Tenison Cheshire Family


According to the 1850 Davie County Census, Tenison Cheshire was born in Davie County, North Carolina about 1791. His wife, named Mary (Shaw) was born about 1807 in Iredell County, NC.

In Rowan County, 1800, there are three Cheshires listed as Head of Household: Jonathan, John, and Tenison Cheshire. The sons belonging to these families are between the ages of 16 and 26 (being too old to be "this" Tenison). In 1810 Burch Cheshire is listed with one male between 16 and 26 and that category fits the age of Tenison - if his age is correct in the 1850 census. It appears that Burch Cheshire was the father or grandfather of Tenison Cheshire found in the 1850 Davie County Census.

In 1818 Tenison Cheshire married Barbara Mock and the following year bought 208 acres on Bear Creek next to Isaac Linster and Samuel Frost, for $110.00, acknowledged in May, 1819. (This is part of a State Grant to Joseph Hughes, which after his death, was allotted to his son, Epps Hughes, then was sold by the Sheriff to the said Moses A. Locke. The original tract was for 402 acres, granted in Oct, 1786, next to Huff, Frost and Gaither.

By 1850 Tenison Cheshire owned 1,683 acres of land and 34 slaves. According to the agricultural list, he had 700 acres of improved land and 983 unimproved, valued at $6,000. In addition to farm machinery, he had 13 horses, 10 milk cows, 12 head of cattle, 43 sheep and 150 swine. The value of the livestock was $1,500. 300 bushels of wheat, 100 bushels of rye, 4,000 bushels of indian corn, 1,200 bushels of oats, 21 pounds of wool, 30 bushels of irish potatoes, 200 bushels of sweet potatoes, 100 pounds of butter and 10 tons of hay. The value of "homemade manufactures" was $235. Value of animals slaughtered, $640.

In trying to determine the father of Tenison Cheshire, it is interesting to note that between 1794 and 1850, Tenison and Burch Cheshire collectively purchased almost 1,500 acres of land in Rowan County.


Children of Tennison Cheshire and Barbara Mock (1795-1841)
Nancy Cook Cheshire (1820-1904) m. 1) Major W. Gowan (1816-bef. 1856); 2) Alfred Shoemaker (abt. 1829-aft. 1880)
Susanna/Susan Wilder Cheshire (1824-bef. 1870) m. Patrick Henry Cain (1815-aft. 1890), s/o Daniel Cain and Elizabeth Hutchins
Symeon Cheshire (1826-1845)
Emily Melissa Cheshire (1829-1925) m. Robert Blackwell (1824-1897)
Mary Malone Cheshire (1831-?) m. William Wycke Wilson (1826)
Samantha Catherine Cheshire (1833-?) m. John Wesley Wilson
Jonathan Wesley Cheshire (1836-1863) m. Paulina E. Neely (1838), d/o Arthur Neeley and Isabella Welch
Margaret A. Cheshire (1839-?) m.George Washington Neely (1829), s/o Arthur Neeley and Isabella Welch (1806)

(Susanna bought 500 acres in 1849 from her uncle John Cheshire in Davidson County, NC)
Tennison Cheshire's Will

After the death of Barbara, Tennison married Mary Shaw in 1843. After Tennison's death, his widow Mary Shaw Cheshire married Charles Griffith

Feb, 1868 - Arthur Neely of Davie County, NC --no wife signs-- lets Paulina Cheshire of Rowan Co., NC have 588 1/2 acres on the north bank of Beaver Dam, on the River, next to the heirs of deceased Thomas M. Gillespie, G. A. Locke, A. A. Hart, J. D.Johnson, Salisbury and Wilkesboro Road, in the bend of the lane, next T. E. Neely (her) line, R. F. Johnston and the Concord Road (but excepts 50 acres of the upper corner which Willie Dickey Johnston willed, after the death of Sarah L., widow of Rufus D. Johnston, including building, while she lived), for $3125.00, witnessed and proved by George T. Campbell on Dec. 1 1868.

January, 1881 - After the death of Jonathan Wesley Cheshire in 1863, his widow Paulina E. Neeley Cheshire married Louis Stevenson of Loray.

Jan, 1881 - Lewis P. Stevenson and wife Paulina E. lets Baxter C. Cheshier (all of Iredell County, NC) have 141 acres on the east side of the road to Salisbury, at the top of the hill on west bank of the River for $1,000, acknowledged in Iredell County on the next day. (Is this Baxter Cheshier the son of Jonathan and Paulina Neely Cheshier?)


Second Generation:

Children of Nancy Cook Cheshire and Major W. Gowan
Mary Gowan (1838-bef. 1860) m. Francis A. Cheshire (abt. 1836-aft. 1860), s/o Thomas and Sarah Cheshire
Emory Gowan (1841)
Barbara A. Gowan (1843-abt. 1893) m. James Clinton Austin (abt. 1835-aft. 1880)
Richard W. Gowan (1845-aft. 1860) (Richard had at least two daughters, Julia Gowan and Mamie Curtis)
Martha E. Gowan (1849-aft. 1860)
(Rowan?) Major N. Gowan (abt. 1852-aft. 1880)
Found in the 1860 US Federal Census, Davie Co., NC along with their mother and step-father. They are named Shoemaker

Children of Nancy Cook Cheshire and Alfred Shoemaker
George Washington Shoemaker (abt. 1857-aft. 1880)
James F. Shoemaker (abt. 1860-aft. 1880)
Thomas J. Shoemaker (abt. 1864-aft. 1880)

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Children of Susanna/Susan Wilder Cheshire and Patrick H. Cain
William G. Cain (abt. 1844-aft. 1880)
Emily Cain (abt. 1846-aft. 1850)
John M. Cain (abt. 1849-aft. 1880) (twin)
Elizabeth Cain (abt. 1849-aft. 1870) (twin)
Millard Cain (abt. 1851-aft. 1870)
Marshall C. Cain (abt. 1854-aft. 1880)
Robert Lee (Tobe?) Cain (abt. 1856-aft. 1880)

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Children of Emily Melissa Cheshire and Robert Blackwell
Julia E. Blackwell (abt. 1851)
Mary Blackwell (abt. 1852-aft. 1870)
Bettie E. Blackwell (abt. 1854-aft. 1880)
Atlas Blackwell (abt. 1860) (not at home in 1870)
Augusta O. Blackwell (abt. 1865-aft. 1880)
Cora A. Blackwell (abt. 1868-aft. 1880)


Page updated December 14, 2006

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