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WILKS-Wilkes MATERNAL LINES

~ Mead Family ~

Ancestry of Elizabeth Mead, wife of John Wilks Sr.

Daughter of Samuel Mead & Mary Downey, Quakers of Bucks Co., PA

Granddaughter of James Downey (from Ireland) & Hannah Ellett (from England)

--- 1st Generation ---

1. Elizabeth1 Mead was born circa 1740 at Loudoun Co., VA. She married John Wilks Sr., son of Francis Wilks and Mrs. (--?--) Wilks, on 24 Jun 1758 at Loudoun Co., VA. She and John Wilks Sr. emigrated in 1772 from Loudoun Co., VA. They gave a gift deed to son Samuel "for the love, good will, and affection we do bear their well beloved son," for 80 acres on S. side of Blackwater Rd with Samuel Wilks in 1784 at Bedford Co., VA (Bedford Co., VA, Deeds.). She died between 1800 and 1804 at Oglethorpe Co., GA.

--- 2nd Generation ---

2. Samuel2 Mead was born between 1707 and 1717 at Bucks Co., PA (William & Mary Quarterly, "Some of the Meads," Vol. 10, pp. 191, 242). He died in 1784 at Pittsgrove, Salem Co., NJ.

He and John Mead immigrated in 1730 to Fairfax Mo. Mtg., Fairfax Co., VA. He married Mary Downey, daughter of James Downey and Hannah Ellet, on 25 Aug 1737 at Falls Monthly Mtg, Bucks Co., PA (Falls Monthly Meeting 1731-1767, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, p. 185).

He began military service between 1739 and 1743 at Falls Twp., Bucks Co., PA, fought in Britain's war with Spain, "The War of Jenkins Ear." It began in 1739 but then merged into the War of the Austrian Succession. Anti-Spanish feeling in Britain provoked war as Captain Robert Jenkins claimed Spanish coastguards in the Caribbean cut off his ear (Ibid., pp. 288, 289).

He married Margaret Mead before 1747 at Bucks Co., PA (William Wade Hinshaw, Encyclopedia of American Quaker Genealogy (Kokomo, IN: Selby Publications, 1990?), Vol. 6). He and 2nd wife Margaret Mead immigrated in 1747 to Fairfax Mo. Mtg., Fairfax Co., VA.

In 1758 Falls Mo. Mtg. responded to an inquiry about Samuel from Virginia, "... and for some time after marriage behaved himself orderly, found the way too strait for him and gave himself a large liberty in the Follys and vices of the world. He left his wife and went of marriage with another. He enlisted in the service of the King in the last Spanish War," signed by Mahlon Kirkbride and James Mason, Bucks Co., PA (William Wade Hinshaw: The William Wade Hinshaw Index to Pennsylvania Quaker Meeting Records (Kokomo, IN: Indexed and published by Selby Publishing & Printing, 1990), Falls Mo. Mtg., pp. 288, 289). He was disowned for disunity at the request of Falls Mo. Mtg., which reported, "though he appeared to some degree a Friend, his conduct has been inconsistent with Friends' Principles," in 1759 at Fairfax Mo. Mtg., Fairfax Co., VA. On "10 mo. 4" (10 Apr 1760), a letter was sent to Virginia from Falls, telling of misconduct of Samuel Mead (Hopewell Friends History 1734-1934 Frederick County, Virginia , Chapter IV "The Road to Opeckon," p. 62).

He deeded his neighbors, including Francis Wilks, a tract of land for a school in Loudoun Co., VA:

This Indenture made the 5th day of November 1763 between SAMUEL MEAD of the County of Loudoun and Colony of Virginia, Tanner and FRANCIS WILKS, Jacob Janney, Thomas Clows, Thomas Gore, Solomon Hoge, William Morlan, Samuel Coombes, Richard White, William Holmes, and Jeremiah Fairhurst, all of the County and Colony afsd. Witnesseth that he the said SAMUEL MEAD for and in consideration of the Esteem he bears for a School and Good will to his Neighbours the afsd. FRANCIS WILKS ... hath Given and Granted and by these presents doth freely Give and absolutely Grant ... one acre of land beginning at a poplar in Edmond Philips line and corner to said MEAD and Samuel Coombs land bought of BRYAN FAIRFAX Gent. being taken up for WILLIAM HENRY FAIRFAX Decd. In witness whereof I have set my hand and seal this 13th day of December in the fourth year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord George the third King of Great Britain France and Ireland Defender of the Faith ~ SAMUEL MEAD on 5 Nov 1763 at Loudoun Co., VA (Loudoun Co., VA, Deeds).

3. Mary2 Downey was born on 17 May 1716 at Bucks Co., PA (John T. Humphrey, Pennsylvania Births: Bucks County 1682-1800 (Washington, DC: Humphrey Publications, 1993), p. 72). She lived before 25 Aug 1737 at Makefield Twp., Bucks Co., PA. She married Samuel Mead, son of William Mead and Elizabeth? ____ Mead, on 25 Aug 1737 at Falls Monthly Mtg, Bucks Co., PA (Falls Monthly Meeting 1731-1767, p. 185). She died circa 1758 at Bucks Co., PA.

--- 3rd Generation ---

4. William3 Mead was minutes speak of meeting at the home "of our aged and infirm friend, William Mead," some years prior to his death in Loudoun Co. after it was divided from Fairfax Co. He was born circa 1660? at Stepheny, Buckinghams., England (William & Mary Quarterly, "Some of the Meads," Vol. 10, pp. 191, 242; Pennsylvania State Archives, Vol. 9, p. 224). He lived in 1681 at Cecil Co., MD (Maryland State Archives, Vol. 17, p. 42). He immigrated before 12 Mar 1704/5 to Bucks Co., PA. He married Elizabeth? ____ Mead before 17 Aug 1732 at MD (Queen Anne County, Maryland, Deeds , Book A, pp. 142-144). William Mead, planter, wife Elizabeth, John Mead and wife Ann of the same county and province, sold to Robert Jarman planter of same county . . . tract of land called St. Martins, lying in Queen Anne on N. side of Choptank River in North Main Branch of said river, corner Tuckahoe Creek on 17 Aug 1732 at Queen Anne Co., MD (Ibid.).

5. Elizabeth? ____3 Mead was born circa 1690? She married William Mead, son of Matthew Mead, before 17 Aug 1732 at MD (Ibid.). She was received on certificate.

6. James3 Downey was born before 1691 at Dalenderry Par., Co. Antrim, Ireland. He immigrated on 1 Jun 1711 to Falls Mo. Mtg., Bucks Co., PA (William Wade Hinshaw Index). He married Hannah Ellet, daughter of William Ellet and Mary Burt, on 12 Apr 1712 at Bucks Co., PA. He and Hannah Ellet lived in 1721 at Bucks Co., PA (Richard & Mildred Williams, Index to Bucks County, Pennsylvania, Wills and Administrations 1684-1850 (Danbury, PA: authors, 1971). He served on a Grand Jury, and at one time was an overseer of the highways with John Hough on 11 Jun 1730 at Bucks Co., PA. He alleged that George and Thomas Clows spread scandalous reports concerning him. Differences between James Downey, Thomas and George Clows not being ended yet, have chosen referees according to the last meeting
on 6 Apr 1731 at Falls Mo. Mtg., Bucks Co., PA (William Wade Hinshaw Index). He was a yeoman (farmer), was deeded 100 acres for 17 pounds, not improved 6 Jan 1756 on 15 Apr 1741 at Bristol Twp., Bucks Co., PA. It was noted that there was a difference between Israel Pemberton, Jr., and James Downey on 5 Apr 1750 at Falls Mo. Mtg., Bucks Co., PA (Ibid). He left a will on 6 Jun 1756 at Lower Makefield Twp., Bucks Co., PA (Richard & Mildred Williams, Index to Bucks County, Will No. 1060, Admin. No. 1147). He died between 1759 and 1761 at Bucks Co., PA.

7. Hannah3 Ellet was born circa 1692 at Bucks Co., PA. She married James Downey on 12 Apr 1712 at Bucks Co., PA. She and James Downey lived in 1721 at Bucks Co., PA (Richard & Mildred Williams, Index to Bucks County). She died between 1759 and 1763 at Bucks Co., PA.

--- 4th Generation ---

8. Matthew4 Mead was born in 1629 at Leighton Buzzard, Bedfords., England (William & Mary Quarterly, "Some of the Meads," Vol. 10, pp. 191, 224). He was a prominent clergyman of the Church of England and a man of very liberal views, ejected from his charge for nonconformity in 1662. He was imprisoned for some time but set free by the king in 1682. He died on 16 Oct 1699 at England.

14. William4 Ellet was born between 1650 and 1660 at Somersets., England. He married Mary Burt on 27 Apr 1680 at Somersets., England. He and Mary Burt immigrated in 1687/88 to Bucks Co., PA. He served on jury in Jan 1689 at Bucks Co., PA (Records of the Courts of Quarter Sessions & Common Pleas, Bucks County, Pennsylvania 1684-1700: Printed Transcript of Original Record Book, p. 209). He served on Grand Jury on 10 Jul 1690 at Bucks Co., PA (Ibid., p. 215). He served on juries on 10 Oct 1690, 14 Jan 1694, 8 Jan 1699, 8 Mar 1699 at Bucks Co., PA (Ibid., p. 227, 230, 237, 282-283). He served on a Grand Jury on 13 Dec 1706 (Ibid., p. 369, 371), and a Grand Inquest Jury on 11 Mar 1711 at Bucks Co., PA (Ibid., pp. 375-377). He left a will dated 20 Dec 1714 at Bucks Co., PA (Richard T. and Mildred C. Williams, Pioneers of the Eighteenth Century: Bucks County, Pennsylvania (Danboro, PA: authors, 1974), pp. 3, 4, 77), and died circa 1721.

15. Mary4 Burt was born circa 1660 at Somersets., England. She married William Ellet on 27 Apr 1680 at Somersets., England. She and William Ellet immigrated in 1687/88 to Bucks Co., PA. She died after 1714 at Bucks Co., PA.

--- 5th Generation ---

16. Richard5 Mead married Joan ____ . He and Joan ____ Mead lived at Mursley, Buckinghams., England. He was born circa 1600 at England.

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