JOHN HOARE'S FAMILY HISTORY |
The Name Cheesman in Brighton, Sussexreformatted 2011, updated 21/1/2014 The name Cheesman, and variants such as Cheeseman, Chieseman, etc., are very common in Sussex, and especially around Brighton. There is apparently no particular reason for this other than the mundane connection with making cheese! 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 to help. When I started researching my family history I found that the names on my mother's side were more interesting, and easier to research, than my own. I quickly 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 surprising how often I come across the name with no apparent connection with any of the local families let alone mine. Of course, one day I may find the magic links that tie all these families into one large clan!
John Hoare On my links page you will find useful research links, including the Cheeseman One-Name Study
The CaptainsAlthough my family had extensive shipping interests as owners, I have found nothing to connect them with the local captains of the same name. I have built a small list of local references to the name regardless whether they are my family or not, along with useful links on my Cheesman Shipowners page. 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.
The first Pier Master of the West PierThe 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. Follow this link for information about the Brighton Fishing Museum archive.
John Cheesman who emigrated to Australia and joined the goldrushI have been sent the life story of a John Cheesman,born 1832 in Southwick, who had an eventful life which included an event reminiscent of 'The Sloop John B' when he emigrated to Australia. So far he isn't my relative, but his family are in the records, and one day I may establish the link. His story is worth reading regardless. China dealersThere were three generations of Cheesman who ran a china shop in North Street - the number is often 169 but 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.
Sources (seen January 2014) The Cheesman Family in Meeting house LaneSeveral generations of Cheesmans lived 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. This closed down in 2000, but the building is still in use for shops. Source (seen January 2014) The Miller of PortsladeWilliam Cheesman (not my family) owned a 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 - unfortunately the link I posted to the 'Peters Family' site has vanished, but it can be found archived on the wonderful Wayback Machine archive HERE Shell fishmongers and the oyster barThere 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 at 19, East Street, while the Pool Valley address was also recorded as A further insight into the times is provided by a photo kindly sent to me by John and Mary Ault. The small picture shows a charming image of the centre of a pot lid, showing the shop front of 'Cheesmans Old Established Oyster Store'. However, click on the image to see the whole of the pot lid! It seems that the oyster bar lives on as 'English's', as they use the same story about King Edward VII. The street number has changed, probably when the road layout was extended.
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