Cheseman/Cheasman

[Keith Cheasman]

I've been researching my Cheasman ancestry in the Sydenham area and today discovered Cheseman Street. Can anyone please enlighten me as to the naming of this? Was a Cheseman a civic dignitory, a well-to-do family (I wish!) etc.etc.

If a well known character/family are there other local things I should be aware of - graves monuments etc.?

Thanks very much

Keith Cheasman

[Steve Grindlay]

I don't think there is likely to be a link, Keith. Robert Cheseman owned an area of Sydenham near what is now called Elm Lane, Catford when he died in 1498. The present Cheseman Street was developed in the early 1830s, It was first called Skeet's Lane, then Russell Street. It didn't become Cheseman Street until the 1930s, when the name was probably plucked at random from local records when the local authority decided that Russell Street needed to be renamed.

Quite unconnected, Chiesmans was the major department store in Lewisham (a couple of miles away) from the mid-ninteenth century to the mid-twentieth century.

Steve

[Keith Cheasman]

Thanks a lot Steve. It seems that spelling wasn't a precise art even a hundred years ago, and it's probable that my gt gt grandfather Stephen Fenner 'Cheasman' was a grandson of Isaac 'Cheseman' (Isaac's spelling in his signature in 1786 on a settlement document at Beckenham) and Ann Fenner his wife.
There are historically 2 main concentrations of 'Cheeseman' variants, one in Yorkshire, the other in the Kent/Surrey area, so there may be along distant connections to 1498 and the Department Store Chiesman.

Many thanks for your interest and help,

Regards

Keith C.

[Steve Grindlay]

Keith, I imagine you have most of the following information, but just in case …

My records show that Stephen Fenner Cheeseman was married to Emma, and their son Alfred Wallace was baptised at St Bartholomews, Sydenham on 24 Jan 1868. Stephen was living at Taylors Lane in 1841, Rosamund Street 1869 to 1871 and Plane Street in 1881. Stephen's father, also called Stephen, was living at Taylors Lane 1841-1861. Their home in Taylors Lane was one of a pair of timber cottages that still survives, although much restored. Rosamund Street and Plane Street were obliterated during the 1960s.

Steve

[Keith Cheasman]

Thanks again Steve.
Yes I'd got most of the information, and have recently been told that Stephen snr.'s wife Jane was born Llandilo, Monmouthshire.
the IGI has Arthur Wallace listed as son of Stephen Farmer Cheasman and Emma. Does your comment imply that the original definitely has Fenner not Farmer? I'm told that St. Luke's Norwood has christenings of Stephen Fanner C. and Ellen Fanner C., and the 1881 census has Fanner not Fenner as Stephen's second name.
I think they have to be one and the same family. (Possible Stephen Fanner C. and Jane met if she was bringing livestock from the valleys to market? Certainly Northamptonshire (where I live) had markets supplied from Wales). Still need to link Stephen to some parents, hopefully Isaac Cheseman and Ann Fenner.

I'm every xcited to be told about the timber cottages in Taylor's Lane. Hope to visit so do you know which one exactly?

Much obliged

Keith C.

[Keith Cheasman]

Thanks again for the previous information - but reviewing my earlier information I now have a conflict. I'd been given Stephen Cheasman at Taylor's Lane 1851 census, but this Taylor's LAne was at Lee, apparently due east of Lewisham. I will be querying my informant too - a Cheeseman researcher for about 30 years but there presumably can't be any confusion between 2 Taylor's Lanes can there? And please can you advise which of the 2 cottages you told me were still standing would be the relevant one?

Thanks a lot
Keith c.

[Steve Grindlay]

Keith, I think your informant is mistaken. I am not aware of a Taylors Lane in Lee, and I have checked the 1841 and 1851 census returns for Taylors Lane, Sydenham. Stephen is shown at there in both returns (the younger Stephen is also there in 1841). Furthermore, the 1841 return has him at no.3 which is possibly the present 71 Taylors Lane.

Steve

[Keith Cheasman]

Thanks a lot for your time, trouble and interest in clearing this up for me Steve. I've also had aresponse from a 3rd person referring to 1851 and '61 censuses saying the same thing. I'll advise my original contact as diplomatically as I know how!
Hope to make time to view the 'old place' in the summer.
Thanks and regards

Keith C.