William Nichols (of Topsfield)

Biography

Son of William Nichols 1573 – 1620 and Ann Brown 1579 – 1620. He was born about 1599 probably in North Luffenham, Rutland, The year of birth is certain. England. His date of birth is based on his own deposition in 1652 he stated his birth was 1599. He gave another deposition on 14 May 1694 where he stated he was aged upward of 100 years. He stated before Judge Curwin that he had lived upwards of 42 years on a farm he bought from Henry Bartholomew (between Salem and Ipswitch). He swore in 24 June 1662 that he was 63 years. Source: Savage. The farm on which he lived was originally in North Salem. The are became part of Topsfield in 1650 and later Middleton in 1728. He lived there with his wife Mary and his three children: John, Hannah and Mary on 180 acres. He conveyed his homestead to his son John and his wife Lydia. With the financial assistance of his father son John built a massive homestead of fine quality which as of 1897 was stiill being used as the Ferncroft Inn. There is an excellent discussion of this in the Essex Antiquarian. See below.

He married a first wife probably in England named Mary or Margaret, Gengell (or Gingel). She was the sister of John Gengell and quite possibly the sister of Hannah Gengell who married Bray Wilkins. Note that two Bray Wilkins and Hannah's children married two of the children of WIlliam Nichols. Tradition has it that she died circa 1640.

He married second to Mary Southwick who was baptized 13 May 1632 in Kingswinford, Staffordshire, England – and died 1696. She was the widow of Henry Trask 1629 - 1689.

William Nichols had three children:

1) John Nichols 1640 – 1700 married Lydia Wilkins 1644 – 1739 in 1663. He was aged 69 years when he died.

2) Hannah Nichols 1646 – 1717 married Thomas Wilkins 1647 – 1717 in 1667.

3) Mary Nichols c 1653 – 1695 married Thomas Cavis (or Cave) in 1674. Her birth date is unknown but based on the marriage date she was probably born circa 1653. Mary Nichols and Thomas Cavis had children: Sarah, Hannah, Abigail, Rebecca, Thomas, John and Anna. Note the last named is variously recorded as Cavis, Cave or Cavies but Cavis is actually the most common.

Note all three children are mentioned unambiguously in the will of William NIchols.

These children were were too old to be the children of Mary Southwick in my opinion. While Mary Southwick was certainly old enough to be the mother of the last daughter Mary (Nichols) Cavis presumable Mary Southwick would have still be married to her first husband Henry Trask around the time of that all three children were born including Mary (Nichols) Cavis's birth. Therefore logic dictates that all three of William's children were not born to to Mary Southwick but probably to his first wife. Note that my personal argument here flies in the face of traditional genealogy that claims that Mary Southwick was the mother of William Nichols children. So please decide for yourself.

Death

   1695 7 Feb — Age: 96

   Danvers, Essex, Massachusetts, USA

   Will dated 26 Apr 1693 probated 17 Feb 1695

William, Nichols's will of 26 Apr 1683 probated 17 Feb 1696 mentions his wife Mary Southwick and children John Nichols, Mary Nichols wife Thomas Cavis and Hannah Nichols wife of Thomas Wilkins. He appointed John Trask and Daniel Southwick as executors of his will but they renouncing the trust, administration was granted to his son John Nichols, "the widow being aged and not capable to manage such an affair." Wiliam Nichols, by his will, gave his wife Mary 1/2 the farm for life and a feather bed and cow, and the residue between said wife and my children. His widow signed the following declaration, this year: "Topsfield in the year 1695-6, be it known to all men whom this presents shall come before, that I, Mary Nichols, do attest and say that my son Nichols hath done for his father and mother Nichols in the fime of his father's sickness and before and since as much as he could conveniently do for us. February the 24th." (Inventory of Wm. Nichols' estate, L-14,9s,11d.)

That his wife was the same Mary Southwich who married Henry Trask can be proven by a citation on April 20 1694 in count: Mary Nichols, wife of William Nichols, Senior and relict of Henry Trask, to accept administration of estate of Henry Trask; it being shown by petition of Jeremiah Meacham, Jr., and Joseph Foster, that no one had hitherto administered on the estate of their father-in-law. The petitioners state, "that whereas there is a small estate left by our said father-in-law Henry Trask, and no person hitherto hath lawfully administered on said estate nor hath any will of the deceased by proved, whereby we know not how to come at our rights, wherefore pray," etc.

Biography by Roland Henry Baker, III

== Sources == Bio of William Nichols 1599-1696 in A genealogical dictionary of the first settlers of New England showing three generations of those who came before May, 1692, on the basis of Farmer's Register ... By James Savage Published 1860 by Little, Brown and company in Boston. Text: http://genweb.net/~books/savage/ electronic version 4/2000 http://www.usgennet.org/usa/vt/state/savage/ 10/2002 http://genweb.net/~books/savage/

The Essex Antiquarian Vol 1 # 4 1897 Article on William Nichols called "Old Nichols Homestread, Now Ferncroft Inn" by Andrew Nichols.

http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/59016579/person/48360217080

DAR library, Southwick Genealogy

New England Marriages Prior to 1700 Title: New England Marriages Prior To 1700 Author: Clarence Almon Torrey Publication: CD-ROM, New England Historical Genealogical Society, 2001 Genealogical Publishing Company, Inc., 1985.

http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=ryder10&i...

http://ntgen.tripod.com/bw/south_index.html

Mary was baptized in Kingswinford, Staffordshire on 13 May 1632 (Janet Ireland Delorey, A Study of Lawrence and Cassandra Southwick, Privately published, 1997, 56, citing transcription of Kingswinford Register, Family History Library, Salt Lake City)

William Carroll Hill, The Family of Bray Wilkins(Milford, NH: The Cabinet Press, 1943)

The genealogy of the Descendants of Lawence and Cassandra Southwick of Salam, Massachusetts by James Moore Caller 1881.

A study of Lawrence and Cassandra Southwick by Janet Ireland Delorey 1997.

The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Volume 56 p 73 link

See section on Bray Wilkins here: http://www.familyhistorypages.com/Wilkins.htm <references />

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• The old families of Salisbury and Amesbury, Massachusetts ; with some related families of Newbury, Haverhill, Ipswich and Hampton by Hoyt, David Webster
• https://archive.org/details/cu31924025963772
• https://archive.org/stream/cu31924025963772#page/n280/mode/1up
• Pg.265
• 1 WILLIAM1 NICHOLS of Topsfield, b. ab. 1599; m. Mary ---- . He was of Salem in 1637; bought land in Topsfield in 1651. Will April 26, 1693; Feb. 17, 1695-6; wife Mary and chil. ment., without names. The following appear in a petition. Children:
  • 2 I MARY,2 b. ---- ; m. Thomas Cane, Sen., [or Cave], of Topsfield; liv. 1696.
  • 3 II HANNAH,2 b. ---- ; m. Thomas Wilkins of Salem; liv. 1696.
  • 4 III JOHN,2 b. ab. 1641; m. Lydia ---- . +
• 4 JOHN2 NICHOLS (Wm.1), of Topsfield, b. ab. 1641; m. Lydia ---- . Will Oct. 12, Nov. 11, 1700 ; wife Lydia ment. Children :
  • 5 I WILLIAM,3 b. ---- ; liv. 1700.
  • 6 II ANNA,3 b. ---- ; m. Francis Elliot.
  • 7 III JOHN,3 b. Jan. 14,1667; m. 1st, Constant ---- ; 2d, Martha ---- ; liv. 1700; res. Topsfield; prob. d. 1757; chil. Edward,4 John,4 Samuel.4
  • 8 IV THOMAS,3 b. ---- ; res. Sutton; liv. 1700.
  • 9 V ISAAC,3 b. ---- ; prob. d. young.
  • 10 VI LYDIA,3 b. ---- ; m. Aquila Wilkins; liv. 1700.
  • 11 VII RACHEL,3 b. ---- ; m. Humphrey Case.
  • 12 VIII ELIZABETH,3 b. ---- ; m. Thomas Brewer.
  • 13 IX EBENEZER,3 b. ---- ; liv. 1700.
  • 14 X MARGARET,3 b. ---- ; liv. 1700. __________________________________
• NICHOLS, William
• b. ABT 1599 England
• d. FEB 1695/6 Topsfield, Essex, Mass.
• Family:
• Children:
  • NICHOLS, John
• From: http://www.genealogyofnewengland.com/f_b2a.htm#77 _____________

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1 _UPD 18 OCT 2017 14:55:51 GMT -0600 2 AGE 93-94