Captain Jonathan Nickerson

JONATHAN NICKERSON was a Sea Captain and ship owner, as is father and grandfather were before him. While master of his own vessel he was captured by a British Frigate in the War of 1812, and ordered to follow his captor. During the first night they were becalmed, and when a breeze sprang up he sailed out of reach of the guns of the frigate and escaped. After the war he combined merchandising and ship owner, and accumulated quite a fortune. He was one of the committee of six chosen on 6 April 182 9, to purchase a suitable location for the Universalist Meeting House, and the cost of erecting same. On 4 January 1830 he was on the committee to sell pews for the new meeting house. On 14 March 1831, and 12 March 1832 he was chosen treasurer of the church. In 1836 he was on a committee to chose a spot for the parish house, and took five shares in defraying expense for $75. In 1846 He was on the committee concerning the cost of making changes in the meeting house and the cost of a new house. On 2 March 1848, he was on the committee for building the new meeting house. He subscribed $75, for purchase of an organ in January 1852. Source: The Nickerson Family, Descendants of William Nickerson, Part 4