Return to Family Index

 THE STORY AS I KNOW IT.

Josiah Nichols was born in 1752 in Bertie County, North Carolina. His parents were Nathaniel Nicholas and Mary.

According to NC Wills: A Testator Index 1665-1900 by Mitchell, the will of Nathaniel Nicholas filed 1755 SS 880/159 is in the loose wills of the State Archives. We have not read it.

In 1759 the Bertie County Court Minutes #493-253 contain the following:
" Mr. Jonathan Standly, guardian to William Nicholas and Josiah Nicholas, orphans of Nathaniel Nichols, deceased, move the court for leave to sell 1 mare, 2 guns, 1 sword, a pair of pistols and hosters belonging to the orphans. It was granted and also ordered that John Hill, William Gray and Thomas Whitnell, Esq. to divide the estate of Nathaniel Nicholas decd."

The August Court 1774 of the Bertie County Court Record 1772-1780 proved a deed from Richard Willsford to Josiah Nicholas in open court by the oath of James Early one of the subscribing witnesses and ordered to be registered.

Josiah Nichols is listed in the DAR Patriot Index. It states that Josiah was a soldier in a NC company during the Revolution. It also says he married first Mary and second Nancy. In the Caldwell County Kentucky history room there is a Nichols Family File. the Reddick name continues through the line. but we don't know why.  When he was 65 years old he married Nancy Hocut in Johnston County. 

We will guess that Josiah married Mary Segars about 1772. All must be confirmed. The names of children of Josiah given by the Nichols Family File and the Caldwell County KY History are:
1. Noah born 1773 married Mrs. Sarah Early.
2. Reddick born 1774 married Celia Jenkins
3. Eli born 1776 married Christian Haile.
4. William born 1777 married 1st Lavinia Goodwin, 2nd Mary Price.
5. Wright
6. Nathaniel
7. Brittain
8. Meley (Amelia) born 1797 wed Freeman Broadwell
9. Viney (Lavinia)
10. Esther  wed Mr. Pearce
11. Elizabeth wed Mr. Bridges
According to Christine of chrisw1910@yahoo.com found on Ancestry.com, "Meley" is Ameila who married Freeman Broadwell and Viney is Lavinia.

Feb. 27, 1773 Josiah Nicholis purchased from Richard Willeford for 80 pounds 100 hundred acres on Hearts Delight Pecoson.  Bertie County Deeds Aug court 1774 approved, Book M, pg 145-6.   I don't know if Heart's Delight is the name of the farm on the Pecoson River, or if it goes together to be the name of a stream.  Josiah was said to be of Bertie County, province Afons.  I do not know what this means

Bertie County is in the Northeast on the Albemarle Sound between two major NC rivers, the Roanoke and Chowan. Wake County is more central at Raleigh, NC.   Josiah was ordered by the Bertie County Court to "leave the county" along with a number of other men, because they were loyal to the crown, ie George the Third.  Bertie County Court Nov. 1777.  I have a copy of the court minutes

We begin to pick up deed activities in Wake County in 1792 where Josiah Nichols had moved his family. The Wake County NC Deed Abstract 1785 - 1802 compiled by Joseph W. Watson lists the following:

 The Caldwell County Kentucky History tells this story "In the early 1800's six brothers whose ancestors had come from England in the 1600's migrated from NC to Caldwell County, Kentucky. They were Rev. Noah Nichols, Reddick, Wright, Nathaniel, William and Eli. Noah came in a large wagon. The others came in two-horse carts or walked. Included were three Price brothers: James, Irwin, and Thomas. They settled near Lewistown, KY and at Lisman, KY first." Lewistown is in Caldwell County, east of Princeton. Lisman is in Webster County just north of Caldwell Ct. The one son who did not go to Kentucky was Brittain Nichols, the youngest son, nor any of the daughters.

Josiah Nichols is listed in the 1800 Census of Wake County, NC.  I believe the boys were still in Wake as the census reads:but the ages are off??
2 males < 10       Brittain, Nathaniel             3 females < 10  Viney, Easter, Elizabeth
2 males 10-16    William, Wright                 1 female 10-16    Melee,
3 males 16-20    Noah, Reddick, Eli
1 male >45         Josiah                                  1 female >45    Mary

 In 1802 Eli was getting married in Kentucky. When the sons moved to Kentucky Josiah stayed in NC.

On Jan 11, 1823 Josiah Nichols made application to marry Nancy Hocut in Johnston Coutny. Gibson Martin paid the bond of 500 pounds.  This was considered a significant sum and posted by those who were "well heeled"  According to the archivist at the NC State Archives..  I do not know his relationship to either of the marriage parties.    I have a copy of the Johnson county marriage bond #344.   Johnston County is just to the southeast of Wake county.

Unfortunately, Josiah died later that year.  The NC Wills, Testator Index states that the will for Josiah Nichols was recorded in Wake County Record Book 18/ pg 244 in August 1823. The will is held in the State Archives.  I have a copy of the will.   It was written on May 1823.  He states he is Joshia Nichols of Wake County.  He first names his wife, Nancy Nichols and she is to receive all the property "that I had with her at the day of marriage'. He bequeated to  his son Reddick the "notes that I had of ?Cafeel" Nichols"   He gave his daughter Meg Broadwell a bed and furniture and one ??clush??.  Then all else was to be sold and divided equally between Nancy ??Eddgbe??,Easter Pearce, Meley Broadwell, Brittain Nichols and Elizabeth Bridges.  Then he ordained William Nichols, executor.  It was witnessed by Major William Hocut and Elizabeth Nichols.  The will was proved at the August Court, 1823.   Could Elizabeth Nichols be William Nichols' wife?  and who is Nancy?

I do not know where Josiah is buried, or when Nancy died.

If you know the answer please CONTACT US

                                                                    Maier_Associates: © Copyright 2014

Doc; ghnic040.html
Date Created 6/25/2014
Date Edited: 16/13//2008
Date Edited 3/27/2014