Nicholas Jacob (abt. 1604 - 1657)

Born about 1604 in Hingham, Norfolk, England

Husband of Mary (Gilman) Beal — married about 1628 (to 5 Jun 1657) in Hingham, Norfolk, England

Descendants

Died 5 Jun 1657 at about age 53 in Hingham, Suffolk, Massachusetts Bay

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Nicholas Jacob migrated to New England during the Puritan Great Migration (1621-1640). (See Great Migration Begins, by R. C. Anderson, Vol. 2, p. 1069) Join: Puritan Great Migration Project Discuss: pgm

This profile is part of the Jacobs Name Study.

Disputed Origins

There is no credible evidence that Richard Jacob and Winifred Chamber were the parents of Nicholas. Richard died years before Nicholas was born. Therefore, they've been detached from this profile.

If you have evidence for the origins/parents of Nicholas Jacob, please provide solid source citations to support it. Thank you.

Biography

Nicholas Jacob, of Hingham, Norfolk, England, arrived in Boston with his wife Mary, son John, and daughter Mary on 15 Jun 1633 on the ship Elizabeth Bonaventure from Yarmouth, England, and went first to Watertown, Massachusetts.^[1]

"Nicholas, the ancestor of all the families bearing this surname in Hingham and vicinity, was one of the very few early planters who came to 'Bare Cove' prior to the arrival of Rev. Peter Hobart and his company in 1635. According to Cushing's MS., 'Nicholas Jacob with his wife and two children and their cosen Thomas Lincoln, weaver, came from Old Hingham and settled in this Hingham, 1633.' In Sept.1635, he had a grant of a house-lot containing three acres on Town St., second from the way leading to Broad Cove, which is about where the homestead belonging to heirs of the late William O. Lincoln is located [in 1893]. Other lands were also granted to him at different dates for planting purposes. He was made freeman [3 Mar] 1635-36; was selectman in 1637; deputy to the General Court [10 May] 1648 and [2 May] 1649, and often engaged upon the business of the town. The christian name of his wife was Mary. She survived him, and m. secondly, March 10, 1658/59, John Beal, widower. Nicholas d. 5 June, 1657, leaving an estate appraised at £393 8s. 6d. In his will of May 18, 1657, proved 25 July following, he gives to 'wife Mary, the bed which she usually lyeth upon with all the furniture thereto belonging to dispose of to whom she pleases;' also £30 in money. To 'my children, Joseph, Hannah, and Deborah £10 each, in addition to what they have already had, ... To eldest son John a double portion,' ... and 'to the rest of my children,' viz.: Joseph Jacob, Mary Otis, Elizabeth Thaxter, Sarah Cushing, Hannah Jacob, and Deborah Jacob, equal shares, 'and every one of them shall pay to their mother' a stipulated sum, yearly. Witnesses, Edmund Pitts, Thomas Marsh, Matthew Hawke." On 7 Oct 1640 'Nicho[las] Jacobs is allowed to keep an ordinary at Hingham.' (MBCR 1:302) Nicholas, along with three others, had the monopoly to build weirs at Lyford's Liking to take alewives.^[2]

Great Migration Profile

Extracted from Anderson's Great Migration Begins.^[3]

He was born by 1604 (based on estimated date of marriage) in Hingham, Norfolk, England.

He married by 1629 Mary Gilman [TAG 11:138]. She married (2) in Hingham 10 Mar 1658/9 John Beal [NENHGR 121:109] and died at Hingham 15 Jun 1681 [NEHGR 121:208; Hing VR 53].

His wife's brother was Edward Gilman, who came to New England in 1638 and settled at Hingham [TAG 11:137-38], and a third Gilman sibling was Bridget, who was mother of Thomas Lincoln, weaver, of Hingham [TAG 11:193-94].

...

Claims that Nicholas Jacob had an earlier unnamed wife before Mary Gilman apparently derive from a belief that daughter Elizabeth was born before 1629, which would make her age at marriage more reasonable [than 15], but which is at odd with all the other evidence.

He emigrated in 1633, settling initially in Watertown, then to Hingham, Massachusetts, by 1635. He was an innkeeper. [MBCR 1:302] He served as deputy for Hingham to General Court 10 May 1648, 2 May 1659 [MBCR 2:238, 265, 3:121, 147]...

He died in Hingham, Massachusetts, 5 Jun 1657 [NEHGR 121:107]

His will was dated 18 May 1657 and proved 28 Jul 1657, inventoried 12 Jun 1657; named his wife Mary, his children Joseph, Hannah and Deborah; Mary Otis, Elizabeth Thackster, Sarah Cushing. [SPR 1:296-97]

Children:

1. John, bp Hingham, Norfolk, England 26 Feb 1629/30 [TAG 11:138]; m2 in Hingham, MA 20 Oct 1653 Margery Eames [Hing VR 3]; m2 Hingham 3 Oct 1661 Mary Russell [Hing VR 3].
2. Mary, bp Hingham, Norfolk, England 11 May 1632 [TAG 11:138]; m about 1649 John Otis [SLR 2:161-62]
3. Elizabeth, b abt 1634; m1 in Hingham, MA [4] Dec 1648 John Thaxter [NEHGR 121:21]; m2 Hingham MA 23 Mar 1690/1 Daniel Cushing [Hingham Hist 2:151].
4. Sarah, b abt 1636; m in Hingham 25 Feb 1652/3 Matthew Cushing [NEHGR 121:103 (bride's name not given).
5. Hannah, bp Hingham 23 Feb 1639/40 [NEHGR 121:12]; m1 Hingham 16 Dec 1657 Thomas Loring [NEHGR 121:107]; m2 aft 1679 Stephen French, son of Stephen French [MD 2:140].
6. Josiah bp Hingham 6 Nov 1642; bur there 24 Nov 1642 [NEHGR 121:15]
7. Deborah, bp Hingham, MA 26 Nov 1643 [NEHGR 121:16]; m Hingham 19 Feb 1663/4 Nathaniel Thomas [NEHGR 121:115]
8. Joseph, bp Hingham 10 May 1646 [NEHGR 121:18]; m by 1672 Hannah Bosworth [Bostword Gen 201-06].

Residence 1636 Age: 39 Freeman 3 March, Massachusetts Colony, MA ref: compiled MA census

Sources

1. ↑ L. Vernon Briggs, History and Genealogy of the Briggs Family, 1254-1937, 1938, Three volumes.
2. ↑ History of the Town of Hingham, Massachusetts (The Town of Hingham, Massachusetts, 1893): Vol II, p.371
3. ↑ Anderson, Robert Charles, The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England 1620-1633, volume 2: G - O. (Boston: NEHGS, 1995): page 1069-1070. AmericanAncestors.org link

• Anderson, Robert Charles, The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England 1620-1633, volume 2: G - O. (Boston: NEHGS, 1995): page 1069-1070, bio of Nicholas Jacob. AmericanAncestors.org link