Nicholas Arnold (abt. 1550 - bef. 1623)

Born about 1550 in Somerset, England

Husband of Alice (Gulley) Arnold — married 1570 in Ilchester, Somerset, England

Husband of Grace (Unknown) Arnold — married 1596 in England

Descendants

Died before 26 Jan 1623 before about age 73 in Ilchester, Somerset, England

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Disputed Parents

There are online family trees that mistakenly claim that Thomas or Nicholas or Nicholas Thomas Arnold was the son of Lord Richard Arnold and Jaquita Young, with a royal ancestry.

Rejection of the Somerby Biography

From Wikipedia:
In 1870, genealogist Horatio G. Somerby compiled a pedigree of the Arnold family. This pedigree, showed William Arnold as son of a Thomas Arnold and a descendant of a 12th-century King of Gwentland (in modern day Wales) whose name was Ynir. In 1915, Edson S. Jones on checking Somerby's information with his sources, discovered discrepancies in dates and places, mixed up generations and unrelated people. "This fabricated research was not an isolated incident; Mr. Somerby had also been implicated in other fraudulent research and was out to please his clients regardless of the veracity of his work"^[1]

From Anderson's Great Migration:
In 1915 Edson Salisbury Jones published a brief account of his research into the ancestry of immigrant William Arnold [NEHGR 69:64-69], which showed the problems of the supposed pedigree done by Somerby, which did not have the correct father or location of William Arnold the immigrant. Anderson states unequivocally, "The pedigree prepared by Somerby is completely erroneous, and William Arnold came from Ilchester, Somerset"^[2]

Note: Wikipedia included, along with Anderson, so people without access to the Great Migration series can also read about this.

Biography

Nicholas Arnold was the father of William Arnold the immigrant to New England. There is no evidence that Thomas the son of Nicholas was Thomas the New England immigrant.^[3]

Birth and Parents

Nicholas has no known parents.^[3]

Birth: September 29, 1550^{[citation needed][4]} Birth: January 11, 1549^{[citation needed][4]} Birth: There is no known record of his birth or his parents^[3]

Google maps link showing Northover (red marker), Ilchester to the south, Limington to the East, and Mulchelney to the West (home of Christian, dtr in law of Nicholas).

Nicholas Arnold was born ca. 1550 in Northover, Somerset, England.

Occupation

Nicholas was a tailor, this is stated in his will^[3] Many genealogies state that he lived for some time at Melcombe Horsey, and was later a citizen of Cheselbourne, but this refers to the invented Thomas Arnold, not to the real Nicholas Arnold.

Marriages

Nicholas married Alice Gulley about 1570, probably in Ilchester, Somerset, England.^[5] She died in 1596.^[3] Her issue listed by William her son are Tamzen, Joane, Margery, William, Robert and Elizabeth (born just before her death).^[6] A child Agnes, dtr of Nicholas was buried. Also two baptisms with no father listed in the right time frame for Nicholas and Isbell, may be children or nephew and niece.

He married 2nd Grace, named in his will^[3] who was mother of his younger children, Thomas and Elenor and another. Two daughters were mentioned in the will of Nicholas,^[3] but only Elenor is mentioned by her brother William.^[6]

Family Notes

From William's family record^[6] we have the following information

“A Register, or true account of my owne agge, with my Mother, my Wife, my Brothers and Sisters, and Others of my frinds and acquantance.” (Written by William Arnold)^[6]

1. Imprimis Alce Gully the Daughter of John Gully of Northouer. Who was my Mother. was Baptized ye 29: Septem 1553.^[6]
2. Tamzen, my Sister was Baptized the 4 of Jany. 1571. Tamzen m. a Hacker. Her children are listed.^[6]
3. Joane Arnold, my Sister was Baptized the 30 of Novermber in the yeare 1577. Joan’s three children are listed.^[6]
4. Margery Arnold, my Sister was Baptized the 30 of August 1581^[6]
5. I William Arnold, their Brother was borne the 24 of June, 1587.^[6]
6. Robert Arnold, my Brother was Baptized the 18th of October, 1593.^[6]
7. Elizabeth Arnold my Sister was borne the 9 of April 1596.^[6]
8. Thomas Arnold my Brother, my Mother in lawes Sonne was baptized the 18 April 1599. Thomas' children are listed.^[6]
9. Elenor Arnold, my Sister was Baptized the 31 of July 1603.^[6]

Parish register of Northover, Somerset confirms baptism of Alice Gullye d/o John 29 Sept 1553. and Tomsine d/o Nicholas Arnold 4 Jan 1571.^[3]

From the Bishop's transcripts, Diocesesan Registry of Bath and Wells, Parish of Ilchester^[3]

5 Oct 1595 Robert Hacker & Thomasine Arnoll married.^[3] This would be Nicholas' oldest daughter.

1595 Agnes, dau of Nicholas Arnoll, buried.^[3] A daughter of Nicholas not recorded by William, perhaps because of her early death?

12 April 1596 Isabell Arnoll baptized^[3] Speculation asks the question are Isabell and Elizabeth the same person? If twins, they would both have been listed in the registry. No father is listed, so Isabell could be some other relation like a niece.

25 April 1596 Alice, wife of Nicholas Arnoll, tailor, buried^[3]

15 Nov 1596 Nicholas Arnoll baptized.^[3] Speculation: The date is too close to be another child of Nicholas, who's baptism was neglected until later. Did Nicholas himself get religion after the death of his wife? Maybe, except that when Tomsine was baptized she was baptized as daughter of Nicholas. In the New England churches, this would have indicated Nicholas was a member of the church. A nephew of Nicholas perhaps?

15 Oct 1635 George, son of Thomas and Jane Arnold, baptized.^[3] A grandson of Nicholas?

Death and Will

Bishop’s transcripts in the Diocesan Registry of Bath and Wells from the parish of Ilchester, record that Nicolas Arnold was buried 26 Jan 1622^[3]

The Will of Nicholas Arnold of Ilchester in the Countie of Somersett Tayler, 18 Jan. 1622 [1622/3]. To Grace Arnold my wief all my goods movable and unmovable w'thin and wth thout Dores to thintent she shall guid & bringe up my two youngest Daughters her Children and when it shall please god to take her out of this mortall lief to Dispose the said goods at her pleasure unto theis two Children. Grace my wief to be sole executrix. My sonne Wm Arnold & Ambrose Chappell my frend to be over seers. Witnesses: John Raven, Thomas Arnold. Proved at Wells 28 July 1623. Inventory, L7. 16d 5d (Wells Registry, lib. 43, fo. 5.)^[3]

Children

1. Tamzen, was Baptized the 4 of Jany. 1571.^[6] Tamzen m. a Hacker.^[6] 5 Oct 1595 Robert Hacker & Thomasine Arnoll married.^[3] Her children are listed.^[6]
2. Joane Arnold, was Baptized the 30 of Novermber in the yeare 1577. Joan’s three Hopkins children are listed.^[6]
3. Margery Arnold, was Baptized the 30 of August 1581^[6]
4. William Arnold, was borne the 24 of June, 1587.^[6] m. Christian PEAK and sailed to North America in 1635 with his wife and four children.^[7]
5. Robert Arnold, was Baptized the 18th of October, 1593.^[6]
6. Agnes, dau of Nicholas Arnoll, was buried in 1595.^[3] She not recorded by William, perhaps because of her early death?
7. Elizabeth Arnold was borne the 9 of April 1596.^[6]
8. Thomas Arnold by Nicholas' second wife, Grace, was baptized the 18 April 1599. Thomas' children are listed.^[6] A Thomas Arnold witnessed the will of Nicholas in 1622/3.^[3] There is no evidence linking him to the Thomas Arnold who immigrated to New England.^[3]
9. Daughter, b. perhaps about 1601. In his will, Nicholas Arnold mentions his two unnamed youngest daughters, children of his second wife.
10. Elenor Arnold, was Baptized the 31 of July 1603.^[6]

Sources

1. ↑ 'The false pedigree of the Arnold family' in the Wikipedia article "William Arnold (settler)"
2. ↑ Great Migration 1634-1635, A-B. (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2008.) Originally published as: The Great Migration, Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635, Volume 1, A-B, by Robert Charles Anderson, George F. Sanborn, Jr., and Melinde Lutz Sanborn. Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1999. William Arnold article p. 84; comments p.89 American Ancestors (pay site)
3. ↑ ^{3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13 3.14 3.15 3.16 3.17 3.18 3.19 3.20} Jones, Edson Salisbury. "The Parentage of William Arnold and Thomas Arnold of Providence, R. I." New England Historical and Genealogical Register 69:64 Link at Archive.org
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1} This is probably an error.
5. ↑ There is no record of the marriage, but we know she was William's mother and Nicholas was his father.
6. ↑ ^{6.00 6.01 6.02 6.03 6.04 6.05 6.06 6.07 6.08 6.09 6.10 6.11 6.12 6.13 6.14 6.15 6.16 6.17 6.18 6.19 6.20 6.21 6.22} Hubbard, Edwin. “Early Records of the Arnold Family.” New England Historical and Genealogical Register 33: 427- Link at Google Books
7. ↑ Great Migration 1634-1635, A-B. (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2008.) Originally published as: The Great Migration, Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635, Volume 1, A-B, by Robert Charles Anderson, George F. Sanborn, Jr., and Melinde Lutz Sanborn. Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1999

• Genealogy of the Family of Arnold in Europe and America. by Edwin Hubbard and others. 1879. Same As Hubbard, Edwin. “Early Records of the Arnold Family.” New England Historical and Genealogical Register 33: 427
• Arnold, Elisha Stephen. The Arnold Memorial (Tuttle Pub. Co., Rutland, VT, 1935) Page 18