Final answer:
Tim and his father were separated after Mr. Meeker was captured by the Patriots during the American Revolution, reflecting the divided loyalties of the time. He enlisted in the British army. The answer is option A.
Step-by-step explanation:
Tim becomes separated from his father because Mr. Meeker was captured by the Patriots. During the American Revolution, loyalties within the colonies were deeply divided between the Patriots (or revolutionaries) and the Loyalists (or Tories) who joined the British forces.
Mr. Meeker, being in the unfortunate position of being aligned with the British in a predominantly Patriot area, would have been at risk of capture by Patriot forces. The tensions and actions of that period, such as the skirmishes at Lexington and Concord, set the stage for such events where families could indeed become separated due to their political alliances.