Research Notes

Refers to

Summary

George Nicholas, born in about 1695 and was the son of a Philip Nicholas of Manston. He was condemned to death for forgery but his sentence was commuted. He was transported to Virginia where he practiced as a doctor. George, who adopted the title and role of doctor in Virginia was educated at Trinity College Cambridge but probably had no degree. . He was not the son of Philip Nicholas and Margaret Freke who married in 1651 since Margaret died in 1661 some 34 years before the birth of George. However, this couple had a son named Philip.

A Philip Nicholas who died in 1735 mentions in his will property that had formed part of the marriage settlement between Philip Nicholas and Margaret( e.g. Manston Mill) His wife, at the time of his death was named Jane. It is possible that this Philip was the son of Philip and Margaret and hence 'Dr' George Nicholas was their grandson.

( the name Philip was obviously used for a succession of family members. A later Philip Nicholas owned Manston Mill in 1807^[1]

Details

Parents

Golladay linked 'Dr' George Nicholas to his father Philip Nicholas but mentions no mother. Some online trees, including Search Family Search LHXS-XWFF Family Search suggest that his father was Philip Nicholas and mother Margaret (Freke) Nicholas. This cannot be a correct identification. Margaret was born in about 1631 not 1678 the date at present on the profile.

According to both John Hutchin's in his History and Antiquities of Dorset and a genealogy 'started' by her Uncle Ralph Freke , Margaret was the daughter of Thomas Freke and his wife Mary (Dodington) Freke, Philip Nicholas and Margaret Frecke were married in February 165/1. Their marriage settlement being signed on Dec 26 1650 and part of the register entry for their marriage is still visible. According to Ralph Freke, they had several children including a son Philip . ^{[9] [10] [11][12]} It is unlikely that Margaret Freke born in about 1631,married at 20 years of age in 1650 would be the mother of a child born in 1695.Moreover, what appears to be the death of Mrs Margaret Nicholas, is recorded in the register for Manston in 1661^[13] Fourteen years later, in November 1675, Mr Philip Nicolas was buried. ^[14]</div></div>

No baptism has been found for Philip (born c 1689) or George (b c 1695) in the registers ^[15] Philip Nicholas and his wife Jane were the parents of Rob' baptised 23 Sept 1702 and Thomas, baptised 7 Sept 1705, buried 15 Feb 1706/7.A Mr Philip Nicholas was buried 30 January 1735/6 and Mrs Jane Nicholas on 26 February 1750/1.^[16]

When Philip Nicholas, died in 1735, he left a will. In it his aim is clearly to provide funds for his two unmarried children Robert and Ann and his wife Jane. Some of his land and property was for his wife's use for herself and the maintenance of these unmarried children. Other property was to be sold to pay his debts with anything left over going again to his wife and then these two children. One of the "properties" to be sold was the advowson of the parsonage of Manston, i. e. his right to nominate the parson of the parish. No son George is mentioned. Philip made one striking individual bequest of £50 to a son John who was 'beyond the sea'.John was to receive it 'if living and come home". No other children are mentioned. ^{[17] [18]}

It is possible that George Nicholas was the son of Philip Nicholas died 1735. This Philip could in turn be Philip the son of Philip Nicholas and Margaret Freke. The 1735 will names property mentioned in the marriage settlement of Philip Nicholas and Margaret Freke. Jane was his wife at death but it is possible that she was a second or subsequent wife

There is an intriguing possibility that George Nicholas had a brother John who also went to the New World.

Sources

1. ↑ Dorchester History centre..Henry Kaines diary (Henry mentioms Philip several times . He acquired the copyhold of the Mill )
2. ↑ Victor Golladay, Phd Dissertation, the Nicholas Family of Virginia, 1722-1820, University of Virginia abstract and link to full dissertation
3. ↑ Old Bailey Proceedings Online (www.oldbaileyonline.org, version 8.0, 17 August 2019), January 1722, trial of George Nicholas (t17220112-11).
4. ↑ </div>
   Date 17220112
   Surname Nicholas Forename George
   Document Type Petition
   Location The National Archives
   Library/Archive Reference SP 35/30/20</li>
5. ↑ Old Bailey Proceedings Online (www.oldbaileyonline.org, version 8.0, 17 August 2019), Ordinary of Newgate's Account, February 1722 (OA17220208). :AT the Sessions held at Justice-Hall in the Old-Bayly, which ended the 17th of January, were Try'd, and Convicted of Capital Offences, five Men, viz. James Shaw, alias Smith, &c. John Smith, William Colthouse, Jonas Burgess and George Nicholas; The last of these receiving His Majesty's Gracious Reprieve, the remaining Four were ordered for Execution agreeable to the Sentence pass'd upon them </li>
6. ↑ Golladay, Nicholas Family of Virginia</li>
7. ↑ John Hutchins The History and Antiquities of the County of Dorset Third edition, corrected, augmented, and improved by William Shipp and James Whitworth Hodson 1861-73 Volume 4 p 77, copy in my possession ~~~~</li>
8. ↑ ACAD A Cambridge Alumni database, University of Cambridge search result</li>
9. ↑ [ https://www.wikitree.com/photo/png/Freke-35 John Hutchins The History and Antiquities of the County of Dorset Third edition, corrected, augmented, and improved by William Shipp and James Whitworth Hodson 1861-73 Volume 4, p 86
   Margaret baptised at Hinton St Mary, August 4th married there February 26th 1650 Philip Nicholas gent </li>
10. ↑ Dorset History Centre; Dorchester, England; Dorset Parish Registers; Reference: PE/HIS:RE1/1