William Nickerson

WILLIAM NICKERSON (bp. 1646–by 1719), son of William Nickerson and Anne Busby

MERCY WILLIAMS (say 1649–1739), daughter of Thomas Williams and Elizabeth Tart

William, the son of William Nickerson and Anne Busby, was baptized on 1 June 1646 in Barnstable. [1] He died before 7 April 1719. He married Mercy, the daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth (Tart [!]) Williams. [1]

Mercy Williams was born say 1649. She died on 7 March 1739, age 90 or 95. [1]

Mercy is referred to as Mercy Nickerson in her father's estate papers.

William was a soldier in King Philip's War under Captain Henry Gold. [1]

He was a grand juryman in 1681 and a constable in 1683 in Chatham. [1]

William and Samuel Bryant were bound over to the October 1684 court to answer for carrying off from Nantucket a pirate named John Grayham, who was supposed to be in there custody. The court found there was insufficient evidence against them and they were cleared. [2, 6: 145].

He took the oath of freeman on 24 June 1690. [2, 6: 257] He was chosen inspector of whales in Monomoit on 4 November 1690. [2, 6: 251]

He was the first clerk of Monomoit (Chatham), serving for 15 years. He was the first treasurer, serving for six years. He was a selectman. [1]

Letters of administration were granted to the widow Mercy on 7 April 1719. [1]

Children of William Nickerson and Mercy Williams:

i. Lieutenant Thomas Nickerson was born about 1670 in Monomoit. [3] He died between 4 August 1735, when he wrote his will, and 3 August 1736, when it was proved. [3] He married Mary, the daughter of Jonathan Bangs of Harwich. [1] She was born on 14 April 1674. [3]

Thomas settled at Cotchpinent Neck (Old Harbor), just west of his father's farm there. He was selectmen for two years and town clerk twice. [3] He was lieutenant of the military company. [3]

Mary joined the Harwich church on 14 [?] November 1708 and he and his children were baptized on 9 October 1709. [3] Mary was dismissed to the church in Chatham on 7 July 1728.

ii. William Nickerson was born about 1675. He died between 19 October 1742 and 15 November 1742. He married first Deliverance Lombard. He married second Anna Atwood.

iii. Nathaniel Nickerson was born in 1680 or 1681. [1] He died between 1724 and 20 May 1725 when his widow was granted administration on his estate. [3]He married Katherine, the daughter of Hugh Stuard, on 13 May 1702. [1] She died about 1740. [3]

Nathaniel lived in Chathamport. [3] He was town treasurer in 1723 and 1724. [3]

iv. Robert Nickerson was born about 1684. [3] He died between 16 January 1755, when he made his will, and 4 February 1755, when it was proved. [3] He married Rebecca, the daughter of Jeremiah Jones of Yarmouth on 28 March 1706/7. [3] She died about 1765. [3]

v. Elizabeth Nickerson married William Cahoon. [1] He died before 1702 when administration on his estate was granted to his widow. [1]

By a deed of 14 September 1694 William Cahoon bought about 60 acres in Harwich from Abraham Chase. By a deed of 8 June 1696 he sold about 40 acres to Samuel Nickerson in exchange for land at Monomoit and by a deed of 3 June 1697 he sold 20 acres to John Smith in exchange for land at Monomoit. [1]

vii. Unknown Daughter Nickerson went to Duck Creek in 1711 with her husband. [1]

viii. Judith Nickerson (possible daughter) married Nathaniel Covell on 1 or 5 March 1696/7. [1]

References:

1. William C. Smith, A History of Chatham, Massachusetts (Hyannis: F.B. & F.P. Goss, 1909), 110–131, 151, 152, 154, 159, 162.

2. Nathaniel B. Shurtleff, Records of Plymouth Colony: Court Orders, vol. 1, 1633–1640, vol. 2, 1641–1651, vol. 3, 1651–1661, vol. 4, 1661–1668, vol. 5, 1668–1678, vol. 6, 1678–1691 (Boston: William White, 1855, 1866).

3. ___, Early Chatham Settlers, no. 36 Library of Cape Cod History and Genealogy, vol. 1 (Yarmouthport: C.W. Swift, 1915).

©a. buiter

26-Dec-2022