William Henry “Willie” Meekins (1884-1967)

William Henry “Willie” Meekins Veteran

Birth

15 Jul 1884

Toano, James City County, Virginia, USA

Death

20 May 1967 (aged 82)

Williamsburg, Williamsburg City, Virginia, USA

Burial

Chickahominy Baptist Church Cemetery

Toano, James City County, Virginia, USA Add to Map

Memorial ID

View Source

William Henry Meekins was the first of twelve children born to Jefferson and Alice Meekins, Sr. on July 15, 1884 in Toano, Powhatan, James City County, Virginia.

Willie as he was affectionally known grew up in Toano known by many as Chicka-a-Homa. He attended the James City County Public Schools and he worked daily with his father Jeff on their family farm.

He was a veteran in the United States Army and served his country during World War I.

After Willie returned home from the war his occupation was a Horse Groomsman caring for horses for many years and was employed at the Barnstable on Old Jamestown Road in Williamsburg, Virginia. Later he was employed with The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation for many years from which he retired.

Willie was listed on the 1940 Virginia Federal Census which stated that his occupation was a Jockey and that he had attended college. It didn't name the college although I do remember my father John Meekins telling me that his father attended a college in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania which is where he met his future wife Mabelle Jenkins. They were joined in holy matrimony in 1909.

My father also told me stories about how he would watch his father Willie groom and replace the shoes on horses and how he could tell the age of a horse by looking inside of it's mouth.

William and Mabelle had nine children; four daughters and five sons but one son Baby Patrick passed away either right after his birth or he was stillborn but I was unable to locate any documents or records for him.

Note:
William and Mabelle had a child every year except for two years which is why I think their son Baby Patrick was birthed in 1919 or in 1924 but there is a possibility that he may have been their first born in 1916 before William McCauley's birth in 1917 and if not, then it's more than likely that Baby Patrick was born in 1919 or in 1924.

Note:
Willie does have an original obituary that can be found here in the photo section. I've created my own personal bio/obituary with information from the documents and records I found during my research, what I personally knew about him and also from the stories that I've been told by family members.

Note:
The 1887 birth year on Willie's headstone is incorrect. Documents and records state that 1884 is his year of birth.

Bio by: Sheila Meekins (48066896) •

* My paternal grandfather