The Mad Genealogist

Trying to peice together William Nichols Sr’s family in a “burn county” has been no easy task. I have been trying different tricks to see if I can gleam any info from non-traditional sources. But i got an idea.

I had searched the net for William Nichols Sr of Pitt County, hoping to find some other researchers note or post on the family. No luck there. So I decided to look up the families the Nichols had a lot of land dealings with.

One family was John Windham (or Windom). John and William are first located in Tyrrell County in 1750. Both had a land Transaction in this County

9 May 1750 William Tomlinson of Johnston County to John Windom of same.  9 Mar 1750.  23 pounds, 10 shillings VA.  131 acres (messuage) on north side of Conneho Creek Swamp.  William Tomlinson, his wife Ann (x) Tomlinson.  Wit: John Windom, Wm. Nichols.   Tyrrell Co, NC,  Deed Book 2, Page 410

and

Pages 70-72: JOHN WINDHAM and ELIZABETH of Tyrrell County, North Carolina to JAMES LUNDY dated 8 Mar 1749/50; 82 acres on the north side of the Maherrin River adj. HARMAN REED and sd. JAMES (patent by EDMUND LUNDY for 165 acres on 28 Feb 1733), S: JOHN (M) WINDHAM and ELIZABETH (mark) WINDHAM, W: JOEL (signed) HARRIS, HENRY (signed) ADAMS, and BENJAMIN (signed) LEWIS [Note; John Windham son in law of Harmon Read; Elizabeth daughter of Harmon Read]

Next Both were in the 1755 tax list in Beaufort Co, NC. Pitt was formed in 1760 from Beaufort County. There are several land transactions showing that their lands bordered each other. John Windham even makes this Deed of Gift to his daughter and Grandson:

In May 1766   John Windhom. (from Pitt Co.) “in consideration of love, good will and affection which I have for my grandson John Nichols (of Pitt co.)”, have given 100 acres of land in Pitt Co., on Coneta Creek including the plantation that William Nichols formerly lived on.  Likewise my daughter Jean Nichols can stay on the land for her lifetime.  Signed (possibly just a mark) by John and Elizabeth Windom, Witnessed by James May, Nathan Mayo, and David Hathaway.  Pitt Co., NC Deed C321

As you can see Johns daughter married a Nichols. Also in doing a quick search on John Windham, I have found several sources whom claim he comes from Isle of Wright Co., VA. So now I do a search on Nichols in Isle of Wright Co., VA and all surrounding Counties. I find several Nichols/Nicholls/Nicholas Families in Nansemond County and  Norfolk County. These counties border NC and Bertie County where my of the first Nichols migrated to in the early 1700’s.

Notice the William Nichols here. Right after this date my William Nichols (abt 1755) shows up in NC. Norfolk County also borders NC and borders Isle of Wright co. John Windham was from Isle of Wright Co. John Windham’s daughter Jean married a Nichols and had a son John and had many dealings with William Nichols Sr.

Norfolk County, Virginia Will Abstracts, 1710-1753 – JOHN NICHOLLS, Senr, of Norfolk County Virginia …
Book I p. –(torn)–
(Abstracted from Original, See Box 1711-1755).
Dated 8 March 1743; Proved Apr. Court 1750
… appoint my Dearly Beloved Wife Alice Nicholls and my Beloved Son William Nicholls to be joynt Executrix and Executor …
… to my Beloved Son William Nicholls the Plantation whereon I now live and likewise the Plantation whereon he lives and all the Land that I am possessed off, to him, his Heirs or Assigns, after my Wifes Death, And if my Son John will live with my Son William, then to have my Negro Harry …
… my Daugr Sarah Seavell … But if my Son John will not live with my Son William, then William to build him a house on my Plantation where John likes …
… my Daugr Elizabeth Creekmur
… my Daugr Alice Seavell …
… my Daugr Mary Nicholls …
[p.258] … all my Children (Vizt) John Nicholls, William Nicholls, Alice Seavells, Elizabeth Creekmure, Sarah Seavells and Mary Nicholls …
Witnesses: Ralph Fenley.
John Gaman.
James Taylor.
his
James + Gamon.
mark.
his
John + Nicholls. Red Wax Seal.
mark.

I need some more info on this John and son William.

More families that had a lot of land dealings and were neighbors of William Nichols, Sr were Amos Atkinson, Able Thomas, Godfrey Stancil, David Hathaway and James Mayo.

According to Kat Rayl, a decedent of Hezekiah Nichols (son of Henry Nichols), a Waylon Nichols, also descended from Hezekiah, has submitted a 67 marker Y-DNA test to family tree DNA. The Nichols Results are at http://www.brian-hamman.com/ResultsForNicholsSurnameProject.htm
Greg and I have our results in and we are kit#40533 and Kit#112863. It should take about 6-8 weeks for Waylon’s results to post. Greg and I have also upgraded our 37 makers results to 67 and it takes about a
month for that to show up.

Also Kat has paid for a Jehu Nichols to submit a DNA sample as well. Jehu Nichols family has always lived in Washington in Beaufort Co. I think he is originally from the Humphrey Nicholls line of Bertie County NC. My family always thought we were from this line until I matched with Greg’s DNA. So we will see if we are kin to the Bertie County Nichols as well. I am excited about new possible matches.

Today I set up a mail list for the 7 to 8 other researchers that are working on the decendents of William Nichols Sr. of Pitt Co., NC. Hopefully this will help keep everyone updated on the progress being made in peicing togehter this family. This is a good idea for any group of researchers working towards a common goal.

I am calling for all Nichols Researchers with ties to the North Carolina, Virginia, Sumter Co South Carolina and Maryland area to participate in the Nichols DNA Research Project By ordering a 37 marker DNA test. Our next step is to piece together the family of William Nichols Sr., and since the courthouse in Pitt County NC burned DNA and land records are the only way we can sort the mess out. So if you are or think you are descended from the Pitt County area then drop me a email and do a DNA test…. PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

As you well know my big genealogy brick wall was with my Henry Nichols (Family Page and PDF Lineage). The earliest I found him was in Effingham County Georgia in the 1805 Georgia land lottery. Effingham County is not a burn county and has most of its early records. Well there is nothing on my Henry even though he lived there, met his wife and fathered 3 children there. NO RECORDS! he did not purchase land, did not pay tax, did not get married there. The only way I can place him there was from 2 Georgia land lotteries from 1805 and 1807 and from the Georgia Passport he was granted to move through Indian land on his way to Mississippi in 1810.

I could only locate 2 of his children in 1880 and both said he was born in NC. Well I have covered most counties in North and South Carolina and have tracked down all the Henry Nichols and have discounted all but 1.

This Henry Nichols was born in Pitt County North Carolina. The patriarch of the Pitt County Nichols seems to be a William Nichols Sr. Williams son Joel Nichols seems the most likely fit for being the Father of this Henry Nichols. in 1790 census Joel had 2 males under the age of 16 which fits my Henrys birth range of 1771-1775. Also when Joel moved to next door to Johnston County in 1797 A Henry Nichols was granted 150 acres on Hannah Creek, the came Creek Joel Nichols moved to. After the land purchase this Henry disappears forever from North Carolina as far as I can tell. My Henry would have to Be in Effingham County by at least 1801 in order to marry thew daughter of James Cook and have his first (known) Child William by 1802. The problem in finding the family structure of William Nichols Sr. is that Pitt County is a burn County. All records except land records burned in 1858.

Now I ask myself, if this is my Henry then why would he leave someplace he knows and travel all the way to Effingham County. Well the answer may be in Sumter County South Carolina. Several of Williams Children left Pitt County North Carolina just before the 1790 census and went to Sumter County. Probably after the death of William Sr. So this gives someplace for Henry to go to then make the Jump to Effingham County which makes more sense. Problem is how do I prove this. Pitt county has no records but deeds, Johnston Co only has the 1 land record for Henry and Sumter County has no records on Henry.

So I decide to have a DNA test done by Family Tree Dna. I did this over a year ago. At first my results were by them self with no matches to other Nichols in the project. BUT I could discount other Nichols families around Pitt County through this.

Then a year ago I got my first close match. A Walter Nichols (kit #17761) matched me on 35 of 37 markers with a genetic distance of 3. This means In comparing 37 markers, the probability that Brian Nichols and Walter P. Nichols shared a common ancestor within the last…

• 2 generations is 9.8%
• 4 generations is 31.74%
• 6 generations is 54.47%
• 8 generations is 72.13%
• 10 generations is 83.95%
• 12 generations is 91.16%

My Henry is 6 Generations back so that meant that My Henry’s and William E Nichols ( William E Nichols Line) had a 72% chance of having the same grandfather. Unfortunately Walter is in the same boat I am. He can’t get past William Nichols although family history suggest it was a Conrad Nichols. No records exist saying a Conrad Nichols ever did exist. Although this is a great clue it doesn’t break my brick wall. So now I wait some more.

About six months ago I get an email from a supposed descendant of William Nichols Sr. of Pitt County, NC. She says her Cousin is a descendant of Reuben Nichols. He is one of the Nichols to go from Pitt County to Sumter County, SC. Then Reuben went from there to Lawrence Co, Mississippi where he died in the 1840’s. What makes this more interesting is the Reuben’s son, Reuben Bynum Nichols married in Copiah County MS to a Martha Touchstone, Henry’s Son, William Nichols also Married in Copiah County MS about the same time that Reuben B did and both went to Bradley County Arkansas in 1845. Reuben B Nichols died there in 1848. In 1850 my ancestor, Jeremiah Nichols, also a son of Henry, is living in Drew County Arkansas and guess who is living next door…. Martha Nichols, widow of Reuben B, these to families were close as they had several land transaction and always lived real close together.

So now I think I can finally get a definitive answer if the Henry of Pitt County is my Henry. Well the kit comes in and we are nowhere near a match (kit number 74981). We only matched 24 of 37 markers with a genetic distance of 17. This didn’t make sense and really crushed my hopes on the Pitt County connection. So I wait some more.

About a month ago I get a email from a Greg Nichols of Kentucky saying he was having a 37 marker test done and so far 25 had come in and we were a perfect match. Well I about wet myself over this news. We spoke by phone and he was a descendant of William Nichols Jr, son of William Nichols Sr. of Pitt County NC. Well I have compared my dna to a supposed decedent through the Reuben Nichols line and thought the last 12 markers would crush my dreams but I had to wait 2 weeks till they came in.

Well last week they did. Greg and I matched 36 of 37 markers with a genetic Distance of 1. That means In comparing 37 markers, the probability that Brian Nichols and Greg D. Nichols shared a common ancestor within the last…

• 2 generations is 29.25%
• 4 generations is 58.66%
• 6 generations is 77.93%
• 8 generations is 88.83%
• 10 generations is 94.54%
• 12 generations is 97.4%

This is a very close match. So how do I know that Greg is from the Pitt County Nichols? Well Greg’s Nichols have always been in Pitt County. He is the first Nichols in his line not to live there. So I now believe that my Henry and The Henry from Pitt County and Johston Counties are one in the same.

So how do I explain the huge difference in dna from the decedent of Reuben. Well there could have been a birth out of wedlock. There could have been a remarriage or adoption or he could have made the same mistake many genealogist make and assumed the wrong lineage.

So I encourage you if you are at an impasse and need help to seriously consider having a dna test done. I could not have broken a very difficult brick wall with out it. You can more Easily follow along by seeing how the county boundary changes occurred each year on my County Formations page

SEE FIRST POST FOR DETAIL OF CONTEST

See the Union Co., Georgia post for why Nichols in this county is of interest.

Rabun Co., Georgia Nichols(son) Marriages
Dicey Nechalson Dred Masingill 22 Mar 1825
Wiley Nichols Nelly Goslin 18 Feb 1836
Wily Nichols Elizabeth Burch 5 Sep 1826

SEE FIRST POST FOR DETAIL OF CONTEST

See the Union Co., Georgia post for why Nichols in this county is of interest.

Habersham Co., Georgia Nichols(son) Marriages
Andrew Nichols Elizabeth Clarke 3 Dec 1833
Polly Nichols Charles Goslin 6 May 1838
William P. Nichols Sarah V. Anderson 24 Jan 1847
Martha Nicholson Frederick Weaver 8 Feb 1835
Polly Nicholson Absolom Stephens 25 Dec 1834

SEE FIRST POST FOR DETAIL OF CONTEST

See the Union Co., Georgia post for why Nichols in this county is of interest.

Lumpkin Co., Georgia Nichols(son) Marriages
David Nichols Catherine E. Tolbert 31 Jan 1837
James A. Nichols Sarah Carnes 28 Jul 1844
Lucinda Nichols Alfred Perry 9 Apr 1837
Ransom M. Nichols Quincy Moss 7 Feb 1848
Sarah Nichols George W. Woods 18 Oct 1846
Malinda Nicholson John Dillard 19 Feb 1846
Martha Ann Nicholson William W. Williams 20 Sep 1849

SEE FIRST POST FOR DETAIL OF CONTEST

In 1850 there are 2 Coorads or Conrads In Union County GA. Look at the DNA Match post. William E Nichols Father is supposed to be a Conrad Nichols. Even though these Conrads are definitely not the father of William it is an interesting angle to check out. Were these conrads named after someone? hmmmmmmmmmmm

I will also post some records for the surrounding Counties.

Union Co., Georgia Nichols(son) Marriages
15 Jul 1837 – NICHOLSON, Hannah to MORGAN, Samuel
24 Dec 1840 – NICHOLS, Henry to HENSON, Lavina
4 May 1841 – NICHOLSON, Thomas BURCH, Susan
30 Jun 1843 – NICHOLS, Clarissa to LANGHAM, Simeon
24 Dec 1843 – NICHELSON [NICHOLSON?], Easter to PATTERSON, James
6 Feb 1844 – NICHOLS, M. P. to BOATFIELD, G.
29 Sep 1844 – NICHOLSON, John to TEAGUE, Martha
20 Dec 1844 – NICHOLSON, Jeasbel to PINSON, A. B.
6 Dec 1845 – NICHOLS, Jonathan B. to BLACK, Caroline
13 Jun 1846 – NICHOLS, Elizabeth to REES, Jonathan
27 Jan 1848 – NICHOLSON, Samuel to HOOPER, Sarah
23 Apr 1848 – NICHOLSON, Jason to ENGLAND, Matilda
21 Jan 1849 – NICHOLSON, Nancy to SPURLIN, Josiah C.
3 Feb 1850 – NICHOLSON, James M. to BUCKNER, Mirinda
18 Feb 1850 – NICHOLSON, Logan to WOODRING, Mary A.
4 Jan 1853 – NICHOLSON, Mary to JONES, C. A.
5 Apr 1853 – NICHOLSON, Delila to LUNSFORD, Louis
25 Nov 1853 – NICHELSON [NICHOLSON?], John to BENERT [BENNETT?], Margaret
29 Aug 1853 – NICHOLSON, N. to GREEN, Martha E.
22 Feb 1855 – NICHOLSON, David to HOOPER, Mary
28 May 1856 – NICHOLS, A. to McCOLLER, Nancy

1840 Union Co., Georgia Nichols(son)
Page: 16 Alferd Nicholson Union, Georgia 1222–1——/-2-1–1——/——/——
Page: 7 Isac Nicholson Union, Georgia -1312—1—-/—2—1—–/——/——
Page: 10 Waly Nicholson Union, Georgia -2—-1——/—1-1——-/——/——
Page: 10 William Nicholson Union, Georgia 2–2–1——/-1—1——-/——/——

1850 Union Co., Georgia Nichols(son)
Page: 201
John Nicholson District 85, Union, GA abt 1820 North Carolina (Married Martha TEAGUE on 29 Sep 1844 in Union County)
Martha Nicholson District 85, Union, GA abt 1821 North Carolina
Martha Nicholson District 85, Union, GA abt 1845 North Carolina
Mary Nicholson District 85, Union, GA abt 1845 North Carolina
E S L Nicholson District 85, Union, GA abt 1849 North Carolina

Page: 207
Alfred Nicholson District 85, Union, GA abt 1799 South Carolina
Mary Nicholson District 85, Union, GA abt 1798 South Carolina
John Nicholson District 85, Union, GA abt 1833 Georgia
David Nicholson District 85, Union, GA abt 1835 Georgia
Delila Nicholson District 85, Union, GA abt 1835 Georgia
Jackson Nicholson District 85, Union, GA abt 1837 Georgia
Newton Nicholson District 85, Union, GA abt 1841 Georgia

Page: 211
George Boatfield District 85, Union, GA abt 1821 Pennsylvania
Mary Boatfield District 85, Union, GA abt 1822 North Carolina
Susannah Boatfield District 85, Union, GA abt 1846 Georgia
Elizabeth Boatfield District 85, Union, GA abt 1847 Georgia
Jane Boatfield District 85, Union, GA abt 1850 Georgia
Elizabeth Nichols District 85, Union, GA abt 1790 Georgia

Page: 214-215
David Nichols District 85, Union, GA abt 1807 South Carolina
Bytha Nichol District 85, Union, GA abt 1815 Kentucky
William Nichol District 85, Union, GA abt 1838 South Carolina
Robert Nichols District 85, Union, GA abt 1842 North Carolina
Nancy Nichols District 85, Union, GA abt 1844 Georgia
Jonathan Nichols District 85, Union, GA abt 1846 Georgia
Joel Nichols District 85, Union, GA abt 1846 Georgia
Thomas Nichols District 85, Union, GA abt 1849 Georgia

Page: 220
Jonathan D Nichols District 85, Union, GA abt 1824 North Carolina
(Jonathan B. Nichols to Caroline BLACK on 6 Dec 1845 in Union County)
Evaline Nichols District 85, Union, GA abt 1826 North Carolina
Conard Nichols District 85, Union, GA abt 1848 Georgia
Jane Nichols District 85, Union, GA abt 1850 Georgia

Conrad Nichols District 85, Union, GA abt 1825 North Carolina
Adaline Nichols District 85, Union, GA abt 1827
Jonathan Nichols District 85, Union, GA abt 1849 Georgia

Page: 221
Adam Nicholson District 85, Union, GA abt 1790 South Carolina
Barbary Nicholson District 85, Union, GA abt 1808 North Carolina
Amory Nicholson District 85, Union, GA abt 1834 North Carolina
Pursley Nicholson District 85, Union, GA abt 1836 North Carolina
Matilda Nicholson District 85, Union, GA abt 1838 North Carolina
William Nicholson District 85, Union, GA abt 1839 North Carolina
Christian Nicholson District 85, Union, GA abt 1840 North Carolina
Sally Nicholson District 85, Union, GA abt 1841 North Carolina
Mary Nicholson District 85, Union, GA abt 1842 North Carolina
Daniel Nicholson District 85, Union, GA abt 1843 North Carolina
Thomas Nicholson District 85, Union, GA abt 1848 North Carolina

Page: 231
John Nicholson District 85, Union, GA abt 1818 North Carolina
Margarett Nicholson District 85, Union, GA abt 1810 North Carolina
William Nicholson District 85, Union, GA abt 1835 Georgia
Larkin Nicholson District 85, Union, GA abt 1840 Georgia
Adalade Nicholson District 85, Union, GA abt 1846 Georgia
Adalizer Nicholson District 85, Union, GA abt 1848 Georgia

Page: 235
Henry Nicholson District 85, Union, GA abt 1816 North Carolina
(Henry Nichols to Lavina HENSON on 24 Dec 1840 in Union County)
Vina Nicholson District 85, Union, GA abt 1812 South Carolina
William Nicholson District 85, Union, GA abt 1841 Georgia
Sarah Nicholson District 85, Union, GA abt 1844 Georgia
James Nicholson District 85, Union, GA abt 1846 Georgia

Isaac Nicholson District 85, Union, GA abt 1776 Virginia
Rebecca Nicholson District 85, Union, GA abt 1787 Virginia

James Nicholson District 85, Union, GA abt 1823 Tennessee
Martha Nicholson District 85, Union, GA abt 1823 South Carolina
Andrew Nicholson District 85, Union, GA abt 1847 Georgia
John Nicholson District 85, Union, GA abt 1849 Georgia

Page: 248
Thomas Nichols District 85, Union, GA abt 1820 North Carolina
Elizabeth Nichols District 85, Union, GA abt 1819 North Carolina
Josep Nichols District 85, Union, GA abt 1842 North Carolina
Mary Nichols District 85, Union, GA abt 1844 North Carolina

Page: 267
Logan Nicholson District 85, Union, GA abt 1828 North Carolina
Polyan Nicholson District 85, Union, GA abt 1830 North Carolina

Samuel Nicholson District 85, Union, GA abt 1826 North Carolina
(Samuel NICHOLSON to Sarah HOOPER on 27 Jan 1848 in Union County)
Sarah Nicholson District 85, Union, GA abt 1830 North Carolina
John Nicholson District 85, Union, GA abt 1848 Georgia

Walter Nicholson District 85, Union, GA abt 1795 South Carolina
Darcus Nicholson District 85, Union, GA abt 1792 North Carolina

Page: 280
Jonathan Nicholson District 85, Union, GA abt 1827 North Carolina
Betsey Ann Nicholson District 85, Union, GA abt 1829 Georgia
Adaline Nicholson District 85, Union, GA abt 1849 Georgia

SEE FIRST POST FOR DETAIL OF CONTEST

Pasquotank County NC ESTATE RECORDS. I have not pulled these records yet.

• Nichols, Abner 1780
• Nichols, Ann 1788
• Nichols, Anthony 1790
• Nichols, Benjamin 1801
• Nichols, Dana 1839
• Nichols, David 1778
• Nichols, David 1838
• Nichols, Elizabeth 1839
• Nichols, Henley 1823
• Nichols, Henry 1775
• Nichols, Henry 1800
• Nichols, Jabez 1792
• Nichols, James 1761
• Nichols, James 1796
• Nichols, Jeremiah 176-
• Nichols, Job 1755
• Nichols, Joseph 1796
• Nichols, Olly E. 1841
• Nichols, Theophilus 1763
• Nichols, Thomas 1796
• Nichols, William 1769
• Nichols, William 1783
• Nichols, William 1804
• Nichols, William 1831
• Nichols, Willis 1802
• Nicholson, Christopher 1794
• Nicholson, Gabriel 1829
• Nicholson, Jerusha 1825
• Nicholson, Job 1754
• Nicholson, John 1794
• Nicholson, Joseph 1772
• Nicholson, Joseph 1785
• Nicholson, Mary 1788
• Nicholson, Mary 1806
• Nicholson, Olla 1842
• Nicholson, Sarah 1807
• Nicholson, Susannah 1812
• Nicholson, Thomas 1807
• Nicholson, William 1876
• Nickens, Elizabeth 1811