Robert Chesney ¹

  Events

• Manorial Estate, 1334-1361, Shurland Manor, Eastchurch, Sheerness, Kent, ME12, GB. ⁴ MANOR OF SHURLAND, which had antiently owners of this surname; the first of whom, that is mentioned as being of note, is Sir Jeffry de Shurland, who resided here in the reign of king Henry III. in the 9th year of which he was constable of Dover castle. His son was Sir Robert de Shurland, who was a man of eminent authority in the reign of king Edward I. under whom he was lord warden, and in the 28th year of it attended that prince at the siege of Carlaverock, in Scotland, where, with many other Kentish gentlemen, he received knighthood. In the 10th year of that reign he obtained a grant of liberties, among which was wreck of the sea, for his manor here, as he did of freewarren in it in the 29th year of it; soon after which he died, and was buried under a tomb within an arch in the south wall of Minister church, with his effigies in marble lying at length on it, and a horse's head carved on the tomb on his right hand. The figure of the horse's head (which seems either part of the marble on which it lies, or at least to have been firmly fixed to it when the tomb was put up) has given rise to a tale, which has been reported among the common people for many years, that Sir Robert having upon some disgust at a priest, buried him alive, swam on his horse two miles through the sea to the king, who was then on ship-board near this island, and having obtained his pardon, swam back again to the shore, where being told, his horse had performed this by magic art, he cut off his head. About a twelvemonth after which, riding a hunting near the same place, the horse he was then upon stumbled, and threw him upon the scull of his former horse, by which he was so much bruised, that it caused his death: in memory of which, the figure of a horse's head was placed by him on his tomb. The foundation of which story is with more probability supposed to have arisen from Sir Robert Shurland's having obtained the grant of wreck of the sea, as above-mentioned; which privilege is always esteemed to reach as far into the water, as upon the lowest ebb, a, man can ride in and touch any thing with the point of his lance; and on this account the figure of the horse's head was placed by him. He bore for his arms, Azure, five lions ram pant, argent, a canton, ermine; which arms are on the roof of the cloysters of Canterbury cathedral.

He left an only daughter Margaret his heir, who marrying with William, son of Sir Alexander Cheney, entitled him to this manor, of which he died possessed in the 8th year of king Edward III. anno 1323. His grandson Richard Cheney, of Shurland, married Elizabeth, daughter and coheir of Robert Cralle, of Cralle, in Suffex, by whom he had two sons, Sir William, of Shurland, and Simon, who was of Cralle, and ancestor of the Cheneys, of Higham, in this neighbourhood, and of Warblinton, in Suffex.

Sir William Cheney, the eldest son, possessed this manor, in whose descendants, who were at times knights of the shire and sheriffs of this county, it descended down to Sir Thomas Cheney, who was a man of great account in his time; in the 7th year of king Henry VIII. he was sheriff of this county, and served several times in parliament for it. He was elected a knight of the garter in the reign of king Henry VIII. in the 31st of whose reign, as well as in the 2d and 3d years of the succeeding one of king Edward VI. his lands in this county were disgavelled by the acts of those years. By king Henry VIII. he was appointed constable of Queenborough-castle, governor of Rochester, warden of the five ports, and treasurer of the houshold, in which office he continued in the next reign of Edward VI. of whose privy council he was one, and at his death espousing the cause of queen Mary, he was made again lord warden. Queen Elizabeth continued him treasurer of her houshold, and made him of her privy council. He new-built the mansion of Shurland with the materials of Chilham castle, where he before resided, and which he is said to have pulled down and brought hither, and he continued to reside here with great hospitality and sumptuous housekeeping, till the time of his death, which happened in the tower in the 1st year of that reign, and was buried, with great pomp and magnificence, in a small chapel adjoining to the parish church of Minster.

• Manorial Estate, 1334-1361, Ufton Manor, Tunstall, Sittingbourne, Kent, ME10, GB. ⁵ UFTON is a reputed manor, the house of which stands at the northern extremity of this parish, next to Sittingborne. It was antiently the property of the family of Shurland. Sir Robert de Shurland, of Shurland, in Shepey, possessed it in the reign of Edward I. having attended that prince into Scotland, to the siege of Carlaverock, where he was knighted, and in the 29th year of it, he obtained a charter of free warren for his manor of Ufton.

He left an only daughter and heir Margaret, who carried it in marriage to William de Cheney, afterwards of Shurland, who died possessed of it in the 8th year of king Edward III. His descendant Richard Cheney, of Shurland, left issue two sons, William, who was of Shurland, and ancestor of the lords Cheney; and Simon, who seems to have inherited the manor of Ufton. He married Eleonora, daughter and heir of John Nottingham, of Higham, in Milsted, at which place his descendants resided. The Cheneys bore for their arms, Ermine, on a bend, azure, three martlets, or, and quartered the arms of Shurland, Cralle, and Nottingham. They continued owners of this manor, (during which time William Maries resided here in the reign of king Henry VI. as their tenant; in the 21st year of which reign he was sheriff, and kept his shrievalty here) till John Cheney, esq. of Sittingborne, in the beginning of king Henry VIII.'s reign, gave it in marriage with his daughter Frances to John Astley, esq. of Norfolk, the only son of Thomas Astley, esq. of Hill Morton and Melton Constable, in Norfolk, by his first wife Anne; by whose second wife was de scended Sir John Astley, of Maidstone.

• Inquisition: Post mortem, 20 Apr 1334. ² 614. WILLIAM DE CHEYNY.

Writ, 20 April, 8 Edward III.

SUSSEX. Inq. the last day of May, 8 Edward III.

Strete in the rape of Lewes. The manor (extent given), held, jointly with Margery his wife of the gift and feoffment of Hugh de Dunham and Thomas Daggenham by fine levied in the king's court, to hold to the said William and Margery and the heirs of the said William, of Geoffrey de Say by service of 1d. at Michaelmas.

Robert de Cheyny his brother, aged 30 years and more, is his next heir.

KENT. Inq. 9 May, 8 Edward III.

Patrikesbourn. A moiety of the manor, except a rood of land and the knights' fees which sometime belonged to the said moiety, (extent given) including 16s. yearly from a custom called 'Graserthe'; which moiety was sometime in the hand of William de Say, deceased, who held that manor with other lands and tenements of the king in chief by barony; and the said William, sixty years ago, gave the said moiety by charter (except the said rood and knights' fees) to Alexander de Cheyny, grandfather of the said William de Cheyny, and to Agnes his wife, to hold to them and their heirs by service of a pair of gilt spurs or 6d. yearly, and by service of 12s. yearly at the king's castle of Rochester; and after the death of the said Alexander and Agnes, the said William de Cheyny entered on the said moiety (except the said rood &c.), and afterwards gave it to Margaret de Sckirlond and to her heirs for ever, who gave the same to William de Cheyny, son of the said Alexander and Agnes, and to Margaret his wife and the heirs of their bodies; and William de Cheyny, son and heir of the said William and Margaret, died seised in form aforesaid. Heir as above.

KENT. Inq. 6 July, 8 Edward III.

Schirlond. The manor (extent given), held of Lady Philippa, queen of England, as of the manor of Middilton, in gavelkind, by service of 60s. to be paid yearly in the said manor of Middilton; and there are due thence to Margery, late the wife of Robert de Schyrlond, 14l. 13s. 4d. for her life as dower.

Bedemangore. The manor (extent given), whereof the capital messuage &c. 200a. land and the rents, are held of the archbishop of Canterbury as of his manor of Tenham by service of 33s. 10d. yearly, 4 1/2 hens at Christmas, 25 eggs at Easter, and doing suit at the archbishop's court of Tenham every three weeks; 30a. land are held of Humphrey de Bohun in gavelkind, as of the manor of Osprynge which is in his hand by the king's grant, by service of 2s. yearly, a hen at Christmas, and doing suit at the said manor every three weeks; 20a. land are held of Margery de Champayne in gavelkind, as of her manors of Norton and Newenham by service of 20s. yearly, 3 cocks and 13 hens at Christmas, and doing suit at her court in the said manors every three weeks; and 20a. land are held of the master and brethren of Maison Dieu (Domus Dei), Osprynge, in gavelkind, by service of 3s. 4 3/4d. yearly, 2 hens at Christmas, 50 eggs at Easter, and doing suit at their court of Osprynge every three weeks.

All held jointly with Margery his wife, by fine levied in the king's court, of the gift of Hugh de Dunham, chaplain, and Thomas Pynke, to hold to them and the heirs of the said William for ever.

Heir as above.

C. Edw. III. File 39. (20.)

• Inquisition: Post mortem, 6 Mar 1362. ³ 304. ROBERT CHEYNE, knight.

Writ, 6 March, 36 Edward III.

KENT. Inq. (indented) taken at Midelton, 12 April, 36 Edward III.

Schirlond in the Isle of Schepeye. The manor, held of Philippa, queen of England, by service of rendering 4l. yearly and doing suit to her courts at Midelton held after Easter and after Michaelmas.

He died on 7 November last. Richard Chenny and Roger Chenny his sons, aged respectively 10 years and 6 years, are his heirs. The manor is held in 'gavilkyndeys.'

Ufton. The manor, in the parishes of Tunstall, Midelton and Sidyngbourn, held of Philippa, queen of England, as of the manor of Midelton, as parcel of the manor of Schirlond, by service as above.

Date of death and heirs repeated.

Patrikesbourn. The manor, held of the lord de Say by service of rendering yearly a pair of spurs or 6d.

He held no other lands &c. in the country.

Date of death repeated. Richard Cheyne his son, aged as above, is his heir of this manor.

C. Edw. III. File 169. (8.)

Robert married.