Jane Cheney (Atkinson)

Family

Jane Atkinson must have been very aged, for it had been sixty-nine years since her marriage ! Her age would render it conceivable that she might have been either a sister of Theodore Atkinson of Boston, or a daughter of Thomas Atkinson of Concord. But no evidence has yet been discovered to settle the question of her family connections.
CHILDREN OF THOMAS.^

• I. MARGARET,^ b. Nov. 26, 1656, m. in Cambridge, in 1673, Nicholas Fessenden, one of the most efficient and prosperous men of the young town. Born in England, he came hither to help his childless uncle, John Fessenden, who made him his heir, Nicholas Fessenden was a man of large sagacity, often in town office, greatly respected; he d. Feb. 24, 1 718-9; his wife d. Dec. 10, 1717 ; both lie buried near the old church in Cambridge. Children: (i) Jane Fessenden, b. Oct. 25, 1674, d. July 24, 1676; (2) Hannah Fessenden, b. Aug. 27, 1676, d. Sept. 1676 ; (3) John Fessenden, b. Oct. 4, 1677; (4) Nicholas Fessenden, b. Jan. 12, 1680, grad. Harv. Coll. 1701, register of Probate, Master Gram. Sch. Cambridge; d. Oct. 5, 1719; (5) Thomas Fessenden, b. and d. 1682; (6) Thomas Fessenden, b. Aug. 12, 1684, res. Lexington*; (7) Margaret Fessenden, b. Jan. 22, 1686; (8) Jane Fessenden, b. April 22, 1688, m. Jan. 10, 171 1, Samuel Winship ; (9) Mary Fessenden, b. Oct. 28, 1689, m. June 15, 1 71 2, Joshua Parker ; (I o)Ebenezer Fessenden; (I I) William Fessenden; (12) Joseph Fes- senden, bapt. Jan. 17, 1696; (13) Anna Fessenden, bapt. Jan. 9, 1697 ; (14) Benjamin Fessenden, bapt. June 15, 1701, grad. Harv. Coll. 1 718, ordained at Sandwich Sept. 12, 1722, d. Aug. 7, 1746, an eminent minister.
• 5. ll. TH0MAS,3 b. Dec. 25, 1658.
• lll. MEHITABEL,3 b. Feb. 20, 1660.
• IV. J0HN,3 b. in 1662, d. in Cambridge Aug. 6, 1689, "aged 26". This young man seems to have begun life hopefully, and formed pleasant friendships. But a sad end came. One evening he was riding out with several young friends, one of whom was John Hancock (who soon after became minister at Lexington), when they met an African servant of Mr. Andrew Gardner's, who bore the pleasant name of Robin. For some reason young Cheney left the party and followed Robin, and was soon heard taking part in a wordy wrangle. Hancock went to calm the tumult; Cheney was berating Robin, while the latter was protesting against unfair threatenings. But the quarrel went on till Cheney struck the negro ; and, in self-defence, Robin snatched up a stake from the ground and felled his antagonist with a blow : then stood, astounded and grieved at the result. Three days later Cheney died. Of course a trial had to take place, in which young Han- cock gave straightforward testimony ; the ]nry pronounced it man- slaughter, not willful murder, and Robin was discharged.
• 6. V. WILLIAM,^ b. June 30, 1663.
• VI. MARY,^ b, April 17, 1665, m. Sept. 24, 1684, /o/in Holbrook, of Roxbury, b. in 1664, d. Sept. 26, 1735 ; she d. April 24, 1751.
• vii. JANE,3 b. June 5, bapt. June 13, 1667, m. March 6, 1693, Thomas Belknap, of Woburn.
• 7. VIII. JOSEPH,^ b. Feb. 16, bapt. Feb. 19, 1670.
• IX. HANNAH,3 b. July 6, bapt. July 13, 1673.
• 8. X. BENJAMIN,3 b, jan. 29, bapt. Jan. 30, 1675.
• XI. EBENEZER,3 b. Nov. 2, bapt. Nov. 3, 1678, d. Nov. 17, 1689

References

• The Cheney genealogy. by Pope, Charles Henry, 1841-1918. Publication date 1897. Children on page 41-42 < Archive.Org >