In 2001, this author discovered a NJ Supreme court Case # 23142, from 1773, [William Looker vrs. Timothy Meeker] which included earlier court cases from Essex Co., NJ stating that Thomas Meeker, had gone on the King's Expedition to the West Indies to fight the Spanish in the War of Jenkin's Ear. During the travel from Cartagena [Columbia] to Jamaica to Cuba, the Battalions of men lost 8000 soldiers to illness, plus those from battle. Thomas died during this time off Cuba & is presumed to have been buried at sea, as was most of the men, who had died. The court cases resulted from Timothy Meeker selling animals from Thomas's estate & presumed was administrator of said estate, since William Looker was suing Timothy over debts arising from sales from the estate of Thomas Meeker.
In the late 17th century, struggles for control of the Caribbean basin waged between the French, Dutch, Spanish & British. Important were the discoveries of gold in Central & South America, by the Spanish, as well as the sugar trade throughout the region, because sugar was a main component of Rum, a favorite drink of all European people. The Spanish routinely sailed guard ships in the region to prevent smuggling of Spanish goods & they often intercepted ships belonging to the British, as well as others.
Note: Cuba is located in the West Indies group of Islands, located in the Caribbean Sea, just north of Jamaica & Northwest of Haiti. It is also only 90 miles south of Florida.
On 9 April, 1731 a Spanish Guard ship intercepted the British Brig Rebecca & the Spanish Captain, during a duel with Capt. Jenkins of the Rebecca, cut off his ear. This led to the British declaring war against Spain on 22 Oct., 1739, albeit 8 years later, which was called The War of Jenkins Ear.
Due to increasing demands for British soldiers & sailors around the world, the British [who owned the American Colonies at the time] began to organize raising colonial troops for this war. The British also called the fighting unit an American regiment, instead of a British one, perhaps trying to instill pride and/or more loyalty in the soldiers.
Americans were offered incentives of forgiveness of all debts and/or crimes to go on this expedition.
This American regiment for the War of Jenkins Ear was made up of 4 Battalions, each one of which had many companies of about 100 men each. Together with all officers, the entire regiment amounted to about 3300 – 3600 men.
The men came from several states in the colonies, including North Carolina, Virginia, New Jersey, Maryland, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Delaware, & New York.
Since virtually no rosters or muster rolls have survived from this era, a NJ will is of historical interest. Recorded will Book E, p. 51 of Essex Co., NJ, written 8/5/1740 & proved 6/3/1747, Will of a Benjamin Cory: leaves the land [~ 100 acres] inherited from his deceased father in Elizabethtown, Essex Co. to his 3 brothers Elnathan, John & Joseph Cory or their eldest sons, because he, Benjamin Cory, is listed unto the King's service & designing to go on the expedition for Cuba; 5L for my sister Anna Cory, in the event she needs it. Thus, here is another NJ man who perished in the War of Jenkin's Ear.
Please note well: the internet rumor that this Thomas Meeker married a Mary Ball Fox is completely false, as she did not exist. Her supposed parents, Capt. David Fox & Hannah Ball, never had any child named Mary, Maria, Marie, Mariah or any other variation of the name. The fact that many non-thinking people copy each other to create a common falsehood does not make it correct.
Rumors abound of other children of Thomas Meeker & his unknown wife. These include Daniel, Thomas, Catherine, Robert etc. About the only child that makes sense, based on available evidence, is a Thomas Jr., as there is a Thomas who signed the Stevens papers & petitions in Elizabethtown in 1752. In addition, there were at least 3 proven different Thomas's in the rev. war. Also, a Thomas was the father of Abraham P. Meeker [7/1781 – 5/7/1850], whose Essex Co., NJ death certificate states his father was Thomas Meeker. Note: the subject Thomas could NOT have been any of the above Thomas's, since the former died in 1741.
In the late 17th century, struggles for control of the Caribbean basin waged between the French, Dutch, Spanish & British. Important were the discoveries of gold in Central & South America, by the Spanish, as well as the sugar trade throughout the region, because sugar was a main component of Rum, a favorite drink of all European people. The Spanish routinely sailed guard ships in the region to prevent smuggling of Spanish goods & they often intercepted ships belonging to the British, as well as others.
Note: Cuba is located in the West Indies group of Islands, located in the Caribbean Sea, just north of Jamaica & Northwest of Haiti. It is also only 90 miles south of Florida.
On 9 April, 1731 a Spanish Guard ship intercepted the British Brig Rebecca & the Spanish Captain, during a duel with Capt. Jenkins of the Rebecca, cut off his ear. This led to the British declaring war against Spain on 22 Oct., 1739, albeit 8 years later, which was called The War of Jenkins Ear.
Due to increasing demands for British soldiers & sailors around the world, the British [who owned the American Colonies at the time] began to organize raising colonial troops for this war. The British also called the fighting unit an American regiment, instead of a British one, perhaps trying to instill pride and/or more loyalty in the soldiers.
Americans were offered incentives of forgiveness of all debts and/or crimes to go on this expedition.
This American regiment for the War of Jenkins Ear was made up of 4 Battalions, each one of which had many companies of about 100 men each. Together with all officers, the entire regiment amounted to about 3300 – 3600 men.
The men came from several states in the colonies, including North Carolina, Virginia, New Jersey, Maryland, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Delaware, & New York.
Since virtually no rosters or muster rolls have survived from this era, a NJ will is of historical interest. Recorded will Book E, p. 51 of Essex Co., NJ, written 8/5/1740 & proved 6/3/1747, Will of a Benjamin Cory: leaves the land [~ 100 acres] inherited from his deceased father in Elizabethtown, Essex Co. to his 3 brothers Elnathan, John & Joseph Cory or their eldest sons, because he, Benjamin Cory, is listed unto the King's service & designing to go on the expedition for Cuba; 5L for my sister Anna Cory, in the event she needs it. Thus, here is another NJ man who perished in the War of Jenkin's Ear.
Please note well: the internet rumor that this Thomas Meeker married a Mary Ball Fox is completely false, as she did not exist. Her supposed parents, Capt. David Fox & Hannah Ball, never had any child named Mary, Maria, Marie, Mariah or any other variation of the name. The fact that many non-thinking people copy each other to create a common falsehood does not make it correct.
Rumors abound of other children of Thomas Meeker & his unknown wife. These include Daniel, Thomas, Catherine, Robert etc. About the only child that makes sense, based on available evidence, is a Thomas Jr., as there is a Thomas who signed the Stevens papers & petitions in Elizabethtown in 1752. In addition, there were at least 3 proven different Thomas's in the rev. war. Also, a Thomas was the father of Abraham P. Meeker [7/1781 – 5/7/1850], whose Essex Co., NJ death certificate states his father was Thomas Meeker. Note: the subject Thomas could NOT have been any of the above Thomas's, since the former died in 1741.
In 2001, this author discovered a NJ Supreme court Case # 23142, from 1773, [William Looker vrs. Timothy Meeker] which included earlier court cases from Essex Co., NJ stating that Thomas Meeker, had gone on the King's Expedition to the West Indies to fight the Spanish in the War of Jenkin's Ear. During the travel from Cartagena [Columbia] to Jamaica to Cuba, the Battalions of men lost 8000 soldiers to illness, plus those from battle. Thomas died during this time off Cuba & is presumed to have been buried at sea, as was most of the men, who had died. The court cases resulted from Timothy Meeker selling animals from Thomas's estate & presumed was administrator of said estate, since William Looker was suing Timothy over debts arising from sales from the estate of Thomas Meeker.
In the late 17th century, struggles for control of the Caribbean basin waged between the French, Dutch, Spanish & British. Important were the discoveries of gold in Central & South America, by the Spanish, as well as the sugar trade throughout the region, because sugar was a main component of Rum, a favorite drink of all European people. The Spanish routinely sailed guard ships in the region to prevent smuggling of Spanish goods & they often intercepted ships belonging to the British, as well as others.
Note: Cuba is located in the West Indies group of Islands, located in the Caribbean Sea, just north of Jamaica & Northwest of Haiti. It is also only 90 miles south of Florida.
On 9 April, 1731 a Spanish Guard ship intercepted the British Brig Rebecca & the Spanish Captain, during a duel with Capt. Jenkins of the Rebecca, cut off his ear. This led to the British declaring war against Spain on 22 Oct., 1739, albeit 8 years later, which was called The War of Jenkins Ear.
Due to increasing demands for British soldiers & sailors around the world, the British [who owned the American Colonies at the time] began to organize raising colonial troops for this war. The British also called the fighting unit an American regiment, instead of a British one, perhaps trying to instill pride and/or more loyalty in the soldiers.
Americans were offered incentives of forgiveness of all debts and/or crimes to go on this expedition.
This American regiment for the War of Jenkins Ear was made up of 4 Battalions, each one of which had many companies of about 100 men each. Together with all officers, the entire regiment amounted to about 3300 – 3600 men.
The men came from several states in the colonies, including North Carolina, Virginia, New Jersey, Maryland, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Delaware, & New York.
Since virtually no rosters or muster rolls have survived from this era, a NJ will is of historical interest. Recorded will Book E, p. 51 of Essex Co., NJ, written 8/5/1740 & proved 6/3/1747, Will of a Benjamin Cory: leaves the land [~ 100 acres] inherited from his deceased father in Elizabethtown, Essex Co. to his 3 brothers Elnathan, John & Joseph Cory or their eldest sons, because he, Benjamin Cory, is listed unto the King's service & designing to go on the expedition for Cuba; 5L for my sister Anna Cory, in the event she needs it. Thus, here is another NJ man who perished in the War of Jenkin's Ear.
Please note well: the internet rumor that this Thomas Meeker married a Mary Ball Fox is completely false, as she did not exist. Her supposed parents, Capt. David Fox & Hannah Ball, never had any child named Mary, Maria, Marie, Mariah or any other variation of the name. The fact that many non-thinking people copy each other to create a common falsehood does not make it correct.
Rumors abound of other children of Thomas Meeker & his unknown wife. These include Daniel, Thomas, Catherine, Robert etc. About the only child that makes sense, based on available evidence, is a Thomas Jr., as there is a Thomas who signed the Stevens papers & petitions in Elizabethtown in 1752. In addition, there were at least 3 proven different Thomas's in the rev. war. Also, a Thomas was the father of Abraham P. Meeker [7/1781 – 5/7/1850], whose Essex Co., NJ death certificate states his father was Thomas Meeker. Note: the subject Thomas could NOT have been any of the above Thomas's, since the former died in 1741.
In the late 17th century, struggles for control of the Caribbean basin waged between the French, Dutch, Spanish & British. Important were the discoveries of gold in Central & South America, by the Spanish, as well as the sugar trade throughout the region, because sugar was a main component of Rum, a favorite drink of all European people. The Spanish routinely sailed guard ships in the region to prevent smuggling of Spanish goods & they often intercepted ships belonging to the British, as well as others.
Note: Cuba is located in the West Indies group of Islands, located in the Caribbean Sea, just north of Jamaica & Northwest of Haiti. It is also only 90 miles south of Florida.
On 9 April, 1731 a Spanish Guard ship intercepted the British Brig Rebecca & the Spanish Captain, during a duel with Capt. Jenkins of the Rebecca, cut off his ear. This led to the British declaring war against Spain on 22 Oct., 1739, albeit 8 years later, which was called The War of Jenkins Ear.
Due to increasing demands for British soldiers & sailors around the world, the British [who owned the American Colonies at the time] began to organize raising colonial troops for this war. The British also called the fighting unit an American regiment, instead of a British one, perhaps trying to instill pride and/or more loyalty in the soldiers.
Americans were offered incentives of forgiveness of all debts and/or crimes to go on this expedition.
This American regiment for the War of Jenkins Ear was made up of 4 Battalions, each one of which had many companies of about 100 men each. Together with all officers, the entire regiment amounted to about 3300 – 3600 men.
The men came from several states in the colonies, including North Carolina, Virginia, New Jersey, Maryland, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Delaware, & New York.
Since virtually no rosters or muster rolls have survived from this era, a NJ will is of historical interest. Recorded will Book E, p. 51 of Essex Co., NJ, written 8/5/1740 & proved 6/3/1747, Will of a Benjamin Cory: leaves the land [~ 100 acres] inherited from his deceased father in Elizabethtown, Essex Co. to his 3 brothers Elnathan, John & Joseph Cory or their eldest sons, because he, Benjamin Cory, is listed unto the King's service & designing to go on the expedition for Cuba; 5L for my sister Anna Cory, in the event she needs it. Thus, here is another NJ man who perished in the War of Jenkin's Ear.
Please note well: the internet rumor that this Thomas Meeker married a Mary Ball Fox is completely false, as she did not exist. Her supposed parents, Capt. David Fox & Hannah Ball, never had any child named Mary, Maria, Marie, Mariah or any other variation of the name. The fact that many non-thinking people copy each other to create a common falsehood does not make it correct.
Rumors abound of other children of Thomas Meeker & his unknown wife. These include Daniel, Thomas, Catherine, Robert etc. About the only child that makes sense, based on available evidence, is a Thomas Jr., as there is a Thomas who signed the Stevens papers & petitions in Elizabethtown in 1752. In addition, there were at least 3 proven different Thomas's in the rev. war. Also, a Thomas was the father of Abraham P. Meeker [7/1781 – 5/7/1850], whose Essex Co., NJ death certificate states his father was Thomas Meeker. Note: the subject Thomas could NOT have been any of the above Thomas's, since the former died in 1741.
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