The short answer to your question is... I do not know. If Robert Nichols was born in 1827 in Vermont, USA, and his father was Abner, then Abner would have been old when he was born and his mother Asseneth Palmer would have been about 53. That looks wrong on the face of it as the parents given are too old at the time of his birth, unless his grandparents were raising him for some reason. This Robert Nichols married Polly Preston and he had one son and five daughters between 1853 and 1886. He died on the 10 November 1876 at the age of 49.
Abner Nichols was born 22 July 1794 Braintree, Vermont, USA (his father was also called Abner Nichols) he married Asseneth Palmer on 14 December 1823 in Braintree, Vermont, USA. He died on 16 December 1854 in Braintree, Vermont, USA. Did this couple have a son late in their life? Was that son Robert C Nichols?