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John Nicholson was the youngest surviving child of Samuel Nicholson and his wife Katherine Loader. He was born on 19 March 1776 and baptised at St Nicholas of Myra, Rochester, Kent, England on 15 April that year.[1]
John described himself in his 1809 will as a gentleman.[2] The family memorial in Rochester Cathedral describes him as "attorney at law and Town Clerk" [of Rochester].[3]
John Nicholson was the reputed father of Rebecca Tempest. The child was baptised in January 1809 at Chalk, near Gravesend, Kent - i.e. some way from Rochester - as the "base born" daughter of Rebecca Tempest (b.1782).[4] Although he doesn't appear to have publicly acknowledged his daughter, John's will of November 1809 referred to her mother, a "spinster", as his "dear friend", by then residing in Chatham.[2] The 1833 will of John's brother Samuel Nicholson makes provision for the younger Rebecca, naming her as his "reputed niece", and leaves her his portrait of John.[5]
On 20 Nov 1809 John made a will.[2] Describing himself as John Nicholson of St. Margaret's, Rochester, Gentleman, he appointed his surviving brothers and sisters, William and Samuel Nicholson, Catherine Baker and Sarah Batten as his executors. The document was witnessed by Sarah Case (her mark), J. Barnard, Clerk to testator and Charlotte Case.
To his "dear friend, Rebecca Tempest, Spinster, now lodging with Mr Roafe in Dale Row, Chatham", he left his house on Rochester High Street and his half-share in a house on Cross Street, The Brook, Chatham. Both these properties appear to have been freehold, and both were occupied, presumably by tenants. He also left Rebecca his leasehold buildings with stables in Rochester High Street, occupied by himself and others, as well as £100 from the proceeds of selling his library by auction.
He left his brothers his leasehold houses in Love Lane, St Margaret's, Rochester. The remainder of his estate, including the proceeds from selling his house in New Road, Rochester by auction, was to be divided equally between his surviving siblings, after the payment of his debts.
The document also stipulated that any dispute was to be settled by his friend, the Recorder of Rochester, whose decision would be final, the parties involved to pay expenses. It's not clear whether John was concerned about disputes between his siblings over their shares of his estate, or whether he anticipated one or more of them challenging the bequests to Rebecca Tempest.
John died on 21 November 1810, "after a very long and painful illness"[6] and was buried in Rochester Cathedral on 27 November 1810. His age was recorded in the burial register as thirty-five.[7]
He is memorialised, along with his parents and three of his brothers, on a ledger in the north transept of the Cathedral:
Secondary source only for the wills - full transcription or image may be available on Ancestry.
More research needed on John's occupation, legal training and career.
Does the fact John did not marry Rebecca indicate a significant difference in their social status?
Did his siblings - or his friend the Recorder of Rochester - know about the relationship and resulting child before they saw his will? The birth and baptism of Rebecca in Chalk may have been calculated to keep this relationship out of the public domain.
At face value, the will is primarily concerned with his mistress and neither acknowledges nor provides for his child. Unlike that of his brother Samuel, John's will did not use the legal terminology "for her use and benefit, independent of any future husband" and as such, after the older Rebecca married in 1814 the properties he had left to her would have been under the control of her husband, who may not have looked kindly on their daughter.
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Categories: Rochester, Kent | St Nicholas Church, Rochester, Kent