John Meek
MSA SC 3520-16817
Biography:
John Meek enlisted as a drummer in the Seventh Company of the First Maryland Regiment, led by John Day Scott, on January 20, 1776. [1]
Drummers and fifers served an important role during the Revolutionary War. They were considered non-commissioned officers, and received the same pay as corporals. Each company was supposed to have one fifer and one drummer, and although the Seventh Company had both musicians, this was uncommon. Music was important in regulating the lives of soldiers in the Continental Army, with fifes and drums commanding soldiers with standardized tunes and signals. Musicians helped maintain discipline and efficiency within the Continental Army by sounding the signals of the day, ordering the soldiers to march, and regulating the speed of soldiers' steps.
The Seventh Company began its military career by training in Annapolis for six months in the summer of 1776. Meek and his company moved north, making it to Philadelphia by mid-July 1776 and to New York by August 14. They positioned themselves about one mile outside of New York with orders to prepare for battle. According to William Sands, a sergeant in the Seventh Company, they “had lost a great many...troops [who] deserted from...Philadelphia and Elizabethtown, and a great many [were] sick in the hospital,” so the regiment was weakened before entering combat. [2]
The Seventh Company first met the British at the Battle of Brooklyn (Battle of Long Island) on August 27, 1776, where the Continental Army, led by General George Washington, fought to defend New York. American troops were severely outnumbered and surrounded when they were ordered to retreat. While the Seventh Company was withdrawing, they were again ambushed by British troops. About half of the First Maryland Regiment stayed behind to fight off the British long enough for the rest of the Americans to safely escape. Casualties were extreme, but so was the heroism that earned them the honorable name of the “Maryland 400.” Fortunately, the Seventh Company escaped without immense casualties, losing fewer than ten out of approximately 75 troops. Maryland losses totalled 256 men killed or captured, but without the Maryland 400, even more would have been lost. Despite their courageous actions, the battle was a defeat for the Americans. [3]
The Maryland Regiment helped secure America’s first victory at the Battle of Harlem Heights in September 1776 where they were praised for their “gallant behavior” and “splendid spirit and animation.” They fought again at the Battle of White Plains in October where, despite the Maryland troops’ immense improvement, there was no clear victory. Unfortunately, the First Maryland Regiment suffered greatly, including the loss of John Day Scott, the captain of the Seventh Company, and Second Lieutenant Thomas Goldsmith who was fatally shot while attempting to save a soldier's life. [4]
The Marylanders remained in New York until being forced out by the British and retreating through New Jersey. It is possible that Meek participated in the revitalizing victories at Trenton and Princeton during the winter of 1776-1777. When his nine-month enlistment ended, John Meek left the service. [5]
After several years as a civilian, Meek likely reenlisted on February 1, 1780, for a nine-month term, this time as a private in the Seventh Maryland Regiment. During that time, the Marylanders participated in the devastating Battle of Camden, losing about one-third of their troops. Due to high casualty rates, the Maryland regiments were reorganized at the end of 1780, and the Seventh Maryland was merged with the First Maryland. At this time, Meek re-enlisted again, although it is unclear which regiment he was part of. [6]
The next year brought a series of victories for the Maryland troops, but not for John Meek. After a victory at Cowpens in January 1781, they went on to fight in the Battle of Guilford Court House. During the battle, Meek was severely injured, and according to family legend, he lost an eye. He was transferred to the Corps of Invalids. [7]
John Meek was officially discharged on November 29, 1783, however it seems he left the regiment before this time. Leaving an Invalid Regiment before the end of an enlistment was not uncommon, as these men were not physically able to fight and were instead employed doing light work. He received a disability pension which began the day after his discharge and continued until at least 1789. [8]
Meek married Martha Walton in Anne Arundel County on February 9, 1782, and they likely lived in Frederick County for several years. They then moved to Anne Arundel County and farmed on rented land, as they had none of their own. Although the details of Meek’s war injury are unknown, he likely had difficulty farming. [9]
Unfortunately, there is no further information known about John Meek or his family.
-Natalie Miller, Maryland Society Sons of the American Revolution Research Fellow, 2017
Notes:
[3] Mark Andrew Tacyn, "To the End: The First Maryland Regiment and the American Revolution," (PhD diss., University of Maryland College Park, 1999), 48-73; Extract of a letter from New-York: Account of the battle on Long-Island, 1 September 1776, American Archives Online, series 5, vol. 2, p. 107.
[4] Henry P. Johnston, The Campaign of 1776 Around New York and Brooklyn, (New York: Da Capo Press, 1971), 256.
[5] General Smallwood, Payroll, 1776-1777, Maryland State Papers, Revolutionary Papers, box 6 folder 7, MdHR 19970-6-7 [MSA S997-6, 01/07/03/011].
[6] Archives of Maryland Online, vol. 18, p. 234.
[7] Archives of Maryland Online, vol. 18, p. 630; Disability Pension of John Meek, 1789, Frederick County, Register of Wills, Orphan’s Court Proceedings, p. 158, MdHR 12291-2 [MSA C844-3, 1/50/07/47].
[8] Archives of Maryland Online, vol 18, p. 546.
[9] Marriage of John Meek to Martha Walton, 1782, Anne Arundel County Court, Marriage Licenses, p. 16, MdHR 4752 [MSA C113-1, 01/01/11/027]; U.S. Federal Census, 1820, Anne Arundel County, District 2, Maryland.
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