Randolph Cheek
of Moore & Chatham Co., NC

Randolph or Randall Cheek, son of Richard CHEEK, Sr., & Jane RANDLE(?), was probably born between 1730-1735 in Virginia or North Carolina and reportedly died Feb. 1, 1816, in Chatham Co., NC. The name of his wife is unknown.

Children of Randolph Cheek:

1. John Cheek, b. abt. 1760-1770; d. aft. 1830. John was a brother of Joab Cheek (see below) according to Joab's will. He is probably the John Cheek who obtained several land grants on both sides of the Deep River, Lick Creek, and Rogers Creek during the period 1799-1815. (Grant Nos. 1058, 1071, 1632, 2213, 2215.) He appears on the 1815 land tax list of Moore Co., NC, with 4 properties totalling 1,630 acres. He also appears in the census 1800-1830. He was the executor of his brother Joab Cheek's will in 1827. He may be the John Cheek of Moore Co. who gave a statement in support of James HARDIN's application for a Rev. War pension in Aug. 1832 (NARA File No. R4592). He may be the John Cheek who died 1836 in Moore Co., leaving a wife, Bethana. His administrator, Josiah Cheek (son?), posted a $50,000 bond, indicating that his estate was quite sizeable. (Moore Co., NC, Superior Court Minutes, pp.25, 29, Mar. 3-4, 1836; abstracted by Glenda Biggerstaff.) Census records suggest John had 2 sons and 3 daughters born bet. 1790-1800, and possibly 1 other son b. born 1800-1810. According to a legal case decided by the NC Supreme Court in the Dec. term, 1844 (38 N.C. 405), John Cheek's heirs were Josiah Cheek, a daughter who was the wife of Jesse WOMBLE, and others not identified. Josiah Cheek moved to neighboring Randolph Co., NC, prior to 1850 and lived near the present-day town of Cheeks, which is located on Brush Creek and the Deep River. Click here to view a topo map
2. +Joab Cheek, b. 1765-1775; d. 1827, Moore Co., NC; m. Mary BROOKS (b. 1755-1765; d. aft. 1827).
3. Mary Cheek
4. Jane Cheek
5. Patty Cheek
6. Elizabeth Cheek, m. Samuel DUNN.
7. Anna Cheek, b. Feb. 10, 1774; d. Jan. 16, 1849, Randolph Co., NC; m. Thomas PARKS, son of Samuel PARKS (b. 1778; d. May 15, 1852, Randolph Co., NC); bur. Parks/Stout Cemetery, Randolph Co., NC. Children: John, Milley, Fields, Joab, Ambus, Henry, George Washington, Lydia.
8. Lydia Cheek, b. abt. 1786; d. 1853, McNairy Co., TN; m. Matthew PHILLIPS (b.1770-1780; d. 1845). Children: Brantley, Matthew, A.W., Jane, probably others.

Notes

andall or Randolph Cheek was under 14 when his father's will was written in 1743, but he must have been of legal age when he appears on a tax list in 1755.  Therefore, he was probably born between 1730 and 1735.

Many of the records of Moore County, NC, were destroyed in a courthouse fire in 1889, including deed books, marriage books, and loose estate papers.  This obviously complicates genealogical research.  In particular, there has been some confusion between the children of Randolph Cheek and his brother Robert Cheek, who also lived in Moore County.

According to information kindly provided by Susan West, there is a DAR application submitted in 1962 by a great-granddaughter of Anna Cheek & Thomas Parks, which refers to a petition for the settlement of the estate of Randal Cheek of Chatham Co., North Carolina.  The estate file reportedly indicates that Randal Cheek "died on or about the first day of February last" (1816).  Children of Randal/Randolph listed on the DAR application are John Cheek, Joab Cheek, Mary Cheek, Jane Cheek, Elizabeth Cheek, Lydia Cheek, Anna Cheek (m. Thomas PARKS).  Someone in the DAR office wrote in the name Patty.  Under this entire list, also added by this DAR applicant, are the words "Ref: Estate Papers of Randal/Randolph Cheek, Chatham Co., NC."

Records

1743. Beaufort Co., NC. Randolph CHEEK is named in his father Richard CHEEK's will, dated Sept. 29, 1743; recorded in Beaufort Co., NC, Apr. 30, 1745. He received 200 acres of land. The will indicates that Randolph was then under age of 14. (Will Bk. N, p.144.)

1752 Tax List, Granville Co., NC:

• Richard CHEEK, 2 tithes ("himself & his brother Randall Cheek")
• Wil'm CHEEK, 1 tithe;
• Robert CHEEK, 1 tithe.

July 10, 1754. Granville Co., NC. Randall CHEEK witnessed a deed from Richard CHEEK to William PENNION, 200 acres on Fishing Creek, being land patented by Joseph John ALSTON on Apr. 11, 1745. Other wits: William CHEEK, James HIGS, Richard PENNELL. (Granville DB1, p.50)

1755 Tax List, Granville Co., NC.

• William CHEEK
• Richard CHEEK
• Randolph CHEEK

Oct. 23, 1756. Cumberland Co., NC. Randolph CHEEK witnesses a deed from Cornelius TISON to Robert CHEEK, 150 acres on the north side of the Deep River. Other wits: George HENDRY, Thomas COLLINS.

Feb. 1761. Orange Co., NC. Richard CHEEK, Randal CHEEK, & others ordered to lay a road from the county line near Andrew SHEPHEARD's to Henry BRASWELL's and thence to Johnston County line.

Oct. 17, 1761. Granville Co., NC. Randal CHEEK witnesses a deed from Robert CHEEK "of Orange County" to William CHEEK of Granville, 212 acres on William CHEEK's corner, north side of Fishing Creek at Charles BARTHOLOMEW's line. Price: £10. Other wits: Cornealus TISON, Jeffrey HORTON. (Granville DB1, p.188).

May 20, 1762. Orange Co., NC. Randolph CHEEK & Jacob BARNS are chain carriers for a survey of Robert CHEEK's land grant(dated Dec. 8, 1762), 241 acres in Orange County on the waters of Tice's (Tyson's) Creek of Deep River, joining the County line. Wits: James WATSON, Joseph FOOSHE.

1768. Orange Co., NC. Randolph CHEEK signed a Regulator Advertisement in 1768, and subsequently fought in the Battle of Alamance, which occured on May 16, 1771. (Source: Regulator list compiled by Louise Overton)

Geographic Note: Chatham County was created from Orange County in 1771.

Mar. 15, 1775. Cumberland Co., NC. Randolph CHEEK granted 250 acres on north side of Deep River in Cumberland County. Entered Jan. 11, 1774. (NC Archives, Land Office: Land Warrants & Plats, Folder No. 12.14.51.1615 and 12.14.51.1803, Entry No. 80, Book 27, p.206.)

1777 Tax List, Cumberland County, NC, Jacob Duckworth's District.

• Robert CHEEK: 1,200 acres.
• Randolph CHEEK: 836 acres.

1781. An interesting reference to the Cheeks appears in a Revolutionary War journal kept by the soldier Sgt. William Seymour, who served in the American army under Gen. Nathaniel Greene. On Apr. 3, 1781, Seymour writes that Greene's army, then en route from Chatham County, NC, to Camden, SC, made camp at a "Mr. CHEEK's plantation." Based on Gen. Greene's route, this must be a reference to either Randolph CHEEK or Robert CHEEK of Cumberland/Moore County. According to Seymour, on March 20th the army had been at Ramsey's Mills on the Deep River (Chatham County). On March 30th, the Horse and Infantry division marched toward Wilcox's Iron Works to have troop horses shod. The Wilcox Iron Works were located in the town of Gulf, on the Deep River about 15 miles south of Ramsey's Mills. If the army continued to follow the Deep River south, they would have easily reached the Cheeks' property by April 3rd, when Sgt. Seymour says that they made camp. On April 4th, 1781, Gen. Greene wrote a letter to Gen. Francis Marion, describing his location as "camp, Deep River". Although Gen. Greene does not mention the Cheeks, his letter does prove that the Cheek plantation referred to by William Seymour was on the Deep River and not in some other location.  (Sources: "Journal of the Southern Expedition, 1780-1783" by William Seymour, Sergeant-Major of the Delaware Regiment, printed in Pennslyvania Magazine of History & Biography, Vol. 7 (1883), p.380, and Sketch of Life of Brig. Gen. Francis Marion by William D. James (1821), Appendix.)

Geographic Note: Moore County was created from Cumberland County in 1784.

Nov. 21, 1784. Moore Co., NC. Phill CHEEK and others ordered to work on a road from McClendon's Creek to the fork of the road. Following day (Nov. 22, 1784), Amos CHEEK, James CHEEK, John CHEEK and others ordered to work on a road from from Chatham County line to the fork of the road. (Moore Co., NC, Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions, pp. 8, 9, 17. Abstracted by Glenda Biggerstaff.)

Note: Philip & James Cheek, referred to in the above road order, were probably sons of Robert Cheek. John may have been a son of Randolph Cheek. Amos Cheek's relationship to the others is unknown but it is possible he was another son of Randolph.

1789. Randolph CHEEK was a captain of the militia in Moore Co., NC.

Oct. 4, 1790. Moore Co., NC. Randolph CHEEK entered a claim for 50 acres in Moore County adj. his own line, pursuant to Warrant No. 235. (NC Archives, Land Office Warrants & Plats, Folder No. 12.14.90.4996.)

Mar. 16, 1799. Moore Co., NC. Randolph CHEEK granted 150 acres in Moore Co., NC, on north side of Deep River adj. Gabrial JOHNSTON. Entered Oct. 2, 1789. (NC Archives, Land Office Warrants & Plats, Folder No. 12.14.90.1096; Grant No. 1060, Book 101, p.22.)

Nov. 24, 1800. Chatham Co., NC. A land grant to John RECORD in Chatham County refers to CHEEK's line, RAMSEY's corner, & Tyson's Creek. (NC Land Grant Book 115, p.75; source: Land Grant Records of North Carolina, Vol. II, by Elizabeth "Pat" Shaw Bailey.)

Nov. 16, 1802. Moore Co., NC. Randol CHEEK & Jno. CHEEK enter a claim for 35 acres on Deep River, pursuant to Warrant No. 1062. (NC Archives, Land Office Warrants & Plats, Folder No. 12.14.90.5073.)

1810 Census, Moore Co., NC, p.597: RANDOL CHEEK

1 w/m 26-45	2 w/f under 10
1 slave	1 w/f 26-45

Note: The Randol Cheek in the above census entry appears too young to be the Randolph born about 1730-1735, but no other Randolph Cheeks are listed in Moore or Chatham County in 1810.

1815 Tax List, Moore Co., NC, pp.464-465.

• Randal CHEEK, 60 acres, $100
• James CHEEK, 200 acres, $200
• Joab CHEEK, 604 acres, $1,200
• John CHEEK, 450 acres, 330 acres, 615 acres, 235 acres, $2,050

Feb. 1, 1816, Randall (Randolph) CHEEK reportedly died in Chatham Co., NC. His estate was administered by his sons John CHEEK & Joab CHEEK. In Aug. 1816, his land was divided into eight lots for distribution to his two sons and six daughters. (NC Archives File No. C.022.50002, Chatham Estates 1812-1822, pp.55-57.)