Herbert Benjamin Cheeseman
(1871-1938)

(last updated: 28 August 2026)

Herbert Benjamin Cheeseman (1871-1938) was the oldest son of Alfred John and Jane Elizabeth Cheeseman nee Wright. Born at Carngham in Victoria, he worked as a labourer, miner and carpenter and was twice married. His first wife was Elizabeth Haggis (1864-1901), the daughter of John Haggis and Mary Donelly, who he married at Smythesdale in 1891. Elizabeth died ten years later from hydatids of the liver and acute peritonitis and was buried in the Roman Catholic section of the Carngham Cemetery on 29 October 1901. She and Herbert had no children. Herbert's second wife was Adelaide ('Addie') Lowe (1876-1960), the daughter of Chinese-born Tan Loo/Lowe (1833-89) and a Scots woman Jessica (Jessie) Bruce Buchanan (1852-1927). According to Iain Cork's 'Our Family Tree' on Ancestry, Jessie was born at Dundee in Scotand, married Tan Loo in Victoria in 1875 and died at Beaufort on 7 December 1927 (the Find a Grave website shows she is buried in an unmarked grave in the Presbyterian Section of the local cemetery). She and Tan had four children in addition to Addie: Amelia Bruce (1876-1958), Colin Whey Wan (1877-1944), Rose Jane (1880-81) and Jessie Bruce Loo/Lowe (1881-1908).

John Tait's 'Lock Family Tree' on Ancestry tells us Tan Loo was born at Amoy in Xiamen in southeast China and across the strait from Taiwan. In 1856 he sailed from Hong Kong to Australia where he moved to the central western region of Victoria and married Jessie Buchanan at Trawalla in 1875 (they had a son, Robert George Buchanan Loo (1874-5), before they were married). John adds that 'Tan loo was admitted to the Austin Hospital, Heidelberg on 7 Feb 1888. On 17 Aug it was decided by the hospital to send him to Yarra Bend asylum where he was admitted on the 23 August. He had delusions that he was incredibly wealthy'. Tan Loo/Lowe died at the hospitable for incurables at Heidelberg on 2 January 1889. Jessie continued to live at Beaufort until her death there on 7 December 1927. John adds that she had sailed to Australia with her parents on the JAMES CARSON in 1852 and lived all her life in the Ararat/Beaufort area. Her parents were Robert Bruce Buchanan (1829-1919) and Janet Brown (1831-98) who were married at Edinburgh on 6 January 1852 and had nine children in addition to Jessie.

Adelaide ('Addie') Lowe was born at Beaufort on 13 March 1876 and married Herbert Benjamin Cheeseman there on 17 June 1903. They had five children - Elsie May (1904-63), Jessie Adelaide (1905-75), Harry (1909-89), Eric Ronald (1912-2000), and Eva May Cheeseman (1915-2005) - the first three at Beaufort and the last two in Melbourne (see details below). While at Beaufort, Herbert, together with his younger brother Alfred William Cheeseman, who had worked for a period in South Africa after the end of the Boer War, spent time in the Riverina district of NSW where they had been contracted to sink wells for bore water. The electoral rolls show Herbert, a labourer, and Adelaide Cheeseman, home duties, at Beaufort in 1909. The 1912 and 1914 rolls have Herbert, a timber yard employee, and Adelaide living in the Melbourne suburb of Richmond (Herbert's brother John Thomas Cheeseman, was also then living in Richmond). At the time of the 1919 election Herbert and Addie were farming land at Big Pat's Creek near Warburton in eastern Victoria. They were back in Melbourne in 1924, at 67 Rossmoyne Street Northcote, and Herbert was working as a foreman. They were still registered there in 1927 together with their youngest daughter, Eva May Cheeseman, who was said to be a leather worker. The 1931 roll has Herbert, an orchardist, living at Plenty in the Corio registration district of Victoria (Adelaide was still at 67 Rossmoyne Street together with their son Harry, a polisher). In 1936 Herbert, described as a miner, was back at Rossmoyne Street along with Adelaide and Eric Ronald Cheeseman, a salesman.

Herbert died at St Vincent's Hospital in Melbourne on 23 December 1938 from the effects of tuberculosis and bronchopneumonia. His death certificate tells us he was 67 years old, worked as a labourer and normally lived at 67 Rossmoyne Street Thornbury. He was cremated at The Necropolis at Spring Vale on 26 December. The certificate, which was informed by Robert R. Rosan, an authorised agent, adds that he was born at Snake Valley and had spent 65 years in Victoria and two years in Western Australia. He was married twice, first to Elizabeth Ann Haggis at Smythesdale when he was 20 years old, and then to Adelaide Lowe at Beaufort when he was 32 years old. Herbert had no children with Elizabeth and five with Adelaide: Elsie (who was 35 years old at the time of her father's death), Jessie Adelaide (32), Harry (29), Eric Ronald (26) and Eva May (23). Herbert's eldest daughter placed the following 'In Memorium' notice in the Melbourne Age on 23 December 1939: 'CHEESEMAN - in loving memory of my dear father, Herbert Benjamin Cheeseman, who died on December 23, 1938. Inserted by his loving daughter, Elsie, son-in-law, Reg and grandchildren, Heather and Neil Hinchcliffe'. After Herbert's death, Adelaide continued to live at 47 Rossmoyne Street Northcote until her death there on 9 March 1960. The Melbourne Metropolitan Cemeteries Board website tells us she is memorialised in the Garden of Remembrance at Fawkner Memorial Park where her service was conducted on 11 March 1960.

Herbert and Addie had five children between 1904 and 1915. As detailed below, these provided them with 10 grandchildren, some 21 great grandchildren and at least 7 great great grandchildren we know of.

Elsie May Cheeseman (1904-83) who married Reginald Percival Hinchcliffe (1902-76) in 1927. Born at Hobart in 1903, Reg's parents were James Edward Hinchcliffe and May Sarah Pilkington (1879-1950) who, according to 'The Pilkington Family Tree' on Ancestry, had at least two further boys both of whom were born in the inner Melbourne suburb of Collingwood: Algernon Edward (born in 1905) and Belrand Lawrence Hinchcliffe (1907). The 1931 electoral roll shows Elsie May and Reginald Percival Hinchcliffe, a carpenter, living at 31 Sussex Street in the Melbourne suburb of Preston. They were at 33 Fenwick Street Northcote in 1936 and 70 Hammond Street in Northcote in 1942 and 1949 (the latter roll includes a May Sarah Hinchcliffe - presumably Reginald's mother - who died the following year). In 1954, 1963, 1967 and 1972 they were at 138 Darebin Street Northcote and Reg was described as a builder. Reginald Percival Hinchcliffe, aged 72, died at Watsonia in 1976. He was cremated at the Fawkner Memorial Park and his ashes scattered in the Park's common ground. The 1977 electoral roll has Elsie living on Walbruck Street Watsonia along with a Marilyn Emily Hinchcliffe (wife of Neil Reginald Hinchcliffe, builder, who was living on Myrtle Cresent Watsonia). The 1980 roll shows Elsie living at 39 Kurrajong Cresent Watsonia. Neil Reginald and Christine Ann Hinchcliffe, typist, are at 115 Myrtle Cresent and Marilyn Emily Hinchcliffe was at Wallbruck Street Watsonia. Elsie May Hinchcliffe nee Cheeseman died in the Melbourne suburb of at Fitzroy on 17 June 1983 and was also cremated at the Fawkner Memorial Park. She and Reg had two children we know of: 1) Heather May Hinchcliff who married Donald Wilson, a carpenter, and had twin daughters; and 2) Neil Reginald Hinchcliffe who also worked as a carpenter, married Marilyn Emily Day and had three children we are aware of.

Jessie Adelaide Cheeseman (1907-75) who married John ('Jack') Painting (1905-72) in Melbourne in 1932. Jack was born at Jerilderie in NSW, the eldest son of James Granville Painting and Charlotte Bassett. In her Rootsweb site on the family, Jenni Bell tells us that: 'James (or Jim) and Charlotte Painting and their son John ('Jack') came to the Sandigo area from Jerilderie in 1907. James became a boundary rider on Brewarrina Station. Their son Patrick, was born soon after their arrival in the area. In 1913 they acquired the property 'Glengarry' when the area was cut up for closer settlement. Charlotte passed away one week after her daughter Claire was born in January 1917. In 1920 James married Victoria Buchanan in Victoria and they lived at 'Glengarry' until 1952 when the property was sold. They moved to Narrandera where they lived in retirement until James passed away in 1969 aged 84. Twelve months later Victoria passed away aged 95'.

Jenni continues that 'Jack Painting was born at Jerilderie in 1905 and worked for his father until he purchased 'Sunny Brae' in 1923. [The property] had previously been owned by Mr Lou Gamon, a Returned Service man who had drawn the block in a Ballot. In 1932 Jack married Jessie Cheeseman in Melbourne and in 1934 their daughter Elsie was born and in 1939 their son John was born. Jack's life was his farm and nothing pleased him more than to drive around his sheep. In 1955 he helped John purchase R. R. McNaughton's 'Glenmoira' property. After several years of ill health, Jack passed away in 1972 and Jessie in 1975. In 1978 both 'Sunny Brae' and 'Glenmoira' were sold. Jack's brother, Patrick Painting, moved from the Sandigo district when he purchased land at Matong, later selling that and moving to Corobimilla. He joined the Army during World War 11 and went to Melbourne after the war and remained there until just before his death. Claire Painting married Russell Chitts on 3rd September 1940 and they spent some time in Sydney then returned to Wagga for several years before moving to the Gold Coast, Queensland. Claire is now a widow and is the mother of five, grandmother of fourteen and great-grandmother of one'.

Jack and Jessie's wedding was written up in the Narrandera Argus on 2 December 1932 as follows:

At 4.30 p.m. at the Presbyterian, Church, Thornbury, on 22nd October, the wedding was celebrated of Miss Jessie Adelaide Cheeseman, second daughter of Mr and Mrs. H. B. Cheeseman, of Thornbury, Melbourne, to John Painting, eldest son. of Mr. and the late Mrs. J. G. Painting of Glengary, Sandigo. The bride, who entered the church on the arm of her father, who gave her away, looked charming in a frock of ivory georgette and lace, with satin shoes to match and spray of lilies of the valley. She carried a sheaf of white flowers, from which fell streamers of white satin ribbon. The brussels set veil, which formed a train, was held in place with a coronet of orange blossom, and was kindly lent by the bride's sister, Mrs. R. P. Hinchcliffe. Miss Eva Cheeseman, sister of the bride, was bridesmaid was charmingly dressed in a pale green ankle length frock of georgette, with coatoe and velvet shoes to tone. She wore a wreath of pink flowers on her head and carried a sheaf of pink flowers, from which fell pink satin ribbon streamers. Little Miss Heather Hinchcliffe, niece of the bride, was trainbearer, and looked sweet in an ankle length frock of pink goregette and tulle, trimmed with ribbon and flowers. She also wore a coronet of pearls. Mr. P. T, ('Pat') Painting, brother of the bridegroom, was best man. Mr. A. Tullock, a friend of the bride, played the bridal march as the bride entered the church and also played Mendelssohn's wedding march as the bride left the church three beautiful horse shoes were placed uponher arm. The reception was held at the home of the bride's parents, the bride's mother, wearing a navy-blue satin frock, with hat to tone, and carrying a sheaf of red roses, received the guests. After the wedding, the happy couple journeyed by car to 'Sunny Brae,' Sandigo, their future home. The bride's travelling frock being of nigger brown morocaln, relieved with beige, and coat, hat and shoe to match.

The Australian Electoral Rolls show that Jessie and Jack lived all their married lives at 'Sunny Brae' where Jack died suddenly on 4 February 1972. After the farm was sold, Jessie moved to nearby Narrandera where she died on 18 June 1975. The Find a Gave website shows Jessie and Jack are both buried in the Narrandera Cemetery (Presbyterian Section C, Row 2, Lot 41/42). They had two children we are aware of: 1) Elsie June Painting who married Arthur Leonard Horkings and had at least one daughter (Sandra); and 2) John Allan Painting (1939-2015) who was working on his parents' farm when he married Susan May Frapel in the early 1960s. The Australian Electoral rolls show John Allan, farmer, and Susan May Painting living at 'Sunny Brae' at Sandigo at the time of the 1963 and 1972 elections. The 1977 and 1980 rolls have John Allan, builder, and Susan May, teacher, at 12 Audley Street Narrandera. The Ryerson Index shows a John Allan Painting, 75 and late of Tarcutta, died on 14 March 2015. His death notice published in the Wagga Daily Advertiser, three days later reads: 'PAINTING John Allan Passed away suddenly on Saturday 14th March 2015. Dearly loved husband of Dianne. Loving father and father-in-law of Tracy and Mark, Robyn, Andrew, Kelly and Eric. Loved step-father of Neville and Tanya, Donna, Grant and Julie, Benjamin and Sarah. Adored Pa of Adam, Rachel, Olivia, Mia and Coen; and loved Johnny of Adele, Hope and Wil, and special Johnny of the extended families. Loved brother of Elsie. Aged 75 years'.

Harry Cheeseman (1909-89) who married Mabel Gladys Quin (1906-99) at St Kilda in Melbourne on 18 August 1934. Mabel's grandniece, Leonie Debra Balmer, tells us Mabel was born at St Kilda on 17 September 1906, the youngest of seven children of James Frederick Quin (1861-1926) and Alice Louisa Saunders (1869-1941) who were married in Melbourne on 11 November 1893. Mabel's older siblings were: Wilfred Edward James Quin (1894-1969), John Bosworth Quin (1896-1961), Alice Grace Dorothea May Quin (1898-1985), Clare Marguerite Quin (1900-91), Walter Godfrey Quin (1902-87, Leona's grandfather) and Olive Rose Quin (190798). Leonie adds that James Frederick Quin was born at Richmond in Melbourne on 21 January 1861, the son of London-born James William Edward Quin (1826-1917) and Devon-born Grace Elizabeth Finnimore Goodman (1833-1903) who were married at St Peter's Church of England in Melbourne on 17 June 1850 and had eleven children between 1851 and 1872. James and Grace both died at St Kilda, she on 3 February 1903 and he on 23 January 1917. They are buried together in the St Kilda Cemetery (Baptist Compartment A, Grave 65). Alice Louisa Saunders was born at Scarsdale near Ballarat on 22 September 1869. Her parents were Adelaide-born Henry Frederick Saunders (1848-1915) and Mary Jane Schofield (1851-1902) who came from Liverpool in England and were married in Victoria two years after the birth of their daughter.

The Australian Electoral Rolls show that Harry, who worked as a polisher and carpenter, and Mabel lived all their married lives in Melbourne, initially in St Kilda and later Preston. Harry died there on 16 July 1989 and Mabel on 8 May 1999. They were both cremated at Fawkner Memorial park. They were both cremated at Fawkner Memorial Park and had two children:

1) Lionel Barry Cheeseman, who was born in 1937 and later worked as a carpenter, was living with his parents at the time of the 1963 election. By the time of the 1967 election he was married and he and his wife, Beverley Dawn Cheeseman nee Kean (1940-2010), were at 6 Enderley Ave in Resevoir. Born in Melbourne, Beverley's parents were Reginald Kean (1908-89) and Rita Muriel Fielder (1907-83) who were married there on 27 May 1928. The 1977 and 1980 rolls have Lionel and Beverley still registered at 6 Enderley Ave (along with a Leonie Deborah Cheeseman, telephonist, in 1977). The Melbourne Metropolitan Cemeteries Board website shows that Beverley Dawn Cheeseman, born on 19 January 1940, was cremated at Fawkner Memorial Park on 5 February 2010. A tribute to her published by Lionel in the Melbourne Herald Sun on 2 February 2010 reads: 'CHEESEMAN Beverley Dawn. Passed away peacefully Jan. 30, 2010 at Epworth Hospital. Aged 70 years. Beloved wife of Lionel (Barry). Dearly loved Mum to Lee, Laurelle and Shane. Mother-in-law to Guy, John and Charlotte. Very much loved Nana to Leshay, Tenille, Taylah, Lacey, Shannan and Ryan. A special Great Nana to Sienna Bev. You have been the love of my life the last 56 years, a beautiful and caring wife and mother to our children'.

2) Born on 10 June 1943, Sonia Lorraine/Larraine Cheeseman married Ronald James Hall, a storeman who was living at 7 Loch Norries Grove, Darebin, in East Reservoir in Melbourne at the time of the 1963 election. The subsequent electoral rolls have Sonia, who was working as a bookkeeper, and Ronald at 94 McMahon Road East Reservoir until at least the time of the 1977 election. Leonie Debra Balmer tells us they later moved to the Gold Coast in Queensland where Sonia died on 26 June 2024. We believe Sonia and Ronald had two boys although that has still to be confirmed.

Born in the Melbourne suburb of Richmond in 1912, Eric Ronald Cheeseman (1912-2000) was living with his father at 67 Rossmoyne Street in Northcote and working as a salesman at the time of the 1936 and 1937 elections. We believe he married Kathleen Mary Wild (1914-2014) in 1940 but have still to confirm exactly when and where. The Department of Veterans Affairs World War II Nominal Roll shows that Eric enlisted in the Australian Army at Royal Park in Melbourne on 20 July 1942. He was then living at Ivanhoe and gave as his NOK Mary Cheeseman (the 1943 electoral roll shows them living at 92 Waterdale Road). Eric was discharged from the Army on 23 December 1943 while serving as a private soldier in the 'SALV and REC SER'. The 1949 electoral roll has them living in New Town in Tasmania, where Eric was working as a manager, and at 56a Lord Street in Denison in Tasmania in 1954 (Eric was said to be a draper). We believe Eric died at Blackman's Bay in Tasmania on 18 October 2000 although this is still to be confirmed. The Ryerson Index tells us Kathleen Mary Cheeseman, aged 100 years, died in Hobart on 24 July 2014. Her death notice, published in the Hobart Mercury four days later, reads: 'CHEESEMAN (nee Wild), Kathleen Mary. 3.6.1914 - 24.7.2014. Passed away peacefully at Guilford Young Nursing Home, aged 100. Daughter of William and Minnie Wild. Youngest sister of Vi, Clarice and Inez. Wife of Eric. Mother of John, Peter (both dec) and Joan, mother-in-law of John Enfantie. Grandmother of Chris, Belinda and Paul. Great-grandma of Daniel, Lucas, Caitlin and Eric. My precious Mum, you had such a generous heart that gave freely and openly. A wise heart that always saw the best in people. A gentle heart that was sensitive to the feelings and needs of others. A beautiful heart that is now at rest. We will miss you more than words can possibly say, Joan and John . . . Private Funeral'. As noted, Eric and Kathleen had three children: 1) John Francis Cheeseman (c1940-2) who died at Ivanhoe in Melbourne; 2) Peter Gregory Cheeseman (1946-95) who married Jeanette Laidlaw; and 3) Joan Elizabeth Cheeseman who was born at Hobart on 10 December 1951.

Ancestry's index of Australian bdms shows that a William Henry Wild and Minnie Harkin were married in Victoria in 1902 and had three girls in addition to Kathleen: Violet May (born in 1903), Clarice Mary (1905) and Inez Mary Veronica Wild/Wilde (1909). William and Minnie seem to have separated in around 1925 and while she and the girls continued to live in Melbourne, William lived and worked at Queenscliff and later Warburton in Victoria. We have yet to find when and where they both died. Ancestry's marriage index shows Inez Mary Wilde (1909-94) married a butcher by trade, Edward Benedict Cuffe (1911-99), in Victoria in 1937. The Australian electoral rolls show they lived in Melbourne until at least the late 1970s. The Find a Grave website tells us Inez died on 13 June 1994 and is buried with Edward in Victoria's Cranbourne Cemetery (Lawn A 335, Bay 14a). Their plaque states they were the parents of Robert William Cuffe (1946-2010), who also worked as a butcher, and grandparents of Sally, Vicki, Robert jnr and Suzanne. According to Amber Harris' 'Family Tree' on Ancestry, Robert's wife was New Zealand-born Nola Ann Hogarth (1947-2022) who died at Griffith in central NSW on 1 May 2022. Clarice Mary/May Wilde married Charles James Irvine in Victoria in 1932. The Australian electoral rolls show Charles, a manager, and Clarice, hd, living at 6 Selwyn Ave in Elsternwick in Melbourne in 1935. Sometime after this they went to Tasmania to live. The electoral rolls have them living in Launceston in 1939, Bass in 1941, and Launceston in 1949 and 1954 (Charles was working as a salesman and traveller). As reported in the Melbourne Age on 29 Sep 1973, Charles James Irvine 'died at Launceston September 25. Loving husband of Clarice, fond brother-in-law of Ed and Inez Cuffe'.

Herbert and Addie's youngest child, Eva May Cheeseman (1915-2005) married Leongatha-born Roy Hansford (1916-97) on 29 October 1938. The Australian electoral rolls show Roy, who worked as a foreman machinist, and Eva May Hansford, leatherworker, lived in Melbourne from then until at least the late 1970s (registered as living with them in 1963 was a Lynette Joy Hansford, stenographer). The Melbourne Metropolitan Cemeteries Board website tells us a Roy died on 8 May 1997 and Eva on 11 March 2005. Both were cremated at the Fawkner Memorial Park. Eva's death notice, published in the Herald Sun on 12 March 2005, reads: 'Eva May, peacefully at Paynesville on Mar. 11, 2005. Loved wife of Roy, much loved mother of Lynette, mother-in-law to Barry. Nan of Carolyn and John and Sue. Grand Nan of Jamie, Lauren and Alex'. Their daughter, Lynette Joy Cheeseman, married Barry Leslie Welsh, a draftsman by trade, in 1963. They initially lived in Melbourne and later Appollo Bay and Bairnsdale and, have three children and three great grand-children.