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Martha Polly Meeks (1786 - 1853)

Martha Polly Meeks
Born in Kentucky, United Statesmap
Ancestors ancestors
Daughter of and
Sister of , , , , , , , , and
Wife of — married 14 Jun 1811 in Hardin County, Kentuckymap
Wife of — married 3 Oct 1817 (to 1823) in Kentuckymap
[children unknown]
Died at about age 67 in Clark Township, Chariton, Missouri, United Statesmap
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Profile last modified | Created 17 Apr 2017
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Biography

Martha Meeks was born about 1786[1]. She was the eigth child of Priddy Meeks and Elizabeth Denny[2]

Her family moved to Kentucky sometime in the early 1780's, so She was likely born in Kentucky and grew up in Shelby County. [3][4]

About 1799/1800, when Martha was about forteen years old, she moved with her family to Hardin County, Kentucky.[5]

In 1810, at about the age of twenty four, she shows up as a number in her father's household on the Hardin County census record:[6]

  • 1 x male age >44 (before 1766): Priddy Meeks
  • 1 x female age >44 (before 1766): Elizabeth Denny Meeks
  • 3 x female age 16-25 (1785-1794): Martha Meeks, Rebecca Meeks, and Mary Meeks

On June 14, 1811, at about the age of twenty five, Martha married Isaac West in Hardin County Kentucky[7]

Her husband Isaac died in 1813[8]. Some online stories claims he was killed by Indians, other stories claims he was killed fighting in the war of 1812, other stories claim he was killed by Indians while fighting in the war of 1812. His son simply said that Isaac died when he was less than a year old. No mention of the war of 1812, or Indians.

On October 3, 1817, three years after her husband's death, and at about the age of thirty one, Martha married Jonathan Stout in Hardin County Kentucky.[9]

In 1818, when Martha was about thirty two, she moved with her family to Gallatin County, Illinois. Her older brother Suddeth had moved to this county a few years earlier. [10]

An 1820 census has not yet been located for Martha (or her husband).

In about 1823, Martha's husband died, leaving Martha twice a widower with a number of children to look after.

Most information on Martha after the death of her second husband comes from a story of unknown origin on the web. The story itself is well cited so I generally accept it to be true.

Around 1824, when Martha was about thirty eight years old, she married her third husband, Joseph Riley in Gallatin County Illinois.

It appears that her third husband died a few years after their marriage, certainly before 1830.

In 1830, when Martha was about forty four years old, she appears has the head of house in the Gallatin, Illinois census record:[11]

  • 1 x male age 5-9 (1821-1825): Pinkney Riley
  • 2 x male age 20-29 (1801-1810): Both Unknown
  • 2 x female age 10-14 (1811-1815):
  • 1 x female age 30-39 (1791-1800): Martha Meeks West Stout Riley (age is off?)

No 1840 census has been found for Martha.

It appears that she moved to Chariton County Missouri shortly after 1845. Her oldest son, William West had established himself as a doctor by this time and owned land in Chariton County.

In the 1850 census, Martha gave her name as Martha West. Which is interesting as it was Riley by this time. Perhaps it was to identify herself with her prominent son in the region, William West.

Martha died on March 3, 1853. Her tombstone claims she was 67 years old, placing her birth year in 1786 or late 1785.

Sources

  1. ↑ Year comes from the 1850 census
  2. ↑ Parentage comes from the Journal of Dr. Priddy Meeks, Dr. Priddy referred to her as Patsy
  3. ↑ This time frame is a best guess based on available records
  4. ↑ The 1850 census records her being born in Kentucky
  5. ↑ The Meeks Family Sage, Page 27
  6. ↑ Year: 1810; Census Place: Elizabethtown, Hardin, Kentucky; Roll: 6; Page: 300; Image: 00320; Family History Library Film: 0181351
  7. ↑ Kentucky Marriages, 1802-1850
  8. ↑ The History of Howard and Chariton Counties , Missouri, page 850
  9. ↑ Kentucky Marriages, 1802-1850
  10. ↑ The History of Howard and Chariton Counties , Missouri, page 850
  11. ↑ 1830; Census Place: Monroe, Gallatin, Illinois; Series: M19; Roll: 22; Page: 281; Family History Library Film: 0007647
  • Priddy Meeks Journal, Harold B. Lee Library, Brigham Young University, Provo. 1879 [1]
  • Meeks, Anthony. The Meeks Family Saga, Salt Lake City, UT, 2018[2]
  • History of Howard and Chariton Counties, Missouri, 1883. Published by the Missouri State Library. [3]




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Rejected matches › Martha (Maxey) Dell (1772-abt.1833)

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