NICHOLSON; Westmorland, ENG > Boston, MA; 1600s+ Ambrose Nicholson (Francis, Ambrose, Henry, [Henry], ...) was a great-grandson of Henry NICHOLSON of Hartford, CT; he wrote: "The Nicholson family of which this book will confirm the Records, descended on the male side from the Welsh, but by intermarriage with English, the children of Francis Nicholson were but one-eighth Welsh." (Ambrose Nicholson (1802-1888), "Record of the Descendants of Francis and Rachel Nicholson") If Ambrose was 1/8 Welsh, it is implied that Francis was 1/4 Welsh, Ambrose was 1/2 Welsh and Henry was the immigrant ancestor from Wales. No records have been found to confirm or refute the possibility that Henry NICHOLSON of Hartford, CT was a Welsh immigrant. However, other evidence suggests that Henry NICHOLSON of Hartford, CT may have been the son of Henry & Sarah (STRATTON) NICHOLSON of Boston, MA. For details on this theory, please refer to the NICHOLSON documents at my web site: http://www.perry.streeter.com. Given the possibility that Henry NICHOLSON of Hartford originated in Boston, MA rather than Wales, the following NICHOLSONs are of great interest: "NICHOLSON--Brough Under Stainmore, Westmorland, England seems to be the like ancestral home of the NICHOLSONs who arrived in Boston shortly before 1700. In the Suffolk Co., MA probate record 423f .5sh 6 p. is the division of the estate of George NICHOLSON. The inventory was presented at Boston 11 Aug 1692 by his widow, Hannah. The probate was completed on 20 April 1700. At that time Hannah now Hannah RUCK and the sum to be distributed was L-423 5s 6d. Next of kin were brother, Edward NICHOLSON citizen and gunmaker of London England, brother Robert NICHOLSON of Brough [under] Stainmore, in Westmorland [England], Thomas and Elizabeth NICHOLSON of Brough children of deceased brother John NICHOLSON, and Samuel and Isabell KIDD children of sister Anna KIDD alias NICHOLSON. The parish records of that area include many of the name Henry [NICHOLSON]. Further research might be profitable. (Jean Nicholson Maack, Corrections and Additions to "The Nicholson Ancestry" [manuscript]) More details on this NICHOLSON family would be greatly appreciated! Brough is a parish in the East Ward of Westmorland near Kirkby Stephen. Historically, Westmorland was part of Cumbria. Is it possible that the words Cumbria and Cymru (Welsh) were somehow confused in legends about the family's origins? In the 1674 Hearth Tax for Westmorland, several individuals named Henry Nicholson are identified: Ward Constablewick ------------------------------ East Crakenthorpe East Stainemoore Midlequarter West Bampton West Barton above the Church West Kirkby-thure West Low Winder Is anyone researching NICHOLSON ancestors in this area? Thanks for your help, Perry Perry Streeter (perry@streeter.com) http://www.perry.streeter.com