Joseph NICHOLSON

                   Died- Will of Joseph Nicholson:12 Apr 1693 on ship ELIZABETH from Barbados
     to London
Land Evidences of R. I. Vol 1 part M. p. 326
Will of Joseph NICHOLSON Of Portsmouth GSF #945,357.
AUSTIN'S Genealogical Dictionary of R.I.
SAVAGE'S First Three Generations of Settlers of New England.
Letter from Margaret Ruff
RI Vital Records, F747


JOSEPH NICHOLSON

   There was a man in New England named Joseph NIcholson, a devoted Quaker.  A summary of the obtainable facts relative to his Quaker, Joseph Nicholson, shows that he was from Bootle Co., Cumberland, England where his fourth child was born on April 22, 1658 (and perhaps also his earlier children in 1650, 1653 and 1656, respectively.)
       In 1656 he requested a personal interview with Oliver Cromwell of offer his body, or his life if need be, as a proxy for the great Quaker leader, George Rox, who was then in prison.  In June 1657, he and his wife came to New England, their expenses having been paid by the English Society of Friends.  They probably came in the "Woodhouse."
       Subsequently their lives were spectacular.  They traveled extensively in their endeavor to spread the Quaker faith--as far afield as Maryland and Virginia.  In New England they suffered many periods of imprisonment; in Boston they were put in irons, and they were whipped at the cart's tail through Boston, Salem, Dedham and in New Hampshire and were finally and repeatedly sentenced to banishment under pain of death.  During one period of imprisonment they were freed on condition that they would embark on a vessel about to sail for England, but on application to the master they were unable to secure passage; they returned to the Governor announcing their readiness to be imprisoned again until another boat should sail.  The wife, Jane, anticipating immediate confinement, was taken by her husband to Salem or its vicinity to be cared for.  This suggests the possibility of their having had acquaintances or relatives there.  They had one child born at Salem in 1659-60; one in 1665 in Barbadoes; one in 1667 in Martinique and another in 1669 at Newport, Rhode Island, where Jane died in April 1691, age 52.

NICHOLSON . . . . . . But one Joseph, Portsmouth, R.I. seems happier, if we can judge by his will 1693, describ. his ch. as Joseph wh. was b. 2 Nov 1650; Sarah b. 1 Feb 1653, w. of John Ward; Rebecca 1 Feb 1656, w. of Nicholas Carr; Rachel b. at Salem 21 Mar 1660; Benjamin in Barbadoes 6 July 1665; Elizabeth at Martinico 8 Jun 1667; and Jane in R.I. 29 Sep 1669.  He was, we may believe, s. of Edmund of Marblehead, and his w. was Jane.  (No, he is not the son of Edmund. T.B.)
                         Three Generations of Settlers Before 1690 by Savage


JOSEPH NICHOLSON:

       A Quaker meeting was held February 1659/60 at Wharton's house, next to the meeting house, while the church services were going on.  This was certainly audacious and courageous.  At least, William King, Mrs. Smith, Mrs. Trask and Provided southwick were there and were arrested.  Provided Southwick was committed to the Ipswich house of correction, but the others were imprisoned in Boston.
       Mrs. Trask had three children at home, respectively seven, five and three years of age.  Her husband's pleading with Governor Endecott, she was allowed to go home for two months the succeeding summer.  Mrs. Smith's husband, John Smith was arristed for speaking at the ordination of Rev. John Higginson, 29th of August and eight days later was brought to the Boston jail.
       Joseph Nicholson and his wife Jane, who was great with child, came to Salem about 18 March 1659/60 and John Southwick took them into his house.  The 3rd of April the selectmen fined him twenty shillings a week thereafter while she remained in the town.  There were Quakers and 30th of May were banished from the Colony on pain of death, being ordered to depart by the next Wednesday.  They could not secure passage to England, to which place the general court permitted them to go.
       A letter written from the jail in Boston, by John Smith to his wife's brother Joshua Buffium and dated 4th Nov. 1660, states that William Ledra, Mr. and Mrs. Nicholson, Edward Wharton, Mrs. Trask and William King were with the writer and his wife in the Boston jail.
       The following is a copy of the letter:  --

       "Joshua Buffium, dear brother this is to let thee understand and all friends with thee how many of us ar hear in prison at this time.  Nicholas Upshall he hath ben hear forteen months or therabout being formerly banished upon his returning for to remain all his lif fime as they say.
       William Lidra who being banished at the Cort of Assizes on the 7 month who was returning after some time to visit us hear in prison was apprehended before he came to us and carried before the Governor and so sent to the prison.  And Joseph Nicholson and his wife and child who came to take passage to go for Ingland who was had before the cort and his liberty granted to go away and a boat pressed to cary him on bord the ship at Nantasket, the master of the ship refused to cary him up to Boston again and went before the Governor desired to have prison room or such other privit hous to be in till there was another opportunity
       William Lidra was calle forth also and demanded whethe he would go for Ingland he answered he had no occasion to go, for Ingland therefore could not go they said he should go somewhere else that he asked whither some answered to the gallows so he was brought to the prison again and hear both remain.
       Hear is Edward Wharton who was brought to the prison the latter end of the 3 month or thereabout for not going to ther meeting as they call it.
       John Chamberlen one of the town of Boston imprisoned the latter end of the 3 month for declaring against the minister of Charlston in publick as they call it.
       Her is Robert Harper and his wife imprisoned for coming to visit us hear in prison the 26 of the 8 month or therabout.
       My wife and Mary Traske imprisoned the 12 day of the 1 month 1659 and hear kept ever since only Mary Traske was at home 2 months of the time or therabout through her husbands pleding with the Governor who was imprisoned both of them for meeting at Edward Whartons house near the meeting hous and for making disturbance before they had done as they say bing moved of the lord to speak not knowing but that it was don.
       William King Imprisoned at the sam tim was namished and deported to Rod. . . not long after for the sam thing.
       Provided Southwick imprisoned also for the sam meting in Ipswich prison and let out the county cort at Ipswich to answer at Salem Cort on the 9 month and I was put in prison for making a disturbanc on the day of ordination as they say being moved of the Lord to declare against them therein imprisoned the 6 of the 7 month 1660 and hear now must remail al winter for ought we know.  Only Joseph Nicholson and his wife it is lik shall pass to Ingland when opportunity is.
       Wrighten in the hous of Correction the 4 day of the 9 month 1660.
                       /s/ From the dear brother in the (Lord?)     John Smith

Ref: History of Salem p. 262


WILL OF JOSEPH NICHOLSON:

       I, Joseph of the town of Portsmouth in the Colony of Rhode Island and providence Plantations in New England of America, Husbandman being by the blessing of God in good health of body and of good and perfect memory and calling to mind the uncertainty of this life, do make and constitute, ordain and declare this my last will and testament in manner and form following revoking and annulling by these presents all and every testament and writing and this by only for my last will and testament.
       Impris:  I will that all those debts as -- to right to any manner of person or persons whatsoever shall be well and truly paid or ordained to be paid within a convenient time after my decease by my executors or executrix hereafter named to sell convey and give good assurance for all my lands, housing and appurtenances there unto belonging, lying and being in the township of Portsmouth on Rhode Island, and the money for which the housing and land shall be sold for to be for the paying the several legatees hereinafter in this my will, given and bequeather, which bequest my will is shall be duly and truly paid by my executor or executrix or the survivor of them within three years after my decease.
       Item:  I give and bequeath unto my son Joseph Nicholson ten pounds in money to him, his heirs and assigns ---.
       Item:  I give to my daughter Sarah Ward, wife to John Ward and to his heirs 30 pounds in (?like) pay.
       Item:  I give and bequeath to my daughter, Rebecca Carr, wife to Nicholas Carr and to their heirs and assignes fourty pounds.
       Item:  I give and bequeath to my daughter Rachall Pebody, wife to John Pebody and to his heirs fourty pounds.
       Item:  I give and bequeath unto my daughter Dina Burrill, wife to James Burrill and to his heirs thirty pounds.
       Item:  I give and bequeath to my daughter Elizabeth Nicholson sixty pounds.
       Item:  I give and bequeath to my daughter Jane Nicholson one hundred pounds.
       Item:  I give and bequeath to my granddaughter Jane Nicholson, daughter to my son Joseph five pounds.
       Item:  I give and bequeath unto my grandchildren, the children of Nicholas Carr and Renecca his wife, to Joseph Carr, twenty pounds; to Nicholas Carr twenty shillings, to Jane Carr ten pounds; to Caleb Carr, ten pounds.
       Item:  I give and bequeath unto Rebecca Carr ten pounds, unto Margrett Carr five pounds, to Mary Carr five pounds.
       Item:  I give and bequeath unto my grandchildren, the children of James Burrill and Dina his wife, to James Burrill five pounds, to Suzana Burrill five pounds.
       Item:  I give and bequeath unto my grandchilden, the children of John Ward and Sarah his wife, to Joseph Ward twenty shillings, to Elizabeth tweny shillings
       Item:  I give and bequeath unto my grandchildren, the children of John Pebody and Rachall his wife, to Joseph Peabody twenty pounds, to Dorathey Pebody ten pounds, to Jane Poabody ten Pounds.
       Item:  All the remainder of my estate consisting either in stocks or household goods or monies I give and bequeath to my two daughters Elizabeth and Jane Nicholson to be equally divided between them.
       Item:  My will is that the several legacies above my me given and bequeathed to my children and grandchildren shall be paid in money and equivalent to money by my executor and executrix within the time above mentioned and my will is -- and I do hereby publish and desire my son-in-law Nicholas Carr my executor and my daughter Jane Nicholson, my executrix for the executing of this my will and testament and the trust by me imposed on them according to law and further my will is -- and I do hereby declare that if it shall so happen in my travels or otherwise that I should make use of or dispose of so much of my estate in my lifetime that at my decease my executor or exectrix should want money to pay the several legacus by me bequeathed, then my will is that what is want shall be (?prorates) out of each legacy according to the gift by me to him or her given.
       Lastly, this my last will and testament may be truly executed and performed according to the true intent and meaning hereof.  I do appoint and desire my loving friend John Easton's son and Walter Clarke both of Newport on Rhode Island to be overseers to see this my will  performed and I do hereby give and bequeath to each of them forty shillings in New England money to paid to them within a convenient time after my decease.
       Item:  I give and bequeath to John Pebody my grandson, son of John Pebody twenty shillings. In witness where of I have here unto set my hand and seal this 1 day of April in the year one thousand, six hundred, ninety-three (1693)
                                      Seal Joseph Nicholson

Signed sealed and owned to be his last will and testament in the presence of Benjamin Newberry, James Clarke, the Mark of John West.

Witnessed 1 April 1693 by John Easton, Governor
Assisting: Nicholson Carr and Benedict ARnold
Approved by the town Council of Portsmouth 29 day of Sep 1693
Witness  John Anthony, Clerk

Ref: GSF #945,373 Land Evidences of Portsmouth, R.I. Vol. 1 1691 p. 326

Joseph Nicholson died on the ship "Elizabeth" bound from Barbados to London.

Nicholson Family, pp. 94-112, #292,273 N52a Gen. Lib. SLC;
Austin's Three Generations of Settlers before 1690;
Hinshaw's uaker Recds. Vol. 1
V.R of Lynn, Mass.
Essex, Mass. Probate Records;
History of Peruimans Co., N.C. by Winslow, p. 394

Edmund Nicholson emigrated about 1636-7 but not mentioned in records until Sept. 1646 when Geo. Pollard bequeaths money to Christopher "sonne of Edmond Nicholson."

This family is not a proven connection to our Joseph Nicholson line.

Birthdate 1640 changed to 1630 by Thelda Baker.

RI Col Rec V3: Freeman at Portsmouth (Freemen had to own at least 100 acres of land.)