Life History

Notes

• "THE CHENEY GENEALOGY" copyright 1897 C.H. Pope
  
  b. in Newbury Dec. 3, 1670, married HANNAH, dau of THOMAS and HANNAH (EMERSON) DUSTON, b. Aug. 22, 1678  He resided in Newbury. In John Brown's Map of the town, made in 1729, we may see the locality locality of his homestead near the banks of the river, in what is now West Newbury. He was a farmer. He was also one of the brave defenders of the town against Indian attacks. Aug. 3, 1704, Col. N. Saltonstall wrote to
• Col. Thos. Noyes:"Sir, by his excellency's express direction I command you in her majesty's name forthwith to appoint and set forth one half of your company by name and have them ready, well fixt with arms and amunition and ten days' provision to march at an hour's warning. The command is strict. "Sept. 28th he thus wrote: "Idesire and order that by tomorrow morning at farthest you press and post at your block-houses in
• Newbury twelve able souldiers, three at each of your four blockhouses, toabide there day and night to watch. "In consequence of these orders DANIEL CHENEY rendered "service in the blockhouse" at that time, for which it is on record that he received the sum of "9 shillings and 10pence." He also enrolled as a member of "The Second Foot Company of Newbury", Jan. 15, 1710-11, under command of Hugh March. He and his wife were "admitted to full communion" in the West Newbury church Oct. 29,1727. He died in the autumn of 1755. His estate was quite large, and he thoughtfully provided for his children and some of his grandchildren, and for his honored wife.
  
  THE WILL OF DANIEL CHENEY
  
  In the name of God amen. The second day of March in the year of our Lord One thousand Seven Hundred and fifty four, in the twenty Seventh year of his Majesties Reign- George the Second, King of great Britain &c.I,DANIEL CHENEY of Newbury in the County of Essex, in the Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England Husbandman, being weak in Body, but of aSound Mind and Memory, thanks be given to God, therefore, Calling to mindthe mortality of my Body and not knowingn the Day of my Death: Do makeand Ordain this my Last Will and Testament: that is to say Principallyand first of all I give and Humbly Reccommend my Soul into the hands ofGod who gave it. And my Body to the Earth to be buried in Decent, Christian Burial at the discretion of my Executor Hereafter named.Doubting not but I shall receive the same again at the general Resurrection by the mighty Power of God, and as touching such Worldly Estate as it hath pleased God to Bless me with in this life. I give and Dispose of in the following manner and form.
  
  Imprimis I give to my Beloved Wife HANNAH the use and Improvememnt ofall the East Half of my Dwelling House And the cellar under said EastHalf. Excepting the garret, a piece of Land for a garden where she shallchoose to have it well fenced. I give to my said wife the use of, also tobe fenced by my Exexutor. During all the time she remains living my Widow.
  
  I do also give tomy said Wife Thirty bushels of Indian Corn and TwoBushels of Wheat and Three Vushels and a Half of Rye.  and Two Bushelsand a half of Malt and two Barels of Cyder and Five pounds of Sheeps Wooland Eight pounds of flax from swingle and fifty pounds of Beef and asmany apples as shall be needful for her. and Needful firewood brought tothe Door Cut fit for the fire all which my said wife shall have yearlyDuring the time She remains my Widow to be paid to her by my Executor.And my Executor shall Provide and Keep a good Cow Winter and Summer formy said Wife so long as she Remains my Widow.  And I Do give to my saidWife all my pork that I shall leave at my Decease and also all the moneyDue to me by Bonds and Notes. and all my swine that I shall leave at myDecease. and all my House Hold Goods Excepting my Andirons my Gun my Loomand my wearing apparel for her to have and Dispose of as she shall thinkfit. And my Executor shall provide and find a horse for my said Wife toride as she shall have Ocation so Long as she shall remain my widow. Andmy said Executor shall repair that part of the House which my Wife is tohave so that it may be comfortable for my Wife so long as she shallremain my Widow.
  
  Item. I Do give to my Son Daniel Cheney Thirteen Pounds and Six shillingsand Eight pence Lawful money of the above said province over and abovewhat he hath hitherto had of me already to be paid by my Executor withinThree years after my Decease. and I also give to my said son Daniel onethird part of my wearing Apparrel. and My sd. Son Daniel shall Have myAndirons at my Wife's Decease.
  
  Item. I give to my Daughter Hannah Coffin One pound and six shillings andEight pence Lawful money of the afore said province Over and Above whatshe hath already had of me to be paid by my Executor within two yearsafter my Decease.
  
  Item. I give to my Grandchildren Joanna, Daniel and Sarah, children of myDeceased son John Cheney Fifteen Shilligs Lawful Money of the Provinceaforesaid Beside what their father had of me in his lifetime tobe dividedequally Among them. to be paid by my Executor within one year after myDecease.
  
  Item. I give to my grand children John Calfe and Hannah easman--Childrenof my Deceased Daughter Sarah ten Shillings Lawful money of the Provinceaforesaid to be divided Equally between them. to be paid by my Executorwithin four years after my Decease.
  
  Item. I give to my Granddaughter Abigail Homans one Pound Six shillingsand Eiight pence Lawful money of the Province aforesaid to be paid by myExecutor when she arrives at the age of Eighteen years.
  
  Item. I give to my Grand son Joseph Homans One Pound six shillings andEight pence Lawful money of the Province to be paid by my Executor whenhe comes to the age of twenty one years. it is my will if Abigail Homansshould Die before she comes to the age of Eighteen years Joseph Homansshall have what I have willed to Abigail. and if Joseph Homans should diebefore he comes to the age of twenty one years then Abigail shll havewhat I have willed to Joseph.
  
  Item. I give to my Grandson John Cheney son of my Executor my gun.
  
  Lastly I give to my Son Nathanail Cheney all my Estate both real andPersonal of every Name whatsoever which I have not Disposed of before inthis my last Will and Testament and he shall pay my Debts and Legacies Ihave ordered. And if my above said wife shall Die while she remains mywidow he shall pay the charges for a Decent Christian Burial for her.
  
  And I do constitute & appoint my said Son Nathanael sole Executor of thismy Last will and Testament and I do hereby Disalow and make Void All andEvery other former Testaments, Wills and Executors by me in Any waysbefore Named Ratifying this and no other to be my Last Will and Testament.
  
  Signed Sealed Published and Declared by the said Daniel Cheney as hisLast will and testament in presence of us. the subscribers.
  Moses Morss
  Ebenezer Huse
  John Calfe                                                      his
                          Daniel X Cheney (seal)
                                                                     mark.
                                                      Testified by JohnCalf and Moses Morss
                                                      Nov. 3, 1755.

Sources

• 1. The Cheney Genealogy
  • copyright 1897
• 2. The Duston / Dustin Family