Group B is a large complex group. It is divided into two major subgroups by DNA analysis. It is impossible to know for sure but the two subgroups appear to have split, in terms of DNA, before the year 1500. Since they carry the same surname it is assumed that the split came after the introduction of surnames in England in the 1200’s. The two subgroups will be treated separately and have been given arbitrary names of Group B and Group B3. This article discusses the structure of the Meek(s) families identified as Group B in the Meek/Meeks DNA project. Group B3 involves the descendants of John Meeks born about 1700 who lived in Pitt Co., NC. It will be discussed in another article.
Group B is the largest group in the DNA project and represents eight known Revolutionary era ancestors born before 1800 as well as a number of more recent ancestors who have not been connected further back in time. The list of early ancestors resembles a portion of the list of men named in the 1902 book by H. B. Meek as sons of Jacob Meek born 1698 in Lincolnshire, England. This story was expanded by Carleton Meek in his 1962 book. However, other researchers, notably Joseph L. Meek, claimed that the same set of sons belonged to Jacob Meek born 1717 the son of Guy Meek. This conflict has been resolved to a certain degree. The DNA project has proven that the total list of sons came from at least three unrelated Meek family. Therefore there is no reliable source as to how the Group B ancestors were related or who their father(s) may have been. There is no reliable information on where they came from. Readers should be very cautious with any source that claims to know this information. See the article The Progenitor Myth.
Eight of the men named as sons of Jacob Meek lived in S.W. Pennsylvania. In Washington Co., PA there was Isaac, Samuel, Nathaniel and Basil born 1763. Four other men said to be their brothers lived in Allegheny Co., PA. They were Jeremiah, Joshua, John and Jacob. DNA proved that the men in Allegheny County were totally unrelated to the men in Washington County. That raises the question, why did H. B. Meek and Carleton Meek think that were brothers?
The obvious answer is that they did not know how to do genealogy. They simply threw all the Meeks in the same pot and guessed at their relationship. Unfortunately they published books and three generations of genealogists have now been misled by their work.
The article Early Meek Settlers of S. W. Pennsylvania looks at the official records that do exist and details a more expansive list of men named Meek in S. W. Pennsylvania than the early authors knew about. There were unidentified men named Jeremiah Meek and Jacob Meek who made a single appearance in the records. They appeared in the 1783 tax list of Washington County. There is growing reason to believe that these men went to Pulaski Co., KY with Nathaniel and Basil born 1763. In Westmoreland County there were men living next to Jeremiah Meek (previously in Allegheny County) named John, Joshua and Jeremiah Meek Jr. These men belong in Group A. It is also known now that there were men named Jeremiah and Jacob Meek in Tennessee who were connected to the men in Washington County by DNA.
We do not know what information H. B. Meek had but it is possible he had a partially valid list of related ancestors living in Washington Co., PA that formed the basis of his 13 sons of Jacob Meek even if the total list of names was incorrect. It seems unlikely that there was a single father for the men listed. We do not have DNA from a proven descendant of Jacob, son of Guy Meek (or Jacob, son of Adam Meek). Based on the DNA profile of the descendants DNA will not reveal how many fathers are involved. This must be established through traditional genealogical research. However, if a descendant of Guy Meek is ever found it will be known if he was the progenitor or not. View DNA results.
Following are the ancestors born before 1800 identified in Group B. See the main menu for all genealogies related to this group.
Washington Co., PA 1774-1800Samuel Meek b: 1732Maryland connection George Meek b: 1785 MDBorn after 1800 John W. Meeks b: 1815 |
Tennessee/Arkansas 1800>Jeremiah Meek b: 1771 to 1779 Slightly different DNA Jacob Meek b: 1760 |
Ten men (or more depending on the identity of Jacob and Jeremiah) named Meek born before 1800 can be identified in the records. Based on DNA analysis for most of them it is known that they were related and were distinct from other Meek families.
Any analysis based on DNA has certain limitations just as any set of genealogical data. DNA results constitute data points in the larger set of data. Any incorrect assumptions about DNA can send the genealogical research off in the wrong directions. For example two ancestors who lived near each other in times past share a similar DNA profile (a DNA match). Assuming that they shared the same surname the DNA results will in some cases indicate that they shared a common ancestor. But that does not mean that they had any knowledge of each other prior to their residency in that location. Based on a number of other factors their relationship could be so distant that it is meaningless from a genealogical standpoint.
DNA should be evaluated in conjunction with other genealogical data. There are gaps in the data as well as facts that are totally unknown. These unknown facts complicate any genealogical hypothesis. The ancestors identified in Group B were related. Their relationship to each other’s is unknown. They were definitely not all brothers as indicated by H. B. Meek and others. They were probably a combination of father/son, brothers, first cousins and more distant cousins.
The earliest record of any of these ancestors is about 1775 based on deed records for Samuel Meek. Based on the earliest likely date of birth from the list here the common ancestor had to have been born before 1715 and probably much earlier. We know little about that person from DNA and have been unable to connect to a proven ancestor through genealogy. One possible interpretation of this data is that there was a large extended family that migrated to different parts of the United States. Where that migration started is unknown. The progenitor or common ancestor may have lived in the United States. The other possibility is that different groups or family members immigrated to the United States separately.
In summary Group B consist of several ancestors who share both the same surname and DNA profile. The largest group lived in Washington Co., PA between 1775 and 1800. Some of these men moved to south central Kentucky. One of those moved to Tennessee and eventually Carroll Co., AR. That man was joined in Carroll Co., AR by two other men who came from Blount Co., TN. Based on the DNA results, surname and proximity it is likely that these men were related and shared a common.