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Facts and Events
References
- ↑ Cheney, in Smith, Dean Crawford, and Melinde Lutz Sanborn. The Ancestry of Eva Belle Kempton 1878-1908. (Boston, Massachusetts: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1996-2008)
232.
Child, with Sarah Daniels, surname probably Daniels:
William, born Medfield 3 August 1666 (MVR, 32)
- ↑ Medfield, Norfolk, Massachusetts, United States. Vital Records of Medfield, Massachusetts, to the Year 1850. (Boston, Massachusetts: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1903)
p. 32.
CHENEY, William, s. William Cheney and Sarah Daniel, [born] Aug. 3, 1666.
- Who is the William Cheney of Mendon?
William Cheney of Medfield apparently had an illegitimate son William b. 1666, and two sons named William, one b. and d. 1664, and a second one b. 1670, before being hanged for rape in 1681. His brother Thomas also had a son William, but he apparently m. Rebecca Newell and d. about 1697, so doesn't really add to the confusion. So there are potentially one, two, or three William Cheney's (1=1666 went by William Daniels and 1670 is William Chaney of Mendon; 2a=1666 went by William Daniels but 1670 is not William Cheney of Mendon; 2b=1666 is William Cheney of Mendon and 1670 is not; 3=1666, 1670, and William Cheney of Mendon are three distinct individuals named William Cheney).
Smith, as far as cited, says "surname probably Daniels" despite the fact that the birth appears registered as Cheney, and using the father's name was the usual pattern when the father was known. Unless he has more to add (TBD), his atatement does not seem very authoritative as there is little to indicate that he pursued this line (i.e., record from later in life for "William Daniels").
Pope's Cheney Genealogy would be expected to be more thorough, but he only lists two of the father's children, and is completely silent on who the father's wife is, dodging the whole illegitimate issue. He says he agrees with Ballou's connection of the Mendon man to this father, but gives the 1666 birthdate, when Ballou gives the 1670 birthdate for the Mendon man.
Ballou says that after the death of William's father, his widow m. Ebenezer Williams of Dorchester who was guardian for her son William. (A record of this marriage does not seem to exist?) This would clearly be the one b. 1670. "The next we hear of our William, he and wf. Margaret became inhabitants of Mendon, about 1695." Clearly a speculative connection.
The grandmother's will in 1686 names William and his two brothers John and Benjamin. This would most likely be the one b. 1670. Again, nothing in this to connect him with the Mendon man.
The Mendon man names his first daughter after his wife, Margaret, but names his second daughter Sarah. He names no daughter Deborah. Nor does he name a son John or Benjamin. The negatives may be more important than the positives since his wife's origins are unknown, so we don't known if names that were used came from her family or not.
Pope, p. 52, tells an interesting story about the Mendon man, that "In 1750 a member of the Milford church was disciplined for intoxication and for 'casting vile reflections' at Mr. Cheney; and the pastor took occasion to record his opinion of Mr. Cheney as an 'honourable and aged' man." The disparity of opinions is somewhat striking, and one cannot help wondering if these vile reflections were some cruel reminder of the sins of the father.
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