Charles Cheney and his family were second generation tobacco planters.
In 1700, tobacco was Maryland’s dominant cash crop, particularly in Southern Maryland, which was ideal for its growth with its suitable soil, ample rain, and river access for transportation.
The crop was so central to Maryland’s society that it was used as currency to pay taxes, debts, and even official salaries.
Richard Cheney died in early 1685. He was probably in his 60s. He’d lived in the South River Hundred in Maryland for 35 years.
This story traces the final mentions of Richard, the inheritance left to his children, and the legacy that endured beyond his burial.
In 17th-century Maryland, disease, childbirth, and the harsh conditions of frontier living claimed lives early and often.
Charity Cheney, wife of Richard, was an unfortunate victim.
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Anne Arundel County, Maryland, requires an archaeological survey before any new construction project begins.
In 1998, a routine survey for a housing subdivision near Riva Road uncovered something extraordinary: the remains of the 1658-era homestead of Richard and Charity Cheney.
What began as a compliance dig quickly evolved into a landmark discovery—Cheney Hill, perched atop a steep knoll overlooking the South River.
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Family Nibbles 