Deen, Fordice, Hallett, Hodges and Van Horn Families - Person Sheet
Deen, Fordice, Hallett, Hodges and Van Horn Families - Person Sheet
NameWilliam Cheney
Birth1603, England
Death30 Jun 1667, Roxbury, Suffolk County, Province of Massachusetts Bay
Spouses
Birth1604, England
Death3 Jul 1686, Roxbury, Suffolk County, Province of Massachusetts Bay
Marriage1624, England
ChildrenThomas (1639-1694)
Notes for William Cheney
Children of this marriage:
1. Eleanor Johnson, abt 1626 Suffolk, England
2. Margaret Hastings, 20 Nov 1628, England
3. William Cheney, abt 1635, Roxbury, Suffolk County, Massachusetts Bay Colony
4. John Cheney, 29 Sep 1639, Roxbury,
5. Thomas Cheney, 29 Sep 1639, Roxbury,
6. Mehitable Wight, 1643, Roxbury
7. Joseph Cheney, 6 Jun 1647, Roxbury
William Cheney was born about 1603 in England; his parentage is not certain. He married a woman named Margaret in about 1624, but her maiden surname is not known ; he emigrated to Massachusetts by 1639. While it has been claimed that he arrived in 1635 on the ship "Defence”, his name does not appear on existing passenger lists. By contrast, John Cheney, while sometimes speculated to be William's brother, did come in 1635; though he had a brief period of residence at Roxbury, he soon removed to the village of Newbury[2]. Other Cheneys, presumably from different families — among them another John, and Lawrence — also appeared in early Massachusetts.
William was listed in the directory of Roxbury landowners in 1639, with 24 1/2 acres of land, and estate of £8. He bought a house in Roxbury from Nicholas and Richard Parker of Boston for £102 in July of 1639, along with 40 acres; he bought another house and lands in Roxbury from Walter Blackborn at the end of September for £215. From 1654, he lived near the Dorchester road at the lane that later became Eustis Street.
A FindAGrave entry for William claims that he came from “Maynall Longley”[3] , in Derbyshire; a self-described planter, once he took up residence in Roxbury, he remained there. No sourced reference to a residence for William at Newbury, or other place than Roxbury, has been identified, though records show that he was also a proprietor at Medfield and Medway; had a significant landholding at what became Sherborn; and owned a house in Boston. A William Cheney was admitted to the church at Roxbury in 1664/65; this was likely he, though it has been argued that it may have been his son. William was elected an assessor in 1648; was a constable in 1654-56; and was chosen a selectman 1656-57. He became a freeman in 1666.
William was one of the founders, and directors , of the Roxbury Free School, and in 1663, was one of a small group who guaranteed yearly contributions to that institution — which became the private Roxbury Latin School. [5]. The school, a first for Roxbury, was built with care and furnished with "convenient benches with forms, with tables for the scholars, and a conveniente seate for the schoolmaster, a deske to put the dictionary on and shelves to lay up bookes”[6]. He was chosen one of the Feoffees in 1663 -- a group of whom there were seven, who made decisions concerning the hiring of teachers; on administrative matters; and on finances.
William Cheney died 30 June 1667 at Roxbury, Suffolk, Massachusetts. Suggestive of his standing in the community is his will, which is composed in what is thought to be the handwriting of the second pastor of the Roxbury church, the notable “Apostle to the Indians” Rev. John Eliot[7].
William Cheney is eighth grandfather to Dick B.Cheney, 1941-, 46th U.S. Vice President.
William is also an ancestor of President William Howard Taft.
William Cheney was an early resident of Roxbury, in the Colony of Massachusetts Bay, New England, .
1639: The oldest records of Roxbury, Massachusetts, are contained in a volume with an opening sentence stating that the book had been bought in 1639; for the purpose of recording various matters relating to the inhabitants.
1640: The book's earliest entries are not dated; including a list of the men who owned land and lived in the town. That list is entitled, "A note of the estates and persons of the Inhabitants of Rocksbury." There are seventy men listed with "Wm. Cheiney" as the fortieth name. His property is given as 24 1/2 acres. The page following this list has the date of 1640.
1640: On other pages of the old record book, there are deeds of land recorded and in the bounds of two of these is " the land of Cheney" and the "meadow of Cheyney." Both of these are dated 1640. These records verify that William Cheney was a land-holder and a resident in Roxbury before 1640.
Description of William Cheney's property: "Wiliam 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 great lotts 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 heirs 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 jpon John Turner south. And in the first and third allottment of the lat 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 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 northwest 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 "Wolf Trapp" is not on record, though there are deeds recorded whereby lands adjoining this area were conveyed and called "Wolf Trap."
1645: The early annals of the town do not give the minutes of the town meetings. However a few recordings referring to certain citizens exist. 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 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 per year. William Cheney was probably illiterate, as he only made his "mark" on these documents.
However, William must have been considered a man of good general information and judgment, or he would not have been elected 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.
1647: William was a militia member 1647. Ensign in the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Society
1648: William Cheney was elected to the Board of Assessors.
1648: "Feb. 21, 1648 It was voted that John Johnson [Edward] Deneson and John Gore with Mr. John Alcocke... William Cheney should be the men that shall... ensuing year rate men according to their estat... the defraying of ye fore sayd Charges of ye Ministry."
1652: "It was voted agreed to by all the inhabitants Febru. 23. , that there 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."
1654/1655: William was one of two constables; the messenger of the selectmen and tax collector. 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 selectment's orders. At the end of the year he made a detailed report. Lacking an education, William must have had the ability for "reckoning and a strong memory of names and numbers." His final accounting was approved 13 Feb 1655/1656.
1656/1657: 19 Jan 1656/1657, William was elected a member of the Board of Selectmen.
1656/1657: Constable.
1663: On 18 Jan 1663, William 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."
1664: . He was a founder of the Roxbury Free School in 1664.
1666/1667: On 25 Jan 1666/1667, William was elected as one of the "Feoffees" in an agreement regarding some monies belonging to the school fund. His "W" mark was made on the page along with the signatures.
1666: William Cheney was made a "Freeman of the Colony." This entitled him to be eligible to colonial office and having the priviledge of voting on matters relating to the general government.
1666/1667: William fell sick in the spring of 1666/1667, and after a few weeks he died. 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."
Last Will and Testament
Will dated "Aprill the last sixty seaven"
Inventory presented on July 30, 1667
Mentioned in Will:
Wife Margaret Cheney; son John Cheiney; son William Cheiney; William's wife Deborah; son Joseph Cheiney; three daughters Ellen, Margaret and Mehittable; eldest son Thomas and his sons Thomas and William;
Executors: "loving sonns Thomas Cheiney and Thomas Hastings"
Overseers: John Elliot, Deacon William Parke and Edward Bugbee
Others: John Wisewell, Deacon Williams
Witnesses: John Newell and Samuel Scarbarow
THE WILL OF WILLIAM CHENEY, of Roxbury, Massachusetts, 1667.
Being sick of body and of perfect understanding & memory according to my measure I doe make ibis 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 hath pleased tbe Lord to lend unto mee I doe dispose of as followeth:
Imp 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 she have & Enjoy all tbe rents & profits yearely & Every yeare duringe the aforesaide tearme . . . of all my Houses Lands & Orchards tbat 1 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 the present crop upon all the Land. & the use of all my Household stuffe & goods my debts & funerall Expences in tbe first place being with all Convenient speed fully discharged : & for my said wives more Comfortable being, my desire is tbat one of my Executors may live in my bouse in Roxbury with her to Enjoy tbe 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 my Land lying in tbe thir . . * * being thirty seaven Acres more or less. & twenty paid to my said sonn Joseph out of my stock
Item my will is that my three daughters [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 undisposed 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 improved for their] bennefitt by their ffather untill they are twenty one then bee Enjoyed by them:
secondly what remaines of my Estate after my said wiv[e] [de]cease either in stock or otherwise in housing or Lands [or] other Estate in any kind undisposed of by this my will is that tbe one halfe of it bee given to my sonn Joseph Cbeiney & for the other halfe thereof is that [it] divided into ffoure Equall parts- And soe disposed of [it to] sonn John Cheiney & to my Three aforesd daughters [to each of] them an Equal Portion thereof
Lastly 1 doe [make my] Loving sonns Tbomas Cheiney& Thomas [Hastings] [executors] of this my will, requesting my deare & respected [friends] John Elliot, Deacon William Parke & Edward Bugbee Overseers, Aprill tbe last sixty seaven.
William Cheiney
his marke fr a seale Witnesses
John newell
Samuell scarbarow.
"30th of July 1667
John newell & Samuel scarbarow deposed &c.
30 July, 1667 " Tbomas Cheny & Thomas Hastings Executors to tbe last will & Testament of William cheny presented the inventory of the estate, taken by James Everell and Joseph How.
1. Eleanor Johnson, abt 1626 Suffolk, England
2. Margaret Hastings, 20 Nov 1628, England
3. William Cheney, abt 1635, Roxbury, Suffolk County, Massachusetts Bay Colony
4. John Cheney, 29 Sep 1639, Roxbury,
5. Thomas Cheney, 29 Sep 1639, Roxbury,
6. Mehitable Wight, 1643, Roxbury
7. Joseph Cheney, 6 Jun 1647, Roxbury
William Cheney was born about 1603 in England; his parentage is not certain. He married a woman named Margaret in about 1624, but her maiden surname is not known ; he emigrated to Massachusetts by 1639. While it has been claimed that he arrived in 1635 on the ship "Defence”, his name does not appear on existing passenger lists. By contrast, John Cheney, while sometimes speculated to be William's brother, did come in 1635; though he had a brief period of residence at Roxbury, he soon removed to the village of Newbury[2]. Other Cheneys, presumably from different families — among them another John, and Lawrence — also appeared in early Massachusetts.
William was listed in the directory of Roxbury landowners in 1639, with 24 1/2 acres of land, and estate of £8. He bought a house in Roxbury from Nicholas and Richard Parker of Boston for £102 in July of 1639, along with 40 acres; he bought another house and lands in Roxbury from Walter Blackborn at the end of September for £215. From 1654, he lived near the Dorchester road at the lane that later became Eustis Street.
A FindAGrave entry for William claims that he came from “Maynall Longley”[3] , in Derbyshire; a self-described planter, once he took up residence in Roxbury, he remained there. No sourced reference to a residence for William at Newbury, or other place than Roxbury, has been identified, though records show that he was also a proprietor at Medfield and Medway; had a significant landholding at what became Sherborn; and owned a house in Boston. A William Cheney was admitted to the church at Roxbury in 1664/65; this was likely he, though it has been argued that it may have been his son. William was elected an assessor in 1648; was a constable in 1654-56; and was chosen a selectman 1656-57. He became a freeman in 1666.
William was one of the founders, and directors , of the Roxbury Free School, and in 1663, was one of a small group who guaranteed yearly contributions to that institution — which became the private Roxbury Latin School. [5]. The school, a first for Roxbury, was built with care and furnished with "convenient benches with forms, with tables for the scholars, and a conveniente seate for the schoolmaster, a deske to put the dictionary on and shelves to lay up bookes”[6]. He was chosen one of the Feoffees in 1663 -- a group of whom there were seven, who made decisions concerning the hiring of teachers; on administrative matters; and on finances.
William Cheney died 30 June 1667 at Roxbury, Suffolk, Massachusetts. Suggestive of his standing in the community is his will, which is composed in what is thought to be the handwriting of the second pastor of the Roxbury church, the notable “Apostle to the Indians” Rev. John Eliot[7].
William Cheney is eighth grandfather to Dick B.Cheney, 1941-, 46th U.S. Vice President.
William is also an ancestor of President William Howard Taft.
William Cheney was an early resident of Roxbury, in the Colony of Massachusetts Bay, New England, .
1639: The oldest records of Roxbury, Massachusetts, are contained in a volume with an opening sentence stating that the book had been bought in 1639; for the purpose of recording various matters relating to the inhabitants.
1640: The book's earliest entries are not dated; including a list of the men who owned land and lived in the town. That list is entitled, "A note of the estates and persons of the Inhabitants of Rocksbury." There are seventy men listed with "Wm. Cheiney" as the fortieth name. His property is given as 24 1/2 acres. The page following this list has the date of 1640.
1640: On other pages of the old record book, there are deeds of land recorded and in the bounds of two of these is " the land of Cheney" and the "meadow of Cheyney." Both of these are dated 1640. These records verify that William Cheney was a land-holder and a resident in Roxbury before 1640.
Description of William Cheney's property: "Wiliam 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 great lotts 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 heirs 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 jpon John Turner south. And in the first and third allottment of the lat 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 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 northwest 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 "Wolf Trapp" is not on record, though there are deeds recorded whereby lands adjoining this area were conveyed and called "Wolf Trap."
1645: The early annals of the town do not give the minutes of the town meetings. However a few recordings referring to certain citizens exist. 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 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 per year. William Cheney was probably illiterate, as he only made his "mark" on these documents.
However, William must have been considered a man of good general information and judgment, or he would not have been elected 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.
1647: William was a militia member 1647. Ensign in the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Society
1648: William Cheney was elected to the Board of Assessors.
1648: "Feb. 21, 1648 It was voted that John Johnson [Edward] Deneson and John Gore with Mr. John Alcocke... William Cheney should be the men that shall... ensuing year rate men according to their estat... the defraying of ye fore sayd Charges of ye Ministry."
1652: "It was voted agreed to by all the inhabitants Febru. 23. , that there 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."
1654/1655: William was one of two constables; the messenger of the selectmen and tax collector. 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 selectment's orders. At the end of the year he made a detailed report. Lacking an education, William must have had the ability for "reckoning and a strong memory of names and numbers." His final accounting was approved 13 Feb 1655/1656.
1656/1657: 19 Jan 1656/1657, William was elected a member of the Board of Selectmen.
1656/1657: Constable.
1663: On 18 Jan 1663, William 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."
1664: . He was a founder of the Roxbury Free School in 1664.
1666/1667: On 25 Jan 1666/1667, William was elected as one of the "Feoffees" in an agreement regarding some monies belonging to the school fund. His "W" mark was made on the page along with the signatures.
1666: William Cheney was made a "Freeman of the Colony." This entitled him to be eligible to colonial office and having the priviledge of voting on matters relating to the general government.
1666/1667: William fell sick in the spring of 1666/1667, and after a few weeks he died. 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."
Last Will and Testament
Will dated "Aprill the last sixty seaven"
Inventory presented on July 30, 1667
Mentioned in Will:
Wife Margaret Cheney; son John Cheiney; son William Cheiney; William's wife Deborah; son Joseph Cheiney; three daughters Ellen, Margaret and Mehittable; eldest son Thomas and his sons Thomas and William;
Executors: "loving sonns Thomas Cheiney and Thomas Hastings"
Overseers: John Elliot, Deacon William Parke and Edward Bugbee
Others: John Wisewell, Deacon Williams
Witnesses: John Newell and Samuel Scarbarow
THE WILL OF WILLIAM CHENEY, of Roxbury, Massachusetts, 1667.
Being sick of body and of perfect understanding & memory according to my measure I doe make ibis 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 hath pleased tbe Lord to lend unto mee I doe dispose of as followeth:
Imp 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 she have & Enjoy all tbe rents & profits yearely & Every yeare duringe the aforesaide tearme . . . of all my Houses Lands & Orchards tbat 1 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 the present crop upon all the Land. & the use of all my Household stuffe & goods my debts & funerall Expences in tbe first place being with all Convenient speed fully discharged : & for my said wives more Comfortable being, my desire is tbat one of my Executors may live in my bouse in Roxbury with her to Enjoy tbe 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 my Land lying in tbe thir . . * * being thirty seaven Acres more or less. & twenty paid to my said sonn Joseph out of my stock
Item my will is that my three daughters [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 undisposed 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 improved for their] bennefitt by their ffather untill they are twenty one then bee Enjoyed by them:
secondly what remaines of my Estate after my said wiv[e] [de]cease either in stock or otherwise in housing or Lands [or] other Estate in any kind undisposed of by this my will is that tbe one halfe of it bee given to my sonn Joseph Cbeiney & for the other halfe thereof is that [it] divided into ffoure Equall parts- And soe disposed of [it to] sonn John Cheiney & to my Three aforesd daughters [to each of] them an Equal Portion thereof
Lastly 1 doe [make my] Loving sonns Tbomas Cheiney& Thomas [Hastings] [executors] of this my will, requesting my deare & respected [friends] John Elliot, Deacon William Parke & Edward Bugbee Overseers, Aprill tbe last sixty seaven.
William Cheiney
his marke fr a seale Witnesses
John newell
Samuell scarbarow.
"30th of July 1667
John newell & Samuel scarbarow deposed &c.
30 July, 1667 " Tbomas Cheny & Thomas Hastings Executors to tbe last will & Testament of William cheny presented the inventory of the estate, taken by James Everell and Joseph How.