Francis "Frank" Meadows [15179]

  General Notes:

Known as "John Francis Meadows" or "Frank" at times.

Francis Meadows II was born in 1754. Most records are vague on this date and rely on statements given in deposition before various Virginia judicial bodies. In this case we are relying on family legend. "Virginia, At a Court of Quarter Session 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 . . . ." SOURCE: The foregoing document was transcribed verbatim from a photocopy from microfilm obtained at the National Archives in July of 1999. The document was one of a number of documents following a cover sheet for service in Virginia by Francis Meadows or Medows (the alternatives are expressly set forth on the cover sheet) and Frances (set forth below, as if to identify the wife of Francis Meadows), File Number W 5367.

In the early days of our country, the designation "Jr." was most frequently used in tax records or legal documents to distinguish a son from his father, and then only when both men were of legal or contracting age. It is therefore highly significant that Francis Meadows II of Rockingham County, Virginia was twice identified as "Jr." in records where he could have been confused with his father.

In a 1787 personal property tax list for Rockingham County, Virginia, two men named Francis Meadows are identified in the tax District of Reubin Moore, Commissioner. One of the two is identified as Francis Meadows Jr., a designation that is most usually used to distinguish a father from his adult son. The list identified (1) Francis Meadows, over 21 years of age, who had two white males above 16 and under 21 in his household, and who also had one horse and two head of cattle. The list also identified (2) Francis Meadows, Jr., over 21 years of age, who had one horse and three head of cattle. SOURCE: Netti Schriener-Yanties & Florene Speakman Love, Compilers, The 1787 Census of Virginia (Genealogical Books in Print: Springfield, Virginia 19xx), Volume I, at page 646 (citing Rockingham County, Virginia, Tax List "A", District of Reubin Moore, Commissioner).

In a 1788 Militia Vouchers List, Francis Meadows II is again designated as "Jr." to distinguish him from his father. "VOUCHERS IN THE SEVERAL MILITIA COMPANIES OF ROCKINGHAM COUNTY IN 1788 . . . CAPTAIN JOHN PETERSES COMPANY, No. 16. . . . Francis Meadows, 1 tithable, 1 horse; Francis Meadows, Jr., 1 tithable, 2 horses." SOURCE: John W. Wayland, Virginia Valley Records: Genealogical and Historical Materials of Rockingham County, Virginia and Related Regions (originally published in Strasburg, Virginia, in 1930 and reprinted by the Genealogical Publishing Co.: Baltimore 1985) at pages 115-116.

  Noted events in his life were:

• Given Name:. Possible given name - John Francis Meadows.

Francis married Frances Bush [15180] [MRIN: 5014], daughter of John Bush [29168] and Kesiah Unknown [29169], on 18 Sep 1797 in Rockingham County, Virginia. (Frances Bush [15180] was born in 1774 in Rockingham County, Virginia and died on 8 Feb 1853 in Monroe County, Virginia.)