Person:John Cheney (31)

ORIGIN: Unknown.
OCCUPATION: Shoemaker [EPR 2:53;57].
CHURCH MEMBERSHIP: "John Cheny" joined Roxbury Church as member #138: "John Cheny he came into the Land in the year 1635. He brought 4 children, Mary, Martha, John, Daniel. Sarah his 5th child was born in the last month of the same year 1635, called February. He removed from our church to Newbury the end of the next year 1636" [RChR 81].
FREEMAN: 17 May 1637 [MBCR 1:373].

John (Cheney), Newbury, shoemaker, freem. 17 May 1637, had been the yr. bef. at Roxbury, perhaps br. of William, brot. in 1635 to R. w. Martha, and ch. Mary, Martha, John, and prob. Daniel, b. 1635; had Sarah, Feb. 1637; Peter, 1639; Hannah, 16 Nov. 1642; Nathaniel, 12 Jan. 1645; and Eliz. 14 Jan. 1648; went again to R. there was drown. Dec. 1671. His d. Martha m. a. 1649, Anthony Sadler; and, next, 1652, Nicholas Busby the sec.

This source has a lot of interesting information about John and his life in the USA.

1635 - Rev. John Eliot, was the noble man who earned the title “Apostle to the Indians.” His first parish was Roxbury; and in his record of the church he gives the following report about 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 5th 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 is that he may have had a temporary home with that pioneer who bore the same surname, William Cheney. 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. . 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.


John Cheney's name is included on the Newbury Settlers Monument

1636 – Settled at Newbury. The Newbury Plantation 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.

17 May 1637 – Admitted Freeman. 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. It was by such prompt movements that Winthrop was elected and the conservative party triumphed.

21 Apr 1638 – John 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 a 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”

John’s allotments of land were large. He had a good stand in the “old town” and on shore and stream elsewhere.

19 Jun 1638 - John had 3 acres of meadow at the westerly end of the great swamp behind the great hill.

25 Aug 1638 – Six acres of salt “marish.” “A parcel of marsh with little islands of upland in it”, about 20 acres in all.

5 Jul 1639 – “Little River on the northwest; formerly part of the calf common”, was assigned to him.

10 Jan 1643 – Lot No. 50 in the “New Towne”, “on the ffield street” was granted him.

The following extract from the town records gives us some data for a plan of the new town of Newbury.


“January 11th, 1643/44. 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.”

27 Apr 1648 – Member of the Grand Jury

1652 – 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.


“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
Sworne in the court at Ipswich the 28th of (7) 1652.
Robert Lord cleric.”

29 Nov 1654 – John 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”

Mar 1657 – Some charges were brought in the Ipswich Court against a very worthy citizen of Newbury; and John signed his name, with nineteen others, to a petition, addressed to the Court, protesting that, having had long acquaintance with the accused, they felt certain he was innocent.

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. ” John Cheney is one of the names, but the signature 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.”

1661 and 1664 – The town records show that he was one of the selectmen

This website contains most of the text of John's will
THE WILL OF JOHN CHENEY, SENIOR.



of Newbery in the Countye of Essex in New England: being weake in body: but having perfect knowledg and understanding doe ordaine and apoynt this present Act and writing be my last will and Testament as followeth

ffirst I doe give unto

my now dwelling house and Barne with al the Corne land pastur and meddowes with al the profits and priveleges thearto belonging: it being all in one Inclosure to it selfe: it lying and being in the old Towne of Newbery.

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



libertie of dwelling in the house her life time and I doe enjoyne my Son Daniel aforesayd to maintaine her comfortably with meat and drink linen and wollen and other necessaries as her adg shall requier during the time of her naturall life. But if the sayd Martha my wife shall chuse rather to live elsewhere: I doe give unto the sayd Martha Ten pound by the year to be paied out of my living in good marchantable Wheat barley and Indian in equal propertions or the thirds of my land which she pleas also I doe give the sayd Martha my wife all her wearing apparel linnen and wollen: also I doe leave unto the said Marthas disposing all my household goods save what I doe by will dispose of.

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

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.

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
in the presence of .IM 29020501:1006:192 (Seal)
us under written

Richard Dole
William Ilslie

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 .