First Generation

1. John James Nichols Sr.^1,2. Birth: about 1726, Maryland.² Parents: John Nichols and Barbara McComb. Birth of Child: 1747, Flayl Nichols, age of father: 21. Birth of Child: about 1747, Archibald Nichols, age of father: 21. Birth of Child: about 1750, Elisha Nichols, age of father: 24. Birth of Child: about 1754, Catherine Nichols, age of father: 28. Birth of Child: about 1756, Mary Nichols, age of father: 30. Birth of Child: between 1758 and 1762, John James Nichols Jr., age of father: 32. Birth of Child: about 1761, Jane Nichols, age of father: 35. Birth of Child: about 1767, Jesse Nichols, age of father: 41. Death: 26 December 1803, age 77, Bedford County, Virginia.² John Nichols received his VA land grant in 1778 and the family moved to Bedford County, Virginia in 1779.

Will of John Nichols, dated 5 April 1803
In the Name of God Amen I John Nichols Sen. of Bedford County in the State of Virginia being low in health and weak in body but of perfect mind & memory, thanks to Almighty God, but knowing it is allotted for mortal man to die, I do make and ordain this to be my last Will and Testament, first recommending my poor Soul into the hands of the almighty God that gave it to me and my poor body to decently to interred and after my lawful Debts and funeral expenses is discharged, I will and bequeath my Worldly Estate that it hath pleased the Almight God to possess me with, in form and manner following, Viz Item, I bequeath unto my son Flayl Nichols my big family Bible. Item , I bequeath to my son John Nichols, my young horse called Ceilia, after my beloved wife, Martha, decease. Item; I bequeath unto my son Archibald Nichols, a tract or parcel of land beginning at a locus near the fence of premises now tending, thence a new marked line down to the mouth of ny lane, thence along the old line to Gills and my corner tree to a spanish Oak, thence along as the old line directs to a chestnut or Burnetts line, thence along Burnetts line to a newmade corner white Oak on Elisha Nichols line thence along Elisha's new line to the first station. Item; I bequeath unto my son Elisha Nichols a tract of land or parcel of land, beginning at a chestnut on Ayer's road thence along the road as the new mark line goes to a pealed corner white oak , thence off across the field and as the newmarked line goes to a corner white oak on Burnetts line including the twelve Acres I purchased of Elisha Burnett, thence along the line to the beginning station. Item ; I bequeath unto my son Jesse Nichols, the tract or parcel of land whereon I now dwell after my beloved wife Martha Nichols (decease) Beginning at Pointers next to John Hall's line, thence along as the line directs to a corner chestnut on Ayers road thence along the road a new lineto the corner pealed white oak in the field, thence along off across the field and along Elisha's new mark't line to the new mark't corner locus by the fence, thence along the new mark't line to the mouth of the lane, then along as the old line directs to Gill's and my corner Spanish Oak. Item ; I bequeath to my beloved wife Martha Nichols, the negroe Wench name Delphia and negroe boy named Frank, during her life or widowhood, after that to be equally divided between by my two sons Elisha and Jesse Nichols. Item; I bequeath unto my sons Elisha and Jesse Nichols the waggon, three horses, named Dick, Jack and Sawny, and all the utensils belonging to the waggon. Item ; I bequeath unto my son Elisha one red and white spotted no horn Heifer. Item ; I bequeath unto my son Jesse Nichols one dark brinded Heifer. Item; I bequeath unto my children Mary Cundiff, John Nichols, Katherine Pollard, my son Archibald Nichols, and my daughter Jane Hancock, all the other moveable property of my Estate after my beloved wife Martha Nichols deceases excepting what is before mentioned and a small shott gun, which I bequeath unto my grandson John Nichols, the son of my son John Nichols., Item; I do constitute and ordain my two beloved sons Elisha Nichols and Jesse Nichols my sole Executors to this my last Will & Testament revoking and disannulling any other former Will & Testament and constituting and allowing this to be the last Will & Testant according to my desire; Given under my hand and seal this 5th day of April 1803.
Signed: John Nichols (seal)
Witnesses: Edward Hore, Samuel Best (his mark), Jacob Hunt (his mark)
Executors: Elisha Nichols, Jesse Nichols
Probated - 26 December 1803 by the witnesses.
Securities: Charles Gill, Thomas Payne, $2000 bond Inventoried: 3 February 1804 by Samuel Hancock, John Ayers, Julius Saunders

John James Nichols Sr. and Martha Payne. Marriage: about 1747, John James Nichols Sr., to Martha Payne.

Martha Payne^1,2,3, daughter of Flayl Payne and (Mrs. Flayl Payne),. Birth: about 1735, Frederick County, Maryland. Parents: Flayl Payne and (Mrs. Flayl Payne). Birth of Child: 1747, Flayl Nichols, age of mother: 12. Birth of Child: about 1747, Archibald Nichols, age of mother: 12. Birth of Child: about 1750, Elisha Nichols, age of mother: 15. Birth of Child: about 1754, Catherine Nichols, age of mother: 19. Birth of Child: about 1756, Mary Nichols, age of mother: 21. Birth of Child: between 1758 and 1762, John James Nichols Jr., age of mother: 23. Birth of Child: about 1761, Jane Nichols, age of mother: 26. Birth of Child: about 1767, Jesse Nichols, age of mother: 32. Death: after 1803, age 68, Bedford County, Virginia.

John James Nichols Sr.-3895 and Martha Payne-3896 had the following children: