Richard Cheek, Jr.,
of Chatham County, NC

Richard Cheek, Jr. son of Richard CHEEK, Sr., & Jane RANDLE(?), was probably born roughly 1720 in Essex Co., VA, and died after 1770, probably in Chatham Co., NC, or possibly in Surry Co., NC. He married Ann "Nancy," last name unknown.

Children of Richard Cheek, Jr.:

1. William Cheek, probably b. around the 1750's. Land records indicate that he obtained land on Buckhorn Creek and White Oak Creek in Chatham Co., NC, from "Richard CHEEK, Sr.," probably his father. He sold this land to Richard CHEEK, Jr., in Feb. 1776.
2. Richard Cheek, probably b. around the 1750's. He served in the Chatham Co., NC, militia in 1772 (Capt. Elisha Cain's Company), and in Feb. 1776 he purchased land on Buckhorn Creek & White Oak Creek in Chatham Co. from William CHEEK (his brother?). He sold this land to Ebenezer FULSOM in June 1776.

Notes

ichard Cheek, Jr., b. abt. 1720, was probably the second eldest son of Richard "of Beaufort" Cheek.  Richard Jr. or "Richard Cheek of Chatham" moved to Granville County, NC, around 1748, where he obtained land on the north side of Fishing Creek in the vicinity of Reedy Branch (now Warren County). He was in the Buckhorn Creek/White Oak Creek area of Orange (later Chatham) County, NC, by 1767. This is now the Harris Lake Reservoir. Richard's date of death isn't known, but records indicate he was still living in Chatham County in 1770 and perhaps later, although later records might actually refer to his son.

Richard Cheek's descendants are unknown. His sons Richard and William seem to have left Chatham County. Although in later years, there were a number of Cheek families in Chatham County, most of these were descendants of Randolph Cheek of Moore County, NC.

It's possible that Richard Cheek and his family moved to Surry Co., NC. On Feb. 18, 1775, the Sheriff of Surry County sold a Negro man named Peter from the estate of Richard CHEEK, to satisfy a claim by Burrell WILLIAMS vs. COBB and Richd. CHEEK in Chatham Co., NC. (Surry Co., NC, WB 1, p.40.)  There are a couple more records of a Richard Cheek in Surry County through 1785 -- maybe the son of the Richard who was deceased in 1775?  There is also a record of a William Cheek who was dismissed by the Westfield Monthly Meeting (Quakers) in Surry County in 1792 for marrying out of unity. Click here for more info about the various Cheek families in Surry, Yadkin, and Wilkes Counties, NC..

Records

Sept. 28, 1728. Spotsylvania Co., VA. Richard CHEEK Jr. and William CHEEK of St. George's Parish in Spotsylvania Co., VA, granted 1,000 acres in said parish and county adj. John MULKEY. (VA Land Office Book 13 p.321)

Note: St. George's Parish was located in the upper part of Spotsylvania that became Orange County, VA, in 1732. This may be the very first record concerning William and his brother Richard Cheek Jr., although they must have been quite young at the time. It is possible that Richard Sr. was using his underage sons to secure rights to free land in Spotsylvania County. At the time, the Virginia goverment was waiving land patent fees in Spotsylvania in order to encourage settlement. This patent was taken over by Henry WILLIS on June 10, 1737, "Richard CHEEK and William CHEEK having failed to make such Cultivation and Improvements" as required by the original grant. (VA Patent Book No. 17, p.360.)  Henry Willis was a neighbor of Richard Cheek, Sr. (see VA Patent Book No. 14, p.29). The Cheek family left for North Carolina around 1730, which would explain why the property was abandoned.

1743. Beaufort Co., NC. William CHEEK is named in his father Richard CHEEK's will, dated Sept. 29, 1743; recorded in Beaufort Co., NC, Apr. 30, 1745. He received 140 acres of land adjoining his brother Robert Cheek "it being the uper part of the Track joyning to a place called the Buck horn spring". (Will Bk. N, p.144.)

May 14, 1748. Granville Co., NC. Richard CHEEK purchased from Joseph John ALSTON of Edgecombe Co., 500 acres in Granville on north side of Fishing Creek at Frank YOUNG's corner, being land granted to Joseph John ALSTON on Apr. 1, 1745. Wit: John LANGSTON, John GOODE, and Abra T. ODOM. On the same date, Richard CHEEK witnessed a deed from ALSTON conveying 600 acres on the southside of Reedy Branch to LANGSTON. (Granville Deed Book 1, p.4; Deed Book A, p.39.)

Geographic Note: Granville County was formed from Edgecombe County in 1746.

1749 Tax List, Granville Co., NC (abstracted by Forrest King):

• Willm. Cheek
• Richard Cheek
• Robert Cheek

1751 Tax List, Granville Co., NC (abstracted by Forrest King): Richd. CHEEK & James HIGS

Sept. 3, 1751. Granville Co., NC. Richard CHEEK and others ordered to lay out a road in the most convenient way out of Stone House Road near Butterwood Swamp thence over Little Fishing Creek near Capt. YOUNG's thence over Fishing Creek near BLAKE's, thence to the Shocco Road near the bridge at Mr. JONES. Richard CHEEK to be overseer from Stone House Road to the Beaver Dam Swamp.

1752 Tax List, Granville Co., NC:

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

June 4, 1752. Granville Co., NC. Richard CHEEK and Robert CHEEK involved in a robbery prosecution against Peter COLLINS.

Nov. 15, 1752. Granville Co., NC. Richard CHEEK sold to Thomas TURNER, 300 acres on the east side of Fishing Creek (part of the 500 acres granted to Joseph John ALSTON on Apr. 11, 1745). Wit: Ann CHEEK, Daniel HARRIS. (Granville DB 1, p.43.)

1753. Granville Co., NC. William CHURTON, surveyor, with Richard CHEEK and Isaac BLETCHER as chain carriers, surveyed a 200 acre land grant for Robert CADE, Jr., located on Horse Creek adj. William DUKE. Warrant dated Apr. 25, 1751; plat dated Nov. 26, 1753; deed dated Aug. 25, 1760. (NC Archives, Granville Proprietary Land Office: Land Entries, Warrants & Plats, Folder No. 12.12.27.26.)

July 10, 1754. Granville Co., NC. Richard CHEEK sold to William PENNION, 200 acres on Fishing Creek (patented by Joseph John ALSTON on Apr. 11, 1745). Wit: William CHEEK, Randall CHEEK, James HIGS, Richard PENNELL. (Granville DB 1, p.50.)

1755 Tax List, Granville Co., NC.

• William CHEEK
• Richard CHEEK
• Randolph CHEEK

Apr. 24, 1755. Granville Co., NC. Richd. CHEEK, Simon GALE & Frances BRADLEY witnessed a deed from William LEDBETTER of Johnston Co., NC, to Robert CADE, 200 acres on Horse Creek. (Granville DB B, pp.493-494.)

Richard Cheek moves from Granville Co., NC, to Orange Co., NC.

Dec. 1758. Orange Co., NC. Richard CHEEK sued for debt by James CARY. (Court Minutes.)

Mar. 13, 1759. Orange Co., NC. Richard CHEEK purchased 295 acres from Enoch LEWIS; witness: William REED. Same day, Richard CHEEK sold 295 acres to Joseph EVANT (EVANS?); witness: William REED. (Source: Eve B. Weeks, Orange County, North Carolina, Deed Register, 1752-1768 and 1793 (Danielsville, GA: Heritage Papers, 1984).)

Aug. 14, 1759. Orange Co., NC. Richard CHEEK purchased 270 acres from Stephen PHILLIPS; witness: Thomas SIMANT. (Eve B. Weeks, Orange County, North Carolina, Deed Register, supra.)

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. Richard CHEEK appointed overseer on north side of Haw River. (Orange Court Minutes.)

Feb. 8, 1763. Orange Co., NC. Richard CHEEK purchased 320 acres from Ezekiel SHADDOCK. Witness: John ARMSTRONG. (Eve B. Weeks, Orange County, North Carolina, Deed Register, supra.)

Feb. 10, 1767. Orange Co., NC. Court clerk records a sale of 220 acres from Richard CHEEK to John BURT. Acknowledged by Richard CHEEK. (Eve B. Weeks, Orange County, North Carolina, Deed Register, supra.)

May 1767. Orange Co., NC. Richard CHEEK & others ordered to view and lay out a road from William BRASWELL's ferry on Cape Fear to HAMILTON' store on Crab Tree Creek. (Orange Court Minutes.)

Oct. 21, 1767. Orange Co., NC. Richard CHEEK & wife Ann sold to William RAGLAND for £35 proc. money, part of a 326 acre tract on Buckhorn Creek. [This is now part of Chatham County.] Rec. July 26, 1768: sale of 326 acres from Richard CHEEK and wife to William RAGLAND, wit: Joseph AVENT. (Eve B. Weeks, Orange County, North Carolina, Deed Register, supra.)  Also recorded in Orange DB 3, p.378: Richard CHEEK & wife Ann to William RAYLAND [most of deed missing].

May 1, 1768. Letter from Col. Fanning to Mr. Jacob FUDGE, Hillsborough, North Carolina, 1st May, 1768. "I am pleased with your pacific, prudent and orderly conduct since I last saw you, and convinced from thence that you are a man of sense and reason, and therefore should be glad to see ye, Mr. Richard CHEEK and Mr. Benjamin SAXON in Town on Tuesday next without fail. You shall be used and treated kindly and civilly, and I am hopeful, by your and other Gentlemens' conduct, there will be no more tumultuous riots and Assemblies had or instances of open and lawless violence committed". Published in William Edwards Fitch, Some Neglected History of North Carolina: Being an Account of the Revolution of the Regulators and of the Battle of Alamance (Neale Pub. Co., 1905), p.155.

Aug. 1768. Orange Co., NC. Richard CHEEK signed a Regulator Advertisement (petition). The line after Richard CHEEK's name states, "a Dutchman," but it is not clear if this is intended to refer to Richard CHEEK, or perhaps to the next name on the list, Charles SAXON. The other men signing the Advertisement were Francis DORSET, Wm. PAINE, Peter CRAVEN, Jacob FUDGE, and Ninian Bell HAMILTON. (Source: John Hill Wheeler, Historical Sketches of North Carolina, Vol. II, Alamance County, p.14 (orig. pub. 1851; reprinted by Regional Pub. Co., Baltimore, 1974). Hamilton, Craven, and Paine (Payne) were three of the principal leaders of the Regulator Rebellion in Orange County.

Nov. 11, 1768. "Dick CHEEK" appears on a list of "Inhibitants of Orange County Bordering on Cumberland" and "Inhabitants of Cumberland Bordering on Orange".

Nov. 10, 1769. Richard CHEECK was appointed Justice of the Peace for Orange Co., NC. (Colonial Records of NC, Vol. 8, p.149.)

July 21, 1770. Orange Co., NC. Richard CHEEK sells to John BURT Jr., 200 acres on Buckhorn Creek on north side of Cape Fear River adj. Enoch LEWIS & John BURT, Sr., for £10 proc. money. Wit: James CHRISTIAN & John HEARDON. Proved July 1770. (Orange DB 3, p.322.)  [This is now part of Chatham County.]

Dec. 5, 1770. A bill to organize a new county of Chatham was introduced in the NC Assembly. Richard CHEEK, Edmund FANNING, Mark MORGAN, Richard PARKER, and Stephen POE were appointed to a committee for the employment of workmen to build a courthouse, jail, and stocks. (Walter D. Siler, A History of Chatham County, North Carolina (1931).)

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

Feb. 4, 1772. Chatham Co., NC. John BURT, Jr., to John BURT, Sr., a tract of land on the upper side of Buckhorn Creek on the north side of the Cape Fear River adj. Enoch LEWIS. Wits: Richard CHEEK & Malichi FIKE. (Chatham DB A, p.71.) [Note this part of the Cape Fear River is also known as the Deep River.]

Aug. 3, 1772. Chatham Co., NC. Richard CHEEK, Sr., of Cumberland Co., NC, to William CHEEK of Chatham Co., NC, 630 acres on White Oak Creek and Buckhorn Creek, for £10 proc. money. Wits: Jesse CHEEK, Daniel PADDY, John BURT, Sr., Charles ASH. Proved Nov. 1772, by John BURT, Sr. (Chatham DB A, pp.137-138.)

Feb. 1773. Chatham Co., NC. Richard & Nancy CHEEK executed 3 deeds to William RAGLAND. (Chatham DB A, pp.149-152.)

Sept. 28, 1772. Chatham Co., NC. Drury MIMS & wife Lidda of Johnston Co., NC, to John AVENT of Chatham Co., NC, 95 acres in Orange County on north side of Cape Fear River [i.e., the Deep River], adj. CHEEK's line. (Chatham DB A, p.170.)

1772. Chatham Co., NC. Richard CHEEK, Jr. (possibly a son of Richard CHEEK) appears on a militia list in Capt. Elisha CAIN's Company.

Dec. 16, 1774. Chatham Co., NC. William CHEEK, planter, of Chatham Co., NC, to William WARD of Johnston Co., NC, [mortgage deed], 200 acres on Buckhorn Creek the upper end of a tract the said William CHEEK now owns, being the part of said tract including the plantation whereon Richard CHEEK now lives, to be void if William CHEEK or Richard CHEEK pay to William WARD £23, 16s. proc. money with interest by Dec. 25, 1776. Wits: John JONES, John ATKINS (or ELKINS). (Chatham DB B, pp.27-28.)

Feb. 18, 1775. Surry Co., NC. The Sheriff, William SHEPPERD, sold a Negro man named Peter to Samuel COOPER from the estate of Richard CHEEK, to satisfy a claim by Burrell WILLIAMS vs. COBB and Richd. CHEEK in Chatham Co., NC. Recorded Feb. court 1775. (Surry Co., NC, WB 1, p.40.)

Note: the above transaction suggests there was a connection between the Cheek family of Chatham County and a Richard Cheek who was in Surry County from 1774 to 1785. Click here for more info about the Cheeks of Surry Co., NC.

Feb. 14, 1776. Chatham Co., NC. William CHEEK to Richard CHEEK, Jr., 630 acres on White Oak Creek and Buckhorn Creek, for £10 proc money. Signed: William CHEEK. Wits: John BURT, Sr., Richard BURT. (Chatham Co. DB B, p.7.)

June 24, 1776. Chatham Co., NC. Richard CHEEK, Jr. of Chatham Co., planter, to Ebenezer FULSOM of Cumberland Co., NC, merchant, 630 acres on the White Oak and Buckhorn Creeks, for £225 proc money. Being land surveyed by Enoch LEWIS on Sept. 17, [year not legible], and from the said Enoch LEWIS, conveyed to Richard CHEEK Sr. and from Richard CHEEK Sr. to Wm. CHEEK and from Wm. CHEEK to Richard CHEEK, Jr. and from the said Richard CHEEK Jr. to the said Ebenezer FULSOM. Signed: Richard (X) CHEEK. Wits: Wm. Rand. HILL, Henry MCKAY, James MATHIS. (Chatham DB C, p.147.)

May-Nov. 1782. Richard CHEEK is listed among 27 Loyalists who faced criminal charges in Chatham County, NC, after the Revolutionary War. The men were found guilty and ordered to pay a fine. (Shuttle and Plow: A History of Alamance County, NC by Troxler & Vincent; thanks to Charlie Cheek for discovering this information!)  There is also a Richard CHECK, private, on a muster roll of a Loyalist company, Capt. Robert Gillies' Troop of NC Independent Dragoons, stationed at John's Island, SC, Oct. 24, 1781; he was paid for 61 days, Oct. 25-Dec. 24, 1781. (Loyalists in the Southern Campaign, Vol. I.)  Although Richard Cheek participated in the Regulator Rebellion in 1768 (see above), this does not necessarily mean that he would have supported the War for Independence. Some Regulators just wanted to reform the system, not abolish it. It is also possible that a different Richard Cheek in Chatham County was the Loyalist. Richard Cheek born about 1720 was probably too old to be a soldier in the Revolution, but his son Richard born in the 1750's could have served.