Upper Level: William Nickerson abt 1605-abt 1690 Anne Busby 1607-1686

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

William Nickerson abt 1605-abt 1690 Anne Busby 1607-1686

William Nickerson and Ann Busby monument

William Nickerson
Born 16 Oct 1604 Norwich, Norfolk, England
Parents: William Nickerson and Alice
Christened 24 Jun 1605 Norwich, Norfolk, England
Occupation: William was a tailor apprentice to his father in 1621 and was admitted a worsted weaver and freeman in Norwich 18 May 1632.
Married Anne Busby abt 1627
Died 8 Sep 1690 Chatham, Barnstable, Massachusetts
Buried: Nickerson Cemetery, Chatham, Barnstable, Massachusetts
NOTES:
He and his family sailed from Yarmouth, England, 15 April 1637 on the ship John and Dorothy, arriving at Salem, Massachusetts, 20 June 1637.

Here is the information as printed from the ship's manifest:
Aprill 8th 1637 Nickerson William Norwich in Norff. weaver 33 boston in New England
Aprill 8th 1637 Nickerson Anne wife 28 boston in New England
Aprill 8th 1637 Nickerson Nicho. child boston in New England
Aprill 8th 1637 Nickerson Robertt child boston in New England
Aprill 8th 1637 Nickerson Elizabeth child boston in New England
NOTE: their child Anne was not listed, but she should have been if her birthdate is correct

Where the family lived for a few years is not known, but in 1641 they moved to Yarmouth, Mass. He first bought land at Monomoit from the Indian Sagamore Mattaquason in 1656 and a few years later, moved from Yarmouth with his children's families to begin the settlement of the present Chatham in the area which is now Chatham Port.

Sources
Book: Historic Homes and Places and Genealogical and Personal Memoirs Vol 3 page 1105-1106
Nickerson Family Genealogy: The Nickerson Family Association
A History of Chatham, Massachusetts Chapter 5, page 55
Manifest information: http://www.olivetreegenealogy.com/
Picture of monument: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/32636146/william-nickerson

The following is a "Life Sketch" from Family Search:

William Nickerson was born in about 1604 in Norwich, Norfolk, England, probably to William and Alice Nickerson. It is believed that he was apprenticed to his father as a tailor. He belonged to the Weaver's Guild of Norwich, having been admitted as a worsted weaver and freeman in Norwich, England on 18 May 1632.

William Nickerson married Anne, daughter of Nicholas and Bridget (Cocke) Busby, in about 1630 in Norwich. She was baptized/christened in St. Mary Coslany Parish chuch in Norwich on 2 Feb 1607/8.

On 6 Apr 1637 a party was examined who "expressing a desire to go to Boston in New England and set sail for the great adventure on the ship 'John and Dorothy' of Ipswich, William Andrews, master." Among the party were William Nickerson, age 33; his wife Ann, 28; and four children: Nicholas, Robert, Ann and Elizabeth. They sailed from Yarmouth and arrived in Boston or Salem, Massachusetts on 20 June 1637. William Nickerson's father and mother-in-law, Nicholas and Bridget (Cocke) Busby, came over at the same time.

Likely the Busby and Nickerson families resided at first in Newbury and then in Charleston, in t he Massachusetts Bay Colonty. In 1638 William took the freeman's oath in Boston.

In about 1640, William Nickerson moved with his family to Yarmouth, on Cape Cod in the Plymouth Colony. He took the oath of allegiance there on 1 June 1641, the same date that he was on a grand jury. He was declared a freeman at the next court, being described as of Yarmouth.

William had a tendency to go against the grain. On 1 March 1641, there was a complaint against him that he was a "scoffer and jeerer of religion." Trouble with the local minister in Yarmouth, however, did not seem to affect his standing as a citizen. He was on the list to bear arms at Yarmouth; served on a committee headed by Capt. Standish to settle boundary disputes; and received 16 acres at Little Bass Pond in Yarmouth (now in Dennis).

Around 1656 he bought a large amount of land from Indian Chief Mattaquason and son John Quason in Monomoy without consent of the colony’s authorities, contradicting a 1643 law. He then moved to Boston to care for in-laws. That same year William was at court for "buying lands of the Indians and for selling them a boat" and was disenfranchised. In 1661-2 he was back in Yarmouth with his family. On 4 July 1663 he presented a petition to settle a township at Monomoyick. In 1664 William, at age 60, left Yarmouth with his wife and all of his children, except Nicholas, for Monomoy. He must have been confident the dispute would be settled as his children all cleared land and built farms. At this age, he cleared land for his new home. In 1665, he was charged with "illegally purchasing lands of the Indians," but was allowed 100 acres near his house, with the rest granted in equal portions among eight men. In 1674 the Indian title to land was extinguished and a title from British Crown legally established title of 50 acres to each of William’s children. In 1678/9 and 1680, William purchased more land from the Indians, totaling 4,000 acres. Few, if any, colonists owned as much land.

William had a tendency to go against the grain. On 1 March 1641, there was a complaint against him that he was a "scoffer and jeerer of religion." Trouble with local minister in Yarmouth did not seem to affect his standing as a citizen. He was on the list to bear arms at Yarmouth; served on a committee headed by Capt. Standish to settle boundary disputes; received 16 acres at Little Bass Pond in Yarmouth (now in Dennis).

When Constable Thomas Howes of Yarmouth came to Monomoit to collect tax rates in 1667, he was met with a hostile reception. That same year William and some of his sons were set in stocks for resisting the constable in performing his duty. William was committed to prison and remained there for three days.

The family had to travel 7-8 miles for public worship, so instead William read scriptures to his family on the Sabbath. He became the spiritual leader of the village. He wanted to build a meeting house when he bristled at being taxed to build one in Eastham. In 1679 he received approval to be an independent constablewick, but not a town because they could not support own minister.

His wife Anne died in about 1886 and William died between 30 Aug 1689 and 8 Sept 1690, at about 86 years of age. No will for him is found. He was buried with his wife on a little hill south of his house. Sarah later deeded the burial plot to the town. A memorial tablet was placed there in 1915 to honor William. It is called Burial Hill or Pleasant Hill.

SOURCES INCLUDE::
(1) "The Nickerson Family: The Descendants of William Nickerson, 1604 - 1689, First Settler of Chatham, Massachusetts, Parts I, II, & III," pages 23/4. compiled by Pauline Wixon Derick et al (The Nickerson Family Assn., Inc., Cape Code, MA, 1997), FHL #929.273 N534
(2) "The Nickerson family and the history of William Nickerson, the immigrant, founder of Chatham, Mass.," compiled by Burton N. Derrick, (The Nickerson Family Assn., Inc., Cape Code, MA, 1998)
FHL #929.273 N534
(3) "From pilgrims and Indians to kings and indentured servants," compiled by Vernon R. Nickerson
(Privately published: Taunton, MA, 1970) FHL #929.273 N534
(4) "MASSACHUSETTS AND MORE GENEALOGY BLOG," by Chris
http://massandmoregenealogy.blogspot.com/2012/02/nicholas-nickerson-1628-1682-yarmouth.html
(5) Submission to Ancestry.com contributed by "1_angela13"
(6) "The Nickerson family and the history of William Nickerson, the immigrant, founder of Chatham, Mass.," compiled by Burton N. Derrick, (The Nickerson Family Assn., Inc., Cape Code, MA, 1998) FHL #929.273 N534

Memorial of Chatham Pioneers listing William, sons, and son's-in-law

Ann Busby
Christened 2 Feb 1607 St Mary at Coslany, Norwich, Norfolk, England
Parents: Nicholas Busby and Bridget Cocke
Died After 18 May 1686 Chatham, Barnstable, Massachusetts
Buried: Burial Hill, Chatham, Barnstable, Massachusetts
Sources
Christening: IGI Film 0993652 Batch C043751 dated 1557-1812
Book: Historic Homes and Places and Genealogical and Personal Memoirs Vol 3 page 1105-1106

CHILDREN

Nicholas Nickerson
Christened 10 Aug 1628 Norwich, Norfolk, England
Married 1) Elizabeth Bassett 1655
Children: Hester, William, Elizabeth
2) Mary Derby 1657
Children: John, Mary, Unnamed baby, Sarah, Elizabeth
Died 26 Mar 1682 Yarmouth, Barnstable, Massachusetts
Sources
Book: Historic Homes and Places and Genealogical and Personal Memoirs Vol 3 page 1106
Marriage to Mary: Book: New England Marriages Prior to 1700 page 537
Note: Mary's name is spelled Derby in the record
Elizabeth Nickerson
Christened 1 Jan 1630 Norwich, Norfolk, England
Married Robert Eldridge 31 Oct 1649 Yarmouth, Barnstable, Masschusetts
Children: Nicholas, Mary, Robert, Hannah, William, Samuel, Martha, Joseph, Bridget, Samuel
Died Before 3 May 1706 Monmoit, Barnstable, Massachusetts
Sources
Book: Historic Homes and Places and Genealogical and Personal Memoirs Vol 3 page 1106
Book: History of Chatham The Early Settlers, part 2 Chapter 7 page 117
Robert Nickerson
Christened 17 Nov 1631 Norwich, Norfolk, England
Married Rebecca Cole abt 1685
Children: Robert, Samuel, Rebecca, Robert
Died Before 5 Apr 1710 Sandwich, Barnstable, Massachusetts
Sources
Book: History of Chatham The Early Settlers, part 2 Chapter 7 page 120
Family Search
Thomas Nickerson
Christened 10 Jan 1633 St Peter Parmentergate,Norwich, Norfolk, England
Died 21 Feb 1633 Norwich, Norfolk, England
Sources
England Births and Christenings
Note: Surname spelled Nyckersonne - remember, spelling was not standardized
Family Search
Anne Nickerson
Christened 7 May 1635 St Peter Parmentergate, Norwich, Norfolk, England
Married Tristram Hedges 20 Dec 1657 Boston, Massachusetts Bay Colony

Marriage record

Children:Grace, Elizabeth, Dinah
Died 27 October 1680 Monomoit, Barnstable, Massachusetts Bay Colony, British Colonial America
Sources
England Births and Christenings
Note: Name spelled An Nickasone in christening record
Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001
A Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England by James Savage, Vol. III (K-R) Little, Brown & Co.; Boston; 1860-1862
North America, Family Histories
Family Search
Memorial: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/112651128/anne-hedges
Samuel Nickerson
Christened abt 1638 Massachusetts
Married Mary Bell abt 1660 Yarmouth, Barnstable, Massachusetts
Children: Mary, Samuel, Nicholas
Sources
Family Search
John Nickerson
Born abt 1640 Massachusetts
Married Sarah Williams abt 1660
Children: Sarah, John, William, Judith
Sources
New England Marriages prior to 1700 page 537
Family Search
Sarah Nickerson
abt 1644 Yarmouth, Barnstable, Massachusetts
Married Nathaniel Covell 4 Jul 1663
Children: Elizabeth, Sarah, Nathaniel, Joseph, Ephraim
Note: She was fined on 5-Mar-1678 for profaning the Lord's day by quarreling and fighting.
Died about 1715 Yarmouth, Barnstable, Massachusetts
Sources
Family Search
*William Nickerson
Born 1646
Christened 1 Jun 1646 Yarmouth, Barnstable, Massachusetts
Occupation: 1st town clerk of Chatham
Married Mercy Williams 30 Nov 1668 Yarmouth, Barnstable, Massachusetts
Children: William, Robert, Mercy, Elizabeth, Judith, Nathaniel, Thomas
Died 7 April 1719 Chatham, Massachusetts
Sources
Book: History of Chatham
Book: Historic Homes and Places and Genealogical and Personal Memoirs Vol 3 page 1106
Joseph Nickerson
Born 16 Dec 1647 Yarmouth, Barnstable, Massachusetts
Note: Name spelled Josepth Nicherson in record.
Married Ruhamah Jones abt 1677
Children: Jeremiah, William, Joseph, Josiah, John
Died: About 1730
Sources
Birth: IGI Film 1589030 IT 1-2 Batch C507531 Dated 1646 - 1850
US New England Marriages prior to 1700
Family Search

No comments:

From a Funeral Program

When I come to the end of the road

And the sun has set for me

I want no rites in a gloom-filled room

Why cry for a soul set free?

Miss me a little - but not for too long

And not with your head bowed low

Remember the love that we once shared

Miss me, but let me go.

For this is a journey that we all must take

And each must go alone

It's all part of the Master's plan

A step on the road to home.

When you are lonely and sick at heart

Go to the hills we know

And bury your sorrow among the trees

Miss me, but let me go.

The Line

Every minute someone leaves this world behind.
We are all in “the line” without knowing it.
We never know how many people are before us.
We can not move to the back of the line.
We can not step out of the line.
We can not avoid the line.

So while we wait in line -

Make moments count.
Make priorities.
Make the time.
Make your gifts known.
Make a nobody feel like a somebody.
Make your voice heard.
Make the small things big.
Make someone smile.
Make the change.
Make love.
Make up.
Make peace.
Make sure to tell your people they are loved.
Make sure to have no regrets.
Make sure you are ready.

I'm My Own Grandpa

Many, many years ago when I was 23,
I got married to a widow
who was as pretty as could be.
She had a grown up daughter
who had a hair of red.
My father fell in love with her
and soon the two were wed.
This made my dad my son-in-law
And changed my very life.
My daughter was my mother,
for she was my father's wife.
To complicate the matters worse,
although it brought me joy,
I soon became the father
of a bouncing baby boy.
My little baby then became a brother -in-law to dad
and so became my uncle though it made me very sad.
For if he was my uncle,
then that also made him brother to the widow's grown-up- daughter,
who of course, was my stepmother.
Father's wife then had a son,
who kept them on the run.
And he became my grandson, for he was my daughter's son.
My wife is now my mother's mother
and it makes me blue.
Because, although she is my wife,
she's my grandma too.
If my wife is my grandmother,
then I am her grandchild.
and every time I think of it,
it simply makes me wild.
For now I have become the strangest case you ever saw.
As the husband of my grandmother,
I am my own grandpa!

Quotes from the Prophets

President Gordon B Hinckley: "It is good to look to the past to gain appreciation for the present and perspective for the future. It is good to look upon the virtues of those who have gone before, to gain strength for whatever lies ahead. It is good to reflect upon the work of those who labored so hard and gained so little in this world, but out of whose dreams and early plans so well nurtured, has come a great harvest of which we are the beneficiaries. Their tremendous example can become a compelling motivation for us all, for each of us is a pioneer in his own life."

President Spencer W Kimball: "I hope to see us dissolve the artificial boundary line we so often place between missionary work and temple and genealogical work, because it is the same great redemptive work!"

President Joseph Fielding Smith: " The responsibility on behalf of our kindred dead rests with equal force on all, according to our individual ability and opportunities...the greatest and grandest duty of all is to labor for the dead."

The Passing of the Pot (Chamber Pot)

As far back in childhood
As memory may go
One household vessel greets me
That wasn't made for show
Beneath the bed twas anchored
Where only few could see
But served the entire family
With equal privacy
Some called the critter Peggy
And some the thundermug
And others called it badger
A few called it jug
To bring it in at evening
Was bad enough no doubt
But heaven help the person
Who had to take it out
Our big one was enormous
And would accomodate
A watermelon party
Composed of six or eight
When nights were dark and rainy
It was a useful urn
On icy winter mornings
The cold rim seemed to burn
At times when things were rushing
And business extra good
Each took his turn a waiting
Or did the best he could
Sometimes when in a hurry
To our disgust and shame
We fumbled in the darkness
And slightly missed our aim
The special one for company
Was decorated well
But just the same it rendered
That old familiar smell
Today this modernism
Relieves me a lot
And only in my vision
I see that homely pot.
(author unknown)

Poem about ancestors

Though steep is the path I follow today,
The footprints of time will show me the way.
For many have traveled a smiliar road,
And carried an equal of heavier load.

No troubles I face are new to this earth,
That man has not faced from time of his birth.
The route has been charted and roads have been paved
By legions before me who were stalwart and brave.

Their steps never faltered nor courage grew dim,
For they trusted the Lord and let Him led them.
If my faith and my trust remain steadfast and true,
God will guide and protect me in all that I do.
- Dolores Karides

The Elusive Ancestor

I went searching for an ancestor.
I cannot find him still.
He moved around from place to place
and did not leave a will.
He married where a courthouse burned.
He mended all his fences.
He avoided any man who came to
take the US census

He always kept his luggage packed,
This man who had no fame,
and every 20 years or so,
This rascal changed his name.
No one else inthis world is
searching for this elusive man,
so I play "Gene-solitaire"
To find him, if I can!

I'm told he's buried in a plot,
with tombstone he was blessed;
but the weather took engravings,
and some vandals took the rest.
He died before the county clerks
were appointed to keep records
No family Bible has emerged -
In spite of all my efforts.

To top it off, this elusive ancestor
who has caused me many groans -
left me even one more challenge:
He brothed a lady,
by the name of "Jones"!
(Got this from a publication
put out by the DUP organization
that names the author: Merrell Kenworthy)

Poem: Heaven's Door

If I should go before you,

If life on earth were through;

I'll stop just inside Heaven's door,

and there I'll wait for you.

You've but to look 'cross star filled skies,

Past the moon and then beyond;

To know my leaving could never break,

This heart's undying bond.

And if you should go before me,

If your journey on earth were through;

You know I will be close behind,

I'll never be far from you.

Across the span of time and space,

This love will reach this far;

For you'll always carry a bit of my heart,

No matter where you are.

Allison Chambers Coxsey©1995 ~ All Rights Reserved

Which Shall It Be? by Adelaide Proctor

Which shall it be?

"Which shall it be? Which shall it be?
I looked at John and John looked at me,
And when I found that I must speak,
My voice seemed strangely low and weak:
˜Tell me again what Robert said,"
And then I, listening, bent my head.
This is his letter:˜I will give
A house and land while you shall live,
If, in return, from out your seven,
One child to me for aye is given."

I looked at John's old garments worn;
I thought of all that he had borne
Of poverty, and work, and care,
Which I, though willing, could not share;
I thought of seven young mouths to feed,
Of seven little children's need,
And then of this.

˜Come, John,said I,
We'll choose among them as they lie
Asleep. So, walking hand in hand,
Dear John and I surveyed our band:
First to the cradle lightly stepped,
Where Lilian, the baby, slept.
Softly the father stooped to lay
His rough hand down in a loving way,
When dream or whisper made her stir,
And huskily he said: ˜Not her!"

We stooped beside the trundle bed,
And one long ray of twilight shed
Athwart the boyish faces there,
In sleep so beautiful and fair;
I saw on James rough, red cheek
A tear undried. E'er John could speak,
He's but a baby, too," said I,
And kissed him as we hurried by.

Pale, patient, Robbie's angel face
Still in his sleep bore suffering's trace.
˜No, for a thousand crowns, not him!"
He whispered, while our eyes were dim.
Poor Dick! bad Dick! our wayward son”
Turbulent, restless, idle one”
Could he be spared?
Nay, He who gave
Bade us befriend him to the grave;
Only a mother's heart could be
Patient enough for such as he;
˜And so," said John, ˜I would not dare
To take him from her bedside prayer."

Then stole we softly up above,
And knelt by Mary, child of love;
˜Perhaps for her ˜twould better be,"
I said to John. Quite silently
He lifted up a curl that lay
Across her cheek in a wilful way,
And shook his head: ˜Nay, love, not thee,
The while my heart beat audibly.

Only one more, our eldest lad,
Trusty and truthful, good and glad,
So like his father. ˜No, John, no!
I cannot, will not, let him go."

And so we wrote, in courteous way,
We could not give one child away;
And afterward toil lighter seemed,
Thinking of that of which we dreamed,
Happy in truth that not one face
Was missed from its accustomed place;
Thankful to work for all the seven,
Trusting the rest to One in heaven."

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

William Nickerson abt 1605-abt 1690 Anne Busby 1607-1686

No comments:

Post a Comment