William Nichols (1742 - abt. 1782)

Born 8 Feb 1742 in Waterbury, New Haven, Connecticut

Ancestors

Husband of Sarah Mary (Richards) Nichols — married 1762 in Waterbury, New Haven, Connecticut Colony

Descendants

Died about 1782 at about age 39 in New York [uncertain]

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Biography

William was born about 1742. William Nichols ... He passed away about 1811792.

William's birth is recorded in the Barbour Collection in Waterbury, CT. He was a recruiter for the British in the American Revolutionary War. He died in NY before the war ended, supposedly from pneumonia. His wife, and children migrated to Nova Scotia with others, including Ezekiel Welton whom his widow married in Nova Scotia. In the records of the United Empire Loyalists to Nova Scotia in 1784, Sarah, his widow, had a petition that she had come to Nova Scotia with all children except William who was to follow later, and William had served with the British. She did receive compensation from British.

"Nichols, William of Connecticut. a native of New Haven, CT, when the Revolution began Nichols was living in Waterbury, CT. He had 110 acres there, much of it improved. Nichols travelled to New York in December 1776, joined the British Army on Long Island with forty other men, and remained there until his death in 1783. He left a widow named Sarah and five children - Lois, David, George, William and Thomas - all of whom later settled in Wilmot, NS. David, born in 1765, remained in CT during the war, but was later granted land in Nova Scotia; Sarah married Zechial Welton. William Nichols. Sr. was twice taken prisoner for recruiting for the British. He was attainted of treason, and had his property confiscated. Nichols' loss was estimated at 1,673 pounds, New York."^[1]

Sources

1. ↑ "Loyalists of the American Revolution, p.646; AO12/1/44.

• https://novascotiaroots.ca/individual/7017