Randall Cheek
of Lowndes Co., AL
Randall (Randol) Cheek, son of Willis CHEEK & Jemima SANDERS, was born Aug. 10, 1790, in Laurens Dist., SC, and died May 11, 1865, in Lowndes Co., AL. He married (1) unknown, before 1810. She died bet. 1830-1837. He married (2) Lucinda Waldrum, July 13, 1837, in Lowndes Co., AL. She was born abt. 1817, and died 1896 in Lowndes Co., AL. Randall and Lucinda Cheek are buried at the Cheek Cemetery in Lowndes Co., AL.
Children of Randall Cheek & Unknown:
- Gasaway CHEEK, also spelled Gazzoway, Gaziway, etc., b. Nov. 10, 1810, Laurens Dist., SC; d. Feb. 5, 1867, Forsyth Co., GA; m. Theresa PIKE (also spelled Tersha, Terrisa), May 19, 1840, Forsyth Co., GA (b. Feb. 19, 1812, in SC, and d. aft. 1880 in Blythe, Marion Co., AR). Children: John Cheek (c.1842), Sylvester Cheek (c.1845), Amanda Cheek (c.1848), Rebecca Cheek (c.1849). After Gasaway's death in 1867, Terrisa and her children moved to Boone Co., AR, and later Marion Co., AR.
- John Cheek, b. 1810-1820, d. 1848 in Texas; m. Sarah A. HALL, daughter of James HALL & Nancy Davis ALLEN, Dec. 25, 1843 (b. Dec. 12, 1827; d. Jan. 1, 1865). Sarah remarried to Richard T. MATSON in 1851 and resided in Washington Co., TX. Daughter: Carrie Cheek (b. 1848), married a famous Texas Ranger named Capt. Leander Harvey MCNELLY
. In 1876, Carrie and her husband Leander McNelly filed a lawsuit against a man named J.B. Brandon to recover 640 acres in Denton Co., TX, that John Cheek had patented 1847. The published decision by the Texas Supreme Court refers to a deposition of O.H.P. Garrett proving that John Cheek died in 1848 and Carrie was his only child. (Brandon v. McNelly, 43 Tex. 76 (1876).) O.H.P. Garrett was probably Oliver Hazard Perry Garrett of Washington Co., TX, a cousin of the Garretts in Lowndes Co., AL, and Laurens, SC. Randall Cheek's will mentions Carrie MCNELLY, daughter of his deceased son John. - Zilpha Cheek, b. abt. 1813, Laurens Dist., SC; d. aft. 1865, Lowndes Co., AL; m. James H. GARRETT, son of Edward GARRETT & Eleanor HIGGINS, Aug. 30, 1832, Laurens Dist., SC (b. Feb. 22, 1813; d. ?). Children: Noah Garrett (c.1833), Eliza Garrett (c.1835), John H. Garrett (c.1838), David Garrett (c.1839), Baylis Garrett (c.1842), Patilla Garrett (c.1845), Areann Garrett (c.1848), Ellen Garrett (c.1851), James Garrett (c.1854). Randall Cheek's will lists several children of deceased daughter Zilpha Garrett.
- Noah Cheek, b. June 22, 1818, Laurens Dist., SC; d. Apr. 28, 1854, Washington Co., TX; m. Evaline BALDRIGE, Apr. 29, 1847. His obit. published in the Texas Ranger, May 11, 1854, p.2, col. 7, states, "Noah Cheek died at his residence of consumption in Washington County, Texas, on the 28th day of April, 1854, aged 35 years, 10 months and 6 days. He was born in Laurens District, S.C., and moved from there to Lowndes County, Alabama, with his father, Randall Cheek, at about the age of 17 years. In 1840 he came to Texas, which has been his home until the day of his death. On April 29th, 1847, he married Evaline Baldridge." Reprinted in Austin Colony Pioneers by Worth S. Ray (Gen. Pub. Co., 1970). Son: Randall Cheek's will mentions John L. Cheek, son of dec'd son Noah, of Ennis, TX.
- Rebecca Ann Cheek, b. Jan. 23, 1823, Laurens Dist., SC; d. Nov. 22, 1893, Birmingham, Jefferson Co., AL; m. (1) Robert CONNOLLY, Mar. 15, 1837, Lowndes Co., AL (b. ?, d. bef. 1850); (2) Stephen Barnes GARRETT, son of Edward GARRETT & Eleanor HIGGINS, Dec. 14, 1852, Lowndes Co., AL (b. Mar. 17, 1824; d. Jan. 29, 1904); bur. Oak Hill Cemetery, Jefferson Co., AL. Children: Lafayette Connolly (c.1839), Mary Connolly (c.1841), Eveline Connolly (c.1843), Randolph Connolly (c.1845), Florence Connolly (c. 1846), Sarah Joanna Connolly (c.1847); Callinia "Callie" Connolly (c.1855), Idella "Della" Garrett (c.1856), Lucien or Lucius Garrett (c.1857), Eva Garrett (1860). Randall Cheek's will names daughter Rebecca A., wife of Stephen B. GARRETT of Birmingham, AL.
- Sylvester Cheek, b. abt. 1825, Laurens Dist., SC. He appears to have gone to Texas with his brother Noah Cheek; Texas land records show that Sylvester Cheek and Noah Cheek took out land patents on the same day in McLennan Co., TX (May 12, 1849). The 1850 census of Lowndes Co., AL, shows Sylvester Cheek, age 25, unmarried, living with his sister Zilpha Garrett and her husband James H. Garrett. Sylvester is not named in Randall Cheek's will; he may have died without issue.
Children of Randol Cheek & Lucinda Waldrum:
Notes
1810 Census, Laurens Dist., SC, p.282: RANDOL CHEEK
| 2 w/m 10-15 | |
| 1 w/m 16-25 | |
| (other entries are illegible) |
1820 Census, Laurens Dist., SC, p.26: RANDOL CHEEK
| 3 w/m under 10 | 1 w/f under 10 |
| 1 w/m 26-45 | 1 w/f 26-45 |
1830 Census, Laurens Dist., SC, p.271: R. CHEEK
| 1 w/m 5-9 | 1 w/f 5-9 |
| 1 w/m 10-15 | 1 w/f 15-19 |
| 1 w/m 16-19 | 1 w/f 40-49 |
| 1 w/m 20-29 | |
| 1 w/m 40-49 |
1840 Census, Lowndes Co., AL, p.226: RANDAL CHEEK
| 1 w/m under 10 | 1 w/f 20-29 |
| 1 w/m 20-29 | |
| 1 w/m 40-49 |
- 1850 Census, Lowndes Co., AL, Lowndes Dist., p.134:
RANDOL CHEEK, 60, SC, planter, value of real estate $7,515 - -- Lucinda, 33, SC
- -- Randolph, 12, AL
1859, Randall Cheek was indicted by the grand jury of Lowndes Co., AL, for failing to provide his slaves with sufficient food, clothing, and medical care. The offense carried a $25 to $1,000 fine. On appeal, he argued that the lower court had improperly excluded evidence that in December 1858, he had slaughtered 32 hogs to feed the plantation. The Alabama Supreme Court reversed and remanded for further proceedings. (Cheek v. State, 38 Alabama 227 (1862).)
- 1860 Census, Lowndes Co., AL, Northern Div., Hayneville P.O., p.508 (HH#202):
RANDALL CHEEK, 69, SC, farmer, value of real estate $41,800, value of personal property $174,474* - -- Lucinda, 46, SC
*The slave schedule to the 1860 census indicates that Randall Cheek owned 104 slaves and his wife Lucinda Cheek owned 26 slaves
Marriage records indicate that Lucinda CHEEK remarried to P.W. SPEAR on May 28, 1867, in Lowndes Co., AL. However, she is listed under the surname Cheek in 1870.
- 1870 Census, Lowndes Co., AL, Hayneville P.O., p.225 (HH#494):
LUCINDA CHEEK, 56, SC - -- Nancy CARR, 28, Black, domestic servant, TN
- -- Hansly CARR, 4, male, Black, AL
- -- Merida CARR, 2, male, Black, AL
The Will of Randall CHEEK, who died May 11, 1865, names wife Lucinda (nee WALDRON); daughter Rebecca A., wife of Stephen B. GARRETT of Birmingham, AL; Carrie MCNELLY, daughter of dec'd son John, of Burton, Texas; John L., son of dec'd son Noah, of Ennis, TX; and the following children of dec'd daughter, Zilpha GARRETT, vis: Elisa, wife of A. J. GARRETT; John H.; James E.; and Ellen, wife of Julius BOZEMAN of Autauga County, AL. The will also mentions W. W. DRANE, Adm. ad litum of Baylis R. GARRETT, and Thomas JAY, Adm. of son Gazzoway CHEEK of Forsyth County, GA. Administrator: George W. Stone. Final Settlement: April, 1878. (Abstract kindly shared by Carolyn Golowka.)
Lucinda wrote her will on Feb. 28, 1872, and it was proved Feb. 15, 1896. She identifies herself as "Lucinda CHEEK otherwise called Lucinda SPEAR." Requests burial next to "my late husband Randall CHEEK." Leaves all her estate to Caswell GARRETT, son of Nancy and William J. GARRETT, and if he should die without children before age 21, then to his sister Mary Wash GARRETT. Wits: George W. STONE, W.H. HAIGLER, W.C. GRIFFIN. Codicil dated Feb. 9, 1883, bequeaths "my plantation in Lowndes County, known as the Sol. McCall Plantation," to Mary W. CAFFEY wife of Hugh W. CAFFEY. (Lowndes Co., AL, Will Book C, pp.276-277.)