2. ROBERT(C) CHENEY (RobertD) was born say 1490 and resided in the parish of Waltham Abbey, Essex. The name of his wife is not known. In 1535, at Waltham Abbey, he enfeoffed Humphrey Browne, serjeant-at-law, John Haslywood, gentleman, Robert Cressy, gentleman, and several other men with three crofts called Burnysfields in Upshire in Waltham Abbey, which property he held jointly with Robert Sharnebrooke, William Pratte, Richard Foorthe, Walter Bryght, and Thomas Stacy, all deceased, of the feoffment of Robert Sharnebroke and Hugh Foorthe. The purpose of these enfeoffments is not stated. (12)
"Robert Cheynaye of ye parishe of Waltham in countey of Essex hooil [whole] of mynd & memorye" made his will 26 October 1542, asking to be buried in the churchyard of Saint Lawrence of Waltham. I-us bequests included to John Down a bollocke of one yere olde and an other to Wyllyam Donne Isicl his bro~er... to Robert Cheyney my sonne a blak cowe... to Wyllyam Donne a brandyd kow.. . to Robert my sonne my bed yt I lye on & all ye hangyngs in ye same chamber & all ye hangyngs in ye hail with a tabull.. . to Wyllyam Donne a featherbed & a mattres . . . ye ressydew of all my goods in ye bows I gyve to Robert my sonne & Wyllyam Donne . . . eqwaliy betwen them. Item I Wy11 yt Wyllyam Donn shall have my howse yt I dwell in... for ye space of v yeres... and after ye seyd v yeres be ended then I wyll yt ye same howsse shall remaine to Robert my sonne & to ye heyres of his bodye lawfully begotten and yf ye said Robert my sonne decesse withowte heyres of his bodye lawfully then I wyll ye said howsse shall remaine to Wyllyam Donne & to the heires of his bodye lawful-lye begottyn . . . I wyll that Annes my dawghter shall have a marke [13s 4d] of Robert my sonne & vi s viii d of Wyilyam Donne within ye space of ij yeres after my decesse . . . to ye said Annes ij pewter dyshes ij plates & ij sawsors, these [beingl wytnes Wyllyam Pygram Wyilyam lye John Foster(13)
Children:
3. i. ROBERT CHENEY, b. say 1520; m. JOAN HARRISON.
ii. AGNES / ANNES CHENEY, living 1542 when she was named in her father's will. She is presumably the daughter who m. ____ DONNE, with whom she had two sons, William Donne and John Don ne, named in her father's will. She was living as late as 1567, when her brother Robert Cheney bequeathed to his "sister Donne" a close of land for the term of her natural life.
12. Ibid., T 12/60.
13. Original will, Commissary Court of London (Essex & Herts Division) (FHL microfilm 94,349), 70 BW 8
In his will dated 4 January 1549/50 and proved 28 April 1551, "John Haryson yeoman dwelling in the parishe of Waltham holy Crosse in the Cownetie of Essex beinge holle of mynde and memory," asked to be buried in the churchyard of St. Lawrence, Waltham, and bequeathed:
. . to Agnes my welbeloved wife my howse & lands that I do dwell in for terme of her lyle & she to paye the quytte Rent to [Clarcenbery?] xd by yere to Wilham Harryson my Sone all my howse & land in Upshere & Waltham bothe free & Copye, [on condition that William pay £23 6s 9d to his three sisters, Johanne Cheyney, Elyzabeth Smythson, and Margarett Harryson, paying the first year £3 6s 9d to Johanne, the second year the same sum to Elyzabeth, and the third year the same sum to Margaret].... To Elyzabeth Smythson a feather bed and bed-
ding, [to be delivered] when my wiffe departyth the worlde, and a bullock. To Johanne Cheyney a bullock, and to Margarett Harryson two keyne [cattle]; to John Harrison of London, my best gowne. To son William certene Implements in the howse that is to saye my bedde where I do lye & my bedde in the parler with all that behongyth therto . . . a fornys & my grett brasse potte And my brasse panne to be delyvered when my wiffe departyth out of thes howse. Wife Agnes, appointed executrix, to have the residue. William Greene the elder to be overseer. Witnesses Andrewe Cawdree, Henry Stonds, John Tytynge the elder, with others (32)
32. Archdeaconry Court of Essex, Registered Wills, Register 7, folio 76 (FHL microfilm 91,214); no probate act copy has survived.
In his will dated 28 Aug. 1594, proved 19 Feb. 159415, "William Harrisonne of the parishe of Waltham holly Crosse in the Countye of Essex yeomane beinge sycke of bodye" bequeathed to his cousins Elizabeth Greene, Joan Cordell, Oliver Smythson, and Thomas Smythson, £4 each, to be paid within two years, and to cousins Christopher Goldinge, Elizabeth Dane, Agnes Bradly, and Alice Goldinge, £4 each to be paid within three years; and to cousins Raphe Cheyney, William Cheyney, Robert Cheyney, and Agnes Cheyney, £4 to be paid within four years. To Petter Sompner he left £4 "whereof he oweth me for haye." To William Harbert he left 40s, to Mary Archer, 40s, to servants William Sompner, William Pecocke, and William Hayward, 20s each; to servants Jane Huns don and Elizabeth Howe 20s each, and to John Pecocke lOs; to Thomas Smythson "one quarter of wheate," and to the poor of the parish of Waltham "twenty dozen of breade to be distributed amonge them at my buriall." His wife was to have the use of certain things mentioned "now stand inge in the halle of my dwellinge house duringe her lyfe tyme that is to saye the longe table and forme with the settle and forme the Cubbered and all the hanginges in the halle the Ionges syze forke and a payre of I lowe Brand yrons And after her decease my will is that the same shalhe left standinge in the same manner as they nowe are in the sayd halle or house." The residue "I wholy gyve and bequeathe to my lovinge wyef Isobell Harrison," who was to be executrix; overseers were to be his -"loving frindes John Coller and John Hanford gentleman," to have lOs each "for theyr paynes herein to be taken." Witnesses were John Hanford this mark] and Gilles Grene. The inventory (not preserved) amounted to - £114
Commissary Court of London, Registered Wills, Register 18, folio 225 (FHL microfilm 94,101); Probate Act Book, Register 15, folio 41v (FHL microfilm 94,491).