The birth date given for Francis Nichols is his baptismal date.

SGT. FRANCIS NICHOLS: 1ST BIOGRAPHY

Sgt. Nichols was baptized on May 25, 1575 in the tiny village of Sedgeberrow in Worcestershire, England. His parents were John and Joan Nycholls. He married Frances Wimarke in the same town in 1599/1600. He came to the colonies in 1635/6 and was one of the first settlers of Stratford, Connecticut. In fact, the first mention of anyone every being in Stratford was a Connecticut General Court order to assigne Sergeant Nicholls for the present to trayne the men and exercise them in military discipline. Histories of Stratford have suggested he went to London and belonged to the famous regiment of the Royal Horse Guards of Charles I, but no evidence whatsoever has been found to support that claim. He was probably a widower when he came to America with his three sons and a daughter. Sgt. Nichols also owned land in Southold, Long Island, New York, where he married in 1645 Anne Wines, daughter of Deacon Barnabas Wines. Francis Nichols died in 1650 and his personal property inventory was recorded in Stratford in 1655. It was suggested by some in publications of the late part of the 19th and early part of 20th century that he was the son of Francis Nicolls and Margaret Bruce. This has since been disproven. (From www.founderspatriots.org)

SERGEANT FRANCIS NICHOLS OF STRATFORD, CT PROVEN TO BE THE SON OF JOHN, NOT THE SON OF FRANCIS

In 1909, Walter Nichols wrote Sergeant Francis Nicholls of Stratford, Connecticut, 1639 and the Descendants of his Son, Caleb Nicholls. In this work he states that Francis was the brother of Deputy Governor Richard Nicholls and therefore the son of Francis and Margaret (Bruce) Nichols. In 1932, Donald L Jacobus, [TAG 9:9] criticized the Walter Nichols pedigree, stating among other arguments that Richard, himself said that his brother Francis died in Europe, which we know is not true of the Stratford Francis. In 1993, Barbara Nichols wrote "Francis Nichols of Stratford, Connecticut was not a brother of Deputy Governor Richard Nicolls of New York." [TAG 68:113]. She examined original documents proving that Francis of Stratford was not the son of Francis and Margaret (Bruce) Nichols. In 2000, Neil D. Thompson reveals the true pedigree of Francis of Stratford in "The English Origin of Sergeant Francis Nichols of Stratford, Connecticut." [TAG 75:267] used as sourcing here.

SGT. FRANCIS NICHOLS: 2ND BIOGRAPHY

Birth:

Francis Nichols ( John, Thomas) was baptized at Sedgeberrow, co. Worcester, England, on 25 May 1575.[1]

Marriages:

He married first "Francis" Wimarke on 24 January 1599/1600 at Sedgeberrow. She was bp. there on 2 Nov 1577 and probably died before the family immigrated to New England. She was the daughter of Robert Wimarke of Sedgeberrow.[1]

He married second about 1649 Ann Wines. She was born say 1632, the daughter of Barnabas and Ann (Eddy) Wines of Southold, Suffolk County, New York. She married second John Elton, thirdly John Tooker and fourth John Youngs Esq., all of Southold. She was still living on 4 March 1693/4[1]

Children:

Children 1 to 11 by Francis and Frances.

1. John Nichols, bp. 16 May 1601 in Sedgeberrow.
2. Jane Nichols, bp. 3 Nov. 1603 in Sedgeberrow.
3. Henry Nichols, bp 19 Nov 1605, bur. 21 Dec 1606, both in Sedgeberrow.
4. Anne Nichols, bp. 18 Oct 1606, bur. 25 Oct 1606, both in Sedgeberrow.
5. Margaret Nichols, bp 4 Jan 1608/9; no further record found.
6. Francis Nichols, bp 25 Aug 1611; no further record found.
7. Joseph Nichols (twin), bp 31 Aug 1614, bur. 2 Sept 1614.
8. Johnathan Nichols (twin), bp. 31 Aug 1614, bur 4 Sept 1614.
9. Sarah Nichols, bp 12 Nov. 1615, m. Richard Mills.
10. Isaac Nichols, b say 1620 m. Margery _____.
11. Caleb Nichols, b say 1623 m. Anne Ward.

Last Child (12th) by Francis and second wife, Ann.

1. Ann Nichols b about 1650 m Christopher Youngs of Southold, NY.[1] & [2].

Stratford Settler:

Francis settled at Stratford, Connecticut by 10 October 1639, at which time he was appointed Sergeant of the Stratford trainband. He and his three sons, John, Isaac, and Caleb, were among the first seventeen settlers of Stratford.[1]

Death:

He died before 8 Jan 1650/1,[1];16th Jan 1650[2]

Misc Notes:

1. Arrived with his second wife, Anna Wynes, about 1635 or earlier.
2. Francis and Anna had a daughter who married Christopher Youngs Jr.
3. Spring of 1639, he and sixteen other families settled on 76,000 acres of land at Cupheag which would be named Stratford in Apr 1643.
4. In Oct 1639 the Connecticut General Court placed him in charge of military affairs. He was a Sergeant of the Stratford Trainband.

Sources

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Thompson, Neil D. "The English Origin of Sergeant Francis Nichols of Stratford, Connecticut." TAG 75:267. The American Genealogist. New Haven, CT: D. L. Jacobus, 1937-. (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2009 - ).

2. ↑ Nicholls, WalterSergeant Francis Nicholls of Stratford, Connecticut, 1639 and the Descendants of his Son, Caleb Nicholls. New York, The Grafton Press, 1909.

-Thompson, Neil D. "The English Origin of Sergeant Francis Nichols of Stratford, Connecticut." TAG 75:267. The American Genealogist. New Haven, CT: D. L. Jacobus, 1937-. (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2009 - ).

-Walker Family Organization http://www.walkerfamily.org/ancestors/pafg07.htm.

-Hawley, Elias. The Hawley Record (E. H. Hutchinson & Co., Buffalo, N.Y., 1890) Page 441.

-Moffat, Abbot Low. The Pierreponts, 1802-1962 (Washington, 1962) Page 4.

(From https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Nichols-211)∼Francis and his first wife, who may have been Frances Wimarke based on some sources, had at least four children: Isaac, Caleb, John, & an unnamed daughter who married Richard Mills.

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ORIGINALLY THIS MEMORIAL CONTAINED THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION BY THE CREATOR OF THIS MEMORIAL: Wade Schultz Info: Christening: 25 May 1575 Sedgeberrow, Worcestershire, England -Francis Nichols died in 1650 but there is no proof of the day or month. He probably died in Southold L.I. NY as that is where he married.