Another tree has father as Robert Cheek, Amelia County, VA and mother Ann Cocke of James City, VA..

(in 1880 Census, daughter Nancy Cheek Williams lists both her parents as born in North Carolina, but this is probably erroneous.)

He served in the military between 1781 and 1783 in Orange County, NC. In the summer of 1781 he served a three month term in the Light Horse Company commanded by Captain Abram Allen, with Joseph Young as Lieutenant; he was engaged in reconnoitering the Tories in Orange County and was in the battle of Kirks in Orange County. During the winter of 1782-83 he voluntered again in the Company commanded by Captain Jacob Richards and was engaged in guarding the town of Hillsborough against Tories. He was granted a pension for this service effective in March 1833.

A series of deeds shows that he owned land "on waters of New Hope Creek" earlier than 1792. He died on 4 SEP 1833 in Orange County, NC.

Only one James Cheek household is listed in the Orange County Census for 1790, 1800, and 1810. 1790 US Census St. Thomas' Parish, Hillsborough Disrtict, Orange County, NC
[Cheekrfp.FTW]

North Carolina
JAMES CHEEK
of Orange in the State of North Car. who was a pri: cav. & inf: in the company commanded by Captain Allen in the North Car. line for 6 months.

Inscribed on the Roll of North Car. at the rate of 22 Dollars 50 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension is issued the 17th day of June 18[??]  Hillsboro N.C. and sent P.H. MANGUM.

Arrears to the 4th of March ‘33 --         45
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sept.--   11.22    
                                                             $56.22
Revolutionary Claim
Act June 7, 1832     

Recorded by Wm. MILLER, Clerk
Book E   Vol. 6  Page 36

Declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed 7th June 1832.
State of North Carolina   }
Orange County               }
On the 31st day of August 1832, personally appeared in open Court before the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions for the County aforesaid, James CHEEK of the County and State aforesaid, aged 70 years on the 16th day of August 1832, who was being first duly sworn according to Law, doth on his oath, make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7th 1832 --

That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated.  He volunteered into the service in the summer of 1781 just before the capture of Gov. BURKE of No. Ca. by the Tories, for the term of three months.  He joined the light Horse company commanded by Capt. Abram ALLEN -- Joseph YOUNG Lieutenant: he volunteered in Orange County, No. Ca -- He was engaged in reconnoitering the Tories in Orange County, & was in the battle at  "Kirks" in said County, between the Whigs & Tories [transcriber's note: probably the Battle of Hillsborough, Sept. 12, 1781] -- He served during the term aforesaid & was discharged afterwards in the winter of 1782-83 -- The declarant volunteered again in the County of Orange joined in the militia for three months -- and was attached to the Company commanded by Capt. Jacob RICHARDS at Hillsboro -- and was employed the whole of that term of service in guarding the Town of Hillsboro against the Tories in the vicinity, & the prisoners lodged in Hillsborough -- The declarant hath no discharges.  He was born 16th Aug 1762 in Brunswick County State of Virginia -- was moved to Warren or Bute (then) County, North Carolina when a child -- and thence to Orange when about ten years old where he hath resided ever since. He hath no documenting evidence of his services nor doth he know any person or persons whose testimony he can procure, who can testify to his service, except Martin CHEEK and Thomas HORNER whose affidavits accompany this declaration.

He hereby relinquishes any claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present & declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any agency of any state, so far as he hath knowledge.
-- James CHEEK Sen sworn to in open Court.
31st August 1832
J. TAYLOR Clerk

The declarant is known to Major John TAYLOR & Docr. James S. SMITH in his neighborhood.  Sworn to in open Court.
J. TAYLOR     
James CHEEK Sen.

State of North Carolina

At a Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions [??] [??] for the County of Orange at the Courthouse in Hillsborough on 4th Monday in August A.D. 1832 [??] the Worshipful Justices of said Court. 

James CHEEK a citizen of this County came into open Court and exhibited by his declaration & proofs to entitle him to a pension from the United States under an act of Congress approved 7th June 1832 entitled an Act Supplementary to an Act for the relief of the Officers and Soldiers of the Revolution.  The Court having considered the matter contained in said declaration & the proofs in support thereof ordered to be certified as their opinion that the said declaration & proofs in support thereof are entitled to full credit.

I John TAYLOR Clerk of the Court of Pleas & quarter Sessions for Orange County do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceeding of the said court in the matter of the application of James CHEEK for a pension.

In Testimony whereof I have hereto set my hand & seal of office this 31st August AD 1832.
J. TAYLOR, Clerk


State of North Carolina  }       Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions
Orange County              }       May term 1833

William H. MERRITT of the said County & State [assertedly?] ordained minister of the Gospel in open Court saith that he hath known James CHEEK the before named applicant for a pension between thirty-five and forty years.  That he believes said CHEEK to be about seventy years.  That he believes he is a man of credibility.  He has no doubt of the truth of his declaration.
W.H. MERRITT
J. TAYLOR, Clerk

And the said Court do hereby declare this opinion, after investigating the matter of the above declaration & certificate & accompanying affidavits putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier & served as he states.  And the Court further certifies that it appears to them, that William H. MERRITT who hath subscribed & sworn to the preceding certificate is a clergyman resident in the County aforesaid -- and is a credible person & that his statement is entitled to credit.


I John TAYLOR Clerk of the Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions for the County aforesaid do hereby certify that the above contains the original proceedings of said Court, in the matter of the application of James CHEEK for a pension -- witness my hand & seal of office this 28th day of May 1933.
J. TAYLOR, Clerk
North Carolina
I have long known William H. MERRITT the clergyman named within & Thomas HORNER the witness.  They are both men of fair & good character and of unquestionable veracity.  No man in the community in which they live would command for their statements more trust & credence.
Willie P. MANGUM
May 28th 1833

BRIEF in the case of James CHEEK of the County of Orange in the State of N.Ca.
(Act 7th June, 1832)

1.  Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge?  Court

2.  If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily injury?  [blank]

3.  How old is he?  70 years

4.  State his service, as directed in the form annexed.
Period, Duration of Service, Rank, Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.
In 1781 Summer, 3 months, Trooper, Capt. ALLEN, Light Horse
In 82&3 Winter, 3 months, Private, Capt. Jacob RICHARDS

5.  In what battles was he engaged?  Kirks

6.  Where did he reside when he entered the service?  Orange Cty.

7.  Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls?  Deposition

8.  Are the papers defective as to form or authentication?  and if so, in what respect?  No clergyman's certificate

I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.

- James CHEEK died in Sept. 1834.  A death notice was published in the Raleigh Register on Sept. 23, 1834.   (Source: Carrie L. Broughton, "Marriage and Death Notices in the Raleigh Register & North Carolina State Gazette" (Gen. Pub. Co., 1992), p.331.)