Francis Meadows, Sr.

Not the same as Josiah Francis Meador, Sr.

Francis was born in 1734 or 1738. He was the son of Thomas Meador and Ann Bourne. He died in 1820.

CHILDREN: with Mary Kesiah Bell-[20673]

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• Lewis Meadows-[15344]+
• William Salon Meadows-[15211]+
• Arris Preston Meadows-[15181]+
• Jeremiah Isaac Meadows-[15021]+
• Jacob Meadows-b. 1766, Orange County, Virginia, d. 1846, Giles County, Virginia, at age 80
• Edith Meadows-[15317]+
• John Meadows-[15188]+
• Mary Meadows-[15185]
• Matthew Meadows-[15186]
• Elijah Meadows-[15187]+
• Rosanna Meadows-[25543]+
• Susanna Meadows-[24445]+

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Up until this point in the Meadows/Meador lineage, the family faithfully named the male children with biblical names beginning with “J”. Josiah Francis in his adulthood was a free soul and this naming tradition ended with him. Another aspect of naming traditions is to name one male child after the grandfather and one after the father, usually the first and third sons. (Albion's Seed by David Hackett Fisher) Several of Josiah Francis' siblings did manage to name descendents after Jonas (father) but Josiah Francis named two sons after himself, the first and thirds sons, Josiah and Francis, which by itself is a naming tradition.

Francis, as he was known, came to the Blue Ridge Mountains in March 1770 and settled at the head of Hawksbill Creek in Augusta County, Virginia. Marriage records in Orange County show that he married Mary Keziah Bell in 1758, Francis lived on top of the mountain where Big Meadows is located. The county line dividing Rockingham and Orange counties runs through his property; the house in Orange County, the barn in Rockingham County. He paid taxes in Orange County.

   Courtesy of Curt Sytsma:

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   1754. BIRTH OF FRANCIS MEADOWS II. In about 1754, Francis Meadows became the father of a son named Francis. Documentary proof of the father-son relationship may be found in the 1770 survey of lands by Francis Meadows I and Cornelius White coupled with the 1794 re-survey of part of those lands by Francis Meadows II. See 1770 Survey, infra. CA.

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   1757 BIRTH. In about 1757, Francis Meadows I became the father of a son, James Meadows. Thus, James Meadows of Rockingham County, Virginia, testified on February 10, 1845, regarding the Pension Application of Docia Lee Maiden Hall, widow of James Maiden (or Madden); James Meadows stated that, on February 10, 1845, he was 88 years of age to the best of his belief, which establishes a birth year of about 1757. He also testified that he was a brother of Francis Meadows and that Francis and James Madden had served together in Captain David Laird's command for three years. Since we have independent docmentation that Francis Meadows II was a son of Francis Meadows I (and that Francis Meadows II did, indeed, perform such service under Capt. Laird), we have documentation that James Meadows was also a son of Francis Meadows I. SOURCE: George Gleghorn, SenatorC@aol.com <mailto:SenatorC@aol.com> (citing Revolutionary War Pension Application of Docia Lee Maiden Hall, widow of James Maiden; 1750-1845; File 5098, National Archives, Washington, D.C.)

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   1770 LAND SURVEY. "Abstract of Surveys, Book O-1, Page 166. Francis Meadow, 80 acres, North Fork of the Hawksbill. March 15, 1770." SOURCE: Peter Cline Kaylor, Abstract of Land Grant Surveys: 1761-1791 (Rockingham Historical Society: Harrisonburg, Virginia 1938, reprinted by the Genealogical Publishing Co.: Baltimore 1976) at page 60. Curt Sytsma Notes: The following day, March 16, 1770, Cornelius White surveyed 150 acres on the North Fork of the Hawksbill, "adjoining Meadow." Curt Sytsma notes: "Survey for Francis MEADOWS assignee of John Magret of Peter Nicholas for 100 A. He desires to locate on the 'Hollow' where his Father bought the barns and on the survey of a 150 A joining MEADOWS in the name of Cornelius White. North fork of the Hawksbill." SOURCE: Meadows Heritage Newsletter, September 1993, at page 23 (citing Rockingham Co., VA Land Warrant Book, page 205). The reference to the 150 acres surveyed by Cornelius White is clearly the land surveyed in 1770, which was adjacent to the land surveyed in that year by Francis Meadows I. In other words, this appears to be a document in which Francis Meadows II specifically identifies Francis Meadows I as his deceased father. He also describes a part of the land that his father had purchased in 1770.

Francis Meadows Sr. is confused in some sources with the service record of his son by the same name. It was Francis Meadows Jr. who served in the Revolutionary War and received a pension for that service.

Francis Meadows, Sr. served as a private under Captain Alexander McClannehan during Lord Dunmore's War, which was fought on the Virginia frontier in 1774. He served for a total of 122 days and received 9 pounds and 3 shillings in pay. His son Israel Meadows who also participated in Lord Dunmore’s War. [1]

The Battle of Point Pleasant was famous and the 1,000 men who fought in that battle were greatly honored in Virginia. The full text of these documents relating to Francis Meadows are set forth in [2]

The term of 122 days was the entire duration of the war and Captain McClannehan was wounded during the famous Battle of Point Pleasant, Francis was approximately one of one thousand men who fought in that famous hand-to-hand combat that is frequently regarded to as the first battle of the Revolutionary War. Document are on file that include Revoluntionary Pension File #5367 in the National Archives . Payrolls and Muster Rolls from Dunmore's War, Part of the Records of the Executive Branch, Auditor of Accounts (Record Group 48). The index card at the above site indicates Captain McClannehan's Company was from Augusta County, VA.

Lord Dunmore's War — or Dunmore's War — was a 1774 conflict between the Colony of Virginia and the Shawnee and Mingo American Indian nations. [3]

served as a private under Captain Alexander McClannehan during Lord Dunmore's War

Burial: Starkey, Roanoke, Virginia Botetourt County, Virginia, (now Roanoke Co)

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Francis Meadows, Sr b. abt 1754 Augusta Co, Va , d. 26 Nov 1836 Monroe Co, Va m Frances Bush b. abt 1772 Rockingham Co,Va. d. 17 Feb 1853 ( DAR has corrected this date from 8 Feb to 17th Feb 1853 Monroe Co,Va. m 16 Sep 1791/97 Rockingham Co,Va. Francis Meadows, Sr enlisted in Capt. David Laird's Co., 10th Va. Reg. Lt Nathan Lamme, Col. Edward Stephens, Comm. Muster Rolls & Pay Rolls: Middlebrook, Valley Forge, Brunswick,White Plains, Camp Robinson's Farm, Smith's Cove, Ramefrau, Morristown thru Nov. 1779. Taken prisoner at Charleston, SC. Served three years and 3 months. Widow's pension.

Hand craved gravestone of Francis Meadows. It is located in the Peterstown Cemetry, Gill County, Virginia. The stone appears to be sand stone, with brass plates mounted in the concrete base. Hand Craved Gravestone 20 NOV 1836 Peterstown Cemetery, West Virginia.

Francis Meadows came to the Blue Ridge Mountains in March,1770 and settled at the head of Hawksbill Creek in Augusta County, Virginia from Orange County. Marriage record in Orange County for Francis Meadows and Mary Bell dated 1758. Francis lived on top of the mountain where Big Meadows is located. The county line dividing Rockingham and Orange ran thru his property, the house in Orange and the barn in Rockingham, he paid taxes and is listed in the census for Orange. There is an old graveyard on the mountain near Big Meadows, the Thomas Meadows grave yard is located about 1 mile down the west side of the Blue Ridge fromLewis Mountain. This grave yard is near the old Meadows School house tht the National Park Service took down in the 1930's. It is marked on the park map no. 10. From page 20-Road No. 759 about 1/4 mile from the end of the road, Northeast of the old Meadows school. Francis bought his land from Peter Nichols patent of 1,708 acres, this patent is now located in Page County, Virginia. Francis is listed in the soldiers of the Revolution of West Virginia in 1818 as being 80 years old and getting a pension of $80 per year. He was living with his son Francis in Monroe County, West Virginia. Mary must have died.*

BIOGRAPHY: Reference: Proof that the Francis Meadows who fought in Lord Dunmore's War was Francis Meadows Sr.: As we know now, a Francis Meadows of Augusta County, Virginia, served under Captain Alexander McClannehan in Lord Dunmore's War.

BIOGRAPHY: 1774 Dunmore's War Record: Francis Meadows served as a private under Captain Alexander McClannehan during Lord Dunmore's War, which was fought on the Virginia frontier in 1774. 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.

BIOGRAPHY: The term of 122 days was the entire duration of the war and Capt. McClannehan was wounded during the famous Battle of Point Pleasant. This means that Francis Meadows who served in Lord Dunmore's War was one of approximately one thousand men who fought in that famous hand-to-hand combat that is frequently regarded as the first major battle of the Revolutionary War.

BIOGRAPHY: 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. The full text of the documents relating to this petition are set forth in John W. Wayland, 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) at pages 88-89. On June 16, 1818 he 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." These documents are part of Revolutionary Pension File Number 5367 in the National Archives.

Francis, as he was known, came to the Blue Ridge Mountains in March 1770 and settled at the head of Hawksbill Creek in Augusta County, Virginia. Marriage records in Orange County show that he married Mary Keziah Bell in 1758, Francis lived on top of the mountain where Big Meadows is located. The county line dividing Rockingham and Orange counties runs through his property; the house in Orange County, the barn in Rockingham County. He paid taxes in Orange County.

There is a cemetery on the mountain called the Thomas Meadows graveyard located about a mile down the west side of the Blue Ridge from Lewis Mountain. It is located near the old Meadows Schoolhouse.

Francis bought this land from the Peter Nichols patent, 1,708 acres and it is now in Page County, Virginia.

They're is a cemetery on the mountain called the Thomas Meadows graveyard located about a mile down the west side of the Blue Ridge from Lewis Mountain. It is located near the old Meadows Schoolhouse.

Francis bought this land from the Peter Nichols patent, 1,708 acres and it is now in Page County, Virginia.

   Whether Josiah Francis Meadows/Meador was the full name awarded by his parents, we may never know. While going through life it is clear through wills, land transactions and war records that our subject used all of these names. We speculate, based on family legend, that Josiah Francis was attempting to hide from his past and most likely found it convenient to adjust his identity from time to time. A hero in war, his record is clear and separate from three of his sons; Francis, Josiah and Israel as is his pension record. Add to this the obvious belief by many that this is the correct record, many of them family, we stand by our conclusions. (2)

MILITARY: War Records

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   Josiah Francis Meadows/Meador - - 1774 Dunmore's War - Francis Meadows served as a private under Captain Alexander McClannehan during Lord Dunmore's War, which was fought on the Virginia frontier in 1774. He served for a total of 122 days, and he received 9 pounds and 3 shillings in pay. SRC: Library of Virginia, Digital Library Program, Payrolls and Muster Rolls from Dunmore's War, part of the record of the Executive Branch, Auditor of Public Accounts, (Record Group 48) at page 106. Josiah Francis participated in the Dunmore's War and he was among the 1,000 men who fought the Battle of Point Pleasant.

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   In the “Statement of Monroe County, Virginia”, Military Records: Revolutionary War Pension Lists: Pension Roll of 1835, Volume III, Virginia, page 721 - Francis Meadows is shown to be receiving a pension of $96.00 per year beginning 16 Jun 1818 when he was 80 years of age. This indicates his birth year to be 1738. This is our Josiah Francis Meadows using a different name. Also, this is apparently evidence that he was alive after 1818 and most likely he was alive at the time of this publication (1835).

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   In a similar statement prepared by the State of West Virginia; “The Soldiery of West Virginia, West Virginians Who Were Soldiers & Pensioners in the Revolutionary War, page 80”, the information is exactly as it appears in the above Virginia statement. Francis was alive until at least 16 Jun 1818.

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   Francis Meadows, born 1754; died 20 December 1836. (Reproduced as it appears in the record - West Virginians in the American Revolution, Surnames, M-N, page 193). Enlisted, Augusta County, Virginia, in February 1777, and served until 1781 under Captain Laird and Lamb, Tenth Virginia Regiment, Continental Establishment, commanded by Colonels Green, Wood, and Wheaton. He was married in the fall of 1790 or 1791 in the County of Rockingham to Frances Bush, who was born in 1772. They received pension in Monroe County, in 1819 at which time they had sixteen children, twelve of whom were sons. Six, under the age of 14 years of age, remained at home. Supporting data in their case was filed by Jonathan Roach, Elizabeth Fisher, and Henry Maggart. This is a son of Josiah Francis Meadows/Meador.

===References===

• http://tree.schimka.com/getperson.php?personID=I129&tree=schimka
• https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Meadows-9
• "United States Census, 1820," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHLZ-SFN : accessed 3 April 2018), Francis Madows Sr, Peterstown, Monroe, Virginia, United States; citing p. 179, NARA microfilm publication M33, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 133; FHL microfilm 193,692.
• http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=meadows&GSfn=...