Meshack and Shaderach King
The King Family was in America before the
United States existed. Our ancestors were in the
English Colony of Maryland when the
Revolutionary War was fought. With every war,
there is a baby boom right afterwards. The
Revolutionary War was no exception and the
King's war babies were two boys named Meshack
and Shadrach.
Meshack was born in 1780 and his brother
Shadrach was born in 1781. By the turn of the
century, they were both married and living in
Washington County, Pennsylvania. Meshack had
married a girl named Mary but they had not yet
had any children. Shadrach married Elizabeth
Wells, daughter of Richard Wells. They had a
baby boy by this time.
The only other King that was living in
Washington County at that time was a Thomas
King. All that we know about him is that he and
his wife are over 45 years old and they have
three children, all under the age of five. Could
this be the boys parents with children or
grandchildren living at home? After all, both
Meshack and Shadrach had sons named Thomas.
Only time and more research will tell.
The brothers then journeyed further West into
Ohio County, Virginia (now West Virginia). That
is where Meshack and Mary had their first son,
John in 1801. In 1802, they had their second son
and named him Meshack Jr. In 1803 they had
their first girl. But it was in 1804 that our
ancestor Thomas was born. Meshack and Mary
were blessed with five more children while they
lived in Virginia. There was David in 1806,
Rachel in 1808, Jacob in 1810, Nancy in 1812
and William in 1813.
Shadrach and Elizabeth had two girls and a boy
by the time of the 1810 census. There was one
other King living in that county at that time and
his name was Solomon. Could this be another
Biblical brother perhaps?
The brothers then moved even further West. It is
believed that they moved to Sarahville, Monroe
County in 1815. It is there that Meshack and
Mary's four youngest children were born. First
Elijah in 1815 and Silas in 1816. They had a baby
in 1820 but it died the next year. Then in 1822
their youngest child Elizabeth was born.
Meshack and Shadrach appear together in the
1820 Monroe County, Ohio census. Next door to
Shadrach is Richard Wells. I believe that Richard
is not only the father of Shadrach's wife
Elizabeth but also Meshack's wife Mary. I have
been told they were sisters but have found some
information that suggests the contrary. Meshack
is listed in the "History of Noble County, Ohio"
as being a land owner in 1833 but he does not
appear in the 1840 census so I believe that
Meshack died between 1833 & 1840. Shadrach
and his wife Elizabeth appear in the 1850 census
still living in Union Township, Monroe County,
Ohio. Meshack's widow Mary is on the same
page living with her daughter Elizabeth Needs
Meshacks sons John and Thomas appear with
him in the Monroe County tax record of 1826.
Any one have other info?