THE CHENERY ANCESTRY OF JOHN MOODY OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, AND OF FRANCES (MOODY) KILBORNE OF WETHERSFIELD, CONNECTICUT.

by Fred J. Nicholson

While a number of articles have been published on the Moody family from which the New England families of Moody and Kilborne descend, little has been said about the identity of the mother of John and Frances Moody. This article will demonstrate that she was, in fact, Margaret Chenery of the family of that name which was based in Kennett, Cambridgeshire.

The identity of George Moody, the father of John and Frances Moody, has been well-established. He was baptized at Moulton, Suffolk, 28 September 1560, the son of Richard and Ann Moody of Moulton. While the baptisms of all his children are found in the Moulton register, the only reference made to his (first) wife, and thus the only indication we have of her name, is the record of her burial at Moulton, 25 January 1602/3, in which she is identified as Margaret, wife of George Mody.

Nathan Grier Parke in his Ackley-Bosworth Genealogy identifies the first wife of George Moody as Margaret Newce, although he cites no authority for this. In the extensive article published in the NEHG Register (as reprinted in English Origins of New England Families Series 1, Volume II, pages 144-158), contributed by Miss Lilian J. Redstone of London, England, she is identified only as Margaret ___. A footnote to this article, however, suggests the possibility that the marriage of a George Moody to Margery Bacon which took place in Sudbury in 1601 could account for the Margaret Moody, wife of George, who was buried in 1603. If this were the case, of course, we would be left without even a first name for the mother of those Moody children born before 1601 (which would include both John and Frances of New England).

There is, however, no need to go so far afield in looking for the first wife of George Moody of Moulton. The marriage of George Moody and Margaret Chenery is recorded on 12 October 1581, in Kennett, Cambridgeshire, a parish immediately adjoining Moulton. Elizabeth, the first child recorded for George Moody in Moulton, was baptized there on 2 October 1582. The close fit of these dates makes it clear that the first wife of George Moody was, in fact, Margaret Chenery of Kennett, Cambridgeshire. Even if the man who married Margery Bacon was George Moody of Moulton, (and there is no particular reason to believe he was), the date of the marriage means she could only have been the mother of his last child -- Margaret Chenery would still have been the mother of the first eight.

Following up this discovery was not as easy as one might have hoped. The marriage records for the parish of Kennett, beginning in 1558, were copied before the last war and are on deposit at the Society of Genealogists in London. The baptisms and burials were not so copied. The Cambridge Record Office reports that due to a fire in the 1940's, the only parish records presently surviving for Kennett are the marriages beginning in 1754, and the baptisms and burials beginning in 1813. Archdeacon's and bishop's transcripts do, however, exist for some early years, and it is from these that the Kennett baptisms and burials mentioned in the ensuing discussion were obtained.

Searching the wills of the Chenery family (often Chinery, sometimes indexed as Chivery) revealed what appears to have been a single branch of this family living in the Kennett area. John Chenery of Kennett left a will proven in October of 1550, and his widow Emma Chenery of Moulton, Suffolk, also left a will, which was proven in June of 1560. Both died too early to be likely to mention the Margaret Chenery who married in 1581. There were, however, three Chenery sons mentioned in both wills -- John, William and Richard. Fortunately all three also left wills. Unfortunately, all three died before 1581, so that there could be no mention of a Moody connection. As it happens, only one of the three mentioned a daughter Margaret -- this was John Chenery the 2nd (as I shall refer to him).

In the will of John 2nd (dated 25 September 1575), he named his wife Elizabeth, one son (John 3rd), and four daughters (Mary, Margaret, Elizabeth and Johanne). Margaret, Elizabeth and Johanne were all under 20 at this time. John was under 21 (he was, in fact, baptized at Kennett in 1568). Mary's age was not indicated, and it seems likely, therefore, that she was about 20. Since Margaret was consistently mentioned second to Mary and previous to the other two daughters, an age of about 15 for her (i.e., assuming she was about the same age as George Moody) is not unreasonable.

The only will recorded in this area for a widow Elizabeth Chenery (in 1628) makes it quite clear that she was the widow of another John Chenery whose will was proven in 1624. He was the son of Richard and Phillipa Chenery, and the grandson of John 1st and Emma. Among the marriages of Kennett, however, was that of Elizabeth Chenery and William Hinson recorded in 1576, the year after the death of John 2nd. A search of wills revealed one for a widow Elizabeth Hinson of Fordham, Cambridgeshire, proven in 1626.

An examination of this will showed that, indeed, Elizabeth Hinson had been the wife of John Chenery 2nd. In it, she named her son John Chenery and her daughters Mary Chenery, Elizabeth Payne, Johanne Cheeseright, Grissell Ffayerclife, and Anne Hart. The latter two, whose names did not appear in John's will, are shown by the record of their marriages to have been daughters by her second marriage. The others were precisely those mentioned in the will of John Chenery 2nd. (The marriage of Johanne Chenery and John Cheeseright was recorded in Fordham in 1584.) The only omission is Margaret. Of course, both Margaret and George Moody had died by the time this will was written. Fortunately for us, Elizabeth Hinson chose to remember her granddaughter (and namesake) Elizabeth "Prate," thus finally tying the two Margaret Chenerys together, since Elizabeth, the eldest daughter of George and Margaret (Chenery) Moody, married John Pratt of Wood Ditton in 1610.* [*While few people still believe this couple to be John and Elizabeth Pratt of Connecticut, the parish records of Wood Ditton and probate records of Sudbury make it clear that they could not have been. Their children's baptisms, recorded in Wood Ditton: Mary (1611), Alice (1613), John (1615), Thomas (1618), Elizabeth (1621) and Rebecca (1624). The burial of John Pratt at Wood Ditton was on 12 May 1642. The will of John Pratt of Wood Ditton, yeoman, was dated 11 April 1642 and proven 14 May 1642. In it he named eldest son John (executor), youngest son Thomas, youngest daughter Rebecca and wife Elizabeth. These records also rule out the possibility that the Hartford man could have been John junior, since John of New England was in Cambridge, Massachusetts by 1633, and John junior of Wood Ditton was his father's executor in 1642. In addition, the will of another John Pratt of Wood Ditton, gentleman, was written 19 August 1661 and proven 9 October 1661, in which he named, among others, his "cousins" Richard Davy and William Fisson. Since Mary Pratt, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Moody) Pratt and sister of John junior, married William Fison in 1632, it would seem evident that this was the will of John Pratt junior.]

With three generations of the Chenery family established, earlier records were examined in an attempt to trace the family still further. The existence of a Chenery family in and around Cockfield, Suffolk, was of particular interest, given that John Chenery the first left land in that parish to his heirs. While none of the Cockfield wills made direct reference to the Chenery family of Kennett, an early Chancery record demonstrated that the two branches of the family were, in fact, related (although the exact relationship was not specified), and that the father of John Chenery the first of Kennett was named Thomas Chenery.

The case is somewhat difficult to follow, given that it involves four different men named John Chenery. Fortunately for us, even their contemporaries evidently had trouble distinguishing among them, since at least two of the four were given sobriquets: John "Halting" Chenery and John Chenery "the clerk." To summarize the cast of characters, the suit deals with three Chenery men of the Cockfield family -- John Chenery "the clerk"; his son, John "Halting" Chenery (both of whom were dead at the time of the suit); and John Chenery, son of Halting Chenery and his wife Elizabeth. His mother Elizabeth, and his stepfather John May of Pattiswick, Essex, were his co-plaintiffs. The defendants included John Chenery of Kennett (referred to elsewhere in this discussion as John Chenery the first). In his statement, he mentioned his father, Thomas Chenery, and stated that he, himself had been a kinsman of John Chenery the clerk.

This Chancery record is located in bundle #1143, folios 27 - 30. As expressed in the statements themselves, the plaintiffs were John May of Pattiswick, Essex, his wife Elizabeth, who was late the wife of John Chenery (late of Cockfield, Suffolk, deceased, commonly called Halting Chenery), and John Chenery, son and heir of this same John Chenery. The defendants were John Chenery of Kennett, Cambridgeshire, together with the executors of Halting Chenery (i.e., Alen Chenery, clerk, William Cakston, and John Androwe). The case was evidently brought to Chancery between 1544 and 1547, the period established by the tenure of the official to whom the suit was addressed.

The suit concerned a piece of land in Cockfield, which according to the plaintiffs had been left to John (Halting) Chenery by his father John Chenery, "commonly called John Chenery the clerk." The death of John (the clerk) Chenery took place "about 40 years now past," or about 1506. At this time John (Halting) Chenery entered into the lands. In his will, made about "18 years last past," or about 1528, Halting Chenery willed the said lands to John Chenery, his son, he to enter upon the lands at age 21. The executors, who were to look after the lands until that time, in collusion with John Chenery of Kennett, deeded the land to him (John of Kennett) about 2 years before the date of the present suit.

John Chenery of Kennett, in his answer, specified that "long time before John Chenery the clerk had the said lands," Thomas Chenery, father of John Chenery of Kennett, was (with certain other persons) seized of the said lands. The said Thomas Chenery died about 46 years last past (about 1500), at which time the lands should properly have descended to the present defendant, John Chenery of Kennett. He was, at the time, only 1 year old. For this reason, John Chenery the clerk, "kinsmans and nigh ffreende unto" the said John Chenery of Kennett now defendant, took upon himself the care of the lands until the heir reached maturity. However, he died before this could take place, at which time his son, John (Halting) Chenery, entered upon the lands and claimed them as his own.

According to the testimony of John Chenery of Kennett, all this happened when he was so young, that for many years he didn't know that the lands were supposed to have been his. When he learned this (about 2 years before the present suit), he brought suit, and was awarded the lands. They were duly signed over to him by the executors of Halting Chenery, the co-defendants in the present suit.

This Chancery suit provides several valuable pieces of information, including the specification of some key dates. These dates, while inexact, can be specified to within two or three years, thanks to the short term in office of the official involved. For the purposes of this article, I have used 1546 as the approximate date of this Chancery suit, and have estimated the years of various events accordingly. I use this date for two reasons. One is that, as a middle year of the period in question, it ensures that no approximated date will be off by more than two years at most. Another reason is that in 1528 a severe epidemic of the sweating sickness broke out in England, causing widespread death and panic. John (Halting) Chenery, who was said to have died 18 years before the Chancery suit in question, may well have been one of the many victims of this plague.

An unfortunate omission in the testimony is the exact relationship between John Chenery the clerk and Thomas Chenery. This might have enabled us to establish the connection between the Chenery family of Cockfield and that of Kennett.* [*It seems likely that with more research they will be found to be descendants, perhaps grandsons, of John and Elena Chenery of Cockfield, whose wills, recorded in the Probate registry of the Archdeaconry of Sudbury, were dated 1460 and 1464 respectively. In them they named, among others, sons John and Alan.]

The relationship of Alan Chenery, clerk, one of the supervisors of John (Halting) Chenery, to the other Cheneries is also unstated. He may be the Sir Alan Chenery who was named supervisor of the will of another John Chenery of Cockfield, whose will was dated 20 January 1559 and proven 13 February 1559. In it the testator named sons Harry, John, and Thomas; daughter Jone Frost; Elizabeth Chenery, daughter of son John; Roger Kelom, son of daughter (unnamed); wife Annes. Yet another John Chenery of Cockfield, called John thelder, had left a will dated 22 April 1549, and proven 21 February 1549. In it, he named sons Nicholas, William and Robert; daughters Agnes, Elizabeth and Maryon; wife Anne. He also stated that "for the further knowledge of this my last will to be trewe, I have surrendered my copy land into thands of John Chenery of Burton." Whether or not any of these John Cheneries might be identical to the youngest plaintiff in the Chancery suit is impossible to say with any certainty. Perhaps other records may enable us further to clarify these relationships.

---------------------------------------------------------------

The following abstracts of Chenery family wills provide the framework on which the ensuing family summary is based.

John Chenery of Kennett, Cambridgeshire, 1550

PCC 23 Coode

Emma Chenery of Moulton, Suffolk, 1558

PCC 38 Mellershe

John Chenery of Kennett, Cambridgeshire, 1575

PCC 40 Pyckering

Elizabeth Hinson of Fordham, Cambridgeshire, 1616

Archdeaconry of Sudbury 443 Pearle

---------------------------------------------------------------

1 THOMAS{1} CHENERY was born perhaps between 1470 and 1475 and died circa 1500. In the above-discussed Chancery Court suit, which took place between 1544 and 1547, John{2} Chenery said that his father had died about 46 years before. If we assume the date of the suit to have been about 1546, Thomas would have died about the year 1500. Since his son and heir was then about 1 year of age, he would probably have been at least 20 years of age himself, but still relatively young -- a birth year in the range of 1470 to 1475 would be reasonable. He owned land in Cockfield, Suffolk, but may have been a resident of Kennett, Cambridgeshire, as was his son. It is not clear when John{2} acquired his Kennett lands.

The fact that John "the clerk" Chenery was described as kinsman to John{2}, although evidently at least a generation older, suggests that he may have been a brother of Thomas{1}.

Children of Thomas{1} Chenery:

2 i JOHN{2} b. circa 1499; d. between 1549 and 1550.

2 JOHN{2} CHENERY (Thomas{1}) was born circa 1499 and died at Kennett, Cambridgeshire, between October 1549 and October 1550, the dates when his will was written and proven, respectively. He married, say 1520, EMMA ___, who survived him and died in Moulton, Suffolk, between 12 November 1558 and 8 June 1560, the dates of the writing and proving of her will.

John{2} and Emma (___) Chenery resided in Kennett, Cambridgeshire. Relatively well-to-do landowners, both left wills. He was buried in the Kennett churchyard according to the will of his son John{3}.

Her will calls her "of Moulton," suggesting either that she may have come originally from Moulton herself, and had gone back to live with relatives, or (perhaps more likely) that she was living with one of her children in that parish. One of the witnesses to her will was Thomas Moody, parson of Moulton and brother* [*That he was the brother of Richard Moody is proven by the record of the administration in 1576 of his intestate estate, recorded in PCC administrations. In it, he is referred to as Thomas Moody, "clericus," of Islington, Middlesex, and his principal heir is George Moody, presently a minor in the care of Edward Colt of Moulton, Suffolk. In addition, an early Chancery dispute is on record, File 1453, #39-42, between Thomas Modye parson of Moulton and Richard his brother. Subject: "exclusion from complainant's parsonage which defendant has been permitted to inhabit at will."] of Richard Moody of Moulton, from whom the New England family here treated derive. Another connection between the families which predates the marriage of George Moody and Margaret Chenery is the statement in the will of Richard Moody, himself, who refers to sheep that he owns which are "now going at Kennett with John Chenery."

Children of John{2} and Emma (___) Chenery:

3 i JOHN{3} b. between 1520 and 1535; d. at Kennett in 1575.

4 ii WILLIAM d. at Kennett in 1568.

5 iii RICHARD d. at Kennett between 1563 and 1568.

iv MARION b. perhaps circa 1520; married probably by 1540, since she had 5 children at the writing of her father's will in 1549. Married to JOHN HEYWARD. Children as named in the will of John Chenery in 1549: Sym (female), Phillipp, John, Elizabeth, and Em (the latter four all under 12 years old). Children as named in the will of Emma Chenery in 1558: Fyne (female), Audrey, Richard, Phillipp, and Emma Heyward. Philip may be the unmarried female servant Richard{3} Chenery named in his will in 1563. Audrey was named in the will of William{3} Chenery in 1567 as his goddaughter. "Fyne" Heyward (named in Emma Chenery's will) may refer to the same girl as "Sym" Heyward (named in John{2} Chenery's will) -- the clerk may have mistranscribed one or the other.

v ELIZABETH m. (THOMAS?) PERKINS, probably in the 1540's. Two daughters of hers, Marion and Emma, both specified as being under 14 years of age, were named in the will of John{2} Chenery, their grandfather, in 1549. Emma (but not Marion) was also named in the will of Emma Chenery in 1558.

vi KATHERINE m. by 1549 to THOMAS GILBERT. Both were still living in 1575 when they were named in the will of her brother John{3} Chenery of Kennett.

3 JOHN{3} CHENERY (John{2}, Thomas{1}) was born probably between 1520 and 1535. He married (probably circa 1550-1555) ELIZABETH NORWICH, daughter of Stephen and Agnes (___) Norwich of Ashley, Cambridgeshire. He resided in Kennett, and left a will dated 25 September 1575, and proven 2 November 1575.

His widow Elizabeth married, second, 30 Jul 1576 in Kennett, WILLIAM HINSON of Fordham, Cambridgeshire, who had been previously married (in Fordham in 1570) to Margaret Dearslie, who was buried at Fordham, 13 September 1573. William was buried at Fordham, 3 June 1592. Elizabeth was buried at Fordham, 28 June 1619, leaving a will ("Elizabeth Hindson, widow, of Fordham") which was dated 8 August 1616, and proven 27 March 1626.

The provisions of John{3} Chenery's will suggest that his daughter Mary was older than her sisters, and that she was about the age of 20 (or older) at the writing of his will in 1575. This would, in turn, suggest a marriage date for John{3} in the early 1550's, and a birth date in the 1520's or 30's. Of course, these dates are conjectural, but in the absence of more specific ones, they can help to place the chronology of this family.

It is interesting to note that Mary Chenery, who was left money by her father only under condition that she marry with the consent of her mother, seems to have found this requirement impossible to meet, as she was still unmarried some 40 years later in 1616. This condition, in that it was stated in such a way as to apply only to Mary, implies that she may have been seeing a man of whom her parents disapproved, or at least that her father did not have great confidence in her ability to choose an acceptable husband.

Children of John{3} and Elizabeth (Norwich) Chenery:

i MARY{4} b. perhaps c. 1550-1555. Unmarried in 1616 at the writing of her mother's will. She may have been the Mary Chenery who was buried at Fordham, 17 September 1625.

ii MARGARET b. perhaps about 1560 (she was under 20 in 1575). Married in Kennett, 12 October 1581, to GEORGE MOODY, who was baptized in Moulton, Suffolk, 28 September 1560, son of Richard and Ann (___) Moody. She was buried in Moulton, 25 January 1602/3. George married, second, at Moulton, 19 September 1604, CHRISTIAN KNAPP. This date has erroneously appeared in print as 5 September 1604. In the original, however, it is clearly 19 September. And, although most writers give the bride's name as Christian Cramp, it looks more like Knapp in the register. George was buried at Moulton, 23 August 1607.

iii ELIZABETH b. perhaps about 1562. Married, in 1585 by licence, Bury St. Edmonds, WILLIAM PAYNE. Named in her mother's will as Elizabeth Payne, her husband was identified in a Chancery suit dated 14 May 1595. In this suit, Thomas Hinson, son and heir of William Hinson, gentleman, of Fordham, claimed that Elizabeth Hinson, late wife of William Hinson and mother-in-law of the said Thomas Hinson, together with her son-in-law William Payne, had taken possession of a piece of land that should have been his (Thomas').

She may have been the widow Elizabeth Payne of Worlington, Suffolk, whose will was proven in the Sudbury court on 29 May 1630. In it she mentioned her son Henry Payne, her daughter Dister, her daughter Anne Guest, and her daughter Mary Biggs, wife of Thomas Biggs. One of the witnesses was Elizabeth Dister, perhaps the daughter named in the will.

iv JOAN b. perhaps about 1564; buried at Fordham, 2 January 1640/1. Married JOHN CHEESERIGHT at Fordham, 12 November 1584, who was buried there, 24 October 1615. Joan was executrix (after the renunciation of her brother John) of her mother's will in 1626.

The will of John Cheeseright of Fordham, in which he is styled "gentleman," was proven 30 November 1615. His widow Joan was the executrix, and in it he named sons Mark, John, Edward, Thomas, and Richard Cheeseright, grandson Thomas Cheeseright (a minor), daughters Bridgett Cheeseright, Elizabeth Cheeseright, Sarah Cheeseright, Margaret Cheeseright, Joane Cheeseright, Frances Cheeseright (the youngest daughter), Frances Norridge (not the same person), Amy Shillinge, and Grissell Bentley. He also mentioned his son-in-law Martin Shillinge, gentleman, whom he named as his supervisor. One of the witnesses was a Robert Bentley, presumably the husband of his daughter Grissell.

This appears to have been a family in which two daughters were given the same name. John Cheeseright refers to two daughters named Frances. His youngest daughter Frances was baptized at Fordham, 22 September 1603. His elder daughter Frances was married at Fordham, 17 December 1600, to Mr. John Norredge, parson of Ashley. Since Norredge is a variant spelling of Norwich, this man was probably a close relative of Joan (Chenery) Cheeseright through her mother Elizabeth (Norwich) (Chenery) Hinson, whose family was also from Ashley.

The widow Joan Cheeseright's will was dated 31 May 1633, and proven at Sudbury 4 June 1641. In it she named her daughter Joane, her son-in-law Robert Bently and her daughter Grissell his wife, her daughter Elizabeth (wife of Robert Larkin), her daughter Sarah, and her son Mark, whom she named as her executor. Her supervisor was her son-in-law Thomas Abbs. It is uncertain whether all the children of John Cheeseright were by Joan. Clearly Frances, the youngest daughter, had to have been hers, and her failure to mention this daughter in her will suggests that she may have omitted others of her children.

v JOHN was baptized at Kennett, 8 Feb 1567/8; he was living in 1626, when he renounced executorship of his mother's will. He may have been the John Chenery of Fordham whose children (George, Ann, John, Bridget, and Tomasin) were baptized there between 1600 and 1610. Eleanor, the first wife of this John Chenery, was buried at Fordham, 19 May 1604.

Children of William and Elizabeth (Norwich) Hinson:

vi GRISSELL was baptized at Kennett, 20 Jul 1577. Married at Fordham, 28 May 1600, to WILLIAM FFAIRECLIFFE. Still living at the writing of her mother's will in 1616.

vii ANNE b. perhaps 1579. Married at Fordham, 13 November 1605, to WILLIAM HARTE. Still living in 1616.

4 WILLIAM{3} CHENERY (John{2}, Thomas{1}), was buried at Kennett, 6 Feb 1567/8. He was a husbandman of Howndwell, parish Kennett, Cambridgeshire, at the writing of his will, which was dated 1 January 1567/8, and proven 7 April 1568. In it, he named his wife Anne, whom he made his executor, and his three sons George, Richard, and Thomas, all of whom were under 18 years of age. He also named his brother John Chenery, whom he made his supervisor, and his brother-in-law Thomas Oldfylde. He mentioned his goddaughter Awdrey Haywarde, his godson Henry Costone (Cotton?) of Multon, and his goddaughter Elizabeth Sherocke. Other legatees included John Sherocke, Richard Smythe, Ambrose Prygge, and his maid Mary Horne. Witnesses to the will were John Chinerye, John Sherocke and Thomas Oldfylde of Kennet, William Fyson and Elyce Oldfyld of Kentford.

Children of William{3} and Anne (Oldfylde?) Chenery:

i GEORGE (eldest son)

ii RICHARD (second son) Perhaps the Richard Chenery of Fordham, who was buried there 20 June 1607. His children Richard, William, John, Elizabeth, and Robert were baptized at Fordham between 1592 and 1606. His widow Elizabeth was buried there 7 June 1627.

iii THOMAS (third son)

5 RICHARD{3} CHENERY (John{2}, Thomas{1}), of Kennett, Cambridgeshire, left a will dated 6 November 1563, and proven 7 April 1568. In it he named his wife Phylipe and his son John, who was under 21 years of age. His brother William Chenery was heir to land in Cockfield if John should die. His wife Philipe was named executor. Other heirs included his servant Phylipe Hayward (female, unmarried), servant Richard Cuter (Center?), godson William Oldefyld, goddaughter Mary Chinnery, godson Richard Avery, William Waspe, Elizabeth Dale and Richard Bolabye. Supervisors were his brother John Chenery and Chrystopher Founstone. Witnesses included Sir Olyver Mather, clarke, William Fytzson, John Fytson, John Chinnery, William Chinnery and Chrystopher Ffounstone.

His widow married, second, at Exning, Suffolk, 20 Aug 1567, Richard Drury. She was buried at Exning, 23 Jun 1587, leaving a will, dated 19 Jun 1587 and proven at Sudbury on 2 Oct 1587. In it, she named, among others, her son John Chinnery; his eldest son Richard; his daughters Phillipe (eldest daughter), Anne (second daughter), Katherine (third daughter), Elizabeth (other daughter), Frauncis and Margarett (daughters); and the child that her daughter in law Annis Chenery was carrying at the time.

Child of Richard{3} and Philippe (___) Chenery:

6 i JOHN{4} b. between 1542 and 1554; died 1624.

6 JOHN{4} CHENERY (Richard{3}, John{2}, Thomas{1}), born after 1542 (he was a minor in 1563), and before 1554 (he was given custody of his cousin in 1575). He died in 1624 in Barton, Suffolk. Married first, at Exning, 9 Jul 1570, to AGNES BRIDGEMAN, daughter of William Bridgeman of Exning, Suffolk. She was buried at Kennett, 4 Feb 1615/6. He married second, at Bury St. Edmonds, St. James parish, 24 Oct 1616, widow ELIZABETH BAXTER, who survived him.

Agnes Chenery's identity is established from the will of her father, dated 19 March 1577, and proven at PCC, 19 Langley. In it, he named his daughter Annys Chennery and he requested that land be appraised by John Chenery of Moulton (among others). John Chenery was also one of the witnesses to the will.

John{4} Chenery's will was dated 7 October 1624, and proven in 1624. In it he called himself John Chenery of Barton, yeoman. He requested burial in Kennet near his late deceased wife Agnes. He named his current wife Elizabeth, and referred to "her former husband's inventory." He mentioned his mourning cloak for the death of Sir John Cotton, knight. He named his sons Richard, John, William ("3rd son"), and Charles ("4th son"); his daughters Phillippe Murdon (widow), Katherine Pope, Elizabeth Firmage, Frances Lankester, and Margaret Rose; his grandchildren Olyver Murdon (eldest grandchild), Sarah Chenery (daughter of Richard), John Chenery (eldest son of John), and Robert Cramys. He left his son John his signet ring with the letters J and C engraved. Other legatees were kinswoman Joane Ballard of Isleham and servant George Goodchilde. His executor was his son John and his supervisors were his son-in-law Thomas Pope, John Fyrmage, and Warren Ingrie.

The will of Elizabeth Chenery, widow of John, was dated 10 November 1627, and proven in 1628. In it, she was called "of Kennett" and named her late husband's children: Richard Chenery (eldest son), John Chenery (2nd son), Charles Chenery (4th son), Katherine Pope, wife of Thomas Pope, gentleman, Phillip Morden, Elizabeth Firmage, Frances Ingre, and Margaret Rose. Evidently, Frances had been widowed and remarried by this time.

Children of John{4} and Agnes (Bridgeman) Chenery:

i PHILLIPPE{5} (female), was baptized at Exning, Suffolk, 1 May 1571; she married, by 1593, OLIVER MURDON of Exning, Suffolk. Her husband's will was written in 1621 and proven in 1624, in which he names his wife Phillipe, his sons Oliver, John, William, George, and Martaine, his daughters Anne and Phillipe (both unmarried), and his daughters Bryant and Jhones (presumably their married surnames).

ii ANNE was baptized at Kennett, Cambridgeshire, 9 Mar 1572/3; she was living, "2nd daughter" in her grandmother's will in 1587. Perhaps the Anne Chenery who married Edward Povell at Exning, 18 Nov 1600. She was not named in the wills of her father (1624) and stepmother (1627).

iii RICHARD was baptized at Exning, Suffolk, in April 1575; married with a daughter named Sarah by 1624.

iv KATHERINE probably born about 1577/8; married first, at Exning, Suffolk, 17 Jan 1596, JOHN CHAPMAN; married second, by 1624 to THOMAS POPE, gentleman. Her stepmother, in her 1627 will, refers to her as Katherine, wife of Thomas Pope, gent, but names her son William Chapman as her residual heir.

v ELIZABETH probably born about 1580/1; married by 1624 to (JOHN?) FIRMAGE.

vi FRANCES was baptized at Exning, Suffolk, 15 Nov 1584; married first, at Kennett, Cambridgeshire, 15 Oct 1606 to THOMAS LANCASTER, gentleman, who was buried at Kennett, 5 Jan 1621/2; she married second, at Holy Trinity in Ely, Cambridgeshire, in 1624, WARREN INGREY of Shepreth, Cambridgeshire; she died at Shepreth, a widow, leaving a will dated 1654 and proven in 1662. In it, she named her grandchild Francis (male) Radcote (elsewhere called Redcloake), her son Thomas Lancaster, her daughter in law Elizabeth Lancaster, her son Thomas Ingrey, her daughter in law Mary Ingrey, her grandchild Thomas Ingrey, her grandchild Thomas Lancaster, her daughter Margarett Banks, and her daughter Elizabeth Shipson.

vii MARGARET baptized at Exning, Suffolk, 6 Sep 1586; married to ___ ROSE. She was widowed by 1624, the date of her father's will.

viii JOHN baptized at Exning, Suffolk, 7 Oct 1587; married with an eldest son named John by 1624.

ix WILLIAM baptized at Exning, Suffolk, 11 Oct 1588; perhaps died by 1627, when he is the only child not named by Elizabeth Chenery, his stepmother.

x CHARLES was baptized at Exning, Suffolk, 22 Apr 1591; he was named in the will of his father in 1624 and of his stepmother Elizabeth in 1627.

xi THOMAS was baptized at Exning, Suffolk, 4 Jun 1592 and buried there 20 Jun 1592.