John Cheney

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Cheney-44

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.