Richard Nicholas1

(circa July 1835 - December 1917)
FatherGregory Nicholas1,2 (say 1800 - bet. 1840 - 1841)
MotherSarah Dawe1,2 (cir. Dec 1800 - Jan 1877)
Relationship1st cousin 4 times removed of Lorna Henderson

BMDB data

     Richard Nicholas was born cir. Jul 1835 Bishop's Tawton, DEV, ENG.3 He was baptized on 14 Jul 1835 Bishop's Tawton, DEV.3
     Richard Nicholas married Sarah Bidgood, daughter of Abraham Bidgood or Turner and Joan Smith Dawe, on 14 Oct 1861 Par. Ch of St Paul, Tavistock, DEV, ENG, cert. shows Richard as sailor, s/o Gregory NICHOLAS, farmer; Sarah as d/o Abraham BIDGOOD, labourer; Both of full age and resid. Newton Mills; Both signed; Wit: Abraham BIDGOOD (presumed to be father, might be brother) , John BURROWS (who signed next cert too.)4,5
     Richard Nicholas died in Dec 1917 Brixton?, Dist of Plympton, DEV, ENG.6,7
     For some years this Richard, son of Gregory and Sarah (DAWE) NICHOLAS sat in my database as married to Henrietta RALPH. The danger of not checking originals however has manifested itself. A check of their marriage showed that Richard was the son of Richard, blacksmith, & Jane NICHOLAS instead.
They are probaby reasonably closely related, but nonetheless, not the same person.
Subsequent research found this Richard in Dorset, then Lydford, the latter place tying him nicely to his mother Sarah whose death cert. showed that her son Richard was living at Lydford at the time of her death.
Which id was reinforced by the 1871 census where mother Sarah is living with the family, albeit disguised as Sarah NICHOLAS instead of her later married name of Sarah WALTERS.
An interesting snippet however is that Richard's wife Sarah is nee BIDGOOD, and just happens to have also been in my database for some years, living next door to Isaac and Bettsey (METTERS) DAWE at Newton Mill in 1841, and possibly related to the Abraham BIDGOOD who married Richard's aunt Joan Smith DAWE.8

Census/Where lived/Occupations

     Richard Nicholas appeared on the census of 1841 at the Smith's Shop, Grenofen, Par. of Whitchurch, DEV, ENG, in the household of Sarah Nicholas and is assumed to be a son.1 Richard Nicholas appeared on the census of 1851 Vullamore, Par. of Whitchurch, DEV, ENG, in the household of William Berriball and Eliza Nicholas as a servant.9
     Richard Nicholas appeared on the census of 1861 on the "Renown", Beirut, Syria, enumerated as Richard NICHOLS, AB 25 unm b Barnstaple, DEV (This HMS Renown appears to have been launched in 1857 being sold to Prussian in 1870.)10
     The census of 1871 showed Richard with his wife Sarah, their dtrs Sarah, Emma and Edith, their son Albert, his mother Sarah Fleet, Dist of Weymouth, DOR, ENG, household enumerated as NICHOLAS: Richard 37 common boatman b Barnstable DEV; wife Sarah 36 b. Tavistock, DEV; Children: Albert 6, Sarah Jane (indexed as Sarah James) 5, both b St Just, CON; Emma 3 b Penzance, CON; Edith 1 b St Just, CON; Mother Sarah NICHOLAS 71 wid. b Lamerton, DEV.11
     The census of 1881 showed Richard with his wife Sarah, their sons Albert, Fred and Harry, their dtrs Emma, Edith and Eliza at the Barracks, Prince Town, Par. of Lydford, DEV, ENG, household enumerated as NICOLAS: Richard 47 infirmary nurse b Bishopstenton (sic), DEV; wife Sarah 46 b Tavistock; Children: Albert 15 b St Just, CON; Emma 12 b Penzance, CON; Edith 11 b St Just, CON; Eliza 9 b Fleet, DOR; Fred R. 5, Harry 3 both b Prince Town, DEV.12
     The census of 1891 showed Richard with his wife Sarah, their sons Albert and Harry, their dtr Eliza on the Plymouth Rd, Brixton, Dist of Plympton, DEV, ENG, household enumerated as NICHOLAS: Richard 57 naval pensioner & retired coastguard b Barnstaple, DEV; wife Sarah 56 b Tavistock, DEV; Children: Albert 25 ag lab b Pendeen, CON; Eliza 19 b Fleet DOR; Harry 13 scholar b Prince Town, DEV.13
     The census of 1901 showed Richard with his wife Sarah, their son Albert, their dtr Sarah Brixton Rd, Brixton, Dist of Plympton St Mary, DEV, ENG, nearby was Edith Yeoman household enumerated as NICHOLAS: Richard 68 naval pensioner b Upcott, DEV; wife Sarah 66 b Tavistock; Children: Albert 35 dockyard labourer, b Pendeen, CON, cripple from birth; Sarah J 34 b Pendeen CON; Next schedule: Dtr Edith and husband Joseph YEOMAN.14 Richard Nicholas appeared on the census of 1901 Brixton Rd, Brixton, DEV, ENG, as neighbour of Joseph Henry Yeoman and Edith Yeoman.15
     Richard Nicholas was shown as the head of the household in the census of 1911 Brixton, Dist of Plympton St Mary, DEV, ENG, enumerated as NICHOLAS: Richard 77 naval pensioner b Athrington DEV; Children: Albert 45 unable to work (feeble minded), Sarah 44 housekeeper, both b Pendeen, CON; Eliza (JAMES) 39 wid. b Weymouth, DOR; Grdchildren (JAMES): Albert 5, Jessie 4 both b Brixton, DEV (living in 4 rooms.)6

Names

     As of 1835, Richard Nicholas was also known as Richard Nichols.3

All the other info

     Richard Nicholas witnessed the marriage of William King and Jane Marrack Nicholas on 10 Oct 1858 at the Par. Ch, Whitchurch, Dist of Tavistock, DEV, ENG.16,17
     Richard Nicholas was the informant for the death of his mother Sarah Smith Walters on 3 Jan 1877 Princetown, Lydford, Dist of Buckland Monachorum, DEV, ENG.2,18,11

Family

Sarah Bidgood (cir. Jan 1835 - bet. Mar 1906 - Jun 1906)
Children
  • Albert Nicholas12,11 (cir. 1866 - aft. 1911)
  • Sarah Jane Nicholas11 (cir. 1866 - aft. 1911)
  • Emma Nicholas12,11 (cir. 1868 - aft. 1881)
  • Edith Nicholas12,11,19 (cir. Feb 1870 - Apr 1919)
  • Eliza Nicholas12 (bet. Sep 1871 - Dec 1871 - aft. 1911)
  • Fred R Nicholas12 (cir. 1876 - aft. 1881)
  • Harry Nicholas12 (cir. 1878 - aft. 1891)
ChartsMy direct DAWE line (#1)
My direct DAWE line (#2)
Last Edited6 Sep 2018

Citations

  1. Val Symis (30421), "EM DAWE/TAYLOR ex Val SYMIS," e-mail to L Henderson (1), 1841 Census Whitchurch, DEV Pg 7, copy rcvd Jan 2006.
  2. Various, BDM Certified copy, Dth 1877 Sarah Smith WALTERS reg. Buckland Monachorum, Tavistock #262 4th Jan, copy rcvd Jan 2006, showed her as widow of Gregory Nicholas and of Christopher Walters.
  3. Online search: assorted surnames, International Genealogical Index (IGI), Bishops Tawton bap. to Gregory NICHOLS and Sarah (?DAWE?), batch C050341, extracted Jan 2006 (after a lead from Wendy T).
  4. Findmypast online at http://www.findmypast.com, Marr. 1861 Q4 Richard NICHOLAS & Sarah BIDGOOD, reg. Tavistock, DEV 5b/663, extracted Oct 2013.
  5. Births marriages burials: DEV, ENG, Marr. 14 Oct 1861 Richard s/o Gregory NICHOLAS; Sarah d/o Abraham BIDGOOD, Par. Ch of St Paul, Tavistock, DEV, from Devon Marriages Image, copy d/loaded Sep 2018.
  6. 1911 Census images, ENG, http://www.findmypast.co.uk/CensusPersonStartSearchServlet , http://ancestry.com, Brixton, Sub Dist Yealmpton, Dist Plympon St Mary, DEV RG14; Piece: 12898; Sched. 8, hsehold of Richard NICHOLAS, extracted Oct 2013.
  7. Birth death marriage indexes: 1916-2005 (St Caths), http://ancestry.com, Dth Dec 1917 Richard NICHOLAS, reg. Plympton, DEV, 5b/253, aged 84, extracted Oct 2013.
  8. "Lorna's Family History Musings", Oct 2013.
  9. 1851 Census images, England & Wales, via Ancestry.com, Whitchurch, Dist of Buckland, DEV, HO107; Piece: 1883; Folio: 286; Page: 15; hsehold of William BERRIBALL, extracted Oct 2013.
  10. 1861 Census images, England & Wales, via Ancestry.com, "Renown" RG 9; Piece: 4435; Folio: 130; Page: 30; extracted Oct 2013.
  11. 1871 Census images, England & Wales, via Ancestry.com, Fleet, Sub/Dist Weymouth, DOR RG10; Piece: 2004; Folio: 51; Page: 3; hsehold of Richard & Sarah NICHOLAS, extracted Oct 2013.
  12. 1881 Census images, England & Wales, via Ancestry.com, Barracks, Prince Town, Lydford, DEV, RG11; Piece: 2218; Folio: 118; Page: 37; hsehold of Richard & Sarah NICOLAS, extracted Oct 2013.
  13. 1891 Census images, England & Wales, via Ancestry.com, Brixton, Sub Dist Yealmpton, Dist Plympton St Mary, DEV, RG12; Piece: 1721; Folio: 27; Page: 6; hsehold of Richard & Sarah NICHOLAS, extracted Oct 2013.
  14. 1901 Census images, England & Wales, via Ancestry.com, Brixton, Sub Dist Yealmpton, Dist Plympton St Mary, DEV RG13; Piece: 2085; Folio: 50; Page: 4, hsehold of Richard & Sarah NICHOLAS, extracted Oct 2013.
  15. 1901 Census images, England & Wales, via Ancestry.com, Brixton, Dist Plympton St Mary, DEV, RG13; Piece: 2085; Folio: 50; Page: 4; hsehold of Joseph & & Edith YEOMAN, extracted Sep 2018.
  16. Www FreeBMD ENG online at http://freebmd.rootsweb.com/cgi/search.pl, (Via Ancestry): Marr. 1858 Jane Merrick NICHOLAS, reg. Tavistock, Dec qtr vol 5b/632, extracted Jan 2006.
  17. Findmypast online at http://www.findmypast.com, Marr. 10 Oct 1858 Jane Marrick (20) d/o Gregory (farmer) NICHOLAS & William s/o William (labourer) KING, Whitchurch, DEV, from Plymouth & West Devon Record Office, extracted from image Sep 2013.
  18. Www FreeBMD ENG online at http://freebmd.rootsweb.com/cgi/search.pl, Dth 1877 Sarah Smith WALTERS, reg. Tavistock, Mar qtr vol 5b/249, extracted Jan 2006.
  19. Births marriages burials: DEV, ENG, Marr. 6 Jun 1897 Joseph Henry s/o Joseph Henry (dec'd) YEOMAN; Edith d/o Richard NICHOLAS, Par. Ch, Brixton, DEV, extracted Sep 2018.

E. & O. E. Some/most parish records are rather hard to read and names, places hard to interpret, particularly if you are unfamiliar with an area.