last updated 20/12/2004
The name Cheesman, and its variants Cheeseman, Chieseman, etc., are very common in Sussex, and particularly around Brighton. There is apparently no particular reason for this other than the mundane connection with making cheese!
When I started researching my family history I soon found that the names on my mother's side were more interesting than my own. I soon established that my Cheesman family were from Brighton, where they had played an important part in the life of the town up to the end of the Victorian era, and I started recording the name wherever it cropped up in that area. I now have quite a database, but it is still astonishing how often I come across the name with no apparent connection with any of the local families. Of course, one day I may find the magic links that tie all these families into one large clan!
On this page I have listed briefly some of the interesting families I have found. I would be glad to exchange information with others researching this subject - please click here
John Hoare
On my links page you will find useful research links, including the Cheeseman One-Name Study
The Builders My family included local builders who were responsible for many local Churches, as well as Civic and large scale domestic projects. They also had an interest in cement manufacture and coal supply, and were prominent in the running of the town. |
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The Captains
There was a Francis Cheesman, who found fame in 1821, by saving the life of
the 'celebrated aeronaut' (baloonist) Mr. Charles Green, when he came down in
the sea. Francis was first mate and in control of the steam packet 'Thomas',
and steered the boat into the silk of the partially deflated and uncontrollable
baloon, thus letting the remaining air out, and making it possible to pull the
gentleman on to the ship. (Click here to read
a transcript) Francis apparently became a steam packet Captain in his own right,
on the Brighton-Dieppe run from the Chain Pier, and he was followed by his son
James.
When he was in his seventies James was Captain of the pleasure steamer 'Brighton' for its last six years. This vessel was reported as being patronised by the Princess Royal and the Duke of Fife, and carrying 33,333 passengers in one season.
Unfortunately, references to Captains often fail to give Christian names, so it is hard to be definitive.
There is more information in the Brighton Fishing Museum archive.
Also, if you don't mind practicing your French, there is an interesting History of the Brighton-Dieppe line (later to be the Newhaven -Dieppe line), which mentions Captain Cheesman in connection with two of the line.
The first Pier Master of the West Pier
The first pier master of the West Pier was William Alfred Cheesman, who was
also a proprietor of bathing machines, as was his father Robert. William was
awarded medals for life-saving. One of William's six children, Harry, was recorded
as artist and photographer in 1881. Visit the West Pier's website
There is more information in the Brighton Fishing Museum archive.
China dealers
There were three generations of Cheesman who ran a china shop in North Street
- the number changes over the years, but this could be due to renumbering. First
entry is William in 1824, last is William Oliver, in 1885. There currently appear
to be two intertwined lines of these china merchants, but I'm sure that further
research would resolve this to one family.
I have been told that the company was known as 'Cheesman Goss' and had a considerable reputation. apparently their products occasionally appear on E-bay and sell for substantial amounts. I would be very interested to hear about this.
The Cheesman Family in Meeting house Lane
Several generations of Cheesmans live in adjoining houses in Meeting House lane, starting with Peircy Cheesman, born sometime before 1759. The family may well have been related to the china dealers. Unfortunately, with each generation the ownership of the houses became more confused, and the sorry story ended with a legal action taken by Ann Rhone, (nee Cheesman) against her own offspring in 1877.
The houses later became part of Hanningtons Department Store.
The Miller of Portslade
William Cheesman owned the windmill in North Street, Portslade, just North of Brighton from 1785. On his death it passed into the hands of the Peters family until it became unsafe and was demolished in 1882. The family relationships are complicated and sometimes uncertain - visit "The Peters story"
Shell fishmongers and the oyster bar
There was a Jonathan who ran a tobacconists at 4, Pool Lane, in 1832. By 1846
this had become a shell fishmongers, and Pool Lane was Pool Valley. By 1862
this had been passed on to a Charles Cheesman. By 1884 Charles was running a
branch a 19, East Street, while the Pool Valley address was also recorded as
'oyster rooms', run by E. Cheesman. There is a footnote to this story - there
is a reference in 'Life in Brighton', by Clifford Musgrave that Cheesmans Oyster
Bar was later run by Harriet, Charles' widow, who refused to serve King Edward
until he put out his cigar!
Shipowners and the Fishing Fleet My family owned and operated several merchant ships through the mid 1800's. They also often appear in local newspaper reports of the fishing catch, with especial reference to mackerel. Find out more on my Cheesman Shipowners page |
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The Town Crier
Samuel Cheesman was town crier at least from 1838, when he succeeded George
Cherriman, to 1868. He had seven children, and I would expect his family to
have been involved in the life of the town, but I have found little evidence
of this.
The American Connection
I have recently discovered that one of my ancestors settled in America,
and there is a flourishing branch of the family there. I have
a page for this line, and I also host Vicki Morrison's
Family Biography.
Over to You!
If you would like to add a paragraph about an interesting Cheesman or Cheeseman
family in the Brighton area, perhaps with a link to your own site, contact
me!
return to Cheesman Family Builders
return to John Hoare's family history page
