NASH FAMILY
Members of the Nash family were
1 i. John, born say 1752.
ii. James, born say 1754, a "Mulata" boy bound apprentice by the 1 September 1761 New Hanover County, North Carolina court: _ah Hand brought into Court a Mulata boy born of ___ oman, Named James Nash praying he may be bound __ him ... [Minutes 1738-69, 203].
2 iii. Thomas, born say 1762.
1. John1 Nash, born say 1752, was taxable in Chesterfield County on one tithe and a horse in 1792 and 1793 and two tithes and two horses in 1794 [Personal Property Tax List, 1786-1811, frames 145, 183, 219]. He may have been the father of
i. Moses, born say 1773, a "Mulatto" taxable in Chesterfield County in 1805, 1806 and 1807, called Moses Ash in 1811 when he was laborer living with his wife and three children on Samuel Davis's land [Personal Property Tax List, 1786-1811, frames 603, 641, 689, 824]. He was called Moses Nash in 1813 when he was a "free Negrow" tithable living on Samuel Davis's land [Waldrep, 1813 Tax List]. He and Nathaniel Stewart were security for the 4 March 1812 Chesterfield County marriage bond of Mima Norton and Isham D. Valentine.
2. Thomas Nash, born say 1762, (called Thomas Ash) was head of an Opelousas, Louisiana household of 7 "other free" in 1810 [LA:316]. He was counted as white in Natchitoches in 1820 [LA:92] and 1830: born 1760-70, head of a household of 5 persons [LA:58]. He was the father of
i. Mary, born 6 June 1781, daughter of Thomas Nash, married James Groves [Wise, Sweat Families of the South, 120]. James was head of a Natchitoches, Louisiana household of 3 "other free" in 1810 [LA:325].
Mecklenburg County, Virginia
1. Elizabeth Naish/ Nash, born say 1778, was head of a Mecklenburg County household of a white woman 26-45 years of age in 1820 [VA:141a]. She was taxable on her son Irbey and 2 horses in 1812 [Personal Property Tax List, 1806-28, frame 293]. She rented land in Mecklenburg County from Jacob Chavis from about 1800 to 1819 [LVA chancery file 1819-006]. She was the mother of
i. ?John, born about 1794, registered in Mecklenburg County, Virginia, on 28 October 1826: a free mulatto about thirty two years old, five feet six and three eighths Inches high ... born of a free Woman in this County [Register of Free Negroes 1809-41, no.16, p.20]. He married Olive Ivey, 1823 Mecklenburg County bond.
ii. Irbey, born about 1795, head of a Mecklenburg County household of 3 "free colored" in 1820 [VA:141a]. He married Ann Dunston, 1830 Mecklenburg County bond. He and Ann were counted as "Mulatto" in the 1850 Mecklenburg County census [VA:138b].
iii. ?Willie, bound by the Mecklenburg County court to Jacob Chavous, wheelwright, on 12 October 1807 [Orders [Orders 1807-9, 239].
iv. ?Archibald, bound by the Mecklenburg County court to Jacob Chavous, wheelwright, on 12 September 1808 [Orders [Orders 1807-9, 467].
v. ?Banister, married Temperance Dunston, 1835 Mecklenburg County bond.
vi. ?Luvenia, born say 1808, married John Chavous, 24 February 1829 Mecklenburg County bond.
Another member of the Nash family in Mecklenburg County was
i. Mary, born about 1787, a sixty-three-year-old "Mulatto" counted in the 1850 Mecklenburg County census [VA:139b].
NEAL FAMILY
Members of the Neal family were
i. John, born say 1738, a "Mulatto boy" valued at 10 pounds in the 1 April 1748 inventory of the King George County, Virginia estate of Robert Rankins. He was called a "Mulatto Boy named Jno. Neal under indentures for 31 years from his birth" in the 2 June 1749 inventory of the King George County estate of George Harrison [Inventories 1745-65, 28, 45].
1 ii. William, born say 1740.
1. William Neal, born say 1740, was a "mulatto" taxable in New Hanover County, North Carolina, in 1763 [SS 837] and in Brunswick County, North Carolina, in 1769 [NCGSJ V:242]. He may have been the father of
i. Arthur, head of a Richland District, South Carolina household of 5 "other free" in 1800 [SC:60].
ii. S., head of a Brunswick County, North Carolina household of 2 "other free" in 1810 [NC:226].
iii. Nancy, head of a Darlington District, South Carolina household of 6 "other free" in 1810 [SC:669].
iv. James, head of a Darlington District, South Carolina household of 4 "other free" in 1810 [SC:669].
v. Benjamin, head of a Marlboro District, South Carolina household of 5 "other free" in 1800 [SC:60], 4 in Richland District in 1810 [SC:177], perhaps the Benjamin Neale who was head of a Craven County, North Carolina household of 3 "free colored" in 1820 [NC:65].
NEWSOM FAMILY
1. Moses1 Newsom, born about 1710, was the (white) son of Thomas Newsom (William, William) of Isle of Wight County, Virginia, and his wife Elizabeth Crawford [Genealogy of Virginia Families IV:499-500]. He was mentioned in the 18 September 1752 Southampton County will of his mother Elizabeth Newsom [WB 1:175]. He purchased 150 acres on the south side of the Nottoway River in Isle of Wight County from his father for 5 shillings on 21 February 1736 and sold this land "conveyed to sd Moses Newsom by Thomas Newsom, father of the sd Moses" on 22 July 1745 [DB 5:94; 7:143]. This part of Isle of Wight County became Southampton County when it was formed in 1749. On 20 August 1744 he purchased 150 acres near this land, just across the county line in Northampton County, North Carolina, on the south side of Meherrin River near Kirby's Creek. He sold half this land on 25 February 1757 and purchased another acre on Ivey Branch from Over Jordan for 2-1/2 shillings for use as a water grist mill on 3 November 1760 [DB 1:135; 2:365; 3:87]. He died before May 1764 when his wife Judah was granted administration of his estate on 150 pounds bond in the Northampton County court [NCGSJ XIV:157]. The court sold the grist mill and the other 75 acres of her land on 20 October 1766 to pay her deceased husband's debts [DB 4:7]. Judah was apparently African American since their children were counted as African American. They were most likely
2 i. John, born say 1731.
3 ii. Moses2, born say 1735, died 1805.
iii. James1, born say 1740, purchased 103 acres on 3 December 1761 near Nathan Stancell's corner, which was near the land of (his brother?) Moses2 Newsom and sold this land on 9 October 1769 [DB 3:158; 5:21]. He was a "Black" member of the undated Colonial Muster of Captain James Fason's Northampton County militia [Mil. T.R. 1-3]. He was a Northampton County taxable in 1780 on an assessment of 370 pounds [G.A. 46.1]. He was head of a Northampton County household of 5 "Black" persons 12-50 years old and 5 "Black" persons less than 12 or over 50 years old in Dupree's District for the 1786 state census, 11 "other free" in 1790 [NC:74] and 10 in 1800 [NC:463].
4 iv. Booth, born before 1760.
2. John Newsom, born say 1731, was a resident of Southampton County, Virginia, on 7 January 1752 when he purchased 150 acres near Kirby's Creek in Northampton County. He sold 15 acres of this land on 2 August 1769 [DB 2:84; 4:266]. He was a "Black" member of Captain Fason's Northampton County militia [Mil. T.R. 1-3]. In September 1774 he bought 100 acres in Northampton County adjacent to William Crumpler [DB 6:45]. He was a Northampton County taxable in 1780 on an assessment of 562 pounds [GA 46.1]. He, called John Sr., and his wife Martha made a deed of gift of their 150 acres on Kirby Creek to (their son?) Amos Newsom of Southampton County on 2 October 1782 [DB 7:121]. John and Martha may have been the parents of
i. Amos, born say 1756, a resident of Southampton County, Virginia, when (his parents?) John and Martha Newsom made a deed of gift to him of 150 acres of their land near Angelico Branch of Kirby Creek on 2 October 1782. He was head of a Northampton County household of 4 "Black" persons 12-50 years old and 4 "Black" persons less than 12 or over 50 years old in Dupree's District for the 1786 state census, 6 "other free" in 1790 [NC:74], 7 in 1800 [NC:463], 11 in 1810 [NC:737], and 6 "free colored" in 1820 [NC:248].
5 ii. Ethelred, born say 1760.
3. Moses2 Newsom, born say 1735, received a grant for 480 acres in Northampton County on 4 March 1761 and sold this land on 3 February 1768 [DB 4:147]. He was listed among the "Black" members of the undated Colonial Muster Roll of Captain Fason's Northampton County Militia [Mil. T.R. 1-3]. On 10 August 1778 he repurchased 462 acres adjoining John Newsom's line which was part of the land he sold in 1768. He sold 22 acres of this land on 12 February 1780 and sold a further 314 acres adjoining James Newsom's line on 6 April 1785 [DB 6:256: 7:47, 236]. He was taxed in Northampton County on an assessment of 2,430 pounds in 1780 [GA 46.1]. He was head of a Northampton County household of 9 "Black" persons 12-50 years old and 7 "Black" persons less than 12 or over 50 years old in Dupree's District of Northampton County in 1786 for the state census, 14 "other free" in 1790 [NC:74], and 10 in 1800 [NC:463]. He may have been the Moses Newsom who entered tracts of 100 acres and 125 acres on Potts Branch near Thomas Ivey in Robeson County on 19 April 1791 [Pruitt, Land Entries: Robeson County, I:45, 53]. This was near the land of (his nephew?) Ethelred Newsom. Between 1796 and 1802 he married Winnifred Walden, widow of John Walden. Winnifred was granted administration on John Walden's estate in 1796, but Moses Newsom was the estate representative mentioned in the 6 February 1802 account of sales [CR 71.801.20]. Moses Newsom's 17 September 1805 Northampton County will was proved in December of that year. He left 50 acres on Little Swamp near the Roanoke River to his wife Winnie, one silver dollar to George Artist, named some of his children: Tabitha Cumbo, Henry Newsam, and James Newsam; divided the residue among other unnamed children; and named his son Nathaniel Newsom executor [WB 2:297]. Winnie Newsom by her 4 November 1807 will, proved December the same year, gave land to Harwood Dukes in return for his lending money to her son by her previous marriage, Harrod/ Harwood Walden. She also divided four head of cattle among the unnamed children of Joel Newsom and Howell Wade and made small bequests to her daughter Penny Newsom and granddaughters Winnie Walden and Lucy Newsom. Drury Walden was her executor [WB 2:353]. Moses Newsom's children were identified in a chancery suit in Champaign County, Ohio, brought by Henry Newsom on 30 July 1832 against the heirs of (his brother) James Newsom. They were Nathaniel Newsom of North Carolina, Moses Newsom of North Carolina, Nathan Newsom of Pennsylvania, Naomi Banks (wife of Cyrus Banks) of North Carolina, Cloe Rand (wife of Micajah Rand) of North Carolina, the heirs of Joel Newsom, the heirs of Tabitha Cumbo (late Tabitha Newsom), the heirs of Martha Artist (late Martha Newsom), and Turner Byrd of Logan County in right of his mother Judith Byrd, deceased (late Judith Newsom) [Court of Common Pleas, Champaign County reel 14-344]. Moses Newsom's children were
6 i. Nathaniel1, born say 1765-70.
ii. a daughter, married George Artis. She apparently died before 1807 when George married Hannah Archer, widow of Luke Archer.
iii. Moses3, Jr., born say 1776, head of a Northampton County household of 1 "other free" in 1800 [NC:463], 3 "other free in 1810 [NC:737], and 1 "free colored" in 1820 [NC:248]. He made deeds of trust for the 24 acres on which he was living on 5 September 1830 and 28 August 1835 [DB 28:176, 308]. He was called "Moses Newsoms son" in the 28 August 1835 deed. His 25 May 1840 Northampton County will was proved in June 1846. He named only his nephew Everett Banks [WB 5:48].
iv. Nathan, living in the state of Pennsylvania when the suit for partition was filed in Champaign County.
v. Naomi Banks, born about 1765, wife of Cyrus Banks of North Carolina who was apparently identical to Silas Banks of Northampton County, North Carolina. Ona Banks was about eighty-five years of age in 1850 when she was counted with (her son) Everett Banks in the Northampton County household of (her son-in-law) Thomas Smith [household no. 1041].
vi. Tabitha Cumbo, who was deceased when Moses2 Newsom made his will. Her children mentioned in the will were Jinny, Henry, and John. Henry, John and Jensy Cumbo were named in the Champaign County suit for partition. By 1832 when the suit was filed, Henry and John were living in North Carolina; Jensy had married John Newsom and was living in Logan County.
7 vii. Henry1, born say 1780.
viii. James2, died intestate in Logan County, Ohio, before 6 August 1832 when (his brother) Henry Newsom was granted administration on his estate on $1,600 security [Administrative Docket Book B:3, 22]. Pm 30 July 1832 Henry brought suit against James's heirs for partition of his land. The land included 200 acres which James had purchased by deed of 29 January 1817 and four lots in the town of Milford which he had purchased by deed of 4 February 1818 [Court of Common Pleas, July Term 1836, Champaign County reel 14-344, pp. 344-52].
ix. Chloe Rann, sister of James Newsom, and wife of Michael Rann who stated in his 10 November 1847 Halifax County, North Carolina will that he had a claim on part of James Newsom's Ohio estate [WB 4:295].
x. Joel, born 1776-94, head of a Northampton County household of 7 "other free" in 1810 [NC:737] and 9 "free colored" in 1820 [NC:248]. His heirs listed in the Champaign County suit for partition were Angelina Artist (wife of James Artist of Logan County), Henry Newsom of North Carolina, Moses Newsom of North Carolina, Lucy Hunt, wife of James Hunt of North Carolina, and four others whose names were unknown to Henry Newsom at the time of the Champaign County suit.
xi. Martha Artist, wife of George Artist. Her heirs (sons) Kinchen Artist of Logan County and Newsom Artist of North Carolina were named in the Champaign County suit for partition as well as in George Artis's 30 December 1819 Northampton County will [WB 3:296].
xii. Penny, received a hat by the 4 November 1807 Northampton County will of her mother Winna Newsom.
xiii. Judith Byrd, whose only heir was Turner Byrd of Logan County when the Champaign County suit was filed.
4. Booth Newsom was born before 1760 since he was listed in the Colonial Muster Roll of Captain James Fason's Northampton County Militia [Mil. T.R. 1-3]. He was taxable in Northampton County on an assessment of 215 pounds in 1780 [GA 46.1] and was head of a Northampton County household of 1 "Black" person 12-50 years old and 2 "Black" persons less than 12 or over 50 years old in Elisha Webb's District in 1786 for the state census. He was head of a Northampton County household of 3 "other free" in 1790 [NC:74] and 8 in 1800 [NC:463]. He may have been the Boothe Newsom who was declared an insolvent debtor by the Halifax County court on 28 November 1844. Perhaps his children were the Newsoms counted in the census for Halifax County, North Carolina, in 1820:
i. Patience, born before 1776, head of a household of 9 "free colored" in 1820 [NC:159].
ii. Seymour, head of a household of Northampton County household of 1 "other free" in 1810 [NC:737], 7 "free colored" in Halifax County in 1820 [NC:159] and 9 in 1830. He was permitted to carry a gun by order of the 17 August 1840 session of the Halifax County court [Minutes 1732-46, vol.2].
iii. Arthur, born about 1790, an eight-year-old "base born child" bound out by the Halifax County court on 21 August 1798. He married Tempy Ash, 13 April 1820 Halifax County bond, and was head of a Halifax County household of 8 "free colored" in 1820 [NC:159].
5. Ethelred1 Newsom, born say 1760, may have been named for Ethelred Taylor who sold John Newsom his land on 7 January 1752 and witnessed the will of Jacob Newsom in Southampton County, Virginia, on 2 October 1771 [WB 3:240]. He was a soldier in the Tenth Regiment of the North Carolina Continental Line [Clark, State Records of North Carolina, XVI:1126], called "Netheneldred Newsom of Robeson County" on 18 April 1792 when he appointed Jacob Rhodes his attorney to receive his final settlement for serving in the war [NCGSJ XIV:111]. He entered 100 acres on the east side of Five Mile Branch near Thomas Ivey in Robeson County on 24 December 1787 and another 200 acres on 12 September 1788 [Pruitt, Land Entries: Robeson County, I:12, 18]. He purchased land by deed proved in Robeson County on 2 July 1801 [Minutes I:331]. He was head of a Robeson County household of 3 "other free" in 1790 [NC:50], 3 in 1800 [NC:408], and 4 in 1810 [NC:241]. He may have been in Northampton County in 1800 when he was counted in the census for that county with 6 "other free" in his household. He sold 320 acres in Chatham County on the west side of the Haw River on 18 November 1817 [DB V:89]. His 20 December 1820 Robeson County will, no probate date, mentioned his wife Lucy and left land to his grandsons [WB 1:325]. Lucy transferred land to Nelson Roberts by deed proved in May 1838 Robeson County court [Minutes 1829-39]. Ethelred's children were
i. a daughter, married ____ Terry, mother of Newsom Terry. Her husband was probably Philip Terry, head of a Cumberland County household of 4 "free colored" in 1820 [NC:191] who may have been a son of David Terry, head of a Sampson County household of 4 "other free" in 1790 [NC:51].
ii. Mary Roberts, mother of Ishmael Roberts. Ishmael was also mentioned in the Chatham County will of his grandfather Ishmael Roberts [CR 22.801.16].
iii. Sarah Roberts, mother of Ethelred Roberts, and wife of Aaron Roberts according to Aaron's free papers recorded in Owen County, Indiana [DB 3:280].
8 iv. ?Henry3, born about 1800.
6. Nathaniel1 Newsom, born 1765-70, was head of a Northampton household of 3 "other free" in 1790 [NC:74], 6 in 1800 [NC:463], 11 in 1810 [NC:737], and 7 "free colored" in 1820. His wife was Edy Hawley whose father Benjamin Hawley mentioned her and her daughter Charlotte Newsom in his 9 July 179_ Northampton County will, proved March 1805 [WB 2:276]. Nathaniel's 31 July 1835 Northampton County will was proved in September the same year [WB 4:37]. He left land in Northampton County and land in Logan County, Ohio, to his children:
i. Nathaniel2, who received 157 acres where his father lived. In 1860 he was head of a Jefferson Township, Logan County, Ohio household with $3,650 real estate [OH:43].
ii. Willis, who received the land he was living on.
iii. Dorothy Archer, who received land in Logan County, Ohio.
iv. Sally Byrd.
v. Charlotte, married Sterling Haithcock, 24 November 1813 Northampton County bond.
vi. Edith Roberts.
vii. Elizabeth Newsom.
viii. Tilitha Hawley.
7. Henry1 Newsom, born say 1780, was head of a Northampton County household of 2 "other free" in 1810 [NC:737]. He was taxable on 100 acres in Champaign County, Ohio, in 1816 based on military title [Champaign County Genealogical Society Newsletter July/Aug/Sep 1999: 90]. He left a 4 September 1841 Logan County will, proved 28 October 1841. He devised to his wife Dorothy 70 acres of his land on the north side of the road leading from Zanesfield to Middleburgh. The profits from the remainder of his farm land was to be used to pay for the education to his youngest sons John and Henry. When John reached the age of twenty-one and at the death of his wife, all the land was to be divided between John and Henry who were also to receive forty acres of land in Mercer County adjoining land he had deeded to Judith and Nancy Newsom. He left $1 each to his children Priscilla Dick, Nathan Newsom, Levina Witsell, Martha Byrd, Eliza Allen and divided the remainder of his estate equally between his children Lydia, Ann, Judith, Nancy, Alice, John and Henry. Buyers at the sale of his estate included Sterling Heathcock (Haithcock), Owen Byrd, Green Allen, Kinchen Artis, Peter Byrd, Joshua Hunt, David Hunt, Joseph Allen, Martha Newsom, William Dempsey, Matthew Newsom, Leonard Whitfield, Benjamin Hawley, Hardy Wade and Jonathan Bowser [Administrative Docket Book B:146, 263-270]. He was the father of
i. Lydia.
ii. Ann.
iii. Judith.
iv. Nancy.
v. Alice.
vi. Priscilla Dick.
vii. Nathan.
viii. Levina Witsell, probably wife of Felix Whitsel who was a buyer at the sale of Henry Newsom's estate [WB, 270].
ix. Martha Byrd.
x. Eliza Allen.
xi. John.
xii. Henry4.
8. Henry3 Newsom, born about 1800, received twenty lashes by order of the 7 December 1829 Cumberland County court, and on 11 June 1830 he took the oath of an insolvent debtor. He obtained "free papers" in Cumberland County on 15 and 17 March 1834 and recorded them in Owen County, Indiana, on 10 November 1845: he is the son of Lifsy (Lucy?) Newsom, a free born woman of colour ... is married to one Polly George, a free born woman of color and has seven children namely: Isham (about fifteen years old), Dred (about thirteen years old), Lifsy (about eleven years old), Sarah (about eight years old), Henry (about five years old), Martha (about four years old), and Elijah (about fifteen months old) ... he is of dark complexion ... about thirty four years old about five feet five inches high ... for many years a resident in this Town. His wife Polly also obtained free papers in Cumberland County (on 19 March 1834) and recorded them in Owen County on 10 November 1845: wife of Henry Newsom, daughter of Elizabeth George, a Freeborn woman of colour, about thirty two years old, of a tolerably light complexion ... said Polly & her mother are coloured persons of free parentage [DB 8:433]. Henry was head of a Franklin Township, Owen County, Indiana, household of 7 "free colored" in 1840 [IN:25]. He called himself Henry A. Newsom on 12 December 1835 when he speculated in corn futures, contracting with the inhabitants of Township Nine of Owen County to deliver 350-3/4 bushels of corn three years from that date [DB 8:433]. He probably profited from this trade since he offset this obligation by contracting with other parties to supply this corn in January 1838 after the price of corn fell 30-40% in Cincinnati as a result of the Panic of 1837 [Circuit Order Book 13:148-149; Buley, R.C., The Old Northwest Pioneer Period, 1815-40, 2 vol. Indianapolis: n.p. (1850):273]. In 1845 he and his son Dred O. Newsom were sued in Owen County for $36 in corn and pork which they failed to deliver on 29 May 1843 [Orders 4:120].
Other members of the Newsom family were
i. Stephen, born say 1758, a "Negro" taxable in Southampton County from 1787 to 1790 [Personal Property Tax List 1782-92, frames 643, 765].
10 ii. Hannah, born say 1768.
iii. Aaron, born about 1772, taxable in Greensville County from 1799 to 1804 [Personal Property Tax List 1782-1807, frames 247, 266, 276, 289, 305, 323], a "Free Negro" taxable in Meherrin Parish, Brunswick County, Virginia, from 1810 to 1815 [Personal Property Tax List 1799-1815, frames 477, 520, 559, 637, 675, 730]. Thomas Stewart left him 10 pounds by his 14 October 1790 Greensville County will [WB 1:181-3]. Molly Stewart charged him with breach of the peace, but the case was dismissed by the Greensville County court on 10 May 1802 [Orders 1799-1806, 217]. He and his wife Christian of Brunswick County, Virginia, sold his part of the Greensville County estate of Jesse Jones to Henry Stewart on 13 October 1806 [Greensville County DB 3:507]. He registered in Petersburg on 30 August 1794: a dark brown man, five feet ten inches high, twenty two years old, appears to have been born free & raised in Greensville County [Register of Free Negroes 1794-1819, no. 89] and recorded the certificate in Brunswick County, Virginia court in January 1826. He was married to Susan Newsom by January 1826 when she registered in Brunswick County: Wife of Aaron Neusum, a free bright mulatto woman, about 27 years old, 5 feet 4 inches high with long bushy hair [Wynne, Register of Free Negroes, 81-2]. He was head of a Freetown, Brunswick County, Virginia household of 4 "other free" in 1810 [VA:769] and 7 "free colored" in 1820 [VA:664].
11 iv. Sarah, born before 1776.
v. James3, born before 1776, head of a Botetourt County household of 9 "free colored" in 1820.
vi. Nathan3, born about 1776, registered in Southampton County on 25 June 1802: age 26, Mulatto, 6 feet high, free born [Register of Free Negroes 1794-1832, no. 229]. He recorded his free papers in Norfolk County, Virginia [Freed Negro Papers, Chesapeake County courthouse loose papers].
vii. Nelson, head of a Northampton household 1 white male over the age of 16 in 1790 [NC:75] and 3 "other free" in Sampson County, North Carolina, in 1800 [NC:521].
viii. Henry2, born about 1787, head of an Owen County, Indiana household of 2 "free colored" in 1840 (a man and woman over fifty-five years of age) [IN:24] and a sixty-three-year-old man living in Harrison Township, Vigo County, Indiana, in 1850 [IN:542].
ix. Elias, born about 1791, registered in Southampton County on 25 August 1818: age 27, Mulatto, 5 feet 5-1/2 inches, free born. His wife Winny registered on 26 April 1819: age 32, wife of Elias Newsom, 5 feet 3-1/2 inches high, rather of a bright complexion, free born [Register of Free Negroes 1794-1832, no. 1157, 1177].
x. Etheldred2, born about 1793, registered in Southampton County on 13 August 1816: age dark complection, 5 feet 6 1/2 inches high, free born [Register of Free Negroes 1794-1832, no. 1023].
xi. Carter, born about 1794, registered in Southampton County on 13 January 1817: age 23, Black, 5 feet 6 inches high, free born [Register of Free Negroes 1794-1832, no. 1044].
10. Hannah Newsom, born about 1768, was living in the lower district of St. Luke's Parish on 22 May 1798 when the Southampton County court ordered the overseers of the poor to bind out her illegitimate son Anthony Newsum [Minutes 1793-99, 347]. She registered in Southampton County on 19 November 1831: bright (Colour), 5 feet 1/4 inch high, free born [Register of Free Negroes 1794-1832, no. 1931]. Hannah was the mother of
i. Anthony, born about 1785, a 16-21 year old taxable in Greensville County in 1800 [Virginia Genealogist 26:191], taxable in James Wilinson's household in St. Luke's Parish, Southampton County, in 1805, listed in his own household in 1807 and 1811 [Personal Property Tax List 1792-1806, frame 823; 1807-21, 54, 173, 198] and head of a Southampton County household of 6 "other free" in 1810 [VA:88]. He registered in Southampton County on 2 August 1810: age 25, yellow, 5 feet 9 inches, free born [Register of Free Negroes 1794-1832, no. 813].
11. Sarah Newsom, born before 1776, was head of a Northampton County household of 3 "other free" in 1800 [NC:463] and 4 "free colored" in 1820 [NC:248]. She may have been the mother of
i. Felson, born about 1806, bound an apprentice farmer to Samuel Stancell by the 8 September 1813 Northampton County court [Minutes 1813-21]. He was listed as a forty-four-year-old blacksmith in the 1850 Northampton County census in household number 484.
Endnotes:
1. In May 1763 another Amos Newsom signed a petition to the North Carolina Assembly to repeal the law which placed additional tax on free Negroes [Saunders, Colonial Records of North Carolina, VI:982-3]. He was probably the (white) brother of Moses1 Newsom [Genealogy of Virginia Families IV:499].
2. Harwood Dukes was head of a Northampton County household of 5 "other free" in 1800 [NC:435]. Howell Wade was head of a Northampton County household of 7 in 1800 [NC:485], 7 in 1810 [NC:751], and 8 "free colored" in Halifax County in 1820.
3. There was also a Jinny Byrd who received her Northampton County, North Carolina, "free papers" on 14 March 1835 and registered in Logan County, Ohio: Jinny Newson, wife of Everett Byrd, bright complexion, 37 years old, was free... [Turpin, Register of Black, Mulatto, and Poor Persons, 11].
NEWTON FAMILY
1. Abraham Newton, born say 1700, was a "Mulatto" slave who was purchased by his wife Elizabeth Young, "a free Mulatto" woman of Norfolk County. She died in November 1743 and left a will (not recorded) which gave him his freedom. The Legislative Council ordered him set free [Hall, Executive Journals of the Council, V:196, 215]. Their children were probably
i. Henry, born say 1723, taxable head of a Norfolk County household with Benjamin and William Newton in Western Branch District in 1759 [Wingo, Norfolk County Tithables, 1751-65, 133].
2 ii. Benjamin, born say 1725.
iii. William1, born say 1730, a tithable in Henry Newton's household in 1759, in Benjamin Newton's household in 1761 and tithable in Richard Carney's household in Norfolk County on the north side of Western Branch in 1770 (called William Neowton) [Wingo, Norfolk County Tithables, 1751-65, 133, 167; 1766-80, 107].
2. Benjamin Newton, born say 1725, was taxable in the household of (his brother?) Henry Newton in 1759 and was head of a Norfolk County household in 1761: taxable with (his wife?) Elizabeth Newton and (brother?) William Newton. He was taxable with Elizabeth in 1765 and 1767 and taxable by himself until 1774 [Wingo, Norfolk County Tithables, 1751-65, 133, 167, 190; 1766-80, 15, 72, 88, 106, 150, 213, 228]. Benjamin and Elizabeth may have been the parents of
i. Sarah, born say 1752, a tithable in Richard Carney's household in Norfolk County on the north side of Western Branch in 1770 (called Sary Neowton) [Wingo, Norfolk County Tithables, 1766-80, 107].
ii. James, born about 1754, a "Mulatto" apprenticed to Josiah Deans of Norfolk County to be a carpenter on 10 December 1769 [DB 25:52]. He was one of eight tithables in William Deans' Norfolk County household in 1770: William Deans, Sr., Josiah Deans & negroes James, Neowton, Dempo, Will, Sam & Lead - 8 [Wingo, Norfolk County Tithables, 1766-80, 107]. He was taxable in Norfolk County from 1795 to 1812: called a "M"(ullato) starting in 1798; a labourer living on Western Branch in a "List of Free Negroes and Mulattoes" in 1801 [Personal Property Tax Lists, 1791-1812, frames 144, 255, 359, 384, 467, 650, 728, 778].
3 iii. Thomas, born say 1770.
iv. William2, a "M"(ulatto) taxable in Norfolk County from 1802 to 1817, a "B.M." (Black Man) living on Western Branch and taxable on a "free Negro" tithe in 1816 [Personal Property Tax Lists, 1791-1812, frames 434, 486A, 581, 694, 746; 1813-24, frames 105, 145, 263]. He married Margaret Nickens, 30 March 1805 Norfolk County marriage [Ministers' Returns].
v. Wilson, a "free Mulatto" bound by the Princess Anne County court as an apprentice to John Williams on 10 August 1772 to learn the trade of blacksmith [Minutes 1770-3, 298].
3. Thomas Newton, born say 1770, was taxable in Portsmouth and Elizabeth River Parishes in Norfolk County from 1789 to 1817: called a "M"(ulatto) starting in 1798; a labourer living on Western Branch in a "List of Free Negroes and Mulattoes" in 1801; a "B.M." (Black Man) taxable on a horse and 4 cattle in 1815 [Personal Property Tax Lists, 1782-1791, frames 647; 1791-1812, frames 87, 231, 255, 359, 384, 434, 564, 694; 1813-24, frames 105, 263]. He was head of a Norfolk County household of 9 "other free" in 1810 [VA:820]. He may have been the father of
i. Mary, married Richard Anderson (free blacks), 4 December 1824 Norfolk County bond, Isaac Fuller security.
Other members of a Newton family in Virginia were
i. Isaac, born say 1752, head of a Richmond County, Virginia household of 3 "other free" and 2 slaves in 1810 [VA:411], a levy free "free black" in 1813 with (his wife?) Judith Newton who was above the age of sixteen [Waldrep, 1813 Tax List].
ii. John, born about 1756, the runaway servant of William Brown on 13 July 1776 when Brown advertised for his return in the Virginia Gazette: about 20 Years of Age, 5 feet 5 or 6 Inches high, slender made, is an Asiatic Indian by Birth, has been twelve Months in Virginia, but lived ten years (as he says) in England, in the service of Sir Charles Whitworth. He wears long black Hair, which inclines to curl, tied behind, and pinned up at the Sides; has a very sour Look, and his Lips project remarkably forward ... He has been at Richmond, Williamsburg, and in other Parts of the Country, in the Service of Mr. George Rootes of Frederick, and Col. Blackburn of Prince William, of whom I had him; and as he is a good Barber and Hair-Dresser, it is probably he may endeavor to follow those Occupations as a free Man. Whoever takes up said Servant ... shall have eight dollars reward; and if delivered to me at Westwood, in Prince William, further reasonable Charges [Virginia Gazette (Dixon & Hunter edition)].
NICHOLS/ NICHOLAS FAMILY
1. Margaret Nicholas, born say 1690, was presented by the Princess Anne County court on 2 February 1708/9 for having a "Mullatto" child. On 7 February 1710/11 the court ordered that she pay a fine of fifteen pounds or be sold by the churchwardens for five years. On 6 March 1710/11 the court ordered the sheriff to search for her because she had escaped from the churchwardens when they were endeavoring to sell her. On 9 May 1712 her master Tully Smyth sued Lewis Purvine for keeping his servant for twenty-one days, but the jury accepted Purvine's excuse that she was his servant at the time. On 2 April 1714 she was convicted by the court for having another "Molatto" child. The court ordered that she serve her master Tully Smyth three months for absenting herself from his service and also for having a child in his house and ordered that she be sold for five years for the benefit of Lynhaven Parish after her service was completed. The sheriff sold Margaret before 1 November 1721 when the sale was recorded in court [Minutes 1691-1709, 491; 1709-17, 48, 53, 92, 151; 1717-28, 115, 121, 124]. She was apparently the mother of
i. Samuel, born say 1714, a "free mullatto" who sued Henry Chapman for trespass in Princess Anne County court on 2 June 1742. He was called a "free Negro" when he recorded his livestock mark in Princess Anne County on 30 April 1746. He was called Sam Nichols when he won a judgment for twenty-three shillings against Lewis Thelaball in Princess Anne County court on 18 July 1750. On 22 November 1752 the court ordered John Chapman to post fifty pounds security for his good behavior towards Sam, and on 19 June 1753 the court ordered Sam to post fifty pounds bond for his good behavior towards John Chapman. On 16 October 1759 the court bound "free Mullatto" Nanny Duncan to him as an apprentice [Minutes 1737-44, 174; 1691-1709, 17; 1744-53, 214, 341; 1753-62, 25, 365]. He was probably the ancestor of Sam Nichols, head of a Norfolk County household of 1 "other free" and 3 slaves in 1810 [VA:913].
NICKENS FAMILY
1. Richard1 Nickens, born say 1660, was called Black Dick when he and his wife Chriss were freed "after the finishing of the Crop that is now on the Grounde" by the 4 June 1690 Lancaster County will of John Carter, proved 11 December the same year. Each was given a cow, three barrels of corn and peas, and allowed the use of some land for farming. Chris's unnamed daughter was also freed as were slaves Diana and "little Chriss" when they reached the age of eighteen years [WB 8:5]. They were all apparently free by July 1691 since they were not included in the inventory of Carter's estate [WB 8:24, 24a, 33]. Dick was taxable on 1 tithe in Lancaster County in 1699 (Black Dick), 2 in 1700 (Black Dick), 3 in 1701 and 1702 (Free Dick), 4 in 1703 (Free Richard), 2 in 1704 (Richard Yoconohawcon), and 4 in 1706 (Free Dick). He may have been infirm in 1707 and thereafter since he was not mentioned again in the court records again until 8 April 1713, called Richard Nicken, when his son Edward Nicken made oath that he had died without leaving a will. His wife Chris appears to have been head of the household by 1707. Thomas Gilchrist's suit against Chris Yockenhawken was dismissed by the Lancaster County court on 2 February 1706/7 when neither party appeared, and her suit against Gilchrist was dismissed on 13 August 1707 for the same reason. The court ordered her to pay Benjamin George for attending seven days as her witness. She may have been identical to "Criss a free negroe woman" who was owed 200 pounds of tobacco by the estate of William Flinston, deceased, for funeral charges on 10 March 1708. She was called Christian Yocconhockon, executor of the last will of Thomas Harvey, deceased, on 13 January 1708/9 when Robert Gibson sued her for 1,800 pounds of tobacco, and the court attached her effects to secure the debt: one feather bed and furniture, two iron pots, a brass kettle, three old chests, two trays, three pewter dishes, an iron pot, one old gun, one pewter plate, two brass candlesticks and two cows. On 9 March 1708/9 she was called a "free negroe woman" when she confessed to the court that she had received into her dwelling house divers goods stolen by several of the Honorable Robert Carter's white servants. The court ordered that she receive thirty-nine lashes, but the punishment was remitted when she begged for clemency and made a promise of good behavior towards Carter in the future. Carter's servants were ordered to serve him an additional year. Robert Gibson's case against her as executor of Thomas Harvey's estate continued until 15 June 1710 when Gibson sued Isaac Rowden as executor of the estate for the same debt of 1800 pounds of tobacco. The case against Rowden was dismissed on 13 February 1711/2 when a jury found that Rowden had never been the executor. Cris Yockenhawken was again called executrix of the last will of Thomas Harvey on 9 June 1714 when Robert Gibson's suit against her was dismissed by the court. She died before 10 April 1717 when the court bound her eight-year-old orphan Martha Yockenhocken to Mrs. Elizabeth Pasquett [Orders 1696-1702, 93, 128, 153; 1702-13, 12, 55, 108, 162, 167, 169a, 174a, 177, 185, 202a, 205a, 206, 214, 229a, 243a, 279, 302, 302a; 1713-21, 3, 38, 56, 185]. The children of Richard and Chris Nicken were most likely
2 i. Edward1, born say 1680.
3 ii. Elizabeth1, born say 1685.
4 iii. Christian, born say 1687.
iv. Martha1, born about 1708, brought a successful suit against Elizabeth Pasquet for her freedom and freedom dues on 13 July 1726 [Orders 1721-9, 214].
2. Edward1 Nicken (Richard1), born say 1680, may have been identical to "new Ned" who was listed in the account of John Carter's Lancaster County estate in July 1691 [WB 8:24]. He was called Edward Yockenhawken in 1709 when he was a Christ Church Parish taxable on 1 tithe. He was called Edward Nicken on 12 December 1712 when he was sued in Lancaster County court by David Williams, and he was called the son of Richard Nicken on 8 April 1713 when he made oath that his father died without making any will and gave security for the administration of his father's estate. He returned the inventory of the estate to court on 13 May 1713. He was taxable as Edward Nicken from 1715 to 1719: "a negro" in 1716 and 1717 when he was taxable on 1 tithe, and called Edward Nicken in 1720 when he was taxable on 2 tithes. He was called a "free negroe" on 9 November 1715 when he was presented by the grand jury for selling cider at his house. He was found not guilty [Orders 1702-13, 231, 298, 302; 1713-21, 3, 115, 118, 137, 168, 223, 258, 302, 335]. He purchased 50 acres in Christ Church Parish, Lancaster County, from Peter Kilgore for 4,000 pounds of tobacco on 6 March 1713/4 and sold this land on 20 March 1722. On 2 November 1722 he purchased 40 acres on the west side of Corrotoman River from Thomas Pinson and another 50 acres adjoining this land and land of Colonel Robert Carter on 13 September 1726. He sold this land on 5 March 1730 with Simon Showcraft as a witness [DB 9:478-9; 11:212-3, 222-3; 305-6; 12:147-9]. On 18 July 1723 Abraham Shoecraft acknowledged in Northumberland County court that he was indebted to him for 1,500 pounds of tobacco [Orders 1719-29, 109]. He was involved in over twenty court cases in Lancaster County between 1713 and 1731: sued by Eliza Denton, Nicholas Terkleson, John Tarpley, Patrick Chalmers, Richard Ball (Gentleman), Thomas Wilson (mariner), Maurice Jones (Gentleman), Ezekiel Gilbert, Thomas Edwards, John Taylor, Matthew Zuill and William Rauken. He sued Laughley Brannan, Richard Harrison, William Wright, Francis Wright, Thomas Wells, John Yerby, John Nichols, and Arthur Howard. He sued Thomas Pinson for 6,400 pounds of tobacco due by account and Pinson sued him for 2,950 pounds of tobacco due by account. The court appointed Captain Thomas Carter to settle the accounts [Orders 1713-21, 10, 84, 131; 1721-9, 23, 100, 106, 111, 116, 122, 126, 149, 159, 176-8, 191-2, 201, 207, 220, 231, 233, 236, 241, 264, 271, 316; 1729-43, 6, 8, 33, 40]. His 21 September 1735 Lancaster County will was proved 12 November the same year, Richard and Elizabeth Weaver and Simon Shewcraft witnesses. The will (which he signed) named his wife Mary and children: Tun, Sarah, John, Robert, Aner, Edward, Richard, and James [WB 12:355]. Their children were
i. Tun.
ii. Sarah.
5 iii. John1, born say 1720.
6 iv. Robert1, born say 1721.
v. Aner, born say 1723.
7 vi. Edward2, born say 1725.
8 vii. Richard3, born say 1727.
9 viii. James1, born say 1729.
3. Elizabeth1 Nickens (Richard1), born say 1685, may have been the unnamed daughter of Chris (Nickens) who was freed by the 4 June 1690 Lancaster will of John Carter. She was called Elizabeth Yockohoc when she was taxable on 2 tithes in Lancaster County in 1707 [Orders 1702-13, 179a]. She may have been identical to "Black Betty, a free negroe woman" who bound her daughter "Cris a negroe girle" to Thomas Yerby in Lancaster County until the age of twenty-one to read the bible on 14 April 1711 [Orders 1702-13, 281a]. She was called Elizabeth Nigings of Lancaster County on 16 May 1711 when she bound her son Richard Niggins as an apprentice carpenter to Henry and Ann Tapscott in Northumberland County "of her own free & Voluntary will" [Record Book 1710-13, 21]. She was called "Elizabeth Nicken a free negroe woman" on 9 November 1715 when the Lancaster County court presented her for having an illegitimate child [Orders 1713-21, 115, 137]. Elizabeth was the mother of
10 i. Richard2, born in August 1705.
ii. ?Murrough, born say 1708, sued Robert Scofield for trespass, assault and battery in Lancaster County court on 9 June 1731. The jury awarded her six pence and costs [Orders 1729-43, 40, 44, 90].
11 iii. ?Catherine /Kate, born say 1710.
iv. ?Mary, presented by the Lancaster County court on 12 November 1742 for living in fornication with James Donnelane's servant John Holmes and having illegitimate children. The case was dismissed [Orders 1729-43, 364, 369].
v. ?Thomas, born say 1720, living in Northumberland County when he made his 22 April 1778 will, proved 14 September the same year. He left a cow and a colt to his wife's grandchild Ann Weaver Kelly and the remainder of his estate to his wife Ann [RB 10:375]. His estate was valued at 159 pounds [Orders 1776-80, 494]. His wife was Ann Weaver, mentioned in the 30 November 1777 Lancaster County will of her brother Isaac Weaver [WB 20:120]. She was taxable on 5 cattle and a horse in Northumberland County in 1782 [PPTL, 1782-1812, frame 232]. Anne Nicken was taxable on a horse and 5 cattle in Northumberland County in 1782 [PPTL 1782-1812, frame 235].
12 vi. ?William1, born say 1725.
4. Christian Nicken (Richard1), born say 1687, called "little Chriss," was a slave freed by John Carter's 4 June 1690 Lancaster County will when she reached the age of eighteen [WB 8:5]. She was called "Young Criss a free negroe woman" on 10 August 1709 when the Lancaster County court bound out her son Robin to Edward Carter until the age of twenty-one. She was called Christian Nicken when she was presented by the Lancaster County court on 11 November 1713 for bearing an illegitimate child. She confessed to having another illegitimate child on 9 August 1727, refused or was unable to pay her fine and received twenty-five lashes [Orders 1702-13, 218; 1713-21, 26; 1721-9, 252]. Her children were
i. Robin, born say 1707, perhaps identical to "free Robin a Mulatto" who was in company with Valentine Bell and Robert Scofield when Bell killed a heifer that had wandered into his cornfield according to Bell's testimony in Lancaster County court on 19 December 1728 [Orders 1721-9, 310-1].
13 ii. Elizabeth2, born about 1711.
5. John1 Nicken (Edward1, Richard1), born say 1720, purchased three turkeys and three Dunghill hens at the sale of the Lancaster County estate of Robert Hill on 18 February 1763 [DW 1758-63, 251-2]. He was a taxable head of household in Lancaster County in 1775 and 1776 with James Nicken and taxable with (his son?) John Nicken, Jr., from 1777 to 1781 [Tithables 1745-95, 14, 18, 20, 35, 42, 51]. He was taxable in Northumberland County on 9 cattle and a horse in 1782 [PPTL 1782-1812, frame 235] and head of a Lancaster County household of 7 "white" (free) persons in 1783 [VA:55]. He was taxable in Lancaster County from 1783 to 1801: taxable on 2 free males in 1790, 3 in 1791, taxed on Benjamin and Bartley Nicken's tithes in 1794 and 1796 [PPTL, 1782-1839, frames 16, 74, 86, 121, 144, 216]. On 16 February 1790 his suit against George Phillips for debt was submitted by the Lancaster County court to referees who awarded him 3 pounds, 14 shillings. He received a certificate of freedom from the Lancaster County court on 19 April 1796 stating that he had been a servant until the age of twenty-one. On 17 April 1798 he was exempted by the Lancaster County court from paying levies for the future on his person [Orders [Orders 1789-92, 107, 125, 256, 347; 1792-9, 12, 423]. He was the father of
i. ?Richard4, born about 1751, served in the Revolution aboard the galley Hero and received 1,000 acres on 2 August 1783 for serving three years. He was listed as William Brent's Lancaster County tithe in 1775, and listed as John Clayton's tithe in 1776 [Tithables 1745-95, 14, 18]. He was in the personal property tax lists in Lancaster County from 1784 to 1794: taxable on 3 slaves in 1787, taxable on taxable on Philip Boyd's tithe in 1792 and 1793 [PPTL, 1782-1839, frames 23, 45, 62, 97 109, 121, 157; Tithables 1745-95, 51]. He registered in Lancaster County on 17 October 1803: Age 52, Color mulatto...born free [Burkett, Lancaster County Register of Free Negroes, 1]. He married Elizabeth Hamilton, 20 August 1806 Lancaster bond and was head of a Lancaster County household of 4 "other free" in 1810 [VA:355]. He was said to be eighty-two years old when he applied for a pension in Lancaster County court on 17 December 1832 [M805, reel 0615, frame 0187], and his age was estimated at eighty years on 7 January 1834 when he testified for John Jackson's pension application [Hopkins, Virginia Revolutionary War Land Grant Claims, 119]. His 17 January 1835 Lancaster County will, proved 16 March 1835, mentioned his niece Zelia Nicken and her children Assenath and Nancy Nicken [WB 28:329].
ii. John2, Jr., born say 1756, taxable in the Lancaster County household of (his father?) John Nickens, Sr., from 1777 to 1781 [Tithables 1745-95, 51, 57]. He was head of a Lancaster County household of 1 "white" (free) person in 1783, listed next to John, Sr. [VA:55]. He may have been the John Nicken whose suit against Amos Nicken for trespass, assault and battery was dismissed by the Northumberland County court on 16 June 1784 [Orders 1783-5, 187]. He was called John Nickens, Jr., when he married Ann Mills, 17 September 1791 Lancaster bond. He was taxable in Lancaster County from 1783 to 1813, in the list of "free Negroes & Mulattoes" in 1813 [PPTL, 1782-1839, frames 16, 276, 230, 319, 350, 385]. He was a "free mulatto" head of a Northumberland County household of 10 "other free" in 1810 [VA:990].
iii. ?Robert2, born say 1762, served as a soldier in the Revolution from Lancaster County [Jackson, Virginia Negro Soldiers, 41]. He was taxable in Lancaster County in John McTire's household in 1779, in John Davis' household in 1787, and taxable in his own household in 1794 and 1795, called Robert Nickens, Junr. [Tithables 1745-95, 33, 51, 57] and taxable from 1796 to 1804 [PPTL, 1782-1839, frames 144, 189, 216, 256]. He was granted a certificate of his free birth by the Lancaster County court on 16 February 1796 [Orders 1792-9, 256]. He posted bond to marry Elizabeth Gray, 12 August 1786 Lancaster bond but married Nancy Howe (spinster over 21), 5 March 1793 Lancaster bond. Nancy registered in Lancaster County on 19 September 1803: Age 31, Color mulatto...born free. Elizabeth Gray registered on 21 January 1811: Age abt. 42, Color mulatto...born free [Burkett, Lancaster County Register of Free Negroes, 1, 5].
iv. ?Bridger, taxable in Lancaster County from 1786 to 1788, in 1805, and from 1813 to 1816, in a list of "free Negroes & Mulattoes in 1813 [PPTL, 1782-1839, frames 36, 53, 274, 385, 421].
v. Benjamin2, born about 1772, taxable in Lancaster County in 1794, adjoining John and Bartley Nickens [Tithables 1745-95, 51]. He married Mary Nickens, daughter of Amos1 Nickens, 11 April 1796 Northumberland County bond. Benjamin was taxable in Northumberland County in the same district as his father-in-law Amos Nickens, Sr., from 1797 to 1803 [PPTL, 1782-1812, frames 465, 472, 487, 501, 524, 532, 546]. He registered in Lancaster County on 20 June 1803: s/o Jno., Age 31, mulatto, rather dark [Burkett, Lancaster County Register of Free Negroes, 1].
vi. Bartley, born say 1774, taxable in Lancaster County from 1792 to 1803 [PPTL 1782-1839, frames 98, 203, 242]. His 20 December 1804 Lancaster County will, proved 16 April 1805, gave Uriea? Nicken, son of Robert Nicken, his house "where my father now lives" and named Elizabeth Nicken, daughter of John Nicken. Richard Nicken was one of the executors [WB 28:89].
6. Robert1 Nicken (Edward1, Richard1), born say 1721, purchased 3 acres on the east side of the eastern branch of the Corrotoman River in Lancaster County from William Stamps on 21 October 1763 [DW 17:24]. He was sued in Lancaster County court by Thomas Pollard on 16 March 1769 and by Mungo Harvey on 16 December 1773 [Orders 1768-70, 8; 1770-78, 371]. He was head of a Lancaster County household of 3 "Blacks" in 1783 [VA:55] and taxable in Lancaster County from 1782 to 1800 [PPTL, 1782-1839, frames 5, 29, 74, 98, 174, 189, 203]. He may have been the father of
14 i. James3, born say 1743.
15 ii. Nathaniel1, born say 1745.
16 iii. Amos1, born say 1750.
iv. Benjamin1, born say 1760, taxable in Prince William County from 1782 to 1813, called a "yellow" man in 1809 and 1813 [PPTL, 1782-1810, frames 27, 52, 77, 142, 236, 274, 315, 368, 444, 510, 598, 709]. He and his wife Betsy, "formerly Betsy Lucas" obtained certificates of freedom in Prince William County on 5 August 1805 [Orders 1804-6, 204]. He was head of a Prince William County household of 1 "other free" in 1810 [VA:506].
v. Daniel, born say 1780, taxable in Prince William County from 1796 to 1813, called a "yellow" man in 1809 and 1813 [PPTL, 1782-1810, frames 315, 441, 444, 578, 667, 709]. He was head of a Prince William County household of 3 "other free" [VA:506].
7. Edward2 Nicken (Edward1, Richard1), born say 1725, and his wife Susannah sued George Miller for trespass, assault, and battery in Lancaster County court on 17 April 1756 [Orders 1752-56, 435]. He was deceased by 18 February 1757 when his son Edward Jones Nicken was bound apprentice in Lancaster County with the consent of his mother. And on 17 February 1758 she bound their daughter Lucy to Henry Tapscott [Orders 1756-64, 40, 118]. Perhaps Susannah was related to Elizabeth Jones, a white woman, who confessed to bearing mixed-race children in Lancaster County court in 1716, 1719 and 1721 [Orders 1713-21, 140, 142, 300, 311, 346; 1721-9, 2]. Two of Edward and Susannah's children were
17 i. Edward Jones Nicken, born say 1748.
ii. Lucy, born say 1752.
8. Richard3 Nickens (Edward1, Richard1), born say 1727, was head of a Northumberland County household of 4 "black" persons in 1782 [VA:37] and taxable on himself and 4 cattle in Northumberland County in 1782 [PPTL, 1782-1812, frame 232]. He was taxable in Lancaster County from 1784 to 1786 [PPTL 1782-1839, frames 23, 30]. He may have been the father of
18 i. Limas, born say 1752.
ii. Moses, taxable in Lancaster County in 1786 [PPTL, 1782-1839, frame 36], a "Black man" taxable on a horse in Augusta County from 1791 to 1796 [PPTL 1782-95, frames 387, 462, 499, 539; 1796-1810, frame 32], and a "free Negro" taxable on 2 horses in the west district of Rockingham County from 1797 to 1799 [PPTL 1795-1813, frames 161, 236, 257].
iii. Edward, sued Ezekiel Tapscott in Lancaster County on 21 July 1785 and Charles Purcell on 17 August 1786 [Orders 1783-5, 111; 1786-9, 18]. He was taxable in Lancaster County in 1786 [PPTL, 1782-1839, frame 36] and a "Black man" taxable in Augusta County in 1795 [PPTL 1782-95, frame 539]. He was granted a certificate of freedom by the Lancaster County court on 16 January 1797 [Orders 1792-9, 327]. He was a "free Negro" taxable in Rockingham County, Virginia, in 1798 and 1799 [PPTL 1795-1813, frames 236, 257] and a "B.M." taxable in Augusta County, Virginia, in 1800 [PPTL 1796-1810, frame 201]. He was "a coloured man," who brought David Nickins, a Baptist Minister, to Ross County, Ohio, in 1804 or 1805 to the farm of Benjamin M. Kerrin (Kern) [Turpin, Register of Black, Mulatto, and Poor Persons, 25, 27]. David Nickens was head of a Washington Township, Pickaway County, Ohio household of 6 "free colored" in 1820.
iv. Abraham, born say 1760, a "Black man" taxable on a horse in Augusta County from 1793 to 1803, listed with 3 horses in 1802 [PPTL 1782-95, frames 462, 499, 539; 1796-1810, frames 32, 70, 107, 152, 201, 246, 298, 343]. He moved to Ross County, Ohio, where he resided on the farm of Benjamin Kerns in the Fall of 1805 with his wife Polly and children: Rachel, Kissy, Betsey, Nathaniel, Bill, James, Sam, and Palt [Turpin, Register of Black, Mulatto, and Poor Persons, 16].
v. Jacob, a "Black man" taxable in Augusta County from 1794 to 1796 [PPTL 1782-95, frames 499, 539; 1796-1810, frame 32], a "free Negro" taxable in the western district of Rockingham County from 1797 to 1799 [PPTL 1795-1813, frames 161, 236, 257], a "black" taxable in the 2nd district of Augusta County from 1800 to 1803, in 1807 and in 1813 [PPTL 1796-1810, frames 201, 246, 298, 343, 539].
vi. Isaac, born about 1772, a "Black man" taxable in Augusta County from 1794 to 1796 [PPTL 1782-95, frames 499, 539; 1796-1810, frame 32], a "free Negro" taxable in Rockingham County in 1798 [PPTL 1795-1813, frame 236], registered in Orange County, Virginia, on 27 August 1799: Isaac Nickins, a negro, 27, black complexion, 5'5", born free in Northumberland County; a "B.M." taxable in the 2nd district of Augusta County in 1801, 1803, and 1805 [PPTL 1796-1810, frames 246, 343, 442]. On 5 November 1816 he purchased "three negroes, a woman Jean, a boy Owins, and a girl Dicy" (his wife and children?) in Jackson County, Tennessee, and recorded the purchase in Ross County Ohio [Turpin, Register of Black, Mulatto, and Poor Persons, 21].
9. James1 Nickens (Edward1, Richard1), born say 1729, "orphan of Edward Nicken," was bound as an apprentice shoemaker to John Hubbard in Lancaster County until the age of twenty-one on 11 February 1736 [Orders 1729-43, 161]. He and his wife Margaret received 200 acres on the east side of Potecasi Creek in Society Parish, Bertie County, North Carolina, by deed of gift from her parents Edward and Margaret Carter on 10 May 1750 [DB G:354]. James and Margaret were taxed as "fr. Muls." in the 1750 Bertie County summary filed with the central government [CCR 190], and in the 1757 list of John Brickell [CR 10.702.1 Box 1]. This part of Bertie County became Hertford County in 1759, and James was taxed there on 2 persons in 1768, 3 in 1769, 2 in 1770, and on 200 acres, 3 horses, and 3 cattle in District 3 in 1779 [Fouts, Tax Receipt Book, 35; GA 30.1]. He was head of a Hertford County household of 3 "other free" in 1790 [NC:27]. Perhaps his children were
i. Carter, born say 1748, taxable in Hertford County on 1 person in 1768 and 1769, on 2 persons in 1770, and taxable on 2 horses and 2 cattle in the 1779 Hertford County property tax list filed with the central government [Fouts, Tax Receipt Book, 13; GA 30.1]. He was paid for services to the Revolution [Haun, Revolutionary Army Accounts, vol. I, Book 4:232].
ii. William2, born say 1750, died in Wilson County, Tennessee, in 1820 leaving ten children [Wilson County Quarterly Court Minutes 1830, 34]. In 1833 his sons Marcus, Andrew and Calvin presented a petition to the General Assembly of Tennessee stating that their parents were from Portugal, had settled in the United States many years since and that "their colour is rather of the mixed blood by appearance." They asked to have the same rights as other citizens of the state. One supporting statement said that their grandfather was from Portugal and another that their father bore the name "of a desent of the Portagee" [Tennessee Legislative Petition 77-1831]. In the 1880 census two of their siblings listed North Carolina as the place of birth of their parents.
iii. Richard6, born say 1763, taxable on 1 poll in Captain Joseph Bridgers' Hertford County Company in 1784 adjacent to James Nickens [L.P. 64.1]. His field adjoining Thomas Cotten was mentioned in Cotten's 18 April 1787 Hertford County will [P.C. # 122.2 by NCGSJ XI:251]. He was head of a Hertford County household of 8 "other free" in 1800.
iv. Malachi, born about 1765, living in Hertford County in 1781 when he enlisted as a private in Colonel Armstrong's North Carolina Regiment. He was about fifty-six years old on 13 November 1821 when he testified in Hertford County court that he was a common laborer living with his wife Margaret and a seventeen-month-old child (his grandson?) Manuel Murfee. James Smith testified on his behalf [M805, frame 0198]. Malachi was head of a Hertford County household of 5 "other free" in 1790 [NC:26], 3 in 1800, and 3 "free colored" in 1820 [NC:190]. He was one of the "Sundry persons of Colour of Hertford County" who petitioned the General Assembly in November- December 1822 to repeal the act which declared slaves to be competent witnesses against free African Americans [NCGSJ XI:252].
v. Jonathan, born say 1780, married Kesiah Blizzard, 18 January 1803 Duplin County bond, Solomon Carter bondsman. He purchased 146 acres in Duplin County on the east side of the Northeast Cape Fear River and the north side of Matthews and Juniper Branches from Alexander Carter on 10 November 1811 [DB 4A:392]. He was head of a Duplin County household in 1810 (counted as white) [NC:690] and 8 "free colored" in 1820 [NC:189]. He sold land by deed registered in Dobbs County between 1810 and 1819 [DB 24:98; 26:370].
10. Richard2 Nickens (Elizabeth1, Richard1), born in August 1705, was "6 years old next August" on 16 May 1711 when he was apprenticed by his mother Elizabeth Nigings of Lancaster County to Henry and Ann Tapscott in Northumberland County to be a joiner carpenter [Orders 1710-13, 21]. He was probably the Richard Nickens who was number 37 in the Muster Roll of Major William Shergold's Regiment of Currituck County, North Carolina Militia in the 1750's, in the same list as Simon Shewcraft, a witness to Edward1 Nicken's 1735 Lancaster County will [Clark, Colonial Soldiers of the South, 657-8]. He was called "Richard Nickins of Currituck County Tailor" on 26 March 1751 when he purchased 70 acres in Pasquotank County on the south side of Great Swamp near the Great Swamp Bridge on 26 March 1751 [DB B:144]. This land is located in present-day Camden County. He purchased 50 acres adjoining this land near the Great Swamp in adjoining Currituck County on 19 April 1768, another 50 acres adjoining this land a year later on 1 September 1769, and another 120 acres on 1 June 1771 [DB 2:44, 135, 318]. His 2 February 1774 Currituck County will was proved 20 June the same year. His wife Rachel and son Edward were his executors. His estate consisted of several hundred acres of land, a slave woman named "Sooke," and four guns. He left land "near the great swamp" in Pasquotank County to his daughters and his shoemaking tools to Edward. The will mentioned his children and grandchildren: Philip, Edward, Roland, and Proskate Nickens [WB 1:92-94]. His children were
19 i. Edward3, born say 1730.
ii. Leah Rael.
iii. Margaret Nickens, head of a Currituck County household of 3 "other free" in 1790 (called Margaret Mekins) [NC:22]. Margaret Nickens was awarded 30 pounds by the Norfolk County court on 17 May 1787 in her suit for debt against Simeon Smith and Thomas Williams [Orders 1786-7, 97a].
iv. Rachel Hall, who received the use of her father's land in Pasquotank County near the Great Swamp Bridge. She was probably related by marriage to Lemuel Hall, head of a Pasquotank County household of 9 other free in 1810 [NC:902].
11. Catherine /Kate Nicken (Elizabeth1, Richard1), born say 1710, "a negro woman named Kate Nicken," was living in Christ Church Parish, Lancaster County on 8 May 1728 when the court presented her for having a bastard child. Valentine Bell was security for the payment of her fine [Orders 1721-29, 270, 275, 278]. Her children may have been
i. Stephen, born say 1732, obtained an attachment against the estate of Thomas Loney for about 2 pounds on 10 July 1753 in Northumberland County court. On 14 April 1789 the court exempted him from paying taxes due to his old age and infirmity [Orders 1753-56, 21; 1786-90, 480]. He was taxable on himself and a horse in Northumberland County from 1787 to 1798: taxable on a slave from 1791 to 1798, exempt in 1793 and 1794 [PPTL, 1782-1812, frames 322, 330, 352, 367, 381, 395, 411, 425, 447, 479]. On 9 May 1796 the Northumberland County court certified that he was a "mulatto man" residing in the county who was born free [Orders 1796-7, 26].
ii. Hannah, born say 1735.
20 iii. Frances, born say 1750.
12. William1 Nicken (Elizabeth1, Richard1), born say 1725, was sued by David Galloway in Lancaster County for a 6 pound debt on 15 July 1765 and was sued by Thomas Pollard for a 3 pound debt in Lancaster County on 16 March 1769 [Orders 1764-7, 145, 199, 213; 1768-70, 8]. He was charged with breaking and entering the house of John Mason on 29 June 1772 [Orders 1770-78, 4], but was acquitted by the Grand Jury at Williamsburg according to a notice in the 22 April 1773 issue of the Virginia Gazette [Purdie & Dixon edition, p.3, col. 1]. His children James, Mary Ann, Richard, and William were named by the Lancaster County court when it ordered them bound apprentices while he awaited trial. The apprenticeships were reversed on 18 February 1773 after his acquittal [Orders 1770-78, 292, 299]. He was taxable in Lancaster County in 1775 [Tithables 1745-95, 15]. He may have been the William Nicken who enlisted early in the Revolutionary War as a drummer, was in a short time made drum major, and returned to Northumberland County at the close of the war [Hopkins, Virginia Revolutionary War Land Grant Claims, 39]. His children were
i. James5, born about 1759, tried in Lancaster County court for felony on 2 February 1790. He consented to corporal punishment rather than be tried at the district court in Richmond. The court ordered that he receive twenty-five lashes, leave the county within five days, and never return [Orders 1789-92, 101]. He was taxable in Prince William County from 1796 to 1798 and from 1806 to 1813: called a "Dark" man in 1805 and 1806, a "yellow" man in 1809 and 1813 [PPTL, 1782-1810, frames 315, 341, 368, 598, 645, 709]. He was head of a Prince William County household of 5 "other free" in 1810 [VA:506]. He was about fifty-nine years old and living in Falmouth when he applied for a pension on 27 April 1818. He was a sixty-two-year-old "Free Man of Color" living alone in Stafford County on 16 August 1820 when he applied for a pension. He testified that he enlisted in Lancaster County where he served aboard the ships Tempest, Revenge, and Hero, and then served in the army for two or three years [M805, reel 615, frame 0192].
ii. Mary Ann, born say 1760, bound to Bridger Haynie in Lancaster County on 18 February 1773 [Orders 1770-78, 299].
iii. Richard5, born say 1761.
13. Elizabeth2 Nicken (Christian, Richard1), born about 1711, called "Betty a negro child the Daughter of Criss, a free negro woman" (no surname mentioned), was five years old on 19 September 1716 when she was bound apprentice to Charles Craven in adjoining Northumberland County [Orders 1713-19, 180]. She may have been identical to "Black Betty" whose suit against John Yerby for her freedom was dismissed on 14 June 1721 because she failed to prosecute [Orders 1713-21, 350]. And she may have been identical to Elizabeth Nicken who was presented by the Lancaster County court on 19 November 1764 for concealing three tithables. The case was dismissed on 17 December 1764 [Orders 1764-7, 76]. Betty Nicken was a blind woman living in Wiccomoco District, Northumberland County on 14 October 1788 when the court allowed her 400 pounds of tobacco for her support [Orders 1786-90, 442]. She may have been the mother of
i. Martha2, born say 1735, mother of Rhoda Nickens, who was bound apprentice to (her grandmother?) Betty Nickens on 21 October 1765 in Lancaster County [Orders 1764-7, 168].
21 ii. James2, born say 1737.
14. James3 Nickens (Robert1, Edward1, Richard1), born say 1743, sued Peter Marsh in Lancaster County court on 21 May 1764 [Orders 1764-7, 39]. He was the father of Jemima Bass, widow of Willis Bass. She was sixty-six years old on 10 April 1835 when she deposed that she was the only child of James Nickens who served as a seaman in the Revolution [Hopkins, Virginia Revolutionary War Land Grant Claims, 166; M805-0615, frame 0192]. Willis was deceased on 19 May 1834 when the Norfolk County court certified that she was his widow and only heir of her father James Nickens and his brother Nathaniel Nickens. James served aboard the Caswell [Minutes 24:139]. He was the father of
i. Jemima, born about 1769, married Willis Bass.
ii. ?Margaret, married William Newton, 30 March 1805 Norfolk County marriage [Ministers' Returns].
15. Nathaniel1 Nickens, born say 1745, was a Lancaster County seaman who served in the Revolution [Jackson, Virginia Negro Soldiers, 41] and head of a Lancaster County household of 3 "Blacks" in 1783, listed next to Robert Nickens [VA:55]. He was taxable in Lancaster County from 1782 to 1786: listed with 2 tithables in 1784, charged with Moses Cook's tithe in 1786 [PPTL, 1782-1839, frames 7, 23, 38]. He was sued in Lancaster County by Hillery Curtis for debt on 17 August 1786 with Nathaniel Nicken, Jr., as his security [Orders 1786-9, 19]. He was the father of
i. ?Nathaniel2, Jr., born say 1763, sued by Hillery Curtis for a debt of 800 pounds in Lancaster County court on 17 August 1786 [Orders 1786-9, 19].
ii. Elizabeth3, born about 1764 according to the affidavit of her father Nathaniel Nickings when she married George McCoy, 10 March 1788 Orange County, Virginia bond, 11 March marriage by Rev. George Eve.
16. Amos1 Nicken (Richard3, Edward1, Richard1), born say 1750, purchased a spinning wheel at the sale of the Northumberland County estate of William Lattimore on 2 May 1771 [RB 1770-2, 386]. He was a "free" head of a Northumberland County household of 4 "Black" persons in 1782 [VA:37]. On 10 November 1783 he was presented by the Northumberland County court for failing to list himself as a tithable [Orders 1783-5, 107, 423]. He was taxable in Northumberland County from 1782 to 1807: listed with 2 tithes in 1794, 1795, 1797, 1800 and 1801; called Amos, Sr., starting in 1802 [PPTL, 1782-1812, frames 234, 249, 264, 279, 295, 314, 336, 344, 359, 374, 388, 402, 419, 433, 453, 465, 487, 501, 524, 532, 546, 586, 595, 614]. He purchased 25 acres in Northumberland County in the Parish of Great Wicomico adjoining the Church yard for 23 pounds on 20 February 1772 and 10 acres adjoining this land on 7 December 1793 [RB 9:3-4; 14:723]. His 6 April 1807 Northumberland County will, proved 8 June the same year, named his wife Sally and grandson Darius and left his land and personal estate to his son and executor Amos Nicken [RB 17:529]. Sally was probably the sister of John Pinn who mentioned her in his 9 July 1785 Northumberland County will [Northumberland County Wills and Administrations, 80]. Amos was the father of
i. Amos2, born about 1775, registered in Northumberland County on 12 June 1809: blackman, about 34 years old, 5 feet 8-1/2 Inches high [Register of Free Negroes and Mulattos, #43, Northumberland County courthouse]. He was probably first taxable in Northumberland County in 1794 when he was one of 2 unnamed tithables in the household of his father Amos1 Nickens. He was taxable in his own household, called Amos Nickens, Jr., adjoining Amos Nickens, Sr., in 1802; listed as a "Blk" taxable from 1809 to 1812 [PPTL, 1782-1812, frames 419, 532, 641, 658, 673, 687]. He was called A. Nickens when he married Elizabeth Causey, "daughter of William Causey," 5 July 1800 Northumberland County bond, Joseph Mott security; and called Amos Nickens when he married, second, Caty Griffin, 6 March 1810 Northumberland County bond, Joseph Weaver security. He was head of a Northumberland County household of 7 "other free" in 1810 [VA:990]. He and his wife Catherine sold 40 acres "being the land his father left near Wiccomoco Church" on 25 June 1813 and another 10 acres on 16 December 1815 [DB 19:275; 20:113]. He purchased 27 acres in Lancaster County on 13 May 1819 [DB 14:723]. On 22 May 1843 he testified for Fortunatus Pittman's Northumberland County application for a Revolutionary War pension [Hopkins, Virginia Revolutionary War Land Grant Claims, 175]. His Northumberland County will was written on 15 October 1850 [WB A:25].
ii. Mary, born say 1778, "daughter of Amos Nicken," married Benjamin Nicken, 11 April 1796 Northumberland County bond, Asa Swanson security.
17. Edward Jones Nicken (Edward2, Edward1, Richard1), born say 1748, was called "son of Edward Nicken, deceased" when he was bound an apprentice shoemaker to John Nicholds in Lancaster County on 18 February 1757 [Orders 1756-64, 40]. His children may have been
i. Polly Armstead Nickens, born about 1767, married Charles Lewin, 1 January 1805 Lancaster County bond. Charles, born about 1768, was granted a certificate by the Lancaster County court on 19 April 1796 that he was free born [Orders 1792-9, 268]. He registered in Lancaster County on 23 May 1804: Age 36, Color mulatto...born free. Polly may have been identical to Mary Lewin who registered on 18 August 1815: Age 48, Color tawny...born free [Burkett, Lancaster County Register of Free Negroes, 2, 6]. Charles was head of a Lancaster County household of 9 "other free" in 1810 [VA:352]. Charles may have been the brother of Molly Lewin who was head of a Lancaster County household of 4 "other free" in 1810 [VA:352].
ii. Armstead, born about 1781, registered in Lancaster County on 16 September 1805: Age 24, Color mulatto [Burkett, Lancaster County Register of Free Negroes, 2]. He married Polly Weaver, 21 January 1819 Lancaster County bond.
18. Limas/ Elimaleck1 Nickens, born say 1752, was head of a Northumberland County household of 5 "black" persons in 1782 [VA:37]. He was taxable in Northumberland County in 1782 and 1783 [PPTL, 1782-1812, frames 232, 250] and was presented by the Northumberland County court for failing to list himself as a tithable on 10 November 1783 [Orders 1783-5, 107, 423]. Elimas/ Elimaleck was taxable in Lancaster County in 1785 and 1786 [PPTL, 1782-1839, frames 30, 36]. Limick was a "B.M." (black man) taxable in the 2nd district of Augusta County in 1796 [PPTL 1796-1810, frame 32]; Limlick/ Elimelick/ Emlick/ Limas was a "free Negro" taxable in the west district of Rockingham County, Virginia, from 1797 to 1799 and in 1802 [PPTL 1795-1813, frames 161, 236, 257, 372]; and Amalik/ Emilick was a "B.M" taxable in Augusta County on 2 tithes in 1800, 2 tithes and a horse in 1801 and 3 tithes and a horse in 1802 in the same list as Moses, Isaac, Abraham, Edward and Jacob Nickens [PPTL 1782-95, frame 539; 1795-1810, frames 201, 246, 298]. On 23 November 1801 the Orange County, Virginia court certified that he and Moses Nickens were free and allowed them to hire themselves out [Orders 1801-3, 179]. Amlick and his wife Sarah and their children: James, Agnes, Lot, Easter, Amlick, and Moses resided in Ross County, Ohio, on the farm of Benjamin Kerns in 1804 according to a certificate of residency he obtained from Kerns on 18 August 1812 and recorded at the Ross County courthouse [Turpin, Register of Black, Mulatto, and Poor Persons, 17]. Amlick and his wife Sarah were the parents of
i. ?William3, born say 1775, a "Black" taxable in Augusta County in 1803 and 1804 [PPTL 1796-1810, frames 343, 391], "a black man," and his wife Rose and four or five unnamed children living in Ross County, Ohio, about 1807 according to a certificate of residency signed by William Lewis and recorded at the Ross County courthouse [Turpin, Register of Black, Mulatto, and Poor Persons, 17].
ii. James.
iii. Agnes.
iv. Lot.
v. Amlick2.
vi. Moses.
19. Edward3 Nickens (Richard2, Elizabeth1, Richard1), born say 1730, was probably a shoemaker like his father since he was required by his father's will to make his mother's shoes. He was a soldier in the Revolutionary War who was deceased by 5 December 1792 when a petition by his son and heir Richard Nickens was placed before the North Carolina General Assembly [LP 117 by NCGSJ IV:174]. His oldest children: Philip, Edward, Roland, and Proskate were mentioned in his father's Currituck County will [WB 1:92-94]. His children were
i. Philip, born say 1762.
ii. Edward5, born say 1765, perhaps the Edward Nickins who was head of a Hertford County household in 1810 [NC:96].
iii. Roland, born say 1767.
iv. "Proskate"/ Prescott, born say 1768. On 27 June 1791 he purchased from John and Dolly Northern for 5 pounds 25 acres near the Great Swamp Bridge which had been devised to his sister Leah Rail, and on 5 January 1793 he sold for 200 pounds the 25 acres he purchased from the Northerns as well as 25 acres he was devised in his grandfather's will near Moyock Mill [DB 6:155, 260]. He was head of an "other free" household in Captain Lewis' District of Hertford County in 1800.
v. Richard7, born say 1770, not mentioned in the will of his grandfather Richard Nickens, but named as the son of Edward Nicken in his own petition to the General Assembly. On 27 June 1791 he purchased from John and Dolly Northern 100 acres of land in Currituck County "which Richd Nickin Decesd Give to his Son Edward Nickin by his will." On 13 February 1793 he and his wife Elizabeth sold 10 acres of their land and another 160 acres near the Great Swamp about a year later. And in 1794 he sold land near the Great Swamp Bridge which his grandfather Richard Nickens had devised to his father Edward Nickens [DB 6:167; 7:18, 46-48]. He was head of a Currituck County household of 3 "other free" in 1790 (called Richard Mekins) [NC:22] and 8 "other free" in Captain Lewis' District of Hertford County in 1800. Perhaps his wife Elizabeth was identical to the Betsy Nickens who was head of a Pasquotank County household of 2 "other free" in 1810 [NC:916].
20. Frances Nicken (Christian, Elizabeth1, Richard1), born say 1750, a "free Mulattoe, was living in Lancaster County on 17 March 1785 when she asked the court to bind her daughter Charlotte to Hannah Nicken [Orders 1783-5, 94]. Frances was head of a Stafford County household of 2 "free colored" in 1830. She was the mother of
i. Charlotte, born say 1780.
ii. Polly Nicklens, born say 1793, married William Balfour, "free persons of colour," 26 December 1812 Fredericksburg bond with the consent of her mother Frances Nicklens.
iii. ?Sarah, born say 1799, married William Skinker, "both free persons of colour," 19 October 1820 Fredericksburg bond. William Skinker was head of a Stafford County household of 5 "free colored" in 1830.
21. JJames2 Nicken (Elizabeth2, Christian, Richard1), born say 1737, sued Edward Ingram for freedom from his indenture on 11 September 1764 in Northumberland County court. He was called James Nicken alias Bateman when the court ordered him to serve Ingram for four more years [Orders 1762-66, 411, 435]. He was taxable in Lancaster County in John Nicken's household in 1775 and 1776, taxable in his own household in 1781 [Tithables 1745-95, 14, 18, 37] and was taxable there from 1782 to 1786 [PPTL 1782-1839, frames 5, 16, 23, 38]. He was head of a Lancaster County household of 9 "Blacks" in 1783 [VA:55] and a "Mulatto" living on North River and taxable on 2 tithes and a horse in Culpeper County from 1789 to 1796, listed with James Nickens, Jr., in 1794 and 1796 [PPTL 1782-1802, frames 305, 335, 416, 433, 495, 528, 566, 608]. He leased land from William Allason in by Culpeper County deed on 24 July 1789 [DB P:249]. He was called James Nickens, Sr., when he was taxable in Fauquier County in 1797, listed as a "free Negro" there in 1807 [PPTL 1782-96, frames 1797-1807, frames 13, 116, 137, 819]. He and James Nickens, Jr., were sued for debt in Fauquier County court by William Allason on 22 May 1797. They acknowledged they still owed him 4 pounds of an original debt of 49 pounds, 15 shillings from 5 November 1796 [Orders 1797-8, 97]. He was a "F. Negroe" head of a Fauquier County household of 8 "other free" in 1810, called James Nickens, Sr. [VA:368]. On 3 September 1834 James Nickens, Elizabeth Nickens, and Judy Watkins appeared in Frederick County court to apply for the survivors' pension of their father James Nickens and their brother Hezekiah Nickens, a seaman in the Virginia State Navy who died during the war. They testified that their father died about 1825 and their mother Sally was also deceased, and they were their only heirs [Minutes 1834-38, 61]. His children named in his pension file were
i. Hezekiah1, born say 1758, served as a seaman in the Revolution from Lancaster County.
ii. Elizabeth2, born say 1762, a "free Negro" taxable on a horse in Fauquier County in 1807 [PPTL 1797-1807, frame 819].
iii. James5, Jr., born say 1764, taxable in Culpeper County from 1794 to 1796 [PPTL 1782-1802, frames 528, 566, 608], taxable in Fauquier County from 1797 to 1807: listed as a "free Negro" in 1807 [PPTL 1797-1807, frames 13, 116, 137, 211, 359, 819], head of a Fauquier County household of 11 "other free" in 1810 [VA:368]. He married Mary Peggy Berden (Burden), 17 July 1793 Culpeper County bond. He may have been the James Nickens who registered in Fauquier County on 28 November 1827: age _4, 5'6", dark Mulattoe man, born free [Register of Free Negroes, 1817-65, no. 97].
iv. Judy Watkins, born say 1766.
They were apparently the ancestors of
i. Patsey, born about 1793, registered in Fauquier County on 28 August 1829: age 36, 5'2-1/2", a Mulatto Woman [Register of Free Negroes, 1817-65, no. 110].
ii. Hezekiah2, born about 1799, registered in Fauquier County on 28 November 1827: age 28, 5'10-1/2", dark Mulattoe man, born free [Register of Free Negroes, 1817-65, no. 98].
Other members of the Nickens family were
i. William, confessed in York County court on 17 May 1773 that he owed 10 pounds to Thomas Mason, Esquire [Judgments & Orders 1772-4, 266], perhaps the William Nickens who was found not guilty by the Richmond City court of robbing James Spruce, a slave the property of Thomas Davidson, of 5 pounds, 14 shillings while they were on board the schooner Polly Sly [Hustings Court Orders 1787-92, 519].
ii. Nelly, sued John Cottrell in Northumberland County court for debt on 9 June 1789. The case was referred to referees who awarded Nelly 55 shillings for her account on 11 July 1791 [Orders 1786-90, 530, 537, 567, 571; 1790-5, 34, 38, 101, 152].
iii. Edward4, born say 1760, served as a seaman aboard the Gloucester in the State Navy for which he received bounty land on 9 February 1784. He moved to New Kent County where he lived near James Lafayette [Jackson, Virginia Negro Soldiers, 41]. He was taxable in the lower end of New Kent County on the south side of Warrenny Road from 1782 to 1815: taxable on a slave named Roger in 1785; taxable on a slave in 1792; removed to Richmond in 1794; taxable in New Kent County on a slave in 1796 and 1804; called a "FN" in 1806; taxable on 2 free males in 1809; listed as a "Person of Colour" with his unnamed wife in 1813. His children may have been Edward Neekins, Jr., and Bartholomew Neekins who were taxable in New Kent County in 1820 [PPTL 1782-1800, frames 36, 100, 190, 213; 1791-1828, frames 372, 409, 432, 455, 476, 491, 503, 516, 574].
iv. Julius Nickern, born say 1761, married Susanna Prewit, 20 June 1782 Pittsylvania County bond. She was probably related to Samuel Prewet, head of a Campbell County household of 2 "other free" in 1810 [VA:882].
v. Leroy, born say 1765, charged with felony in Lancaster County on 12 January 1786. The principle witness against him failed to appear, but he being "conscious to himself that he is guilty" consented to receive thirty-nine lashes and an hour in the pillory rather than be tried in the General Court. On 2 November 1789 the Lancaster County court found him guilty and sent him to Richmond for further trial for breaking and entering the store of John Digges at night and stealing goods valued at 20 shillings [Orders 1786-9, 1; 1789-92, 75-6]. He was a "free Mulatto" laborer of Saint Anne's Parish, Essex County, on 26 March 1791 when he was acccused of entering the house of Mace Clements in the town of Tappahannock and stealing a hat, coat and breeches, but the proof against him was not sufficient to send him for further trial [Orders 1790-4, 22]. He was a "free negro" charged on 25 June 1791 by the Hustings court in Fredericksburg with stealing 15-20 pounds in cash from the house of Elizabeth King Allason. He was sent to the district court for trial [Orders C, 1787-180, 152].
vi. Susan/ Suckey, born say 1768, taxable on "f.N." Abraham Nickings' tithe in North Farnham Parish, Richmond County, from 1805 to 1809 [PPTL 1789-1829, frames 234, 270, 292], and head of a Richmond County household of 10 "other free" in 1810 [VA:408]. She may have been the mother of Suckey, Sally and Lucy Nickings who were listed as "free blacks" in Richmond County in 1813 [PPTL 1789-1829, frame 356]. Abraham was probably the Abraham Nicken who registered in Middlesex County on 20 September 1827: age 39, Black complexion, Born Free [Register of Free Negroes 1827-1860, pp. 1, 17]. He registered in Fairfax County on 16 June 1834: a black man about forty five years of age, five feet nine and a half inches high, this day produced a certificate of register from the county of Middlesex from which it appears he was born free in the county of Northumberland [Register of Free Negroes, 1822-61, no. 250].
vii. James, taxable in Essex County in 1795 [PPTL, 1782-1819, frame 266].
viii. William, taxable on a horse in Essex County from 1802 to 1813 when he was counted in a list of "Free Negroes & Mulattoes" over the age of sixteen in St. Ann's Parish [PPTL, 1782-1819, frames 348, 483, 510].
ix. Walker, listed as a "Free Negro & Mulatto" in Essex County in 1814 [PPTL, 1782-1819, frame 547].
x. Martha2, born say 1774, married Nathan Mackling (Maclin), 10 February 1790 Halifax County, Virginia bond, Robert Hill surety, 11 February marriage.
xi. Bridget, head of a Lancaster County household of 4 "other free" in 1810 [VA:355].
xii. Nancy, a "Free Mulattoe" charged by the Hustings court in Fredericksburg on 17 September 1807 with stealing a hat belonging to Charles Wardell but found not guilty [Orders F, 1807-11, 14-15, 24].
xiii. Elizabeth4/Betsy, married Thomas Spriddle, 11 August 1817 Northumberland County bond, Joseph Weaver security.
xiv. Catherine Nigenes, head of a Washington, D.C. household of 1 "other free" in 1800.
Endnotes:
1. Perhaps Elizabeth Nickens failed to list the female members of her household as tithables. No free women were listed as tithables in Lancaster County in the surviving colonial tax lists of 1745 and 1746 [Tithables 1745-1795], so this may have been the first time the court was enforcing the 1723 amendment which made female members of African American and Indian households tithable.
2. Valentine Bell was charged with felony in Lancaster County court on 19 December 1728. He testified that, in company with Robert Scofield and "free Robin a Mulatto," he killed a heifer that wandered into his cornfield. Bell was sent to the General Court in Williamsburg for trial [Orders 1721-9, 310-1].
3. Benjamin Kerns was probably related to Henry Kern, head of a white Lancaster County household in 1783 [VA:55].
4. Perhaps Leah Rael/ Rail was the wife of Jesse Rowals, head of a Hertford County household of 11 "other free" in 1790 [NC:25].
4. The Hall family also originated in Lancaster County. A Joshua Hall was listed in the Currituck County Muster Roll with Richard Nickens in the 1750s [Clark, Colonial Soldiers of the South, 658].
NORMAN FAMILY
1. Elizabeth Norman, born say 1695, was the servant of Benjamin Belt on 23 August 1715 when the Prince George's County, Maryland court ordered him to keep her and her "Mallatoe" child until the November court. The court sold her and her child to Richard Keene, the constable for Patuxent Hundred, for 3,600 pounds of tobacco later that year on 22 November. Five years later on 22 November 1720 she confessed to the court that she had an illegitimate child by a "Mullato man of William Digge's." The court sold her to her master for seven years and sold the child to William Maccoy until the age of thirty-one. On 28 August 1722 she confessed to having another "Malatto" child, and the court ordered her sold to Richard Keene for seven years and gave her child to William Harris until the age of thirty-one. In March 1749/50 the court allowed her 200 pounds of tobacco a year for her support [Court Record 1710-5, 693, 721, 790; 1715-20, 4; 1720-2, 20-1, 84, 622-3; 1748-9, 133]. She was the mother of
2 i. Jane, born say 1715.
2. Jane Norman, born say 1715, was called "a Mallatto woman named Jane (no last name) Living at Mr. Richard Keen's" on 23 August 1737 when she confessed to the Prince George's County, Maryland court that she had an illegitimate child by a "free Mallatto." The court ordered that she receive twenty lashes and serve her master an additional year and one-half and sold her two-month-old son James to Edward Swann until the age of twenty-one. She had another child by a free person before 28 November 1738 when the court ordered that she receive fifteen lashes and serve her master twelve months for the trouble of his house, bound her male child to Keene until the age of twenty-one years, and ordered Keene to give the boy a year of schooling and a decent suit of clothes at the end of his indenture. She was called "Jan Molato Norman" on 26 November 1745 when the court bound her son Joseph to her master until the age of twenty-one. On 28 June 1748 and 28 March 1748/9 she was convicted of having illegitimate children by a free person. On 27 November 1750 she confessed to having another child named Basil who was bound to her master until the age of twenty-one [Court Record 1736-8, 497, 505; 1738-40, 192, 200; 1744-6, 248, 279; 1747-8, 168; 174; 1748-9, 181; 1749-50, 244]. She was the mother of
i. James, born in June 1737.
ii. ?Catherine, head of a Montgomery County, Maryland household of 6 "other free" in 1790.
iii. Joseph, born about 1745.
iv. Bazil1, born in 1750,
3 v. Phebe1, born say 1752.
vi. ?George, head of a Washington County, Maryland household of 1 "other free" in 1790.
3. Phebe1 Norman, born say 1752, was a "free negroe" living in Frederick County, Virginia, on 7 September 1784 when the court bound her children Ralph (six), Loise (eight), James (four) and Elizabeth (two) to Gerard Briscoe [Orders 1781-4, 573]. She was the mother of
i. ?Bazil2, born say 1772, "son of Phebe a free negroe," bound by the Frederick County, Virginia court to Gerard Briscoe on 7 September 1784 [Orders 1781-4, 570], probably the Bazil Norman who was head of a Frederick County, Virginia household of 7 "other free" in 1810 [VA:569].
ii. Loise, born about 1776.
iii. Ralph, born about 1778.
iv. James, born about 1780, head of a Hampshire County, Virginia household of 2 "other free" in 1810 [VA:770].
v. Elizabeth, born about 1782, head of a Frederick County, Virginia household of 3 "other free" in 1810 [VA:575].
vi. ?Phebe2, born 16 April 1783, a "Negro child" bound by the Frederick County, Virginia court to Robert Glass on 6 December 1791 [Orders 1791-2, 308].
Other members of the Norman family were
i. John, born say 1765, bound his "Negro" son John to Robert Mitchell in Richmond City, Virginia, on 20 June 1793 [Hustings Court Deeds 1792-9, 69 by Gill, Apprentices of Virginia, 186-7].
ii. James, a "free Negro" taxable in Richmond City from 1788 to 1796 [PPTL 1787-99].
ii. Lilly, born say 1773, a "Mulatto" living in Hamilton Parish on 22 August 1774 when the Fauquier County court ordered her bound to Judith Neale Grant [Orders 1773-80, 203].
iii. Delpha, "Mulo." head of a King and Queen County, Virginia household of 7 "other free" in 1810 [VA:172].
iv. Reuben, head of a Warren County, North Carolina household of 5 "other free" in 1800 [NC:822].
v. Samuel, head of a Warren County, North Carolina household of 2 "other free" in 1790 [NC:].
vi. Polly, head of a Chowan County, North Carolina household of 3 "free colored" in 1820 [NC:129].
NORRIS FAMILY
1. Ann Norris, born say 1740, confessed to the Fairfax County court on 17 June 1760 that she had a "base born Mulatto child." On 15 July the court ordered her sold for five years and bound (her son) Samuel Norris to her mistress Ann Jenkins [Orders 1756-63, 474, 489]. She was the mother of
i. Samuel, born in January 1760, a "base born Mulatto child" bound out by the churchwardens of Trinity Parish, Fairfax County. On 19 June 1764 the court ordered the churchwardens of Truro Parish to bind him to Ann Jenkins [Minutes 1763-5, n.p.].
They may have been the ancestors of
i. Catherine, born about 1785, obtained a certificate of freedom in Prince George's County, Maryland court on 15 October 1815: a mulatto woman about 30 years old ... was raised in the family of Col. Patrick Sim of Prince George's County and is a free woman and was adjudged such by the Prince George's County Court at its September Term 1815 in her petition for her freedom against Sim [Provine, Registrations of Free Negroes, 19].
NORTON FAMILY
1. Elizabeth Norton, born about 1734, registered in Petersburg on 20 August 1794: a brown Mulatto woman, five feet one inches high, sixty years old or upwards, born free and raised in Chesterfield County near Petersburg [Register of Free Negroes 1794-1819, no. 72]. She may have been the ancestor of
i. Jacob, born say 1760, a "man of colour" who died in Revolutionary War service and left no heirs according to a deposition by Charles Hood in Orange County, North Carolina, in 1820 [The North Carolinian, p. 2578].
ii. Thomas, a "free" taxable head of household with David Norton and Nick Harris in the Dinwiddie County list of Braddock Goodwyn from 1793 to 1796 [Personal Property Tax List, 1791-99 (1793 A, p.10), (1794 B, p.10) (1796 A, p.10].
iii. Sealer, born about 1768, registered in Petersburg on August 19, 1794: a dark brown Mulatto woman, five feet eight inches high, twenty six years old, born free & raised in Chesterfield County [Register of Free Negroes 1794-1819, no. 54].
iv. Sarah, head of a Randolph County, North Carolina household of 3 "other free" in 1790 [NC:99].
v. William1/ Willie, head of a Halifax County, North Carolina household of 3 "other free" in 1800 [NC:330] and 4 in 1810 [NC:39].
vi. William2, a cooper, counted with his wife Elizabeth in a list of "free Mulattoes" living on Bears Element Creek in Lunenburg County with Eppes Allen and Betsy Hobson in his household in 1802 and 1803 [Lunenburg County Free Negro & Slave Records, 1802-3, LVA].
vii. Aaron, counted in a list of "free Mulattoes" in James and Ritter Stewart's household on Beaver Pond in Lunenburg County in 1802 [Lunenburg County Free Negro & Slave Records, 1802-3, LVA].
viii. Polly, mother of Mima Norton who married Isham D. Valentine, "free persons of color," 4 March 1812 Chesterfield County bond, Nathaniel Stewart and Moses Nash securities. Isham, Nathaniel, and Moses were counted in the Chesterfield County list of "Free Negrows of Colour" in 1813 [Waldrep, 1813 Tax List].
ix. Peter, a "Molatto" taxable in Chesterfield County in 1805 [Personal Property Tax List, 1786-1811, frame 620].
NORWOOD FAMILY
1. Theophilus1 Norwood, born say 1700, was the Carteret County Deputy Marshall and kept the ferry at the head of North River in 1728 [Minutes 1723-47, 8a, 10b]. He married Elizabeth Johnson, a daughter of William1 Johnson, and was named in her father's 5 November 1726 Carteret County will [SS Wills 1722-35, 140]. He and Elizabeth's brother, Jacob Johnson, purchased 130 acres in Carteret County on Core Sound on the east side of North River from (Jacob's uncle?) Richard2 Johnson on 2 October 1724. He sold his half of this land to Jacob on 6 June 1727. He purchased 160 acres on the west side of the head of North River on 3 June 1727 from William Russell, and he and his wife Elizabeth signed over their right to this land to Richard Russell on 3 September 1729 [DB C:113, 171; D:20-23]. He was listed in the muster roll of Colonel Gabriel Powell's Battalion of South Carolina Militia in the 1759 Cherokee Expedition, Captain John Hitchcock's Company [Clark, Colonial Soldiers of the South, 896, 917, 930]. Theophilus and Elizabeth's children were
i. William, born before 5 November 1726 when he was mentioned in the will of his grandfather William Johnson.
2 ii. ?Ann Norwood, born say 1730.
2. Ann1 Norwood, born say 1730, a "Woman of Mixt blood," appeared in Carteret County on 5 March 1750 requesting that her children Ann and Sampson be bound to James Shackleford. Her children were
i. Sampson, born about 1748, bound to James Shackleford on 5 March 1750 with the consent of his mother [Minutes 1747-64, 181].
ii. Ann2, born about 1749, ordered bound to James Shackleford on 5 March 1750 with the consent of her mother. She was head of a Carteret County household of 2 "other free" in 1790 [NC:129].
iii. Esther, born about 1752, eighteen years old in June 1770 when the court ordered her bound to James Shackleford [Minutes 1764-77, 388].
iv. Theophilus2/Foy, born about 1753, a six-year-old "Molato" boy of Nan Norwood, a "Molato" woman, ordered bound to Keziah Shackleford on 6 September 1759 [Minutes 1747-64, 251]. His age was estimated at fifteen years in June 1770 when he consented to his indenture to William Fulford [Minutes 1764-77, 388]. He was twenty-seven years old in 1778 when he was listed in the Carteret County Militia Returns [The North Carolinian VI:728].
v. Sophia/Phias, born about 1755, a "Molato" girl of Nan Norwood, ordered bound to Keziah Shackleford on 6 September 1759 [Minutes 1747-64, 259]. She was fifteen years old in June 1770, called Sophia Norwood, when she was ordered bound to William Fulford [Minutes 1764-77, 388].
vi. Obed, born about March 1758, a "Molato" boy of Nan Norwood, ordered bound to Keziah Shackleford on 6 September 1759 [Minutes 1747-64, 259]. His age was estimated at thirteen years in June 1770 when James Shackleford asked that he be bound to him as a cooper [Minutes 1764-77, 388]. He was called Obid Norward in the 1778 Carteret County Militia Returns [The North Carolinian VI:728]. He married Nelly Neale, 3 August 1810 Craven County bond.
vii. Betty, born about 1760, ordered bound to Keziah Shackleford on 5 March 1761 [Minutes 1747-64, 259].
viii. ?Tabitha, born about 1765, five years old in June 1770 when the court ordered her bound to James Shackleford (no parent named) [Minutes 1764-77, 388]. She was head of a Portsmouth, Carteret County household of 7 "other free" in 1810 (called Tabitha Nored) [NC:440] and 4 "free colored" in 1820 [NC:128].
ix. ?Alice, born about 1768, one year and nine months old in June 1770 when the court ordered her bound to James Shackleford (no parent named) [Minutes 1764-77, 388]. She was head of a Carteret County household of 3 "other free" in 1810 (called Alice Nored) [NC:435].
NUTTS FAMILY