HAIRSTON FAMILY HISTORY AND GENEALOGY - Hairston.org

Mary Elizabeth Hairston

HAIRSTON.org ID#3810, b. 5 September 1805, d. 7 March 1874

Father*

Robert HAIRSTON b. bt 1776 - 1780, d. 22 Aug 1841

Mother*

Margaret SMELTZER (SMELSER) b. a 1785, d. 16 Nov 1862

Birth*

Mary Elizabeth Hairston was born on 5 September 1805 in Rutherford, Tennessee.^1,2,3

She was the daughter of Robert HAIRSTON and Margaret SMELTZER (SMELSER).

Marriage*

Mary Elizabeth Hairston married Kays M. MEEK, son of Alexander MEEK and Elizabeth KAYS, about 1821.^4,5

Will

In Robert HAIRSTON's will dated 12 August 1841 in Marshall, Mississippi, Mary Elizabeth Hairston was named as an heir; The will mentions his wife Margaret, daughter Mary Meek, nephews Robert Meek & Robert Hairston, son Manley M. Hairston and son James N. Hairston. Robert's son Manley M. Hairston was appointed administrator. Note: Nephews Robert Meek & Robert Hairston are actually grandsons of the deceased Robert Hairston. Robert Meek is the son of Mary E. Hairston Meek and Robert Hairston is the son of James N. Hairston. - Marshall County Mississippi Court records 1839-1846, pages 411-412. FSL #5815480, image 220. A copy of the will was also filed in the Lincoln County TN Will Books, Page 204 - Tennessee Wills and Probate Records. FSL #7642927, image 383 and #8959917, image 284.⁶

Census 1850

She appeared on the 1850 census of Kays M. MEEK on 16 October 1850 in Southern Division, Marshall, Mississippi; Kays Meek 57 VA, Mary 45 TN, Alep 26 TN, Rufus 25 TN, John 21 TN, Margaret 18 TN, James 16 MS, Wm 14 MS, Mary E K 11 MS, Martha T 8 MS, Thos K 6 MS; Kays Meek is living next to Thomas H. Meek 52, born in South Carolina.¹

Census 1860*

Mary Elizabeth Hairston appeared on the census of 1860 in Marshall, Mississippi, Mary Meek 50 TN, Thomas P 17 MS, Martha T 18 MS.⁷

Death*

She died on 7 March 1874 in Mississippi at age 68.^4,3

Burial*

She was buried in Meek Family Cemetery, Marshall, Mississippi;

Photo: Find A Grave by Darrel Brown.³

Family

Kays M. MEEK b. 16 Oct 1792, d. 19 Nov 1857

Children

Robert MEEK¹ b. a 1822, d. 31 Oct 1874
Alexander Crutcher MEEK¹ b. a 1824, d. 28 Feb 1864
Rufus MEEK¹ b. a 1825
John J. MEEK¹ b. 12 Jun 1829, d. 15 Jun 1863
Margaret MEEK¹ b. 29 Jul 1831, d. 17 Oct 1902
James MEEK¹ b. a 1834
William M. MEEK¹ b. 15 Oct 1836, d. 7 Jul 1865
Mary E K MEEK¹ b. a 1839
Martha T MEEK¹ b. a 1842
Thomas K. MEEK¹ b. a 1844

Sources (www.HAIRSTON.org)

[S1850] 1850 Federal Census - National Archives and Records Administration - Ancestry.com and FamilySearch.org.
[S3176] Lincoln County Tennessee Bible Records, Volume 4, compiled by Mabel Abbott Tucker and Jane Warren Waller, Lincoln County Tennessee Pioneers. Family History Library Film #007831066., Family Search Library, Salt Lake City, Utah.
[S48] Photo of Grave Marker - only photos of grave markers that are contemporary to the deceased individuals death are acceptable for genealogical proof. Find-a-Grave, personal photos and other sources.
[S113] Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications.
[S46] Vic Hairston and Edward J. Bregenzer, The Hairston History, February 12, 1998. Personal Collection - copy.
[S3251] Tennessee Wills & Probate Records 1779-2008, Ancestry.com.
[S1860] 1860 Federal Census - National Archives and Records Administration - Ancestry.com and FamilySearch.org.

Last Edited

29 Nov 2025