Richard Nichols (bef. 1620 - 1674)

Born before 1620 in England [uncertain]

Husband of Ann (Unknown) Nickols — married 1650 in Ipswich, Essex, Massachusetts Bay Colony

Descendants

Died 22 Nov 1674 after age 54 in Reading, Middlesex, Massachusetts Bay

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Richard 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

Biography

Richard Nichols was of Ipswich, Massachusetts and then later of Reading, Massachusetts. His parentage and English origins are unknown. He is first found in Ipswich, Massachusetts in 1638.^[1] He is said online to have arrived as early as 1635, however, there is no record to support this. He is also said to have been made a freeman in 1638, however, he does not appear on any of the freeman lists. He appeared before the General Court in 1640.^[2] He purchased 1&1/2 acres March 23, 1648 from Edward Bragg on south side of Ipswich River (north side of the road to Chebacco and Essex). Nichols Brook is mentioned in history of Ipswich. That and other property were sold January 22, 1662 in preparation for a move to Reading where he bought land from William Lawkin on November 10, 1662.

He removed to Reading, Massachusetts presumably in 1662 when he sold his land in Ipswich and purchased land in Reading. A map in 1750 shows his house lot in the westerly part of the South Parish near Lake Quannapowitt which was later known as the Lambert Farm (now part of Wakefield). He was admitted to the church in Reading in 1666.^[3] He was one of 59 who had a completed house in Reading in 1667.^[4] He lived in the westerly part of the South Parish on the place subsequently known as Lambert Farm.^[5]

The Will of Richard Nickcoles or Nickols of Reading, Massachusetts Bay Colony was written on November 19, 1674. He appointed his son John Nickcoles as executor and provided for the maintenance of his wife Ann ("four pounds a year during her widowhood"). He gave the land that the town of Reading had given him to his son Thomas Nickcoles when he is twenty-one and gave ten acres to his son James when he is twenty-one. Daughter Mary received thirty pounds and daughter Hannah twenty pounds, with the first payment when they married and annual payments after that. Wife Ann also got a cow. House and land were not specific but assumed that oldest son John received them.

Name and Origins

Name: Richard Nichols of Ipswich and Reading, Massachusetts.

Orthographic variations: Nichols, Nicholls, Nickolls, Nicols, Nickols, Nickcoles, Nickoles

The name of Nichols was very inconsistently spelled in the 17th century. The most common variation in this time period was probably Nickols with Nichols being less common.

His origins are unknown. The best clue may be that he was called "cousin" in the will of Robert Kinsman. This Robert Kinsman is believed to have come from Highworth, Wiltshire, England.^[6]

Birth

Born: Before 1618.

Hurd places Richard Nichols in Ipswich in 1638. His list is "gleaned from town records" and the original supporting record should be found and added here. Since town and land records very rarely make note of anyone not yet of age, the presumption is that Richard Nichols was at least 21 years old.

Marriage and Children

Married: Ann Unknown about 1651 as their first child is estimated to have been born about 1652.

Children of Richard and Ann Nichols:

1. John Nichols. Born about 1652 (died in his 70th year [age 69] in 1721), presumably in Ipswich, Massachusetts. He married Abigail Kendall on 18 May 1676 in Reading. John died 16 December 1721 in Reading.
2. Thomas Nichols. Born about 1654 in Ipswich. He married Rebecca Eaton on 1 Dec 1680 in Reading. Thomas died on 9 February 1737 in Reading.
3. Mary Nichols. Born about 1656 presumably in Ipswich. She married Samuel Lamson on 19 May 1676 in Reading. Mary died 1 December 1717 in Reading.
4. James Nichols. Born on 25 July 1658 in Ipswich.^[7] He married Mary Pool on 9 October 1682 in Reading. James died 12 January 1745 in Reading.
5. Joanna Nichols. Born on 26 Nov 1660 in Ipswich. No further record. She was not named in her father's will in 1674.

Death

Died: 22 Nov 1674 in Reading, Middlesex, Massachusetts.^[8]

Burial: Wakefield Old Burial Ground, Section B Row 12.{citation needed}

Will: of Richard Nickoles of Reading.^[9]

Made 19 November 1674; inventory taken 11 December 1674

Summary:

- my son John

- my daughter Ann

- my son Thomas Nichols

- my wife Ann

- my son James Nichols

- unto my daughter Mary Nichols

- unto my daughter Hannah Nichols

- unto my wife Ann

Research Notes

• Cousin of Robert Kinsman: Robert Kinsman in his 1664 will calls Richard Nichols his "cousin."

"Item I give vnto my coussen Richard Nicholls ten pounds to be payd by my said daughter Tabi[t]ha pt of the twenty pounds and the other ten pounds to be payd vnto my daughter Hanah by my sayd daughter Tabitha as pt of the forty pounds before given vnto to her."

The question then is how is Richard Nichols related Robert Kinsman?

Common Errors to Avoid

• Birth place: This profile previously said he was born in Uxbridge, Middlesex, England. No indications for his birthplace in England have been found.

• Name of wife: In some secondary sources and online, the name of the wife of Richard Nichols is given as Ann Kendall. No evidence has been found to support this. It is undoubtedly a confusion with the wife of his son John who was a Kendall.

• Son Richard: Records and most knowledgeable researchers do not list list a son Richard except for an error in the 1874 book by Lilley Eaton who was confused by a grandson (son of John).^[10]

• Origin: This Richard Nichols was NOT the son of Margaret Bruce. The Richard Nichols who was the son of Margaret Bruce died in 1672 at the Battle of Solebay, unmarried.

Sources

1. ↑ Hurd. History of Essex County, Vol. 1. (1888): page 571.
2. ↑ Pope. "The Pioneers of Massachusetts" (1900): page 328.
3. ↑ Nichols. Richard Nichols, the Immigrant. (1929): page 9.
4. ↑ Eaton. Genealogical History of Reading. (1874): page 20.
5. ↑ Eaton. Genealogical History of Reading. (1874): page 97.
6. ↑ TAG, vol. 84 (2010): pages 18-25.
7. ↑ Ipswich. Vital Records of Ipswich. (1910): page 276.
8. ↑ Reading. Vital Records of Reading. (1912): page 544.
9. ↑ Middlesex County, MA: Probate File Papers, 1648-1871. (AmericanAncestors.org online database). Probate #15975, will of Richard Nickols.
10. ↑ Eaton. Genealogical History of Reading. (1874): page 97

• Eaton, Lilley. Genealogical History of the Town of Reading, Mass. (Boston, 1874): page 97. Archive.org link

• Hurd, Duane Hamilton. History of Essex County, Massachusetts: With Biographical Sketches..., Volume 1. (1888): page 571.

• Ipswich. Vital Records of Ipswich Massachusetts to the End of the Year 1849, volume 1: Births. (Salem, MA: The Essex Institute, 1910).
  Internet Archive link [ Google Books link - No free copy found] HathiTrust.org link

• Pope, Charles H. "The Pioneers of Massachusetts" (Boston, 1900). "Richard Nichols, Ipswich, propr.: before Gen. Court 1 (10) 1640". Internet Archive link.

• Middlesex County, MA: Probate File Papers, 1648-1871. (AmericanAncestors.org online database). Probate #15975, will of Richard Nickols.

• Nichols, George E. Richard Nichols, the Immigrant. (1929). Available on Ancestry.com

• Reading. Vital Records of Reading Massachusetts to the Year 1850. (Boston, 1912): page 544.