Francis Meadows Jr. (abt. 1754 - 1836)

Born about 1754 in Orange, Colony of Virginia

Ancestors

Husband of Keziah (Unknown) Meadows — married about 1782 in Virginia, United States

Husband of Frances (Bush) Meadows — married 18 Sep 1797 in Rockingham Co., VA

Descendants

Died 20 Nov 1836 at about age 82 in Monroe, Virginia, United States

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Ruth Hodges [send private message], Bob Fields [send private message], and Jennifer Brunk [send private message]

Confusion of Francis Jr and Francis Sr.

For some time, and continuing today, information about Francis Jr. and Francis Sr. has been confused, probably based on uncritical copying of the work of Shirley Seal Breeden.^[1] Breeden was the first to publish information on the Francis Meadows line, based on research done at a time when access to actual records was considerably more difficult than today, and standards of reporting were more poorly defined. The claim that "Francis Meadows came to the Blue Ridge Mountains in March 1770 and settled at the head of Hawksbill Creek in Augusta County, Va.", for example, is a direct quote from Breeden. She assigned it to Francis Sr., not Francis Jr., although she was unaware that Francis Sr. had been living in Orange County (the parent county of Augusta County) since at least the 1740s. Considerable research has been done on the Francis Meadows line since, at least some reported on the RootsWeb Meadows email list, and should be used to build on the work Breeden began.

Another source of confusion is The Soldiery of West Virginia, which lists a Francis Meadows who served in the American Revolution, with a pension beginning in 1819, whose stated age is 80.^[2] The assumption made by Breeden, and others, is that this must apply to Francis Sr.; however, the list was made in 1835, and Francis Jr. would have been about 80 at that time.

Francis Sr. served in Dunmore’s War in 1774 as a private under Captain Alexander McClannehan.^[3]

Biography

Origins

Francis "Frank" Meadows Jr., son of Francis and Mary (Bell?) Meadows,^[4] was born about 1754, based on his stated age when he applied for a Revolutionary War Pension.^[5][6][7] He most probably was born in Orange County, Virginia, where his parents lived at the time of his birth. (Francis Meadows was on the Tax List for Orange County in 1756.^[8])

Revolutionary War Service

Private Francis Meadows Jr. served with Virginia Militia during the American Revolution.

Francis Meadows Jr. performed Patriotic Service in Virginia in the American Revolution.

Francis Meadows Jr. is a DAR Patriot Ancestor, A076867.

Francis Meadows Jr. is an NSSAR Patriot Ancestor.
NSSAR Ancestor #: 247380
Rank: Private / Prisoner of War / Patriotic Service

Francis Meadows Jr. enlisted in Augusta County, Virginia in February 1777; served as a private in Captains David Laird's and Lamme's companies, in Colonel Green's 10th Virginia Regiment; he was taken prisoner at Charleston and held 14 or 15 days, when he made his escape; length of service, 3 years and 3 months.^[5][6][7]

On November 15, 1790, Francis Meadows petitioned the House of Delegates of Virginia for a certificate "for pay and land" for his services in the Revolutionary War.^[9]

Marriages and Children

Francis Meadows Jr. was married twice. His first wife was named Keziah, based on her signature on several deeds of sale made by Francis Jr. in 1790. Keziah is clearly not the wife of Francis Sr., as he and his wife Mary sold property in 1791.^[10] Francis Jr. and Keziah may have married about 1781 or 1782.^[11]

In 1785, both Francis Meadows [Sr.] and Francis Meadows Jr. were living in Rockingham County, Virginia, as was James Meadows, presumably Francis Jr.’s brother.^[12]

In 1790 Francis and Keziah are probably the Francis Meadows family shown with (presumably) two children in the US Census. The other Francis Meadows family with (presumably) four children would be Francis Sr., father of Francis Jr.^[13]

Francis Jr. married as his second wife Frances Bush in Rockingham County, Virginia, on or after 16 Sep 1797, the date when Frances Meadows and John Bush, father of Frances, signed a marriage contract.^[11] Frances (Bush) Meadows later claimed, in1841 when applying for a Widow’s Pension based on an Act of Congress 7 July 1838, that she and Francis married in 1790 or 1791, "which she can not certainly recollect, as no record of same was kept". She may or may not have forgotten the date of her marriage, but if she had reported the true date, she would have been ineligible for the pension.^[14]

In 1820, Francis Jr. claimed that he was the father of 16 children, 12 of whom were sons and 6 who were under the age of 14 years.
Known children of Francis are:
• Melinda Meadows Buckland (1795 - 1860)
• Fielding Meadows (1800 - 1858)
• Anthony F. Meadows (1805 - 1873)
• Abraham Meadows (1808 - 1869)
• Nathaniel Meadows (1812 - 1876)
• Robert Henry Meadows (1815 - 1888)
• Anderson Meadows (1828 - 1880)
• Francis Meadows b: 1799 in Virginia
• Phillip Meadows b: 1807
• Thomas Meadows b: ABT 1811 in Virginia
• St Clair Meadows b: 1814 in Virginia

Pension Application

On June 16, 1818 Francis Jr. petitioned for a Revolutionary War pension, emphasizing the full details of his service and the fact that he was "in reduced circumstances in life." On August 15, 1820 he again petitioned for relief, emphasizing his military service for "three years and three months" during the Revolutionary War, starting with his enlistment in February of 1777. He listed his limited property, he emphasized that he was "not able to work owing to a severe rupture, and he stated that his wife was "also very frail and not able to work." He also called attention to his "sixteen children (12 of them sons) who have all left me but six all of whom are under the age of 14 years."^{[5] [6]} [It is my understanding that many of the 1818 petitions did not contain the required property list and this was the reason for the 1820 updates and not new petitions.]

Francis Jr. continued to live in Monroe County, where he was recorded in 1835 as receiving a pension of $96 per month, based on his service in the Virginia [Continental] Line. His stated age at that time was 80, ^[2] consistant with his stated ages in 1818 and 1820.

Death and Burial

Francis died 20 November 1836 in Monroe County, Virginia. ^[7] He is said to be buried at Peterstown Cemetery, Rich Creek, Giles County, Virginia.^[15], although this has been questioned.^[16]

His widow FRANCES MEADOWS was allowed pension on her application executed 20 Sept 1841 at which time she said that Francis died 20 November 1836, that she was aged about 70 years and a resident of Monroe County. Names of children were not designated.

Sources

1. ↑ Breeden, Shirley Seal. The de[s]cendants of Francis Meadows of Orange & Rockingham Counties, Va. (Elkton, Va: S. S. Breeden), scanned pages attached to "A to Z Family Tree 2008" by cherylbugala1, 'Ancestry.com, 30 Jan 2008. Accessed 11 Oct 2019
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} Lewis, Virgil A. The Soldiery of West Virginia (Baltimore, Maryland; Genealogical Publishing Co. 1998), pp. 80, 68. Originally published as Third Biennial Report of the Department of Archives and History, State of West Virginia, Charleston, 1911. Online version available on Ancestry.com
3. ↑ He served for a total of 122 days, and he received 9 pounds and 3 shillings in pay. Source: Library of Virginia Digital Library Program, Payrolls and Muster Rols from Dunmore's War, part of the Records of the Executive Branch, Auditor of Public Accounts (Record Group 48) The index card at the above site indicates that Captain McClannehan's Company was from Augusta County, Virginia.
4. ↑ "1794 Survey: Documentation that Francis Meadows II was a son of Francis Meadows 1", Curt L. Systma, 18 March 2001, in RootsWeb Mailing List Archives, Meadows, March 2001.
   also supports claim that Francis Sr. died in 1791 or 1792
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1 5.2} Information from Wardell, Patrick G., compiler. Virginia/West Virginia Genealogical Data from Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Records, Vol. 3.
   

   Meadows, Francis - entered service 1777 in Augusta County, Virginia in 10th Virginia Regiment; granted Pension abt. age 64 in Monroe County, Virginia, 1818, when resided there abt. 9 years; in 1820 had 16 children mentioned but not named of whom 12 were sons & 6 of under age 14; died there 11/20/1836; married fall of 1790/91 to Frances Bush, Rockingham County, Virginia; widow granted Pension abt. age 70 in Monroe County, Virginia in 1841; surname also spelled Medows. F-W5367, R1704

6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1 6.2} "Pension Application of Francis Meadows W5367 ",Transcribed and annotated by C. Leon Harris. Revised 5 Apr 2015 . Southern Campaigns American Revolution Pension Statements and Rosters.accessed 9 Oct 2019.
   See also: Transcription from Fold3, [below]
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1 7.2} DAR Ancestor A076867, in Daughters of the American Revolution. Genealogical Research System.
   

   Meadows, Francis
   Service: Virginia Rank(s): Patriotic Service, Private
   Birth: circa 1754
   Death: 11-20-1836 Monroe County, Virginia
   Pension Number: S*W5367
   Service Source: S*W5367
   Service Description: 1) Capts David Laird, Nathan Lamme; Col. Green; 2) Prisoner of War
   Residence: 1) County: Augusta County, Virginia
   Spouse: 1) Frances Bush
   Children [whose descendants have applied for membership]:
   Thomas, m. Sarah Barger Anthony, m. Mary Polly Shumate
   Saint Clair, m. Elizabeth Garten

8. ↑ "Location of Francis Meadows in 1756", Curt L. Systma, 11 March 2001, in in RootsWeb Mailing List Archives, Meadows, March 2001.
9. ↑ Wayland, John W. Virginia Valley Records: Genealogical and Historical Materials of Rockingham County, Virginia. (originally published in Strasburg, Virginia in 1930 and reprinted by Genealogical Publishing Co., Baltimore, Md. 1985) pp. 88-89
10. ↑ "Francis I & II and the Rockingham County Land Records", Curt L. Systma, 25 Mar 2001, in RootsWeb Mailing List Archives, Meadows, March 2001.
11. ↑ ^{11.0 11.1} "Francis Meadows I & Mary; Francis Meadows II & Kesiah", Curt L. Sytsma, 7 March 2001, in RootsWeb Mailing List Archives, Meadows, March 2001.
12. ↑ Virginia Valley records : genealogical and historical materials of Rockingham County, Virginia, and related regions (with map) [database on-line]. (Provo, UT: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005), p. 115 (Original: Wayland, John Walter,. Virginia Valley records : genealogical and historical materials of Rockingham County, Virginia, and related regions (with map). ( Strasburg, Va.: Shenandoah Publishing House, 1930)
13. ↑ Virginia, United States. Heads of families at the first census of the United States taken in the year 1790, Virginia: records of the state enumerations, 1782 to 1785. (Washington D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1908), p. 97
    Orange County, List of Jeremiah White
14. ↑ Peters, Richard, ed., By authority of Congress. The public statutes at large of the United States …, Vol. 5, (Charles C. Little and James Brown, Boston, 1846), p. 303. Google Books, accessed 6 Sep 2014
    Twenty-fifth Congress, Session Two, 1838
    Chapter CLXXXIX - An Act granting half-pay and pensions to certain widows
    . . . An act supplementary to the act for the relief of certain surviving officers and soldiers who have died, "leaving a widow, whose marriage took place after the expiration of the last period of his service, and before the first day of January seventeen hundred and ninety-four" [emphasis added]
15. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #55179346, Created by: Oscar Meadows, 19 Jul 2010, accessed 12 Oct 2019. Has photograph of gravestone, which is obviously very recent, not contemporary with time of death of Francis and apparently replacing an older stone that had become unreadable.
16. ↑ Re: Tombstone with F M on it, Arley Meadows, 15 Mar 2001, in in RootsWeb Mailing List Archives, Meadows, March 2001.

See also:

• "Historians of Virginians in the Revolution " Gwathmey pg. 541 S/S Pension(s) # W 5367

• http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/AMTCitationRedir.aspx?tid=17275148&pid=487942919 broken link

• http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/MEADOWS/2006-07/1152044373 broken link

Transcription of Pension Application

Pension Application of Francis Meadows: W5367 Transcribed and annotated by C. Leon Harris Originals are at Footnote.com Virginia to wit. At a Court held for the County of Monroe the 16th day of June 1818. Francis Meadows appeared in Open Court (being a Court of Record) and made oath that about the month of February 1777 in the County of Augusta he enlisted for three Years as a private soldier in the Revolution under Captain David Laird, who was afterwards cashiered, and the men who were under said Laird (& Returned to serve during the war) as he believes were placed under Captain Nathaniel Lamb of the 10th Virginia Regiment commanded by Colo. Green of General Wheaton’s brigade & Virginia line on Continental establishment and that he served two summers in the light infantry Commanded by General Wain, & that he served about three Years, and about three months, and was taken prisoner by Lord Cornwallis at Charlestown [sic: see note below] & remained a prisoner about fourteen or fifteen days & made his escape & returned to Albemarle County Virginia and Reported himself to Colo. Wood who then commanded the barricks in said County, who gave him a furlow until his company was exchanged who were also taken prisoners; he further states that the exchange did not take place (to his knowledge) before the close of the war. he afterwards came to the County of Monroe, where he has been a resident for at least nine years. he further states that he is in reduced circumstances in life and needs the assistance of his Country for support. It was also proven by Jonathan Roach who is a resident in the County of Monroe & knows of his own knowledge that the said Francis Meadows did enlist in the army of the Revolution in the County of Augusta under Captain Laird. The Court do certify that it appears to the satisfaction of said Court that the said Francis Meadows (who is a man of good character) did serve in the Revolutionary war against the Common Enemy for about three years and three months, as stated in the above declaration and continental establishment, & that the said Court is well satisfied from the oath of several respectable persons resident in the said County of Monroe that the said Francis Meadows is in reduced circumstances in life and needs the assistants of his country for support. Virginia; At a Court of Quarter Sessions held for the County of Monroe the 15th day of August 1820. On this 15th day of August 1820 personally appeared in Open Court being a Court of Record for said County Francis Meadows aged about 66 years & resident in the said County, who being first duly sworn according to Law, doth on his oath declare that he served in the revolutionary war as follows- That he enlisted about the month of February 1777, in the County of Augusta for three years as a private soldier under Captain David Laird, who was afterwards cashiered (& he returned to serve during the war) & the men who were under said Laird as he believes were placed under Captain Nathaniel Lamb of the 10th Virginia Regiment commanded by Colo. Green & Gen’l Wheaton’s brigade Virginia Line on continental line establishment. that he served in the light infantry two summers commanded by General Wain & that he served about three years & about three months & was taken prisoner by Lord Cornwallis at Charleston S.C. & remained prisoner about 14 or 15 days then made his escape & returned to Albemarle County Virginia & reported himself to Colo Wood who had command of the barracks in said County who gave him a furlough until his company would be exchanged who were also taken prisoners which exchange did not take place until the close of the war to the best of his knowledge. That he made a declaration before the said County Court of Monroe on the 16th day of June, 1818 & that he has received from the secretary of the department of War a pension certificate dated the 29th day of January 1819 numbered 6013 And I do solemnly swear that I was a resident citizen of the United States on the 18th day of March 1818 & that I have not since that time by Gift sale, or in any manner disposed of my property or any part thereof with intent thereby so to diminish as to bring myself within the provision of an act of Congress entitled "An act to provide for certain persons engaged in the Land & Naval service of the United States in the revolutionary war" passed on the 18th day of March 1818 & that I have not nor has any person in trust for me any property, or securities, contracts or debts due to me nor have I any Income other than what is contained in the schedule hereunto annexed & by me subscribed towit two yearling colts - one colt two years old four cows & two calves. 12 sheep- 14 hogs- 12 geese- three small pots & six pair of hooks - 1 bushel kettle - 1 half bushel oven - 1 skillet & seng [i.e. ginseng] hoe- 2 old axes- one hand saw & drawing knife- 1 frow plain & Coopers compasses & trowel- 3 bee stands & shovel 7 pewter plates- 1 dish & basin- nine Iron spoons- 1 set of knives & forks- 1 old rifle gun- one old loom & two Reeds 3 piggons & one pail- one old washing tub- one big wheel 1 pair cards- 1 new spinning wheel- one old wheel- one old looking glass- 5 old chairs- one old chest- 1 cut reel & churn 2 bottles- 1 tin pan- two augers- two gimblets- six tin cups- three old reef hooks- one round shave- three bills- 124 acres of Land which I bought of Henry Maddy lying in Monroe County- $105_00 cts which is coming to me- to be paid in trade in three years from this time. I owe to Henry Maddy $100_00 cts for which my property is now under execution- I have no particular trade- I am not able to work owing to a severe Rupture- I have a wife who is also very frail & not able to work- I have sixteen children (12 of them sons) who have all left me but six all of Whom are under the age of 14 years. Francis hisXmark Meadows Value of property $249.00 cts.

NOTES: On 12 May Gen. Benjamin Lincoln surrendered the southern Patriot army at Charleston SC to Gen. Henry Clinton, commander-in-chief of the British forces. Lord Cornwallis was present but subordinate to Clinton.

Acknowledgements

Meadows-968 was created by Ruth Hodges through the import of Ruth.ged on Oct 11, 2014.

Created through the import of James Walter Swartz Family Tre.ged on 24 April 2010. Bob Fields, firsthand knowledget.