Eppes Cheatham (abt. 1760 - 1816)

Born about 1760 in Lunenburg, Virginia

Ancestors

Descendants

Died May 1816 at about age 56 in Franklin, Georgia, United States

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Biography

Eppes Cheatham was a Virginia colonist.

Eppes Cheatham served with Charlotte County Militia, Virginia Militia during the American Revolution.

Eppes Cheatham is a DAR Patriot Ancestor, A021265.

Eppes Cheatham was born before 1760, in Lunenburg county, Virginia. During the American Revolutionary War, Eppes was residing in Charlotte county, Virginia, which was established in 1764, from part of Lunenburg County. Eppes served as a Soldier during the War, and moved to Franklin county, Georgia, where he died prior to May, 1816. As a result of his service, his widow, Sarah Chaffin drew land in the Land Lottery of Georgia of 1827. ^[1]

Eppes Cheatham is honored for his military service by the Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution as DAR Ancestor #A021265 ^[2] . Applications for membership in the Society of the DAR have been made by the descendants of his sons, Stephen Cheatham, who married Clarysa Higgenbotham; Josiah Cheatham, who married Isabella Callaway; Chaffin Cheatham, who married Polly Payne; and of his daughters, Mary "Polly" Cheatham, who married David H. Payne; Elizabeth Cheatham, who married William Willis; and Sarah Cheatham, who married Jacob Carlton.

According to his Find A Grave memorial, "Epps" married Sarah Chaffin, a daughter of Joshua Chaffin and Patty Giles. ^[3]

Researchers Notes

Eppes mother is Elizabeth Gates, a daughter of William Gates and Susannah Eppes. Eppes' maternal grandfather, William Gates, signed his will March 13, 1750. Eppes' maternal Uncle, William Gates Jr., died in 1760. William Gates Jr.'s Will (combined with other facts) reveals that Susannah's maiden name was Eppes, because he named his cousin, William Epps. It also shows that one of Susannah's brothers married someone named Lucy. ^[4] To brother, James Gates, all my land, carpenter's tools, trooper's arms, and all my pewter. To sister, Mary, feather bed. To brothers and sisters, Edward Gates, Elizabeth Cheatham, and Lucy, each 30 shillings. To cousin, William Eppes, son of Lucy Eppes, 10 shillings. To Eppes Cheatham, son of Elizabeth Cheatham, 10 shillings. To Benjamin Cheatham, son of Joel and Elizabeth Cheatham, 10 shillings. To my loving mother, 5 pounds. Rest divided between my brothers and sisters. Witnessed by Benjamin Cheatham and Lucy Gates. [Benjamin B. Weisiger III, editor, "Chesterfield County, VA, Wills: 1749-1774," p. 40-41]

He left a will dated 19 March 1813 referring to his "beloved wife Sarah Chatham", his "younger children Chaffin William Rhodah Elizabeth Ester & James" and his "oalder children Josiah Steven Salley & Polly". He appointed "Steven Chatham David Payn and Chaffen Chatham" as his executors, and he signed his name "Epps Chatham". Probate was granted on his estate in the May Term of 1816.^[5]

Sources

1. ↑ HOUSTON, LAND LOTTERY OF GA 1827, P 88
2. ↑ Daughters of the American Revolution, DAR Genealogical Research Databases, database online, (http://www.dar.org/ : accessed 22 May 2022), "Record of CHEATHAM, EPPES", Ancestor # A021265.
3. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #93900260
4. ↑ Will of William Gates [Jr.] of Dale Parish, Chesterfield County, VA, May 30, 1760
5. ↑ Georgia, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1742-1992. Ancestry.com (accessed 13 May 2021) database entry for Epps Chatham, Franklin, Georgia, USA. Ancestry Record 8635 #664040. Ancestry Sharing Link

• After leaving Virginia and upon arriving in Georgia the Chatham family changed the name from Cheatham to Chatham.

The DAR Genealogical Research System

In 1803 Georgia land lottery for Wilkes county States those entitled to draw we're white males 21 years and older and a resident of Georgia 12 months preceding who paid tax. If married with children you were entitled to draw twice. Epps drew 2 times and the name was changed here on the deed to Chatham.

Epps Cheatham may have been married twice; to his first wife (unknown) was born the four oldest children. His second wife Sarah Chaffin bore the remaining children she died before 1840 after receiving a land grant from the US for some Indian land in Lee county Georgia in 1835. Concerning her, his will it reads "I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife Sarah all my goods and chattels real and personal my land and negroes and stalk and house and kitchen furniture to V4 her use in her lifetime and add her decease take as much of the property and give it to the younger children as she chooses."

http://www.jamestowne.org/revolutionary-war-era-people.html