Joseph Nickerson (1647 - aft. 1725)

Born Dec 1647 in Yarmouth, Plymouth Colony, New England

Ancestors

Descendants

Died after 1725 after age 77 in Harwich, Barnstable, Massachusetts Bay Colony

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Biography

On 3 June 1668, Joseph was involved with his father and other family members in the charge of affronting Thomas Howes, late constable of Yarmouth in his office.^[1]

Joseph and Ruhamah were married before 5 Mar. 1677/8, when she was mentioned in the colonial records as being Joseph’s wife.^[2]

On 1 June 1680, he was on the grand jury, and in 1684 he was chosen Constable.^[3]

In 1693 Joseph was surveyor of highways for Monomoy.^[4]

Joseph went with his father to Monomoit (now Chatham) where he lived on a tract of land his father conveyed to him north of Ryder's Cove. On 7 July 1685, Joseph of Monomay, brought action against William Griffeth Sr. for trespass on a parcel of land near the residence of the widow Eldredge. This was withdrawn.^[5]

For several years he lived in East Harwich, but on 1 Apr. 1697, he purchased all the marsh from the mouth of Muddy Cove River to the head along with 50 acres of upland lying on the southerly side, abutting the marsh William Nickerson bought from the Indians. He bought this land from Barnabas Lothrop for £25.^[6]

He also owned lots 6 and 16 in the Quason Purchase on Long Pond at a Proprietors meeting 19 Apr. 1714. ^[7]

Joseph was the hog reeve in 1721, and was to look after the pigs going at large to make sure they were "ringed and yolked". ^[8]

Thomas Howse died in 1700 and was a shopkeeper in town. Among the long list of creditors to his estate was Joseph Nickerson who owed him £1.10s.6d. ^[9]

"Joseph Nickerson of Monamoy... yeoman, for & in Consideration of my Real Love and Goodwill to my Natural son, William Nickerson of Monamoy... have Given... unto him... all that my Percel of upland and meadow... on the Northerly Side of the Muddy Cove River in the Township of Harwich... containing thirty acres more or less: with free Liberty for Cutting fire wood fenceing Stuff and Timber with Liberty of Herbage on all my undivided Land on that Side of Said River." The deed is dated 5 Nov. 1709, and was witnessed by Joseph Higgins, Eben Hawes, and Joseph Doane.^[10]

Joseph died sometime after 1725 when his son was called Joseph Nickerson “Jr.”, and before 1731 when Ruhamah was listed as being his widow.^[11]

Ruhamah was evidently a great beauty, but "of a disagreeable nature" and delighted in harassing others, so much so that her neighbors tried not to offend her. It was said that if provoked she would play havoc with their washing, their choice plants and the fruits of their harvest. She was ready for an argument at any time. She was even suspected when Edward Banks' barn was burned after they had quarreled. Ruhamah said she was sick at the time of the trial and Joseph petitioned the court for an abatement. Joseph had given surety for Ruhamah to the sum of £50 and the court wanted to know whether or not to levy this fine. Joseph had failed to attend court and pleaded ignorance of the law of releases and stated that any adverse action at that time would cause him to loose his estate and render himself and his wife destitute in their old age. Col. Otis ruled tentatively in favor of Joseph 7 Mar. 1710/1.^[12]

Joseph also petitioned the court to have his farm restored to him 27 June 1711. ^[13]

Ruhamah lived to a great age [because only the good die young?] and on 21 Oct. 1735, the town of Harwich was ordered to pay £8/1/3 for her care, "an aged impotent woman destitute of any estate or relations by law obliged to support her", in the home of John Eldredge. Evidently she had remained sitting for so many years that upon her death it was thought best to bury her in "the same crooked position". ^[14]

Sources

1. ↑ Plymouth Colony Records- Vol. IV, pp. 183-4
2. ↑ Plymouth Colony Records- Vol. V, p. 253
3. ↑ Plymouth Colony Records- Vol. VI, pp. 36, 129
4. ↑ The History of Cape Cod- Frederick Freeman, George C Rand & Avery, Boston, 1862- Vol. II, p. 587
5. ↑ Plymouth Colony Records- Vol. VII, p. 288
6. ↑ History of Barnstable County- Simeon L. Deyo, NY, 1890- p. 837; History of Harwich- p.124
7. ↑ History of Barnstable County- Simeon L. Deyo, NY, 1890- pp.176-7
8. ↑ History of Barnstable County- Simeon L. Deyo, NY, 1890- p. 210
9. ↑ Barnstable County Probate- Vol. II, p. 117
10. ↑ Unrecorded Barnstable County Deeds- The Mayflower Descendant- Vol. VIII, p. 156
11. ↑ The History of Cape Cod- Frederick Freeman, George C Rand & Avery, Boston, 1862- Vol. II, pp. 505-7; History of Barnstable County- Simeon L. Deyo, NY, 1890- p. 837
12. ↑ Mass. Archives- Vol.40, pp.954-5
13. ↑ Mass. Archives- Vol.113, p.610
14. ↑ Thomas Doane Papers

• This person was created through the import of Bishop Family Tree.ged on 18 February 2011.
• The Nickerson Family- Pauline Wixon Derick, Ed., The Nickerson Family Assoc., Inc., 1976- p. 23
• Library of Cape Cod History and Genealogy- No. 91, p. 1321
• Nickerson Family Association Research Project.- "NICKERSON" Surname DNA Project- History Town Of Chatham/Monomoyick- East Harwich,Massachusetts.
• Source: S1114159117 Repository: #R1100812944 Ancestry Family Trees Publication: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members. Ancestry Family Tree http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/AMTCitationRedir.aspx?tid=115217896&pid=1719
• Repository: R1100812944 Ancestry.com