Wills: Last Will & Testament of Charles Chaney, (1744) Anne Arundel County,
Maryland
Will and Last Testament of Charles CHANEY of Anne Arundel Co.
Proved 14 Feb 1744
Notes on Charles Chaney
CHARLES CHENEY, son of Richard and Eleanor Cheney, was born June 6, 1673, in the
South River Hundred. On July 15, 1701, he married ANN, the widow of Gilbert Pattison
and the daughter of William Jones, Sr., and his wife Elizabeth. William Jones, the
father-in-law of CHARLES CHENEY, died in 1705, and bequeathed property to his
daughter, ANN CHENEY. She died at a comparatively young age, thereupon CHARLES
CHENEY married secondly Agnes.CHARLES CHENEY died intestate during the early
part of 1745. The first inventory of his personal effects was taken on May 6, 1745, with
Isaiah Cheney and Thomas Cheney as kinsmen, and Agnes Cheney as the executrix. At an
additional inventory of July 22, 1745, his widow as Agnes Deale. The kinsmen signatories
were at that time Zachariah Jacob and Isaiah Cheney.
In the name of God Amen, I CHARLES CHENEY Senr. of Ann Arundel County in the
province of Maryland, planter being of Sound disposing mind and memory praise be
almighty God for the same I do make and ordain this my last will and Testament in manner
and form following-Viz Impremis - I give and commit my Soul to all mighty God that
gave it in hopes of his gracious acceptance thru the merits of Jesus Christ my redeemer
and my body to be decently buried at the discretion of my Executor hereafter named and
as for the selling and disposing of the Estate it has pleased almighty God to give me. I do
will and bequeath the same in manner and form following. Vixt.
Item. I give and bequeath unto my Son Charles Cheney one shilling sterling.
Item. I give and bequeath to my son Shadrick Cheney 1 shilling sterling.
Item. I give and bequeath unto my son Jacob Cheney 1 shilling sterling.
I give and bequeath unto my son Greenbury Cheney all the best suits of wearing apparel.
Item. I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Mary Pickits 1 shilling sterling.
Item. I give and bequeath unto my son Mordecai and Isaiah Cheney and my Daughters
Rachael Cheney and Elizabeth Cheney all my part moiety of a Tract of land called the
north addition on lying and being in Anne Arundel County of Maryland also all my part of
moiety of a tract of land called Cheney's Resolution as also all my part of moiety of a tract
of land called Jnoran Range both lying and being in the county aforesaid unto my said sons
and Daughters there unto said Mordicai, Isaiah, Rachel, and Elizabeth Cheney and their
heirs forever reserving into my loving wife Agnes Cheney the third part of the said Tract
of Land above mentioned.
Item. I give and bequeath unto my aforesaid sons and Daughters that is to say Mordicai,
Isaiah, Rachael and Elizabeth Chaney all the rest of my Estate real and personal after my
just debts Legacies and funeral charges are defrayed and payed and my wife's third
deducted to be Equally Divided between them as also the Land above mentioned unto my
said children, to be Equally Divided between them Except as before reserved and if it shall
so happen, that either or any of the above said children Vigts. Mordicai, Isaiah, Rachel and
Elizabeth Cheney, should die without issue Lawfully begotten that then it is my will and
desire that his her or their parts shall decent and belong to the survivor or survivors and
their heirs forever. And it is further my will and desire that the said four children, shall be
at the Liberty to Choose Guardians for themselves of whome soever they please or are
minded to Dwell with Immediately after my decease provided they should not be content
to dwell with my said wife.
Item. I nominate and appoint my loving wife Agnes Cheney my full and sole Executor of
this my last will and Testament hereby revoking and making void all other will or wills by
me here to fore made and acknowledge this to be my last will and Testament. In Witness
whereof. I have hereunto set my hand and seal this day of Anno Doml. Signed sealed
published and Declared by the within named CHARLES CHENEY who his Last Will and
Testament.
The hand without issue lawfully begotten being first underlined in the presence of
John Jacobs,
John Hooper,
his
Thomas X Cheney
mark CHARLES CHENEY {SEAL}
In the back of the aforegoing will was thus written Vizt. On the 14th day of February
1744 came John Jacobs, John Hooper and Thomas Cheney the three subscribing witnesses
to the written will who being duly and Solemnly Sworn on the Holy Evangels of Almighty
God dessise and say that they saw the Testator CHARLES CHENEY sign seal the written
will and hear him publish and declare the same to be his last will and testament that all the
time of this so doing he was to the best of their Judgement and apprehension of sound and
disposing mind and memory and that they the said John Jacobs and John Hopper
subscribed their names and the said Thomas Cheney made his mark as witness to the said
will in the presence of the said Testator at his request. Sworn before me William Rogers
DCouy Ann Co.