The James passenger list shows Nicholas Holt, tanner of Romsey, Hampshire. [1053]

He moved immediately to Newbury, as one of the first settlers there. In 1637 his name appears as one of the ten persons who in order to prevent the relection of Sir Henry Vane to the office of governor, and to strengthen the friends of Governor Winthrop, went from Newbury to Cambridge on foot, forty miles, and qualified themselves to vote by taking the freeman's oath May 17, 1637. He was also part of the team that divided Nebury into lots, and served as a commander of militia forces in 1638.

In 1644 Nicholas Holt was one of the ten original settlers who removed their families from Newbury and accompanied their pastor, the Rev. John Woodbridge, to "Chochichawicke," now Andover. On a leaf in the town records containing the list of householders in order as they came to the town his name is sixth. He was one of the ten male members, including the pastor elect, who composed the church at the ordination of Mr. John Woodbridge, October 24,1645. He was later on several committees charged with setting the boundaries of Andover and laying out a highway to Reading.

Nicholas married three times while his children were young - he first had 9 children with Elizabeth, then married widow Hannah, who had two young children and they had two children together. Then he married widow Martha, who also had two young children.[ [630]]

The “tanner” on the ships roll is probably a mis-understood “turner” - he manufactured woodenware, and when distributing property to his children before his death, he called himself a “dish-turner.” (Cutter, William Richard. New England Families Genealogical and Memorial: Third Series, Volume IV. 1915. Reprint, Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., inc., 1996. Quoted at http://www.family2remember.com/bios/nholt1602.htm)

There is no mention of him in the well-preserved records at Romsay, so it seems the entry on the passenger list was incorrect.

He was deposed 11 Apr 1671 and gave his age as 63. Death records say he was "aged 104", but he was likely exaggerating. [501]

Savage’s: NICHOLAS, Newbury, a tanner from Romsey in Hants, came in the James 1635, from Southampton, perhaps with w. arr. at Boston, 3 June, freem. 17 May 1637, had Elizabeth b. 30 Mar. 1636; Mary, 6 Oct. 1638; and Samuel, 6 Oct. 1641; rem. to Andover, where he was one of the found. of the ch. 1645; there had Henry; Nicholas; James; and John, wh. m. 3 July 1685, Sarah Geary, and d. 10 Mar. 1687; beside Priscilla wh. d. young, 16 Oct. 1653; he d. 30 Jan. 1685, aged 104 yrs. says the rec. but Coffin, with more prob. says 83. His first w. d. a. 1654, and he m. 12 June 1658, Hannah, wid of Daniel Rolfe, d. of Humphrey Bradstreet, wh. d. 20 June 1665; and he m. 21 May 1666, wid. Preston. His d. Elizabeth m. 26 Oct. 1658, Ralph Farnum; and Mary m. 5 July 1657, Thomas Johnson.

Henry Short's will, dated 13 Feb 1672, says that if his children Henry and Sarah die without issue, his "cousin" (nephew?) Samuel Holt is next in line, then his brother Nicholas Holt. Henry had also immigrated in the mid 1630s (on the 1634 Mary and John) and had settled in Ipswich then Newbury). An Anthony Short was also in Newbury in 1635 as one of the first settlers. They could based on timing all be siblings.

Great Migration does not accept this as dispositive, since the name of Henry Short's wife is unknown. [501]