Direct Ancestors of Pat Hardin
William NICHOLS & Sarah BOWDON
Compiled by Patricia Freeman Hardin; Mount Holly, NC; 2007
[Photos and Documents]

WILLIAM NICHOLS was born Abt. 1725, and died 1795 in Wake County, North Carolina the son of William NICHOLS. He married SARAH BOWDON, daughter of WILLIAM BOWDON and ELIZABETH ___. She was born Abt. 1730, and died 1801 in Wake County, North Carolina.

Notes for WILLIAM NICHOLS:
1795
Recorded and Examined
Will of William Nichols
(Original at North Carolina State Archives)
Wake County
North Carolina

In the name of God amen I William Nichols of the County of Wake and State of North Carolina through the mercy of god being in Health of body & of a sound and perfect and understanding and memory do Constitute and appoint this my last Will and Testament. First I commend my soul to God who gave it hoping through the Mediator and Intercession of my Redeemer to be raised to life at the last day s____ly I have my body to be decently buried at the discretion of my Executors here after named and appointed and as to what worldly Estate it hath pleased Almighty god to bless me with. I dispose of them in manner & from following Viz.. or widowhood I lend unto my beloved wife Sarah Nichols her life the Land whereon I now live 340 acres and all other property not Here mentioned in the Will .
Item. I give and bequeath unto my son Thos. Nichols one Cow & Calf.
Item. I give unto my son William Nichols one Cow and Calf.
Item. I give unto my son Julius Nichols Twenty 5 weight of Feathers.
Item. I give unto my Daughter Elizabeth Hall one (The remainder of is line is missing and torn from the original document in the NC Archives. - pfh).
Item. I give unto Lucy Alley my Daughter Twenty Shillings in money.
Item. I give unto my son John Nichols one hundred and seventy seven acres of land lying in Wake County on the waters of big Oak Creek joining of Thos. Nichols and Lewis Bledso and the big pot.
Item. I give unto my son James Nichols twenty five pound of Feathers.
Item. I give unto my daughter Polly Nichols one Cow and Calf.
Item. I give unto my son Travis Nichols the land where on I now live 340 acres of land one horse Colt and Feathers for a bed one Rifle gun and all my plantation tools the chest and carpenter tools.
Item. I give unto my daughter Patty Nichols one bed of Feathers one mare Colt one Cow and Calf one Chest.
Item. I give unto Ransom Nichols my Grandson Five pound in money if he stays till twenty years of age.
Item. The rest of my worldly Estate that I lend unto my beloved wife during her life her widowhood then to be taken and equally divided among all the living children.
And lastly I ordain and appoint my son Julius Nichols and John Nichols Executors and Executors of this my last will and Testament to see the same faithfully executed acknowledged (The next line is missing and torn from the original document in the NC Archives. - pfh).
seal in the presents of us this day and date.
William Nichols (L.S.) his mark
Test.
Thomas Freeman
Allen Duvall (not sure about this last name - pfh)

Notes for SARAH BOWDON:
Wake County NC
Wills 1771 to 1966
Sarah Nichols
In the name of God Amen I Sarah Nichols of the County of Wake & State of North Carolina, being weak in Body but Sound in memory (blesed be God) do this 10th Day of October in the Year of our Lord one Thousand Eight Hundred, make and publish this my Last will and Testament in the Manner following (that is to say)
Item. I give to my Daughter Patsy Nichols one Feather bed and furnature and bedsted 1 ??? and 4 stays 1 Cotton Wheel & 1 Linnen Wheel 5 pewter plates 1 Large pewter Dish 1 Large Bason 1 Little one 2 Flat Irons 1 Coffee pot 1 Side saddle 1 Dutch Oven 1 Skillet 1 Iron Shovel 10 Geese 1 Cloke 1 Hat 5 Dollars Due by Sundry ????? the Balance of my Clothes Equally Divided among my 4 Daughters.
Item. I give to Traves Nichols 4 Pewter Plates, Bason 1 Dish 6 pewter spoons.
Item I Give to Ransom Nichols 1 Chest 1 Feather Bed 2 sheets 1 Rug 1 bedsted the bed and beasted and furnature to be sold. Item I give to Molley Bass my Daughter 6 yards Striped Cloth. I make and ordain him my son John Nichols sole Executor of this my Last will and Testament for the Interests & purposes in this my will Contained & I make my Loving son John Nichols Overseer of this my will to take care and see Ransom Nichols safe performed according to my true Interest & Meaning. In witness where of I the said Sarah Nichols have to this my last will and Testament, set my hand and seal the day and date above here Written
Sarah Nichols (her Mark)(Seal)
Signed sealed and delivered by the said Sarah Nichols as for her last will and Testament in the presence of us. who were present at Sarah Nichols Signing & sealing thereof
John Shaw Jun.
James Nichols (X his mark)

John NIchols [?]

Recorded in the Clerks office in Wake County in Book A and page 171, May 11th 1801
Nat. Lane C.C.

Children of WILLIAM NICHOLS and SARAH BOWDON are:

i. __ NICHOLS. [son was Ransom NICHOLS ]

ii. THOMAS NICHOLS.

iii. WILLIAM NICHOLS, d. 16 Dec 1831, Wake County, NC; m. ANNA BROWN, 24 Dec 1780, Wake County, NC.

iv. ELIZABETH NICHOLS, m. ___ HALL.

v. LUCY NICHOLS, m. ___ ALLEY.

vi. JOHN NICHOLS.

vii. JAMES NICHOLS.

viii. MOLLY NICHOLS, m. ___ BASS.

ix. PATTY(PATSY) NICHOLS.

x. JULIUS NICHOLS, b. Mar 1757, Granville County, NC; d. 18 May 1838, Franklin County, GA; m. SARAH BASS, 03 Feb 1783, Wake County, NC.

xi. TRAVIS NICHOLS, b. Abt. 1775, NC; d. Aft. 1794, Fayette County, GA; m. ALSEY HODGE, 17 Nov 1802, Wake County, NC; b. 1775.