Jeremiah settled on the south side of the Alexandria Bay Road, Theresa, NY. - From: The History of Theresa by Sinclair.
"Mr. Benjamin Palmer Cheeseman also states that when visitig the Centennial at Philadelphia, he saw life size oil painting of Dr. C. Cheesman in the art gallery, he thought it resembled his uncle Jeremiah." Page 74 of Genealogy of the Chesman Family in the United States from 1713-1893 by Samuel Chessman
In the 1820 US Federal Census for LeRay, Jefferson Co., NY Jeremiah and his wife were between the ages of 26-45. They had one boy between the age of 0-10 (Alonzo born in 1812?). They had three girls under the age of 10. Jeremiah was engaged in agriculture.
In the 1830 US Federal Census for Alexandria, Jefferson Co., NY Jeremiah was between the age of 40 and 50. His wife was between the age of 30 and 40. They had one son under the age of 5 (Francis born 1821?). They had one son between the age of 15 and 20 (Alonzo born 1812?). They had two girls under the age of 5. They had two girls between the ages of 10 and 15.
In the 1840 US Federal Census for Alexandria, Jefferson Co., NY Jeremiah was between the age of 50 and 60. HIs wife was between the age of 40 and 50. He did not have any sons living with him. However, his sons, Francis and Alonzo show up on the 1840 census with their own families. Jeremiah had one daughter between the age of 10 and 15. He had one daughter between the age of 15 and 20. He had two daughters between the ages of 20 and 30.
In the 1840 US Federal Census Jeremiah and his family did not live far from his brother, Anson, and Jeremiah's nephews: Clifford, Alonson, Lorenzo and Jeremiah. Also, a Uriah Keeler lived close to Jeremiah. Perhaps this is a son or grandson of Jeremiah's sister, Mrs. Betsey Keeler.
In the 1850 US Federal Census Jeremiah is 60 years old. His wife, Sally, is 57 years old. They have one daughter living with them, Maria(?) Cheeseman and she is 23 years old. Jeremiah is a farmer and it shows his real estate valued at $700. This census states that Jeremiah and his wife were born in Vermont. I believe this is incorrect based upon other sources I have checked that show Jeremiah being born in MA.
In the 1860 US Federal Census for Theresa, NY Jeremiah is 69 years old. His wife, Sally, is 65 years old. Jeremiah is a farmer and his real estate is valued at $1230. The value of his personal estate is $245. He and his wife have a 12 year old servant living with them named, Nancy McIntyar. A 9-year old, Mary Helsey, is also living with them. The census states that Jeremiah was born in Vermont and that his wife was born in New York. Based upon the people living around him Jeremiah is living on the same farm he lived on in 1850.
In the 1870 US Fedearl Census for Alexandria, Jefferson Co., NY Jeremiah is 79 years old and is a retired farmer. His wife, Sally, is 77 years old. They have a domestic servant living with them, Mary Helsey, who is 19 years old. The value of Jeremiah's personal estate is $400. Jeremiah is listed as being born in Vermont and Sally is listed as being born in New York. It also states that Sally's father was of foreign birth.
Based upon the 1870 census it looks like Jeremiah and his wife moved to Alexandria, Jefferson Co., NY. He must have lived close to Redwood since that was his post office (as opposed to Plessis, Alexandria Bay, Omar).
War of 1812: Jeremiah served as a Private in Captain John Hoover's Company, 108th Regiment (Britain's)of New York Militia. (Reference: War of 1812 Militia Rolls) Pension # SO-18258. His brother, Abner, served in the same regiment as a Corporal.
"THERESA was formed from Alexandria, April 15, 1841, and named from a daughter of Le Ray. It is the central town upon the N.W. border of Jefferson County, NY. The surface along Indian River is broken, and traversed by ridges of gneiss rock, with fertile intervales. A part of the town, underlaid by sandstone, is level or undulating. In the primary regions are a number of romantic lakes; and some of these have highly interesting mineral localities upon their shores and islands. Theresa, upon the High Falls of the Indian River, was early selected by Le Ray as a favorable point for settlement, and about 1810 he caused several 'jobs' to be cleared and a sawmill to be built. West Theresa is a p.o. A furnace, built near Millseat Lake in 1847, was in part supplied with ores from the vicinity. A private academy has been taught several years. The census reports 3 churches. The river here descends 85 feet within a quarter of a mile. From this place to Rossie its banks are low, and large tracts are often overflowed, causing much sickness. A small steamer has run upon this part of the river. Among the first settlers were James Shurtliff, Anson and Jeremiah Cheeseman, M.B. Ashley, Sylvester Bodman, Azariah Walton, Col. S. Ball, Abram Morrow, Joseph Miller, Archibald Fisher, Jas. Lake, Ebenezer and N.W. Lull, and J.D. Davison. Mr. Lull built the first store, in 1820. Dr. Jas. Brooks, the first physician, settled in 1822 and died the next year. The first school was taught by Lindley Gibbs at Hyde Lake. The first child born was Fanny A. Cole, May 26, 1819. The first marriage was that of Ebenezer Lull and Almira Barnes. The first death was that of Mr. Casselman, who was drowned. A gristmill and inn were erected in 1819 for the proprietor." from - JEFFERSON COUNTY, from the GAZETTEER OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, by J. H. French. Published by R. Pearsall Smith, Syracuse, N. Y. 1860.
"The settlers who came in 1818, so near as can be determined, were Benjamin Barnes, Jesse Doolittle, Curley Smith and Zalmon Pool. Barnes settled east of the river, above the upper falls, and is remembered as a local M. E. preacher, also as brickrnaker and mason, and withal a valuable asquisition to the settlement. Jesse Doolittle came from Watertown and located about a mile from the upper falls. Curley Smith located at the lower falls, and started a blacksmith shop, setting up his establishment in the open air. Sylvester Bodman and Dudley Chapman came in 1820, and while the same year may have witnessed still other arrivals the names cannot now be determined. Abraham Morrow was one of the most prominent settlers in 1821. Among the other settlers in the town about or soon after this time may be recalled the names of Jeremiah Cheeseman, Joseph Miller, Mr. Moyer, who settled near the Shurtliff improvement; James Lake, near the body of water once called Hide lake; Eliphalet Emery, also in the same vicinity. There were also Ebenezer Lull, the first storekeeper; Mrs. Keeler, the widowed sister of Anson Cheeseman, and who brought to the settlement two Sons and a daughter; Allen Cole, who located near the Orleans line; Henry Morey the first carpenter; Augustus Soper, on the west Theresa road, and also Nathaniel Parker, Austin Bates, Samuel Hall, Michael Cook, Benjamin Allen, David Morgan, Job Whitney, Mr. Castleman (the squatter on Le Ray’s land), Col. Artemas Baker (the second blacksmith), Nathan Starks (another early blacksmith), Seymour Murray (the first shoemaker), and perhaps others equally worthy of mention, but whose names cannot be recalled." from - HISTORY of THERESA, NY FROM OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE : A DESCRIPTIVE WORK ON JEFFERSON COUNTY, NEW YORK, EDITED BY: EDGAR C. EMERSON, THE BOSTON HISTORY COMPANY, PUBLISHERS 1898.
"In 1813 and ‘14, several years after Le Ray had been set off, the officers of the town divided the territory of Brownville into school districts, and in several cases mentioned the families residing in and constituting the district. By the record thus made we are able to furnish the names of many early settlers which otherwise might be omitted. However, the reader will understand that at that the the town included all now Brownville, and as well Pamelia, on the east, and Lyme, Cape Vincent, Clayton, Orleans and a part of Alexandria, on the west and north. In district No. 4, then created, the settlers were Luther Stevens, Barnabas Eaton. Josiah Bonney, Eber Palmer, Gage Meacham, Caleb J. Bates, John Parish, Samuel Hopper, Elijah Ainsworth, John Gould, David Augsbury, Soloman Makepeace, Eliot Makepeace, Abner Wood, William Moss, David Youngs, Stephen Gould and Joel Meacham. In district No. 12, which lay well to the north, were Levi Wheelock, John Folts, Eliot Alton, David Dillaback, Lewis Gould, Jeremiah Phelps, Joshua, Elisha and John Gustin, Elisha Gustin, jr., Erastus Cornwall, Peter Paddock, Nathaniel Whitney, W. A. Silsby, Thomas Pudney, Orvin Davis. In district No. 3, in the northeast corner of the town, the settlers were Henry Thomas, George and Cornelius Salisbury, Isaac Cornwall, Nathan Cole, John Stewart, John Shelimer, Daniel Cornwall, Curtis Golden, Samuel Ray, Henry Baker, Stephen Farr, Obadiali Rhodes, Benjamin Cole, Daniel Doming, Arnold Miller, Warren Steward, Samuel Cronkhite, William Stewart, Ephraim Strong, Jeremiah Cheeseman, Noah Lyman, Aaron Dresser, John Dighton, Barnabas Dighton and M. L. Booth. In 1814 the families in district No. 2 were those of Anthony Graves, Josiah Dean, Ottis Britton, Moses Cole, Samuel Knapp, Thomas Nelson, Thomas Nelson, jr., Charles Welch, William Cole, George Hoffman, Titus Gould, Ebenezer N. Britton and John Allen. In district No. 5 in 1814 there lived Auhelus Doxey, Abner Brown, John Paddock, B. Dillaback, William Dillen, Edward Hawkins, Henry Brown, Thomas Brown, Henry Hentze, Joseph, Daniel and Isaac Pettit, Mr. Cleveland, William Maffle, Peter Acker, l)aniel and Jacob Woodward and James Wright." from - History of Brownville, NY FROM OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE : A DESCRIPTIVE WORK ON JEFFERSON COUNTY NEW YORK, EDITED BY: EDGAR C. EMERSON, THE BOSTON HISTORY COMPANY, PUBLISHERS 1898.
"Colonel Sinesa Ball and James Shurtleff, both of whom came in 1817, were the first settlers in Theresa, but it is not known which arrived earliest in the year. Mr. Shurtleff settled where Le Ray’s larger clearing had been made, and there opened his house as an inn, the first in the town. Col. Ball settled on the Military road, two miles west of the falls. He had served as an officer at Sackets Harbor in the War of 1812, and became colonel of militia. He died near Hyde Lake, in this town, July 1, 1877, aged 86 years.
In 1819 at the beginning of the year, there were, within the present limits of the town, in addition to the two already named, the following settlers: Anson Cheeseman, at that time a sawyer in Le Ray’s mill at the falls, afterwards located on a farm between the falls and the Military road; Jeremiah Cheeseman, brother of Anson, who occupied a farm on the south side of the Alexandria road; a Mr. Moyer, who settled near Shurtleff’s; Joseph Miller, on the west side of the Alexandria road; James Lake, on the east side of Hyde Lake; Eliphalet Emery, adjoining Mr. Lake; and Zalmon Pool, Jr., who had purchased in the fall of 1817, and moved here with his family in March, 1818, settling on the Antwerp town line, on lot No. 138, on the southerly side of Moon Lake. These were the only inhabitants, excepting perhaps a few persons in the employ of Le Ray, who were in no sense settlers." from - THERESA : History of the Town from Child’s Gazetteer of Jefferson County, N. Y. pp. 688-696 Pub 1890.
History of the Town from Child’s Gazetteer of Jefferson County, N. Y. - 1890: Theresa (pp. 688-696)
The First Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Theresa was organized in March, 1836, by Rev. Squire Chase, the first pastor, and at its organization consisted of about 15 or 20 members. In 1836 the Presbyterians and Methodists built a union church, of wood. In 1850 the Methodists built a church which was burned in 1860, and in 1862 the present wooden structure was dedicated. It will comfortably seat 450 persons, cost $7,000, and is now valued, including grounds and other church property, at $10,000. The present membership is about 150, under the pastoral charge of Rev. Edward S. Cheeseman. The Sunday-school has a membership of 200.
Anson Cheesman served in the Revolutionary War as a private in Capt. Abel Thayer's co., Col. John Fellow's Regiment. Muster roll dated August 1, 1775. Enlisted April 28, 1775. He served for 3 months and 11 days. He also served as a corporal in Capt. Russell Kellogg's co., Col. Ruggles Woodbridge's regiment. He enlisted Aug. 17, 1777 and was discharged Aug 19, 1777. His service was 5 days with travel included. He marched on alarm at Bennington. Roll sworn to at Boston. At the time of his enlistment Anson was living in Williamsburg, MA. - Reference: Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors
"The new Becket road brought more settlers into the Johnnycake Hill region. Benajah and Elkanah Jones of Hebron, John Pinney of Windsor, and David Carrier settled on the south edge of the hill overlooking Mt. Gobble and the Westfield River Valler. To the west were Joseph Cary, of Williamsburg, Oliver Bates of Hebron, and several families of Cheeseman, int he vicinity of Walnut Hill, the south slope of which was early known as "Cheeseman's Hollow." Further north was Barzillai Little of Bolton, CT, who was, with exception of Elisha Mack, Jr., perhaps longest a resdeint in this section. North of the Becket Road was Amasa Graves, of Williamsburg, the ancestor of many families of this name in Middlefield." Source: A History of the Town of Middlefield, Massachusetts by Edward Church Smith. Copyright 1924 by Menasha, Wis. Priv. print. (Page 41)
"Anson Cheeseman moved into the Becket Section 1781. Pt. Inc. 1781. He was the first tithingman elected in Middlefield Congregational Church 1783. Had 11 children. Moved to Pittsfield in 1790 and was in Benson, VT in 1793. He was a soldier in Rev. War." Source: A History of the Town of Middlefield, Massachusetts by Edward Church Smith. Copyright 1924 by Menasha, Wis. Priv. print. (Page 430)
"With the capture of Burgoyne the campaigns of the war were transferred to the colonies south of Massachusetts, and in these only a few of the settlers in the Middlefield territory participated to any great extent. Toward the close of the war, however, the resumption of immigration brought as settlers many soldiers who had rendered valuable military service for other towns, and whose experience in active campaigning must have served them well in meeting the hardships of pioneer life. Among those from other parts of Massachusetts werr three Cheeseman brothers, all of whom answered the Lexington alarm, Abel and Benjamin from Braintree, and Anson, from Williamsburg. Abel also served many enlistments, taking part in the battler of Stillwater and the surrender of Burgoyne, as did also Amasa Graves, who, with Joseph Cary, also fought at the battler of Bunker Hill." Source: A History of the Town of Middlefield, Massachusetts by Edward Church Smith. Copyright 1924 by Menasha, Wis. Priv. print. (Page 60)
"The Middlefield pioneers at one of the earliest town meetings after the incorporation in 1783 voted to pay thirty pounds to support the gospel and appointed a committee of three to procure preaching. Though all citizens in those days were taxed to support the minister, the select souls were few who on Sunday, November 16, 1783, were organized as the Congregational Chruch. These persons, who represent the sixteen original members were the following: Sarah Tayler, Mary Mack, Elizabeth Brown, Daniel Chapman, Lucy Chapman, Mary Mann, Job Robbins, Elizabeth Blush, David Bolton, Asa Brown, Anson Cheeseman, Oliver Bates, David Mack, Berzela Wright, Joseph Blush, and John Taylor." Source: A History of the Town of Middlefield, Massachusetts by Edward Church Smith. Copyright 1924 by Menasha, Wis. Priv. print. (Page 256)
"Petition of Prescott's Grant and others, Sept. 22, 1781. To the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Humbly sheweth the subscribers Inhabitants of the southwest corner of Worthington in the county of Hampshire, and the northwest corner of Murrayfield in the said county and the northeast corner of Becket in the county of Berkshire and the south side of Partridgefield in said county and the tract of land heretofore granted by the General Court to James Prescott, Esq. and others called Prescotts Grant that there are more than fifty families allready settled on the abovementioned tracts of land which contain about fourteen thousand one hundred and ninety-six acres of land of which three thousand four hundred and forty-six acres are in Becket, two thousand five hundred and ninety-six are in Murrayfield, three thousand six hundred and ninety-one in Worthington, three thousand four hundred and twelve in said tract called Prescott's Grant and one thousand in Partridgefield and four hundred and thirty acres at the northeast part of the town of Washington that all the persons who are settled on said lands live at a distance of five miles and some much greater distance from the meeting-house in their respective towns on which account many of your petitioners have for serveral years been obliged either to carry these families the distance above mentioned in rough roads or to educate them without any of the advantages of public institutions except in some few cases in which they have been able to procure preaching among themselves the many disdvantages arising from the Roughness of the Roads Steep Hills and Rapid Rivers that are in the way of their respective Towns are more than many of your Honours would think of that those of your petitioners that live in the tract of land called Prescotts Grant not being annexed to no towns have no Priveledges as other towns have nor ever can have till that August body the General Assembly of Commonwealth Incorportates them and allows them the Priveledges of other towns your petitioners therefore most humbly pray your honours that a Committe may be appointed and sent to view our circumstances and see if it is not reasonable that we should be incorporated into a separate town and be vested with all the powers and Privilegdes and Emunities which towns in this state are by law Intitled to and as in duty bound shall ever Pray: Anson Cheesman, Benjamin Cheesman, Abel Cheesman, Joseph Carey, David Mack, Elisha Mack and 58 other men signed." Source: A History of the Town of Middlefield, Massachusetts by Edward Church Smith. Copyright 1924 by Menasha, Wis. Priv. print. (Page 362)
"Edward is recorded as living in Braintree in 1751, having written the verses of the death of Mrs. Thayer at that date, also having children baptised in 1764." - Page 73 Genealogy of the Chesman Family from 1713-1893
"There is no record of Edward No. 32, family in Braintree after the close of the war of the Revolution." - Page 73 Genealogy of the Chesman Family from 1713-1893
"The descendents of Edward No. 32, say the family went to Roxbury, Mass. Benjamin P. Cheeseman, No. 231, says he often heard his father say the Cheeseman's name that came from England was Samuel, that he was the adopted heir of Lord Clifford, came over in the days of religious persectution. In making his escpae from his pursuers he had to secrete himself in a hollow log; he came to this country and purchased land in Roxbury, Mass. After the trouble was over he returned to England and secured all desired papers, on his return was captured by the Turks and imprisoned for five years, lost all his papers, but returned to this country and died in Mass. Benjamin P. Cheeseman further says he had occassion to look over some old account books, he found the names of Calvin Cheeseman's children, viz; Calvin Cheesman Jr., Elias Cheesman, John K. Cheesman, Lewis Cheesman, Harvy Cheesman, and two daughters, names not down. The records state that they moved from Albany, NY to Cattaraugus Co., NY, town of Perry." - Page 73-74 Genealogy of the Chesman Family from 1713-1893
Edward Cheesman served in the Revolutionary War as a Private in Capt. John Vinton's Co. of Minute-men, part of Col. Benjamin Lincoln's regiment which assembled April 29 (19?), 1775. His service at that time was three days. He also served in Capt. John Vinton's (Independent) Co. Muster roll dated. Jan. 1776 He enlisted May 3, 1775 and served 2 months and 19 days. There is an account of selectmen of Braintree, MA for a coat furnished said Cheesman dated Feb 16, 1776. This was the day Edward died. I wonder if the family chose to bury him in his militia coat. Edward was living in Braintree, Massachusetts at the time of his military service. Three of his sons (Anson, Benjamin and Abel) served in the Revolutionary War, along with two of Edwards' brothers (Matthias and Samuel) and 4 of his nephews (Hosea, Noah, Samuel and Stephen). - Source: Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors
1850 US Census: age 37, living in Westmoreland, Oneida, NY with his wife: Hannah (age 32), daughters: Emily (age 15), Cyntha a. (age 8), Ellen (age 4), son: Francis W. (age 6). William is a carpenter.
1860 US Census: [Wm P Beckwith] William is a carpenter and joiner in Westmoreland, Oneida, NY. Age 47. Lives with wife (Hannah - age 42), son ( Francis - age 16), daughter (Sarah L. - age 9).
1870 US Census:
1880 US Census: [Wm. Beckwith] age 66, living in Westmoreland, Oneida, NY with his wife (hannah - age 62), he is helpless from paralysis, his parents were born in Connecticut, William was born in New York.
In the 1860 US census Francis, at the age of 16, works at a furnace in Westmoreland, Oneida, NY.
1850 US Census:
1860 US census: [Cynthia Beckwith] age 19, living in Utica Ward 6, Oneida, NY - working as a cook at the New York Acute Lunatic Asylum.
1870 US Census: [Cynthia Cheeseman] age 26, living in Hampton, Bay, Michigan, husband is John Cheeseman
1880 US Census: [Cynthia McDonald] - age 38, living in Westmoreland, Oneida, NY, husband: Hugh, sons: Wm. age 9, Geo. age 8, daughter: Effie age 2?
1890 US Census:
1900 US Census:
1910 US Census: [Cynthia McDonald] age 60, living in the 11th Ward Utica, Oneida, NY - living with her daughter (Effie Yates) and her family, inspector at a mill
In the 1840 US Federal Census for Alexandria, Jefferson Co, NY Francis and his brother, Alonzo lived near each other. Francis and his wife were between the ages of 15 and 20. Francis had one son under the age of 5.
In the 1850 US Federal Census for Theresa, Jefferson Co., NY Francis is 29 years old and is a carpenter and joiner. His wife, Sally, is also 29 years old. They have five children living with them: Marius (age 10), Darius (age 8), Jeremiah (age 6), Eugene (age 2) and Mary E. (age 3 months old - born in May of 1850.
Francis and his family were living in the village of Theresa in 1855. The source of this information is a rare tablecloth map from 1855 that can be found in the Watertown Main Public Library - Genealogy Dept.
Paul Mahle, a descendent of Emma Louisa Cheeseman (she was a daughter of Francis), has an original contract from 1847 between Francis Cheesman and Johabod Thompson. Francis Cheesman was contracted to build a house for Mr. Thompson. The contract outlines the specifics for building the house and states that Francis will receive $125.00 for the job.
In 1910 Ann / Anna Cheeseman has her own income that she is living on.
According to Federal Census Records Ann was living on Factory Street in Gouverneur, St. Lawrence County, NY from at least 1900-1920.
In 1930 Ann was living with her daughter, Katie Davis, and her family on the family farm on Johnstown Street.
In 1930 George and his brother, Daniel, were living at 39 Factory Street in Gouverneur, NY. Daniel was still married at the time but his family was not with him.