John "of Anson" Cheek -
Migrations & Theories

ecklenburg County, North Carolina, was established in 1763 from the western part of Anson County. For many years, the location of the state line between Mecklenburg County and South Carolina was uncertain due to the existence of the Catawba Indian Reservation. The boundary was finally settled by agreement of the two states in 1813. Before then, settlers in the Indian lands might appear in the records of either North Carolina or South Carolina (or both). Many settlers moved into the Catawba reservation during the latter part of the 18th century, either with or without the permission of the Catawba, whose population had been decimated by starvation, small pox and other European diseases.

At least two different Cheek families are known to have settled in and around the Catawba Indian lands. Silas or Cylas Cheek, a son of William Cheek of Warren Co., NC, arrived in Mecklenburg County by 1790, along with his sisters Phoebe Cheek GOODRICH (married to Matthew GOODRICH), Martha Cheek SMARTT (married to Francis SMARTT) and Mary Cheek SMITH (married to John SMITH). In addition, Randolph Cheek -- believed to be the son of John "of Anson" Cheek (see previous page) -- leased 160 acres land from the Catawba tribe in 1801, located on Sugar Creek adjoining Silas Cheek.

The John Cheek Family

John Cheek, Jeremiah Cheek, and Silas Cheek are listed in the 1790 census of York District, SC. Their names appear on the same census page, which suggests they lived near each another (this particular census is not in alphabetical order, so we can assume names appear in the order that the census taker visited the households). John Cheek's household consisted of 3 white males over the age of 16, no white males under 16, and 5 white females. This implies he was an older individual with grown children in his household (i.e., 2 grown sons and 4 daughters plus his wife). Jeremiah and Silas may have had young families. Jeremiah Cheek's household consisted of 1 white male over 16, 1 white male under 16, and 1 white female (i.e., probably a wife and one young son). Silas Cheek's household had 1 white male over 16, no white males under 16, and 2 white females (i.e., probably his wife and a daughter).

John Cheek disappears from the records after 1790. In the 1800 census, we now find Jeremiah, Jesse, Ely, and a "Widow" Cheek in Lancaster Co., NC, and Silas Cheek still in York Dist., SC. In the 1810 census, we find Jeremiah, Ely, and "Agness Cheek" in Lancaster, and Jesse Cheek now in Mecklenburg Co., NC.

Although there is no definite proof, the John Cheek who was in York Dist., SC, in 1790 may be the John Cheek, Jr. ("John No. 2") previously found in the records of Anson and Montgomery Co., NC. One interesting piece of evidence comes from the records of the Sugar Creek Church (now Flint Hill Baptist Church) which was founded in 1792 and located in the Catawba Indian land. On July 12, 1794, the church records state, "received Sister Nancy CHEEK by virtue of a letter of recommendation from the Baptist Church in Montgomery County, N. Carolina under the pastoral care of the Revd. Edmund LILLY." (SC Mag. of Ancestral Research, Vol. XVII, No. 3, Summer 1989, p.136.)  This proves that Nancy Cheek came to the Catawba Indian Land from Montgomery County, NC. The Rev. Edmund Lilly (b.1728, d. 1808-1815) was a large landowner in Anson and Montgomery Counties who also served as pastor of the Rocky River Baptist Church. Rev. Edmund Lilly's son John Lilly was married to Eleanor Dumas, a daughter of Benjamin Dumas who was a neighbor of John Cheek, Sr. (See Anson DB C-1, pp. 330-331, deed from Benjamin DUMAS to Jeremiah DUMAS dated Oct. 15, 1757, refers to land on north side of Pee Dee River adj. John CHICK's line.)  (Info on Rev. Edmund Lilly is from The McLendons of Anson County by Rosalind McLendon Redfearn.)

"Nancy" is an old nickname for Ann or Agnes. Therefore, Nancy Cheek could be the "Agness Cheek" who appears on the 1810 census of Lancaster Dist., SC. On the other hand, it is also possible that the Nancy Cheek in the records of Sugar Creek Church was actually the wife of Randolph Cheek.  Although most sources state that Randolph Cheek was married to Margaret VAN HOOSE, according to an 1772 deed, his wife's name was Nancy. (Anson DB K, p.56.)  Randolph moved from Montgomery Co., NC, to Lancaster Dist., SC, between 1795 and 1800. So, the mystery continues.

In any event, it seems fair to assume (although not proven by any means) that the "Widow Cheek" who appears on the 1800 census of York Dist., SC, is also the "Agness Cheek" who appears on the 1810 census of Lancaster Dist., SC. These clues imply that "John No. 2" may have died between 1790 and 1800, and Agness Cheek was his widow. Their sons were probaby Silas, Jesse, Jeremiah, and Eli Cheek found in the census records 1790-1810.

Jeremiah Cheek of York/Lancaster SC migrated to Bedford Co., TN, between 1820-1830, where he had many descendants. Jesse and Eli may be the Jesse and Eli Cheek who moved to Maury Co., TN, prior to 1820. Recently, DNA testing conducted through the Cheek DNA Project proves that descendants of Jeremiah Cheek of Bedford Co., TN, and Jesse Cheek of Maury Co., TN, are related to known descendants of Richard Cheek of Beaufort Co., NC.  This genetic evidence supports the theory that the Cheeks in York and Lancaster Dists., SC, were the grandchildren or great-grandchildren of Richard of Beaufort through Richard's son, John "of Anson" Cheek Sr.

Other descendants of John "of Anson"

It's likely that John "of Anson" Cheek had many descendants who are not yet accounted for. Based on census records, as many as 7 or 8 Cheek males were probably born prior to 1800 in Anson and Montgomery Counties in North Carolina, and York and Lancaster Districts in South Carolina. Most of the Cheek families in these areas had left by 1820 and their movements are hard to trace, due to lack of records. However, many "stray" Cheeks with names like Jesse, Jeremiah, Silas, and Randolph show up in Tennessee, Kentucky, Illinois, Mississippi, Missouri and elsewhere. At least some of these individuals are probably part of John "of Anson" Cheek's lineage.

To summarize, the possible descendants of John "of Anson" Cheek include:

• John Cheek, Jr. ("John No. 2"), b. around 1740; pos. d. 1790-1800 in York or Lancaster Dist., SC; children may have included John Cheek ("John No. 3") (b. abt. 1755), found in Anson/Montgomery Co., NC, until 1800; Silas Cheek (b. 1755-1774), found in York Dist., SC, until 1800; Jeremiah Cheek (b. 1755-1765), moved to Bedford Co., TN; Jesse Cheek (b. 1755-1775), moved to Maury Co., TN; Eli Cheek (b. 1775-1780), moved to Maury Co., TN.
• Randolph Cheek, b. around 1740; d. 1815, Giles Co., TN; m. Margaret VAN HOOSE. Children reportedly included Valentine "Felty" Cheek (b. 1787) who moved to Titus Co., TX, and Randall Cheek (b. abt. 1780-1790).
• John Cheek, b. abt. 1772 in NC; d. 1850-1860, Carroll Co., MS; m. Jane __ (b. abt. 1802; d. aft. 1860). Possibly the John Cheek who m. Susie TROTTER, Oct. 9, 1830, Madison Co., MS. Children: Hilliard Cheek (1831), George Cheek (c.1835), Leonard Cheek (c.1838), John Cheek (c.1842), Silas Cheek (c.1846). Note there is a John HILLIARD listed on the 1779 tax list of Montgomery Co., NC.
• Randolph Cheek, b. abt. 1780 in NC or SC; d. 1874, Bollinger Co., MO. Randolph was born in North Carolina, or possibly South Carolina, based on the 1880 census entries for some of his children. He moved to Cape Girardeau (Bollinger) Co., MO, before 1820. Some of Randolph's (presumed) children included Jesse, John, James, and possibly a Randolph Cheek Jr.—all popular names among the Meck/York/Lancaster Cheeks. There was also a Silas Cheek listed in Cape Girardeau Co., MO, in 1830.
• Robinson Cheek, b. 1790-1800; listed in the 1840 census of Marion Co., AL, living next door to Isaac BLANTON and William SNOW, both of whom were married to daughters of William Washington KEY. See Randolph (c.1817) and John Randolph (c.1818), below. Click here for more info on William Washington Key
• Randolph Cheek, b. abt. 1817 in TN; d. 1866 in Titus or Red River Co., TX; m. Nancy Eveline KEY, daughter of William Washington KEY & Cynthia Aseneth ABBOTT. He went to Texas with Valentine "Felty" CHEEK, who was the son of Randolph CHEEK of Montgomery/Anson NC. Children: William Washington Cheek (c.1843), John Cheek (c.1845), Margaret Jane Cheek (c.1847), Belinda Cheek (c.1850), Nancy Elizabeth Cheek (c.1855), Wiley N. Cheek (c.1858), Henry D. Cheek (c.1862), Martha Cheek (c.1864). Click here for more info on Randolph Cheek
• John Randolph Cheek, b. abt. 1818 in AL, d. 1860-1870 probably in Tyler or Leon Co., TX; m. Belinda Milstead KEY, daughter of William Washington KEY & Cynthia Aseneth ABBOTT. Children: William Washington Cheek (c.1839), Elizabeth Cheek (1840), Jasper Freeman Cheek (1842), Jiles Newton Cheek (c.1845), Amanda Cheek (c.1847), Asenath Cassandra Cheek (c.1849), Ellen Cheek (c.1854), Stephen Randolph Cheek (c.1856), Sophronia Cheek (c.1858), John Robert Cheek (1864). Click here for more info on John Randolph Cheek
• Washington Randolph Cheek, b. 1817 in TN; d. 1870 in Red River Co., TX; m. Nancy Eveline "Betsy" KEY. Children: William Cheek (c.1843), John Cheek (c. 1845), Margaret Jane Cheek (c.1847), Belinda Cheek (c.1850), Elizabeth Cheek (c.1856), Wiley Nicholas Cheek (1857), Henry Duke Cheek (1862), Martha Cheek (c.1864).

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County	1782	1787	1790	1800	1810	1820	1830	1840
Anson Co., NC	John Sr.	?	John
Montgomery Co., NC	John Sr., John Jr., Ranall	John, John, Randle, Joseph	Randle, Siles	John			Fred
Mecklenburg Co., NC		?	Silas	Silas	Cylas, Jesse	G? H.	John S., Robert T.	John S., R.T.Sr.
York Dist., SC		?	John, Jeremiah, Silas	Silas		Silas, Robert T.		Nelly
Lancaster Dist., SC		?		Widow, Randle, Jeremiah, Jesse, Ely	Agness, Jeremiah, Ely		Silas