John Meckes

GEDCOM Source

MH:S500040 Geni World Family Tree MyHeritage The Geni World Family Tree is found on <A href="http://www.geni.com" target="_blank">www.Geni.com</a>. Geni is owned and operated by MyHeritage. 40000 Collection MH:SC500621 https://www.myheritage.com/research/record-40000-35133714/john-meck... https://www.myheritage.com/research/record-40000-35133714/john-meck... John Meckes
Gender: Male
Birth: Circa 1789
Marriage: Spouse: Charlotte (Sharlotta) Meckes (born Frantz) - Circa 1813
Death: Mar 1842
Father: <a>Valentine Meckes, Sr.</a>
Mother: <a>Hannah Meckes (born Hagel)</a>
Wife: <a>Charlotte (Sharlotta) Meckes (born Frantz)</a>
Children: <a>Adam Meckes</a>, <a>Anna Meckes</a>, <a>Philip Meckes</a>, <a>Elizabeth Meckes</a>, <a>John Meckes/Mackes</a>, <a>Reuben Meckes/Mackes</a>, <a>Sara (Sarahette) Meckes</a>, <a>Samuel W. Meckes</a>
Siblings: <a>Anna Christina Borger (born Meckes)</a>, <a>Henry Meckes</a>, <a>Elizabetrh Meckes</a>, <a>Catherine Meckes</a>, <a>Jacob Meckes</a>, <a>Valentine Meckes, Jr.</a>, <a>Adam Meckes</a>, <a>Frederick Meckes</a> 4
Son of Valentine MECKES and Hannah HAGEL. He married Charlotte (Sharlotta) FRANTZ (daughterr of Henry FRANTZ and Maria Catharina HAHN) abt 1813.

Together they were blessed with eight children:
1. Adam Meckes b. 1815
2. Anna Meckes b. 1817
3. Philip Meckes b. 1819
4. Elizabeth Meckes b. 1825
5. John William Meckes b. 1826
6. Reuben Meckes b. 1828
7. Sarah (Sarahette) Meckes b. 1832

John Meckes, youngest son and last known child of Valentine and Hannah (Hagel) Meckes, was a farmer, first in Chestnut Hill Township, Northampton County, PA. The area in which his first farm was located later became part of Ross Township in Monroe County. In the early 1820s John got into financial difficulties and his land was sold at a sheriff's auction to his wife's cousins, Michael and Samuel Frantz (Source: Northampton County Sheriff deeds, 1822). After the loss of his farm, John's wife and children moved in with family or friends while he, along with his two oldest sons, Adam and Philip, re-settled at the head waters of Mud Run Creek up on the mountain northwest of the present village of Kresgeville. These were virgin forests and there were relatively few settlements on the mountain at that time. The area where John built a log cabin, and later, a saw mill, was fairly level. In 1838 he filed a deed for the land and brought his family up the mountain to the new homestead. However, he didn't live very long to enjoy the fruits of his labor and died only 4 years later (Orphans Court records - Carbon Co.).

The area southeast of Albrightsville in which John first settled eventually became known as Meckesville. It is now in Penn Forest Township in Carbon County. In the 1843 assessment roll, John's widow, Charlotte, is listed as the owner of 400 acres of land and a saw mill (Source: Matthews "History of Lehigh and Carbon Counties, page 754).

The numbers of John's descendants grew to such an extent that, at one time in the early 1900s, the one room school at Meckesville seemed to be completely filled with members of the Meckes family.

John was reported to be 6 feet tall, powerfully built with dark hair. He died intestate in March, 1842. The administrator of his estate was his son, Adam, who signed a bond dated 11 March 1842. His widow, Charlotte, signed a release (quit claim) on the same date. The estate papers show that John owned land in Penn Forest Twp. (Monroe County estate file #52, Stroudsburg, PA) He was buried in Salem Church cemetery at Gilbert.

The 1850 census shows John's widow, Charlotte Meckes age 56, living in Penn Forest Twp. in Carbon Co., PA, with sons, John (probably John William) age 24, Reuben age 21 and Samuel age 16. All three sons were listed as farmers. (1850 census, microfilm roll #762, Carbon Co., PA, Penn Forest Twp., pg. 220B, house #13, family #13)* Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Sep 3 2022, 20:10:19 UTC