John James Nichols III (1784 - 1836)

Born 1784 in VA.

Ancestors

Husband of Margaret (Scantling) Nichols — married 25 Jul 1816 in Bedford Co VA

Descendants

Died 15 Dec 1836 at about age 52 in TN.

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Biography

John J Nichols III1,3,8 was born in 1784/85 in Virginia.

He appeared in the census in 1830 in Sevier County, Tennessee.

p.98, line 21, Sevier County, Tennessee, 1830 John J. Nichols 1110001-010001

00-04 1826-1830 1 0 Wyatt F. Nichols 05-09 1821-1825 1 1 Parker J. Nichols, Sarah F. (Sally) Nichols 10-14 1816-1820 1 0 Elijah Nichols 15-19 1811-1815 0 0 20-29 1801-1810 0 0 30-39 1791-1800 0 1 Margaret (Peggy) Scantling 40-49 1781-1790 1 John J. Nichols

He died on 15 Dec 1836 in Sevier County, Tennessee.

He was buried about 16 Dec 1836 in Shiloh Cemetery, Pigeon Forge, Sevier County, Tennessee.3 Tombstone: John J. Nichols, d. 15 Dec 1836, Pvt. 5 Rdgt. Va. Militia War of 1812.

He received a small shotgun in the 1803 will of his grandfather John Nichols, Sr.

The following is from The Nichols Book.

John J. Nichols was born in Virginia about 1784 or 1785. He was my great, great grandfather. In all my research to this date of this man, he is the only child born to John and Sarah Payne Nichols. (Sarah is believed to be the widow of Zacharia Payne.) He is the boy that inherited the small shotgun from his grandfather.

I have no record of any incidents in his life until the War of 1812. Here we find him in the Fifth Regiment, Virginia Militia during the war. He was mustered out in 1814.

I do not know whether he met Margaret Scantling (spelled Scanlan in Revolutionary days) while in the Army or if he knew her in Bedford County, Virginia. She was much younger than he, perhaps fifteen or sixteen years, and her father was very much against the marriage. I have been told by some of his grandsons that there was much bitterness between the two over her decision to marry John J. Nichols. It is my belief that the Scantlings did not live in Bedford County at this time. I also believe from what I have been told and the Court Records in Bedford County, Virginia, that she slipped away from her home, no doubt, with John J. Nichols' help and came to Bedford County to be married. A license was issued for their marriage in September 1816. They were married by a Reverend Henderson, a Methodist preacher shortly thereafter.

This intensified the bitterness between John J., his wife, and her father. She finally persuaded John to leave Virginia and go to Sevier County, Tennessee. Here his Uncle Flayl Nichols had lived since 1789.

They settled near Middle Creek. This is about four miles east of the present city of Sevierville, Tenn. Here he settled down to farming. There were many hardships during their first years there. Some of the settlers in that area at that time had many slaves and due to the fact that some Nichols families had considered it morally wrong to have human slaves since the 1760's and 1770's there were some disagreements between the settlers. Most of the Nichols that I have any record of were wealthy enough to own many slaves but the Nichols families of this lineage generally speaking did not care to possess slaves. There were a few families of this lineage that did own some, but not many. In my research about this matter I found where some of the Nichols families that were large did have a few slaves, mostly negro Wenches to help in the house and look after the small children.

John J. Nichols and Margaret Scantling Nichols had five children, namely, from the oldest to the youngest, Elijah, Parker J., Sarah (generally spoken of as Sally), Wyatt and Claressa.

John Nichols is buried at the Shiloh Cemetery, three or four miles south of Sevierville, Tennessee.

John J. Nichols died Dec. 15, 1836.

John J Nichols III and Margaret (Peggy) Scantling were married in Sep 1816.

Margaret (Peggy) Scantling1,3,9 was born about 1800 in Virginia.

She was living in 1816/17 in Sevier County, Tennessee. Margaret Scantling and John J. Nichols moved to Sevier County in 1816 or 1817 and it was there that they raised their family.

She appeared in the census in 1830 in Sevier County, Tennessee. Age 30-39, enumerated in the household of her husband John J. Nichols.

She appeared in the census in 1840 in Sevier County, Tennessee.

p.171a, line 15, Sevier County, Tennessee, 1840 Margaret Nichols 00011-010101 1 male slave 55-99 5 people total 2 engaged in agriculture

00-04 0 0 1836-1840 05-09 0 1 1831-1835 Claressa Nichols 10-14 0 0 1826-1830 15-19 1 1 1821-1825 Wyatt F. Nichols, Sarah F. (Sally) Nichols 20-29 1 0 1811-1820 Parker J. Nichols 30-39 0 1 1801-1810 Margaret (Peggy) Scantling

She appeared in the census in 1850 in Sevier County, Tennessee. 12th Eastern Division, Sevier County, Tennessee, 11 Sep 1850; p.414a, dwelling number 397, family number 397; Nichols Margaret 49 f w $170 VA; Sarah 25 f w TN; Wiet 21 m w TN; Clerisa 18 f w TN attended school; Mary 7 f w TN attended school; Nancy 5 f w TN; John 8/12 m w TN.

She signed a will on 20 Apr 1859 in Sevier County, Tennessee.

I Margaret Nichols do make and constitute this my last will and testament. First it is my will that my daughter Clarissa Duggan have one half of my town lot which is lying in Sevierville South of Main Street and West of Crop Street where I formerly live to have the use and benefit of during her natural life and at her death to decend to her children. It is my will that my daughter Sallie Nichols have the other half of the above named town lot during her natural life and at her death to decend to her children. It is my will that the division line of said town lot between my two said daughters shall be as follows beginning on a plum tree on the street between the two houses and running directly through the lot to a plum tree below the stable at the fence and that my daughter Clarissa Duggan have the East Side and my daughter Sallie the West Side.

It is my will that the debts owing to me by W. F. Nichols and B. U. Chandler be equally divided between my two daughters Sally Nichols and Clarissa Duggan after all my just debts are paid out of the proceeds of said debts. It is my will that the debt owing to me by John McMahan as the proceeds of said debt be equally devided between all my children to wit Elijah Nichols, P.B. Nichols, Sally Nichols, and Clarissa Duggan and if it should appear that my son Elijah Nichols is dead or should not appear within five years from my death to receive his share of said debt then in that event I will that the share intended for him shall go to my other two sons W. F. Nichols and P. B. Nichols. I will and bequeth the following property to wit my cow and calf, cooking stove and utentials, side saddle, clock one bead, head stead and furniture to may daughter Sally Nichols, I will and bequeath to my daughter Clarissa Duggan the following property to wit one bead, head stead and furniture my bureau, wash bowl pitcher, and looking glass. It is my will that my son P.B. Nichols have the use and benefit of during has natural life my entry of land of about eleven acres lying on the West Fork of the Little Pigeon River adjoining the lands of the heirs of Wm. Henderson dec. and Elijah Brown and at his death it is my will that said land decend to his children. It is my will that the remaining portion of my bead clothing and property be devided out between my four children to wit:; Sally Nichols, Clarissa Duggan, P. B. Nichols and W. F. Nichols. It is my will that my son W. F. Nichols be my executor to carry out this my last will and testament witness my hand and seal this 20th day of April, 1859.

her Margaret X Nichols (S.Z.) Mark Witness M.W. McCown Bill Chandler

STATE OF TENNESSEE COUNTY OF SEVIER

I, RAY MILLER, COUNTY COURT CLERK FOR SEVIER COUNTY COURT DO HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THE FOREGOING IS A FULL, TRUE AND PERFECT OF THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF A MARGARET NICHOLS WILL, AS APPEARS OF RECORD IN MY OFFICE IN WILL BOOK NO. 1, PAGES 47-48, THIS THE 28 DAY OF AUGUST, 1857.

RAY MILLER COUNTY COURT CLERK BY J.T.

She was missing from the census in 1860.

She died in 1862 in Sevier County, Tennessee.

She was buried in 1862 in Shiloh Cemetery, Pigeon Forge, Sevier County, Tennessee.

Margaret Scantling was an orphaned surviver of the Black Tongue poisoning. Many deer died, and the dead deer all had a black toungue. Theories as to the cause varied from food, to water, to actual poisoning by Indians. There are slightly different versions of how the little girl was found, but in any case she was adopted and raised by a Judge Scantling. Wyatt Nichols believed that Judge Scantling was Cain Scantling who was either a son or a younger brother of either Jeramiah Scantling or William Scantling. Jeramiah served in the Revolutionary War in the Virginia Militia. William Scantling was a Sergeant in the Continental Army and served with Washington. He was at Valley Forge.

The following is from The Nichols Book by Wyatt Nichols.

Margaret Scantling Nichols, wife of my great, great grandfather, John J. Nichols, was born sometime around 1800, she didn't exactly know herself, as she was found or picked up by the Indians, or Judge Scantling and a party of hunters. There are two versions that have been told to me, both adding up to the same thing.

It seems around the year 1800 the deer in certain parts of Virginia had what history records show as Black Tongue. Many theories were advanced as to the cause of the deer poisoning; some claimed it was food, others claimed it was the water the deer drank and some said the Indians poisoned them. It seems that the deer that were contaminated, their tongues turned black and hence the name Black Tongue. It was in this area that Margaret Scantling Nichols was born.

The Revolutionary records show that the name Scantling was spelled Scanlon, and Jeramiah Scanlan served in the Revolutionary War in the Virginia Militia. The records state he was from Bedford Mills, Virginia (however this may be Belfast Mills). There is a record in Bedford, Virginia dated 1799 where Jeramiah came there to settle an estate of his wife. William Scantling (spelled Scanlan in Revolutionary War times), a brother of Jeramiah was a Sergeant in the Continental Army and served with Washington. He was at Valley Forge. Cain Scanning (Scalon) was either a son of one of these men or a younger brother. It is my opinion that he is the Judge Scantling that adopted the little girl Margaret.

One of the versions of how the little girl Margaret got into the Scantling (Scanlon) family was told to me by one of her grandsons, James Nichols, that a Judge Scantling and a party of hunters were in this area looking for survivors from the Black Tongue poisoning and came upon a cabin in the wilderness. There they found a man and his wife dead and a little baby girl living. She was apparently too young to eat any meat and as far as any record I have been able to find, she was the only survivor. Judge Scantling and his party of hunters took the little girl to his home and later adopted her.

The other version as told to me by another grandson and granddaughter of hers, namely, Adams S. Nichols and Mary Nichols, was practically the same except Judge Scantling directed the hunt for survivors and enlisted the help of some friendly Indians in that area. In this version the Indians found the little girl and brought her to Judge Scantling's home, It has been stated in this version and there is some proof to that effect, that the same Indians that came to help search for survivors of the Black Tongue had a baby Indian girl that was ill and while they went to search for survivors they left the little sick Indian with Judge Scantling's wife. When they returned with the little white girl they had found in that cabin, the little Indian girl was well. Judge Scandling's wife had nursed her back to health. The Indians traded the little white girl for the little Indian girl and the Scantlings adopted this little girl and called her Margaret Scantling. This little girl was my great, great grandmother.

Before going any farther with Margaret Scantling Nichols' life, I would like to say a few words about the Scantlings who adopted her. They had no children of their own and I have been told that Judge Scantling owned a salt mine and that it was one of the oldest in Virginia. I have located a very old salt mine in Smythe County, Virginia. It was operating in early colonial days and still is. I am doing research on this now to see if this is the mine in question.

I have been told that Judge Scantling was opposed to the marriage of Margaret to John J. Nichols. No doubt, one of the reasons for his opposing the marriage was her tender age, she being only 15 or 16 years of age at the most when they were married. The proof is they were married in 1816 and the census taken in Sevier County, Tennessee in 1850 gave her age as 49. It is true that she or no one else knew her correct age or her paternal name.

Know all men by these presence that we John J. Nichols and Zachariah G. Tate are held and firmly bound unto Wilson E. Nichols, Governor or chief magistrate of the Commonwealth of Virginia in the sum of One hundred and fifty dollars current money of Virginia which payment well and truly to be made to the said Governor or his successors. We bind ourselves and each of us our and each of our heirs Evers&c Jointly and severally firmly by these presents sealed with our seals and dated this 22nd day of July 1816 -- The condition of the above obligation is such that whereas there is a mirriage shortly intended to be had and soleninized between the above bound John J. Nichols and Peggy Scantling now if there shall be no lawful cause to obstruct the said Marriage then this obligation to he void Else remain in full force and Virtue. John J. Nichol -- Seal Teste Zachr G. Tat -- Seal A Breur I do hereby Certify that I have agreed to Join in Wedlock with John J. Nichols the Clerk of the Court of Bedford will please therefore to Issue Licence to sd Nichols accordingly. July 22th 1816 teste Peggy Scantling Mr. James Steptoe C. B. C. Zach G. Tate Daniel W. Nichols Polly tate Copies teste: H. R. Scott, Clerk of the Circuit Court of the County of Bedford, Virginia

I have already stated the bitterness that occurred between Judge Scantling and John J. Nichols over this marriage; as a result I have been told Judge Scantling disinherited his daughter Margaret Scantling~ Nichols. I have searched for this Will but to date have been unable to find it. It could have been destroyed during the Civil War.

Margaret and her husband John J. Nichols came to Sevicr County, Tennessee in 1816 or 1817 and it is here they raised their family.

On the following pages you will find a copy of the Will of Margaret Scantling Nichols dated 1859 and it is on record in Sevicr County Court House, Sevierville, Tennessee.

In 1855 or 1856 the Court House of Scvier County, Tennessee burned down. John J. Nichols may have left a Will but it, with all other records, may have been destroyed in that fire.

Margaret applied to the Federal Government for a land grant or pension due to widows of veterans of the War of 1812, under the Congressional Act of 1850. This was granted to her in about 1855. I do not know the exact year of her death but it seems to have been between 1860 and 1865. She is buried in Shiloh Cemetery beside her husband John J. Nichols.

John J Nichols III and Margaret (Peggy) Scantling had the following children: +60

i. Elijah Nichols. +61

ii. Parker J Nichols. +62

iii. Sarah F (Sally) Nichols. +63

iv. Wyatt F Nichols. +64

v. Claressa Nichols.

John was born about 1785. He passed away in 1836.

Sources

• Jul. 22, 1816; John J. Nichols & Peggy Scantling; Zachariah G. Tate, Surety; Married by John Ayers, July 25, 1816. http://www.vagenweb.org/bedford/bedf-m_n.htm
• http://jerrybryan.com/trees/nichols/b3301.html#P3301
• Johnson, Zachary Hilan, Author 7 Generations of Bigham and Minniehan Ancestors (2013)