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 ; Chris-
CHENEY GENEALOGY, ii
topher Cheyney, Grantham, 1620 ; John Cheney, Benning-
ton, 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.
"/« 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 Ben-
nington aforesayd nigh unto my wife & for my mortuary as the Lawes
of this Realm doe requier
Itm I doe give to Lincoln mynster XIP
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 ffrances Cheney my daughter if she be then living
ffive 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 & Chatties 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."
Proved at Boston April 8° 1624.
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, i6oo\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
