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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 Chne 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 Chne, 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 chne, 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 100 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 40 when he is brought up. Son Walter Cheney 40 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 200, 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, DESCENDANTS OF JOHN OF NEWBURY. SECOND GENERATION. 2. JOHN,2 (John,1) b. in England about 1631; m. April 20, 1660, Mary, dau. of Francis Plumer, of Newbury. His brief life was passed in his native town. He must have END Page 209 Page 210 shown a good degree of courage and self-possession, as well as business capacity, for the town chose him as one of its constables in 1667, which gave him tax-collecting and the service of a treasurer of civil and ecclesiastical funds, in addition to the duties of a guardian of the public peace. He fell from the ranks of the town's conservative forces at the early age of forty, dying Jan. 7, 1671. His widow afterward married David Bennett, of Rowley, April 29, 1692. I. MARY,3 b. March 29, 1661; m. July 24, 1684, Isaac Kilborne. 3. DANIEL,2 (John,1) b. in England about 1633; m. in Newbury, Oct. 8, 1665, Sarah, dau. of John, Jr., and Eleanor (Emery) Bayley, b. Aug. 17, 1644, d. Oct. 26, 1714. He was a man of great industry and sagacity, and lived the life of a diligent farmer and useful citizen. He END Page 210 Page 211 brought up a large family and left an honorable name. He and his wife were members of the church before 1675. The town chose him as one of its two constables in 1688. The Rate list mentions himself and his brother Peter and Peter's son Peter. Daniel had at that time, 2 houses, ten acres of plow land, 20 acres of meadow, 14 acres of pasture. Peter, senior, possessed one house, 1 horse, 2 acres of plow land, 6 acres of pasture, 2 cows and 1 "hogg"; and his family consisted of 4 "heads". Peter, Jr., was simply enrolled, being a voter, but no property is mentioned. Daniel Cheney had the honor of being made a "freeman of the colony" May 7, 1663. John Pike, who was chosen lieutenant of a company of militia in Newbury, fell under the displeasure of the General Court for some reason; and several persons in various parts of the county petitioned for his pardon or restoration. But the Court, indignant at such temerity, at its session Oct. 19, 1654, ordered every man who had signed the petition to give bonds in the sum of 10, to appear for trial at the local court, to show why they had ventured to petition so boldly! Daniel Cheney, of Newbury, was one of three rash men, who asked for fair play for their officer. No crime; and no punishment followed, of course. He d. Sept. 10, 1694. As four of his children were under age, Joshua Bayley was appointed guardian of John and Eleanor; and Joseph Bayley of Joseph and James. Before she had become of age, however, Eleanor had married, become a widow and married a second time! Dec. 22, 1694, "Sarah Cheny" writes in a clear hand her refusal to administer upon the estate of her husband, and requests the appointment of her son, Daniel. The inventory, which was taken by Tristram Coffin and four others, Sept. 20, 1694, appraised the dwelling house, barn, orchards, "plowland," pasture and meadow adjoining and the "freehold," at 300; the house, land and barn in possession of Nathaniel Bricket, at 30; other lands 48; a list of household effects follows, including books and napkins and brass kettles, etc., "English Corne," and "Indian Corne," END Page 211 Page 212 a loom, cooper's tools, utensils of husbandry, &c., showing a prosperous estate; bringing the total to 567, 11 shillings. The report of the commissioners who had been appointed to divide the estate is so full of items of interest, that many will be glad to read it all. The Division of the Estate of Daniel Cheney. "We whose names are heerunderwritten; being chosen and appoynted by the children of Daniel Cheny late of Newbury deceased to make a division of the estate among said children, according to an Agreement bearing date August the first 1698 and in the tenth year of his majestys Reign; and acknowledged by said children theyr attorny and guardians befor the honourable Jonathan Corwin Judge of Probate &c on the sd. first of August 1698. HAVE divided and apportioned the said estate as followeth: viz into nine equal parts i e -- To Daniel Cheny the eldest son of the said Daniel Cheny deceased having made the first choyce according to the liberty given him in sd. agreemt, Have chosen: two ninth pts of the Housing whear the deceased did dwell, Also the ffreehold Lott in the upper woods, (which ye sd daniel cheney deceased did draw) and the rate Lott which was laid out to the sd. Daniel Cheny deceasd; also the whole neck of meadow as it is bounded with the Mill River and John Pikes meadow, bounded with stakes and holes dug. Also an Island of Creek grass lying in the Mill River also two ninth parts of all the division or divisions of lands that shall be laid out to the Rights of the said daniel cheny deceased in any of the Comons or undivided lands of Newbury which we account & judge to be two ninth pts of said estate Real, And two ninths of the personall estate wch is 18-15s-4d we leave in his hand as he was appoynted Administratr to sd estate, he paying to John Cheny 3-17s-od as mony and to Joseph Cheny 8-13s-11d and to James Cheny 8-13s-11d and to John Richards 1-9-2 and to the Widow 4-14s-8d all as mony out of the personall estate. To John Cheny two ninth pts of the housing wher the deceased did dwell Also the third lott in the plow land by the house in breadth at the Comon Six Rods, and at the Southerly end Six Rods -- twelve feete and a half running from a stake by the stone wall near the Comon on a streight line; on the westerly side to a stake by the stonewall by the pasture, taking in the northwest corner of the Barne being in breadth ther about thirteen Rods & 2 foote taking pt. of the dwelling house, Also about ten acres of pasture and meadow adjoyning to his upland and is bounded wth the fence of the corne field northerly by his owne land and Mr. Brumfields easterly, and southerly by the River as it runs from Mr. Brumfields land to a walnut tree on the Iland marked and stone about it and from that Walnutt END Page 212 Page 213 tree on a streight line to a forked walnutt tree standing neer the field: and from thence to the field on a streight line and then by the fence of the field as it now stands, Also one ninth pt of all the division & divisions of land which shall be laid out in any of the comons or undivided lands of Newbury which shall be laid out to any of the comon Rights that did belong to Daniel Cheny late of Newbury deceasd, and three pounds & 17s to be paid to him by the Administrater viz Daniel Cheny as mony out of the personall estate. To Joseph Cheny one ninth pt of the Housing, also the second lott in the plow land which is in breadth next the Comon six Rod ten foote and three Inches, and at the lower end Six Rod ten foote and three inches. Bounded northerly by ye comon, westerly by the third Lott, southerly by John Chenys pasture and meadow, and easterly by James Chenys plowland, Also ten acres of Pasture & meadow, be it more or less, Bounded easterly by John Chenys Pasture and meadow, By the River Southerly, by the land of John Richards westerly & Southerly & by the Mill River partly westerly and by James Chenys Pasture & meadow northerly, Also one ninth part of all the division or divisions of land that shall be laid out to the Rights of Daniel Cheny deceasd in any of the comons or undividlands of Newbury & 8-13s-11d to be paid as mony by the Administratr out of the personal estate. To James Cheny one ninth part of all the housing, also the first Lott in the Plow land by the house being in breadth next the comon six Rods ten foote and three inches. Bounded northerly by the Comon, easterly by Mr Brumfields land, southerly by John Chenys Pasture and meadow and westerly by Joseph Chenys Plowland (the orchard being in the first and second lotts) Also ten acres of upland and meadow be it more or less, Bounded easterly by the fence of the corne field as it now stands, northerly by the fence runing from the corne field to the Creek, and then the Creek is the northerly Bounds & Southerly by Joseph Chenys meadow the line runing from the Creek to a stake and so over the southerly end of a ledg of Rocks on a streight line to a white oak tree marked, neer the Corne field, (which white oak tree parts between Joseph Cheny and James Cheny) and so to the fence of the field which is the Bounds as it now standeth, Also one ninth part of all the division or divisions of land which shall be laid out to the rights of the said Daniel Cheny deceased in any of the Comons or undivided lands of Newbury & 8-13s-11d as mony to be paid by the Ad ministratr out of the personall estate. To John Richards (who married wth Sarah Cheny the daughter of Daniel Cheny deceased) Having already receivd a House & lands & orchard of the Administratr to sd estate, out of sd Estate wch house land & orchard the sd John Richards hath sold, that not being the full of his part we have laid out to him in full of his ninth pt of sd estate three acres of END Page 213 Page 214 upland and meadow be the same more or less bounded southerly & westerly by the River, and northerly by Joseph Chenys meadow runing from a stake by the River to an other stake a white oake and red oak tree being in the range and easterly by Joseph Chenys land runing from the corner stake on a streight line to a little walnutt tree by the River, Also six acres of Divident land in the playnes, Also one ninth part of all the division or divisions of land which shall be laid out in any of the comons or undivided lands of Newbury to the rights of the said Daniel Cheny (deceasd) and 1-9s-2d more than what he hath already received to be paid by the Administratr as mony out of the personal estate. To John Emerson who married wth Judith Cheny the daughter of Daniel Cheny deceasd one ninth part of the housing also the rate Lott formerly purchased (which lott was origenaly laid out to Mr. Richard Kent late of Newbury deceased) lying in the upper woods in Newbury, Also about five acres & a half of meadow lying between the creek and the neck of meadow, laid out to Daniel Cheny & John Pikes meadow (i e) all yt Peice of meadow bounded as aforesd excepting about an acre and a half of meadow staked out at the Easterly end, Also one ninth part of all those division or divisions of lands, which shall be laid out to the comon rights of the sd Daniel Cheny deceased in any of the comons or undivided lands of Newbury, he paying as mony to the Administrator 8-3s-11d which is for so much of the personall estate that he hath received of the Administratr more than his part. To Richard Jackman, as he is Attorny to and the purchaser of all the rights that mr. Thomas Wisewell of New Towne in the County of Middlesex who maried wth Hanah Cheny Daughter of Daniel Cheny deceased and of Eloner the daughter of the said Daniel Cheny deceasd formerly Satchell, widdow, and now Safford, All the right that the sd Hanah & Eloner had or might have in the estate of theyr said father Daniel Cheny the sd Jackman having purchasd the said rights before this division of sd estate was made & wth the desire and consent of the Administratr that the lands should be divided among the children, We have for the two aforesd Rights viz of Hanah and Eloner purchased by said Jackman laid out unto the sd Jackman two ninths of the housing, and all the westerly end of the Plow land as it is bounded with the land of John Cheny easterly and by the fence of sd field northerly westerly & southerly as it now stands, to a stake standing about a Rod from the southeast corner of the leanto and so on a streight line to a stake next the comon, Also about fourteen acres of upland and meadow bounded easterly by the comon, northerly and westerly by John Pikes upland and meadow and a creeke and southerly by a fence yt parts said land from James Chenys land, Also about an acre and half of meadow lying on the northwest side of the great Creek as it is bounded southerly by John Emersons meadow and by John Pikes meadow END Page 214 Page 215 and the creek on the other sides, Also two ninth parts of all the division or divisions of lands that shall be laid out to the rights of Daniel Cheny late of Newbury deceased in all the comons or undivided lands of Newbury, he paying to the Administratr for what Thomas Wisewell formerly received of said Administratr towards his portion or share of said estate the sum of eleven pounds 17s & 11d, and for what Eloner Satchell alias Safford had received of the Administratr towards her share or portion of said estate the sum of nine pounds 2s & 11d, of wch sums ten pounds is to be paid to the administratr by sd Jackman in good and lawfull mony & the rest in good pay as mony, to be paid at or before the first day of may next ensuing the date hereof. We agree and determine that each of the children and theyr successors forever shall have liberty to pass & repass to and from theyr shares of land heerin mentioned thru any of the rest of the lands wch slide [sic?] on horse back or on foote provided they can't conveniently go uppon theyr owne to make improvement, and for those of the children that have a share in the housing to have free egress and regress to and from the dwelling house, and well, and Barne, and also to have liberty of a convenient Barne yard wth convenient room to lay fyrewood by the dwelling house to them theyr heyrs & successors for Ever. Also we agree that John Cheny shall improve and have the grass that grows uppon the acre and half of meadow on the northwest side of the creek for three years and then it shall be and remain to Richard Jackman as aforesaid. Also that the Administratr shall pay to Richard Jackman thirty six shillings in or as mony. ALLWAYS PROVIDED that in all the divisions of Housing & lands abovenamed the widows thirds are reserved for her in every share. Also we agree and determine that notwithstanding this division of the lands heerin made yet any of the children shall have liberty to remove off any of theyr goods of off sd lands any time within six moneths after this date. Also that if any farther Debts should be recovered of the Administratr that were due from the deceased it shall be equally borne by all the chil dren, and if any estate shall appear belonging to the deceased more than yet doth appear it shall be divided among the children By the same rule that this now is. In confirmation and in testimony that this our agreement as to the division of the estate of Daniel Cheny late of Newbury deceased into nine equal parts according to our best Judgments having refference to the Inventory given in to the Judg of probats &c as our guide and the division of sd estate to the children of the said daniel cheny deceasd above mentioned to be an estate of Inheritance to them & theyr heyrs for ever we END Page 215 Page 216 have heer unto set our hands & seales this 29th day of November Ano Domini 1698 & in the tenth year of his majes Reign--
Tristram Coffin (Seal) CHILDREN.
I. SARAH,8 b. Sept. 11, 1666; m. June 16, 1696, John Richards, jr. END Page 216 Page 217 may be worth noting that Thomas Wiswall was a second cousin 4. PETER,2 (John,1) b. in Newbury about 1639; m. May 14, 1663, Hannah, dau. of Dea. Nicholas and Mary (Cutting) Noyes, b. Oct. 30, 1643. Nicholas was a brother of Rev. James Noyes of Newbury, and was a son of Rev. William and Anne (Parker) Noyes, of Cholderton, Eng. Rev. William Noyes, the father, was a clergyman of excellent repute; their mother, Anne, was a daughter of Rev. Robert Parker, a very celebrated preacher and author. Her will, probated April 20, 1658, bequeathed something to her sons James and Nicholas in New England. Hannah ("Johannah"), dau. of Nicholas and Mary (Cutting) Noyes, born in Newbury Oct. 30, 1643, became the wife of Peter Cheney. Capt. John Cutting, whose sister, Mary, married Nicholas Noyes, was an adventurous sea-captain from London. He made his home at Charlestown at an early day; was engaged in fishing about Cape Ann in 1640, and made his home in Newbury shortly after. June 18th, 1663, Peter Cheney bought of John Bishop, (his wife, Rebecca, joining in the deed,) "all the mill and mill house lately erected in Newbury on the little river between land of Nicholas Noyes and land lately of Wm Gerrish, with the stones, wheel, cog, trough, six mill bills, iron barr, the rope that puts up the stone, and a shop lately sett up neere to ye above said mill", and the riparian rights, for "two hundred and fifty pounds sterling". Here he did good service as a miller for a few years, and trained up his sons to the business. March 7, 1670, "Peter Cheney proposed to the town for an acre of land on or about the little hill this side the mill, to END Page 217 Page 218 build a wind mill upon to grind corn for the town when the water mill fails". This was granted on "condition that he build a good mill to answer the end proposed for and so long as the mill is made and maintained for the said service and no longer". Jan. 5, 1687 "a committee was appointed to treat with Peter Cheney about setting up a corne mill and a fulling mill upon the Falls river." Peter Cheney, as he found himself nearing the close of his life, conveyed by a deed of gift to his son John, Nov. 4, 1693, his house and land lying on the north side of Falls River with 50 acres of land, his corn mill, the great dam in the stream, the water course to the mill, and all convenient mill sites below the mill that belonged to him; and a joint interest with himself in one acre of land on the south side of the river, where he and his sons were then erecting a saw mill. John was to have one half of the house and one third of the mill until the death of both parents; then to come into full possession. Jan. 10, 1694-5, Peter,--his wife, Hannah, signing with him in both deeds -- conveyed by a similar deed to his son Peter, one-half of the saw mill and yard with the stream of water to the mill and 24 acres of timber land lying on the southerly side of Falls river. An Important Deed. "To all people to whom these presents shall come I Peter Cheny senior of Newbury in the County of Essex in the Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England; America send greeting Know ye that I the said Peter Cheny senr. for divers good causes & considerations me thereunto moving but especially for & in consideration of the naturall affection which I Bear to my loving son Peter Cheny Junr of the town & county aforesaid have Given Granted aliened & confirmed & Do by these presents give grant aliene & confirm unto my said son Peter Cheny Junr. Twenty four acres of Land be the Same more or Less Lying in the Township of Newbury on the southerly side of falls River Bounded Easterly by a Tract of Land which I formerly gave by a deed of gift to my said son Peter Cheny Junr. Southerly & Westerly by the Common land of Newbury & Northerly by an acre of Land Reserved by me for a Saw mill yard and the ffalls river also the one half of the saw mill yard Lying on the South side of falls River, END Page 218 Page 219 also all my Right title & interest in the said Saw mill which said Saw mill is lately built & stands near my Corne Mill To have & to holdall the above devised premises viz. the said Twenty four acres of Land the one half of the said Sawmill yard together with all the Proffitts Priveledges & appurtences water courses to the same Belonging or any wise appertaining to him the said Peter Cheny Junr his heirs Executrs & assignes for ever and I the said Peter Cheny Senr. for my self my heirs Executrs & admrs. Do covenant and Promise to & with my said son Peter Cheny Junr. in manner & form following viz that I the said Peter Cheny Senr am the True & lawfull owner of all & singular the premises & that I have of myself full Power good Right and lawfull authority to make this Gift & alienation & that my said son Peter Cheny shall by vertue hereof for ever hereafter Peaceably & Quietly have hold use occupy possess & enjoy all the above devised premises without any Lawfull Lett Deny or molestation or Interuption of me the said Peter Cheny Senr my heirs Executrs or admrs or any tother person whatsoever always Provided and this is my meaning & Intention in this my Gift & Grant that if my said son Peter Cheny Junr shall faithfully & truly pay to my children hereafter named forty pounds in good & Lawfull money of New England within Twelve years after the Date hereof viz to my sons Nathll Cheny Eldad Cheny Ichabod Cheny five pounds a piece & to my Daughters Huldah Worcester Martha Worcester Jemima Cheny Hanah Cheny & Lydia Cheny five pounds a piece in mony that then what is above written to Stand in full force & vertue otherwise it shall be in the Liberty of these my children abovenamed to seize upon the twenty four acres of Land above named & one Quarter part of the Sawmill & Sawmill yard & the same to divide Equally among themselves and further if any of my aforenamed children should dye before they come of age to Receive the money or before it is due--Leaving no Issue that then the one half of their five pounds so dying shall be Equally devided between my surviving children herein named & the other half to be & remain to my said son Peter Cheny Junr further for the one half of the said Sawmill abovementioned my son Peter is not to come to the actuall Possession of untill Immediately after my Death & my wives: In Witness to all & Singular the Premises I the said Peter Cheny Senr. have hereto set my hand & seale this tenth day of Janury anno: Dom: sixteen hundred ninety & four or five Annoque R'. Re & Ra. Gulielmi & marie Nunc Anglia &c as sexto." Aug. 13, 1709, Eldad Cheney and Martha Worcester of Bradford, Ichabod Cheney, Huldah Worcester, Jemima Pettingall, Hannah Chute and Lydia Poor of Rowley, all children of Peter Cheney, late of Newbury, sold to Benj. END Page 219 Page 220 Pearson, for 40-10s. 24 acres on the side of Falls river. Nicholas, another of the children of Peter,2 sold Pearson an adjacent tract July 3, 1714. The now famous "Pearson Homestead" stands on or very near this ancient Cheney Mill property. Among "those who had an interest in the estate of Rev. Nicholas Noyes, late of Salem,"--a brother of Hannah (Noyes) Cheney, and sold their rights April 14, 1718, were Peter, John and Eldad Cheney, Mary Wooster, John and Martha Pemberton, Lionell & Hannah Chute, Richard and Jemima Pettingall, John and Lydia Lull. Mr. Peter Cheney d. Jan. 1694-5. The widow, "Anne," with her sons Peter and John, were cited Sept. 7, 1697, to show cause why they had not administered the estate. Doubtless they were agreed without probate proceedings; feeling that the deeds of gift which the father had made were a sufficient adjustment of matters. The widow m. 2nd, John Atkinson, June 3, 1700; she d. Jan. 5, 1705. CHILDREN OF PETER AND HANNAH (NOYES).
9. I. PETER,8 (9) b. Nov. 6, 1663.
Page 221 VI. MARTHA,8 b. in 1673; m. Jan. 29, 1690-1, William Worcester DESCENDANTS OF JOHN1 OF NEWBURY. THIRD GENERATION. 5. DANIEL,3 (Daniel,2 John,1) b. in Newbury Dec. 3, 1670, m. Hannah, dau. of Thomas and Hannah (Emerson) Duston,(*) b. Aug. 22, 1678.
(*) HANNAH DUSTON, the very remarkable woman whose
experiences and exploits are a END Page 221 The spelling of his name, it must be said, is given in a great many ways: Judge Sewall, in his diary wrote it "Dunstan" which is the way the famous "St. Dunstan" 's name was spelled: another excellent authority spelled it Durstan: the attorney who wrote the wills of the good couple gave the style "Dustin," which was probably the way it was usually pronounced: but the best authorities, in the opinion of the writer, spell it as it is uniformly given in this volume, -- Duston. Hannah who became the wife of Daniel Cheney, was the oldest of the nine children who had been born to this couple before the dreadful day when the Indians swooped down on Haverhill. The youngest was a babe of but six days. Mr. Duston learned that the savages were close at hand and rushed first to the house to save the mother, still feeble and in bed. But she utterly refused to go or have him stay to attempt to defend her and the little one: she insisted on his making every effort to save the children: and his intrepid guardianship saved the whole fleeing band. But the poor woman and Mrs. Neff, her nurse, were cruelly captured and driven into the wilderness in spite of her weak condition, and the infant dashed in pieces. After sufferings of a dreadful sort, the women and a boy named Samuel Lennerson rose in the night, captured a gun and a tomahawk, killed and scalped the ten Indians who then guarded them, and made their way back to Haverhill. The General Court paid them fifty pounds as a reward for their bravery: it was believed that so bold an act had a great effect on the Indians, making them feel that the white people possessed the same qualities which they counted heroic: and Hannah Duston's name became a thrilling word in all the colonies. It was a terrible experience for the poor woman: a horrible necessity laid on her: and we will believe she realized that the fate of many other mothers on the border would be affected by her action: may no descendant of hers ever reach so awful a crisis! But Thomas Duston deserves as high praise for that magnificent work of his, when he saved seven young lives by simply firing back towards his pursuers from his saddle, while he bade his beloved children run for their lives, until they reached a safe place. The daughter Hannah was eighteen years old when that terrible day, March 15, 1697, and that thrilling 25th of April, the day of her mother's exploit and return, occurred. No doubt she was of great assistance to her father in the saving of the little ones, and a comfort to her mother in her after burdens. Naturally the mother reposed confidence in her, making her joint executrix of her will. The Cheneys of this branch have always taken great interest in this strain of their ancestry END Page 222 Page 223 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 a Sound Mind and Memory. thanks be given to God. therefore. Calling to mind the mortality of my Body and not knowing the Day of my Death: Do make and Ordain this my Last Will and Testament: that is to say Principally and first of all I give and Humbly Reccommend my Soul into the hands of God 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 Worldy 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 Improvement of all the East Half of my Dwelling House And the Cellar under said East Half. Excepting the garret. a piece of Land for a garden where she shall choose to have it well fenced. I give to my said wife the use of, also to be fenced by my Executor. During all the time she remains living my Widow. I do also give to my said Wife Thirty bushels of Indian Corn and Two Bushels of Wheat and Three Bushels and a Half of Rye. and Two Bushels and a half of Malt and two Barels of Cyder and Five pounds of Sheeps Wool and Eight pounds of flax from swingle and fifty pounds of Beef and as many apples as shall be needful for her. and Needful firewood brought to the Door Cut fit for the fire all which my said wife shall have yearly During 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 for my said Wife so long as she Remains my Widow. And I Do give to my said Wife all my pork that I shall leave at my Decease and also all the money Due to me by Bonds and Notes. and all my swine that I shall leave at my Decease. and all my House Hold Goods Excepting my Andirons my Gun my Loom and my wearing apparel for her to have and Dispose of as END Page 223 Page 224 she shall think fit. And my Executor shall provide and find a horse for my said Wife to ride as she shall have Ocation so Long as she shall remain my widow. And my said Executor shall repair that part of the House which my Wife is to have so that it may be comfortable for my Wife so long as she shall remain my Widow. Item. I Do give to my Son Daniel Cheney Thirteen Pounds and Six shillings and Eight pence Lawful money of the above said province over and above what he hath hitherto had of me already to be paid by my Executor within Three years after my Decease. and I also give to my said son Danul one third part of my wearing Apparrel. And My sd. Son Daniel shall Have my Andirons at my Wife's Decease. Item I give to my Son Thomas Cheney One third part of my wearing apparel. and not anything else. I having given him before what I thought proper for him. Item--I give to my Daughter Hannah Coffin One pound and six shillings and Eight pence Lawful money of the afore said province Over and Above what she hath already had of me to be paid by my Executor within two years after my Decease. Item, I give to my Grandchildren Joanna, Daniel and Sarah, children of my Deceased son John Cheney Fifteen Shillings Lawful Money of the Province aforesaid Beside what their father had of me in his lifetime to be divided equally Among them. to be paid by my Executor within one year after my Decease. Item. I give to ny grand children John Calfe and Hannah Easman--Children of my Deceased Daughter Sarah Ten Shillings Lawful money of the Province aforesaid to be divided Equally between them. to be paid by my Executor within four years after my Decease. Item. I give to my Granddaughter Abigail Homans one Pound Six shillings and Eight pence Lawful money of the Province aforesaid to be paid by my Executor when she arrives at the age of Eighteen years. Item. I give to my Grand son Joseph Homans One Pound six shillings and Eight pence Lawful money of the Province to be paid by my Executor when he comes to the age of twenty one years. it is my will if Abigail Homans should Die before she comes to the age of Eighteen years Joseph Homans shall have what I have willed to Abigail. and if Joseph Homans should die before he comes to the age of twenty one years then Abigail shall have what 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 Nathanael Cheney all my Estate both Real and Personal of every Name whatsoever which I have not Disposed of before in this my last Will and Testament and he shall pay my Debts and Legacies I have ordered. And if my above said wife shall Die while she remains END Page 224 Page 225 my widow he shall pay the charges for a Decent Christian Burial for her. And I do constitute & appoint my said Son Nathanael sole Executor of this my Last Will and Testament and I do hereby Disallow and make Void All and Every other former Testaments, Wills and Executors by me in Any ways before Named Ratifying this and no other to be my Last Will and Testament. Signed Sealed Published and Declared by the said Daniel Cheney as his Last will and testament in presence of us. the subscribers.
Moses Morss CHILDREN.
12. I. DANIEL,4 b. July 16, 1699. 6. JOHN,3 (Daniel,2 John,1) b. in Newbury July 10, 1676, m. 1st Elizabeth (???) who d. Jan. 10, 1715. He m. 2d, Oct. 22, 1717, Elizabeth dau. of William and Sarah Burrage, b END Page 225
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