Edward Sargent Meader, son of Mark Meader (c.1750-c.1800) [0051] and Hannah Bodge [or Dodge] (  –  ), was born in Durham, NH on May 7, 1791 and died December 24, 1866, in his 76th year. He was a twin to Aaron Meader [1413]. He was only six or seven years old at the time of his father's death. He married Clarissa F. Moore on December 7, 1812. She died July 7, 1866. Apparently the young couple at some time moved to Thetford, VT, as their son Jonathan [viii] was born there.

He had a large family and only slender means of support. His mother had sold his father's lands. The opportunities for improvement of his livelihood were few, especially since he had not even a common school education, a fact he mentioned often with regret. Having a very active will and good brain, he learned to read by the light of pine knots burning in the kitchen fireplace. He had a wonderful memory and an insatiable desire to know all that was going on in the world. He read eagerly, and whatever he read he remembered.

He had not the ability to accumulate property, but by industry he gave his family a good living, and all of them had a fair education.

He was a pensioner of the War of 1812.