Ancestors of Pat Hardin
Ransom Nichols (1785-1856) and Nancy Browning
Compiled by Patricia Freeman Hardin, Mount Holly, NC
(Photos and Documents)
RANSOM NICHOLS was born May 1785 in Wake County, North Carolina, and died Abt. 1856 in Clarke County, GA. If is not know who his parent were but his grandparents were WILLIAM NICHOLS and SARAH BOWDEN who both mentioned their grandson Ransom in their wills in Wake Co NC. Ransom married NANCY BROWNING, daughter of BENJAMIN BROWNING and MARGARET ___. She was born 1794 in GA, and died Aft. 02 Jan 1861 in GA.
Notes for RANSOM NICHOLS:
1809
Clarke County GA 1809 Tax Digest, Cooks District
Ransom Nichols listed in tax digest
1810
Clarke County GA 1810 Tax Digest
Ransom Nichols listed in tax digest
1810
"Foreign Correspondent & Georgia Express," Vol. III, No. 107, Sat., July 7, 1810. Clarke County, GA, Letter remaining in the Post-Office at Athens on July 1, 1810 for Ransom Nichols. (abstracted by Faye Poss)
1815
"Athens Gazette", Vol. II, No. LXXXXI, Thursday, Nov. 9, 1815.
Notice. The subscriber offers himself as a candidate for Tax Collector, at the ensuing election and humbly solicits the suffrage of his fellow citizens. He wishes to remind his friends of his incapacity of pursuing a laborous occupation, and presumes from this circumstance that they will not be neglectful of his situation. Ransom Nichols. Nov. 9th, 1815. (abstracted by Faye Poss)
1819
Clarke County, GA - Apprentice Bonds
David Alley, age 5, son of William Alley, is apprenticed to Ranson Nichols to learn farming until age 21, Security is Willliam Akin. 25 January 1819. (Ransom's aunt Lucy Nichols married an Alley as so stated in her father William Nichols will. Was David related to Lucy Nichols Alley? pfh, 2001)
1820
Clarke County GA 1820 Census
(Ancestry.com image 2)
Ransom Nichols head of house
1 male 0-10
1 male 26-45
3 females 0-10
1 female 26-45
1828
Ranson Nichols proved his rights for 700 acres in Clarke County, GA on March 5, 1828. Appendix B; Land Court Minutes 1803-1832.
1830
Clarke County GA 1830 Census
Ransom Nichols
1 male under 5
1 male 5 -10
2 males 30 - 40
1 female under 5
2 females 5 - 10
1 female 15 - 20
1 female 20 -30
1 female 30 - 40
1838
The will of Julius Nichols of Franklin Co., GA appointed his nephew Ransom Nichols of Clarke Co., GA a trustee of his estate. Julius Nichols Rev War pension application tells that he enlisted at Wake Co NC.
1838
On Nov. 5, 1838, Ransom Nichols was appointed guardian in Clarke Co., Ga. of two girls named Candas Sebella Malone and Sarah Jane Malone, whose parents were Robert Malone and Agnes Nichols, who married in Wake Co., NC on Sep. 27,1809.
1840
Clarke County GA 1840 Census
Athens District
Ancestry.com Image 1; District 211; Atkins
Ransum Nickals
1 male 5 to 10
1 male 50 to 60
1 female 5 to 10
1 female 10 to 15
1 female 30 to 40
1850
Clarke County, GA 1850 Census
Athens District
Ransom Nichols, 64 NC
Nancy, 56 GA
1856
Clarke County GA Miscellaneous Unbound Arranged Estate Records, Box 8.
Nichols, Ransome - 1856-60
Georgia
Clarke County
Know all men by there presents that I Ransom Nichols being sick in body but of sound & disposing mind do ordain this my last Will and Testament.
1st: After bequeathing my Body to the earth & my soul to God I will & bequeath to my dearly beloved wife Nancy Nichols all of my Household and Kitchen Furniture and the perishable property belonging to the Estate together with a Negro man named Boggy also one third of the tract of Land on which I new live with the buildings thereon to have & to hold as long as she shall remain a widow & should she die during her widowhood the same I will & bequeath to my dearly beloved son John Ransom Nichols.
2nd: I will & bequeath to my dearly beloved daughter Emily King one third of the tract of land on which I now reside also a negro man named Wiley Appointing James C. Nichols Esq. Trustee of the same for the use & benefit of the said Emily King during the time of her natural life and at her death to be equally divided among the present heirs of her body also one cow & calf out of my stock of cattle now upon the Estate.
3rd: I will & bequeath to my dearly beloved son John R. Nichols, one third of the Tract of land upon which I now reside.
4th: The balance of my property not heretofore specified & bequeathed. I bequeath a negro man named Randall & some lands I ordain and direct to be sold & the proceeds applied to the payment of my honest and just debts and whatever remains over I direct to be equally divided between my beloved wife Nancy my daughter Emily King & my son John Ransom Nichols.
Having at various & sundry times given to my beloved son James C. Nichols and Andrew Nichols and his widow Nancy Nichols & to my beloved daughter Caroline Boggs wife of Richard Boggs and Eliza Boggs wife of Ezekiel Boggs property to the full amount of their share in my Estate the receipts in full for which I have in my possession I bequeath and bestow my blessings.
I do now appoint James C. Nichols and John R. Nichols my joint Executors of this my last Will & Testament. The addition of R. Nichols at the top of this page was made before being signed by me.
Witness my hand & seal.
Ransom Nichols (L.S.)
Signed Sealed & delivered on
this the Twenty Seventh day
of August in the year of our Lord
One Thousand Eight Hundred & Fifty Six in the presence of
H. C. Billups
R. M. Smith, Not. Pub. Clark County
Children of RANSOM NICHOLS and NANCY BROWNING:
i. ANDREW NICHOLS, b. 1811, NC; d. Bef. 1856; m. NANCY ___; b. 1815, GA.
Notes for ANDREW NICHOLS:
Clarke County GA 1850 Census, Athens District
Andrew Nichols 39 NC Farmer 1500
Nancy 35 GA
John 13 GA
James 10 GA
Richard King 15 GA
ii. EMILY NICHOLS, b. 1812, GA; m. JOHN J. KING, 14 Dec 1827, Clarke County, GA; b. GA; d. Bef. Sep 1850.
Notes for EMILY NICHOLS:
Clarke County 1850 Census
Emily King 38 GA
Nancy 14 GA
John 13 GA
Sarah 4 GA
Martha 1 GA
Emily King was living next door to John R. Nichols and he was living next door to parents Ranson and Nancy Nichols.
Marriage Notes for EMILY NICHOLS and JOHN KING:
Marriage Recorded in Clarke County, GA Marriage Book B, page 120. (source: "Clarke County, Georgia Marriage Records, 1803-1909" by Faye Stone Poss & Ted O. Brooke.
iii. SARAH CAROLINE L. NICHOLS, b. 09 Nov 1819, Clarke County, GA; d. 03 Dec 1898, Clarke County, GA; m. RICHARD BOGGS, 13 Jan 1835, Clarke County, GA; b. 1815, GA; d. 20 Jan 1891, Clarke County, GA.
Notes for SARAH CAROLINE L. NICHOLS:
Tombstone: "3 Dec 1898, aged 82 yrs. Sacred to the memory of Mrs Caroline Boggs. She was the dovoted wife of Richard Boggs, deceased. Volumes might be written in praise of her many virtues, but let our Saviour's word suffice, for they as truly apply to her as they did to one of old - She did what she could."
More About SARAH CAROLINE L. NICHOLS:
Burial: Gateway United Methodist Church Cemetery (Formerly Boggs Chapel)
Notes for RICHARD BOGGS:
Tombstone: "To the memory of Richard Boggs departed this life 20 Jan 1891 aged 76yrs."
1850
Clarke County, GA1850 Census
Athens District; page 23
Richard Boggs, 35 GA
Caroline, 32 GA
Sarah C., 4 GA
1870
Clarke County GA 1870 Census
Athens, Post Office
Page 315
Ancestry.com Image 36; Handy Creek District
Dwelling 258; Family 262
Richard Boggs, 54 GA - farmer; $2500/$800
Caroline, 48 GA
Eliza Murphy, 17 GA
Lewis Nichols, 14 GA
More About RICHARD BOGGS:
Burial: Gateway United Methodist Church Cemetery (Formerly Boggs Chapel)
Marriage Notes for SARAH NICHOLS and RICHARD BOGGS:
Marriage Recorded in Clarke County, GA Marriage Book B, page 242. (source: "Clarke County, Georgia Marriage Records, 1803-1909" by Faye Stone Poss & Ted O. Brooke.)
iv. ELIZA A. NICHOLS, b. 16 Sep 1820, Gum Springs, Clarke County, GA; d. 25 Aug 1903, Jackson County, GA; m. EZEKIEL BOGGS, 02 Apr 1835, Clarke County, GA; b. 01 Dec 1812, GA; d. 04 Oct 1880, Jackson County, GA. See Sketch on Ezekiel BOGGS and Eliza A. NICHOLS
v. JAMES C. NICHOLS, b. 1824, GA; d. Clarke County, GA; m. NANCY EVELINE CHANDLER, 24 Oct 1843, Jackson County, GA; b. 1824, GA.
Notes for JAMES C. NICHOLS:
+Listed in Clarke County, GA 1850 Census living next door to parents in Athens District.
James C Nichols 26 GA
Nancy 26 GA
George M 7 GA
Elizabeth 5 GA
Martha 3 GA
William 1/12 GA
Clarke County and estate records are in Miscellaneous Unbound Arranged
Estate Records, Box 8.
Nichols, James C. - dates of records - 1865
Marriage Notes for JAMES NICHOLS and NANCY CHANDLER:
Book A,B,C; Page 302
vi. JOHN RANSOM NICHOLS, b. 1828, GA; d. 1894, Clarke County, GA; m. SOPHRONIA ___; b. 1828, GA.
Notes for JOHN RANSOM NICHOLS:
1850
Clarke County, GA 1850 Census
Athens District
John R Nichols, 22 GA
Sophronia, 22 GA
John A., 3 GA
Elizabeth, 9/12 GA
1870
Clarke County GA 1870 Census
Athens Post Office
Page 315
Ancestry.com Image 36; Handy Creek District
Dwelling 261; Family 265
John R. Nichols, 42 GA
Sophronia, 41 GA
Frances, 19 GA
Elizabeth, 17 GA
James, 15 GA
Christy, 3 GA
1880
Name Relation Marital Status Gender Race Age Birthplace Occupation Father's Birthplace Mother's Birthplace
John R. NICHOLS Self M Male W 52 GA Farmer NC NC
Sophronia NICHOLS Wife M Female W 52 GA Keeping House SC SC
Frances C. WEIR Dau D Female W 27 GA GA GA
Chartolle WEIR GDau S Female W 6 GA GA GA
Sophronia E. NICHOLS Dau S Female W 24 GA At Home GA GA
Calvin C. NICHOLS Son S Male W 13 GA GA GA
Charlie W. NICHOLS Son S Male W 9 GA GA GA
Victoria HODGES Other S Female B 17 GA Servant GA GA
Source Information:
Census Place Athens, Clarke, Georgia
Family History Library Film 1254140
NA Film Number T9-0140
Page Number 361A
1894
Clarke County and estate records are in Miscellaneous Unbound Arranged Estate Records, Box 8.
Nichols, John R. - dates of records - 1894-95
Charles W. Nichols was adm. of his father's estate and stated that John R. Nichols died 1894. Estate papers recorded Nov. 21, 1894, Clarke County, GA.