William Eldredge 1627-1679 Anne Lumpkin 1627-1676

Note: Yarmouth records were destroyed by fire in 1674 according to the book by Zoeth S Eldredge.
http://www.conovergenealogy.com/ lists even more children - Thomas, Bridget, and Ezekiel as probable children, but there were no sources listed.

William Eldredge (also spelled Eldred or Eldredg)
Born 4 Sep 1627 England
Parents John Eldredge and Anne Garnham
Occupation: Surveyor, Constable
Married Anne Lumpkin 3 Mar 1647 Yarmouth, Barnstable, Massachusetts, Colonial America
Died 1679 Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts
Sources
Online Book: Descendants of William Eldredge of Yarmouth, by Zoeth S Eldredge, 1896, pages 5-6
Online Book: Genealogical and Personal Memoirs relating to the families of the state of Massachusetts by WR Cutter & WF Adams Vol 2 pages 852-3
Family Search
ancestry.com
Anne Lumpkin
Born abt 1627
Parents William Lumpkin and Tamesin (have also seen Thomasine Constable)
Buried 1 Nov 1676 Yarmouth, Barnstable, Massachusetts, Colonial America
Sources
Online Book: Descendants of William Eldredge of Yarmouth, by Zoeth S Eldredge, 1896, pages 5-6
Family Search
ancestry.com

Page from book mentioned in sources

CHILDREN

According to the book by Zoeth S Eldredge, the first four children are known to belong to William and Anne. The others are thought to be, but no proof exists.

Anne Eldredge
Born 16 Dec 1648 Yarmouth, Barnstable, Massachusetts, Colonial America
Married Benjamin Hyde 30 Jan 1666
Died 1 Dec 1676 Yarmouth, Barnstable, Massachusetts,, Colonial America
Sources
Online Book: Descendants of William Eldredge of Yarmouth, by Zoeth S Eldredge, 1896, page 6
Family Search
ancestry.com
Sarah Eldredge
Born 10 Oct 1650 Yarmouth, Barnstable, Massachusetts, Colonial America
Married John Colby 25 Dec 1675 Amesbury, Essex, Massachusetts, Colonial America
Died 28 Dec 1731, Colonial America
Sources
Online Book: Descendants of William Eldredge of Yarmouth, by Zoeth S Eldredge, 1896, page 6
Family Search
ancestry.com

Elisha's headstone

*(Ensign)Elisha Eldredge
Born 10 Oct 1653 Yarmouth, Barnstable, Massachusetts, Colonial America
Married 1) Indian wife - unnamed but possibly mother of first three children
2) Elizabeth Lombard in Rhode Island
Children: Elisha, Bethia, Ebenezer, Daniel, Elizabeth, Deborah
Died 14 Oct 1739 Eastham, Barnstable, Massachusetts, Colonial America
Buried: Duck Creek Cemetery, Wellfleet, Massachusetts, Colonial America
Sources
Online Book: Descendants of William Eldredge of Yarmouth, by Zoeth S Eldredge, 1896, page 6
American Genealogical-Biographical Index (AGBI)
North American Family Histories (which was a duplicate of the record by Zoeth S Eldredge)
Marriage:  Rhode Island Vital Extracts page 20

Clip of information from the Rhode Island book on page 20

Family Search
ancestry.com
Bethia Eldredge
Born abt 1655 Yarmouth, Barnstable, Massachusetts, Colonial America
Note: She was mentioned in her grandfather Lumpkins will as being under 20 in 1668
Sources
Online Book: Descendants of William Eldredge of Yarmouth, by Zoeth S Eldredge, 1896, page 6
Family Search
ancestry.com
Jehosaphat Eldredge
Born abt 1658 Yarmouth, Barnstable, Massachusetts, Colonial America
Military: Served in King Phillips War 1695-96
Occupation: Carpenter
Married Elizabeth Covell abt 1688 Chatham, Barnstable, Massachusetts, Colonial America
Children: Edward, Nathaniel, Elisha, Elnathan, Ebenezer, Barnabas, Elizabeth
Sources
Online Book: Descendants of William Eldredge of Yarmouth, by Zoeth S Eldredge, 1896, page 6
Family Search
ancestry.com
Samuel Eldredge
Born abt 1660 Yarmouth, Barnstable, Massachusetts, Colonial America
Married Keziah Taylor 1 Feb 1680 Yarmouth, Barnstable, Massachusetts, Colonial America
Children: Samuel, Jehosaphat, Mehitable, Ezekiel, Ann, John, Keziah, Mary
Died 3 Jan 1705 Yarmouth, Barnstable, Massachusetts, Colonial America

Samuel's death record - note the difference in years.  

Sources
Online Book: Descendants of William Eldredge of Yarmouth, by Zoeth S Eldredge, 1896, page 6
Death:  Massachusetts Town and Vital Records page 25
Family Search
ancestry.com
John Eldredge
Born abt 1661 Yarmouth, Barnstable, Massachusetts, Colonial America
Married Abigail (or Anne) Littlefield abt 1679
Died 30 Jul 1728 York, Maine, Colonial America
Sources
Online Book: Descendants of William Eldredge of Yarmouth, by Zoeth S Eldredge, 1896, pages 5-6
Family Search
ancestry.com

Thomas Nickerson 1696 Lydia Covell 1701-1750

Thomas Nickerson
Parents Lieutenant Thomas Nickerson and Mary Bangs

Born 24 Dec 1696 Chatham, Barnstable, Massachusetts, British Colonial America
Married 1) Lydia Covell 16 May 1716 Chatham, Barnstable, Massachusetts, British Colonial America

Note: there is a marriage record with the name Thomas Nickerson and Lydia, but the year is wrong - 1705, which would make her 4 years old and him about 9, so though I think it is them, because of the date, I believe it was a clerical mistake...and the clerk that made the mistake was none other than a Thomas Nickerson.
2) (Widow) Sarah Crowell 5 Jul 1751 Chatham, Barnstable, Massachusetts, British Colonial America

Note: marriage intention published 5 July 1750

Note: on family search, for place of marriage it claims London Grove Township, Pennsylvania, but the extracted work claims it was Chatham, Massachusetts. An extraction error?
3) Bethia Harding 26 Dec 1763 Chatham, Barnstable, Massachusetts, British Colonial America

Thomas and Bethia's marriage record. The 6 on the 26th is very hard to see unless you really enlarge it. Note: marriage intention (engagement): 3 Dec 1763 Chatham, Barnstable, Massachusetts, British Colonial America

Died after 1763 (when he married Bethia)

Buried
Sources
Birth: AGBI and IGI Film 0001251 V4 Batch C510401 dated 1696-1733
Marriage to Lydia: Massachusetts Town and Vital Records

Marriage to Sarah: Massachusetts Town and Vital Records

Marriage to Bethia: Massachusetts Town and Vital Records

Family Search

ancestry.com

Lydia Covell
Parents Joseph Covell and Lydia Stuart

Born 12 Jul 1701 Chatham, Barnstable, Massachusetts
Died 18 Oct 1750 Chatham, Barnstable, Massachusetts

Note:  Big fat question mark: Thomas was engaged to marry his second wife by July of 1750, so...he was engaged before Lydia died?  Were he and Lydia divorced? or are there two Thomas Nickerson's with wife's named Lydia?
Sources
Parents and birth date: Book: History and Genealogy of the Mayflower Planters and first comers to ye olde colonie Vol 2 (the Sandys and Brewsters of Scrooby Manor) by Leon Clark Hills, 1936, page 94 

Family Search

ancestry.com

CHILDREN

Desire Nickerson
Born 5 Feb 1718 Chatham, Barnstable, Massachusetts

Desire Nickerson birth record. 
Note:  the year has been wrongfully thought to be 1715

Married Elisha (Eliaphas) Nickerson 1735
Children: Elisha, John
Died 28 August 1786 Argyle, Queens, Nova Scotia, Canada

Buried Canada
Sources

Birth: IGI Film 0001251 V4 Batch C510401 dated 1696-1733
Family Search

ancestry.com

*Thomas Nickerson
Born 28 Feb 1720 Chatham, Barnstable, Massachusetts

Thomas birth record

Married Dorcas Sparrow 6 May 1741 Eastham, Barnstable, Massachusetts
Children: Sparrow, Thomas, Phebe, Hugh, Dorcas, Rachel, Sarah, Sabra

Died

Buried
Sources
Birth: Massachusetts Town and Vital Records, AND IGI Film 0001251 V4 Batch C510401 dated 1696-1733
Family Search

ancestry.com

Lydia Nickerson
Born 30 Mar 1722 Chatham, Barnstable, Massachusetts
Note: Given name spelled Ledea in record

Lydia's birth and death record

Died 15 Aug 1722 Chatham, Barnstable, Massachusetts
Sources

Birth: Massachusetts Town and Vital Records AND IGI Film 0001251 V4 Batch C510401 dated 1696-1733

Death: Massachusetts Town and Vital Records

Family Search

ancestry.com

Lydia Nickerson
Born 16 Feb 1724 Chatham, Barnstable, Massachusetts, British Colonial America

Note: name is spelled Ledea in record

Lydia's birth record

Married Thomas Snow 5 Sep 1773 Chatham, Barnstable, Massachusetts, British Colonial America

Children: none

Died after 1790

Buried
Sources

Birth: Massachusetts Town and Vital Records AND IGI Film 0001251 V4 Batch C510401 dated 1696-1733

Family Search

ancestry.com

Ansel Nickerson
Born 2 May 1727 Chatham, Barnstable, Massachusetts, British Colonial America

Ansel's birth record

Married: Bathsheba Small 21 May 1748 Harwich, Barnstable, Massachusetts
Children: Levi (later renamed Ansel after his father died)

Died 1 Nov 1750 Chatham, Barnstable, Massachusetts, British Colonial America

Ansel's death record

Life Note: Ansel Jr. was acquitted of murder. See the story below

AT THE ATWOOD HOUSE A Chatham Murder Mystery by Spencer Grey

On Nov. 15, 1772, when Captain Joseph Doane of Chatham was on board his schooner in Cape Cod Bay, he saw a vessel flying a distress signal. Coming alongside, he discovered it was the Schooner Abigail, Thomas Nickerson of Chatham, master, en route from Boston

to Chatham. When he boarded the Abigail, he confronted a horrifyingly gruesome scene. Her deck was covered with blood, and the captain, his cousin, Sparrow Nickerson, and his brother-in-law, Elisha Newcomb, all lay there, clearly having been murdered. Chests had been smashed open and rifled; a rum barrel with its head stove in was almost empty, and only one member of the crew, Ansel Nickerson of Chatham, also a cousin of the captain, remained alive. Although highly agitated and distressed, Nickerson was able to present his version of what had occurred.

The previous evening, he asserted, they had been hailed and stopped by a topsail schooner, and as four boatloads of men rowed toward the Abigail, Nickerson lowered himself with a rope over the stern of the ship to escape what he believed either were pirates or English sailors planning to impress them into the British Navy. While he remained out of sight, the intruders killed everyone on deck, except a 13-year-old boy named William Kent, whom they took with them after they had raided the contents of the chests and drunk most of the rum in the barrel. Nickerson heard them discussing whether or not to burn the Abigail, but fortunately for him they decided against it and returned to their schooner.

Although Captain Doane found Nickerson’s account plausible, he nevertheless reported the incident to the county judge, Edward Bacon, Esq., of Barnstable, who was less convinced of the young man’s veracity. After other vessels had scoured the area for evidence of any pirate foreign vessels and found none, Bacon sent a copy of the report to the governor and had Ansel Nickerson locked up in the Barnstable jail for further questioning. In the meantime, news of the bizarre and bloody incident reached as far as Boston, where a young attorney

named John Adams read it and recorded in his journal that he considered it a “mysterious,

inexplicable affair.”

Even though Captain Doane could not corroborate all of the evidence provided by Nickerson, it seemed unlikely that he could have overpowered and murdered three

members of the crew, and moreover there was no clear motive for his doing so. 

Nevertheless, Bacon was sufficiently suspicious to have him sent to Boston to be tried for murder on the high seas by a special Court of the Vice-Admiralty. The trial was scheduled for July of 1773, and John Adams and Josiah Quincy, Jr. were appointed counsel for the defense. The defense maintained that Nickerson was a lucky survivor of a pirate attack and was in no way responsible for the murder of the three men and the pillage of the cargo.

At the end of a five-day trial the jury returned a tie vote, resulting in Ansel Nickerson’s acquittal. Yet John Adams was not totally convinced of Nickerson’s innocence, as he wrote in his diary after the trial, “I know not to this day what judgment to form of his guilt or innocence.”

Because the facts of the case remained murky and Nickerson remained under a cloud of suspicion, he apparently left Chatham and settled on the island of Eleuthra in the Bahamas. Even though there were uncorroborated reports that he confessed to the crime on his deathbed, the whole episode remains a mystery to this day

Sources

Birth: Massachusetts Town and Vital Records AND IGI Film 0001251 V4 Batch C510401 dated 1696-1733

Family Search

Story about his son: ancestry.com

Prince Nickerson
Birth 10 Aug 1729 Chatham, Barnstable, Massachusetts, British Colonial America

Prince's birth record

Occupation: Mariner

Married: 1) Lydia Cahoon 7 Oct 1750 Eastham, Barnstable, Massachusetts
Note: Her surname in the record is spelled Chohoon and his given name is spelled Prins
Children: Tabitha, Lydia
2) (Widow) Ruth Covell Atkins 22 Aug 1759 Barnstable, Massachusetts

Note: their engagement was published 2 July 1759. She had 3 boys and a girl before she married Prince. 

Children: twins, which survived her

3) Mary Crowell 12 Mar 1761 Yarmouth, Barnstable, Massachusetts

Children: Ansel, Esther, Susanna, Eldad, Sparrow, Anna, Elizabeth, Thomas 
Died 1 Jan 1812 Westport Clyde, Nova Scotia, Canada

Buried

Life Sketch: "An early settler Prince Nickerson who settled shortly after Elkanah Smith,  was living in Barrington in 1763. His property was bound on the South by Clam Creek. He had 3 sons; Eldad, Sparrow, and Thomas. 

Eldad was famous for ship building, setting the pace for Coffin's and Sutherlands, who milled their ship timber on the river and rafted it to the harbour"..."The oldest son Ansel went to Maria Joseph, the other sons settled at Port Clyde." The Barrington 1769 Census shows a wife, 2 sons, 3 daughters, cattle, sheep, swine, fish boat and dried fish. Prince was on the Committee for laying out Proprietors Land 1768-9. He sold his lot at Barrington Head to William Donaldson and his interest on Cape Island to Stephen Nickerson. He was living at Cape Negro in 1783.

His will gave Mary his real and personal estate until her death, and then, to be divided between sons Eldad, Thomas, and Sparrow. It included the house and barn on three acres, fish house, stock, other land and meadows. Son Ansel received 10 Shillings and the daughters "all my household furniture to be divided equally" Eldad as executor of the estate after Mary died in 1830, wrote to Probate Court 21 June 1832, "...there is some land so dispersed belonging to the estate that it will be extremely difficult for the appraiser to view it will you please advise me whether it cannot be sold without a valuation" "Aug. 1, 1832 Probate judge gives land (agreeable to all) to son Eldad as it cannot be divided without great difficulty and expense".
Sources

Birth: Massachusetts Town and Vital Records AND IGI Film 0001251 V4 Batch C510401 dated 1696-1733

Marriage to Lydia: IGI Film 0905406 Batch M502466 dated 1654-1761
Family Search

Story: The Nickerson Family, Descendants of William Nickerson, Part II, 1980, pg 160.

I can't find the following 2 people in any official record's

Seth Nickerson
Born abt 1731 Chatham, Barnstable, Massachusetts, British Colonial America
Married Mary 1756
Children: Ebenezer

Died

Buried
Sources
Family Search

Edward Nickerson
Born abt 1733 Chatham, Barnstable, Massachusetts, British Colonial America

Married

Children

Died

Buried
Sources
Family Search

Thomas Nickerson 1720-1799 Dorcas Sparrow 1722

Thomas Nickerson
Born 28 Feb 1720 Chatham, Barnstable, Massachusetts
Parents Thomas Nickerson and Lydia Covell
Married Dorcas Sparrow 6 May 1742 Eastham, Barnstable, Massachusetts
Died 18 Dec 1799 (will dated)
Sources
Family Search
Marriage record:  ancestry.com

Dorcas Sparrow
Born 4 Oct 1722 Eastham, Barnstable, Massachusetts
Parents Jonathan Sparrow and Dorcas Vickery
Died Before 17 Feb 1798
Sources
Family Search
Marriage record:  ancestry.com

CHILDREN

Sparrow Nickerson (male according to the original birth record)
Born 23 Feb 1742 Chatham, Barnstable, Massachusetts
Married Abigail Burgess 11 Feb 1762 Harwich, Barnstable, Massachusetts
Children:  Abijah, Tamsin, Dorcas, Lewis
Died 16 Nov 1722 at sea
Note:  Found murdered aboard the ship Abigail with the crew. 
Sources
Birth: IGI Film 016968 V9 Batch C510401 dated 1727-1787

Book: The Enduring Shore: A History of Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard, and Nantucket

By Paul Schneider page 170
Family Search
http://e-booksgen.com/N0087.html
*Thomas Nickerson
Born 19 Mar 1744 Chatham, Barnstable, Massachusetts
Note: Given name spelled Thomos in record
Married Ruth Hinckley 27 Oct 1765 Harwich, Barnstable, Massachusetts
Children: Merrick, Isaiah, David, Thomas
Died 16 Nov 1772 at sea
Note:  murdered at sea by pirates aboard ship Abigail with his brother, Sparrow, and brother-in-law, Elisha Newcomb.
Sources
Family Search
Birth: IGI Film 016968 V9 Batch C510401 dated 1727-1787
http://e-booksgen.com/N0087.html
Phebe Nickerson
Born 9 Oct 1746 Chatham, Barnstable, Massachusetts
Married Elisha Newcomb 28 Oct 1765
Note:  Elisha was murdered at sea by pirates aboard ship Abigail with his brothers-in-law, Sparrow, and Thomas.
2) Constant Nickerson 11 Nov 1773 Chatham, Barnstable, Massachusetts
Died After 1823
Sources
Family Search
Birth: IGI Film 016968 V9 Batch C510401 dated 1727-1787
http://e-booksgen.com/N0087.html
Hugh Nickerson
Born 18 Dec 1748 Chatham, Barnstable, Massachusetts
Married Deborah Hinckley 11 Mar 1779 Chatham, Barnstable, Massachusetts
Children:  Sparrow, Allen,Hugh, Deborah, Joseph, Thomas
Died 1789
Sources
Family Search
Birth: IGI Film 016968 V9 Batch C510401 dated 1727-1787
Dorcas Nickerson
Born abt 1750 Chatham, Barnstable, Massachusetts
Married Thomas Lewis Jr 17 Nov 1768
Died abt 1799
Sources
Family Search
Rachel Nickerson
Born abt 17 Dec 1752 Chatham, Barnstable, Massachusetts
Married David Godfrey 9 Jul 1772 Chatham, Barnstable, Massachusetts
Children: Levi, David, Betsy, Katie, Rachel, Joseph
Died 18 Jun 1805
Buried:  Old Chatham Cemetery (did not find a memorial for her on findagrave)
Sources
Family Search
Sarah Nickerson
Born 1755 Chatham, Barnstable, Massachusetts
Married Stephen Kendrick 18 Jan 1776 Chatham, Barnstable, Massachusetts
Sources
Family Search
Sabra Nickerson
Born 10 Mar 1765 Chatham, Barnstable, Massachusetts
Married Salathiel Nickerson 12 Jun 1780 Chatham, Barnstable, Massachusetts
Died 10 Jan 1841
Sources
Family Search

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

William Nickerson Jr 1646-1719 Mercy Williams 1648-1739

William Nickerson Jr
Born abt 1642
Christened 1 Jun 1646 Yarmouth, Barnstable, Massachusetts
Parents: William Nickerson and Anne Busby
Married Mercy Williams 30 Nov 1668 Massachusetts
Died 1719 Chatham, Barnstable, Massachusetts
Sources
Book:  Historic Homes and Places and Genealogical and Personal Memoirs Vol 3 page 1105-1106

Mercy Williams
Born abt 1648 Yarmouth, Barnstable, Massachusetts
Parents: Thomas Williams and Elizabeth Tate
Died 7 Apr 1744 Chatham, Barnstable, Massachusetts
Sources
Book:  Historic Homes and Places and Genealogical and Personal Memoirs Vol 3 page 1105-1106

CHILDREN

*Lieutenant Thomas Nickerson
Born abt 1671 Harwich, Barnstable, Massachusetts
Occupations:  Selectman 1711, Constable 1722, Lieutenant of the Militia Company, succeeded his father as town clerk of Chatham

About Lt. Thomas Nickerson From History of Chatham, Massachusetts page 229

More about Lieutenant Thomas Nickerson page 230

Married Mary Bangs abt 1690 Massachusetts
Children: Mercy, Ebenezer, Thomas, Jonathan, Edward, Nathaniel, Mary, Thankful, William
Died: by 3 August 1736 Chatham, Barnstable, Massachusetts
Sources
Book:  Historic Homes and Places and Genealogical and Personal Memoirs Vol 3 page 1106
History of Chatham page 229-230 by William Christopher Smith
Ensign William Nickerson
Born abt 1673 Chatham, Barnstable, Massachusetts
Married 1) Deliverance Lumbert abt 1700 Barnstable, Massachusetts
Children: William, James, Joshua, Elizabeth, Mercy, Deliverance, Caleb, Nathaniel
2) Hannah or Anna Atwood 24 Oct 1717 Yarmouth, Barnstable, Massachusetts
Children: Anne, Deborah, Eldad

William - SECOND SON - from History of Chatham, Massachusetts page 230

Continued - William from History of Chatham, Massachusetts page 231

Sources
Book:  Historic Homes and Places and Genealogical and Personal Memoirs Vol 3 page 1106
History of Chatham page 230-231 by William Christopher Smith
Mercy Nickerson
Born abt 1675 Chatham, Barnstable, Massachusetts
Married 1) William Mitchell abt 1689 Barnstable, Massachusetts
Children: William
2) James Griffith
Sources
History of Chatham page 249 by William Christopher Smith mentions their only son, William
Family Search
Elizabeth Nickerson
Born abt 1677 Chatham, Barnstable, Massachusetts
Married William Cahoon abt 1695 Chatham, Barnstable, Massachusetts
Children: William, John, Mary, Elizabeth, James, Nathaniel, Mary
Sources
Family Search ( which is a huge mess)
Judith Nickerson
Born abt 1679 Chatham, Barnstable, Massachusetts

Judith and Nathaniel's family information part 1

Judith and Nathaniel's family information part 2

Judith and Nathaniel's information in History of Chatham page 215

Married Nathaniel Covell 5 Mar 1697 Eastham, Barnstable, Massachusetts
Children: Jane, John, Nathaniel, Seth, Hannah, Simeon, Elizabeth
Sources
History of Chatham page 215 by William Christopher Smith
Nathaniel Nickerson
Born abt 1680 Chatham, Barnstable, Massachusetts

Part one of Nathaniel from book History of Chatham page 231

Part one of Nathaniel from book History of Chatham page 232

Married Katherine Stuart 13 May 1702 Yarmouth, Barnstable, Massachusetts
Children: Experience, Mercy, Nathaniel, Samuel, Shubal, Temperance
Died 20 May 1725 Monomoit, Barnstable, Massachusetts
Sources
History of Chatham page 231-232 by William Christopher Smith
Robert Nickerson
Born abt 1684 Chatham, Barnstable, Massachusetts

Robert Nickerson from book History of Chatham, Massachusetts page 232

Robert Nickerson from book History of Chatham, Massachusetts page 233

Robert and Rebecca's family  listed in Book History of Chatham, Massachusetts page 233 in footnotes

Married Rebecca Jones 28 Mar 1707 Yarmouth, Barnstable, Massachusetts
Children: Robert, Mercy, Fear, James, Sylvanus, Elizabeth, Elknah, Rebecca
Died 6 Jan 1753 Chatham, Barnstable, Massachusetts
Sources
History of Chatham page 232-233 by William Christopher Smith

Lieutenant Thomas Nickerson 1670-1736 Mary Bangs 1671

To find more information out about the Nickerson family go to this link: https://nickersonassoc.com/genealogy/nickerson-genealogy-project/

Lieutenant Thomas Nickerson
Parents: William Nickerson Jr and Mercy Williams
Christened 8 Oct 1670 Harwich, Barnstable, Massachusetts
Married Mary Bangs abt 1690
Died abt 1736 Chatham, Barnstable, Massachusetts
Sources
Cape Cod Library of Local History and Genealogy, a facsimile edition of 108 pamphlets published in the early 20th century.  Compiled by Leonard H Smith, Jr. Volume 1
Note:  the information Mr. Smith compiled and published in 1992 was reproduced from earlier works.  His version was published by the Clearfield Genealogical Company in 2004.
A History of Chatham, Massachusetts, by William Christopher Smith, 1917, part 3 page 230
Note:  This book is available online - for free, on Google Books.

History of Chatham Massachusetts, by William Christopher Smith
page 230 clip about Thomas and Mary's family

Mary Bangs
Parents: Captain Jonathan Bangs and Mary Mayo
Born 14 Apr 1671 Eastham, Barnstable, Massachusetts
Died before 10 Jul 1745
Sources
Cape Cod Library of Local History and Genealogy, a facsimile edition of 108 pamphlets published in the early 20th century.  Compiled by Leonard H Smith, Jr. Volume 1
Note:  the information Mr. Smith compiled and published in 1992 was reproduced from earlier works.  His version was published by the Clearfield Genealogical Company in 2004.
A History of Chatham, Massachusetts, by William Christopher Smith, 1917, part 3 page 230
Note:  This book is available online - for free, on Google Books.

CHILDREN

Jonathan Nickerson
Born abt 1690 Chatham, Barnstable, Massachusetts
Baptized 9 October 1709 Harwich, Barnstable, Massachusetts by Rev. Nathaniel Stone
Married 1) Jane Covell 1 Jun 1718 Chatham, Barnstable, Massachusetts
Children: Judith, Jane, Jonathan, Simeon
2) Sarah Collins abt 1733 Chatham, Barnstable, Massachusetts
Children: Seth, Phineas
Sources
Book:  Historic Homes and Places and Genealogical and Personal Memoirs Vol 3 page 1106
Baptism, marriages: A History of Chatham, Massachusetts by William Christopher Smith, page 230 in footnotes
Mercy Nickerson
Born abt 1693 Chatham, Barnstable, Massachusetts
Baptized 9 October 1709 Harwich, Barnstable, Massachusetts by Rev. Nathaniel Stone
Married Seth Crowell 23 Mar 1714 at her father's house, Chatham, Massachusetts
Children: Elizabeth, Thankful, Seth, Lot
Died 10 May 1760 Yarmouth, Barnstable, Massachusetts
Sources

Marriage:  The New England Historical and Genealogical Register and Antiquarian Journal by John Albion Andrew page 179

A History of Chatham, Massachusetts, by William Christopher Smith, 1917, part 3 page 230
Note:  This book is available online - for free, on Google Books.

Thomas Nickerson
Born 24 Dec 1696 Chatham, Barnstable, Massachusetts
Baptized 9 October 1709 Harwich, Barnstable, Massachusetts by Rev. Nathaniel Stone
Married 1) Lydia Covell 16 Mar 1716 Chatham, Barnstable, Massachusetts
Children: Desire, Thomas, Lydia, Lydia, Ansel, Prince, Seth, Edward
2) Mrs Sarah Crowell 5 Jul 1751
3) Bethia Hawes 26 Dec 1763
Sources
Birth: IGI Film 0001251 V 4 dated 1696-1733
A History of Chatham, Massachusetts, by William Christopher Smith, 1917, part 3 page 230
Note:  This book is available online - for free, on Google Books.
Family Search
Captain Ebenezer Nickerson 
Born 13 June 1697 Chatham, Barnstable, Massachusetts
Baptized 9 October 1709 Harwich, Barnstable, Massachusetts by Rev. Nathaniel Stone
Married Constant Covell abt 1715 Massachusetts
Note:  I've also seen him married to Elizabeth Mayo with many children
Children: Nathan, Dorcas, Ebenezer, Timothy, Thomas, Constant, Seth, Uriah
Died 15 February 1768 Chatham, Barnstable, Massachusetts
Buried Winthrop Street Cemetery, Provincetown, Barnstable, Massachusetts
Sources
Birth: Massachusetts Births and Christenings, 1639-1915
A History of Chatham, Massachusetts, by William Christopher Smith, 1917, part 3 page 230
Note:  the book mentions Ebenezer's wife's name is Constant
Family Search
Edward Nickerson
Born abt 1699 Chatham, Barnstable, Massachusetts
Baptized 9 October 1709 Harwich, Barnstable, Massachusetts by Rev. Nathaniel Stone
Married Thankful Covell 24 Feb 1725 Harwich, Barnstable, Massachusetts
Children: Marcy, Thankful, Abigail, Covel, Edward, Thomas, Mary, Anna, Isaac, Seth
Died abt 1754
Sources
A History of Chatham, Massachusetts, by William Christopher Smith, 1917, part 3 page 230
Note:  This book is available online - for free, on Google Books.
Family Search
William "Red Stockings"Nickerson
Born 15 May 1701 Chatham, Barnstable, Massachusetts
Baptized 9 October 1709 Harwich, Barnstable, Massachusetts by Rev. Nathaniel Stone
Married 1) Tabitha abt 1718
Children:  John?
2) Bethia Harding abt 1722
Children: Hatsel, Nehemiah, Bethia, Enos
3) Sarah Bassett abt 1758
Children: William, Barach, Jonathan, Iranah
Died Before 9 May 1671 Ridgefield, Fairfield, Connecticut
Sources
Baptism: A History of Chatham, Massachusetts, by William Christopher Smith, 1917, part 3 page 230  Note:  This book is available online - for free, on Google Books.
Birth: Family Search
Nathaniel Nickerson
Born abt 1702 Chatham, Barnstable, Massachusetts
Baptized 9 October 1709 Harwich, Barnstable, Massachusetts by Rev. Nathaniel Stone
Married Hannah Hamblin about 1728 Chatham, Barnstable, Massachusetts
Children: Isaac, Nathaniel, Ephraim, Joseph, Ruth, Hannah, Thomas, Edward
Death:  about 1766 Oblong, Dutchess, New York
Note: Probate Date:   8 May 1766, Dutchess Wills, Vol. I, page 53. Nathaniel Nickerson of Dutchess Co. mentions loving wife Hannah; 7 sons: Issachar; Nathaniel; Ephraim; Nathan; Thomas; Edward; Joseph; dau Ruth, 5 shillings; Dau Hannah Bayley, 5 shillings. Executrix: wife Hannah. Witnesses John Yeamans; Nehemiah Bayly; Johnson Yeamans
Sources
A History of Chatham, Massachusetts, by William Christopher Smith, 1917, part 3 page 230
Note:  This book is available online - for free, on Google Books.
Probate Date:  Family Search entry by ckirn2810809
Mary Nickerson
Born abt 1704 Chatham, Barnstable, Massachusetts
Baptized 9 October 1709 Harwich, Barnstable, Massachusetts by Rev. Nathaniel Stone
Married Edward Eldridge abt 1726 Massachusetts
Children: Mercy, Anna, Mary
Died after 1735
Sources
A History of Chatham, Massachusetts, by William Christopher Smith, 1917, part 3 page 230
Note:  This book is available online - for free, on Google Books.
Family Search
Thankful Nickerson
Born abt 1706 Chatham, Barnstable, Massachusetts
Baptized 9 October 1709 Harwich, Barnstable, Massachusetts by Rev. Nathaniel Stone
Note:  apparently, there was a Nathaniel Nickerson that married Thankful YOUNG - and I think that is where things got confused.  Not to mention, in the clip of the book above, the author wrote "prob." meaning she probably married Nathaniel Nickerson about 1738.  That means the following children were not hers, either.  Children: Bangs, Mary, Thankful, Nathaniel, Jonathan, Elisha
Sources
A History of Chatham, Massachusetts, by William Christopher Smith, 1917, part 3 page 230
Note:  This book is available online - for free, on Google Books.
Family Search