Roll of Honor
Samuel J. "Sam" Meredith
Incident
Deputy Samuel Meredith, Deputy Charles Meredith and Deputy Sheriff M.M. Knight were shot and killed while attempting to arrest two men on a warrant.
On Monday, May 30, 1881, at 12 noon, Cooke County Deputy Sheriff M. M. (Meek) Knight swore in four men - Samuel (Sam) J. Meredith, Charles (Charley) Meredith and two others - to assist him in arresting two men with warrants for carrying concealed weapons. The five lawmen first arrested an unnamed blacksmith, two of the Special Deputies guarded him. Deputy Sheriff Knight and the Meredith's went to arrest a gunsmith. As they approached the suspects house, the suspect opened fire with a Winchester striking Deputy Sam Meredith in the neck. The suspect then shot Deputy Knight in the head, killing him instantly. Deputy Charles Meredith tried to hide behind a tree, but the suspect fired and killed him instantly. The suspect noticed that Sam Meredith was alive and withering in pain so he placed his rifle against Deputy Sam Meredith's head and killed him.
The suspect left his family and fled into Indian Territory (present day Oklahoma). It is unknown if the suspect was ever arrested or charged in the deaths of these three lawmen.
Deputy Samuel Meredith was survived by his wife and one child and had served with the Cooke County Sheriff's Department for one day.
Survivors
Deputy Samuel Meredith was survived by his wife and one child and had served with the Cooke County Sheriff's Department for one day.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-79E6490B- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
145 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Special Deputy Sheriff Meredith served with the Cooke County Sheriff's Department.
Thank you for your service to the Gainesville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Special Deputy Sheriff Samuel J. "Sam" Meredith is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In TX, 1,463 of 2,421 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.4% of this state's fallen. That is 6.2 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Cooke County Sheriff's Department, 4 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Samuel J. "Sam" Meredith's cause is highlighted.
How Samuel J. "Sam" Meredith Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Samuel J. "Sam" Meredith is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Samuel J. "Sam" Meredith was killed by rifle; winchester.
Others Who Wore This Badge
3 officers from Cooke County Sheriff's Department are honored on badge.nw.
