George Washington Nichols born 1795 Charleston, SC area, died February 05, 1851 at Seguin, Guadalupe Co., TX... a casualty in the Waul and Vasquez Campaigns in Texas.  George W. Nichols was the son of David Nichols who was born about 1775 in Virginia and Chloe (Clarry) Rowland. 

    (David Nichols married Clarry Rowland in Henry Co., VA on Dec. 4, 1793.  Henry Co. was formed from Pittsylvania Co., VA in 1767.  Both John and George Rowland are listed on the 1767 Tithables Record in Pittsylvania Co., VA.  Possible father & bro. or brothers of Clarry Rowland but no lineage for her has been proven by this researcher. )

    His parents (David & Clarry Nichols) moved from North Carolina/South Carolina into the territory of Tennessee.   They  moved  to the territory land that was to become Franklin Co., TN after 1795 when George Washington Nichols was born and before 1805 when another son, William Rowland Nichols was born in Tennessee. They settled at Pond Spring where Winchester, TN is now located.  About 1824/25 he moved to Madison Co., TN and probably other locations in Tennessee, along with his son, George Washington Nichols;  then about 1830 both families left TN and moved to AR.
   
    While living in Tennessee these Nichols families were neighbors to the Crockett and Burleson families.

    Edward Burleson, boyhood friend to George W. Nichols, moved to Texas about 1831 and settled near Bastrop on the Colorado River. When the Texas revolution broke out, Burleson was made second in command to Stephen Austin. He was in command of the forces that participated in the taking of San Antonio in the fall of 1835, and later commanded the first regiment of volunteers at the Battle of San Jacinto. After Texas won independence, Burleson was appointed Brigadier General in charge of the limited forces of the Republic of Texas. He was very active from 1838 through 1841 in the challenging task of protecting the frontier from Mexican and Indian depredations. After serving in the Congress of the Republic, Burleson was elected in 1841 to the position of vice-president of Texas.

    David Crockett, the famed Alamo fighter, visited with George Washington Nichols's family enroute to Texas to help defend the Alamo in the battle for Texas independence.  George Washington Nichols had been wanting to move his family to Texas, so he began preparations to do so.  The Johnson Day family from Tennessee on their way to Texas by wagon train stopped and camped near the Nichols farm.  George Nichols and son, James Wilson Nichols who was 16 at the time, visited the camp and George W. Nichols decided to join the train to Texas. 

   (James Wilson Nichols, in his book, describes Davy Crockett's gun, shot pouch, cap, etc.  He later saw these same items in San Antonio, Texas, after the fall of the Alamo and the death of Davy Crockett.)

TIMELINE for the George Washington Nichols family:
1795 - born in the area of Charleston, SC
by 1805 - Winchester, Franklin Co., TN area
1812 - Married Mary Ann Walker, Franklin Co., TN
1812 - Indian War
1815 - Battle of New Orleans
1824 - Madison Co., TN
1828 - AR
1836 - TX 12-16-1836 San Augustine, TX
1837 - Gonzales Co., TX 5-2-1837
1838 - Death of wife Mary A. Walker
1840 - Married Rachel (Carpenter) Sowell
1848 - Divorced from Rachel (Carpenter) Sowell
1848 - Married Mrs. Rebecca Blevins
1850 - Guadalupe Co., TX
1851 - Buried Seguin, Guadalupe Co., TX

    David Nichols (father of George Washington Nichols) was the son of Solomon R. Nichols ... according to the book, "Now You Hear My Horn - Journal of James Wilson Nichols".   Solomon R. Nichols) died during the American Revolution.  Jim Nichols further states that Solomon R. Nichols had four sons, the youngest was David Nichols, who married Henry Co., VA 1793 (source info to prove this) and lived in Charleston, South Carolina where his son, George Washington Nichols b.1795 was born.

     Solomon R. Nichols was probably born about 1745 and died about 1783 in the American Revolution War.  These Nichols were neighbors to George Washington during this time frame. 

    I believe the four sons of Solomon R. Nichols was John Nichols, Sr., George Nichols, William Nichols, and David Nichols. 

    I believe the parents of Solomon R. Nichols  to be Solomon Nichols born 1719 and Priscilla Connell, the widow of Edward Doyle, Sr.  After what would be the death of Solomon R. Nichols, Solomon R. Nichols' father Solomon Nichols b.1719 moved into Newberry Dist., SC.  Possibly that is the reason Solomon R. Nichols's son, David, moved into that South Carolina area.

    Solomon Nichols born 1719 VA, died 1793, originally of Fairfax Co., VA, later lived in Newberry Dist., SC.  The first wife of Solomon Nichols, Priscilla Connell, had been married before - to an Edward Doyle.  From a descendant of this first marriage it has been learned that one of the children, James Doyle, moved about 1793 to Pendleton Dist., SC furnishing another indication that this Solomon Nichols b.1719 was the Solomon Nichols appearing later in SC and indicating a connection with the Doyle families. Nichols's were also in this area that was later Pickens Co., NC.  I find Doyle decendents in later generations in Texas along with this same David Nichols line.

 

    1.  George Washington Nichols  (David3, Solomon R.2, Solomon1) was born 1795 in area of Charleston, SC according to James Wilson Nichols; 1850 Guadalupe Co TX  census says born in VA., and died February 05, 1851 in Sequin, Guadalupe Co., TX:  deceased, in the Waul and Vasquez Campaigns..  He married (1) Mary Ann Walker 1812 in Franklin Co., TN.  She was born December 10, 1798, the daughter of James F. Walker and Catherine Elizabeth Miller, and she died 1838 in Seguin, Guadalupe Co., TX.  He married (2) Rachel Sarah Carpenter July 21, 1840 in Gonzales, TX, daughter of John Carpenter.  She was born 1785 in Hart Co., KY, and died Abt. 1860 in Seguin, Guadalupe Co., TX.  He married (3) Rebecca Donovan March 15, 1848 in Guadalupe Co., TX ... by E.P. Forrest, daughter of James Donovan and Mary Perkins.  She was born 1822 in Bourbon Co., KY, and died September 12, 1904 in Atascosa Co., TX.

More About George Washington Nichols:
-- FACT #1 -: Fought in the Indian War of 1812 and 13, George commanded a company and was     wounded in the knee at the Battle of the Horseshoe Bend, which made him a cripple for life.
-- FACT # -: George Washington Nichols filed for divorce from Rachel Sowell-Nichols on March 1, 1848. 

More About Rachel Sarah Carpenter-Sowell-Nichols:
Burial: San Geronimo Cem., Seguin, TX
-- FACT #1: Divorced from G.W. Nichols 1848.
-- FACT #2: Was the widow of John Newton Sowell, Sr. and the 5th white woman to cross the San Marcos River.

More About Rebecca Donovan:
 -- FACT #1 -: Census record said her father was born in Ireland; mother born in KY.  Her father were born in KY.
-- FACT #2 -: The marriage of Rebecca Donovan and Harrison Blevins is found in the Illinois Marriage Index of marriages before 1850.
 -- FACT #3 -: Fairview Cemetery is located on Road 536 between Floresville and Hwy 281.
Burial: Methodist Church Cemetery, Fairview Cemetery, Wilson Co., TX
   
Children of George W. Nichols and Mary Ann "Polly" Walker are:
(Click on the names of the children with a flag beside the name to see additional information)

    2    i.    Solomon Grundy Nichols, Sr., born June 24, 1813 in Winchester, Franklin Co., TN; died June 26, 1876 in Seguin, Guadalupe Co., TX.  He married Martha Hannah Daniell April 19, 1842 in Gonzales, Gonzales Co., TX; born May 28, 1827 in Hardeman Co., TN; died July 31, 1901 in Seguin, Guadalupe Co., TX.

More About Solomon Grundy Nichols,Dr.:
-- FACT #1 -: This family appears on the following TX censuses:  1850 & 1860 Gonzales Co TX; 1870 & 1880 Guadalupe Co TX; and Martha Hannah Daniell-Nichols appears on the 1900 BEXAR CO TX census living in the household of daughter Alice Nichols Benton and Nat Benton.
-- FACT #2 -: probate records of Guadalupe Co., TX show a claim against the estate of George T. Daniel, deceased to S.G. Nichols, Dr.: PAF Notes info: Solomon G. Nichols is a practicing physician.  Claim was for  $6.50 for April 1862.. 2 bottles tonic medicine $1.00; Par 1862 Visit to baby $1.50, Night visit and medicine $2.50, one visit to self in May $1.50, total $6.50
Burial: near  Seguin, Guadalupe Co., TX

More About Martha Hannah Daniell:
Date born 2: May 28, 1828
-- FACT #1 -: 1900 census she was living with daughter and son-in-law, Nat & Alice Benton in Guadalupe Co., TX.  Her name is listed Mary H.  She is also on the 1900 Bexar Co TX census as Martha H. living with son Solomon Lee.
Burial: near  Seguin, Guadalupe Co., TX

    3    ii.      Thomas R. Nichols, born January 08, 1815 in TN; died 1847 in Guadalupe Co, TX.  He married Margaret (Peggy) Baker June 30, 1842 in Gonzales, Gonzales Co., TX; born January 06, 1819 in AL.

More About Thomas R. Nichols:
-- FACT #1 -: He was a Ranger, a participant in the Battle of Plum Creek and the Battle of Salado and was said to have been killed in an Indian battle.
-- FACT #2 -: Probate Records show: Nichols, Thos. R.;  deceased; filed Sep 27 1847 Guadalupe Co, TX
-- FACT #3 -: 1850 GONZALES CO., TX census: DAVIS, Rolla M.; age 38; b.KY: Margarett; wife; age
34; b. AL: CLEMONS, Alexander; age 12; b. TX:CLEMONS, J.B.; age 9; b.TX:  CLEMONS, Augustus, age 6; b. TX: CLEMONS, Joseph; age 6; b. TX: NICLES, Louisa; age5; b. TX: DAVIS, Joel; age 3; b.
TX: DAVIS, Parazade; age 3/12; b. TX: GAY, Edmond G.; age 31; b. VA
Burial: Gonzales, Gonzales Co., TX.

    4    iii.      John Walker Nichols, born Abt. 1816 in Franklin Co.,TN; died December 29, 1882 in Guadalupe Co., TX.  He married Mary M. (Polly) Day May 02, 1838 in Gonzales, Gonzales Co., TX; born December 06, 1818 in Anderson Co., SC; died Aft. 1900.

More About John Walker Nichols:
-- FACT #1 -: This family appears on the 1850 - 1860 - 1870 - 1880 Guadalupe Co., TX census. 
-- FACT #1b -: 1870 Guadalupe Co TX census shows John Nichols 54, Mary 52, Mattie 15, John 13, Edward 10; also S.E. Miller 28 female with child Alma 2/12, and Z.P. Miller 18 female
-- FACT #1c -: 1900 Victoria Co.,TX Pct.5:MILLER,Thos. H.,Mar1848 52,m28yrs,TX SC MS MS, farmer; Mattie E., wife, Sept1853 46, 8ch7liv,TX TN SC; Maud, dau, July1882, 17,TX; Madge, dau, Oct1884 15;Tom.M., son, Oct1887 12; Mata, dau, Dec1889, 10; Fred.C., son, Dec1895,  4,TX; NICHOLS,Mary,m-in-law,Dec 1818; 81; wd.; 8 children born 2 living; SC SC SC
-- FACT #2 -: Seguin Paper:  John W. Nichols, one of Jack Hays' old Rangers and saw much service, died at his farm on the San Geronimo.  Such was the material which composed the Masonic Lodge of Seguin fifty years ago; we do not believe a lodge in Texas had better.

More About Mary M. (Polly) Day:
-- FACT #1 -: She is listed on the 1900 Victoria Co., TX census in the household of dau. Mattie and husband Thomas H. Miller.  Mary Nichols was age 81 born Dec 1818 SC. 

    5    iv.     Martha Hannah Nichols, born Abt. 1818 in Winchester, Franklin Co., TN; died September 02, 1846 in Guadalupe, Guadalupe Co., TX.  She married James Milford Day May 02, 1838 in Gonzales Co., TX; born April 11, 1815 in Pendleton, Anderson Co., SC; died October 23, 1894 in Guadalupe Co., TX.

More About James Milford Day:
-- FACT #1 - 1: He was one of the original Texas Rangers serving under Capt. Caldwell's Gonzales Rangers.  On a scouting expedition with two other Rangers he was shot in the hip by one of Cordova's men and crippled for life, but continued as a Ranger.
-- FACT #1 - 2: One of the original stock holders of the city of Seguin.  He received considerable land including a Spanish land grant in Williamson Co.  In 1835 an unconditional cert. #93 for 640 ac. in Gonzales Co., and headrights under spec. acts--1 league in 1851.
-- FACT #3 -: In 1845 he volunteered for duty in the Mexican War as a private in Henry McCulloch's Co. at San Antonio, and went on to join Gen. Taylor at Live Oak Springs, Mexico.  He later drew a pension for this service.

    6    v.      James Wilson (Jim) Nichols, born December 27, 1820 in Winchester, Franklin Co., TN; died October 07, 1891, according to family members he died in Kerrville, Kerr Co., TX.  He married Mary Ann (Polly) Daniell September 14, 1843 in Montgomery Co., TX; born July 23, 1825 in Monroe, MS; died September 23, 1893.

More About James Wilson (Jim) Nichols:
-- FACT #1 -: His pension went to his widow addressed Hays Co., TX.
-- FACT #1b -: A gr-gr-grandson was taken as a boy to the Nichols Cemetery in Kerr Co., TX to the grave of James Nichols.  The marker was almost unreadable but showed James Nichols.  Later there was a flood that washed graves & stones away, probably along with his.
-- FACT #2 -: The Nichols land in Hays Co., TX was on the Eggleston Lg.,  almost adjoining the  A.H. & Mahala (Daniell) Winters land on the Allen Lg... next to A.H. Winters was tract owned by his father, Orrin Winters whose address was a  P.O. at Onion Creek, TX
-- FACT #3 -: Budah, Hays Co., TX was first called Dupree.  Small communities nearby were Oak Grove, Kellyville, etc.
-- FACT #4 -: Census info: 1860 Gonzales Co TX; 1870 Blanco Co TX; 1880 Coleman Co TX next door to son Wm. R. & Mekia Nichols.
-- FACT #5 -: Service: TX Ranger; Frontier Battalion; Minute Men;  Scout for Capt. James Callahan; fought commanche's & etc. under Capt. Jack Hays; served under Caldwell in Battle of Salado Creek;  fought with Hays during the Mexican War.
-- FACT #6 -: A old man stated he saw Jim Nichols's corpse lying in state after his death.  That man lived in Kerr Co. so he apparently attended the viewing of his body before burial in Kerr Co., Tx.
Burial: Nichols Cemetery, Ingram, Kerr Co., TX... location lost in the cemetery.

More About Mary Ann (Polly) Daniell:
-- FACT #1 -: 1870 BLANCO CO., TX  census lists her name ALVINA.  Possibly Alvina shortened to Ann....
-- FACT #2 -: Her widow's pension went to Hays Co., TX.  She had a sister, Martha Hannah Nichols that lived in San Antonio, also son Eustace Benton Nichols... so she apparently left Hays county and went to San Antonio to live around Eustace and his family.

    7    vi.      Nancy Nichols, born Abt. 1821 in probably Franklin  Co., TN; died Aft. 1850.  She married Isaac Hardin Turner December 22, 1842 in Gonzales, Gonzales Co., TX; born Abt. 1818 in Sumner Co., TN; died March 05, 1859 in Guadalupe Co., TX.

More About Nancy Nichols:
-- FACT #1 -: 1850 Guadalupe Co TX census shows the son George Turner age 5 living with his grandparents, Wm. & Elizabeth Turner.

    8    vii.      Elizabeth Nichols, born Abt. 1824 in Madison Co., TN; died Aft. 1850 in probably Guadalupe Co., TX.  She married John Newton Sowell, Jr. April 15, 1840 in Seguin, Gonzales Co., TX; born 1819 in Davidson Co., TN; died September 30, 1856 in Seguin, Guadalupe Co., TX.

More About Elizabeth Nichols:

Burial: San Geronimo Cemetery, Seguin, TX

More About John Newton Sowell, Jr.:
-- FACT #1 -: John N. Sowell served as a Ranger in 1839 under Cpt. Matthew Caldwell in then what was known as the Gonzales Rangers, also served in the Mounted Volunteers un Cpt. Henry E. McCulloch.
-- FACT #1b -: In 1957 the State of Texas paid tribute to Andrew Jackson Sowell and John N. Sowell by erecting State Markers at each front corner of the Sowell burial plot in San Geronimo Cemetery.
Burial: San Geronimo Cemetery, Seguin, TX; where the State of Texas erected a marker in 1857 to pay tribute to John and his brother, Andrew J..

    9    viii.      Meriah E. (Maria) Nichols, born 1829 in Madison Co., TN; died Bef. 1868.  She married (1) James Nash September 02, 1845 in Gonzales Co., TX.  She married (2) James Henry Putman May 06, 1852 in Guadalupe Co., TX .. by Thomas D. James; born 1828 in St. Clair Co., AL.

More About Meriah E. (Maria) Nichols:
-- FACT #1 -: 1850 Guadalupe Co., TX census shows Maria Nash & child with a Charlotte Nichols in the household.  Apparently a sister to Maria Nichols that was born while they lived in Arkansas.

More About James Henry Putman:
-- FACT #1 -: Commanche Indians carried off four of the Putman children:  Rhoda, age seventeen; James, ten; Elizabeth, six; and Juda, two. The children had been in the woods gathering pecans  when the Indians appeared.
-- FACT #2 -: James & Juda Putman were restored to their parents within a few months; Elizabeth was kept for 2 yrs when her father traded a grey mule for her.  Rhoda eventually married an Indian and became a member of the tribe, but 27 yrs later returned to her parents.
-- FACT #3 -: He was at home at the age of 20 and appears on the 1850 census, Guadalupe Co., TX and on the 1860 Guadalupe Co., TX census with his wife, widow Maria E. Nichols-Nash.  On 1870 census he was married 2nd time to Eliza E., born 1846.

    10    ix.    Charlotte Nichols, born 1831 in AR.

More About Charlotte Nichols:
-- FACT #1 -: 1850 Guadalupe Co., TX #94-94: NASH, Maria, 21, TN; Luiza, 1, TX; NICHOLS, Sharlott, 19, AR.
   
Children of George W. Nichols and Rebecca Donovan are:

    11    i.      William M. Nichols, born 1849 in Seguin, Guadalupe Co., TX.  He married Martha Jane Nicholson July 30, 1868 in Atascosa Co., TX; born 1837 in AR; died Bef. 1880.

More About William M. Nichols:
-- FACT #1 -: Solomon G. & James W. Nichols applied for bounty land warrant for Wm. Nichols, minor heir of Geo. W. Nichols.  Bounty of 160 acres granted.  Source: Bright Notes. 
-- FACT #2 -: 1850 Guadalupe Co TX census:
-- FACT #2b -: 1860 Atascosa Co. TX census:
-- FACT #2c -: 1870 Atascosa Co TX census: Pct 1 Pleasanton 258-259; NICHOLLS, W.M., 22; farmer; 184; b.TX; Martha J., 23; keeping house; b.TX; Francis E.; 8/12; female, b.TX.
-- FACT #2d -: 1880 Atascosa Co, TX census:
-- FACT #3 -: G.B. Nichols was living in the household of Gable Suggs in Atascosa Co TX 1900 census.  George B. Nichols's sister married Charles Suggs.  Unknown relationship of Gable to Charles Suggs.  Probably brother.

More About Martha Jane Nicholson:
Date born 2: 1837

    12    ii.      David Nichols, born March 1850 in Seguin, Guadalupe Co., TX.

More About David Nichols:
-- FACT #1 -: David apparently died before 1860 or was living with another of the Nichols families...as he is not listed on that 1860 Atascosa Co TX census with his mother, brother William Nichols, and Jefferson McGrew whom Rebecca Donovan-Blevins-Nichols married about 1852.  Also, Jim Nichols had applied for land for minor William Nichols and not for a David Nichols indicating that David Nichols was deceased.