Note:
The following is a section of a family history compiled by Herbert
Armstrong Poole between 1905 & 1960, transcribed by AAA Maitland 1998.
Subject numbers are HAP's originals.
HAP's page divisions are shown: after subject page numbers are complete
document page numbers in brackets and issue dates.
The original text had generations indented in turn: here, generation
numbers are added to each individual: the children of the title subject
are "1/--".


                           subject 144        p1 (221) 1952

                         THOMAS CHEESMAN.

       The following is from Hempstead Town Records, and from data
collected by Miss Anna Maude Hoxie, (subject 8C, page 2), who in turn got
it from Dudley Van Ingen (who married Marie Cheesman, subject 18, page
2).
         Thomas Chessman's birth and death dates are unknown, nor where
he came from, There were many Cheesmans in New Jersey, older than Thomas,
so be may have come from there but I cannot trace any connection. This
seems the more likely as four of his children moved back to New Jersey.
        He must have been born before 1660 as he was married in 1680, and
was alive as late December 7/1736, according to the Hempstead Town Record
of that date quoted below.
   Thomas Cheesman married, before 1680, ---- Valentine, born between
1650 and 1668, the birth dates at Richard Valentine's sons: his
daughter's birth dates not given. She was the daughter of Richard
Valentine, subject 290. The Valentine Genealogy confirms that one of
Richard Valentine's daughter married Thomas Cheesman.
        The Hempstead Town Records referring to Thomas Cheesman are
 as follows:
August 10/1680, Vol 1, p 206.  States that Thomas Chessman was the
son in law of Richard Valentine, and was in possession of Richard's farm.
--------1685.   His ear mark was registered at Hempstead.
December 16/1700. Vol 2, p 209. States that Richard Valentine, son of
Richard Valentine Sr. confirmed that his father gave 22 acres of land at
Herricks to Thomas Cheesman, his brother in law.
-------- 1703, Vol 2, pp 415-6. States that Thomas Cheesman bought
land of Nathaniel Pearsall, being situate on the north side of the Great
Plains, at a place called Herricks, being bounded at the north east
corner by a great chestnut tree, and running southwards from thence to a
thick swamp, thence running eastwards till it comes within three rods of
a great white oak, which stands on the west side of the cart path, and
from thence running northwardly into the said Thomas Cheesman's fence,
until it comes to the chestnut tree first above mentioned.
January 4/1709-10. Vol 2, pp 367-8.  Thomas Chessman of Northside,
acquired Hungry Harbour (at Rockaway), from Hendrik Anton.
November --/1719. Vol 2, p 369, States that Thomas Cheesman bought
land from George Pearsall in the township of Hempstead, bounded northerly
by his own land, westward by the George Pearsall land, southwardly by
Daniel Pearsall's land and eastwardly upon the highway upon the north
side of a place commonly know by the the name of Herricks.
December 7/1736. Vol 3, p 183. States that Thomas Cheesman sells for œ300
of good current money of ye Colony of New York, paid by his son Ephraim
Chessman, a certain farm or plantation at the north side of ye Great
Plains, at a place celled Herricks, containing about 80 acres, part of
which was a 22 acre lot which his father in law Richard Valentine late of
Hempstead purchased from Nathaniel Pearsall and George Pearsall.
         Mr. Dudley Van Ingen wrote the following account of the Cheesman
ancestry, but I dont know where he got it. There is no proof that Thomas
Chessman was a descendent of any of then,
        The Cheesman family was originally of Norman extraction, said to
have gone to England with William the Conqueror, where they soon became
rich and distinguished. They were probably cheese merchants in Normandy,
France, hence their name Cheesmongre, later anglicized to Chessman.
Richard and Thomas were among their family names and some members of the
family emigrated to Virginia and became prominent. There was a

                         Subject 144 Page 2 (222)

Richard Cheesman mentioned in Virginia in 1685, but Thomas Cheesman is
more likely to have been a descendant of Richard Cheesman, Chasmore, or
Chessmongre of Massachusetts and Warwick, L.I., who was taken prisoner by
both governments in 1656-7, see N.Y. Gen & Biog Record, Vol 8, pp 293 and
362. He was a Quaker, and in 1661 was in Jamaica, L.I., with Henry
Townsend and John Townsend and his wife, who "listened" to George Wilson:
whereupon the governor quartered soldiers in their houses to prevent
further misdemeanors.  In the same year, Richard Chasmore was among the
Oyster Bay "Friends".  It is possible that Richard was the father of
Thomas Chessman, and also possible that Richard married Hannah Stringham
of Flushing L.I., as shown in the will of Peter Stringham of Flushing,
dated August 6/1676, proved February 13/1727, which mentions daughter
Hannah, wife of Richard Cheesman, see N.Y. Historical Society
Collections, Vol 35, p 59.
         The Cheesman family were of Sussex, England. In the Tower Record
of London, there is a deed from Alan and Alicia Chasmongre, dated 1286,
granting the land upon which the College and Priory of Hastings, Sussex,
were built. This date carries the family origin back to within two
hundred years of the Norman conquest of England in A.D. 1066-87.  These
names Alan and Alicia, suggest the origin of the surname Cheesman, and
are distinctly Norman names. Their ancestors were Normans from Normandy,
across the British Channel, now the northern part of France. Being cheese
merchants or mongres, the name Chessman became by adoption, the name of
the family as long ago as the 13th century. It is said by the Sussex
Archaeological Collections, Vol 15, p 151, that Alan and his wife Alicia
Cheesmongre were then citizens of Hastings. It was at Hastings, one of
the Cinque Ports, that William the Conqueror and his army landed.
         The tomb of Eleanor Cheesman in a church at Chipping Barnet,
Hertfordshire, England, bears the following inscription:- on a brass
tablet:- "Here lyeth Elinor Palmer, wyffe unto Edward Taylor, Esquire, of
Kentishtown, and one of ye daughters of Edward Cheesman, who was Cofferer
to King Henry the sixth, whych Elynor dyd give two acares of medowe
grownd in Kentishtown holden or ye Prebend of Cantalons unto ye use of
the Poore of this town forever: whych said Elynor, deceased the 29 daye
of Februarie in Anno Dom 1558".
         Nottingham is a hamlet which lies partly in the parish of Eltham
and partly in that of Chiselhurst, Blackheath Hundred, County of Kent. It
was anciently called Modingham, from the Saxon words Modig, proud and
lofty, and Ham, a dwelling. These premises in the 14th year of King Henry
VI, 1436, were in the possession of Robert Chessman of Lewisham and East
Greenwich, who by his marriage with Jeane, daughter of Bernard Cavell of
Chiselhurst, had considerably increased his property in that place. The
Cavells possessed this estate as early as the reign of Edward I. The last
of the Cheesmans who held this estate, whose heir was Alice, carried it
in marriage to Robert Stoddard: and his son, George Stoddard, and Anna,
his wife, in the year 1560, built the present Mansion House, called
Nottingham Place. In the old house were the following dates and Coats of
Arms. On the inside of the turret, 1560, on a chimney, 1561, on an
outward gate, 1635. In the glass of the windows, these Arms: Party per
Chevron, enbattled sable and argent, three mollets, pierced and
countercharged, Cheesman. (See Hasted's History of Kent, Vol 1, p 479-80)
         Alice, daughter and heiress of Thomas Cheesman, Esquire, a
descendant of the said Robert, married Robert Stoddard, Esquire. In an
old church at Chipping Barnet, also now in London, there is an altar tomb

                          Subject 144 P3 (223).

in memory of Eleanor, daughter of Edward Cheesman, Esquire, Cofferer to
Henry VII, who married John Palmer, Esquire, and died in 1558.
         John Cheesman, Esquire, owner of the Manor of Lewistown, near
London, in 1525. Th the church at Bethnal Green, London, there is a tomb
of a Mr. John Chessman, 1738. Daniel Lysons, author of "Environs of
London", written in 1795, says Kensington Place is a large irregular
edifice, built at various tines. The palace contains a good collection of
pictures by the old masters, and many valuable and interesting portraits
one of them being of Robert Cheesman, with a hawk in his hand, painted by
Holbein. Robert Cheesman purchased Osterly House for 28 years, from
Philip and Mary: it afterwards belonged to Sir Thomas Greshem.
         Norwood, a parish of Middlesex, was an ancient memorial estate
in 1785, 12 miles from London, between Hounslow and Uxbridge Roads.
Edward Cheesman, Esquire, who died anno 1570, was seized of the Manor of
Norwood, and held under the Bishop of Canterbury. His son Robert, who
died in 1547, left a daughter Anne, who married Francis Chamberlyne, Esq.
The latter's son Robert Cheesman, married Alice Dacres of Dorman's Well,
in the parish of Norwood. Norwood's Chapel, (see picture in Vol 3, p 322
of Lyson's Environs of London, is a small structure consisting of a nave,
chancel and north aisle. On the north wall is a monument with obtuse
Gothic arch, to the memory of Robert Cheesman, Esquire, who died in 1547.
Near by, is the Coat cf Arms of the Cheesmans and Dacres, impaled.
         I cannot find any record of the birth dates of Thomas Cheesman's
children, but he, his wife, and the following children, were all
mentioned in the l698 Census of Hempstead, L.I.
Issue: -
1/1. Margaret Cheesman. She married on November 1/1742, the Reverend
  James Carman, son of Joseph and Hannah (--) Carman, see subject 268,
  page 6.  At the time of their marriage, they were residents of
  Middlesex County, New Jersey. In the marriage record, her name was so
  illegibly written that it has been transcribed in the printed records
  as Presmeal.
  The Reverend James Carman was the executor of his brother in law
  William Cheesman's will of 1753. I can find no record of their
  children.
1/2. Thomas Cheesman.  Died in June 1777. He removed from Hempstead to
  Gloucester, N.J., in 1726. Mr. Dudley Van Ingen said he married,
  at Gloucester, on May 11/1727, Sarah Clement, daughter of Edward
  Clement of Waterford, Gloucester County, N.J., whose will of March
  11/1714-5 called Sarah a minor. In August 1727, Sarah received her
  share of her father's estate, and was then the wife of Thomas Cheesman.
  They had the children mentioned below. However, New Jersey Archives,
  Vol 25, (Abstracts of Wills) 1670-1750, p 97, states that Thomas
  Cheesman married Sarah Colemans. I don't know which is correct.
  Issue:-
  2/1. Mary Cheesman. She married in January 1758, John Brackney, ,son of
     Matthias and Frances Brackney: Frances' will of April 8/1766, left
     her son John five shillings and to John's brother œ116.
  2/2. Sarah Cheesman. She married in November 1758, Ephraim Haines, of
     Salem, N.J., who died in 1789, son of Richard Haines: Ephraim and
   Sarah were married in Haddonfield N.J.
  2/3. William Cheesman, died September 1773.
1/3. William Cheesman. Died 1753. On August 15/1685, he petitioned for
  100 acres of land at Hempstead, L.I., at 6 pence per annum quit rent,
  and got it. He removed to New Brunswick, Middlesex County, New Jersey.
  His will dated December 3/1753, proved January 30/1759, inventoried his
  estate at œ225.2.2, including several negroes, and mentioned his

                          Subject 144 P4. (224)

  wife Martha ---, and the following children.
  Issue:-
  2/1. Mary Cheesman.
  2/2. Martha Cheesman.
  2/3. Catherine Cheesman.
  2/4. William Cheesman, born about 1725, died 1824, nearly 100 years
     old. He is said to have married his cousin Lydia Cheesman, daughter
     of Benjamin and --- (Dill) Cheesman, see below.
     Issue: -
     3/1. Joseph Cheesman.
     3/2. Enoch Cheesman.
     3/3. Abijah Cheesman.
     3/4. Reuben Cheesman. He married on November 29/l759, Sarah Ogden.
  2/5. John Cheesman.
  2/6. Joseph Cheesman.
  2/7. Benjamin Cheesman.
  2/8. Samuel Cheesman
1/4. Ephraim Cheesman. Died before January 3/1748. He was the only child
  who stayed in Hempstead, L.I. He married, 1st, in 1714 Sarah Haight:
  the Hoyt Genealogy doesn't mention her, nor can I find the names of her
  parents. He married, 2nd, before 1737, Esther ---, about whom I cannot
  find anything. See subject 72 for issue and further particulars
1/5. Benjamin Cheesman.  He married --- Dill.
  Issue:-
  2/1. Lydia Cheesman. She married her cousin William Cheesman, born
     about 1725, son of William Cheesman, see above.
1/6. Samuel Cheesman. Born about 1688: his will was dated 1722. He
  married, about 1714, a widow, Anne Coles, born December 3/1692,
  daughter of Nathan and Rachel (Hopkins) Coles, see subject 618, page 4.
  Anne had married, 1st, William Mudge, who died in 1713, son of Moses
  and Mary Mudge, by whom she had Coles Mudge, born July 10/1711, and
  Michael Mudge, born August 30/1713. Three of Anne's children by Samuel
  Cheesman are given in Nathan Coles Will, in Oyster Bay Town Records,
  Vol 1, p 654, as follows. Samuel moved to Westchester County, N.Y.
  Issue:-
  2/1. Benjamin Cheesman, born November 15/1716, died between 1800 and
     1808, the date of his will and its probate. His earmark was
     registered on April 9/1748, (H.T.R. Vol 4, p 412) His will does
     not mention a wife, probably predeceased him, and left his estate to
     the following children.
     Issue:-
     3/1. Benjamin Cheesman, dates of birth and death unknown, but in the
        Hempstead Census of 1800, he and his wife Deborah ---, were both
        over 45 years of age, with one son and two daughters, unnamed.
        Issue:-
        4/1. Nancy Cheesman, born March 27/1773. Was she the Ann Cheesman
           who married at Hempstead, on January 29/1807, John Williams?
        4/2. Timothy Cheesman, mentioned as a grandson in Benjamin's
           will.  Was he the Timothy S. Cheesman who married at
           Hempstead, on October 31/1807, Phebe Bricket, born 1784, died
           Sept 5/1858.  (This is from Deaths in the New York Evening
           Post)
     3/2. Jerusha Cheesman.
     3/3. Martha Cheesman.
     3/4. Mary Cheesman.
     3/5. Hannah Cheesman.
     3/6. Freelove Cheesman.
     3/7. Phebe Cheesman.

                           Subject 144 P5 (225)

  2/2. Samuel Cheesman, born January 23/1719. He moved to Westchester
     County, N.Y. The only records of him which I can find, is that he
     signed as a witness to the will of William Ogden of Northcastle,
     Westchester County, on February 26/1769. He again signed as a
     witness to the will of John Williams of Westchester County, on March
     3/1774. The name of his wife is not known, nor the names
     of his children, but one was probably:-
     Issue:- (part only)
     3/1. Ruth Cheesman, born between 1740 and 1750, date of death
        unknown.  She married John Wright, born 1736, died 1820, son of
        John Wright of Long Island.
  2/3. Ann Cheesman, date of birth unknown: not mentioned in Nathan
     Coles' will as a daughter, but her elder brother Samuel called her
     his sister, when he witnessed Ann's sale of land as follows:- Oyster
     Bay Records state that on April 13/1742, she and her half brother
     Coles Mudge, sold to Colas' younger brother Michael Mudge of Musketo
     Cove, Queen's County, L.I., 17 acres of land for œ71.
  2/4. Thomas Cheesman, born January 15/1721. I cannot find any further
     records in Hempstead about this man, but it seems likely that he was
     the Thomas Cheesman, whose will was dated at Philadelphia on
     November 9/1782, proved July 1/1785. His will called himself a
     shipwright of New York, of advanced age: perhaps 61 was considered
     an advanced age in those days. His will mentioned no wife, but
     the St Nicholas Society's Genealogical Record, 1905, names her
     Elizabeth Forman. The Forman and Haight families of Long Island were
     intermarried, but I cannot locate Elizabeth's parents. This would
     seem to indicate that this Thomas Cheesman was originally from Long
     Island and had moved to Philadelphia as a young man.  Moreover his
     grandson John C. Cheesman married a Hicks of Long Island.  His will
     instructed his executors to sell his house on Queen's St, Montgomery
     Ward, New York City, to apply to the maintenance of his children
     Sarah, Thomas and Forman, till the latter was 21 years old (in 1782
     he was only 14 years old). Sarah was to have a room in the shipyards
     as long as she was unmarried.  Forman was to inherit the shipyards
     when he was 24 years old. The rest of his estate was to be divided
     amongst the following children.  Issue:- (according to his will)
     3/1. Ann Cheesman, born about 1753. She married James Brewster.
     3/2. Elizabeth Cheesman, born about 1756-8. She married John Arthur.
     3/3. Mary Cheesman, born about 1759. She married James or John Eyre.
     3/4. Sarah Cheesman, born about 1761. Unmarried in 1782.
     3/5. Thomas Cheesman, born about 1763.
     3/6. Forman Cheesman, born at Philadelphia in 1768, died February
        13/1820, according to Hinshaw's Quaker Genealogy. The St Nicholas
        Society's record gives his birth as 1763, and states his wife was
        Ann Cummings, born 1768, died 1820.
        Issue:-
        4/1. Jacob Cheesman, baptized 1786.
        4/2. John Cummings Cheesman, born July 20/1788, died October
           11th, 1862. He married at New York City, on December 15/1813,
           Martha Matlack Hicks, born between 1786 and 1798, died in New
           York City, July 2/1872, daughter of Willet and Mary (Matlack)
           Hicks.
           Issue: -
           5/1. Ann Cheesman, born August 11/1815.

                          Subject 144 P6. (226)

           5/2. Alexander Cheesman. No data.
           5/3. Willet Hicks Cheesman, born August 18/1817.
           5/4. John Cummings Cheesman, born August 26/1818, died
             August 15/1825.
           5/5. Timothy Matlack Cheesman, born October 22/1524, died
             1888. He married Maria Louisa Smith, born 1829, died 1903.
             (This is from the New York Genealogical & Biographical
             Record, Vol 51, pl28, from "The Livingston Family', by
             Florence Van Rensselaer, New York, 1949, and from the
             St Nicholas Society Record, 1905-31)
             Issue:-
             6/1. Kate Cheesman, born 1851.  She married George Washing-
               -ton Riggs, born 1848.
             6/2. Timothy Matlack Cheesman, born New York City, January
               29/1853, died at Garrison on Hudson, February 25/1919. He
               graduated from Columbia University, A.B. 1874, and M.A.
               1877: from Columbia College of Physicians, M.D.  1878. He
               was a specialist in Eye, Ear and Throat, and professor of
               Bacteriology there, and finally a Trustee of the
               University: he was a 33rd degree Mason.  He married at St.
               Bartholomew's Church, New York, on November 6/1884, Clara
               Livingston, born June 24/1861, daughter of
               Frances Armstrong and Sarah Jane (Arden) Livingston.
               Issue:-
               7/1. Sarah Ann Cheesman. She married Albert Harkness.
               7/2. John Cummings Cheesman, born November 27/1886, died
                  November 1/1898.
               7/3. Louis Montgomery Cheesman, born February 12/1891,
                  died September 10/l891.
               7/4. Timothy Matlack Cheesman, born December 29/1892,
                  died May 2/1893.
               7/5. Timothy Matlack Cheesman, born June 24/1894, died
                  August 28/1894.
             6/3. Louis Matlack Cheesman, born 1858, died January
                12/1885, a professor, P.H.D.
           5/6. John Cheesman, born June 26/1826, died August 11/1827.
           5/7. John Cheesman, born 1831, died August 28/1832.
        4/3. Eliza Cheesman, born 1790, died May 29/1830. She married
          on April 15/1813. Lindley Murray, son of John and Catherine
        4/4. Margaret Cheesman. She married before December 4/1822,
          a Mr. Sweet.
        4/5. Benjamin F. Cheesman. No data except:-
          Issue:-
          5/1. George W. Cheesman, born 1843, died March 8/1855.