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TravelinTeachers Family Tree: Nicholson Family
History of the family of John & Ruth Wright Nicholson



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November 2010



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 Welcome! These pages represent much of the information we have on our Nicholson family line.
Clicking on either the master surname link, or the descendant's chart link to the left should provide you with a list of names, and links to get you to their information.
If you have any information about these lines, we would love to hear from you! Please also see our home page (link at left) for futher information and other family lines.
Happy Hunting! Jan & Jim



John Nicholson


We can trace our Nicholson line back to John Nicholson, who was born on May 11, 1787. We do not know where John was born, nor the identity of his parents, or any siblings.

In 1820, John Nicholson was living in Salem Township, Monroe County, Ohio. On the census he is listed as living alone, age 26 - 45, and engaged in manufacturing. He was living four households away from Ruth Sharp. Ruth was head of household, age 26 - 45, with four girls under the age of 10 in the household. John and Ruth later marry. Also living in the area were various Henthorns and Kygers, names that later appear as living in the same area as John in Vermilion County, Illinois.

As noted, John married RUTH WRIGHT SHARP, in about 1820. It is likely they married in Monroe County, as that is where they were living at the time of the 1820 census. Additionally, a couple of their first-born children were born in Ohio.



Ruth was born in 1793, in Green County, Pennsylvania.
Prior to marrying John, Ruth was married to WILLIAM SHARP. They had four daughters

John and Ruth move from Ohio to Vermilion County, Illinois, where they remain for the rest of their lives. They had seven children.

PURCHASE OF LAND IN ILLINOIS

John purchases 80 acres of land in Vermilion County, Illinois, in 1830.
The legal description of the land is W2SE; Section 34; Township 19N; Range 11W; Meridan 2.

He purchases an additional 40 acres in 1832.
The land description for this land is SESE; Section 34; Townhip 19N; Range 11W. Meridan 2.

He purchases another 40 acres in 1835.
The land description for this land is NESE; Section 34; Township 19N; Range 11W, Meridan 2.

This land is on the southern edge of Danville Township, in the area known as Grape Creek.


CENSUS READINGS

In 1830 John Nicholson is listed on the census for Vermilion County, Illinois.
Males: 2 under the age of 5; 1 age 5-10; and 1 age 40-50
Females: 2 under the age of 5; 1 age 5-10; 1 age 10-15; 1 age 15-20; and 1 age 30-40.
We presume some of these girls are Ruth's from her first marriage.

And John is listed again in Vermilion County, in 1840.
Males: 1 age 10-15; 2 age 15-20; 1 age 50-60
Females: 1 under the age of 5; 1 age 5-10; 1 age 10-15; 1 age 15-20; and 1 age 40-50



JOHN'S DEATH & BURIAL

John died on October 12, 1842 in Vermilion County, Illinois. He is buried in the Nicholson Cemetery. His tombstone reads age 55 years, 6 months, and 1 day. See ...


TRANSFER OF LAND

It appears that after John's death, son Anson acquired John's land.

There are two land transactions recorded in Vermilion county, wherein heirs of John transfer their interest in land to Anson. The descriptions of land in these land transactions match the descriptions of land acquired by John back in the 1830s.

1. 11 October 1847 Lewis Stevens and Ary Stevens, his wife, formerly Ary Nicholson, heirs at law of John Nicholson, deceased, in consideration of $111, convey their interest in 2 tracts of land in Vermilion County to Anson Nicholson. The tracts of land are described as follows:
1. West half of southeast quarter, Section 34, Township 19 N, Range 11 W
2. East half of southeast quarter, Section 34, Township 19 N, Range 11 W

2. 20 March 1852 Samuel Rush and Lucinda Rush, his wife, formerly Lucinda Nicholson, heirs at law of John Nicholson, deceased, in consideration of $100, convey their interest in 2 tracts of land in Vermilion County to Andson Nicholson. The land is described as follows:
1. ? (west) half of the south east quarter of Section 34, Township 19 N, Range 11 West
2. East half of the south? (east) quarter of Section 34, Township 19 N, Range 11 West


RUTH REMAINS IN VERMILION COUNTY

Ruth was living in Vermilion County (District #21) in 1850. She is head of houshold.
Ruth Nicholson, 57 years old, born in Pennsylvania. Value of real estate is 800.
Anson Nicholson, 26 years old, born in Ohio. He is a farmer, and has real estate valued at 140.
Lucinda Nicholson, 29 years old, born in Ohio.
John Nicholson, 20 years old, born in Illinois.
Marinda Nicholson, 18 years old, born in Illinois.
Ellen Nicholson, 11 years old, born in Illinois.

Ruth was living in the Georgetown Township of Vermilion County, in 1855. The state census from that year shows the following:
Ruth Nicholson
Georgetown Township, Vermilion County
Males: 1 under 10; 1 age 20 - 30
Females: 1 under 10, 1 age 20 - 30; 2 age 30 - 40; 1 age 50 - 60
Total: 7
Militia: 1
Value of live stock: 170
# pounds of wool: 10
*living next to John Nicholson
*living 4 away from Lewis Stevens

In 1860, Ruth is living in Anson's home in Danville, Vermilion County.
Anson Nicholson, 38 years old, born in Ohio. He is a farmer, with real estate valued at 3300, and a personal estate valued at 200.
Ruth Nicholson, "78" years old, born in Pennsylvania.


RUTH'S DEATH & BURIAL

We have seen note that Ruth died on June 8, 1862. This is not verified. We presume she is buried in the Nicholson Cemetery, but have never found a stone for her.



Children of John Nicholson and Ruth Wright Sharp

1. Lucinda Nicholson, b. 1821, Ohio; d. likely December 1859, Champaign County, Illinois.
Lucinda, living in Ruth Nicholson's Vermilion County home in 1850, married SAMUEL RUSH on January 5, 1851, in Vermilion County. We find a listing of a Lucinda Rush, age 40, born in Ohio, who died in December of 1859, in Champaign County, Illinois. She died from inflammation of the lungs, after a four-day illness. We presume this is Lucinda Nicholson Rush.

2. Anson Nicholson, b. 1822, probably Monroe County, Ohio; d. 1871, Vermilion County, Illinois.

3. Azor Nicholson, b. Abt. 1825, probably Ohio; d. probably before 1850.

4. Ary Nicholson, b. 1828, Ohio; d. 24 February 1911, Vermilion County, Illinois.
Ary married LEWIS STEVENS on January 18, 1844, in Vermilion County. John and Ruth were listed as Ary's parents on her marriage record. For further information on Lewis and Ary, see the Stevens page.

5. John Nicholson, b. 16 April 1830, Vermilion County, Illinois; d. 3 July 1883, Cowley County, Kansas.

6. Marinda/Miranda Nicholson, b. 1832, Vermilion County, Illinois.
Marinda, age 18 born in Illinois, is living in Ruth Nicholson's Vermilion County home in 1850. A Miranda Nicholson married JAMES G. JONES on February 23, 1854, in Vermilion County.

7. Ellen Nicholson, b. September 1838, Vermilion County, Illinois; d. 1922, Sharon Township, Barber County, Kansas.


We descend from Anson and from Ary.



Nicholson Cemetery
 Vermilion County, Illinois



Thanks to Michael A. Coan at coan.net for the photo




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