52 ANCESTORS IN 52 WEEKS #17: JOHN CHENEY

Fellow geneablogger Amy Johnson Crow of No Story Too Small has issued the
52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge. Basically, we have to post something every
week on a different ancestor, whether a story, picture, or research problem. For
this prompt I've tried to concentrate on ancestors I haven't researched as much
as I have others in my family tree. For Week 17, the post is about 9x great grandfather John Cheney.

I love Google ebooks! I've found so much there over the years about various ancestors.
This is from genealogist and author Ellery Bicknell Crane:

John Cheney (1), the immigrant ancestor of George Washington Cheney, of Winchendon, Massachusetts, was born In England. Rev. John Eliot, the Indian Apostle, who 
was his pastor at Roxbury, wrote: "John Cheney he came into the land in the yeare 
1635. he brought 4 children Mary, Martha, John, Daniel. Sarah, his fifth child, 
was borne last month of the same year 1635 cald February. He removed from our 
church to Newbury the end of the next summer 1636. Martha Cheney was the wife
of John Cheney."

He was received into the Newbury Church from Roxbury. He was fined with 
other citizens for absence at the town meeting, April 21, 1638, but later his fine 
was remitted on account of his having a reasonable excuse. He had a good house 
lot in the old town, also plenty of good land along the river and shore. He received 
a grant of three acres, June 19, 1638, in the meadow at the west end of the great 
swamp. Numerous other lots were granted. He was on the grand jury April 27, 
1648. He was so interested in the contest for governor between Sir Harry Vane 
and John Winthrop that he and others came from Newbury to Cambridge on foot 
to take the freeman's oath, so that they could vote for Winthrop. That was a forty 
mile walk each way. No wonder Winthrop won the election. He was admitted
a freeman May 17. 1637. He became a very prominent citizen. He was selectman 
several times. He died July 28, 1666. He wrote his will June 5, 1666. His wife 
died about 16S4. Their children were: Mary, born in England, 1627, married, 
September 3, 1645, William Lawes, of Rowley; Martha, born in England, 1629. 
married (first ) Anthony Sadler; (second) Thomas Burkby, of Ipswich; John, born
in England, 1631; Daniel, born in England. 1633; Sarah, born in Roxbury. February 
25, 1635-36, married, December 23, 1652. Joseph Plummer. of Newbury; Peter, 
born in Newbury, 1638; Lydia, born in Newbury, 1639, married. November 12, 
1657, John Kenrick, of Ipswich; Hannah, born November 16, 1642, married, 
November 16, 1659, Richard Smith, Jr., of Ipswich; Nathaniel, born at Newbury, 
January 12, 1647, never married; Elizabeth, born at Newbury, January 12, 1647, 
married Stephen Cross, of Ipswich.-p231

Historic Homes and Institutions and Genealogical and Personal Memoirs of Worcester County, Massachusetts: With a History of Worcester Society of Antiquity, Volume 4 (Google eBook) Lewis Publishing Company, 1907 - Worcester County (Mass.)

That part about John being involved in the election between John Winthrop and Sir Henry Vane is very interesting. I wonder if I can find out more.

To be continued.