador,   b. 1700, , Essex, Virginia, USA Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 1721, , Essex, Virginia, USA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 21 years)  [Father: Natural]  [Mother: Natural]
    +5. Joshua Joel Meador,   b. 1702, , Essex, Virginia, USA Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 1774, , Amelia, Virginia, USA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 72 years)  [Father: Natural]  [Mother: Natural]
     6. Jason Meador,   b. 17 Aug 1704, Hoskins Creek, Essex, Virginia, USA Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 30 Mar 1776, , Anson, North Carolina, USA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 71 years)
     7. Job Meador,   b. 1705, , Essex, Virginia, USA Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 1774, , , South Carolina, USA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 69 years)
    Family ID F4404  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 4 Sep 2018 

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBirth - 31 Jul 1658 - Charles Parish, York, Virginia, USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMarriage - 1677 - Farnham, Richmond, Virginia, USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMarriage - 1695 - , Essex, Virginia, USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - 1704 - , Essex, Virginia, USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDeath - 17 Oct 1721 - , Essex, Virginia, USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsProbate - Will probated. - 21 Nov 1721 - , Essex, Virginia, USA Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth 
    Pin Legend  : Address       : Location       : City/Town       : County/Shire       : State/Province       : Country       : Not Set

  • Notes 
    • The Move from Essex County, Virginia
      Beginning about 1734 , Virginia and North Carolina

      After the death of John Meador in 1721, his remaining children (with the exception of Thomas) began to move away from the home plantation. In the Essex County Census of 1810, only two men bearing the Meador name are left: Richard and Spencer. In the 1820 Census, there are none. Jonas and Jason are found in neighboring Caroline County by 1734, and Dinah and husband George Tribble are ther by 1735. In Caroline County, they settled in the sourth central part near the community of Penola. Unfortunately, all the records except a few court books have been lost.

      The principle movement of family members then seem to have been to Amelia County, Virginia, where Joel (Joshua) Meador received a land grant in 1736 between Stock and Sandy Creeks. He was soon joined by Jason, who obtained a grant there in 1745 and later by Ambrose (son of Thomas Meador) in 1757. Jonas Jordan came in 1755, followed by his mother, Rachel Meador and her husband William Jordan. With the growing family of Joel, there was quite a colony of Meadors in western Amelia County by the 1770's.

      Jason soon sold his Amelia County grant and moved on to Bedford County, Virginia, where he purchased land on the Little Otter River in 1751. In both 1759-61, he sold this land and joined the migration to the Carolinas along the Great Wagon Road, which came from Pennsylvania through the Shenandoah Valley and on to new land in Anson County, North Carolina.

      Many of the children of Joel (Joshua) of Amelia County, including Joel, Jr, Jeremiah, Archibald, Martha and Nancy moved over the county line into Prince Edward County. Joel's son James went on to Bedford County, Virginia and then on to the Carolinas. And although Benjamin (son of Joel) died in Amelia County, his children were a major factor later in Bedford County in the late 1800's.

      (Some of the above information abstracted from the "Meadors Family in Colonial America" by Victor P. Meador and Bernal Meador, LDS Fische #6088414)
    • General Notes:

      It was the custom to name male children using biblical names starting with "J", at least in the Meador family. This practice continued for several generations and although it has been confusing, it does serve to identify this family.

      SRC: Southern Familes Genealogies #1, 1600-1800 - Historical Southern Families Vol IV, Meador-Meadows of Essex County, Virginia.

      "John Meador married Elizabeth White, daughter of Richard White. On Dec 10, 1695 he divided his land among his children. He described himself as "John Meadors, widow, in the county of Essex, for the love I have for my children by my wife to be divided equally between them, as near as I can divide it. To my son Richard Meador and my son John Meador, land by John Evans; land on the east side of great branch to my son Hope Meador; to my daughter Rachael Meador 105 acres bought of Edward Thacker also land given me by my father-in-law, Richard White, land also to daughters Elizabeth and Esther Meador. . ."

      John was born about 1658 married Elizabeth White. Elizabeth died on August 17, 1694. John married second unknown Awbrey. On December 10, 1695, in anticipation of a second marriage, John made a deed of gift to his seven children He is listed in court records in Essex County, Virginia as John Meador Senior. John and his family lived in Farnham Parish of Essex County, Virginia on the south side of the Rappahannock River. His will was probated November 23, 1721 in Essex County.

      Estate 3, 1717-22 C. 7283, pp. 284-5.
    • Notes Re: John Meador 1658-1721, Essex County, Virginia

      The following information was abstracted from "Meadors Family in Colonial America" by Victor P. Meador and Bernal Meador (LDS Fishce #6088414)

      It would appear that John Meador was born about 1658 because he apparently was of legal age by August 1679 (Rappahannock County Deed Book 5, p. 261). He was probably 4 or 5 years old at the death of his father and is presumed to have spent his childhood with his mother Sarah and his step-father, Henry Awbrey on Awbrey's Plantation on Hoskins Creek (South Farmham Parish). His mother gave him a yoke of oxen and a gun, as well as a black heifer (Rappahannock County Deed Book 1, p. 255). These were registered for "John Meadors, son of Thomas Medors of Hoskins Creek."

      John could not occupy the land grants of his father, Thomas Meador, while a child, but apparently did so upon attaining adult status which coincided with his marriage to Elizabeth White, the daughter of Richard and Addra White between 1677 and 1678. She and John Meador were deeded the plantation of her father, Richard White, "out of kindness and affection" for the care and maintenance of himself and his wife for the remainder of their lives." (Rappahannock County Deed Book 6, p. 26, February 4, 1677-1678.)

      "John Meador was a politically powerful favorite of Royal Governor Berkeley and benefitted from a number of grants from the Royal government along the Rappahannock River in the 1660s. He was not a Puritan but a Royalist..."

      Elizabeth White Meador, John's wife, died before the close of 1694. Anticipating a second marriage and wanting to ensure his children's rights of inheritance, John made a deed of gift on December 10, 1695, dividing the bulk of his holdings among his children. Through this deed, we learn that he had by this time sons Richard, Thomas, and John Jr; daughters Hope, Rachel, Elizabeth and Esther. The firstborn son of John and Elizabeth was Richard, named for his Grandfather White.

      Nearing 63 years of age, John Meador became aware of his approaching death and made his will October 17, 1721 (Essex County Will Book 3, p. 284). It was presented in court for probate 21 November 1721. The will recognized the surviving children of his first marriage with token bequests of a shilling apiece to Thomas, Rachel and Elizabeth. The other children by Elizabeth White, namely Richard, John Jr., and Esther, as well as Hope, had preceded him in death.

      John Meador's will can be found in the book, "The Meador Family"
      Essex County, Virginia Wills, Inv Adm to Estates #3

      "In the name of God, Amen, I John Meador of Essex County being sick and weak in body, but of sound mind and perfect memory, blessed by God, therefore do make and form following:
      First and principal, I commend my soul unto the hands that giveth, hoping by the meritorious death and passion of my Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ to receive full pardon and forgiveness of all my sins and offences and a joyful resurrection in the last day, and my body decently to be buried at the direction of my executors hereafter name. And as for my worldly good:
      Item I give to my son Thomas Meador, one shilling
      Item I give to my daughter Rachel Jordan, one shilling
      Item I give to my daughter Elizabeth Armstrong, one shilling
      Item I give to my daughter Dinah Tribble, one shilling
      Item My desire is that my five sons shall keep their own guns without appraising
      Item I give my son Jonas Meador, a small piece of land joining upon Thomas Evinses land and running up to the church that goes from my house, then up a long road a small course till it comes to the forks of the branch from where it begins and from the forks to ye first beginning. And the rest of my land I give to my other four sons, to be equally divided with all my houses and orchards thereon belonging and I do appoint my two sons Job and Jason my lawful executors.
      Item I give to my son Joshua Meador on chest to be apprasied and the rest of my estate to be equally divided among my children and leave my two young sons to be at age 17. I do leave my son Jonas Meador to look after them 3 years. Any my will not to be in force till my death.
      Witness my hand and seal October 17, 1721
      John Meador Seal
      Test: Samuel Waggoner
      Francis F. Poarris
      Ann A. Bradbury

      Presented for probate Nov. 21, 1721 by Jonas Meador during the minority of the Executor in the said mentioned, with oaths by Samuel Waggoner, Francis Pierce, and Ann Bradbury.
      Probated 21 November 1721
    • John MEADOR Sr was born in 1658 in Charles Parish, York County, Crown Colony Of, Virginia. He signed a will on Oct 17 1721 in Rappahanock , Essex County, Virginia. He died on Nov 21 1721 in Rappahanock , Essex County, Virginia. He has Ancestral File number 9BSR-W9. Essex County was formed in 1692 from Rappahonock County, which became extinct.

      John was " in the Parish of Farnham of Rappahannock County, Virginia, in the late 1600's and early 1700's, John Meadors (1659-1721) was a good citizen and family man. It is here he spent his days raising a new family, tending his tobacco crop, serving on juries, and doing other tasks as required by the Administrator of the Colony."

      "Children named in Will by the first marriage: Thomas, Rachel, Jordan, Elizabeth Armstrong,
      Diniah (Esther). Children named in Will by the second marriage: Jonas, Job, Joshua, Jason, Mary."

      He was probably about 4 or 5 when his father died. He probably spent his childhood with his mother Sarah and his step-father, Henry Awbrey.

      Sold 320 acrea in 1679 in Lancaster County. His records continue in Essex County, VA. The name of his second wife is not known. His will was written October 17, 1721 and entered for probate November 23, 1721.

      The naming of all of the sons of the last marriage with the initial "J" , a custom which survived for several generations and now serves to identify this branch of the Meadows family. While the rest of the family remained in Essex County, these four sons emigrated to Cumberland and Lunenburg Counties, with Job, Jason and possibly Joshua proceeding on to Anson County, NC and to Fairfield County, SC."

      John was born about 1638 in Essex County, Virginia. From his father, John inherited the 320 acre grant at Hoskins Creek. John also received the 450 acre grant on Hoskins Creek, adjoining the 320 acre grant. As he was only 4 or 5 years old when his father died, he couldn't occupy his inherited lands at that time.

      Before his mother's remarriage, she provided for the maintenance and education of John, promising him four years of school. In another document, she gave John a yoke of oxen and "one gun, seven foot by the barrel."

      John spent his childhood with his siblings, mother and step father, Henry Awbrey, on Awbrey's plantation on the upper reaches of Hoskins Creek.

      As a child, John probably attended the South Farnham Church, an Anglican church located between Hoskins and Piscattaway Creeks. In his will, John mentions the "Church Road", so apparently a road from the Meador homestead on Hoskins Creek led southeastward to the church. However, in the 1650's, the Quaker religion was being introduced in Virginia. The "Quiet Contemplation" of the Quakers and their reliance upon personal enlightenment found common ground with the self-reliant planters on the frontier. Despite the disapproval of the Anglican church, Quakerism spread rapidly throughout the settlements. Whether or not John himself became a Quaker is not known. However, two of his children, Jonas and Jason, did become Quakers.

      John Meador was a planter; he grew tobacco and Indian corn on these lands over 300 years ago. In 1661, when John was only 5 years old, an Indian raid on the neighboring plantation of Richard and Addra White killed Elizabeth's (John future wife) brother, Thomas. The settlers had then petitioned the Jamestown Government for arms, forts and soldiers. They sent a "Petition of 15 Grievances", outlined under Thomas Meador, Jr.. Governor Berkeley ordered the colonists to band together, ten men to a house, and ordered a 500 man army raised to defend the frontiers. To support this army, a tax of 500 pounds of tobacco per poll was levied. This was very dear tax, as in that year (1676) there had been a severe drought and crop failure. An army of 250 men was raised, but proved ineffective against the hit and run tactics of the Indians.

      Dissatisfaction with these measure led the colonists to raise a volunteer army of their own, and a wealthy, cocky newcomer from England, Nathaniel Bacon, was chosen as their leader. Bacon's request to the Governor for a commission to lead this army was refused, so he determined to set out on his own. With his little army, he raided some "tame" Pamunkeys, then assaulted some friendly Occaneechees, killing 30 of them. Governor Berkeley declared him a rebel, whereupon Bacon seized Jamestown and forced Berkeley to grant him a commission. Becon then issued a "Declaration of the People", which has since been hailed as democracy proclaimed a hundred years before the American Revolution. Protesting the colonial government even more than the Indian situation, Bacon decried the unjust taxation, the favoritism shown by the authorities, the monopoly of trade, and the poor defense of the colonies.

      Governor Berkeley fled to lands east of the Potomac River, but his fortunes soon changed and he returned to Jamestown. Bacon then laid seige to the town, recapturing it, and burned it. When Bacon died in 1676, support for his rebellion faded away. In reprisal, Governor Berkeley seized much of the property of the rebels, and rewarded the loyalists with hugh grants of land.

      At this time, John was less than ten years old, and records do not reveal the details of how his stepfather, Henry Awbrey, fared during these times. But it is a matter of record that Col. Thomas Goodrich and his son Benjamin were supporters of Bacon, for which they were fined 50,000 pounds of tobacco each and ordered to recant before the court with a rope about their necks. This Col. Goodrich did, but with a token cord instead of a rope, to demonstrate his contempt for the Governor's orders. The county court, of which Henry Awbrey was a member, permitted this display.

      Upon attaining adult status, John occupied the land in the two grants. The 450 acre parcel became his home plantation. This coincided with his marriage to Elizabeth White, sometime between July 1677 and February 1678. John and Elizabeth had seven children: Richard, Thomas, Rachel, Elizabeth, John Jr., Hope and Esther.

      John and Elizabeth were deeded her father's plantation "out of kindness and affection" for the care and maintenance of himself and his wife for the remainder of their lives. This plantation consisted of 33 acres on the north side of Hoskins Creek, opposite John's land.

      In 1679, John sold the entire 320 acre grant to Ebenezer Stanfield. This land would never again return to the Meador family.

      Meanwhile, the Rappahannock Indians had fled from their villages behind the settlers on the east bank of the river to sanctuary several miles upstream. In their absence, the lands were taken up by white settlers, and the Indians could not return. Decimated and broken, though having remained peaceful during the whole Bacon affair, their cause was championed by Henry Awbrey, the senior member of the County Court. Enlisting the help of about a dozen settlers, they were relocated, probably on Henry Awbrey's large grant lands, where there is a place which is still called Indian Neck. There is also a Rappahannock Indian church nearby, and there are reports that traces of an Indian settlement have been found on the Meador plantation.

      Participating in the resettlement in January, 1684, were Henry Awbrey, who served as overseer and go-between as well as furnishing his boat; Robert Tomlin, Jr., who suppolied a sloop and a smaller boat; and several men, including John Meador. John was reimbursed by the court for 9 days service and the use of his horse.

      Imagine being 3 or 4 years old, and knowing that hostile Indians raided a neighboring plantation and brutally murdered a young man living there. During your childhood years, the Indians were forced deep into the forest. Later, you marry the sister of that murdered man. And then, when you are about 26 years old, you help your step-father relocate and settle the Indians onto your step-father's own grant lands.

      In 1689, John purchased 105 acres, which adjoined the 450 acre plantation on the south. He received an additional 190 acres, adjoining the 450 acre one, for the transportation of four people to the colony. On April 21, 1690, John received another 50 acres, which adjoined his own land, for the transportation of one more person.

      By the early 1690's, John had 1,095 acres centering on the 450 acre grant, straddling Hoskins Creek upstream from Cheatwood Millpond.

      Elizabeth died on August 17, 1694. On December 10, 1695, in anticipation of a second marriage, John made a deed of gift to h is seven children, dividing the bulk of his holdings (including the 450 acre grant) among his children. These lands were "NEVER TO BE SOLD OR DISPOSED OF, BUT TO REMAIN FROM HEIR TO HEIR AS LONG AS THERE CAN
      BE ONE OF YE MEADORS FOUND ALIVE." However, within a few years, the lands passed into other hands.

      John then remarried, but the name of his second wife is not known. Two daughters and four more sons were born to this second marriage: Jonas, Dinah, Mary, Joshua, Job and Jason. John had thirteen children in all. The names of all of these sons began with the letter "J". This custom was continued for several generations in the Meador family. It is not known why the all the sons of the first marriage were not named with names beginning with the letter "J" - only John, Jr.

      Nearing 63 years, and aware of approaching death, he made his will on October 17, 1721. He died shortly thereafter in Essex County. His will was probated November 21, 1721.

      His will mentioned "all my houses and orchards". John's 450 acre grant was divided among the children of his first wife; and portions of other lands were also divided to children of his second wife. A descendant, William Meador, retained some of this land.

      In terms of wealth, the children of John Meador by his second wife received little from their father. The children by his first wife, Elizabeth, had already received the bulk of John's estate through his Deed of Gift before his remarriage. The oldest son, Richard, and Richard's descendants, appear to have ultimately obtained much of John's total estate. Richard Meador and his descendants tended to dominate others of the family, particularly those of the second marriage. The scattering of these latter children and their failure to take any significant advantage of the small amount of land left to them by John Meador may well
      have been directly attributable to that dominance by Richard and his children. This could have been accentuated by their Quaker learnings.

      In terms of prestige and political influence in the community, John Meador does not appear to have been outstanding; but rather to have been just an average citizen. While he presumably should have benefited from his relationship to the Awbreys (his step-father's wealthy and influential family), there is little indication that he was treated favorably by this family.

      The last resting place of John Meador and his family is unknown. A visit to the old plantation now reveals no trace of the houses or cemetaries that once may have been there. The lands are now occupied by a large wheat field and by thick woods.

      ** John Meador's Deed of Gift:
      Know all men by these presents that I, John Meador Senior, widower, in ye county of Essex in ye Parish of South Phernam, for ye love I bear to my children that I had by my wife Elizabeth Meador deceased, I doe hereby give them such persell of land that I shall set downe severall by themselves. All ye land that I have on ye West side of a branch that goeth by ye name of a great branch I do give to my son Richard Meador and my son John Meador it shall be divided as I shall see fit between them as near as I can divide it to they and their heirs lawfully begotten of their owne bodies for ever. A parcell of land beginning at a
      Cole Spring by my orchard fence and running West and by North till it meets with ye great branch, so along ye great branch till it comes to ye maine swamp of ye creeke, them downe ye swamp till it comes to ye Cole Spring branch, then up ye branch where it begun, being a long neck of land, I do give to my son Thomas Meador and his heirs lawfully begotten of his owne body for ever. A parcell of land beginning at my oppermost line by John Evans land by ye head of a branch at a marked white oake and running downe ye branch till it meets with ye maine swamp ye branch beeing crooked all ye lands that I have within my bounds of ye east side of that branch being a great deal of old fields belonging to it I doe give to my son Hope Meador and his heirs lawfully begotten of his body for ever. I doe give to my daughter Rachell Meador one hundred and five acres of land that I bought of Mr. Edwin Thacker to she and her heirs for ever. A parcell of land lyeing into the neck the north side of the
      Creek which my father in law Richard White gave to me by deed of Gift I doe by the virtue of that Deed of Gift I does give to my daughter Elizabeth Meader ye second neck and my daughter Esther Meader the neck that has ye Housing and orchards to them and their heirs lawfully begotten of their owne bodies for ever. The land given unto my sons and daughters never to be sold nor disposed of but to rem aine from heir to heir as long as there can be one of ye Meaders found alive, if it ye Lords will to call any of my Sons or Daughters before me and any of them shall dye before me, ye land of ye deed to returne to me again to my disposing. I doe reserve and except myself Timber upon any parts of ye land for my own use as long as I live as Witness my hand and seale this tenth day of December, 1694.

      John Meador (seale)
      sealed and dtd. in the presents of us
      Mary (X) Gorbell
      Joseph (F) Calloway

      At a court held for Essex County Febry. ye llth anno Dom. 1694 the within named John Meader appeared and acknowledged the within specified contents to be his Real Act and Deed, ye same was ordered to be recorded.

      Teste. Francis Meriwether, Cl. Ct.

      ** Will of John Meador:
      In the Name of God, Amen. I, John Meador of Essex County, being sick and weak in body, but of sound mind and perfect memory, blessed by God, therefore do make and ordain this to be my Last Will and Testament in the manner and form
      following:

      First and principally, I commend my soul into the hands that giveth, hoping the meritorious death and passion of my Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, to receive full pardon and forgiveness of all my sins and offences, and a joyful resurrection in the last day; and my body to be decently buried at the direction of my executors hereafter named. And as for my worldly goods:
      Item. I give to my son Thomas Meador, one shilling.
      Item. I give to my daughter Rachell Jordan, one shilling.
      Item. I give to my daughter Elizabeth Armstrong, one shilling.
      Item. I give to my daughter Dinah Tribille, one shilling.
      Item. My desire is that my five sons shall keep their own guns without appraising.
      Item. I give to my daughter Mary Meador, one gold ring.
      Item. I give to my son Jonas Meador a small piece of land joining upon Thomas Evinses land and running up to the church road that goes from my house, then up a (long?) road a small course until it comes to a vale that goes to ye branch, so down the branch till it comes to the forks of the branch where it begins, and from the forks to ye first beginning. And the rest of my land I give to my other four sons, to be equally divided, with all my houses and orchards thereon belonging, and I do appoint my two sons Job Meador and Jason Meador my lawful Executors.
      Item. I give to my son Joshua Meador one chest not to be appraised, and the rest of my estate to be equally divided amongst my children and leave to my youngest sons to be of age at seventeen and I do leave my son Jonas Meador to look after them three years. And that my will not to be in force till my decease.

      Witness my hand and seal this 17th day of October, yr. 1721.

      John Meador Senior (seal)

      Teste:
      Samuel Waggoner
      Francis F Poarris
      Ann A Bradbury

      Presented for probate Nov. 21, 1721 by Jonas Meador during the minority of the executor in the said will mentioned, with
      oaths by Samuel Waggoner, Francis Pierce and Ann Bradbury.

      ** Inventory of John Meador, Sr.:

      2 cows & yearling l dozen new spoons
      2 barren cows ? doz. old ditto
      1 young stear & hefer 3 pas. forks & 6 of spire
      6 head of sheep 2 towells
      l horse & mare 2 pare of sheares
      25 new pewter parcell of old iron
      42 old pewter 1 chest & lumber
      parcell shoemakers tools chest & caine
      parcell of books chest & box
      parcell of candle stubbs 2 mills baggs
      parcell of tinn 1 feather bed & furn.
      parcell of earthenware ditto
      parcell of glass bottles ditto
      parcell of old lumber ditto
      2 laterns parcell of old spools
      Lord 2 bolts 2 spinning wheels
      parcell of segitt bootes collar & hames
      parcell of small sillards parcell of olifford
      drinking glass 2 parcell of lasts
      looking glass parcell of coopers & carpenters tools
      curing panse & steall 2 old pads
      1 warming pan & sinior 4 new hames
      pare of old wool cards 1 old chest & lumber
      pare of porbett comperios parcell of nails
      1 gunn & irowring rod 4 old barrells
      parcell of boewls & trays 2 old mills baggs
      parcell of old chairs & table & furniture
      2 bushells of soft joynter
      1 skillet 1 linen wheel
      2 pare of fire tongs & fire shovells 16 lbs. woolt
      1 spitt parcell of baskoft
      2 potts 2 sadles & bridles
      1 cutting knife parcell of planks
      pare old baltol parcell of banded leather
      1 brass cord eddy hook
      parcell of old umblott 2 raw hides
      2 shott baggs & powder horns old table
      parcell of earthen ware 1 cart & wheales
      copper pott 1 hive of beases
      2 frine pans old grinder
      1 spiro mortar parcell of old carque & basrolls
      106 pott iron parcell of cotton
      parcell of old pott iron 1 lines & harness
      his own waring cloaths 5 bushels wheat
      parcell of money scales & rule parcell of canhooks
      2/6 cash 1 small auger
      parcell of mall lumber 6 years of caterloons stuff
      pare of large scales parcell of lumber

      He was married to Elizabeth WHITE (daughter of Richard WHITE and Addra MAIDEN NAME UNKNOWN) in 1677 in Rappahanock , Essex County, Virginia. Elizabeth WHITE was born in 1657 in Rappahanock , Essex County, Virginia. She died on Aug 17 1694 in Rappahanock , Essex County, Virginia. She has Ancestral File number 9BV8-BH. John MEADOR Sr and Elizabeth WHITE had the following children:

      +13 i. Jason MEADOR.
      +14 ii. Richard MEADOR.
      +15 iii. John MEADOR Jr..
      16 iv. Esther MEADOR died before 1721.
      17 v. Hope MEADOR was born in 1684 in Old Rappahannock, Essex County, Virginia. He died before 1721 in Rappahanock , Essex County, Virginia. Yes this is a male. It is not an error!
      +18 vi. Thomas MEADOR.
      +19 vii. Elizabeth MEADOR.
      +20 viii. Rachel MEADOR.

      He was married to Unknown AWBRY after 1695. Unknown AWBRY has Ancestral File number 9BV8-BH. John MEADOR Sr and Unknown AWBRY had the following children:

      +21 i. Dinah MEADOR.
      22 ii. Mary MEADOR was born in 1685 in , , Virginia.
      +23 iii. Jonas MEADOR.
      24 iv. Job MEADOR was born in 1693 in , , Virginia.
      +13 v. Jason MEADOR.
      25 vi. Joshua MEADOR was born in 1691 in , , Virginia.
    • John Meador's Deed of Gift:
      Know all men by these presents that I, John Meador Senior, widower, in ye county of Essex in ye Parish of South Phernam, for ye love I bear to my children that I had by my wife Elizabeth Meador deceased, I doe hereby give them such persell of land rthat I shall set downe severall by themselves. All y land that I have on ye West side of a branch that goeth by ye name of a great branch I do give to my son Richard Meador and my son John Meador it shall be divided as I shall see fit between them as near as I can divide it to they and their heirs lawfully begotten of their owne bodies for ever. A parcell of land beginning at a Cole Spring by my orchard fence and running West and by North till it meets with ye great branch, so along ye great branch till it comes to ye maine swamp of ye creeke, then downe ye swamp till it comes to ye Cole Spring granch, then up ye branch where it begun, being a long neck of land, I do give to my son Thomas Meador and his heirs lawfully begotten of his owne body for ever. A parcell of land beginning at my oppermost line by John Evans land by ye head of a branch at a marked white oake and running downe ye branch till it meets with ye maine swamp ye branch beeing crooked all ye lands that I have within my bounds of ye east side of that branch being a great deal of old fields belonging to it I doe give to my son Hope Meador and his heirs lawfully begotten of his body for ever. I doe give to my daughter Rachell Meador one hundred and five acres of land that I bought of Mr. Edwin Thacker to she and her heirs for ever. A parcell of land lyeing into the neck the north side of the Creek which my father in law Richard White gave to me by deed of Gift I doe by the virtue of that Deed of Gift I does give to my daughter Elizabeth Meader ye second neck and my daughter Esther Meader the neck that has ye Housing and orchards to them and their heirs lawfully begotten of their owne bodies for ever. The land given unto my sons and daughters never to be sold nor disposed of but to remaine from heir to heir as long as there can be one of ye Meaders found alive, if it ye Lords will to call any of my Sons or Daughters before me and any of them shall dye before me, ye land of ye deed to returne to me again to my disposing. I doe reserve and except myself Timber upon any parts of ye land for my own use as long as I live as Witness my hand and seale this tenth day of December, 1694.
      John Meador (seale)sealed and dtd. in the presents of us
      Mary (X) GorbellJoseph (F) Calloway
      At a court held for Essex County Febry. ye 11th anno Dom. 1694 the within named John Meader appeared and acknowledge the within specified contents to be his Real Act and Deed, ye same was ordered to be recorded.
    • http://www.livelyroots.com/demedewe/d12.htm#c15040
      51. John Meador [15042] was born in 1658 in Lancaster County, Virginia and died on 14 May 1721 in Essex County, Virginia at age 63.
      General Notes: It was the custom to name male children using biblical names starting with "J", at least in the Meador family. This practice continued for several generations and although it has been confusing, it does serve to identify this family.
      SRC: Southern Familes Genealogies #1, 1600-1800 - Historical Southern Families Vol IV, Meador-Meadows of Essex County, Virginia.

      "John Meador married Elizabeth White, daughter of Richard White. On Dec 10, 1695 he divided his land among his children. He described himself as "John Meadors, widow, in the county of Essex, for the love I have for my children by my wife to be divided equally between them, as near as I can divide it. To my son Richard Meador and my son John Meador, land by John Evans; land on the east side of great branch to my son Hope Meador; to my daughter Rachael Meador 105 acres bought of Edward Thacker also land given me by my father-in-law, Richard White, land also to daughters Elizabeth and Esther Meador. . ."
      John was born about 1658 married Elizabeth White. Elizabeth died on August 17, 1694. John married second unknown Awbrey. On December 10, 1695, in anticipation of a second marriage, John made a deed of gift to his seven children He is listed in court records in Essex County, Virginia as John Meador Senior. John and his family lived in Farnham Parish of Essex County, Virginia on the south side of the Rappahannock River. His will was probated November 23, 1721 in Essex County. Will: "I give to my son Thomas Meador one shilling; I give my daughter, Rachale Jodan, one shilling; to my daughter Elize Armstrong, one shilling; to my daughter Dinah Tribbile, one shilling; my desire is that my five sons shall keep their own guns without appraisal. I give to my daughter Mary Meador one gold ring. I give to my son Jones Meador a small piece of land joining upon Thomas Evan's and running up to church road that goes by my house then up a long road a small course until it comes to the fork of the branch where it began and from the fork to the first beginning and the rest of my land I give to the other four sons to be equally divided with all my houses and orchards thereon belonging and I do appoint my two sons Jobe and Jason Meador my executor. I give my son Joshua Meador one chest not to be appraised and the rest of my estate to be equally divided among my children and I do leave my two youngest sons to be of age at seventeen and I do leave my son Jonas Meador to look after them for three years and that my will not be in force 'til my decease as witness by my hand and seal this 17th day of October, 1721. Estate 3, 1717-22 C. 7283, pp. 284-5.
      John married Elizabeth White [15043] [MRIN: 4979], daughter of Richard White [15058] and Addra Unknown [20693], about 1677. Elizabeth was born in 1660 in Essex County, Virginia and died on 17 Aug 1694 at age 34.
      Children from this marriage were:
      + 61 M i. Thomas Meador [15040] was born in 1677 in Essex County, Virginia and died after Sep 1758 in Essex County, Virginia.
      + 62 M ii. Richard Meador [15059] was born about 1678 and died about May 1716 about age 38.
      + 63 F iii. Rachel Meador [15060] was born about 1683 in Essex County, Virginia and died in Amelia County, Virginia.
      + 64 M iv. John Meador Jr. [15061] was born in 1684 in Essex County, Virginia and died on 14 May 1720 at age 36.
      + 65 F v. Elizabeth Meador [15062] was born in 1685 in Essex County, Virginia.
      66 M vi. Hope Meador [15063] was born in 1690 in Old Rappahannock, Virginia.
      67 F vii. Hester Meador [17841] was born in 1691 in Essex County, Virginia and died in 1721 in Essex County, Virginia at age 30.
      Hester married William Bourne [34079] [MRIN: 6004]. William was born in 1691 in Essex County, Virginia.
      John next married Mary "Ann" Awbrey [15044] [MRIN: 4980] after 1694. Mary was born in 1678 and died in Oct 1721 in Essex, Caroline County, Virginia at age 43.
      Children from this marriage were:
      + 68 F i. Dinah Esther Meador [15066] was born in 1696 in Old Rappahannock, Essex, Virginia and died about 1743 in Tenneessee about age 47.
      + 69 M ii. Jonas Meador Sr. [29615] was born about 1698 in Essex, Caroline County, Virginia and died on 5 Sep 1768 in Cumberland County, Virginia about age 70.
      70 F iii. Mary J. Meador [15069] was born about 1700 in Essex, Caroline County, Virginia.
      + 71 M iv. Joel Meador [15065] was born in 1702 in Essex County, Virginia and died on 17 May 1777 in Raleigh Parish, Amelia County, Virginia at age 75.
      72 M v. Job Meador [15070] was born about 1704 in Essex, Caroline County, Virginia and died in 1774 in North Carolina about age 70.
      + 73 M vi. Jason Meador [15071] was born about 1707 in Essex, Caroline County, Virginia and died on 3 Mar 1774 in Anson County, North Carolina about age 67.

  • Sources 
    1. [S761] Yates Publishing, Ancestry Family Trees, (Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members.), Ancestry Family Tree.
      http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/AMTCitationRedir.aspx?tid=82294308&pid=3

    2. [S32] Yates Publishing, U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900, (Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004.), Source number: 16795.000; Source type: Electronic Database; Number of Pages: 1; Submitter Code: WAY.

    3. [S163] Dodd, Jordan, Liahona Research, comp, Virginia Marriages, 1851-1929, (Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2000.).

    4. [S751] Ancestry.com, U.S., Find a GraveĀ® Index, 1600s-Current, (Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.).

    5. .