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Francis Nichols (abt. 1575 - abt. 1650)

Sgt. Francis Nichols aka Nicolls, Nicholls
Born about in Sedgeberrow, Worcestershire, Englandmap
Ancestors ancestors
Husband of — married 1599 in Englandmap
Husband of — married Dec 1645 in Southold, Suffolk County, Long Island, New Yorkmap
Descendants descendants
Died about at about age 74 in Stratford, Connecticut Colonymap
Profile last modified | Created 27 Sep 2010
This page has been accessed 10,228 times.
The Puritan Great Migration.
Francis Nichols migrated to New England during the Puritan Great Migration (1621-1640). (See The Directory, by R. C. Anderson, p. 240)
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Contents

Disputed Origins

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.

Biography

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]

Children [1]

  1. John Nichols, bapt: 16 May 1601 Sedgeberrow; d: 1655; m1: Esther ???; m2: Grace ???
  2. Jane Nichols, bapt: 03 Nov 1603 Sedgeberrow; m: William Washburn (son of Martha & John Washburn)
  3. Henry Nichols, bapt: 19 Nov 1605 Sedgeberrow; buried: 21 Dec 1606 Sedgeberrow
  4. Anne Nichols, bapt: 18 Oct 1606 Sedgeberrow; buried: 25 Oct 1606 Sedgeberrow
  5. Margaret Nichols, bapt: 04 Jan 1608/9 (no further record found)
  6. Francis Nichols, bapt: 25 Aug 1611 (no further record found)
  7. Joseph Nichols, (twin) bapt: 31 Aug 1614; buried: 02 Sep 1614.
  8. Johnathan Nichols, (twin) bapt: 31 Aug 1614; buried: 04 Sep 1614
  9. Sarah Nichols, bapt: 12 Nov 1615; m: Richard Mills
  10. Isaac Nichols, b. say 1620; d. between 28 Sep 1694 and 5 Nov 1695; m. Margery _____
  11. Caleb Nichols, b: say 1623; m: Anne Ward
  12. Ann Nichols, (by wife#2) b: c1650; m: Christopher Youngs of Southold, NY.

DNA

Nichols Surname Project, Y DNA Haplogroup G-S2808

Sources

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Thompson, Neil D. "The English Origin of Sergeant Francis Nichols of Stratford, Connecticut." TAG 75:267. The American Genealogist. New Haven, CT: D. L. Jacobus, 1937-; on AmericanAncestors.org online database by New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2009 - .
  2. Orcutt, Samuel. A History of the Old Town of Stratford and the City of Bridgeport, Connecticut, Part I. Press of Tuttle, Morehouse & Taylor, 1886 p 184
  3. Trumbull, J. Hammond. (transcriber). The Public Records of the Colony of Connecticut Prior to the Union with New Haven Colony May 1665. (Hartford: Brown and Parsons, 1850.) AKA Colonial Records of Connecticut. Volume I. 1636-1665 Google Books p 36
  4. Two Hundred and Fiftieth Anniversary of the Settlement of the Town of Stratford, Complied by Direction of the General Committee of Arrangements, October 3, 1889, Pages 34-39 [1]
  5. "Sergeant Francis Nicholls of Stratford, Connecticut, 1639 and the Descendants of his Son, Caleb Nicholls" by Walter Nicholls & Grafton Press of New York in 1909.
  • Thompson, Neil D. "The English Origin of Sergeant Francis Nichols of Stratford, Connecticut" The American Genealogist of New Haven, Connecticut; TAG 75:267; D. L. Jacobus, 1937-; AmericanAncestors.org online database by New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2009 - .

See also:






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DNA Connections
It may be possible to confirm family relationships with Francis by comparing test results with other carriers of his Y-chromosome or his mother's mitochondrial DNA. Y-chromosome DNA test-takers in his direct paternal line on WikiTree:

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Comments: 8

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I don't see any reason for the surname of Francis' mother Joan. Anyone have any? Objections to changing her surname to Unknown?
posted by Anne B
Southold Town records V I, p53. January 5th, 1658. In re land .....

“ Fannie Nichols since deceased, then sole proprietor of the same. “.

Which Nicolls did Mary (Budd) Nicolls Youngs born 1625 marry? Budd-138

posted by Anne X
edited by Anne X
Francis Nichols was my 10th Great Grandfather.
posted by Keith Cook
Hi Keith

Sergeant Francis Nichols was my 7th great grandfather.

posted by Daniel Nicholes
Nichols-2513 and Nichols-211 appear to represent the same person because: Isaac is son of francis and wife.
posted by Anne B
Nichols-1756 and Nichols-211 appear to represent the same person because: Francis married twice once to Frances then to Ann Wines
posted by Anne B
Nichols-707 and Nichols-211 appear to represent the same person because: John was married twice 1st to Frances 2nd to anne Wine.
posted by Anne B
John, I have disconnected Francis from the parents Francis and Margaret. Those parents were wrongly established in 1909 and have since been refuted. I will eventually supply sources for this. He is instead the son of John and Joan. I will be initiating merges with the other duplicates and will establish his correct pedigree over the next few days. Thanks. Anne B
posted by Anne B

N  >  Nichols  >  Francis Nichols

Categories: Puritan Great Migration