Key Facts

Snapshot:	member of Parliament gave money for the Hundred Years' War
Parents:	1050812Richard Cheyne 1050813Margery Cralle
Born:	probably 1370's location unknown
Died:	between 31 May and 14 June 1441 location unknown
Buried:	in St. Mary and St. Sexburgha Church, Minster-on-Sea, Isle of Sheppey, Kent, England church's coordinates: N51.4221 E0.8120

Note: This profile draws heavily from: J. S. Roskell, L. Clark, and C. Rawcliffe, eds., The History of Parliament: The House of Commons, 1386-1421, page 557, a biography of William Cheyne (d. 1441). There's an online copy, as well. Their biography cites some additional sources that I have not incorporated below—deliberately, since I didn't consider the information interesting, genealogically important, or (in a few cases) was unable to verify/find supporting evidence. If you intend to review their source citations, this list of abbreviations will prove helpful.

525406William Cheyne's parents are 1050812Richard Cheyne and 1050813Margery Cralle, as explained below. He was probably born in the 1370's (since he was apparently an adult in 1398, the earliest known record of him1).

Problem: Resolved Who are 525406William's parents? In their History of Parliament biography, Roskell et al. assert that 525406William's parents are "Richard Cheyne of Shurland" and "Margery, da[ughter] and event[ual] coh[eir] of Robert Cralle of Cralle, Suss[ex]." 2 This is consistent with a pedigree shown in: W. Harry Rylands, ed., The Four Visitations of Berkshire [...], Volume I (London, 1907), page 103. The relevant portion is copied below. Frustratingly, other sections of this pedigree show known errors. I have found no record that explicitly identifies 525406William's father. However, we do know that in 1362 1050812Richard inherited a manor at Patrixbourne from his father 2101624Robert.3 As of 1431 525406William likewise owned a manor at Patrixbourne.4 The apparent inheritance of the property strongly supports the visitation's claim. As with 525406William's father, I've similarly found no record that explicitly identifies 525406William's mother. As noted previously, though, we do know that 525406William was an adult in 1398, the earliest known record of him, so he was probably born in the 1370's.1 We also know that his father 1050812Richard had married 1050813Margery by December 1374.5 Since we know that 1050812Richard was married to 1050813Margery around the same time that 525406William was born, it's exceedingly likely that 1050813Margery was 525406William's mother.

525406William had married his wife 525407Eleanor Salerne by February 1405, as proven by a fine.6 (In addition to the fine, they're also mentioned together as heirs of 2101626John Salerne in a 1420 land record.7)

Willo Cheyne + Elianore uxr̄ ("William Cheyne and Eleanor [his] wife") mentioned in a 1405 fine. Full page.6

Although 525406William did own property on the mainland (specifically at Bridge and Milton),8 he was based mostly on the Isle of Sheppey, which came with some challenges: In autumn 1404 his land was flooded by seawater, and an emergency work committee was appointed to help drain the water and repair barrier walls.9 In 1415 he donated for the upkeep of Rochester Bridge.10 (In 525406William's day, this was a stone bridge, but it was later demolished and replaced with a more modern structure.) This bridge would've been helpful for transportation, especially between the Isle of Sheppey and London—and therefore probably important for 525406William, who in 1426 received a license to export grain.11

Created circa 1675, this painting shows Rochester Bridge when it was still the stone bridge12 as it was in 525406William's day. Two centuries earlier, 525406William had donated for the upkeep of this bridge.10

In 1416 525486William served one term in the House of Commons. Roskell et al. opine that while there 525486William may have associated with his more experienced fellow member John Wilcotes,2 to whom 525486William was related by marriage, and for whom 525486William would later help handle some personal business.13

In 1423 525406William served as the Sheriff of Kent.14 In July 1428 he and 525407Eleanor were admitted to the fraternity of Canterbury's Christ Church Priory,15 a monastery affiliated with a prominent, historic church about 25 kilometers southeast of 525406William's usual residence. 525406William presumably visited the church at times, and a significant portion of the church is as it was in 525406William's day.

The interior of Canterbury Cathedral, the successor to Christ Church Priory, whose fraternity 525406William and 525407Eleanor joined in July 142815

In 1436 525406William contributed £40 for an English army that would soon be deployed to France, no doubt as part of the Hundred Years' War.16

Below is an abstract of 525406William's will, or see a full transcription of the original Latin.17

WILLIAM CHEYNE, Esquier, last day of May 1441. To be buried in the chapel of Saint Katherine within the Abbey of St. Mary and St. Sexburga in the Isle of ‘Scapeia’. I leave to the painting of the Cross and to the making of the benches (formulorum) anew being remade within the parish church of Estchirch 10 marcs. To the reparation of the chapel of St. Katherine in the church of Menster "j vodir plumbi". To the Prioresse of the Monastery of Menstre for tithes forgotten 20s. To each Canoness of the said house 3s. 4d. To Sir Willm Baldraye chaplain 3s. 4d. To the parish clerk of Menstr 20d. To each priest serving at my exequies and singing mass 6d. To each poor person 2d. To the Vicar of Estchurch 3s. 4d. To the parish clerk of Estchirche 20d. To Robert Pecard 13s. 4d., Guy Clouche a cow and 4 mother sheep, and the same to John Sparwe, Peter Curtyn, Simon Crowede, John Borden, Willm Philepot. To Philip Filepot 10s. and a mother sheep. To Thomas Crips a bullock and two sheep and the same to John Clement John London, and John Kembar. To Bartholomew Sprotte 13s. 4d. I leave ten marcs for mass to be celebrated for my soul in the house of the Carthusian Order called Charterhouse in London. £20 for a chaplain to celebrate and pray for my soul in the chapel of St. Katherine in the parish church of Mynstr "fundata et constructa". Itm 20 marcs for a chaplain to celebrate and pray for my soul for two years in the parish wheresoever Alienora my wife shall be drawn to reside immediately after my decease. I leave Gawyn Elys 10 marcs. Item to the fabric (fabrice) of the parish church of Leysdon 5 marcs. To John Salemon 13s. 4d. Residue to Eleanor my wife and she and John Cheyne my son executors. Proved 14 June 1441.

St. Mary and St. Sexburgha Church still exists, is at coordinates N51.4221 E0.8120, and has a website. A photo of the church is below.18

St. Mary and St. Sexburgha Church,18 where 525406William is buried

Within the church is a stone effigy that has a peculiar history; you can read more about it in J. Cave-Browne's report in Archaeologia Cantiana. Cave-Browne proposes that this effigy might depict 525406William, but this is uncertain.19 A photo of the effigy is below.20

This effigy might depict 525406William. Bigger copy.20

Sources Cited:

1: Calendar of Close Rolls, Richard II: Volume 6, 1396-1399 (London, 1927), pages 240 and 281.

2: J. S. Roskell, L. Clark, and C. Rawcliffe, eds., The History of Parliament: The House of Commons, 1386-1421, page 557, a biography of William Cheyne (d. 1441). I used an online version of the biography.

3: Calendar of Inquisitions Post Mortem and Other Analogous Documents Preserved in the Public Record Office, Volume XI, Edward III (London, 1935), pages 240-241.

4: Inquisitions and Assessments Relating to Feudal Aids [...]: 1284-1431, Volume 3 (London, 1904), page 70. The entry is from Bridge Hundred and reads, "Willelmus Chayne fuit seisitus eodem die etc. de manerio de Patrikkesbourne, tento per servicium di. f. m." To interpret this record correctly, it's necessary to be familiar with seisin.

5: Kent Archives reference U991/T10. I found this reference cited in an unpublished (as of spring 2022) article by Nathan Murphy titled "The Parentage of Joan, Wife of Thomas Town (d. 1422-1424}."

6: UK National Archives reference CP 25/1/112/263/248. I obtained an image of this record from: Anglo-American Legal Tradition, O'Quinn Law Library, University of Houston; <http://aalt.law.uh.edu/AALT4/CP25(1)/CP25_1_112/IMG_0289.htm>, accessed 12 May 2022. An abstract of this record at <https://www.kentarchaeology.ac/Records/KRNS5-2.pdf> (Search "248") reads as follows:

	(248) Westminster: Morrow of the Purification 6 Henry IV
	Q. Richard Huntyndone
	D. John Salerne of Idenne and wife Agnes
	A messuage, 180 acres land, 10 acres meadow, 10 acres wood, 3s ½d rent and rent of 4 hens in Ebbene, Stone and Wyghtrysham. To hold to John and Agnes for their lives. Remainder to (1) William Cheyne and wife Eleanor for their lives (2) the heirs of John.

7: UK National Archives reference CP 25/1/113/291/316. An abstract of this record at <https://www.kentarchaeology.ac/Records/KRNS5-3.pdf> (Search "316") reads as follows:

	Westminster: In the octave of Saint Martin 8 Henry V
	Q: Margery late wife of John Salerne of Idenne by John Basset her attorney
	D: Simon Cungherst and Stephen Wynday
	The manor of Northwode with appurtenances in Shepeye, one messuage and 100 acres of land with appurtenances in Bylsyngton, Seynt Mariecherch and Allehalwynhope. To hold to Margery for life. remainder to (1) Isabel Salerne daughter of John and Margery and the heirs of her body, (2) William Cheyne of Shepeye and Eleanor his wife, (3) John Cheyne son of William and Eleanor and his heirs. To hold of the chief lords of that fee by the services which to the aforesaid manor pertain in perpetuity.

8: Inquisitions and Assessments Relating to Feudal Aids [...]: 1284-1431, Volume 6 (London, 1920), page 467.

9: Calendar of the Patent Rolls Preserved in the Public Record Office, Henry IV, Volume II (1401-1405), 502.

10: M. Janet Becker, Rochester Bridge: 1387-1856, A History of Its Early Years (London, 1930), pages 65-66. The History of Parliament article (citation #2 above) summarizes, "About four years later he himself was one of the benefactors of Rochester bridge, with the grant of a rent called 'Poytevyns' in Leysdown, Sheppey, worth £2 a year."

11: Annual Report of the Deputy Keeper of the Public Records, Volume 48 (London, 1887), page 244.

12: An anonymous painting created circa 1675 of ships in the Medway and now stored at the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London. Wikimedia, <https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ships_Laid_Up_in_the_Medway_RMG_BHC0832.tiff>, accessed 14 May 2022.

13: Calendar of the Fine rolls preserved in the Public Record Office, Volume 14, page 413.

14: Edward Hasted, The History and Topographical Survey of the County of Kent, Volume I, 2nd edition, page 192.

15: British Library, Arundel MS 68, folio 60. According to a catalogue of the Arundel manuscripts, this particular page relates to "Nomina receptorum in fraternitatem ab an. 1415 usque ad an. 1454." I have not seen the original record and merely used the description from: J. S. Roskell, L. Clark, and C. Rawcliffe, eds. The History of Parliament: The House of Commons, 1386-1421, the profile for William Cheyne (d. 1441). Their description reads, "Together with his wife and their son John, Cheyne was admitted to the fraternity of Christ Church priory, Canterbury, in July 1428."

16: Proceedings and Ordinances of the Privy Council, Volume 4, page 328. The description of the purpose of the fundraising is on page 316.

17: E. F. Jacob, ed., and H. C. Johnson, The Register of Henry Chichele, Archbishop of Canterbury: 1414-1443, Volume II (University Press, Oxford, 1937), pages pages 584-585. This a transcription of the will of Willelmus Cheyne, which is in Latin. Leland Duncan's English abstract is available at <https://web.archive.org/web/20120305150404/https://www.kentarchaeology.org.uk/Research/Libr/Wills/Lbth/Bk22/page%20206.htm>. I have been unable to find the original record that Jacob and Johnson transcribed.

18: Chris Whippet, "Minster Abbey," Wikimedia, <https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Minster_Abbey_-_geograph.org.uk_-_1805913.jpg>, accessed 12 May 2022. Mr. Whippet has made this image available under a CC-BY-SA 2.0 license.

19: J. Cave-Browne, "Minster in Sheppey," Archaeologia Cantiana, Volume 22, pages 162-163.

20: Simon Cope, "Effigy of a knight in early 15th-century armour" (photographed 2 May 2016). Flickr, <https://www.flickr.com/photos/slim_cop/26206144823/in/album-72157667319028900/>, accessed 15 May 2022. Mr. Cope has made this image available under a Creative Commons BY-SA 2.0 license.