Zilpha Sarah MEADOWS

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• _UID: 27F3B376F85A42FCB2785B09EB81AC6AE37B

Notes:

At the site of Thomas Huntley's grave, there is a headstone which has Thomas Huntley and Zilpha S. Meadows inscribed. An unknown family member has paid for the headstone restoration and the original is unknown or underneath.

James Allison wants further proof of this connection, and I have considered his assertion of absolute proof, but feel with the daughter being named Zilpha (after the mother) and the recollections of others, I am happy that burden of proof is not absolute, but most likely. Sarah was purportedly the middle name of Zilpha and they are probably one in the same as mentioned in the 1802 will of Thomas. I am happy to concede Zilpha Sarah Meadows is not proven, but remains as best lead until further documentation if ever comes to light.

See below by James:
The Meadows surname was brought to the attention of Huntley family members by John Wilson Huntley, after the year 1914. Prior to that time, the Meadows information was unknown to the Huntley family.
Zilpha was later added as the first name by an unknown individual to a DAR application. Prior to 1975, the DAR was less stringent about source documentation to prove family lineage. I have copies (available to anyone who is interested) of the pages from John Wilson Huntley's Ledger #2, which mention the claim that Meadows was the surname of Thomas Huntley's wife. I understand that John Wilson Huntley's original ledgers are in the South Carolina Archives. The ledger entry on pages 42 to 43 regarding the Meadows surname follows:
"The Wadesboro Ansonian March 18th 1914 Since writing my last, I have been asked whom the first of setler Thomas Huntley married I could not then answer the question but think I can now, with some degree of certainty. Having ascertained that a considerable part of the land around about where Thomas Huntley lived was once owned by the Meadows family, I use this as a key to unlock the mistery, having in my rambles, called on Rev. Joe Ratcliff (col) [(colored)] I asked him if he knew where Thomas Huntley settled, the answer was he did then I asked him whom Thomas Huntley married, whereupon he assumed a meditative mood, saying that he knew if he could think, so I called over several prominant families, asking him if he married any of those, and he answered me in the negative, I then called the name Meadows and he slapped his hands and said yes, yes, yes - I asked him what her given name was, He said he [she] was a sister of Obediah Meadows I have written it just as I received it."

Does this ledger entry meet modern standards of genealogy proof or was it just speculation by Rev. Joe Ratcliff?
Also, the recent grave marker at the traditional site of Thomas Huntley's burial, identifies his wife as Zilpha S. Meadows. Prior to the recent grave marker, there was a brick encasement with a metal plaque, which was heavily damaged (and the plaque was stolen) by vandals in the 1940's. Clearly, whatever an original gravestone (if there was one) from the early 1800's recorded, has now been lost. The use of "Zilpha S. Meadows" on the recent grave marker is arbitrary. What about "Sarah"?

To this day, no other source documentation has come to light concerning the Zilpha Meadows claim.

Best regards from a Thomas Huntley descendant, James Allison

Family/Spouse: Thomas HUNTLEY. Thomas was born in 1730 in Virginia; died in 1802 in Anson County, North Carolina. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Robert S. HUNTLEY was born in 1762 in Anson County, North Carolina; died on 11 Jan 1854 in Anson County, North Carolina.
2. Zilpha HUNTLEY was born in 1767 in Anson, North Carolina; died in 1856 in Gulledge, Anson, North Carolina; was buried in Rev. Joel Gulledge Cemetery Deep Creek, Anson County, North Carolina, USA Anson, North Carolina.