Twelfth Generation

3934. Richard CHENEY⁴ was born on 16 October 1636 in Abingdon, Berkshire, England. He was buried in 1685 in All Hallows Church, Anne Arundel County, Maryland, USA. He died in 1688 at the age of 52 in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, USA. One source states that 'Richard Cheney emigrated to Maryland about the year 1650. He eventually became one of the largest land owners on South River where he was seated on his 400 acre plantation which he called Cheney's Resolution. Source: Anne Arundel Gentry, 1st Edition - 1933: Section on Cheney Family:
The ancestor of the Cheney family of Maryland was Richard Cheyney who settled in the Province sometime before 1650. Soon after his landing he applied for land warrants and received first 'Cheney's Hill', lying on the South River. It is evident that he was single when he arrived in the Province, because between the years 1634 and 1682 no female by the name of Cheney was listed among the immigrants. He, however, married twice, but the name of his first wife in unknown.
About 1668 Richard Cheney married secondly Eleanor ----. The births of the following children are found in All Hallow' s Parish. Four children were born to the first marriage: Richard Cheney, the elder, married Mary ----, Elizabeth Cheney, born 1652, married William Ijams, Mary Cheney, and Anny Cheney, born 1661, married John Jacob.
Seven children were born to his second wife, Eleanor: Thomas Cheney, Charles Cheney, Sarah Cheney, Katherine Cheney, Charity Cheney, John Cheney, and Richard Cheney - the last two being twins. By negotiating other warrants, Richard Cheney soon became one of the largest land owners in the South River Hundred. During 1653, he patented 'Cheney's Neck' with 110 acres, 'Cheney's Resolution' with 400 acres, 'Cheney's Hazard with 100 acres, 'Cheney's Rest' of 300 acres, 'Cheney's Purchase' of 100 acres of 100 acres, the total amounting to 1,100 acres.
After more than thirty years of residence in the Providence , Richard Cheney died at his seat on South River in 1685, having made a will some ten years before this date. Prior to his death he bequeathed to his son in law, John Jacob, 'Cheney's Resolution', lying on the south side of South River for the consideration of natural love of fatherly affection. In his will Richard, the oldest son, was named as executor and received in fee simple 'Cheney's Rest', consisting of 250 acres on South River. Thomas and Charles were to receive the remainder of 'Resolution' upon the attainment of their sixteenth birthday. Their brother, Richard, and their sister and brother in law, Anne and John Jacob, were named guardians. The daughters, Mary, Elizabeth, and Anne, received personalty. His wife was bequeathed merely her dower rights.
Forty-one years after his death a law suit developed over the parental dwelling and plantation. His son in law and daughter, John Jacob and his wife Mary, appeared in court as well as his widowed daughter, Elizabeth Ijams. John Jacob stated that on March 6, 1675/6, he happened to be at the home of Colonel William Burgess and a certain William Cocks drew up a will for Richard Cheney. He heard Richard Cheney dictate to William Cocks that the homestead was to be inherited by his two sons, Thomas and Charles. He saw Richard Cheney sign the will and testified that he, with Colonel William Burgess and William Cocks, signed their names as witnesses. Anne, the wife of John Jacobs, asserted that she heard her husband say many times that her father, Richard Cheney, made a will at the home of William Burgess. She was left five shillings but did not remember receiving them. Elizabeth Ijams practically made the same assertion as that of her sister Anne. Cheney family, p. 3: Harry W. Newman stated in his research paper, that he has visited Great Britian in an attempt to find parentage for Richard the Immigrant . He states that no definite proof has been found. "The nearest inference was a Richard Cheney who died in County Kent . He left a married daughter who had married George Smith of London, Gent. and two minor daughters which the court placed under the guardianship of their uncle, George Smith about 1652. The documents searched at the Preogative Court of Canterbury and other records, both source and secondary, do not reveal a son Richard, but employing imagination and the circumstances of the times thrown against the basic facts already known, and the fact that Richard Cheney, the Immigrant, arrived in Maryland before 1652, there may be more than a surmise that a son Richard had received his inheritance, married and departed for the English colonies."
Anne Arundel Gentry Vol 1, p. 291:
Richard Cheyney, the father in law of William Ijams, was a large land-owner and planter of the South River Hundred and had emigrated to Maryland about 1650, with his wife , Charity. The Cheyney family of ancient antiquity was ennobled in England, but through extravagance and being Royalist during the Civil Wars lost most of their property. There is every reason to belive that the Maryland emigrant was a scion of this ennobled family. He was lettered and the fact that he financed his own passage and that of his young wife is further indication of this early settler, in some manner the younger generations lost most of their property and were not inclined for public service or social attainment, with the result that the later history of the family from extant records is rather sketchy.
The earliest entries in All Hallow's Parish are those of the Cheyney family and while the entries antedate the establishment of the parish, it is evident that the family kept their own records and at the time of the establishment of the parish as the State Church, the heads of the family had their births recorded for posterity.
The first wife of Richard Cheyney died early in Maryland and he married secondly Eleanor and left a large issue by her . Later spelling of the name became Chaney and Cheney, but Cheyney was the accepted orthography of the 17th century.
Richard Cheney's will is located in the Prerogative Court records of Maryland in Liber 4, folios 311 - 312 (1688). I Richard Cheney, Gentleman, of the count of Ann Arundel in the province of Maryland being now in good health and perfect memory do make this my last will and testament revoking all other wills by me made formerly as witness my hand and seal hereunder subscribed this sixth day of March annodommi no 1685. I give and bequeath unto my eldest son Richard Cheney to him and his heirs forever all my tract or parcel of land called by the name of Cheney's Rest lying and being near South River in the county of Ann Arundell aforesaid containg by ? two hundred and fifty acres and my will is that he possess the same immediately after my decease.
Item. I give and bequeath unto my two sons Thomas and Charles Cheney all my plantation whereon I now live called by the name of Resolution to be equally divided between them only ten acres of the said land I give unto my wife during her life or widowhood but is she marry or die that then I give the said ten acres of land be divided also between my two sons Thomas and Charles.
Item. I give and bequeath unto my three daughters Eliza, Mary and Anne each of them five shillings lawful English money to be paid them immediately after my decease.
Item. I give and bequeath all the reast of my real estate and personal estate to be equally divided amongst my wife and my two sons Thomas and Charles and my will is that my sons Thomas and Charles Cheney shall be at age and shall enjoy the estate I have here left them when they shall become sixteen years old. Also my will is that immediately after my decease the two-thirds parts of the cattle, hogs and horses be marked for my said two sons that when they come at age they may possess the increase thereof as well as principal, also I commit into the custody of my said wife during her life or widowhood my said two sons together with their estate till they shall become sixteen years old only excepting what is above excepted that is that the cattle, hogs and horses be marked as above but if my wife dies or marries again my will is that immediately after her death or marriage my said two sons also their estate herein mentioned be delivered into the custody of to the management of my son Richard Cheney and my son in law John Jacobs and his wife till they shall become sixteen years old and when they shall become sixteen years old my will is that what estate I have herein given and bequeathed to them be delivered to them together with the increase of the cattle, hogs and horses if there be any.

This is my last will and testament. Witness my hand and seal the day and year above written. I ordain, constitute and appoint my eldest son Richard Cheney to be my executor of this my last will and testament. The will was witnessed by William Burges and William Cocks. Richard married (1) Charity before 1649 in South River Hund, Anne Arundel Co., Md . Charity was born in, England. She died before 1668 in , Anne Arundel Co., Md. Source: 'Cheney Family of the South' (Roberts, 1983) claims Charity was born in England.

https://www.anamericanfamilyhistory.com/Cheney%20Family/Cheney%20Richard%201630%20Family.html
Richard Cheney was born in England about 1630.

His first wife was named Charity.

Their children probably included:
Richard Cheney (1649, called "the elder," married Mary Rydell),
Elizabeth Cheney Ijams (1652, married William Ijams),
Mary Cheney, and
Ann Cheney Jacob (1661, married John Jacob).

They immigrated to Maryland before 1658 when Richard and Charity were granted 100 acres.

They settled at Cheney's Resolution in Anne Arundel County. Richard became one of the largest land owners in the South River Hundred and owned 1,110 acres. His plantations were called Cheney's Hill, Cheney's Neck, Cheney's Hazard, Cheney's Rest, and Cheney's Purchase. He patented them in March 1661/62.

Cheney's Hill has been the site of an archaeological dig. The home was situated on a hill and the site yielded "shards of imported German pottery, beads for Indian trading, pipes, utensils, a finger-length iron key, glass, a brick and other common items."

His second wife was Eleanor.

Their children probably included:
Thomas Cheney (1669, married Sarah Westall ),
Charles Cheney (1673, married Ann Jones Pattison),
Sarah Cheney Chickey (1677, married James Chickey),
Kathren Cheney Parnell (1779, married James Parnell),
Charity Cheney Patten (1681, married John Patten),
Richard Cheney (1682, married Rachel Nicholson), and
John Cheney (1684, married Mary Beadle).

Richard died in 1687 in Anne Arundel County, Maryland. Eleanor died on March 9, 1709.

Cheiney, Richard, Sr., A. A_ Co., 6th Mch., 1685-6;
To eld, son Richard, ex., and hrs., 250 A., Cheine's Rest, on South R
To 2 sons, viz., Thomas and Charles, at 16 yrs. of age, Resolution;
sd. sons to be in charge of eld. son Richard afsd. and son-in-law John Jacobs and his wife.
To daus., viz., Mary, Eliza:, and Ann, personalty.
To wife (unnamed), dower rights.
Test: Wm. Burgess, Wm. Cocks. 4. 311

Richard Chiney 13A.201 A AA £43.5.0 #709
1 Aug 7 1694
Payments to: Gabriell Parrott, Dr. Moore due to Col. William Surges, Maren Duvall.
Administratrix: Elisabeth Chiney by her son James Pindle. Mary Charity WOOD and Richard CHENEY were married in England.

3935. Mary Charity WOOD⁴ was born about 1620 in St Petroch, Exeter, Devon County, England. She emigrated in 1658 from Maryland, BCA. She was buried in 1668 in All Hallows Church, Anne Arundel County, Maryland, USA. Mary died on 24 August 1668 at the age of 48 in South River Hund, Anne Arundel County, Maryland, USA.¹²⁷ https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/104496647/mary-charity-cheney
Mary Charity Wood was born abt 1620 in St. Petroch, Exeter, Devon, England. Mary was the daughter of Humphrey Wood .

Mary married Richard Cheney (1616-1684) in England, and they both imigrated to Anne Arundel, MD in 1658.

Richard and Charity Cheney had the following children (1 son and 3 daughters): Richard Cheney IV who died on Dec 6 1704 in Anne Arundel County, Maryland. Elizabeth Cheney died in 1726 in Anne Arundel County, Maryland. Mary Cheney and Anne Cheney who was born in 1660 in Anne Arundel County, Maryland.

Charity died on 24 Aug 1668 in S River Hundred, Anne Arundel County, Maryland, USA. She was abt 48 years old.

Read this article from the Baltimore Sun: "Homebuilding site develops into an archaeological find; Cheney homestead from 1650s offers remnants, mystery" In this article, we have learned that Richard & Charity first came to the Maryland colony in 1649. "The Cheney family is believed to have left England soon after King Charles I was beheaded in 1649, said descendant Bill Chaney, a Revolutionary and Civil wars buff who visited the site earlier this month" (1999). "A 1955 genealogical paper referred to his ancestor as a Royalist".
What Bill Chaney knew from the 1955 genealogical paper on his family was that the family came from the Isle of Sheppey and that Richard Cheney financed his passage to America. Richard and Charity had four children. After Charity's death, Richard remarried and had seven more children. "The structures would have been built about 24 years after the founding of Maryland colony". The family home was located about 5 miles from Annapolis. The homestead, called Cheney Hill, built in 1658. This site is perched on a steep knoll off Riva Road and the South River. Apparently all children were born in Anne Arundel County, MD and all went to the All Hallow's Church and are buried there.

https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1999-09-14-9909140050-story.html

Family Members
Parents
Humphrey Wood
unknown–1625

Spouse
Photo
Richard Cheney
1616–1685

Children
Richard Cheney
1649–1704

Elizabeth Cheney Iiams
1652–1726

Photo
Anne Cheney Jacob
1661–1730

Children were: