“The Meeks Family Murder (II)”

Description

The Meeks Family (husband, wife, and three children) are lured from home by the Taylors. The parents and two children are killed, but wounded Nellie escapes to report the crime. The Taylors are captured and sentenced to die

Notes

For more historical details on this piece, see the notes to "The Meeks Family Murder" (I).

To tell this piece from the other Meeks ballads, consider this first stanza:

'Twas in the lovely springtime,

In the merry month of May,

When Meeks, his wife, and children

Were induced to go away. - RBW

Historical references

• May 11, 1894 - Gus Meeks, his wife, and two children are killed by William and George Taylor (who are suspected of cattle stealing). William Taylor was hanged; George escaped and was not recaptured

Cross references

• cf. "The Meeks Family Murder I" [Laws F28]
• cf. "The Meeks Family Murder III" [Laws F30]
• cf. "The Meeks Family Murder IV"
• cf. "The Meeks Family Murder (V -- Nellie's Lament)"

References

1. Laws F29, "The Meeks Family Murder II"
2. Randolph 152, "The Meeks Murder" (4 texts, 1 tune, but Laws considers only the "D" text to be this song; "A" is F30 and "B" and "C" go with F28)
3. Burt, p. 235, "(The Meeks massacre)" (1 excerpt)
4. DT 797, MEEKMUR2
5. Roud #2267
6. BI, LF29