• John Cheek
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John Cheek of
Anson/Montgomery Co., NC

John Cheek, Sr., a son of Richard CHEEK, Sr., & Jane RANDLE(?), was probably born between 1720-1725 in Virginia. He may be the John Cheek who settled in Bladen (Anson) Co., NC, in 1745; probably died there before 1800. He married Jane, last name unknown.

Children of John Sr. & Jane Cheek:

  1. Possibly +John Cheek, Jr., ("John No. 2"), b. around 1740; pos. d. 1790-1800 in York or Lancaster Dist., SC.
  2. Possibly +Randolph Cheek, b. around 1740; d. 1815, Giles Co., TN; m. Margaret VAN HOOSE.
  3. Elizabeth Cheek, granted 200 acres on Hurricane Branch of Brown Creek in Anson Co., NC, on Oct. 30, 1765.
  4. Sarah Cheek, granted 200 acres on Flatt Fork of Brown Creek in Anson Co., NC, on Oct. 30, 1765.
  5. Hannah Cheek, granted 300 acres on Hurricane Branch of Brown Creek on Oct. 30, 1765.

Notes

John Cheek was probably one of the middle sons of Richard Cheek of Beaufort Co., NC, and is named in Richard's 1743 will.  There are no further records of John Cheek in Beaufort or Edgecombe Counties.  However, he may be the John Cheek who appears on the 1745 tax list of Bladen County, NC.  In 1746, John Cheek (presumably the same John Cheek) received a grant of 400 acres on the northeast side of the Great Pee Dee River in Bladen County.  In 1749, a land grant to Abraham BOYD in Bladen County refers to "Cheeks Creek" on the north side of the Little River.  This is undoubtedly the creek which is still known as Cheek Creek.  Just as described in the original 1746 land grant, Cheek Creek is a branch of the Little River on the northeast side of the Pee Dee River.  It was originally in Bladen County, but the area became Anson County in 1750 and Montgomery County in 1779.

Records from Anson and Montgomery Counties show that John Cheek also owned land on both sides of the Pee Dee River around the mouth of Brown Creek.  He seems to have had at least 2 sons, John and Randolph, and daughters named Elizabeth, Sarah, and Hannah.  John's date of death is uncertain because most of Montgomery County's early records were destroyed in a courthouse fire in 1842.  However, he is probably the John Cheek, Sr., who appears on the 1782 tax list of Montgomery Co., NC, with 1,182 acres of land.

Some reseachers believe that John Cheek came to Bladen/Anson/Montgomery County from Pennsylvania with a family named Van Hoose (also spelled Van Hooser or Van Huss).  There is a marriage record of John "Van Huss" and a woman named Hannah "CHEECK" on Feb. 16, 1747, in Heidelberg, Lancaster (now Berks) Co., PA.  (Source: "Marriage Records of Rev. John Casper Stoever, 1730-1799," originally pub. in Egle's Notes and Queries, Annual Volume 1896, p.90.)  The Cheek and Van Hoose families in Anson County do have a connection: Randolph Cheek is believed to have married John Van Hoose's daughter Margaret, and they had a son named Valentine Cheek, which is a name found in the Van Hoose family.  Valentine in turn named one of his sons Jesse Van Hoose Cheek.  So it's reasonable to think that Hannah, the wife of John Van Hoose, must have been related somehow to John Cheek of Anson/Mongtomery County, NC.  Unfortunately, there are no other records of the Cheek surname in Lancaster Co., PA, during the relevant time period, and Hannah's parents have never been identified.  The Cheek name is not a typical German name and it is not found among any of the German settlers of Tulpehocken Township, where the Van Hoose family lived.  Also, John Cheek was already in Bladen/Anson County in 1746, and the Van Hooses did not arrive until 10 years later, around 1755.

Although the Hannah "Cheeck" record is intriguing, I still feel that John Cheek may have been the son of Richard Cheek of Beaufort County, NC.  The evidence is circumstantial, but credible.  First, Richard had a son named John, which is proven by his will.  This John completely is completely absent from the records of Beaufort and Edgecombe Counties after 1743, nor is he found in Granville, Bute, or Orange County with any of his brothers.  Of course it is possible that he died young.  However, another piece of evidence comes from the Swearingen family.  The Swearingens were neighbors of the Cheeks in Edgcombe and Beaufort County (see, e.g., Edgecombe DB 1, pp.19-20).  Several Swearingens moved to Anson County and settled on Cheek Creek (see, e.g., deed from Philemon Terrell to Van Swearingen, Nov. 12, 1766, referring to land on "Cheek Creek").  Pioneer families often migrated together, or settled near people they already knew from home.  The appearance of the first name "Van" in the Swearingen family suggests a possible connection between the Van Hoose and Swearingen families.  ("Van Swearingen" could be short for "Van Hoose Swearingen.")  Moreover, Samuel Swearingen, Jr., had a son named "Richard Cheek Swearingen," which suggests there may have been a Cheek-Swearingen intermarriage.  Samuel "Swaringen" and John Cheek are listed as chain carriers in a survey made in 1779 for a tract of land granted to John Cheek in 1782 in Montgomery Co, NC (Grant No. 15, Book 43, p.184).  Being a chain carrier was exhausting work, and not something a person would willingly do except for family or close friends.

Another piece of evidence is the distinctive first name Randall or Randolph Cheek.  Richard "of Beaufort" Cheek had a son named Randolph and this name is found in several generations of Richard's descendants.  Randall/Randolph was a fairly unusual first name in the 1700's -- there are only 54 examples listed in the 1790 census index for the entire state of North Carolina.  So when the name "Randolph" appears in a family with other possible connections to Richard "of Beaufort," it does seem more than a coincidence.

Finally, DNA testing conducted through the Cheek/Chick DNA Project shows that several possible descendants of John "of Anson" are closely related to known descendants of Richard "of Beaufort."  Although DNA testing can't pinpoint a specific ancestor, there is a high probability, based on the DNA results, that these individuals had a common male ancestor within the last 12 generations (roughly 300 years).

Records

Many thanks to Pauline Brandy for her efforts in finding the following Anson County records!

1743. Beaufort Co., NC. John CHEEK is named in his father Richard CHEEK's will, dated Sept. 29, 1743; recorded in Beaufort Co., NC, Apr. 30, 1745. He received 150 acres of land. (Will Bk. N, p.144.)

Apr. 4, 1745. John CLARK registered "headrights" for John CHEEK in Bladen Co., NC, 6 whites, no blacks. (North Carolina Council Journal, Colonial Records of North Carolina, Vol. IV, p.759; see also Journal of NC Genealogy 12:1767, Winter 1966.)

Note: The "headright" law allowed settlers in North Carolina to claim a certain amount of vacant land per person. John Cheek would have been entitled to headrights if he was born in Virginia or another colony. John CLARK, who recorded the headrights for John Cheek, was a large landowner in Bladen (Anson) County who accumulated more than 20 land patents along the Pee Dee River between 1740 and 1752. He sold many of these parcels to other settlers. It is possible that John Cheek sold or traded his headrights to John Clark, perhaps in exchange for a parcel of land already owned by Clark.

1745. Bladen Co., NC, John CHEEK appears on a tax list. (Source: Clarence E. Ratcliff, North Carolina Taxpayers, 1679-1790, Vol. 2 (Gen. Pub. Co. 2003).)

Sept. 11, 1746. Bladen Co., NC. John CHEEK enters a claim for 400 acres in Bladen Co., NC, on the north east side of the Great Pee Dee. (NC Archives Land Office Warrants & Plats, Folder No. 12.14.33.8532.)

Note: The above land entry is consistent with the location of "Cheeks Creek" which is a branch of the Little River on the northeast side of the Pee Dee River in what is now Montgomery Co., NC.

Apr. 5, 1749. Bladen Co., NC. Abraham BOYD is granted 300 acres in Bladen Co. on north side of the Little River & Cheeks Creek. (NC Land Office Warrants & Plats, Folder No. 12.14.33.285, Book 5, p.309.)

Map of the Anson County area

Anson County, North Carolina
from Jeffrey's American Atlas (1776)

Geographic Note: Anson County was formed from Bladen County in 1750.  Anson originally included the areas east of the Pee Dee and north of Rocky River which later became part of Richmond and Montgomery Counties.

June 28, 1750. Anson Co., NC. John COLLSON of Anson Co., planter, to JOHN CHEEK of same, for £50 proclamation money, 200 acres on the north side of the Great Pee Dee River above mouth of Brown Creek at John CLARK's lower corner. Land granted to John COLLSON on Nov. 26, 1746 [then part of Bladen Co., NC]. Wits: John DUNN, Anthony HUTCHINS. (Anson DB A, pp.58-59.)

July 22, 1750. Anson Co., NC. John CHEEK witnesses a deed from Jacob COLLSON of Anson Co., to Thomas HARRINGTON of same, planter, for £20 Virginia currency, 200 acres north side of Great Pee Dee above the wagon ford road at John COLLSON's upper corner, granted to said Jacob COLLSON Nov. 26, 1746. Other wit: John COLLSON. (Anson DB A, pp.58-59.)

Sept. 19, 1750. Anson Co., NC. John CHEEKS witnesses a deed from Thomas GEORGE of Anson Co., planter, to John COLLSON of same, for £12 Virginia money, 100 acres south side of Great Pee Dee granted Thomas GEORGE on Apr. 4, 1875. Other wit: Thomas HARRINGTON. (Anson DB A, pp.67-68.)

Apr. 15, 1752. Anson Co., NC. John CHEEKS witnesses a deed from Thomas HARRINGTON of Anson Co., planter, to James HUTCHINS of same, for £_ proc. money, lower part of a tract of 300 acres granted John GILES on Oct. 18, 1747, & conveyed to said HARRINGTON by deed, 100 acres above the mouth of Cedar Creek. Other wit: Antho. HUTCHINS. (Anson DB B, pp.216-217.)

Oct. 3, 1755. Anson Co., NC. JOHN CHEEK granted 200 acres in Anson Co., NC, on south side of Pee Dee below the mouth of Wilkins Creek or Williams Creek, a fork of Brown Creek. Petition and order for resurvey and plats for same dated June 27, 1766. (NC Archives Land Office Warrants & Plats, Folder No. 12.14.27.403, Grant No. 174, Book No. 2, p.134.)

Oct. 15, 1757. Anson Co., NC. Benjamin DUMAS of Anson Co., planter, to Jeremiah DUMAS, his son, of same, for 5 shillings, 270 acres on north side of Pee Dee adj. JOHN CHICK's line, 100 acres taken up by John GILES and the other by Thos. HARRINGTON. Wits: John LILLEY, James LARGOUT, John MACKEANE. (Anson DB C-1, pp.330-331.)

1763 Tax List, Anson Co., NC: JOHN CHEAK, 1 poll.

Nov. 21, 1763. Anson Co., NC. Randolph CHEEK [believed to be a son of John CHEEK] purchases 180 acres on south side of Pee Dee and Brown Creek from William IRBY. (Anson DB 3, p.83.)  He later sold this land to Joel MCLENDON on Nov. 16, 1769. (Anson DB 7, p.279.)

Jan. 22, 1764. Anson Co., NC. Sarah CHEEK [unknown relation but possibly a daughter of John CHEEK] purchases a mare from Micajah PICKETT. Wits: Michael WEEKS, Mary WEAKS. (Anson DB 3, p.174.)

July 26, 1764. Anson Co., NC. John CHEEK & wife Jane of Anson to John STEVENS of Cumberland Co., NC, 200 acres on mouth of Brown's Creek at John CLARK's lower corner, being a grant to John COLLSON dated Nov. 26, 1746, conveyed to John CHEEK on June 12, 1750. Signed: John CHEEK, Jane (X) CHEEK. Wits: J. PICKETT, Thos. WILLIAMS. (Anson DB 3, pp.137-138.)

Jan. 24, 1765. Anson Co., NC. Randolph CHEEK [believed to be a son of John CHEEK] purchased 10 sows from William IRBY. Wits: James HUTCHINS, Gabrial DAVIS. (Anson DB 3, p.183.)

June 19, 1765. Anson Co., NC. Joseph MURPHY to John CHEEK Jr. [believed to be a son of John CHEEK], 100 acres granted to Benjamin SMITH on Dec. 5, 1760, in Young's Island, cutting off 25 acres of Thos. GEORGE's land which he sold to Benj. SMITH, then up the river, adj. Robert PARKS. For £40. Signed: Joseph MURPHY, Voluntine (X) MURPHY (her mark). Wits: Walter GIBSON, Shadrach HOGAN. (Anson DB 3, p.171.) [Some sources transcribe this name as JOSEPH CHEEK, Jr.]

Oct. 30, 1765. Anson Co., NC. Elizabeth CHEEK, Sarah CHEEK, and Hannah CHEEK each obtain a land grant in Anson County. They were presumably unmarried in order to obtain land grants in their own names. They were likely the daughters of John CHEEK, Sr. In two subsequent deeds, dated Oct. 15, 1784, and July 28, 1786, there is a reference to property on Hurricane Creek adjoining the line of surveys made for "one of" John CHEEK's daughters (Anson DB H, p.30 and p.106).

Feb. 24, 1767. Anson Co., NC. JOHN CHEEK, Robert SNUGGS, & Abraham BELYEU witnessed a deed from William IRBY (YEARBY) & wife Margaret to John STEVENS, 75 acres on south side of Pee Dee, adj. YOUNG's Island on the riverbank, & Aaron SMITH's corner. (Anson DB 1, p.21.)

Apr. 27, 1767. Anson Co., NC. Randolph CHEEK [believed to be a son of John CHEEK] received two land grants. The first was on the southwest side of the Pee Dee a little above Brown Creek [no acreage given]. (NC Archives Land Office Warrants & Plats, Folder No. 12.14.27.3113, Grant No. 568, Book 23, p.62.) The 2nd was for 200 acres on Brown Creek. (Folder No. 12.14.27.3114, Grant No. 569, Book 23, p.62.)

May 1, 1767. Anson Co., NC. John CHICK & wife Jane to John STEVENS, 200 acres in Bladen, now Anson Co. on north side Great Pee Dee River & above mouth of Brown Creek, beg. at John CLARK's lower comer; granted Nov. 26, 1746, to John COLLSON and sold June 28, 1750, to John CHICK who sold July 26, 1764, to John STEVENS. Signed: John (X) CHICK, Jane (X) CHICK. Wits: Samuel SPENCER, Jas. PICKETT. Reg. Sept. 14, 1767. (Anson DB H-I, p. 57.)

Nov. 16, 1769. Anson Co., NC. Randolph CHEEK of Rowan Co., NC [believed to be a son of John CHEEK] executed two deeds to Joel MCLENDON. First deed, 76.5 acres on SW of Pee Dee River a little above Brown Creek, granted Apr. 27, 1767, to Randolph CHEEK. (Anson DB 7, p.278.)  2nd deed, 180 acres on south side of Pee Dee River and above mouth of Brown Creek, granted Apr. 23, 1750 to Thomas GEORGE who sold it to Pester PRESTOR who sold it to Ann SMITH who sold it to William IRBY who sold it Nov. 3, 1763, to Randolph CHEEK. (Anson DB 7, p.279.)

Dec. 16, 1769. Anson Co., NC. A land grant to Richard FANNING describes 300 acres of land on Brown Creek adj. John Donohue and John CHEEK. (NC Archives Land Office Warrants & Plats, Folder No. 12.14.27.2604, Grant No. 257, Book 20, p.530.)

May 21, 1773. Anson Co., NC. JOHN CHEEK, SR. entered a claim for 300 acres on Davids Creek south west of the Pee Dee. (NC Archives Land Office Warrants & Plats, Folder No. 12.14.27.7802, Warrant No. 436.)

Apr. 15, 1774. Anson Co., NC. A deed from JOHN CHEEK to Joel MCCLENDON was proved by Jesse MCCLENDON. (Anson Court Minutes).

July 25, 1774. Anson Co., NC. John CHEEK granted 200 acres of land on the north fork of Davies Creek southwest of the Pee Dee. (NC Archives Land Office Warrants & Plats, Folder No. 12.14.27.3676, Grant No. 1153, Book 26, p.159.)

Mar. 11, 1775. Anson Co., NC. Randale or Randle CHEEK [believed to be a son of John CHEEK] granted 150 acres on Jacobs Creek on the southwest side of the Pee Dee River. Entered May 24, 1773. (NC Archives Land Office Warrants & Plats, Folder No. 12.14.27.3399 and 12.14.27.3935, Entry No. 513, Grant No. 1082, Book 25, p.271; also Book 27, p.178.)

April 1777. Anson Co., NC. A deed from Eliz. CHEEK [possibly a daughter of John Cheek] to William PICKETT proven by William THREADGILL. (Anson Court Minutes.)

Sept. 3, 1779. Anson Co., NC. John CHEEK, Jr., granted 150 acres on both sides Rocky River. (NC Archives Land Office Warrants & Plats, Folder No. 12.14.27.3988, Grant No. 31, Book 30, p.194.)

Sept. 3, 1779. Anson Co., NC. Randolph CHEEK [believed to be a son of John CHEEK] received a grant for 100 acres on southwest side of the Pee Dee River on both sides of Jacobs Creek. Entered Sept. 15, 1778. (NC Archives Land Office Warrants & Plats, Folder No. 12.14.27.4023, Entry No. 272, Grant No. 66, Book 30, p.229.)

Map of the Anson County area

Anson, Montgomery, and
Richmond Counties, North Carolina
from an 1833 map

Geographic Note: Montgomery & Richmond Counties were formed from the Anson County in 1779.  Most of the early records from Montgomery County were destroyed in a courthouse fire in 1842.

Note: In 1779, John Cheek appears on a list of voters in Montgomery Co., NC, which means he was a freeholder owning at least 50 acres of land.  However, for some reason he is not included on the Montgomery Co. tax lists in either 1779 or 1780.  The 1780 tax list of Montgomery County does have a George Lamb CHEEK and a Fraseer CHEEK, but their relationship (if any) to the other Cheeks in the area is unknown.  Their names never appear again in the records that I know of.  John Cheek, Sr., and John Cheek, Jr., are found in both Anson and Montgomery Counties beginning with the 1782 tax list.

1779. Montgomery Co., NC. Jno. CHEEK appears on a list of voters in Montgomery Co., NC. (NC Gen. Society Journal, 10:45, Feb. 1984.)

1782 Tax Lists:
• John CHEEK, Sr.: 1182 acres in Montgomery Co., NC, & 200 acres in Anson Co., NC.
• John CHEEK, Jr.: 150 acres in Montgomery Co., NC
• Ranall (Randall) CHEEK: 300 acres in Montgomery Co., NC

Oct. 23, 1782. Montgomery Co., NC. John CHEEK granted 200 acres in Montgomery Co., NC, on the southwest side of the Pee Dee River on both sides of the Cedar Fork of Davis's Creek adj. his other 200 acre tract. Surveyed May 4, 1779, by Geo. DAVIDSON in Anson, now Montgomery County; begins at CHEEK's corner stake, adj. Shadrick HOGGAN, and crosses the creek twice; John CHEEK and Saml. SWARINGEN, chain carriers. (NC Archives Land Office Warrants & Plats, Folder No. 12.14.89.15, Grant No. 15, Book 43, p.184.)

Oct. 14, 1783. Anson Co., NC. John CHEEK granted 100 acres in Anson County on the southwest side of the Pee Dee River on both sides of Davis's Creek. (NC Archives Land Office Warrants & Plats, Folder No. 12.14.27.4332, Grant No. 497, Book 52, p.12.)

Oct. 14, 1783. Anson Co., NC. John CHEEK, Sr., granted 200 acres in Anson County on southwest side of the Pee Dee River on both sides of Davis's Creek. Entered Dec. 10, 1778. (NC Archives Land Office Warrants & Plats, Folder No. 12.14.27.4344, Entry No. 759, Grant No. 509, Book 52, p.18.)

Oct. 14, 1783. Anson Co., NC. John CHEEK granted 100 acres in Anson County on southwest side of the Pee Dee River on both sides of the north fork of Davis's Creek. Entered Dec. 10, 1780. (NC Archives Land Office Warrants & Plats, Folder No. 12.14.27.4385; Entry No. 761; Grant No. 550; Book 52, p.37.)

Oct. 14, 1783. Anson Co., NC. John CHEEK granted 200 acres in Anson County on both sides of Davis's Creek. Entered Dec. 16, 1778. (NC Archives Land Office Warrants & Plats, Folder No. 12.14.27.4388; Entry No. 712; Grant No. 553; Book 52, p.39.)

Nov. 14, 1783. Anson Co., NC. John CHEEK granted 200 acres in Anson County on the southwest side of the Pee Dee River on the waters of Ugly Creek. Entered Nov. 22, 1788. (NC Archives Land Office Warrants & Plats, Folder No. 12.14.27.4388; Entry No. 915; Grant No. 570; Book 52, p.46.)

1787 Tax List. There are two John CHEEKS and a Joseph CHEEK on the tax list in Montgomery Co., NC.  [There is no other information concerning Joseph Cheek in Montgomery Co., NC; perhaps he was a son of John Sr. who died or left the area.]

Nov. 16, 1790. Anson Co., NC, A land grant to Stephen HYDE describes 300 acres beginning on John CHEEK's corner & crossing Brown Creek. (Grant No. 903, Book 74, p.189.)

1790 Census. There is one John CHEEK in Anson Co., NC, none in Montgomery Co., NC, and another John CHEEK in York District, SC.

Feb. 24, 1794. Montgomery Co., NC. John CHEEK and Elisha THOMPSON witnessed a deed from Jonathan MORGAN to Mary WILLIAMS for a gray stud horse and 5 head of cattle. (Montgomery DB 1774-1795.)

Dec. 26, 1794. Montgomery Co., NC, Land Entry 1529. Robt J. STEEL entered 130 acres on Cheeks Creek adj. a tract belonging to "Robt. Livret CHEEK."  [There are no other records concerning this individual and his relationship to the other Cheeks in the area is unknown.]

The records of the Cheek family become rather confusing at this point.  There is no record of John Cheek, Sr.'s, will or estate in either Anson or Montgomery County, NC.  It appears that most of John Cheek's land was located in Montgomery County, so that is where his estate would have been probated.  Unfortunately, the records would have been lost when the Montgomery County Courthouse burned in 1842.  The courthouse fire also destroyed any records concerning the sale of John Cheek's land after his death.

There is a John Cheek in the 1790 census of Anson County, NC, and Montgomery County, NC, in 1800, but he appears to be a younger John Cheek, possibly young enough to be a third generation ("John No. 3")."  His household in 1790 consisted of 1 white male over age 16, 5 white males under 16, and 4 white females.  In other words, there were several underage children in the household, which implies a younger family.  In 1800, his household in Montgomery County, NC, consisted of 1 male and one female over age 45 and 6 children: 2 males (one under age 10 and one age 10-15) and 4 females (1 under age 10, 1 age 10-15, and 2 age 16-24).  Again, the number of underage children suggests parents in young middle age (say, in their 40's).  By contrast, "John No. 2" would have been around 60 years old in 1800, assuming he was born about 1740, and John Sr. would be at least 20 years older than that.  Of course, other explanations are certainly possible.  John No. 1 or No. 2 could have been living with grandchildren or children by a second wife.

In any event, it's possible that John Cheek, Sr., died before 1790 and his (presumed) son, John Jr. ("John No. 2"), moved across the state line where he is listed in the 1790 census of York District, South Carolina.  John No. 2 probably settled in an area along the North Carolina-South Carolina border where Mecklenburg County, NC, the Catawba Indian Reservation, and York and Lancaster Districts in South Carolina all came together.  The political boundaries in this area were somewhat vague.  "John No. 2" may have died before 1800, and his widow and sons are subsequently found in records of both York and Lancaster Districts as well as Mecklenburg County, NC.  By 1820, most of the descendants of the original John Cheek Sr. seem to have departed for Tennessee and other points west.  More on this theory (next page)