Will - Charles CHANEY

Proved 14 Feb 1744

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.

Contributed by Gwen Oliver

Note: Charles Chaney was a 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.