Thomas Cheatham, 1st

Thomas Cheatham was born about 1645 according to Henrico County depositions in 1679 and 1694.

Note: Arrived aboard a private sailiollowed two more sons and grandsons named Thomas. The latter (Thomas III) had a son named Obediah, who lived at The Trellises (name of their indigo plantation) in Chesterfield Co. (Henrico Co.) VA., but later (1801) won a Cherokee Land Lottery for 10,000 acres in Jefferson Co., Ga. where they then moved. Thomas Cheatham made two purchases of land. In 1691 in return for 2,000 pounds of tobacco, Martin Elam sold Thomas 300 acres on Proctors Creek next to Henry Hatcher, Robert Hancock, and Francis Cater. In 1692 Thomas paid the trustees of the town of Henrico 265 pounds of tobacco for half-acre lot #2.

Thomas was twice on a coroners jury: in 1679 when Thomas Adkins fell off Mrs. Skerme’s horse and died, and in 1681 when Walter Sher drowned. He was on a grand jury that presented William Ligon and Martin Elam for getting drunk and quarreling in April 1684 and was empaneled again in June 1684.

In 1677 he witnessed a deed of gift from William Harris and Mary, his wife, to Thomas Wells, Mary’s father. He witnessed two powers of attorney for William Epes on 20 February 1681/2 and in 1684 he witnessed a dead conveying land from Thomas Jones [14260.J7.1.1], his wife, Martha (Tanner) Jones [3522.4], and his mother Mary Skerme to Repps Jones [14260.J7.1.2]. When Mary Skerme wrote her will in 1707, Thomas Cheatham Sr. was among the witnesses.

On 5 April 1720, Thomas Cheatham then aged, “Seventy Five years or thereabouts,” was deponent in a boundary line dispute between John Worsham and John Woodson.

On 2 May 1720 Thomas Cheatham, “being in health of body and perfect mind and memory” made his will. He disposed of his land and his few personal belongings to his eight living children and appointed his son William Cheatham, executor. He lived another six years and died at about 81 years of age. The court recorded his will on 1 August 1726.

(From the website: http\\www.virginians.com - The Family History of John W. Pritchett)

More notes

• Thomas CHEATHAM I was born circa 1644 in and he died in 1726 in Henrico County, Virginia. He had a fine library for the times and was probably well educated and religious. His will is dated 1720-05-02 and probated 1726-08-01. See Henrico County, Virginia records, 1725--1737, page 36, Volume 1725, Page 371. His home was near the James River on Proctor's Creek in what is now Chesterfield County, Virginia. He md twice: (1) Margaret ? who died 1670-04-06 in Charles Parish, York County, Virginia. He md (2) 1681-02-? ? In 1691-01-29 he purchased 300 acres of land located on Proctor's Creek from Martin ELAM for 2000 pounds of tobacco. See Henrico County, Virginia record book 1688-1697, pages 274-5. Also Henrico County, Virginia Deeds and Wills Book 1:36. See also "VIRGINIA MAGAZINE OF HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHY" Volume XXVII, page 207. Some sources say one of his wives was named MCINTOSH. [Not proven.. Dr. J. W. EVANS]
• There is a book in Jones Memorial Library on the Cheatham family. It is called "THE FAMILY OF Cheatham" and was written by Macky SIMMS.
• We find Thomas first in Henrico Co.,Va., in 1679 when he makes a gift of a child to Henry Talley. We next find a deed from Martin Elam to Thomas Cheatham, 300 acres being part of a patent, dated Oct. 21, 1690, beginning at the head of Hatcher's land on Proctor's Creek, adjoining Robert Hancock and Francis Carter land. In a deposition dated Feb. 10, 1680/81, Thomas Cheatham is stated to be 34 years old. On Dec. 1, 1694 he deposes that he is 50 years old. Thomas Cheatham's will, dated May 2, 1720, was probated in Henrico Co. August 1, 1726. (Henrico Records Book 1725-37, p. 36). This part of Henrico Co., Va., is now Chesterfield County, which was formed in 1748. In York Co., Va., 1670, we find the following: Margaret, wife of Thomas Cheatham of York Co., Va., died April 6, 1670. It is not known if these two are connected or not.
• http://www.ancestralvoyages.com/pafn174.htm

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Arrived aboard a private sailing vessel called the 'Bethany' to the shores of Jamestown, VA. in 1641 from Manchester, England where his father had been a sheriff & his grandfather had owned a private boys music school. Originally resided in York Co., VA. by 1679 resided in Henrico Co., VA. where he purchased land on Proctors Creek in 1691. He had a fine library, well educated & religious. On May 2, 1720 Thomas 'being in health & body & perfect mind & memory' made his will. The court recorded his will on Aug. 1, 1726. He disposed of his land & belongings to his 8 living children.

Source: *'VA. Magazine of History & Biography'

           *Henrico Co. Depositions 1679 & 1694

           *http\\www.virginians.com   'The Family History of John W. Pritchett

           *Jones Memorial Library ~ The book, 'The Family of Cheatham', written by

            Macky Simms.