| Francis Nichols migrated to New England during the Puritan Great Migration (1621-1640). (See The Directory, by R. C. Anderson, p. 240) Join: Puritan Great Migration Project Discuss: pgm |
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Sergeant Francis Nichols of Stratford, Connecticut, was the son of John Nichols and not the son of Francis.
Sergeant Francis Nicholls of Stratford, Connecticut, 1639 and the Descendants of his Son, Caleb Nicholls by Walter Nichols in 1909 stated that Francis was the brother of Deputy Governor Richard Nicholls and therefore the son of Francis and Margaret (Bruce) Nichols. In 1932, Donald L. Jacobus, [TAG 9:9] criticized the pedigree by Walter Nichols, stating among other arguments that Richard, himself said that his brother Francis died in Europe, which we know is not true of the Francis of Stratford. In 1993, Barbara Nichols wrote "Francis Nichols of Stratford, Connecticut was not a brother of Deputy Governor Richard Nicolls of New York" [TAG 68:113]. She examined original documents proving that Francis of Stratford was not the son of Francis and Margaret (Bruce) Nichols. In 2000, Neil D. Thompson revealed the true pedigree of Francis of Stratford in "The English Origin of Sergeant Francis Nichols of Stratford, Connecticut" [TAG 75:267] used as sourcing here.
Francis Nichols (son of John, Thomas) was baptized on 25 May 1575 at Sedgeberrow, Worcestershire, England. [1]
Francis Nichols first married on 24 January 1599/1600 in Sedgeberrow, Worcestershire, England to Francis [sic] Wimarke (bapt: 02 Nov 1577, daughter of Robert Wimarke). [1] There is no record of her in New England, so she may have died before her husband emigrated. His whereabouts between 1627 (when his son Isaac was born in Sedgeberrow, and 1639 (when he is first known to have been in Stratford, Connecticut) are unknown.
Histories of Stratford have suggested he went to London, England and belonged to the famous regiment of the Royal Horse Guards of Charles I, but no evidence whatsoever has been found to support that claim. Orcutt’s 1886 history indicated that he was one of the first 17 English settlers of that town, although later historians could not determine the identity or number of the first settlers. The earliest record of anyone known to be in Stratford is a 1639 order of the Connecticut General Court "to assigne Srjeant Nicholls for the present to trayne the men and exercise them in military discipline".
Francis and his three sons, John, Isaac, and Caleb, were among the first seventeen settlers of Stratford, Connecticut . [1][2] They had settled at Pequannocke (Stratford, Connecticut) by 10 October 1639, at which time Sargeant Nichols was assigned to "trayne the men and exercise them in military discipline."[3] [4].
Sgt. Francis Nichols owned land and lived for a time in Southold, Long Island, New York, where he married secondly about 1649 to Ann Wines [b: c1632, daughter of Ann (Eddy) and Deacon Barnabas Wines of Southold, Suffolk County, New York]. Thompson suggests this marriage occurred around 1649, when Francis would have been nearly 75 years old and Anne only about 17.
By 08 Jan 1650/1 Francis Nichols was deceased, [1] apparently with no last Will. His estate inventory was taken on 16 Jan 1650 [5] showing he owned very little - a bed, bedding, some pots and pans, a few clothes, a bandoleer and sword, 5 bushels of Indian corn, 12 bushels of peas - total appraised value about £28.
He left his young widow Anne with an infant daughter and she married secondly to John Elton of Southold, New York, and married thirdly to Capt. John Tooker of Setauket, Long Island, New York, and married fourthly to Col. John Youngs (cousin of her daughter Anna’s husband). Anne was still living on 4 March 1693/4. [1]
Nichols Surname Project, Y DNA Haplogroup G-S2808
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Francis is 22 degrees from Herbert Adair, 20 degrees from Richard Adams, 17 degrees from Mel Blanc, 23 degrees from Dick Bruna, 17 degrees from Bunny DeBarge, 30 degrees from Peter Dinklage, 19 degrees from Sam Edwards, 16 degrees from Ginnifer Goodwin, 17 degrees from Marty Krofft, 14 degrees from Junius Matthews, 13 degrees from Rachel Mellon and 19 degrees from Harold Warstler on our single family tree. Login to find your connection.
Categories: Puritan Great Migration
“ Fannie Nichols since deceased, then sole proprietor of the same. “.
Which Nicolls did Mary (Budd) Nicolls Youngs born 1625 marry? Budd-138
edited by Anne X
Sergeant Francis Nichols was my 7th great grandfather.