Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

swamp, behind the great hill ; August
25, he was granted six acres of salt
marsh ; then a parcel of marsh with little
islands of upland on it, about twenty-
acres, was assigned to him July 5, 1639.
Lot No. 50 in the "new town" on Field
street was granted him January 10, 1643.
He did much public work; was a mem-
ber of the grand jury, April 27, 1648
selectman many times ; and member of a
committee formed to lay out a way to
the neck, and through the neck to the
marshes, on the east side of the old town,
November 29, 1654. He was one of the
famous ten men of Newbury who took
such interest in the campaign of Governor
Winthrop against Sir Harry Vane, that
they made a journey of forty miles from
Newbury to Cambridge, to take the freeman's
oath, and were admitted May 17,
1637. He died July 28, 1666, his will,
which was dated June 5, 1666, being writ-
ten in his own hand. In this document,
which was proved September 25, 1666,
he provided liberally for his wife and
children. Peter, his third son, and sixth
of ten children, was born about 1640, and
died in January, 1694-95. He was a mil-
ler in Newbury, and married on May 14,
1663, Hannah, daughter of Deacon Nicho-
las and Mary (Cutting) Noyes. Of their
thirteen children Peter was the eldest.
Peter (2) Cheney was born in Newbury,
November 6, 1664, conducted a mill business
on Falls river for many years, and
served as a soldier in the block house,
defending it against the attacks of the
Indians in 1704. Benjamin, his young-
est child, was born January 6, 1698-99,
and removed to Hartford, Connecticut,
eventually. On August 18, 1721, Benjamin
Cheney purchased a quarter part of
the upper saw mill in East Hartford, of
John Pellett, and four months later, December
19, purchased another quarter, the
property of Thomas Olcott. He was a
;
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man of education, prominent in the affairs
of the community, and his house was
located on the hill near the western end
of what is now Burnside avenue, East
Hartford. The mill was the upper mill
on the Hockanum, where a paper mill
now stands. Administration was granted
to his sons, Benjamin and Timothy, June
17, 1760. Benjamin Cheney married, in
Hartford, November 12, 1724, Elizabeth,
daughter of Thomas and Sarah (Elmer)
Long, and they had six children, among
them Timothy. Timothy was the third
son, and was born in East Hartford, May
10, 1731, and died September 27, 1795.
His home was in the "five miles" district,
which was later incorporated as Manchester,
Connecticut. He joined the East
Hartford church, in 1758, and was clerk
of the Orford Ecclesiastical Society in
its establishment in 1792. He was cap-
tain of the militia, and tradition says that
he was detailed by request of General
Washington to make powder-sieves for
the army. Twice married, George was
his third son by his first wife, Mary (Olcott)
Cheney. George Cheney was born
in Orford parish, later Manchester, Con-
necticut, December 20, 1771, and lived in
South Manchester. He married, October
18, 1798, Electa, born January 2, 1781,
died October 12, 1853, daughter of Deodatus
Woodbridge, and his wife, Esther
(Wells) Woodbridge. Mr. and Mrs.
George Cheney had nine children. 1.
George Wells, of whom further. 2. John,
who died unmarried. 3. Charles, of whom
further. 4. Ralph, also a member of the
silk manufacturing firm. 5. Seth Wells,
who was of delicate constitution and
artistic temperament, and eventually
became poftrait painter of some note,
being honored by election to associate
membership of the National Academy of
Design. 6. Ward, who in 1836, in association
with his brothers, Ralph Frank