Scottish Meek research data from Forbie Meek

VARIOUS SCOTTISH MEEK/MEIK DATA FROM FORBES MEEK

Thomas Meik died Sep 4th 1665 age 70. “Retours of Heirs”. Johannes Meik in Ledcarsie haeres (heirs) Thomae Meik de Ledcarsie patris in terris (land) de Ledcarsie in dominio (dominion) et regalitate (royalty) de Cupro 81.13s.4d feudifirmae 1696 Patricus Meik haeres Johannis Meik patris.

“Return of Heirs” 1696 Patrick Meik heir to his father John Meik, heir of his father Thomas Meik of Ledcarsie of the lands of Ledcarsie in the Lordship and Regality of Cupar £81.13s.4d feuferme (there would be feu duty to pay yearly to the original owner of the land, only abolished in Scotland 20/30 years ago)

Whitburn is a small town in West Lothian next to the larger Bathgate. Houston is a parish, a village, and a Barony where the Lairds (Lords) of Houston took their name, its in Renfrewshire but there’s an old house/estate called Houston in West Lothian which may have been theirs also? The Houstons must have had land in West Lothian as these Meeks were tenants, the sasines (possession of land) dated 1558 which is some time after the death (maybe he was a minor?) the Abbey of Paisley had connections with Bathgate area, possibly the Houstons acquired Abbey land after the reformation as Paisley is in Renfrewshire and the Houstons had Abbey connections. I have a sasine 1567 in favor of John Hamilton, a monk of Paisley to the vicarage (parsonage) of Bathgate, Johne Meik in the Insch of Bathgate a witness. This is the post reformation carve up. There are other witnesses to these sasines of course but in the case of the Houstons the Meeks farmed 30 miles away from the Houston home base so the sasine must have concerned the West Lothian land directly.

John Meek, officer in Niddrie Merschall 25th October 1632. John Meek, indweller, Niddrie, Liberton 14.01.

1635 a David Meek (a Bond) in Niddrie. Merschall in 1666 and again in 1668

“Extracts from privy council Register” 1620, a complaint by Adam Hill, cordiner (shoemaker) in Foulbriggs against John Meik indweller in Niddrie and Gilbert and James Hill that on May 6th they unlawfully carried him off prisoner to Edmistoun where he was put in the stocks by Edmistoun of that Ilk. These Edmistouns had been in this estate for maybe five hundred years one of them a Captain Edmistoun had been involved in an alleged plot to kill James 6th. Shortly after this they’re gone, the estate is sold? and the Edmistouns are involved in settling Antrim along with the Adairs from Galloway and our friends the Houstons. These families’ lands were adjacent and they intermarried. Here again are Meik tenants who would be carried to Ulster (were they off the same stock as those from Whitburn?) If the Laird required it they would go, they had to attend this family in all their disputes (legal and illegal) in return for land and protection. The heritable jurisdictions were not abolished until about 1750, up till then the ordinary people were subject to the Laird for everything, they sought justice in his court if he was a Baron and he mustered them for war if the King chose.

These Meeks were anything but Meek,the Cupargrange (Ledcarsie) lot were in Perthshire, those from Whitburn/Bathgate are West Lothian (the Fortissat, Lanarkshire Meeks are off them) and this Meek who was a tennant of the Edmistouns of Edmistouns is in Midlothian just east of Edinburgh. I was looking into these Edmistouns last night and it was the junior branch, the Edmistouns of Duntreath who moved to Ulster (they came back in 1780) the present Lady Edmistoun (who speaks with a wristlet watch in her mouth! as they all do! has a gardening program on TV). It was a Duntreath Edmistoun who plotted to kill the king, he got off (his two mates got the chop). The Edmistouns claim to have come to Scotland with the English refugee royal family escaping William the Bastard! but other sources say they’re a branch of the Setons and they have the same Arms which strangely is three crescents? where have you seen them before.

Thomas Meik son of Thomas Meik in Niddrie Merschall was apprenticed to Tobias Mowbray, tailor, Edinburgh 27th April,1591.

1679 July 2. A bond by William Meek of Fortissat on his release from the Canongate Tolbooth, Edinburgh where he was held for suspicion of joining the Covenanters. “He will never rise against his majesty and will refrain from attending conventicles upon pain of £1000 Scots, being the sum of the few possessions belonging to me”.

1683. William Meek of Fortissat and James Meek there subscribe to the “Bond and Test” (forcible swearing of allegiance). 1686. John Meek, heritor in Livingston Parish, West Lothian, is listed as being absent from the Kings army. In Scotland the term Heritor was used to denote the major “landowners” of a Parish until the early 20th century.

1688. Thomas Meek of Ligertlaw ordered to attend a muster of the Militia at Auchterarder under Lord Rollo.

1689. Thomas Meek of Loanheadells and others petition the Privy Council to allow them to form an armed watch under Robertson of Downie to guard the district (Perthshire)? against Highland thieves and rebels.

1686 John Meek, portioner of Hinshellwood, Lanarkshire was forfeit for treason and rebellion, losing his lands houses etc to Sir John Gordon the Kings Advocate 1682-84 Others forfeit in the Bill, Alexander Hulme of Hulmetoun, John Menzies of Hangingshaw, James Houston in Lanark, Robert Steile of Staine and Calder of Windyedge. A portioner in Scotland was the proprietor of a small portion of a larger piece of land; a laird of a small estate

1690 John Meek portioner of Hinshellwood, and many others, their lands restored by Act of the Scots Parliament. This follows William of Oranges victory at the Boyne. One of the descendants of the Fortissat Meeks, James Meek, a minister, became Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland.

Extracts from the COS Fasti, James Meek b.1739 brother to William Meek of Fortissat. Educated at Glasgow University, licensed a Minister 1763 Presbytery of Hamilton. Minister of the College Chapel,Glasgow 1763-5, Minister of Lesmahagow 1766. Dean of Glasgow University 1780-1800, Moderator of the General Assembly 1795, died 1810. He married Grizzel eldest daughter of Thomas Weir of Kerse, she died in 1815 aged 68. Son John born 5 Feb, 1772 died 28, Dec 1790.  He was a student at Glasgow University.  Daughter Elizabeth born 11,Feb,1774, died 11,Jan 1799 married James Davidson, Writer to Signet, 15 April 1791. Son Thomas born 20, May 1776 Writer and Interim Commissary Clerk, Glasgow 1817. Daughter Frances Stuart born 15, March 1779, Died 1866. James Meek was author of the Statistical Account of the Parish of Cambuslang.

This is James Meek’s nephew, also from the Fasti, William Meek, presented by Lord Torphichen as a Minister, ordained 1797, obtained D.D at Glasgow University 1802, he was transferred to Hamilton 1821. He was born in 1774 son of William Meek of Fortissat. Educated at Glasgow University and licensed by the Presbytery of Hamilton 1796. Died 1837 married Christian Croil 5 June 1809,(died 22 Feb 1865). Son William b,21 Nov1810 d,4 April 1829. Dau Janet b,12 April 1813, Thomas born & died 1814. John born 1816 2 March of Fortissat d,15 Nov 1893, Provost of Hamilton 1857. Christina b,12 Sept 1817. James born & died 1819. Margaret born 1821 d, 1823. Margaret b,1 Aug 1824. Jessie b, 9 Oct 1827. William b, 31 Oct 1832 d,1816 in San Francisco, Calif. The Wars of the Covenant lasted 50 years, cost tens of thousands of lives, successfully resisted the imposition of Anglican forms, including the King as head of the Kirk, on Scotland. Many Covenanters were shipped to America as Slaves but you don’t see much of that on the Genforum, for their descendants must be many hundreds of thousands!

1689. Thomas Meek of Loanheadells and others petition the Privy Council to allow them to form an armed watch under Robertson of Downie to guard the district (Perthshire)? against Highland thieves and rebels. 1686 John Meek, portioner of Hinshellwood, Lanarkshire was forfeit for treason and rebellion, losing his lands houses etc to Sir John Gordon the Kings Advocate 1682-84 Others forfeitin the Bill, Alexander Hulme of Hulmetoun, John Menzies of Hangingshaw, James Houston in Lanark, Robert Steile of Staine and Calder of Windyedge. 1690 John Meek portioner of Hinshellwood, and many others, their lands restored by Act of the Scots Parliament. This follows William of Oranges victory at the Boyne. One of the descendents of the Fortissat Meeks, James Meek, a minister, became Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. more once I find his details.

COS Fasti, James Meek b.1739 brother to William Meek of Fortissat. Educated at Glasgow University, licensed a Minister 1763 Presbytery of Hamilton. Minister of the College Chapel, Glasgow 1763-5, Minister of Lesmahagow 1766. Dean of Glasgow University 1780-1800, Moderator of the General Assembly 1795, died 1810. He married Grizzel eldest daughter of Thomas Weir of Kerse,she died 1815 age 68. Son John born 5 Feb,1772 died 28, Dec 1790 student at Glasgow Uni. Elizabeth b,11,Feb,1774, died 11,Jan 1799 married James Davidson, Writer to Signet,15 April 1791. Thomas b 20 May 1776 Writer and Interim Commissary Clerk, Glasgow 1817. Frances Stuart b,15, March 1779, died 1866. James Meek was author of the Statistical Account of the Parish of Cambuslang.One more.

1679 July 2nd. A bond by William Meek of Fortissat on his release from the Canongate Tolbooth, Edinburgh where he was held for suspicion of joining the Covenanters. “He will never rise against his majesty and will refrain from attending conventicles upon pain of £1000Scots, being the sum of the few possessions belonging to me”. 1683. William Meek of Fortissat and James Meek there subscribe to the “Bond and Test” (forcible swearing of allegiance). 1686. John Meek, heritor in Livingston Parish, West Lothian, is listed as being absent from the Kings army. 1688. Thomas Meek of Ligertlaw ordered to attend a muster of the Militia at Auchterarder under Lord Rollo.

Thomas Meik died Sep 4th 1665 age 70. “Retours of Heirs”. Johannes Meik in Ledcarsie haeres Thomae Meik de Ledcarsie patris in terris de Ledcarsie in dominio et regalitate de Cupro 81.13s.4d feudifirmae 1696 Patricus Meik haeres Johannis Meik patris.

Translation  “Return of Heirs” 1696 Patrick Meik heir to his father John Meik, heir of his father Thomas Meik of Ledcarsie of the lands of Ledcarsie in the Lordship and Regality of Cupar £81.13s.4d feuferme (there would be feu duty to pay yearly to the original owner of the land, only abolished in Scotland 20/30 years ago)

“Extracts from privy council Register” 1620, a complaint by Adam Hill, cordiner (shoemaker) in Foulbriggs against John Meik indweller in Niddrie and Gilbert and James Hill that on May 6th they unlawfully carried him off prisoner to Edmistoun where he was put in the stocks by Edmistoun of that Ilk. These Edmistouns had been in this estate for maybe five hundred years one of them a Captain Edmistoun had been involved in an alleged plot to kill James 6th. Shortly after this they’re gone, the estate is sold? and the Edmistouns are involved in settling Antrim along with Adairs from Galloway and our friends the Houstons. These families’ lands were adjacent and they intermarried. Here again are Meik tenants who would be carried to Ulster(were they off the same stock as those from Whitburn?) If the Laird required it they would go, they had to attend this family in all their disputes (legal and illegal) in return for land and protection. The heritable jurisdictions were not abolished until about 1750, up till then the ordinary people were subject to the Laird for everything, they sought justice in his court if he was a Baron and he mustered them for war if the King chose.

MEEK, ALEXANDER: skipper Burgess of Kirkcaldy, and his son, Robert Meek; Heritable Bond from Patrick Kinninmond of that ilk 16 Nov 1711 [B41/7/2]
MEEK, CHRISTIAN: only daughter of umql George Meek, skipper Burgess of Kirkcadly; Act of Curatorie; 26 July 1685 [B41/7/1 fol 201-02]
MEEK, ROBERT: eldest son of Alexander Meek, deceased, skipper in Kirkcaldy, and brother of Mathew, John, & Margaret Meek; Disp & Assig in favor of Henry Oswald, present Provost of Kirkcaldy, 20 Jan 1711, & 16 Oct 1711 [B41/7/2]

List of Skippers of ships named Meek, mostly from Kirkcaldy, Fife. The Netherlands was Scotland’s main trading partner, I believe the port of Veere was the Scots Staple Port which is some way from Friesland. 1615. Thomas Meek’s ship “The Margaret”. 1626. George Meek master of the “John of Kirkcaldy”, 1631.Robert Meek, skipper of Kinghorn caught illegally exporting wheat.1658. George Meek a mariner of Kirkcaldy. 1664. George Meek a skipper of Kirkaldy also 1673 and 76. 1680 George Meek again mentioned with his son George. 1683 Alexander Meek, skipper, Kirkcaldy also John Meek skipper. Alexander again in 1694. Matthew Meek son of Alexander in 1700. Matthew, John, Robert and Margaret Meek heirs to their sister Grizel daughter of Alexander Meek, shipowner of Kirkcaldy.

The “Staple Port” for the Scots trade to the Netherlands was Veere where they had there own quarter and Guilds,Kirk etc This is at the mouth of the Scheltd, Friesland is in the north.

Information from Scottish Wills: Most folks in the 1850-1900 time period left £100 to £200 (multiply by 100 to equal today’s values).  In 1894, John Meek of Fortissat left about £80,000, a phenomenal sum then, Thomas Meik of Ledcarsie the engineer left about £14,000 and he was a wealthy man.  In 1910, an Irish lady  Mary Meek, of 25 Cedar Rd, Belfast, who died June 20th, and left £1738 to Robert McCheyne Johnstone, of Greenisland, County Antrim, farmer, brother in law and Samuel Rea Meek, of Enniskillen, teacher, nephew.