Bruce Nicolls (1602)

Born 1602 in London, Middlesex, England

Ancestors

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Biography

Of the life of Richard Nicolls, outside of his years in this country, we know little. He was the son of Francis Nicolls and Margaret Bruce his wife, daughter of Sir George Bruce, and had at least three brothers, William, who died early, Edward and Francis, and a sister Bruce. Both Edward and Francis, the brothers, were "captains of foot". In the seventeenth century the Nicolls were for many years the lessees of Ampthill Great Park of the the Bruces, who reserved to themselves the office of Master of the Game. Richard Nicolls was a graduate of Oxford and an excellent scholar, speaking Dutch and French like a native, fond of Latin and Greek, born, so far as we can learn at Ampthill in 1624. During the civil war he commanded a troop of Royalist horse and on the defeat of the king, went in to exile where he served under Marshal Turenne. After the Restoration he returned to England and entered the household of the Duke of York (future King James II). There is no record of his ever marrying.

Personal Life Source

Richard Nicolls, first governor of New York, 1664-1668. Schuyler, Montgomery, New York: Order of Colonial Lords of Manors in America, 1933. Available at Ancestry.com http://bit.ly/10Hzk8O