William Nickerson (abt. 1604 - bef. 1690)

Born about 16 Oct 1604 in Norwich, Norfolk, England

Ancestors

Husband of Anne (Busby) Nickerson — married 24 Jun 1625 in Norwich, Norfolk, England

Descendants

Died before 8 Sep 1690 before about age 85 in Chatham, Barnstable, Massachusetts

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William Nickerson 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

WILLIAM NICKERSON, born 1604, Norwich, England, son of William and Alice (-) Nickerson (NOTE: See Research Notes for alternative parentage); died between 30 August 1689 and 8 September 1690 at Monomoit, Massachusetts, and is buried at Burial Hill, now Chatham Port. He married about 1627 ANNE BUSBY, born 1607-08 in Norwich; daughter of Nicholas and Bridget (Cocke) Busby; died after 18 May 1686, at Monomoit, and is probably buried near William. William was a tailor apprentice to his father in 1621 and was admitted a worsted weaver and freeman in Norwich 18 May 1632. He and his family sailed from Yarmouth, England, 15 April 1637 on the ship John and Dorothy, arriving at Salem, Mass., 20 June 1637. Where the family lived for a few years is not known, but in 1641 they moved to Yarmouth, Mass. He first bought land at Monomoit from the Indian Sagamore, Mattaquason; in 1656 and a few years later, moved from Yarmouth with his children's families to begin the settlement of the present Chatham in the area which is now Chatham Port.

In 1630 William Nickerson and his wife Anne (Busby) were living in Norwich, England, where he was a well-established weaver. His early life was made difficult, for he was a non-conformist at the time of Bishop Wren, who looked with disapproval on any who were not members of the Church of England. Consequently, he and his wife made a courageous decision to sail to the New World in search of religious freedom, arriving in Salem, Massachusetts in June 1637.^[1]

William Nickerson and Anne Busby of 17th century Chatham, Massachusetts.

William Nickerson was the founder of Chatham, Massachusetts, then called Monomoit, Monomoy, and other various spellings, on Cape Cod. ^[2]

William was born October 16, 1604, at Norwich, Norfolk, England ^[2] He probably belonged to the Weaver's Guild of Norwich. Before that he was apprenticed to his father as a tailor. Some say his father was Robert, but no proof given.

William married Anne, daughter of Nicholas by Bridget (Cocke) Busby, in the church of St. Mary Coslany, Norwich, Norfolk, England, on 24 June 1625. ^[3] She was baptized St. Mary Coslany, Norwich, 2 Feb 1607/8.

He was admitted as worsted weaver and freeman in Norwich, England, May 18, 1632.

The examination of William Nickerson of Norwich in Norfolk, weaver, aged 33, and Anne, his wife, aged 28, with four children, Nicholas, Robert, Elizabeth, and Anne, are desirous to go to Boson in N.E. there to inhabit. 8 April 1637 (Holten's History of Immigrants). ^[4]

During this time Matthew Wren, the Bishop of Norfolk, was persecuting non-conformists to the King's religion. In the two years he held power, approximately 3,000 English citizens and tradesmen left England for Holland and New England.

The intermarried families of Norwich weavers Nicholas Busby and William Nickerson sailed on either the Rose of Yarmouth or the John and Dorothy of Ipswich, and arrived together on June 8, 1637, at Boston, Massachusetts.^[5]

In his landmark book Planters of the Commonwealth, 1620 - 1640, Charles Edward Banks states on page 184 that passengers on the Rose of Yarmouth, William Andrews, Jr., Master, and the John and Dorothy of Ipswich, William Andrews, Master, both sailed from Ipswich and that their is no way to separate which ship held which passengers.^[6] Note that the master of the Rose is the son of the master of the John and Dorothy, and that both ships arrived together on June 8 at Boston [citing Gov. Winthrop's journal, vol I, page 222].

The family arrived at Salem on 20 June 1637. In 1638 William took the freeman's oath in Boston, probably living in Watertown with Anne's family, who came there after a brief stay in Newbury. In 1640 William was proposed as freeman at Plymouth Colony Court. He took the oath of fidelity there on 1 June 1641, same date he was on a grand jury. He was declared a freeman at the next court, being described as of Yarmouth. The famly moved to Yarmouth around this time, their home near Follands/Follins Pond, then called Little Bass Pond, at the head of Bass River. When they moved to Chatham, William sold his farm to James Matthews.

The couple had five more children in America: Samuel, John, Sarah, William, and Joseph.

William had a tendency to go against the grain.

On March 1, 1641, there was a complaint against him that he was a "scoffer and jeerer of religion." His trouble with the church probably led him to go to Monomoy (later Chatham).

Trouble with local minister in Yarmouth did not seem to affect his standing as a citizen.

He was on the list to bear arms at Yarmouth; served on a committee headed by Capt. Standish to settle boundary disputes; received 16 acres at Little Bass Pond in Yarmouth (now Dennis).

Around 1656 he bought a large amount of land from Indian Chief Mattaquason and son John Quason in Monomoy, without consent of the colony’s authorities, contradicting a 1643 law. He then moved to Boston to care for his in-laws.

That same year William was at court for "buying lands of the Indians and for selling them a boat" and was disenfranchised.

In 1661-2 he was back in Yarmouth with his family. Apparently unconcerned about breaking the law, he built his home in current Chathamport. He lived near the Indian chief and they were good friends, although William later sued him. On 4 July 1663 he presented a petition to settle township at Monomoyick. In 1664 William, at age 60, left Yarmouth with his wife and all of his children, except Nicholas, for Monomoy. He must have been confident the dispute would be settled as his children all cleared land and built farms. At this age, he cleared land for his new home, showing his iron will and restless energy. The location of his house is not certain, but some say it was near the old burying place near the head of Ryder's Cove.

In 1665, he was charged with "illegally purchasing lands of the Indians," but was allowed 100 acres near his house, with the rest granted in equal portions among eight men, including my ancestor Thomas Howes Sr. There was also controversy over town boundaries and the court found that "Mannamoit (Chatham) be within the liberties of Yarmouth, as Bound Brook and Stoney Brook are, until otherwise ordered." He received a penalty of five pounds for every acre illegally purchased.

In 1667 Mr. Nickerson was called to answer for words spoken against preaching. The previous year he and his sons were arraigned for scandalously reproaching the court in a letter to the Governor of New York, and were put under bonds of 500 pounds (William must have been angry about having his acreage reduced and being considered part of Yarmouth—requiring him to pay taxes to the town he had left).

When constable Thomas Howes of Yarmouth came to Monomoit to collect tax rates in 1667, he was met with a hostile reception. That same year William and some of his sons were set in stocks for resisting the constable in performing his duty. William was committed to prison and remained there three days. Nothing except religion excited so much feeling as the acquisition of lands!

In June 1668 the area was ruled to be a village of Eastham. It seems the authorities didn’t know what to do about the situation! On 13 July 1671, Goodman Nickerson was chosen at town meeting as rate maker (assessor) of Eastham, re-elected in 1672-3.

In 1674 the Indian title to land was extinguished and a title from British Crown legally established title of 50 acres to each of William’s children.

In 1678/9 and 81 William purchased more land from Indians, totaling 4,000 acres. Few, if any, colonists owned as much land.

In 1675 William requested his land to be a township, which was denied, but he was okayed to be deputy constable and grand jurymen from the village. He also served as deputy to the court.

The family had to travel 7-8 miles for public worship, so instead William read scriptures to his family on the Sabbath. He became the spiritual leader of the village. He wanted to build a meeting house when he bristled at being taxed to build one in Eastham. In 1679 he received approval to be an independent constablewick, but not a town, because it could not support it's own minister.

Monomoit was slow to settle because of lack of a church and susceptibility to Indians. For nearly 20 years after William moved there, there were hardly any other families. Early people were farmers, produced tar and had small whaling business.

On 12 Feb 1686 William conveyed to his daughter (widow) Sarah Covell all remaining property--she must have been living with him. His wife, Anne, died soon after, at about 75 years of age. He then conveyed all land, except his farm for Sarah, to son William.

William died between 30 Aug 1689 and 8 Sept 1690, at about 86 years of age. No will has been found. He was buried with his wife on a little hill south of his house. Sarah later deeded the burial plot to the town. The only slate stones standing are of the Ryder family. A memorial tablet was placed there in 1915 to honor William. It is called Burial Hill or Pleasant Hill.

Smith calls him a man of large enterprises, honorable intentions and strong religious conviction. Kittredge writes he was the greatest speculator in wild lands the Cape ever saw and had the soul of a pioneer and the tenacity of a bulldog.

Marriage

Marriage 24 June 1627 Norwich, Norfolk, England

Husband: William Nickerson

Wife: Anne Busby

Child: William Nickerson

Occupation weaver Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts^[7]

Death 08 SEP 1690 Chatham, Barnstable, Massachusetts, age 85

Children

1. Nickerson, Nicholas, b. Bef 10 Aug 1628, Norwich, Norfolk, England. d. 26 Mar 1683, Yarmouth, Barnstable, Massachusetts. (Age ~ 54 years)
2. Nickerson, Elizabeth, b. Dec 1629, Norwich, Norfolk, England. d. Bef May 1706, Chatham, Barnstable, Massachusetts. (Age ~ 76 years)
3. Nickerson, Robert, b. Nov 1631, Norwich, Norfolk, England. d. Bef Apr 1710, Chatham, Barnstable, Massachusetts (Age ~ 78 years).
4. Nickerson, Thomas, b. Jan 1634, Norwich, Norfolk, England. d. Feb 1634, Norwich, Norfolk, England. (Age ~ 0 years).
5. Nickerson, Anne, b. May 1635, Norwich, Norfolk, England. d. Bef Mar 1681, Chatham, Barnstable, Massachusetts (Age ~ 45 years)
6. Nickerson, Samuel, b. Abt 1638, Massachusetts. d. Abt Aug 1719, Harwich, Barnstable, Massachusetts (Age ~ 81 years).
7. Nickerson, John, b. Abt 1640, Massachusetts. d. Abt May 1714, Yarmouth, Barnstable, Massachusetts. (Age ~ 74 years).
8. Nickerson, Sarah, b. Abt 1644, Yarmouth, Barnstable, Massachusetts. d. Aft 1715, Chatham, Barnstable, Massachusetts. (Age ~ 72 years)
9. Nickerson, William, b. Jun 1646, Yarmouth, Barnstable, Massachusetts. d. Abt Mar 1719, Chatham, Barnstable, Massachusetts (Age ~ 72 years).
10. Nickerson, Joseph, b. Dec 1647, Yarmouth, Barnstable, Massachusetts, d. Abt 1730, East Harwich, Barnstable, Massachusetts. (Age ~ 82 years).

Note: For the first five children born, baptism dates are given (Norwich)

Research Notes

Alternative evidence for the parents of William Nickerson the immigrant is given in pages 245 - 250 of The English ancestry of William and Anne (Busby) Nickerson of Chatham, Massachusetts, and of Nicholas and Bridget (Cocke) Busby of Boston, written by by Richard L. Bush and published in TAG Vol 85 (Oct 2011). Bush suggests a William and Margaret Nickerson as the most likely parents.

Sources

1. ↑ The Cape Cod Chronicle- 06 July 2017
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} U.S. and Canada, Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s, Ancestry.com, citing Savage, Drake, Hotten and Banks. page 187 Arrival date: 1637 Arrival place: Boston, Massachusetts
3. ↑ New Englanders in Nova Scotia Manuscript
4. ↑ The Founders of New England, page 325
5. ↑ The Planters of the Commonwealth in Massachusetts, 1620-1640], by Charles Edward Banks (1930), pages 184-187
6. ↑ The Planters of the Commonwealth in Massachusetts, 1620-1640, by Charles Edward Banks (1930), pages 184, 187
7. ↑ A Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England Publication: Name: Genealogical Publ Co, Inc., Baltimore

See also:

• The Founders of New England, The New England Historical and Genealogical Register. Boston, MA: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1847-. (Online database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2001-2013.) NEHGR volume 14 (1860), page 325 William Nickerson

• The Planters of the Commonwealth in Massachusetts, 1620-1640, by Charles Edward Banks (1930), which contains data on 3,600 passengers who sailed on 213 ships, extracted from the Custom House records of English ports, database online at Ancestry.com. Pages 184-187. Nickerson's family on page 187

• The English ancestry of William and Anne (Busby) Nickerson of Chatham, Massachusetts, and of Nicholas and Bridget (Cocke) Busby of Boston, by Richard L. Bush, TAG Vol 85 (Oct 2011), pp 242 - 253

• New Englanders in Nova Scotia Manuscript. R. Stanton Avery Special Collections, New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, MA. (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2010.) Nicholas Busby and William Nickerson

• Source: Author: James Savage, A Gen. Dict. of the First Settlers of New England, Publication: Name: Genealogical Publ Co, Inc., Baltimore

• Nickerson Family Association. The Nickerson Family: The Descendants of William Nickerson 1604-89, First Settler of Chatham, MA, Part 1, first Four Generations with vital statistics of 5th Generation, published by the Nickerson Family Association, 1973. [1]

• James W. Hawes, Nicholas Busby, Cape Cod Library, 1911

• James W. Hawes, Children of William Nickerson, Cape Cod Library, 1912

• Charles Swift, History of Old Yarmouth, 1884

• William C. Smith, A History of Chatham, Mass. Formerly the Constablewick or village of Monomoit, (Hyannis, MA, FB and FP Goss, publishers, 1909)

• Henry Kittredge, Cape Cod Its People and Their History, 1930

• Massachusetts and More Genealogy Blog, Copyright © 2011, 2012, 2013, Christine Chirokas

• U.S. and Canada, Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s], Ancestry.com, citing Savage, Drake, Hotten and Banks. page 187

• Kingsbury, Anna C.. A Historical Sketch of Nicholas Busby, the Emigrant (privately printed, 1924) Page 17

• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/32636146/william-nickerson: accessed 29 September 2023), memorial page for William Nickerson (16 Oct 1604–8 Aug 1690), Find A Grave: Memorial #32636146, citing Nickerson Cemetery, Chatham, Barnstable County, Massachusetts, USA; Maintained by V. Nareen Lake (contributor 46613568). (Monument placed by descendants in 1915.)
• Torrey, Clarence A., New England Marriages Prior to 1700 (CD version) (Boston, MA: NEHGS, 2001). also available on AmericanAncestors.org by subscription Note: NICKERSON, William (1604-1655+) & Ann [BUSBY] (1609-); in Eng, ca 1627; Watertown/Yarmouth/Monomoit {Reg. 8:278-9, 85:91; Chatham Hist. 55+; Cape Cod Lib. 100:4, 102:1+; Salisbury Fam. 569; MD 15:26; Busby 7, 19; Hodges 22; Snow-Estes 1:59; Cram 47; Grout 80}

• Book: Freeman, Frederick. The History of Cape Cod: The Annals of The Thirteen Towns of Barnstable County, Volumes 1 and 2, published online by Google Books, 2009 (http://books.google.com/books?id=GN8_AAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_v2_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false); original publisher: Geo. C. Band & Avery & Cornhill, Boston, Mass., 1858. (This speaks of William's grandfather William (1604-1689).