Cheney Papers

12
TH E FAM I LY CH EYN E/CH EYN EYICH EN EY AN ENGLISH FAMILY DURING THE MIDDLE AGES AND THE TUDOR DYNASTY, 1485-1603 A viewing of the 38 episodes of "The Tudors" determined that, unlike its name, the movie focuses on the years 1509-1547, the years of the reign of Henry Vlll. During one scene covering the anticipated invasion of England by France, there is a report that Sir Thomas Cheney has determined that England's preparations for war with France can be relaxed because the French fleet was sailing somewhere other than to England. Sir Thomas Cheney was, during this period, Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports. The Cinque Ports were a group of maritime towns in Sussex and Kent which had originally been chartered by Edward the Confessor to provide ships and men against invasion before the English navy was established. Sir Thomas Cheney was a member of a branch of the Cheney family that was kinsmen of the emigrant John Cheney of Newbury. Other Cheney family members and kinsmen were also kinsmen of individuals portrayed in "The Tudors". Therefore, a document describing these relationships, which included a brief discussion of the status of the Cheney family in English society during the Middle Ages, which ended with the death of Richard lll in 1485, was thought to be of interest; hence the following document. While the years of the Tudor Dynasty, 1485-1603, represented the years covering generations 11-18 of the English Cheney family, generations 6-L0 are included here to identify the relationship of these various family branches, which all had their beginning in generation seven from the manor of Shurland, lsle of Sheppey, Kent. While reading this document it would be well to remember that the ingredients of the social ladder during the Middle Ages of 'Medieval England' were 'Men who Fight', Men who Pray', and 'Men who Work'. These three professions were not on the same social ladder. At the top of the secular stood the king, the nobility, and the peasantry, at the top of the other side the pope stood over the clergy. The men who fought were the noblemen whose roles were of administrator and soldier. From his manor the noble managed landholdings that nourished the domain. For the king he would lead his own men into battle to protect the realm. ln return the noble shared in the kingdom's land and wealth and savored the court's pomp and pleasures. Pastors to their flocks, clergymen were often social leaders too, higher echelons enjoying privilege such as the comforts of estate ownership, the right to sit in Parliament, and the standing to frequent the courts. The feudal system claimed the peasant's service and a share of his production. He lived in a village close to the fields he tilled for the lord. Jack Cheney * 2334 Squaw Creek Road * Lander, Wyoming *82520

Transcript of Cheney Papers

Page 1: Cheney Papers

TH E FAM I LY CH EYN E/CH EYN EYICH EN EY

AN ENGLISH FAMILY DURING THE MIDDLE AGES AND THE TUDOR DYNASTY, 1485-1603

A viewing of the 38 episodes of "The Tudors" determined that, unlike its name, the movie focuses on

the years 1509-1547, the years of the reign of Henry Vlll. During one scene covering the anticipated

invasion of England by France, there is a report that Sir Thomas Cheney has determined that England's

preparations for war with France can be relaxed because the French fleet was sailing somewhere other

than to England.

Sir Thomas Cheney was, during this period, Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports. The Cinque Ports were a

group of maritime towns in Sussex and Kent which had originally been chartered by Edward the

Confessor to provide ships and men against invasion before the English navy was established.

Sir Thomas Cheney was a member of a branch of the Cheney family that was kinsmen of the emigrant

John Cheney of Newbury. Other Cheney family members and kinsmen were also kinsmen of individuals

portrayed in "The Tudors". Therefore, a document describing these relationships, which included a brief

discussion of the status of the Cheney family in English society during the Middle Ages, which ended

with the death of Richard lll in 1485, was thought to be of interest; hence the following document.

While the years of the Tudor Dynasty, 1485-1603, represented the years covering generations 11-18 of

the English Cheney family, generations 6-L0 are included here to identify the relationship of these

various family branches, which all had their beginning in generation seven from the manor of Shurland,

lsle of Sheppey, Kent.

While reading this document it would be well to remember that the ingredients of the social ladder

during the Middle Ages of 'Medieval England' were 'Men who Fight', Men who Pray', and 'Men who

Work'. These three professions were not on the same social ladder. At the top of the secular stood the

king, the nobility, and the peasantry, at the top of the other side the pope stood over the clergy.

The men who fought were the noblemen whose roles were of administrator and soldier. From his manor

the noble managed landholdings that nourished the domain. For the king he would lead his own men

into battle to protect the realm. ln return the noble shared in the kingdom's land and wealth and

savored the court's pomp and pleasures.

Pastors to their flocks, clergymen were often social leaders too, higher echelons enjoying privilege such

as the comforts of estate ownership, the right to sit in Parliament, and the standing to frequent the

courts.

The feudal system claimed the peasant's service and a share of his production. He lived in a village close

to the fields he tilled for the lord.

Jack Cheney * 2334 Squaw Creek Road * Lander, Wyoming *82520

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DESCENDANTS OF THE MANOR OF SHURLAND

ISLE OF SHEPPEY, KENT

6. *1 SirAlexanderdeCheyne = AgnesdeSay *2

(124s-12e61 | (124e-12es)

I

1304

7. Sir William de Cheyne = Margaret Shurland *3

(1274-1322) |

8. Sir Robert de Cheyne *4

(1304-1362)

I

9. Richard de Cheyne *6 - Margaret de Cralle

(13s3- ) I

10. Simon de Cheney *7 Sir William de Cheyne *8

( -14ss) ( -ob1aaz)

Eleanor Nottingham Eleanor Salerne

I (1) Sir John = Edith = (2) Sir Robert I

I Beauchamp I Stourton I Shottesbroke I

I Margaret Beauchamp-----Eleanor Shottesbroke *9 I

| *lLJohn Beaufort --l l---- SirJohn Cheyne *L0-------------l

l(1403-1444t11(1412-1468)I Duke of Somerset I

t-t---*--------------ll11. Robert Cheney *12 William Cheney *13 | Sir Roger *14 Baron John *15 Sir William *16 --l

(1421,- ) = (L423- ob1485) I de Cheyne de Cheyne de Cheyne I

Ana Lovelace =Margaret I ( -1499) (1"44s-1499) ( -1486) |

L2. Margaret Beaufort----------------- I I lsabel I

I Sir Thomas--------Boleyn *17 I

Peter de Cheyney *5 (A)

(e1310-1360)

(1443- )m.1455Edmund Tudor

(ts) farl of Richmond

( -1.4s6)

I

13. Henry Vll

(14s7-Lsoe)

Elizabeth of York

I Boleyn

| (L477-r.s3e)

t-----------rtI

I

l-----lII

Siriohn = 1536 *18

( -1s4s)

de Cheyne

Joan Norreys

Anne Boleyn Sir Thomas *19

(L517-L536) Cheney K.G.

I ( -1ss8)

I

I

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1.4.

(14e1-1s47) (1ss8-1603)

1. Sir Alexander de Cheyne (1245-ob1296) was undoubtedly a descendant of Radulf de Caisneto I

(e1040-e1L00)who came to William the Conqueror in 1066.

2. The grandparents of Agnes de Say were Geoffrey Il Lord de Say (e1155-1230) one of twenty-five

Barons selected to enforce the Baron's side of the Magna Charta, and Alice de Cayneto (e1155-

e1225) of East Rudham, Norfork, the great-granddaughter of Radulf de Caisneto l.

3. Margaret Shurland was the daughter of Sir Robert Shurland, Knight Banneret, who held the

fortified Manor House of Shurland, lsle of Sheppey, Kent, residence of the early English kings,

including Harold ll. On 16 March 1322,Margaret's husband, SirWilliam de Cheyne (1274-1322)

and her father, Sir Robert Shurland, were part of the English nobility that were defeated at the

Battle of Boroughbridge by the army of Edward ll, son of Edward I 'Longshanks' in the movie

'Braveheart'. Sir William was hanged at York, Sir Robert imprisoned. ln 1327, Edward ll was

murdered by this same nobility.

4. Sir Robert de Cheyne served in the King's Division of Edward lll at the Battle of Crecy in 1346;

was the Knight of Shire for Kent 1348-1357, and Wiltshire 1358.

5. Peter de Cheyney was the ancestor of Cheyney family branches at Fen Ditton, Cambridgeshire;

Holyfield, Waltham Cross, Hertfordshire; Thorngumbald, Humberside, York; and Boston,

Lincolnshire.

6. Richard de Cheyne was Squire to the Black Prince, son of Edward lll.

7. Simon de Cheyne was the ancestor of six generations of the Cralle, Walberton, Sussex family

branch.

8. Sir William de Cheyne was a lawyer and Justice, Knight of Kent in 1416, Justice or Recorder of

London in 1-4!7 , and later a Chief Justice of the King's Bench in 1428 under Henry Vl. He served

as a Knight of Kent in 1416 and Sheriff of Kent. He was knighted in L424 for his services at the

Battle of Verneuil against the French and their Scottish allies.

9. Eleanor Shottesbroke was a half-sister to Margaret Beauchamp, grandmother of Henry Vll.

10. Sir John Cheyne was knighted in 1445 as a Sergeant at Arms to Henry Vl. From 1452to L47L,

John was Victualler of Calais; Justice for Kent L447-L46O; Knight of Shire 1449; Sheriff of Kent

1454; fought on Lancastrian side in the early battles of the Wars of the Roses for which he was

pardoned in 1452 by Edward lV. John and Eleanor were the ancestors of five generations at

West, Woodhay, Berkshire.

11. John Beaufort's grandfather was John of Gaunt, son of Edward lll and the father of Henry lV.

12. Robert Cheney was the founder of the Cheney family of Higham, Milsted, and Sittingbourne,

Kent.

13. William Cheney served as a Justice for Kent from 1461-1474, and in 1484, and was a

Commissioner of Array for the Lancastrian forces just prior to the Battle of Bosworth.

14. Sir Roger de Cheyne was the ancestor of the West Woodhay, Berkshire branch of the family.

15. Baron John de Cheyne and his brother, Robert, escaped in 1483 from England to Brittany, France

to join Henry Tudor, they being attainted and their properties being confiscated in absentia by

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Richard ltl. About a year later, John and Robert returned to England with Henry Tudor and were

dubbed Knights Bachelor at the landing. On 22 August 1485 on Bosworth Field, Henry's army

defeated and killed Richard lll and HenryTudor became Henry Vll. ln the battle Richard lll

personally unhorsed John Cheney, a man of unusual height and strength. The legend is that King

Richard struck off John's helmet, wounding and stunning him , but that John, recovering his

senses after a while, cut the skull cap and horns off an ox which chanced to be nearby and

placed the gruesome thing on his head to replace the loss of the upper part of his helm. He then

returned to the fray and fought gallantry. To commemorate the incident, Henry assigned Sir

John as a crest for his Arms 'Two Bulls's horns Argent separated from the scalp, roots Or, fixed

to the mantel without torse'.John's actions at Bosworth resulted in a great change in his

fortunes. He was made a Knight of the Body, Constable of Christchurch and of Southampton,

and Keeper of the New Forest. His properties restored he became Knight of Shire for Wiltshire.

ln 1"486, John became a Knight of the Garter and a Privy Councilor. ln 1487, after the Battle of

Stoke, John was made a Knight Banneret, the supreme honour of knighthood for services in the

field. ln L487, John was created a Baron of Parliament as Lord Cheney. ln 1489 and 1492, John

commanded English forces in France.

1-6. Sir William de Cheyne served as Sheriff of Kent, Surrey, and Sussex in turn and, in 1477 he was

appointed by Edward lV to be Governor of the ancient Castle of Queensborough on the

Medway. ln 1483 he was made a Knight of the Bath.

17. tsabel Boleyn was the sister of Sir Thomas Boleyn and aunt to Anne Boleyn, 2nd Queen of Henry

vill.18. Sir John de Cheyne was an Esquire to Edward lV in L471-1483 and fought on the side of York

during the last battles of the Wars of the Roses at Barnet and Tewesbury.

19. Sir Thomas Cheney was a remarkable man of unusual intelligence and adapted himself

successfully to the favour of four Sovereigns: Henry Vlll, Edward Vl, and Queens Mary and

Elizabeth. ln 1512, during war with France, Thomas commanded a ship-of-war. He excelled as a

diplomat and in 1513 was sent on his first mission to the Court of Pope Leo X. ln 151-5, he was

Sheriff of Kent and an Esquire to Henry Vlll. ln 1519, Thomas was sent on a mission to the

Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, Charles of Spain. ln 1520, at the Field of Cloth in France

Thomas was in the king's retinue and was one of the English challengers at the tournaments.

Returning to England he was made the Treasurer of the Royal Household, a post he retained

throughout his life. From 1521-22, Thomas was Ambassador to the French Court. He returned as

Ambassador in 1526, being accompanied by a young attach6, Thomas Wyatt. ln addition to

Queensborough Castle, Thomas was Constable of Rochester and Dover Castles, Bailiff of

Sandwich and Dover, and Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports. ln 1532, Thomas entertained King

Henry and Anne Boleyn at Shurland, just before they were married. ln 1539, Henry made

Thomas a Knight of the Garter. ln his Will of 1546, Henry Vlll left Thomas a legacy of 200

pounds, a handsome sum in those days. Thomas was a very wealthy man and he entertained

magnificently at Shurland where he had a retinue of 400 persons.

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(A)

CHEYNEYS OF FEN DITTON, CAMBRIDGESHIRE;

THORNGUMBALD, HUMBERSIDE/YORK; AND BOSTON, LINCOLNSHIRE

8. Peter de Cheyne y = *1

(e1310-1360) I

t----------------l9. Henry Cheyney = Joan Muschet

(1340-e1377) I (1344- )

t---------------l10. Sir William Cheyney = Catherine Pabenham

(1368-r.403) 13e6 {1372-L436)

l-----------l11. Sir Lawrence Cheyney = Elizabeth Cockayne

(13e6-ob1a61) *2 1419 (14e0- )

t--------- t-----------l12. Sir John Cheyney *3 Elizabeth Cheyney (B)

{1,423-1,489\ (e1419-ob1473)

Elizabeth Rempston

13. William Cheyney *4 Sir Thomas Cheyney *5

Anne Holme Elizabeth ParrII

14. William Cheyney = Frances Cheney

( -ob1599) *6

1-. Wyatt reported that there was a Cheney from Cambridgeshire at the Battle of Crecy in 1346.

Peter represents the only known individual, because of age and location, who fits this

description. His brother, Robert, is known to have been there.

2. Sir Lawrence Cheyney was Escheator of Buckingham and Bedfordshire in 1423; Sheriff of

Cambridgeshire from 1,431-1-442; Justice from 1437-1461; a Commissioner of Array for the

Lancastrian forces in 1459 during the Battles of Blore Heath and Ludford.

3. Sir John Cheyney was a lawyer. ln 1445, he was a Sergeant-at-Arms to Henry Vl and Escheator

for Cambridgeshire and Huntingtonshire; in 1.449, he was a Knight of the Shire and Justice for

Cambridgeshire.

4. William Cheyney and Anne Holme were the founders of a five generation family at

Thorngumbald manor in Humberside/York.

5. Elizabeth Parr was aunt of Catherine Parr, 6'h Queen of Henry Vlll.

6. William Cheyney married Frances, a daughter of Baron Thomas Cheney K.G. of Shurland manor

(-1558). William and Frances were the ancestors of the Cheney family of Bennington and

Boston, Lincolnshire that exists today.

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ELIZABETH CHEYNEY OF BROXBOURNE, HERTFORDSHIRE

AND HER DESCENDANTS AT WALTHAM CROSS, HERTFORDSHIRE

(B)

*1 e1440 *2 eI447 *3

12. (1) Sir Frederick Tilney = Elizabeth Cheyney = (2) Sir John Say

(e141e-1445)l(e141e-1473)l(-1478)t-------------l-----ll---------------l*41 I *5

I

13. Lawrence (1) Elizabeth = Thomas = (2) Agnes Anne Say - Henry

Cheyney Tilney I Howard I Tilney (1'448-14781 | Wentworth

{e1446-e1500) ( -1487) l( -Ls24)l I (1448-1s00)

rl------lll14. Robert I Lady Elizabeth William Sir iohn = Marjory

Cheyney Howard Howard = Seymour I Wentworth

(e1465-e1495) (14S6-1s38) Margaret ( -1s36) |

= gir Thomas Garmage I

I Boleyn, Earl I I

I of Wiltshire I I

I (1,477-ts3e) I I

I I *6 l*7 l*815. Robert ll Anne Boleyn Catherine Jane Seymour

Cheyney = (L507-1536) Howard (L5L1-1537)

(e1440-ob1542) =2nd =5th =3rd

I I -----------Henry Vlll (1491-1s47)---------- |

16. Robert lllCheyney Elizabeth 1 Edward Vl

(e1525-ob1567) (1s33-1603) (1s37-1ss3)

= Joan Harrison

| (1s2s-1se7)

I

17. John Cheyney = Joan Bonde

(e1550-15e4) | (1ss4-162s)

l---------lL8. William Cheney =

(l-58a-ob1628)

I

19. John Cheney = Martha Smith

(e1602-ob1666)

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a

1. Sir Frederick Tilney is believed to have been the father of Lawrence Cheyney who was born after SirFrederick's death.

2. Elizabeth Cheyney Say was the Godmother to Edward lV and great-grandmother to eueens AnneBoleyn and iane Seymour.

3. Sir John Say was a Member of Parliament for the borough of Cambridg e in 1447; member forHertfordshire 1453-1468; Speaker of Parliament 1.449,1463-5, and 1467-8. John's brother, William Say,was Dean of St. Paul's Cathedral, London.

4. Lawrence Cheyney was the ancestor of the Cheney family at Waltham Cross, Hertfordshire, for sevengenerations ending with the emigrant, John Cheney.

5. Thomas Howard was Earl of Surrey and the 2nd Duke of Norfork. ln 1513, Thomas commanded theEnglish army at Flodden that defeated James lV and the Scotts.

5. Anne Boleyn was the second Queen of Henry Vlll.7. Catherine Howard was the fifth Queen of Henry Vlll.8. Jane Seymour was the third Queen of Henrr/ Vlll. Her mother, a Wentworth, was a descent of Edwardilt.

CIVIL, MILITARY AND NOBILITY RESPONSIBILITIES AND TITLES ASSIGNED BY THE MONARCH

Ambassador = minister of the highest rank

Baron = lowest rank of the peerage

Chief Justice of the King's Bench = chief judicial officer of England

Commissioner of Array = quartermaster, officer supplying an armyConstable = keeper or governor of a castle or royal fortressEscheator = king's agent who verified qualified heirs for land and tenements upon the death of thepresent holder

Esquire = English gentry rank next below knightJustice = judge or magistrate

Keeper = guard

Knight = a non-hereditary dignity conveying the title, Sir.

Knight of Shire = mounted soldier, king's agent in the shireLord Warden of the Cinque ports = group of ports in southern England bound to supply ships and men

against invasion

Member of Parliament = Member of either the House of Lords or Commons. Landed nobles weremembers of the House of Lords.

Privy Councilor = sovereign's body of personal advisors

Recorder = magistrate or judicial officersergeant-at-Arms = officer in charge of preserving order about the palaceSheriff = county chief law enforcement officerSquire = knight's assistant who was of aristocratic birth

Page 8: Cheney Papers

ICHENEYS WHO HELD THESE TITLES ARRANGED BY ENGLISH DYNASW

EDWARD lll (1327) TO HENRY Vlll (1s48)

The Tudor dynasty of three generations that spanned the years 1485-1603, from Henry Vll to Elizabeth l,

was proceeded by five generations of Edward lll; three generations of the House of Lancaster, Henry lV

to Henry Vl, t3gg-L471-, red rose, and two generations of the House of York, Edward lV and Richard lll,

'1,46!-1,485, wh ite rose.

During the reigns of these English monarchs all of these executive powers of authority, direct from the

king, were reflections either of his belief in that persons ability, or to reflect favoritism. These

responsibilities, held by various members of the family Cheney or their spouses, were previously

identified by family branch. Grouping these individuals by dynasty to reflect the interaction of these

family mem bers follows:

EDWARD nt (1327-1377)

Sir Robert de Cheyne (1304-1362) of Shurland, Kent served in the King's Division at Battle of Crecy in

1346, and in the following years was the Knight of the Shire for Kent and Wiltshire.

HENRY lV (1399-L413) and HENRY v (1,413-L427\

Richard de Cheyne (1-353- ) of Shurland was Squire to Edward the Black prince, son of Edward lll;

Knight and Sheriff of KenU and Justice or Recorder of London.

HENRY Vt (t422-14711

Sir William de Cheyne ( -obL447) of Shurland was Knighted in 1424 for his services at the Battle of

Verneuil against the French and Scotts. ln following years he served as Knight of Shire and Sheriff for

Kent in 1416, in t417 asjustice or Recorder of London, and in 1428 Chief iustice of the King's Bench.

Sir Lawrence Cheyney (L396-1-461) of Fen Ditton, Cambridgeshire was Escheator of Buckinghamshire

and Bedfordshire counties in 1423; later Sheriff 1.431-1.442, and justice L437-t461' of Cambridgeshire;

and in 1459 Commissioner of Array during the Battle of Blore heath in 1459.

Sir John Cheyne (L412-1468\ of West Woodhay, Berkshire was a Sergeant-at-Arms in 1'445. Later, he was

Victualler for the garrison at Calais, France; Knight, Justice and Sheriff for Kent. During the Wars of the

Roses John fought for Lancaster during the early battles.

Sir John Cheyney (1423-1489) of Fen Ditton was a Sergeant for the king in 1445 as well as the Escheator

for Cambridgeshire and Huntingdonshire; and later in 1449 Knight and Justice for Cambridgeshire.

Page 9: Cheney Papers

Sir John Say of Broxbourne, Hertfordshire, second husband of Elizabeth Cheyney of Fen Ditton, was a

member of Parliament during the years L447-1.468, first for Cambridgeshire in 1447, and thereafter

1453-68 for Hertfordshire, and was Speaker in L449, 1463-65 and 1457-68.

RTCHARD ilr (1483-1485)

William Cheney of Shurland (L423-14841was in 1484 Commissioner of Array for Lancastrian forces.

EDWARD rV (L461-1483)

Elizabeth Cheyney (e1479-1,473) was Godmother to Edward lV.

Sir William de Cheyne ( -L486) of West Woodhay and Shurland was Sheriff of Kent, Surrey and Sussex

in turn; in 1,477 he was appointed by Edward lV Governor of the ancient Castle of Queensborough on

the river Medway that guarded the river entrance to London. ln 1483, he was made a Knight of the Bath.

William married lsabel Boleyn, sister of Sir Thomas Boleyn and an aunt to Queen Anne Boleyn.

William Cheney of Shurland (1423- ) was a Justice for Kent 1,461-1474, and in 'J.484 a Commissioner of

Array for the Lancastrian forces.

Sir John Cheney ( -1-545) of West Woodhay, Berkshire was an Esquire to Edward lV in 1471, and fought

beside his uncle, John Cheyne, for York at Barnet and Tewkesbury during these last battles of the Wars

ofthe Roses.

John Cheyne (1445-1499) of West Woodhay and Shurland was from 1471 to 1483 an Esquire to Edward

lV, on whose side he fought in the Yorkist victories at Barnet and Tewkesbury the last two battles of the

Wars of the Roses. ln 1475, he was serving with the army at Calais, France. From 1475 until the death of

Edward lV in 1483 he was Knight of Shire for Wiltshire, and Master of the Horse to the King.

HENRY Vil (148s-Lsoe)

Baron John de Cheyne (1445-1499) of West Woodhay and Shurland supported Henry Tudor in 1485 at

the Battle of Bosworth. For his bravery at Bosworth, John received numerous positions in the years that

followed: Governor of the royal fortress at Christchurch and Southampton; Keeper of the New Forest,

the area reserved for the King's hunting grounds; Knight of Wiltshire; Privy Councilor and Knight of the

Garter in 1485; in 1487 at the Battle of Stoke made a Knight Banneret, the supreme honour of

knighthood for services in the field; 1487 created Baron of Parliament as Lord Cheney; 1489-1492 he

commanded a force in France. John was buried in Salisbury Cathedral where his brother, Edward, was

Dean. A statue of Baron John is reported to exist at the Cathedral.

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HENRYVilr (1s09-1547)

Sir Thomas Cheney K.G. ( -1-558) of Shurland, Kent , a henchman of Henry, served the king between

1512 and 1558 as: Ambassador to the Courts of Pope Leo X, Charles of Spain the Emperor of the Holy

Roman Empire, and the French.; Esquire to the King; Sheriff for Kent; Constable of Queenborough

Castle; Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports; and Treasurer of the Royal Household 1520-1558.

William Cheyney t -1548) of Thorngumbald, York was a Burgess (representative) in Parliament from

the town of Boston, Lincolnshire. William married the daughter of Sir Thomas Cheyney K.G. of Shurland.

Sir Thomas Cheyney of Fen Ditton, Cambridgeshire married Elizabeth Parr, aunt of Queen Catherine

Parr, 6th Queen of Henry Vlll.

Elizabeth Cheyney (e1419-1473) of Broxbourne, Hertfordshire was a great-Grandmother to Queens

Anne Boleyn and Jane Seymour

10

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SUMMARY

Between Hastings and Domesday (1066 & 1086), the Cheney families were tenants in England of three

of the overlords of the Conqueror (William l); Robert Count de Mortain, his half-brother; William de

Warenne, his son-in-law; and de Saye, as they had been in Normandy. Of the two main Cheney families

dating from Hastings, the first held lands in Sussex and Norfork under William de Warenne. Later they

also held lands in Kent under William de Saye at Patricksborn; at Shurland, Kent; West Woodhay,

Berkshire; Milsted, Kent; Wableton, Sussex; Fen Ditton, Cambridgeshire; Boston, Lincolnshire; and

Waltham Cross, Hertfordshire. The second main branch held lands in Northamptonshire,

Bucklinghamshire, and Bedfordshire.

Following the Norman invasion of England in 1066, the descendants of these Norman Knights

maintained their Viking/Norman heritage through the centuries by Norman intermarriage. Warfare

during this period greatly reduced the male population, and produced many widows, many who quickly

remarried, some two or three times. The population of these Norman descendants by the year 1500,

considering the number of the wars, especially the Wars of the Roses which were said to have killed offan entire generation of many families, is unknown, but likely diminished. However, their financial

prosperity, like their heritage, gained as the result of the Conquest in 1066, was also maintained by

these Norman descendants, many unlanded knights marrying heiresses from noble families such as de

Vere, de Mandeville, de Say, Mochette, Pabenham, Engaine, Cockayne, Tilney, Shurland, Shottesbroke,

Boleyn, Seymour ands Parr.

Sir Stanley Wyatt has revealed in his "Cheneys and Wyatts", from which document much of this present

writing is taken, that of the 190 Parliaments for which there are full Returns in existence, in 81 there

were at least one Cheney or Cheyne, either as Knight of the Shire, or as a Member for City or Borough,

or as a Baron of Parliament; in other words a Cheney was in Parliament in fourteen of the twenty-two

reigns covering the period 1066-1603. The record of the High Sheriffs was even more extraordinary, for

more than thirty Cheneys served as Sheriffs of fifteen counties. As Knights of Shire and High Sheriffs of

the Counties when Sheriffs were very important men wielding executive powers direct from the king,

Cheneys administered and governed. During these times the Cheneys were members of the propertied

classes, and were therefore important men in their Counties who had what was almost a hereditary

right to be nominated Knights of Parliament and Sheriffs, yet it was extraordinary that the Cheney family

maintained for so long their property and social status. lt only needed for one of them, the head of the

family or the heir, to be attainted for his lands to be confiscated without subsequent pardon or

restoration.

During research for the genealogy of the English Cheney family, several individuals contacted forinformation commented that this was not a large family as far as numbers. Never-the-less, this 'small'

Cheney family left their mark on the history of England by contributing substantially to the

administration of the English society in which they lived. ln the sixteenth century three English Queens

and one English King carried Cheney blood in their veins, and yet, 'Newbury'John and his immediate

ancestors managed to survive outside the notice of Henry Vlll; not bad for so 'small' a family.

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Page 12: Cheney Papers

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U20 Dmwilg of the bras ar the toxtb tf jbbn ad Eli4aheti:SalJ/on lltstory of Hertfordshirgf E. Curans, uoL2, p.1 E-f

@ert4. 1874-1378.,t

t^l.i,? ^l/.L.AiltfA Jl..t

THE CEEYNEYS OI Cd'ERIDG:: -'N MS?OCBTIC ENGLISE ?-.;J'Y

&

TEEIR MBTIONSEIP AO EERoY& FNILY oF ENGND

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KING EDI{BD IIl = Philippa of tsenry = Joan Sir lasrence = Elizabes(ptiltageneE) | Hainault cheyney I uuschet de Pabenhan I rnqaine1312-77

| d.136e 1340-13?7

i 1344-

i

l-------------.----:---l-:-:-:-L--ri--:------------:---iEd$ari the = Joan oi Thonas ?lantagenet = Eleanor de Sir Eilliam : catherineBlack prince I xent D*e of Gloucesler I Bohs cheyney I Pabenhan1330-75 I rr:e-es 1355-92 I

d. 1399 1368-1399 | r372-1a36

,-------llt-------------------lRICflMD II I I

!367-es i::-----------.--l Ill{2) Eu qount = Lady anne = (1) Edmwd, Earl sir LaDrence = Etizabeth * Eillian Cheyney aas theriiirii" e""'.ui.' I prairtugn"t oi stattora chevnev | .cockayne ancesEor of-s; cheneyd- 7420 I d. 1403 1396-146r I l4oo- fanilies of York & Li;cs.

i---- - ------l l-;---i:----::------:--l---------:--::t .gohn,'Lord = xarerine or (1) sir Frederick = Elizabeu = (2) sir John sir Joh = Ellzabeth niri;u"Bour.hier I carherine Ho!,ard Tilney I cheFey 1 say chevf,ev I renoston chevnevd.r4l3 I o.rq:s 1410-144? | 1419-1473 | d. 1478 r+z:-rle: I r+ri-{tlt

l ------i l------------------ :-------l--- :-----------r l-:- 'Ilt"l.lr(1) sir = (1) EliiabeEh - (2) Thomas Howard = (2) Agnes raurence Mne say = s6nry Sir tnona= = lmeHumphrey Tilney I Earl of surev & | Tt1nev sevnev I wentkonh cheyney Parreouicnilr DuEch;ss ot 'l 2nd Duke.of Norrork I

r443-1s00 1448-1478 | 1448-r5oo 1449-1514d- 1471 Norfork I .. ---. , I I

d.14ai I I 1 l--------ll--l r----------- I 1, Elizabes cheFey uasI t -l I Go&other !o Edeud rv

sir Thomas Boleyn = rady Eiizabelh ililiiam = HargarEt chenev fahily Malqaret = sir JohEart of Hilrshiie I it""".o HoDard I cilage of-Halthan wentuodh I serou * ErizabeEh cheyney and1477-1s39 | r486-Isl3 | d. 1516 her son, Laerence,

I I Herrorsnrre I besan cheney ranily ofAnne Boteyn catherire EoEard Jane seFour saluan Eoly crosa,Zhd Oueen of 5th oueeh of lrd Queen HertfordshireHenry Err Eenry VUI HenlY VIII

d. 1536 d. !542 d. 1537 * Aqnes Tilnev cousin ro---------- l -----------EBt: Err-------------- Etizabetiliilnev

lts47l-IIIZSETH I EDBN vI * tune par aut to153r-1603 1s37-1s53

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