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Information furnished by Charles Brashear  brashear@mail.sdsu.edu

The Nicks family stems from a William Nicks in Northamptonshire, England. Some of the family lived in New Kent Co, VA, and Talbot Co, MD, before moving to present-day Guilford Co, NC.

b1. John (Nix) Nicks [I], b. 22 Feb 1610/11, ?London, (or Kent Co), England, d. c1750, probably New Kent Co, VA; m. Elizabeth Lewis, b. 9 April 1614, London, (or Kent Co), England,

c2. John (Nix) Nicks II, b. 20 Oct 1643, New Kent Co, VA; m. Barbara Venable, b. 16 Sep 1645,

dx. John Nicks III, b. 10 Jan 1666/67, New Kent Co, VA, d. c1729, Talbot Co, MD; m.1. Mary Blake, b. 6 Aug 1669; m.2. Margaret Schrodes, b. 2 Feb 1667/68, ?London, England, d. c1729, Talbot Co, MD 

ex. George Blake Nicks, b. 11 April 1689, New Kent Co, VA, d. 6 June 1724, Talbot Co, MD; m. Phoebe Price, d/o John Price Sr, who d. bef 23 May 1713.

f4. John Nicks Sr [IV], (Phoebe's father) b. 29 Nov 1716, Talbot Co, MD, d. 1781, Guilford Co, NC; m. Margaret Edwards, b. 1718.

George B. Nicks' probate opened 23 Dec 1724, St. Michael's Parish Records, p. 109 Admr: Phoebe Nicks, wife; sureties: John Price, Francis Armstrong (who m. Phoebe's sister, Mary Price.

The Will of John Price, dated 20 Feb 1710 (probate 1713), Talbot Co, MD; Bk 35 A, p. 12 names wife, Elizabeth [possibly a Quinton?]; granddaughter-Mary Nicks; son, John Price; daughter-Mary Armstrong; daughter-Elizabeth Tibbell; and daughter-PHOEBE NICKS Witnesses: Walter Quinton, Henry Keith

• i. MARY ANN NICKS, b. 10 Apr 1709. Married Francis Armstrong
• ii. REBECCA NICKS, b. 23 Feb 1713/14.
• 2. iii. JOHN NICKS , SR., b. 29 Nov 1716, Talbot Co, MD; d. 1781, Guilford Co. NC.
• iv. GEORGE NICKS , JR., b. 02 Apr 1718.
• v. ISAAC NICKS, b. Bef. 1724.

Generation No. 2

2. JOHN NICKS , SR.  was born 29 Nov 1716 in Talbot Co, MD, and died 1781 in Guilford Co. NC. He married MARGARET EDWARDS.

John Nicks migrated from Talbot or Dorchester Co, Maryland, to Orange Co, NC in 1753, with a stopover in Culpepper Co, Virginia. He is listed among the "Nottingham Colony," the founders of Buffalo Presbyterian Church in Orange, later Guilford Co, North Carolina. John and Margaret had seven children, all b. Talbot Co, MD:

In 1728, Walter Quinton left tracts called "Horsepond Ridge" and "Hambleton's Marsh" to his God-daughter, Margaret Edwards; John Nicks and Margaret, his wife, of Culpepper Co. VA, later transferred these tracts to Peter Davis, via their power of attorney to George Nicks and Isaac Nicks (Abstracts of Land Records of Dorchester Co. MD, by James McAllister, v 10, p 654)

 Margaret's maiden name was NOT Quinton, as some researchers  have thought. In his Will, in 1728, Walter Quinton, Jr. left land called   "Horsepond Ridge" and "Hambleton's Marsh" in Dorchester Co,  MD to his God daughter, Margaret Edwards, who appears to be a niece;  in 1753, John Nicks and his wife, Margaret, sold that same land   to Peter Davis of Talbot Co, MD, via their power of attorney to  George Nicks and Isaac Nicks, brothers of John Nicks [IV].
        (Refs. Wills, Dorchester Co, MD; Accession #HR1297-1; will dated 25 Mar 1727/8; Abstracts of Land Records of Dorchester  Co. MD, by James McAllister, v 10, p 654; and Maryland Archives, X:654.)

John Nicks [IV] migrated from Talbot or Dorchester Co, Maryland, to OrangeCo, North Carolina, in 1753, with a stop-over in Culpepper Co, Virginia.  He is listed among the "Nottingham Colony," the founders of Buffalo Presbyterian Church in Orange, later Guilford Co, North Carolina.  John and Margaret had eight children, all b. Talbot Co, MD:

g1. Phoebe Nicks, (named for her grandmother, Phoebe (Price) Nicks), b. 8 June 1738, Talbot Co, MD  d. Dec 1811, Guilford Co, NC;  (buried Roane Co. TN) m. Robert Samuel Brashears.  Eight children in division of Quinton Nicks' estate; three others had died young.

g2. Quinton Nicks, (named for Walter Quinton Jr., his mother's uncle), b.1740, died intestate 1813, NC, leaving an estate that consisted of 213.5 acres, a Granville Land Grant which he had inherited from his father and which was divided 1/7 to each of his siblings or that 1/7 divided among the deceased sibling's living children (**see below: Guilford Co, NC, Deeds, Book 12, p.55-57, p.108, Book 13, p.2).

g3. Sarah Nicks, b. 1742, d. 1819; m. William Spruce, b. ?, d. 1808; Sarah  lived in Guilford Co, NC, in 1814. Land grant: Lord Granville to William Spruce, 30 July 1760,  394 acres in Rowan Co, Parish of St. Luke, joining John Nix, Robert Donnel and No. Buffelo Creek. surveyed 28 Nov. 1759.  Chain Carr. David Purssell (?Purcell), Aaron Short; W. Churton, surveyor.  The neighbors, landmarks, and officials make it clear that this land was eventually in Guilford Co, NC.

g4. Margaret Nicks, b. c?1744 (old enough in 1765 to be a witness); m. Moses Short, d. c1809, Rockingham Co, NC.  On 17 Sep 1765, Moses [X] Short and Margret [X] Short witnessed the will of David Rederah (Rowan Co Wills, Bk A, p.139; see also  Abstracts of the Deeds of Rowan Co, NC, 1753-1785, by Jo White Linn, p.83; additional data from Charlotte Smith <charlotsmith@prodigy.net>).  Moses and Margaret had 5 ch:

        hl. Lydia Short; m. 25 Jan 1772, Guilford Co, NC, Thomas Lomax (bond: Samuel Short, witness: Samuel Henderson)
        h2. Margaret Short, m. Moses Short, apparently a cousin
        h3. Anne "Nancy" Short, m. Jacob Whitworth
        h4. Samuel Short, m. Judah Ladd; surely parents of Moses and Joab Short, grandsons and legatees of Moses Short and Margaret Nicks.
        h5. Sarah Short, m. Terry Lomax.

Will of Moses Short, Rockingham Co, NC, 1809-- legacy to "...my grandsons Moses and Joab Short, the land on which I now live, lying on the waters of Troublesome..." "...my daughter Marget Short wife of Moses Short..." "...my Daughter Nanny (Nancy?) Whitter (Whitten?) wife of Jacob Whitter..." "...I also give to Lydia Lomax, Sarah Lomax, Margret Short, Nanny Whitter...".
NOTE: though the will gives the husband of Ann "Nancy" as Jacob Whitter or Whittier, the land records of Guilford and Rockingham Co give his name as Whitworth.  A Whitworth family lived in Rockingham Co; there is no evidence of a Whittier/Whitter family. Apparently, Samuel Short, the son of Moses and Margaret (Nicks) Short, died before 1809: for in Nov 1809, Rockingham Court records:  Will of Moses Short offered for probate by James Blair and William Blair, etc: wherefore Thomas Lomax who intermarried with Lydia Short one of the dau of Moses Short, decd, and Terry Lomax who intermarried with Sarah Short one of the dau of Moses came to court and caveated the probate of the said paper writing and the court did order the following issue to be made up and tried by the County... Moses Short and Joab Short two of the grandsons of the said decd, and Jacob Whitworth who intermarried with Anne, one of the dau of Moses Short, decd, are made parties, caveators with James Blair and Wm Blair to this suit.

Thomas Lomax and Terry Lomax brought suit and challenged the will of Moses Short. The commissioners divided his 215 acres evenly between Anne Whitworth, Lydia Lomax, the heirs of Samuel Short, Mirgrate [Margaret] Short, and Sarah Lomax; and, in order to be absolutely equal, certain heirs had to make cash payments to various other heirs. The expenses of the commissioners and surveyors were paid by Thomas Lomax, Terry Lomax, the heirs of Samuel Short, and Moses Short.

g5. George Nicks Sr, b. 1756, d. 1838, bur Old Buffalo Church, Greensboro, NC; m. 19 Sep 1775, Guilford Co, NC (Surety, William Short, Wit: Tho. Henderson), Elizabeth Yarbrough, b. 1758, d. 23 Dec 1839, bur Old Buffalo Church, Greensboro, NC. George and Elizabeth Nicks had children: 

1. John Nicks "Jr" [VI], b. c1781, NC, d. 31 Dec 1831; m. Sarah Price (Perkins-Nicks) Stuart; 2. Sarah Nicks, d. 1820; m. James Gibson Sr; 3. Margaret Nicks, m. Edward B. Davie; 4. Yarborough Nicks; 5. Anna Nicks, m. Charles Phillips; 6. George Nicks Jr, b. 1780, d. 29 Oct 1841; m. Sally Smith.

g6. John Nicks Jr [V], b. 1758, Guilford Co, NC, d. 1825, Hickman Co, TN; m. Margaret Doaks. They lived in Bedford Co, TN, in 1814.  John and Margaret had children:

 l. George Nicks, m. c1793, Jean Anderson; 2. Doak Nicks, m. c1801, Margaret Lomax; 3. Prudence Nicks, m. William Richards; 4. Mary Nicks, m. c1800, Robert Anderson; 5. Margaret Nicks, m. c1803, James Moore; 6. Dasa Nicks, m. Thomas Bevell; 7. Issac Nicks, m. Mary Marshall; 8. John Nicks VI, m. Anna  Richards; 9. William Nicks, m. Sally Pugh; 10. Absalom Nicks, m. _____ Perry. This family moved to Tenn from NC between 1803-1807.

g7. Elizabeth Nicks, b. 1760; m. George Purcell. They lived in Rockingham Co, NC, in 1814.

g8. Rebecca Nicks, m. George Ford, they lived in TN in 1814. (but no such person appears in the division of Quinton Nicks estate.  That there were seven shares after Quinton died would indicate an eighth child of John and Margaret Nicks. Perhaps they didn't sell their share?  Or maybe we overlooked a deed from George Ford to George Nicks?)

---

Most of the division of Quinton Nicks' estate is recorded in Guilford Co, NC, Deeds, Book 12, pp.55-57:

11 Jun 1814, John B. Rice sells by power of atty to Geo Nicks Sr 1/57 part of a parcel of land undivided, granted to John Nicks Sr. by Earl of Granville and devised to his son Quinton Nicks by last will and testament. Said tract containing 213.5 acres. Said John B. Rice acting for Stephen and PHOEBE (Brashears) Rice of Roane Co, TN (d/o Robert Samuel Brashears and his wife, Phoebe Nicks), 1/57 part being heired by Stephen and Phoebe Rice by Quinton Nicks dying intestate. Proven, May Court 1815. [Their arithmetic wasn't very good; it should be 1/56 (1/8 x 1/7) in my book.]

9 Aug 1814, Philip Roberts sells by power of atty for REBECCA  (Brashears) Roberts of Roane Co, TN, 3 & 3/4 acres of undivided land to Geo. Nicks Sr, land heired by Rebecca Roberts from Quinton Nicks dying intestate ... land left said Quinton Nicks by will and last testament of his father John Nicks Sr, who was granted land by Earl of Granville ...

1 Nov 1814, Robt. Saml. Brashears acting by power of atty from SAML. Brashears of Sullivan Co, TN, sells 1/57 of land containing 213.5 acres heired by SAML. Brashears from Quinton Nicks dying intestate, (etc; same as above).

Nov 1814, John Nicks Sr of Bedford Co, TN (this is John Nick Jr; he's now called Sr because brother George had a son, John Nicks), sells to Geo Nicks Sr, 1/7 part of land left by Quinton Nicks dying intestate (etc; same as above).

10 Dec 1813, Geo. Purcell of Rockingham Co, NC, sells to Geo Nicks Sr, 1/7 part of land of decd Quinton Nicks to died intestate ... land heired by Elizabeth (Nicks) Purcell from her brother Quinton Nicks.

23 Sep 1814, Brashears Roberts with power of atty from Zaccheus and NANCY (Brashears) Roberts of Roane Co, TN, sells to Geo Nicks Sr, 1/57 part of land heired by Nancy Roberts from Quinton Nicks dying intestate. Land containing 213.5 acres and left to Quinton Nicks by last will and testament by his father John Nicks ....

11 Jun 1814, BASIL Brashears of Roane Co, TN, sells to Geo Nicks Sr, 1/57 part of land heired from Quinton Nicks who died intestate (etc)

1 Nov 1814, ISAAC Brashears of Roane Co, TN, sells to Geo Nicks Sr 1/57 part of land heired by said Isaac Brashears from Quinton Nicks dying intestate (etc)

Guilford Co, NC, Deed, Book 12, p.108:

10 Nov 1815, Danl. Mason of Roane Co, TN, sells to Geo Nicks Sr, 1/8 of 1/7 part of land heired by Quinton Nicks dying intestate (etc). [Daniel Mason was 2nd husband of MARY Brashears, d/o RSB and Phoebe Nicks.]

21 Nov 1815, Thos and Lydia Lomax of Rockingham Co, NC, sell to Geo Nicks Sr, 1/20 [should be 1/21, right: 1/3 x 1/7] part of land heired by Quinton Nicks dying intestate ....

10 Nov 1815, Isaac Brashears, acting with power of atty for Jeremiah and ELIZABETH (Brashears) Satterfield of Giles Co, TN, sells to Geo Nicks Sr, 1/8 of 1/7 part of land heired by Elizabeth Satterfield from Quinton Nicks decd, dying intestate ...

12 Sep 1815, Sarah (Nicks) Spruce of Guilford Co, NC, sells to Geo Nicks Sr 1/7 of land heired by her from her brother Quinton Nicks decd, said Quinton Nicks dying intestate ... land heired by him from his father John Nicks by last will and testament, (etc) in presence of Geo. Spruce. (I take it that Sarah acting in her own right means that her husband, William Spruce was deceased.)

Sep 1815, Jacob Whitworth of Bedford Co, TN, sells to Geo Nicks Sr, 1/20 part of land left by Quinton Nicks dying intestate (etc)

Guilford Co, NC, Deeds, Book 13, p.2:

Moses Short of Franklin Co, TN, sells to Geo Nicks Sr, 1/20 part of land heired from Quinton Nicks dying intestate ....

NOTE that only siblings and direct, immediate heirs of siblings were eligible to receive part of this estate. So the children of PHILIP Brashears and of PEGGY (Brashears) Mahan, (children of RSB and Phoebe), were not eligible, because Philip and Peggy had died before Quinton Nicks did.

NOTE also that John Nicks had no daughters who could have married Basil Brashears and Isaac Brashears, reputed sons of Robert C. Brashears. Tennessee Cousins and such references are simply full of folklore.