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THE CHENEY GENEALOGY.
COMPILED BY CHARLES HENRY POPE, MEMBER OF THE N. E. HISTORIC-GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY, COMPILER OF THE DORCHESTER POPE FAMILY, THE RECORDS OF THE FIRST CHURCH, DORCHESTER, ETC. BOSTON, MASS. PUBLISHED BY CHARLES H. POPE, 221 COLUMBUS AVE., 1897. Typography and Presswork by The Barta Press, Boston. THIS WORK IS DEDICATED, WITH RESPECT AND AFFECTION, TO THE MEMORY OF CHARLES PAINE CHENEY, WHOSE GENEROUS PATRONAGE PROVIDED THE MEANS FOR ITS PREPARATION, AND IN WHOSE HONOR THE BOOK IS NOW ISSUED. INTRODUCTION. THE CHIEF SOURCES OF INFORMATION made use of in the compilation of
The Cheney Genealogy are the following: Collections of facts touching the Family have been made by several persons, with more or less definite plan for publication. Rev. William Franklin Cheney, of Dedham, Mr. Joel Cheney, of Southbridge, Henry Allen Chaney, Esq., of Detroit, Mich., Rev. Russell Lea Cheney, of Janesville, Wis., and Mr. Josiah Blodget Chaney, of St. Paul, Minn. are particularly worthy of mention, as the results of their labors have been magnanimously furnished by them or their heirs to aid in this work. And a great many men and women have responded very kindly to circulars and letters, giving the particulars of their own immediate families; one may well be proud of such kindred. In the name of the future readers of this book, and out of the heart of the genealogist, thanks are hereby tendered to every one who has aided in this compilation. The work is imperfect. Mistakes have been made by almost all of us (!) in copying ancient records, in interpreting crooked writing, and in accepting statements from Table of Contents
END Page 5 Page 6 persons who did not know what they affirmed. A choice collection of these morsels of human fallibility will be found in the Additions and Corrections at the close of the book. Other errors will be discovered later. Conflicting statements have been made on many matters; and these words have often occurred to us: "O blest is he who can discern Attention is called to the Pedigree Tables on pages 68, 69, 198, 429, 430 and 431. These are a device of the compiler's for the exhibition of individual ancestry and degrees of relationship; they give only heads of families, but other persons can be connected with their proper places in the tables by means of the numbers affixed to their fathers. It was thought unnecessary to index these tables. Original dates are used in our records. The writer has profound contempt for the course adopted by many editors in altering Old Style figures into New Style. That foolish "fad" of a century ago must be abandoned in this age of the reproduction of ancient documents. March 25 was our ancestors' New Year's Day till the middle of the last century, and February was the twelfth month; but they began on January first to write both the old and new years, because some other nations had adopted January first as the beginning of the year. As far as possible these pages allow the ancient recorders to tell their story in their way; and several sturdy traditions and ingenious guesses have been annihilated by such quotations. Lines of heredity have been stated upon unquestionable proofs, in the great majority of cases; in a very few instances, however, pedigrees have been given upon large probability; but in such cases this admission is made at the proper point. Possibly documents may yet be discovered, proving that some group of Cheneys is misplaced in this Genealogy. But we have arranged them only on evidence END page 6 Page 7 THE ORIGIN OF THE NAME AND THE SOURCE OF THE FAMILY are subjects of great interest. When we have traced back to the two pilgrims, William and John Cheney, what do we find? Not a single trace of their origin except this: they were Englishmen. "Brothers"? They do not say or act it. Scions of nobility? Neither of them left a word, describing his place in the social scale. Their neighbors, even when electing them to the highest offices in their towns, wrote them down plain William and John. This leaves the question open, whether they were rising men of plain degree or "gentlemen," braving hardships from noble motives. Kind reader, take your choice of these theories. But we must remember that no one knows what relation William1 and John1 were to each other, or from what English family. The word Chˆne in French means an oak. A great many family names came from some peculiarity of the residence of the family. So, it seems to the writer probable that when a man lived near some conspicuous oak tree or in a grove of oaks (chenies), he was called William de Chˆne, i.e. William of the Oak. As this class of tree was common the name might be given to many unrelated persons. Certain it is that England had a score or more of families called by some name which is a modification of that word chˆne, at the period when New England was settled. Search has been made at great expense in the Record Office and Somerset House at London and in numerous other places, of the documents bearing on the history of those families. The following pages contain very brief portions of that which has been read and sifted. But no link has been found which connects William of Roxbury or John of Newbury with any English END Page 7 Page 8 family. Nevertheless, let further search be made. Some day the lines may be found which will certify the connection, and open the way for the claiming of coats of arms or other tokens of ancestral position. Till then we may enjoy the reflection that they were true to their God and to themselves; that they helped to found the grandest nation earth ever saw; and we may profit by the lessons of their pilgrimage. SOME ENGLISH FAMILIES OF CHENEY OR SIMILAR NAMES, BEFORE OR NEAR THE TIME OF THE SETTLEMENT OF NEW ENGLAND. DEVONSHIRE. The manor of Up-Ottery, 5 miles easterly from Honiton, is said by Devonshire historians to have been given by William the Conqueror to Ralph de Pomeroy, then passed to the proprietorship of the church of Rouen, "from which it passed to Sir Nicholas Cheyney in the reign of Henry III," (1207-1272.) The probate records of the diocese of Wells show no early wills of Cheyneys, but give two which may pertain to descendants of the family who altered the spelling of the name. 1. William Chinn of Otherie, June 15, 1584. Children: Richard, Isabel, Joane and Marye; wife Joane; brethren, Thomas and Richard. 2. William Chine of Otherie, May 14, 1631. Bequests to William Chine the elder, Thomas Chine the elder, Thomas Chine of Coombe; daughter, Marie; Elizabeth the daughter of John Water. Refers to some money in the hand of William Chine of muirluiche. Bequests to William Tyler my daughter's child, to son William Chine whom he appoints executor. A later will shows that there were some in the vicinity who kept the ancient form of the name. (3) Robert Cheyney of Yeovil; son John Cheyney; Richard and Elizabeth, children of his son Robert Cheyney. Pinhoe, a suburb of Exeter, was the home of William Cheney and family for a few years in the opening of the seventeenth century, but investigation shows that he received
END Page 8 the lease of the manor through his wife, whose family were its owners, and his former residence and later home alike evaded our search. 3. Joan Cheyney, wife of John Cheyney of Thorley was buried Jan. 9, 1625. 4. William Cheyney of Broadhembury died, and Thomas Cheyney, vietor, was appointed administrator of his estate Jan. 10, 1633. LONDON. 1. The will of Thomas Cheyner, mercer, To be buried in the church of St. Laurence, Jewry. Bequests for funeral expenses, to the church of St. L. and to the scholars of Balyol hall, Oxford. All his rents and tenements in the city of London to be sold for the payment of debts and legacies. Bequests to each anchorite in the city; to the ministers of hospitals and prisons; to the fabric of London Bridge; for the repair of roads around the city; to the convents of Clerkenwell, Haliwell, St. Elena, Stradford, Kilbourn, Chestehunte and Derteford; to his sister Johanne and others. Dated at London, the morrow of the nativity of John the Baptist, [24 June] A. D. 1361. 2. Henry Cheyner the father of Johanne, relict of Edmund Hemenhall, and Alice his wife, made his will Aug. 18, 1361. 3. William Cheyne, "recorder of London," is alluded to in connection with several wills in 1379 and other years. 4. Thomas Cheyney of St. Martin, Ludgate, London, haberdasher, had a marriage license from the bishop Dec. 30, 1615. 5. William Cheyney of London, pleb. was matriculated at St. John's College, Oxford June 22, 1610, aged 16; received degree of B. A. Jan. 31, 1610-11. 6. John Cheyney of St. Mary's, Islington, married Elizabeth Marshall May 20, 1625; he was buried Aug. 22 following; the widow administered on his estate the same day. 7. Richard Cheyney mar. Joan Halsey in that parish Dec. 19, 1634. 8. At St. Botolph's Bishopsgate, London, Thomas Cheney was christened Aug. 24, 1562; Margrett Cheney was buried Jan. 7, 1577; "John Cheney gent. of Dunstan in the East, and Susan Hatton, spinster, of this parish," were married June 19, 1655. ESSEX. The colony which originally settled Roxbury, in New England, contained a large number of persons from Essex county, England, particularly from Nazeing, which had been the seat of a Puritan congregation. Rev. John Eliot, second pastor of the Roxbury church and afterward the "Apostle to the Indians" was born at Widford, in Hertfordshire, END Page 9 Page 10 a few miles north of Nazeing. The region is an interesting one for American genealogists. At Waltham Abbey, Robert Cheney, [so signed] yeoman, made his will Oct. 1, 1567: wife Johan, sons John, Raufe, William and Robert; he devised lands, houses, rents, leases, &c. in Waltham, and "in Harfordsheare beyonde Smalynge bridge" to Daughter Agnes. A license to marry was issued to "William Cheyney of Waltham Holy Cross, Essex, yeoman, and Margaret Lloyde, widow, of the same," Feb. 1, 1580/1; and they were mar. in the church four days later, his name being spelled "Chenye" by the clerk. Other records there are the following: "Elizabath Chayny dau. of Rape Chayny was baptised March 29, 1584." "Willm Chenye son to John Chenne was baptised 21 Feb. 1584." "Richarde Chenne was buried 12 Sept. 1584." "Elizabeth Chenye the daughter of John Chenye was baptised 11 February, 1587." The parish of St. Peter's, Colchester, was the home of "Isaac Cheineye" or "Cheyney;" in his will which was probated June 27, 1634, he mentions his daughters, Jane Martin, widow, Priscilla George, Katharine Bloise, Thomasine Browne, and dau.-in-law, Katharen Arnold; grandson Isaac Cheiney, son of John Cheiney; Ann, Mary and Thomas Streaton, children of his daughter Thomasin Browne; grandchildren, Elizabeth Rose and Deborah Prisman; sons-in-law, Robert George and Thomas Bloise, residuary legatees and executors. HERTFORDSHIRE. In the parish records of Bishop's Stortford. 1. John Chayne noted as a parishioner in the year 1542, was assessed XVIII d. in 1558, was buried April 22, 1564. 2. George Cheany paid a church tax of 4 shillings, 8 pence, in 1558; m. Johanna Gibbs Jan. 30, 1581; she was buried June 30, 1587; he m. Elizabeth Dawset Nov. 2, 1591. 3. "John Cheny thelder" married Margaret Sweting Jan. 22, 1566, was buried Sept. 23, 1587. 4. John Cheny m. Agnes Wright March 10, 1595, was buried Sept. 22, 1604. 5. John Cheny, gent., had dau. Elizabeth baptized Nov. 18, 1632, and dau. Sara baptized Sept. 21, 1634. Widow Cheny was buried May 21, 1655. John Cheyney was buried Aug. 25, 1670. The will of (No. 4) John Cheany of Stortford, Herts. yeoman, was probated Oct. 8, 1604; bequests to wife Agnes, brother George Cheany and George's sons, John, Thomas and William Cheany. George and John Cheany executors. At Thorley (adjacent) Joan Cheyney ye wife of John Cheyney was buried Jan. 9, 1625. LINCOLNSHIRE. The probate records contain wills of many persons by the name of Cheney and Cheyney from a remote period. Thomas Cheney of Quadring, 1520; Christopher END Page 10 Page 11 Cheyney, Grantham, 1620; John Cheney, Bennington, 1624; Thomas Cheney, Howell, 1633. The latter was entitled "Esquire"; gave to his wife Bridget, daughters, Ann, Elizabeth, and Jane; brother William Chiney; signs "Thomas Cheyney." The will of John of Bennington is worthy of perpetuation. He was one of the wardens of his parish and apparently a man of fine qualities. "In the name of god Amen the Twenty & fowerth day of May 1621 I John Cheney of Bennington in the pts of Holland & county of Lincoln gent. whole in body & of good & pfect remembrance praise be given to almighty god doe ordeine & make this my last will and testament in manner & forme following hereby revoking all other wills by me formerly made -- ffirst I commit my soule into the hands of almighty god trusting most assuredly that by the death of Jesus Christ my Saviour & redeemer my sinnes are forgiven me & my body to be buryed within the quire of Bennington aforesayd nigh unto my wife (???) & for my mortuary as the Lawes of this Realm doe requier Itm I doe give to Lincoln mynster XII6 Itm I doe give to the pore of Bennington one quarter of barly to be distributed amongst the needyest at the feiste of the Nativity of Our Saviour Christ next after my decease Itm I doe give to William Cheney my sonne a double Soveraigne Itm I doe give to John Cheny the elder my sonne fowere pounds Itm I doe give to Thomas Cheney my sonne Thertye poundes Itm I doe give to John Cheny the younger my sonne ffortye poundes Itm I doe give to Anne Cheney my daughter twenty poundes Itm I doe give to Elisabeth Cheney my dawghter fforty poundes [Then follow other bequests.] The residue of all my goodes & Chattles not given or bequeathed my debts & Legacyes discharged I give them wholly to Alysce my wife whom I doe ordeine & make the sole executrix of this my last will & testament [Signed] John Cheyney." The church registers at Bennington give the baptism of children of John and Elizabeth Cheney as follows: Frances, Dec. 20, 1596; William, Feb. 5, 1597; Jane, Feb. 28, 1600; John, June 30, 1605; Edward, July 20 1606; Thomas, July 25, 1607; Agnes, Oct. 16, 1608; John, Nov. 9, 1609; Richard, Sept. 29, 1611; Elizabeth, June 2, 1614. Edward was buried END Page 11 Page 12 Dec. 8, 1613; the wife Elizabeth was buried June 12, 1614; and the husband and father was buried March 21, 1623. At Leverton, an adjacent parish, Thomas Peeps married Isabel Chenie May 11, 1590. At Freiston another neighboring parish, Walter Cheney was assessed in 1591. In the annals of the town of Boston, near by, the heirs of Christopher Cheyney are stated to have owned land; the date not given. Thomas Cheyney was an alderman of Boston in 1685. John Cheyney was mayor in 1725, and others of the name have borne honors and held large properties there and in Skirbeck. YORKSHIRE. Thomas Cheney, Knight, bought the manor of Thornton, or Thornton Bridge, with lands there and in Norton Milby and Humberton and a third part of the manor of Letby; at Michalmas in the 27th year of Henry VIII [1535.] He settled upon his daughter "Frances Cheyney alias Jesper whom William Cheyney is about to marry," "the manors of Thornegumbolde and Pauleholme, and 12 messuages with lands," &c. in 1547. William and Frances Cheyney sold land in Great Cowdon in Holderness [not dated]. Sir Thomas Cheyney ("armiger") died Feb. 22, 1632, at Paull or Thornegumbald, leaving a widow Priscilla and daughters: Anna, 6 years, 6 mos. old, Elizabeth, 5 years, 6 mos., and Jane, 3 years, 3 mos. A large property, traceable to that in the family almost a century before. The widow is said in Post Mortem proceedings to have gone to Spaulding, Lincoln county. NORFOLK. 1. Robert Chenye of Taysborough, 1572, document not examined. 2. John Cheney of Hempnall, tailor, made his will July 26, 1632; sons, Edmund, John, Robert, Edmund's wife, Prudence, daughter Anna Lord, grandson Huee Cheney, son of Huee [Hughie?], son-in-law Michael Herde. He had leased lands and owned farming implements &c. 3. Edward Cheny, Norwich, 1630; administration granted to widow Margaret. SUFFOLK. 1. Thomas Cheney of Aldeburgh, mariner, made his will March 6, 1626. Wife Anne; Henrie, son of his late brother John; Thomas, son of brother Henrie; if his wife marry again œ100 goes to the towne of Aldeborough with which to provide a sermon on every Good Friday for the improvement of the people. Margaret and Ann, daughters of his brother John. Thomas, Henrie, John and Robert, sons of his brother Henrie. Daughter Marie. Wife executrix, and brother Henrie and friend Thomas Boone supervisors. Probated May 1, 1628. END Page 12 Page 13 2. Anne Cheney of Aldeburgh, widow, will Feb. 7, 1628; bequests to her brethren by the name of Wainfleete; to Henry Cheney and to Robert his son. 3. John Cheany of Yarmouth, "caelebs;" administration granted to James Cheany his brother, 1636. BERKSHIRE. Thomas Cheyney, of Berks. gent., matriculated at Brasenose College, Oxford, Jan. 25, 1582, aged 18; M. A. July 8, 1585. 1. Thomas Chaynie of Up-Lambourne, made his will April 29, 1605. Bequests to the church, to the poor &c.; to his brothers Edward, John and William Chaynie, his godson Thomas Chaynie, the children of Lawrence Chaynie, viz. John, Dorothy, and Elizabeth. To Alice Cooper. Brother Lawrence Chaynie residuary legatee and executer. 2. John Cheyney of Cheping Lambourne, husbandman: wife Elizabeth; brother Lawrence; kinsmen Edward Cheyney and Roger Cooper. March 1, 1618. THIS PARISH OF LAMBOURNE is worthy of note because it is positively known to have been the birth-place of one family of Cheneys who came to America in early times. John Cheyney came to the township of Middleton in the county of Chester, in the colony of Pennsylvania; died there in 1722. Two years afterward his sons John and Thomas went to London and bought of John Bollors a tract of land, 1500 acres, in Thornburg, Pa. In the deed they are described as being "of Upper Lambourne in the parish of Chipping Lamborne, in the co. of Berks." A large and respectable progeny have descended from these brothers. A town named Cheyney has grown up on the family estates. Representatives of the family are found in Philadelphia, among whom are Mr. T. Barton Cheyney, of the Ladies' Home Journal, Charles H. Cheyney, Jr. and Horace L. Cheyney, Esquires. 3. Thomas Chenney of Radley, will Dec. 21, 1610. Brother William Chenney and his now wife, and his sons John and Raphe; to John Chenney, son of his brother John, and to John's other children. Brother-in-law William Crouch and his daughter Agnes, and to his now wife, my sister; to the church of Radley; to Richard Everlie and his mother; my [ . . . ] Edwardes [ . . . ] Brother John Cheyney residuary legatee. A codicil gives to the wife of John Chenney the son of his brother William, the debts due the testator. 4. Thomas Cheyney of Wallingford; will April 14, 1617. Sons Richard Thomas and Henry; wife Elizabeth; daughters Dorothie, Elizabeth, Margaret, Mary, Anne, Frances. 5. William Cheyney of Wallingford, tailor, deeded all his property to his son Thomas Cheyney on condition that Thomas would maintain him suitably the rest of his life. John Cheyney is one of the witnesses. Oct. 26, 1635. END Page 13 Page 14 6. John Cheney of Bayworth in the parish of Soningwell, Berkshire; will dated Aug. 20, 1626; wife Joane, dau. Alice; five sons, John, Ralph, Thomas, Oliver and William, all under 21 years of age; bro.-in-law, John Shurd. James Batte, one of the appraisers. BEDFORDSHIRE. 1. Sir Thomas Cheyney of Sundon, (called also "Esquire,") made his will Aug. 22, 1612. Bequeathed to the poor of several parishes; to his wife, Frances; daughters, Dionis, Anne, Helen, Frances, Mary--and her five children; sons Francis, Thomas, "Knight," Robert, Henry, John and Rotheram; son, Mr. Samuel Bryan; grand-children, Edmund and Francis Harding; Thomas, John, Francis and Anne Cheyney, children of his son John Cheyney; Thomas and Dorothy Cheyney, children of his son Thomas; and Brockas Scullar. BUCKINGHAMSHIRE. 1. Sir Francis Cheyney of Drayton Beauchamps, will, Dec. 31, 1619; wife, servants, poor, &c. nephews Edmond Cheyney, and Francis Cheyney, the latter chief heir; brother Thomas Cheyney, sisters mentioned by surnames only. 2. Ralph Cheney of Hoveney, will Feb. 13, 1640; wife Elizabeth, children under 14 years, Thomas, Elizabeth, and Margerie; brother Thomas; children of his cousins Thomas and John Cheney of Wallingford; nephew John Cheney, now living with him. Henry Cheyney of Buckinghamshire, armiger, entered Trinity College, Oxford, April 10, 1581, aged 18 years. Francis and Charles Cheyne of Chesham Bois, Bucks., were at Oxford in 1639 and 1640. OXFORDSHIRE. John Cheney of Rooke, husbandman, died Aug. 23, 1628. Verbal will. Eldest son, Anthony Cheney, to have all his lands in Rooke and Berwick Salome. Son John Cheney œ40 when he is brought up. Son Walter Cheney œ40 when he is brought up. Wife Anna Cheney. SUSSEX. 1. Thomas Cheyney of Sussex, gent. matriculated at Brasenose College, Oxford, June 22, 1604, aged 18. 2. Robert Cheyney of "St. Peters the Great within the Gates, Chichester, county of Sussex, yeoman," will May 12, 1619, daughters, Susan, Mary, Martha and Bridget; wife Elizabeth. 3. In St. Lawrence church, Guestling, between Hastings and Winchelsea, there is a monument to John Cheyney Esq. who m. Elizabeth dau. of John Palmer of Lincoln's Inn, Esq., who had one son and one dau., and d. Sept. 20, 1603. END Page 14 Page 15 1. On the north side of Salisbury Cathedral is an alabaster effigy of Sir John Cheney who fought in the battle of Bosworth Field in 1485. 2. John Cheyney of Everleigh, husbandman, will June 22, 1616. To be buried in the church or church-yard. Bequests to the parish church; to son John Cheyney, daughters Susan and Joyce Cheyney; to wife not called by name; father-in-law, Richard Greene, brother-in-law, William Browne. Inventory shows good farming outfit and comfortable home. The name is spelled throughout the document Cheyney, but signed clearly "Cheney." 3. John Cheyney, senior, of Wilcot in Pewsey sold land in Ore or Owre for œ200, at the Hilary term, 1633. The following extracts from the parish registers of Wilcott are of interest. "1580, 18th day of July John Cheyney and Christianna Ploodall [?] were marryed." "1580 [old style] 19th day of Januarie John sonne to John Cheyney was baptized." Other children were George, Elizabeth, Symon, and Thomas. "1594. 21st day of September John Cheyney & Margaret Chandler were marryed." "1610. 24th day of November John Cheyney thelder was buryed." "1611. 18th day of September beinge Sonday John the sonne of John Cheyney the younger was baptized." "1631. Margaret the daughter of John Cheyney & Joane his wife was buryed." Several Johns thus appear, at least one of whom d. in the parish in 1643. NORTHAMPTON. 1. John Chenye, prebendarie of the cathedral of Peterborough made will Nov. 12, 1553. No allusion to wife or child; bequests to other functionaries of the cathedral; to his servant Anne Susan and her children, to Henry Dray, his sister's son, to Bartholomew Taylor; refers to his brother-in-law, Henry [Jumay?]; residue to John Collman, clerk. Richard Whitte, prebendarie, named as supervisor of the will. VARIOUS. 1. John Cheyne was arch-deacon of Exeter July 10, 1379, prebend of Landiacre, i.e. one of the clergy of Litchfield cathedral in June, 1382; prebend of Huntingdon March 3, 1387-8. 2. Richard Cheyney was B. A. at Oxford in 1529 and held various positions in the church. Was made D. D. in 1569; was consecrated bishop of the dioceses of Bristol and Gloucester April 29, 1562. He died in April, 1579, and was buried in Gloucester cathedral. 3. Thomas Cheyne, clerk, parson of Paston made his will, bequeathing to Anne Susan, &c. making his brother John Cheyney residuary legatee. John Cheyney was one of the witnesses. Probated June 4, 1548. 4. Henry Cheynie of St. Alban's Hall, Oxford, B. A. Nov. 3, 1568, M.
A. June 17, 1573, a member of Gray's Inn, 1563, rector of Ringwold, co.
Kent, 1569. Page 16 6. Richard Cheyney, b. Jan. 1, 1595, was admitted to the Merchant Taylor's School in London in 1611, and Thomas Cheyney, b. March 21, 1597, was admitted in 1612. Richard "subscribed" at Magdalen Hall, Oxford, April 30, 1613, received B. A. in 1615 and M. A. in 1618; was rector of Tarrant Rushton, Dorsetshire in 1617 and onward. 7. Asteley (or Ashley) Cheney entered Merchant Taylor's School, London, in Oct. 1606, registered as "born July, 1595." The editor of the printed rolls of the school says he was second son of Josias Cheney of Milstead in Kent. 8. John Cheney, "born May, 1598," entered the school in Aug. 1605; and the editor says he was "probably son" of the same Josias Cheney. 9. William Cheyne of Dorset, pleb. matriculated at Balliol College June 28, 1604, aged 18; B. A. May 20, 1605; M. A. from Broadgates Hall July 8, 1612; rector of Manston, Dorsetshire, 1614. "THE ORIGINAL COAT OF ARMS OF CHENEY," says Burke, "was, erm. on a bend sa. three martlets, or. Crest-- A bull's scalp ar." Lord Toddington, Sir Henry Cheney, used this shield with modifications, and had for his motto: "Le mieux que je puis." Sir John Cheney of Sherland in the isle of Sheppey, in the north of the county of Kent, off whose shore "Cheney Rock" is a land-mark, adopted the arms of the family of his wife, the heiress of the Russells. "Az. six lions ramp. ar. a canton erm." Crest, a bull's scalp. The Cheneys of Stafford, Derby and Salop have the Russell-Cheney arms, and this motto: Fato prudentia major. Cheney of Up-Ottery, Devon, temp. Edward IV, had Gu. four fusils in fess ar. each charged with an escalop sa. Cheney of Bucks. and Berks. Ar. a fesse gu. in chief three martlets of the second. Crest -- A bear's head erased gu. environed around the neck twice with a chain, passing also through the mouth ar. at the end a ring Or. A coat of arms which any branch of the family might not hesitate to adopt is that given by Burke in a general way: "Cheney, Az. a cross flory ar." END PAGE 16 Page 17 PART I.
William of Roxbury and His Descendants.
WILLIAM CHENEY was a very early resident of Roxbury, in the colony of Massachusetts Bay, in New England, (now included in the city of Boston.) The oldest records of that town which have been brought down to modern times are contained in a volume whose opening sentence says that the book was bought in 1639 for the purpose of recording various matters relating to the inhabitants. Its earliest entries are not dated. One of these is a list of the men who owned land and lived in the town, entitled "A note of the estates and persons of the Inhabitants of Rocksbury." Seventy men are enrolled; they range from "Edward Pason," possessor of 3 acres of ground, to "Mr Thomas Dudley" with his 356 acres. "Wm Cheiney" is the fortieth name, with 24 1/2 acres, showing that he was above the average in wealth. This list is on a page where the year 1640 is given as the date of a preceding entry; and 1642 is the date of the entry on the following page. A number of circumstances indicate that the list was written near the close of the year 1640. On other pages of the old record book there are deeds of land recorded, and in the bounds of two of these "the land of Cheney" and "the meadow of Cheyney" are mentioned; both were made in 1640. These records demonstrate the fact that William Cheney was a land-holder and resident in Roxbury before 1640; and they do no more. The settlement at Roxbury was begun in 1630, a little later than those at Dorchester and Boston; but there was no END Page 17 Page 18 " -- Cheny the wife of William Cheny." That is the entry; a score of women are so recorded before this line; the good parson could not remember all the Christian names of the sisters ! The date of her coming may have been long before her joining; and her membership must have begun before 1643. There the direct evidence stops. Right here it is proper to consider the matter of the other Cheney family which resided in Roxbury in those early times. The 133d entry in the list of church members is this: -- "John Cheny he came into the Land in the yeare 1635. he brought 4 children, Mary, Martha, John, Daniel. Sarah his 5t child was borne in the END Page 18 Page 19 last month of the same yeare 1635, cald February. he removed from o?? church to Newbery the end of the next suer 1636. Martha Cheny the wife of John Cheny." Only that! Not a word as to whether he was related to the man "William Cheny" whose wife the good parson was to write down a few pages beyond! The family name, which he spelled the same, suggests kinship. Yet the Reverend recorder describes Philip Eliot in glowing terms without a hint that he was his own brother, although he makes note under Thomas Ruggles who "came in the yeare 1637," that "he was Eldr brothr to John Ruggles" who had been enrolled before as having come in 1635. There is nothing to be concluded from the omission of a statement concerning the relationship of the "Cheny" families. In the Roxbury Land Records there is a detailed description of each settler's real estate, with the names of the owners of adjacent tracts. William Cheney's homestead lay in a bend of the old highway which is still a well trodden thoroughfare -- Dudley street -- on the southeast side, near its junction with Warren st. The other tracts of land were widely scattered. "WILLIAM CHEINEY his house barne Garden and land theirto about two accres and a halfe butting upon William Parkes south and east and upon the highway north and west; And sixteene accres in the greatlotts more or lesse betweene the lands of John Johnson towards the west, and the schoole lands towards the east. And ten accres of swampe neare the great lotts lying betweene Giles Pason, and Ralph Hemingway, and the heires of Samuell Hagborne. And six accres of salt marsh in Gravelly poynt. And six accres of fresh meadow in the great meade, upon John Stowe his heires east, and Richard Sutton west, with two rodds wide of upland at both ends and so upon the commons. And seaven accres more or lesse of errable land upon Richard Sutton north, John Gorton west, and upon John Turner south. And in the first and third allottment of the last devission being the fift lott lying betweene John Johnson and heires of George Alcocke threescore and sixteene accres and a halfe and ten rod. And foure and twenty accres and a halfe within the thousand accres neare Deddam. And twenty accres of land more or lesse lying in the great lotts bounded on the way to the fresh meadow on the east the land of the heires of John Levens on the south, the schoole land and Richard Peacockes north END Page 19 Page 20 west and upon Giles Pason and the highway northerly. And three accres and a halfe of meadow lying in the fresh meades butting east upon my owne fresh meade and upon John Peirpoynt west. And an accre of land commonly called the wolf trapp bought of Humphrey Johnson lying on the north of the land of John Gorton, and west upon the highway. And halfe of sixteene accres of woodland lately the land of Richard Sutton, but bought by him of John Johnson." The deed of this "Wolf Trapp" is not on record, though there are deeds recorded whereby lands adjoining this piece were conveyed and called "Wolf Trap," showing that the name applied to quite a large tract, perhaps a valley where many wolves had been taken. We find two deeds of William Cheney's, one of land he bought, the other of some he sold; and we give them here. 29. 3. 1648. "Humphrey Johnson of Roxbury granted unto Willim Chenie of Roxbury twenty Acres of land in Roxbury bounded wth the high way that leads to the fresh meddow on the East, the land of the heires of John Levens south, the schoole lands & Richard Peacocks north west, & Giles Pason & the high way Northerly & this was by an absolute deed of sale 2 (1) 1647. wth all priviledgs thereto belonging.
Humphrey Johnson and a seale" William Cheney of Roxbury and Margaret his wife sell to John Peirpoint "One entire quarter or fourth part of a Water Mill in Roxbury, and one quarter part of a peice of Marish ground esteemed to be one Acre more or less being all that is his, or that belongeth to his said part of the said Mill, part whereof lyeth neer to the sd Mill on the South side of the said Mill, & adjoining unto the River wh dives the saied watermill, And on the north side of a Creek cut out there for the passage of the wast water And the other part thereof lyeth on the South side of the said Creek being a rod in Breadth all along the sd Creek as it is Cutt together with the Rights and appurtenances thereof, which said Quarter part of the said Mill & marsh ground as aforesaid the said William Cheney purchased of John Johnson, Joshua Hewes & others agents for Hugh Pritchard late of Roxbury aforesaid now resident in the Commonwealth of England, as by their deed unto the said Cheney bearing date the thirtieth day of June one thousand Six hundred Fifty one appeareth." Dated July 6, 1658; attested by Dea. William Parke Feb. 1, 1683. END Page 20 Page 21 William Parke sold one fourth of the same Mill property to John Pierpoint the same day. The town records explain this transaction. "Att a Meeting in Bro Johnsons Hall ye 17: 10br 1655 there was Liberty on a voat propounded by ye Constable graunted to John Johnson, John Gore, John Pearepoint, Willia Parke, Willia Cheney and Thomas Mekins to sett downe a Brest Mill or undr shott in or neere ye place where ye old mill stood, neere Hugh Clerkes Barne provided that satisfaction be made unto those that shall receive dammage by damming of ye water in drowning of Ground" &c. In the margin this is written: "The Dammages done By damming the water for the Corn Mill and fulling Mill to be made good." Below a memorandum states that the abovementioned men had bought Hugh Clerke's barn which was the old mill house and all the appurtenances and the ground &c. for "fifteene pounds & a load of wood." The annals of the town do not give the proceedings of town meetings in the earliest days, but there are a few movements of the citizens which are noted well. One of these is the founding in 1645 of the Roxbury Free School, supported by voluntary subscriptions but managed by town officers. The original paper with its autograph signatures is extant. It shows William Cheney not only as a subscriber to the fund but as one of the few leading men who specially guaranteed to the town the payment of their yearly contributions. His subscription to the school-fund was eight shillings a year,-- more than the average. It is disappointing to find that our ancestor made his "mark" upon these documents. Possibly his eyesight had failed; but as he was only forty-one years old the probability is that he had not learned to write, as was the case with a great majority of the people of England in that age. Yet he must have been considered by his neighbors a man of good general information and judgment, or he would not have had the honor of being chosen as a member of the board of directors, -- "feoffees,"-- of this Roxbury Latin School, who had the employing of the teacher and other administrative matters in charge. END Page 21 "The Doners did meet upon the fiftenne day of Febuary 1663 and thay came to anew choise of seven foeffese and thay chose theas following Dacon parks To go back again in the history, we find that William Cheney was elected to the board of assessors of the infant borough at an early day. Feb. 21, 1648 "It was voted that John Johnson [Edward] Deneson and John Gore wth Mr John Alcocke . . . William Cheney should be the men that shall . . ensuing year rate men according to theire estat . . . the defraying of ye fore sayd Charges of ye Ministry." A few years afterward he was called upon to use that good judgment and fair-mindedness which he seems to have possessed in good amount in another matter. "It was voted & agreed to by all the inhabitants Febru. 23. (52) that their should be raised for the maintenance of the ministry for this yeare insuing the sume of six score pounds to be borne by all the inhabitants in an equall proportion. for the proportioning of which sume the inhabitants of Roxsbury have chosen the two Deacons & John Johnson, William Cheiney Edward Denison John Ruggles sr. & Thomas Weld which sume of six score pounds is to be devided betweene Mr John Eliot & Mr Samuell Danfoorth in an equall proportion:" One of the offices that called for promptness and energy and for good
faculty of dealing with men was the position of constable. He was the
policeman on disagreeable occasions; the messenger of the selectmen
sometimes; but his chief care was collecting taxes. He had a
"rate" committed to him, with a sum to be obtained from each
adult male inhabitant; and he had authority to pay out sums of money on
selectmen's orders. At the end of the year he made a detailed report. If
he did not possess a good education he must have a sharp faculty of
reckoning and a strong memory of names and Page 23 numbers. William Cheney was one of the two constables in 1654/5 and his final account was approved Feb. 13, 1655/6. But the citizens were not content to have him simply perform the toilsome work of a constable. Jan. 19, 1656/7 he was elected a member of the board of selectmen, associated with men of education and rank. Jan. 18, 1663, he was made one of a committee to inspect Peter Gardner's "leanetoo" and "the fence that doth range from it" to see that they did "not intrench upon the high way." We have already seen that he was chosen one of the feofees of the Free School in 1664; and on the town record we find him written down "as Feoffee" in an agreement touching some money belonging to the school fund, and affixing his W mark to the page along with half a dozen regular signatures, Jan. 25, 1666/7. May 23, 1666, he was made a "freeman of the Colony," which made him eligible to colonial office and capable of voting on matters relating to the general government. But he did not live to make use of this franchise. He fell sick in the spring of 1666/7, as we learn from the opening phrases of his will; and after a few weeks he passed beyond the reach of care or pain. The town clerk made this entry in his list of persons deceased: "William Cheney aged 63 yeares died June the 30 day, 1667"; and the hand of either Rev. John Eliot or Rev. Samuel Danforth wrote in the church book among the burials: "1667. Moneth 5 day 2 Willian Cheany sen." His will is in the hand of some expert penman, one of the pastors, it may be, or some tried friend and associate in public affairs; but though he could not pen it, he gave it marks of individuality, showing that he really composed it. Its opening phrases are those we find in hundreds of wills of that period, but he certainly endorsed them; and the expressions of care for his wife, who had been a sad invalid for END Page 23 Page 24
THE WILL OF WILLIAM CHENEY, "Being sick of body and of perfect understanding & memory
according to my measure I doe make this my last will & Testament. I
doe committ my soul into the Armes of the Everlasting mercy of God my
saviour & deare & blessed Redeemer & my body unto my friends
& relations to be decently interred by them in hope of a blessed
Resurection. As for that Estate which it bath pleased the Lord to lend
unto mee I doe dispose of as followeth: Imprs my will is that my deare
& afflicted wife margaret Cheney bee Carefully & sufficiently
provided for duringe the time of her naturall life to that end my will
is that shee have & Enjoy all the rents & profits yearely &
Every yeare duringe the aforesaide tearme . . . of all my Houses Lands
& Orchards that I die possessed of Either in Roxbury Boston or
Elsewhere. Except such part of my Lands or Estate which I shall
hereafter in this my will dispose of to my children or otherwise. which
Estate bequeathed by mee unto my said wife it is my will shee Enter upon
& bee possessed of immediately after my decease (to wit) the present
crop upon all the Land. & the use of all my Household stuffe &
goods my debts & funerall Expences in the first place being with all
Convenient speed fully discharged: & for my said wives more
Comfortable being, my desire is that one of my Executors may live in my
house in Roxbury with her to Enjoy the housing & Lands by the yeare,
which I have as is aforesaid given unto my said wife, upon such Equall
tearmes as my other Executors & overseers (all of them to bee named
hereafter shall agree with him for. but in case both my Executors see
Cause to refuse to accept of this motion in answere to my desire herein
then my will is that it bee lett out by my Executors or Overseers to the
best advantage for my said wives Comfortable supply & maintenance
ffurther my will is that when all my debts & Legacies are discharged
out of my stock & Husbandry utensils, as Carts plowes & such
like what remains of my stock afterwards, my will is it bee lett out or
disposed of for my said wives use by my Item I doe will & bequeath unto my son John Cheiney all that Land both arable & pasture lying on the East side of the Great Lotts, being twenty Acres more or less, being now in the possession of the said John. Also I give to my said sonn a parcell of meadow in the fresh meades being two Acres bee the same more or less as it/lyeth on the south of a ditch made to dreine the said meadow. Also I Give unto him one Acree of salt marsh, bee it more or less as it lyeth bounded with a Creek next the marsh of John Bowles, formerly Isaac Heathes Also give unto him Eight Acres of Land more or less lying neere house of William Hopkins all & Every of these parcells of Land my will is that my said sonn John bee possessed immediately after my decease:--Item I bequeath unto my sonn William Cheiney all that lying & being in medfeld, latly in the possession of my sai[d] [son] upon this condition or proviso [that] hee & his wife Debo[rah] bee Reconsiled & live together in meadfeild or Elsewh[ere], [to] the sattisfaction of John Wisewell of Boston & Deacon [Williams] of Roxbury, but not in Providence or that Jurisdiction [pro]vided also that what either my selfe or Deacon Williams have alrea[dy] or doe stand Engaged for to the Court ehalfe bee first repayd & fully discharged by h[im] or assignes, but otherwise if said sonn neglect [to] accept it with these provisoes then my will is that [there] bee paid to John Wisewall of Boston out of my Estate * * * [the re]sidue I dispose of as followeth Item I will & bequeath to my sonn Joseph Cheiney sixty pounds (to witt) my Land lying in the thir . . * * being thirty seaven Acres more or less. & twenty paid to my said sonn Joseph out of my stoch:-- Item my will is that my three daughters (to witt) [Ellen], [Marga]ret [and] mehittable have Each of them Tenn pounds out of my stock After my said wives decease my will is, first that . . . . . &
Lands in Roxbury ondisposed of before by this my [will be] give[n] unto
two sonns of my Eldest sonn Thomas Cheiny his sonn Thomas & his sonn
William, to bee improv[ed for their] bennefitt by their ffather untill
they are twenty one then bee Enjoyed by them: --
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THE CHENEY GENEALOGY.
Pages 199-225 John of Newbury and His Descendants. JOHN CHENEY, the head of the Newbury line, is introduced to us by no less a person than the noble man who earned the title "Apostle to the Indians" -- Rev. John Eliot. The first parish of Mr. Eliot was Roxbury; and in his record of the church he gives the following very interesting minute respecting a couple who were associated with him in fellowship for a short time. "John Cheny he came into the Land in the yeare 1635. be brought 4 children, Mary, Martha, John, Daniel. Sarah his 5t child was borne in the last month of the same year 1635, cald February. he removed from or church to Newbery the end of the next suer 1636. Martha Cheny the wife of John Cheny." There is no record of John Cheny's buying property or having land assigned to him in Roxbury. A natural question rises, where did he live during that year? One explanation has occurred to every mind acquainted with the names of the early citizens of Roxbury, and that is this: he may have had a temporary home with that pioneer who bore the same surname, William Cheney. This theory may be turned either way. If John and William were near relatives,--father and son or brothers,-- the Roxbury man would gladly share all his "housings and lands" with the other; or, if the one was lodged in the other's home, we may infer that they were closely related. Theories are easy to handle; but they are of little historic weight. The name John is repeated in both families down to the present day; the name, William, was of rare occurrence in the line of John for several generations. END Page 199 Page 200 The plantation of Newbury was in its infancy when John and Martha Cheney entered into it. An excellent group of people were at the fore, moulding its social and ecclesiastical shape after the most approved methods of the (then) new way. Regulations and agreements, conveniences and schemes, worship and study, business, morals and religion, -- they gave to all the best dictates of "established" English thought, quickened and improved by those fresh Bible studies and free Christian practices which characterized the Puritan movement. Newbury had certain erratic and dissonant elements, which engraved some unworthy lines on its record; but it was, on the whole, a very upright, manly set of people who wrought and fellowshipped there. And this Cheney family took good rank from the first in that community of intelligent, earnest people. They intermarried with the leading households, and were respected and beloved at large. As Rev. John Eliot shows, they were members of the Roxbury church and were received at once to the communion of the Newbury church on arriving there; and their children joined in the same fellowship in due time. Mr. Cheney took no part in the conflicts of citizens about local organization, and his name does not appear on either of the partisan and factious petitions. He was very industrious in attention to his own affairs, so that he failed to show his face among the citizens at the annual town meeting April 21, 1638; a hasty judgment condemned him with other absentees and voted that he should pay a fine of two shillings and sixpence, which the constable was ordered to collect before the next Tuesday night! But the record states later that his fine was "remitted on account of his having a sufficient excuse"! His allotments of land were large. He had a good stand in the "old town" and on shore and stream elsewhere. June 19, 1638, he had 3 acres of meadow at the westerly end of the great swamp behind the great hill; Aug. 25, 6 acres of salt "marish." "A parcel of marsh with little islands of upland in it", about 20 acres in all, "Little River on the END Page 200 Page 201 northwest; formerly part of the calf common", was assigned to him July 5, 1639. Lot No. 50 in the "New Towne", "on the ffield street" was granted him Jan. 10, 1643. He was a member of the Grand Jury April 27, 1648. John Cheney, senior, we learn from the historian, Coffin, took great interest in Governor Winthrop's campaign for the governorship against Sir Harry Vane, as the close of the latter's term drew near. So Mr. Cheney, with nine others, made the journey of forty miles from Newbury to Cambridge on foot to take the "freeman's oath" and qualify themselves to vote in the election which was soon to take place. They were admitted freemen May 17, 1637. It was by such prompt movements that Winthrop was elected and the conservative party triumphed. The following extract from the town records gives us some data for a plan of the new town of Newbury. "January 11th, 1643-4. Itt is hereby ordered and determined by the orderers of the towne affaires that the plan of the new towne is and shall be laid out by the lott layers as the house lotts were determined by their choice, beginning from the farthermost house lott in the South streete thence running through the Pine swampe, thence up the High streete numbering the lotts in the East streete to John Bartlett's lott, the twenty-ninth, then through the west side of the High streete to Mr. Lowell's, the twenty-eighth, and so to the end of that streete, then ...... the Field streete to Mr. Woodman's, the forty-first, thence to the end of that streete to John Cheney's, the fiftieth, then turning to the first cross streete to John Emery's, the fifty-first, thence coming up from the river side on the east side of the same streete to the other streete, the west side to Daniel Pierce's, the fifty-seventh, and so to the river side the side the streete to Mr. Clarke and others to Francis Plumer, the sixty-sixth, as hereinunder by names and figures appeare." John Cheney was elected to the board of selectmen more than once. The following document, on file at Salem, would naturally lead us to think he had been on the board before 1652, or at the time when Mr. Kent gave up his lot; the paper is wholly in his hand, except the clerk's note. END Page 201 Page 202 "Ther being Certain loots Resigned unto the townes hand by way of Exchang for lands elsewhear. amongst the which Richard Kent's lot 10 acres in contente was one, the which lot Richard Kent resigned, on the same Condicions the latter end of the order specifies to my best knowledg this I Testifie by me Mr. Cheney was a member of a committee to "lay out the way to the neck and through the neck to the marshes on the east side of the old Towne" Nov. 29, 1654. The town records show that he was one of the selectmen in 1661 and in 1664. In March, 1657, some charges were brought in the Ipswich Court
against a very worthy citizen of Newbury; and [Image for The Cheney
Genealogy ] A number of residents of Dover, Newbury, etc. petitioned the General Court of Massachusetts Bay for a grant of land at Pennacook (now Concord, N. H.) which was granted May 18, 1659. ".IM 29020203:565:138" is one of the names, which differs from the accredited autographs of John Cheney, Senior. It may have been put down on verbal permission by some misspelling friend, or forged; or the good man may, possibly, have varied his own spelling. Nothing was done about a settlement at Concord until after our man had gone to "a better country." He d. July 28, 1666; and left, in his clear chirography, END Page 202 Page 203 THE WILL OF JOHN CHENEY, SENIOR.[Image for The Cheney Genealogy ] ffirst I doe give unto [Image for The Cheney Genealogy ] Also I doe give the said Daniel my Carte and plough and harrow with all the rest of my husbandry tooles: save what I dispose of otherwise. Next: I doe give unto
I doe also give unto Martha my wife my Mare with her furniture. Al the which premises I doe give unto the sayd Martha my wife. Next unto my Son John Cheney I doe give one 2 acker lott sometimes Anthony Shorts lying in the south field in Newbery old towne and a lott of salt marsh 3 ackers mor or less lying on the neck on the South side of Newbery River. also I do give the sayd John a tract of land 24 Ackers be it more or less lying in Saulsbury new towne bounds at the plane caled Cimbro, next to Haverel bounds butting END Page 203 Page 204 on Salsbury river att one end: and the other end butting on haverel hie way. Also I doe give unto my Son John: my wearing Apparel: namely one Coate one cloke one cloth suit: one serg suit: one lether suit two shirts two paiers of stokins and my hoes and my best Hatt. also my machlock musket: and the shortest Croscutt sawe. also I doe give him one 3 year old haifer caled brendle: onely I doe Resarve the Crop on the lott called Shorts lott to the use of my executors. And after the decease of Martha my wife I doe give unto my son John: Thirty pounde to be payd out of my living in thre years next ensuing Ten pound a year the one half in good marchantable barley and Indian the other halfe in Cattel under eight year old: Also I do give unto the said John after my wifes decease the great brass kettel and one new pewter dish marked with I C: and one white bed Rugg. Also I doe give unto the sayd John: six boshels of Apples out of the Orchard yearly for Seven year after my decease. Next I doe give unto my son Nathaniel Cheney my four oxen with their yoaks and chaine also I doe give unto him Two Cowes with thier Calves the one Caled old Line: the other Called Pie and one thre year old hayfer with the Calfe and a yearling Colte also I doe give unto the sayd Nathaniel one yearling hayfer caled Kurle also I doe give unto him his Armes compleat. and one broad howe and one Axe and his Sithe and sickle. Also I doe give unto him one half headed bedsted with the bed and one bolster and one pillow and one paier of shetes and a Cotton yellow Rug: and I doe give unto Nathaniel the great yarn pott and the lesser posnit: and after my wives deceas I doe give unto the sayd Nathaniel Twentye pounds to be payed one halfe in marchantable Corne halfe barley and the other halfe in wheat and Indian in equal propertions out of my living within two year after my wives decease: also I doe give unto Nathaniel the best Chest and my Bible. and one pewter platter after my wives deceas and I doe give unto the sayd Nathaniel six boshels of Aples a year for 7 years. Next I doe give unto my daughter Elizabeth thre Cowes one called spark with her calfe: the other is whitifaced. the third is called Col: also I doe give her the two yearling bayfers. Also I doe give unto Elizabeth abovesaid fiveten pounds out of my living to be payed withing two yeares after my decease the one halfe in marchantable Corne wheat barley and Indian in equal propertions the other halfe in Cattel under eight year old. END Page 204 Page 205 Next I doe give unto my Son Peter Cheney as an Adicion to what he bath had: Ten Pounds which he hath alredy in band: and five pound mor within 3 year after my wifes decease out of my living. Also I doe give unto the sayd Peter six boshels of Aples out of the Orchyard yearly: for seven years after my decease. Next I doe give unto Joseph Plumer five poundes: to be payed out of my living within two years after my wifes deceas. Also I doe give unto John Kenrick a Bill of four poundes which he owethe me. and I doe give him A Cow which he hath alredy in hand. Also I do give unto Richard Smith five poundes to be payed within two years after my wifes decease by my executor. Also I doe give unto William Lawes three daughters namly Rebeca: Mary: and Priscilla: forty shillings a piece: to be payed unto them: and either of them as they Come to the age of eighteen yeares: by my executor. And as Concarning my Grandchild Abiel Sadler. his father deceasing. befor he was borne I was by: the honnord Hampton Coarte. Intrusted to take Care of him as Gardian And the Honnored Coart Ordered him to have Ten poundes out of his ffathers esstatt: at the adge of one and twentye for p formance whearof I stand engaged: And I doe also ad unto the same five poundes to be payed: the whol fivten pound unto the sayd Abiel at the adge of one and twentie by my Executor. Also I doe give unto the sayde Abiel Sadler My lastes and Toles belonging to my Trade. thear is also a great bosed bible and a pewter bason apertayning to him of his fathers which I enioyne my Executor to deliver to him when he cometh to adge. Lastly I doe give unto my Grandchild Hanna Burkebe. thre poundes to be payed when she cometh to eighten years of age by my Executor. And I doe Ordayne and appoynt my Son Daniel Cheney to be my Soall and Alone Executor to this my last will and Testament in witnes whearof I have set to my hand and Seale: The 5th day of the 4th Month: 1666 (???)
Sighned and Sealed Richard Dole END Page 205 Page 206 This will was prvd by the oaths of Richard Dole and William Ilsly to be the last will and testament of John Cheney that they saw him signe seale and publish it to be his last will and testament in there presence. In court held at Ipswich 25 of September 1666 as attest
Robert Ford cleric. THE INVENTORY. "The invitory of the goods and Cattell of John Cheny senior of neubury; now deceased August 22 1666.
END Page 206 Page 207 END Page 207 Page 208 This Inventory bt in upon oath by the executor in court at Ipswich 25 (7) 1666 Robert Ford cleric." CHILDREN OF JOHN1 AND MARTHA CHENEY.
I. MARY,2 b. in England, about 1627; m. Sept. 3, 1645, William END of Page 208 Page 209 VIII. HANNAH,2 b. Nov. 16, 1642; m. Nov. 16, 1659, Richard Smith, |
