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

ohn Cheek was 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. Bladen County was established in 1734 and originally encompassed a large frontier territory extending west from Livingston's Creek on the Cape Fear River "to the bounds of government."  Old Bladen was the parent of dozens of other counties including Anson (formed from Bladen in 1750) and Montgomery (formed from Anson in 1779).

In 1746, John Cheek received a land grant of 400 acres on the northeast side of the Great Pee Dee River in Bladen County. In 1749, "Cheeks Creek" is mentioned in a land grant to Abraham BOYD on the north side of the Little River in Bladen County. This was undoubtedly the creek that is still known as Cheek Creek, a branch of the Little River on the northeast side of the Pee Dee River in what is now Montgomery County.

By the 1750's John Cheek owned land on both sides of the Pee Dee River in Anson and Montgomery Counties, at the mouth of Brown Creek. He seems to have had at least two 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. He probably died before 1790.

John Cheek's Origins - Pennsylvania or Virginia?

ccording to some reseachers, John Cheek of Anson/Montgomery County came from Pennsylvania with a German family named Van Hoose (also spelled Van Hooser or Van Huss). This is based on a marriage record of John "Van Huss" and a woman named Hannah "CHEECK" dated 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.)  John Van Hoose and several other family members moved to Anson County, NC, in the mid-1750's . (For more information see The Van Hoose Family website by Jean Peppers.)  The Van Hoose and Cheek families were closely associated in Anson County. Randolph Cheek (son of John Cheek) is believed to have married John Van Hoose's daughter Margaret, and they had a son named Valentine Cheek, which was the name of Margaret Van Hoose's brother. Valentine Cheek named one of his sons Jesse Van Hoose Cheek. So, it's certainly reasonable to conclude that Hannah, the wife of John Van Hoose, was related 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. "Cheek" 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 several years later. There is a similar German surname, SCHICK, found in Pennsylvania records. According to researcher Carol Rodriguez, John SCHICK sponsored a baptism on Oct. 2, 1748, at the Millbach Reformed Congregation in Heidelberg, Lancaster Co., PA. (Source: Pennsylvania Church Records of Adams, Berks, and Lancaster Counties 1729-1881.)  However, it's unknown whether this John SCHICK had any connection to Hannah CHEECK who married John Van Hoose.

Although the Pennsylvania records are intriguing, I still believe that John Cheek could be the son of Richard Cheek of Beaufort County, NC.  (Of course, maybe Richard's son John Cheek traveled to Pennsylvania for some reason and met the Van Hooses, before returning to North Carolina. It's a speculative theory, but not outside the realm of possibility. It's even been suggested that Hannah CHEECK might be Ann Cheek, Richard Cheek's youngest daughter.)

The evidence: Richard Cheek of Beaufort County, NC, had a son named John, which is proven by his will. John 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.

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 for a tract of land granted to John Cheek in 1782 in Montgomery Co, NC (Grant No. 15, Book 43, p.184). Chain carriers were usually family members or close friends of the person who obtained the land grant. Being a chain carrier was exhausting work, requiring hours in the hot sun, dragging a 66-foot surveying chain through dense underbrush, forest and swamps.

Another piece of evidence is the distinctive first name "Randall" or "Randolph."  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" Cheek, it seems like more than a coincidence.

Finally, DNA testing conducted through the Cheek/Chick DNA Project shows that several possible descendants of John "of Anson" Cheek are closely related to descendants of Richard "of Beaufort" Cheek. 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.)

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.)

Nov. 24, 1764. The North Carolina Governor's Council in Wilmington, NC, "Read the Petition of John CHEECK setting forth that he is possessed of a Patent for two hundred Acres of Land in Anson County, That the surveyor has by mistake mentioned the beginning corner to be below the mouth of Williams Creek Although in fact the said Tree stands above the mouth of the Creek, which can be proved by a living evidence who was present at the survey and praying relief &c. Ordered that there be a warrant of Resurvey of the said Land to be returned to the next Court of Claims." (Colonial Records of NC, Vol. 6, p.1087.)

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).

• Elizabeth CHEEK granted 200 acres on on Hurricane Branch of Brown Creek on Oct. 30, 1765. (NC Archives Land Office Warrants & Plats, Folder No. 12.14.27.2348 and 12.14.27.2407, Grant No. 282, Book 17, p.245; also Book 18, p.223.)  Elizabeth CHEEK sold this property to William PICKETT; deed proved in court Apr. 1777 by Edward INGRAM. (Anson Court Minutes.)
• Sarah CHEEK granted 200 acres on Flatt Fork of Brown Creek on Oct. 30, 1765. (Folder No. 12.14.27.2349 and 12.14.27.2408, Grant No. 283, Book 17, p.246; also Book 18, p.224.)
• Hannah CHEEK granted 300 acres on Hurricane Branch of Brown Creek on Oct. 30, 1765. (Folder No. 12.14.27.2350 and 12.14.27.2409, Grant No. 284, Book 17, p.246; also Book 18, p.224.)  Hannah CHEEK sold this property to William PICKETT by deed dated Apr. 18, 1773; signed: Hannah CHEEK; wits: Joel MCLENDON, Wm. HANCE, & John CHEEK. (Anson DB K, p.80.)

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).

Note: Joel McClendon or McLendon was originally from Moore Co., NC. Before moving to Anson around 1769, he lived on McLendon's Creek, a tributary of the Deep River in upper Moore County. The McLendon Cabin which Joel built abt. 1760 has survived more than 200 years and is now a historic site. Based on the location of the cabin, Joel McClendon probably lived about 15 miles from Randolph Cheek and Robert Cheek of Moore County whose plantations were located on the Deep River and Tyson's Creek. John Cheek of Anson Co., NC, may have been the brother of Randolph and Robert Cheek of Moore County. Although there is no record of any associations between the McLendons and the Cheeks in Moore County, they are connected in Anson County. Joel McLendon's sister Jemima McLendon was married to John Cheek's neighbor Benjamin Dumas (another migrant from Moore to Anson County), and John Cheek's son Randolph Cheek sold land to Joel McLendon in 1769.

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.)

July 1774. John CHEEK and others ordered to work on the Anson County road from Clark's Creek to the ford on Little River.

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.)

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 County 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 to the other Cheeks in the area is unknown and their names never appear again in the records. 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 State Census, Montgomery Co., NC, Dist. 4: JOHN CHEEK. Also listed are Joseph CHEEK in Dist. 4, another John CHEEK in Dist. 2, and Randle CHEEK in Dist. 2.

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 of Robert Livret Cheek in Montgomery Co., NC. However, in the 1787 State Census of Montgomery Co. there is a family named LOCKETT, or possibly PICKETT or LEVERETT listed between John CHEEK and John SWEARINGEN, and a few households away from Vallentin VANHOOSE. (Thanks to Carol Rodriguez for this information!)  Therefore, it seems likely that Robert Livret Cheek was related to the family of John "of Anson" Cheek.

he records of the Cheek family get rather confused at this point. There is no record of John Cheek, Sr.'s, will or estate in either Anson or Montgomery County, NC. His estate was probably probated in Montgomery County, since that is where most of his land was located. Unfortunately, the Montgomery County Courthouse burned in 1842, destroying all of the county's records. Any record of John Cheek's will has been lost forever.

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 even 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, John Cheek's 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 interpretations of the census entries are certainly possible. The children in the household could be grandchildren, for example.

In any event, one possibility is that John Cheek, Sr., died before 1790. His (presumed) son, John Jr. ("John No. 2"), may have moved across the state line into South Carolina (see next page)  and a grandson, "John No. 3," remained on the family's land in Anson and Montgomery Counties. "John No. 2" is listed in the 1790 census of York District, South Carolina. He probably settled in the region 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. "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.