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- Arthur Nicholson, Adjutant in King's Am. Dragoons. Granted 250 A, Lot 53, Maugerville Sunbury, NB. - The New Loyalist Index.
. 1783 April 26 - EVACUATION, about the British ship Lady's Adventure with the Kings American Dragoons to Saint John NB. 448 Passengers. 750 tons, Ships Mater Robt. Gibson.
Ref: African American Loyalist in the southern campaign of Am. Revolution.
. King's American Dragoons were commanded by Benjamin Thompson, later Count Rumford, starting in 1781. They were in South Carolina; went into winter quarters at Huntington, Long Island, in the fall of 1782. By the close of summer they were relocated to Prince William, Queensborough, in New Brunswick.
Cornet A Nicholson commanded the garrison at Presqu'isle, NB.
Arthur Nicholson endorsed the petition of Jacob Kollock & Joseph Kollock are Captain Kollock's sons, sober, industrious lads. Thomas Ian is the son of the woman who lives with Captain Kollock. He is a boy of about 16, which is all I know of him." Endorsed: Jacob Kollock is to have a lot of 200 acres, 6
. King's American Dragoons, Thompson's Troop, Lieutenant Colonel Benjamin Thompson's Troop, King's American Dragoons, form'd & Completed agreeable to an Arrangement Approv'd by His Excellency, Sir Guy Carleton, K.B., 15th June 1782. Cornet Arthur Nicholson to 24 Jul 1795. Nov 1789.
. Names of the Recruits Entitled to Bounty: Arthur Nicholson, Cornet & Adjutant: 24 Oct 1781; & on
- Adjutant Nicholson: 24 Feb. 24 to 24 Apr 1782 * Subsistence 60 days @ 5/
Goundage Agency £ Payment @ £1/6 £1.2.6 * 60 rations @ £1.2.6
- Substance due 24th February to 24th April, 1782, being 60 days.
- A. Nicholson, Adj. Subsistence 6 days @ 5/ - £15.5 shillings Officers' net substance 25 June to 24 Aug 1782.
Poundage payment @ £1/1 - 1 .4 Totaling £14. 4 s 8 pence & the last entry:
- Arthur Nicholson Cornet: £ 8 & as Adjutant £5. King's American Dragoons - Abstract of 61 days pay for the commissioned officers, non-commissioned officers & privates, 24 August 1783.
He was involved in the Battle of Bunker Hill. He retired from the Kings Regiment of NB on 24 Jul 1795 with a pension.
. Arthur Sr. was first married on 17 Mar 1779 with 2 children. His first wife deceased in 1786.
. Indenture 38, Wm. Stone of Prince William, York Co., NB, of the late Regiment of Kings American Dragons sold for £10 to Arthur Nicholson of Town of Prince William, Gentleman, Lot 71, 100 A, on Saint John River. 3 Aug 1786, Signed, Wm. XMark Stone. Registered 7 Sep 1786.
. Indenture 68, Dennis XMark Kane of Prince William, late Regiment of Kings American Dragons, sold to Arthur Nicholson, Gentleman, for £5, Lot 69, 100 A. in Town of Prince Wm. Saint John River.
Ref: Province of NB,York Co. Deed Registry Book 1.
To Edward Winslow (New Brunswick,)
Dear sir, I hope you will excuse the liberty I take in troubling you with my business when I assure you that nothing but the critical situation which I find myself in & you being so well acquainted with the nature of my first settling in this Country could induce me to it. I have made every exertion in my power to make a living by farming but I find it will not do. I find that unless a man does all his business with his own hands, he cannot live by it. I have an idea that if the circumstance of my being in the Army 24 years (& always employed in active line) was explained to His Excellency he, perhaps, would take it into consideration & employ me in some business wherein I could be of service, not only to myself & family, but to the Country whose welfare I have warmly at heart. I am informed that my name has been mentioned to the Governor to do the duty of Adjutant to the Militia of this County, which I am willing to do with pleasure. Is it not probable that it is in His Excellency's power to employ me further in the business of the Militia? I don't care how much duty he gives me to do. Now Sir, as you always expressed a wish to serve me & as I never wanted a friend more than at this present & I don't know that I have another friend in the Country in whose power it is to do anything to serve me, I beg leave to entreat you will at this time befriend me in representing not only what I have pointed out, but anything else you may see fit. I am Dr. Sir, with much respect & Esteem Your obedient Humble Servant.
Signed, Arth'r Nicholson, Queensborough, 26 January, 1788.
. NB Land Grant 1340, Wakefield, Carleton Co., 1788 Jan 14.
Arthur Nicholson, Vol 20, page 81, Grant 1340, 220 Acres.
. 1790 Feb 5, Mar 23 & Jun 1 - Hand drawn map: Survey of the Northwest Branch of the Miramichi, by Arthur Nicholson, District Surveyor.
Ref: Indian Affairs Documents MG H54, UNB Archives & Special Collection, New Brunswick.
. In the 24th of July, 1795, Lieutenant Arthur Nicholson, the first adjutant of the King's New Brunswick Regiment, retired to half-pay, & Ensign Allen was appointed to the vacancy.
Lieutenant Nicholson had been an officer of cavalry, & had seen a great deal of service in America during the Revolutionary War. He was appointed cornet in the Seventh Light Dragoons - now the 17th Lancers - while that regiment was serving in Ireland. On the breaking out of hostilities in 1775, the high character of that regiment occasioned it to be the first cavalry corps selected to proceed across the Atlantic. It embarked from Ireland & landed at Boston on the 24th of May, 1775.*
On the 17th of June the battle of Bunker's Hill was fought. During that engagement a party of the 17th volunteered to proceed dismounted with the reinforcements sent from Boston to support the troops engaged. Lieutenant Nicholson, who was adjutant of the corps, accompanied the party & became a participant in that battle.
In March 1776, the British army evacuated Boston & sailed for Halifax, Nova Scotia, where the 17th landed & remained about 2 months. In the early part of June they again embarked & landed on Staten Island & were actively engaged in all the important movements of the British army around New York. The 17th Dragoons was the only British regular cavalry regiment that served in America during the Revolutionary War. It was largely composed of Irishmen & the arduous services in which it was constantly employed rapidly depleted its ranks.
In 1781 Lieutenant Nicholson was transferred from the 17th to the King's American Dragoons & became adjutant of that corps. With this regiment he served until the termination of the war & in 1783 came to New Brunswick, where on 1783 Sept 28th, the regiment was disbanded. A large block of land was granted to the officers & men, where many of them settled. It is known as the grant to the "King's American Dragoons," & is situated on the south-west side of the River St. John, in the parishes of Prince William & Dumfries, York Co., extending from Long's Creek, about twenty miles above Fredericton, to the "Barony," at the mouth of the Poquiock. Lieut. Nicholson settled at Kingsclear, York County. In 1786 his first wife, Ellen Henry, whom he married in 1779 at Southampton, Long Island, died at Kingsclear. He again married in 1787, Elizabeth Lawrence & had issue. Lieutenant Nicholson was born in the town of Sligo, County of Leitrim, Ireland, in 1746 & died in New Brunswick.
Ref: Historical Record of the Seventeenth Regiment of Light Dragoons-Lancers. Published by command. London, 1841 & also: Collections of the NB Historical Society, Issue 1-3.
. Nicholson, Arthur a resident of Prince William 24 Aug 1785: 1 Man, 2 child under 10, & (1 Something, 2 some too small to read- however, Arthur is now married to Elizabeth Lawrence. *
Note1: *In 1787 also Rev. J Odell, NJ & brothers-in-law, Richard, UE & John Lawrence, UE, adjacent to his land grant. - PJA.
. 1787 Feb 20, York Co. NB Deeds #60, Vol 1, p124: Dennis 'X' Kane, late Reg. of Kings American Dragoons, labourer, £5, Lot 69, Town or Parish of Prince William, on Saint John's River, 100 A. to Arthur Nicholson, Gentleman.
. Nicholson, Arthur, Volume B, Page 1, Grant number 43, Place: Prince William, York Co.
Date 1786 Oct 10, Acres 158 Pt. of 262 Lots. Other names on this grant: (54) ODELL, Jonathan, DAVIDSON, John, 100 acres.
Note2: This also indicates Odell knew Nicholson, in-law to his friend John Lawrence, Mayor of Burlington, NJ.
XRef: Northumberland Co. Court House.
. Lieut. Arthur Nicholson's Survey Report, from 10 May, 1803
State of Population in the District next above the Parishes of Woodstock & Northampton, extending to the River De Chute. [Wakefield, NB]
Arthur Nicholson conducted his survey & before the time that he & Peter Dickinson built his grist mill. m. (2nd) 7 Aug 1787 & we find from:
. Arthur Lawrence's own family: Presque Isle, 19th May, 1803,
Arthur Nicholson, Men 1, Women 4, Children above ten years: 2 Children under ten: 4 Total 11.
Note3: Presque Isle, refers to the fort at the mouth of the Presque Isle where it flows into the St. John River & is a few miles below Florenceville.
. Near Mill (Mile?) Creek, Fredericton, Northumberland Co., NB. Registry:
Nicholson, Arthur to Deleadernier, JMC. V. 3, P. 48, Q.C. Deed, NSM 19, 20, 21; Brannen, Sarah, v.7, p 33, Discharge Mortgage; & to John M. Nicholson, Vol. 28, P. 234.
. NB Land Petitions:
A) 1786,Sunbury Co., Military, Kings. Am. Dragoons,
B) 1787, York Co., Military Kings. Am. Drgs,
C) 1788 Jan 14, Queensbury Park, York Co., NB Grant 1340 for Guides & Pioneers, 220 A.
D & E) Miramichi, Northumberland Co. 1789 & 1792 with John & Stillwell Wilson (in-laws)
F) 1802, Carleton Co., with sons Arthur Jr. Edward John Thomas L. & Wm. P. Nicholson.
. NB Land Grants: Arthur Nicholson:
a) Prince William, York Co., NB, 10 Oct 1786. Grant 43, Grant Of Prince William, Land Being Pt Of 262 Lots. (included Jonathan Odell for 326 acres.)
b) Maugerville Parish, Sunbury Co., NB, 2 Jan 1787. Grant 98 - Granted 250 Acres, Lot 53.)
c) Queensbury Parish, York Co., NB 14 Jan. 1788, Grant 378 for Guides & Pioneers, &
d) Miramichi River, Northumberland Co., on 1803 Dec 12. for 315 acres, ( with his relatives Richard Lawrence, 232 A, John Willson Jr. 200 A, & Stilwell Wilson, 240 acres.)
d) Wakefield, Presque Isl., York Co., NB, 21 Jul 1809 Grant 497.
From his first wife: 2nd. wife of Thos. Leonard was Ellen or Eleanor Henry, born at Hempstead, Long Island, NY, died 2 May 1786 at Kingsclear, York County, NB:
Children of Ellen Henry & Arthur W Nicolson:
1) Jane Nicholson, b. 27 Aug 1780 at Hempstead, Long Island, NY. She died Jan 1794 at Fredericton, NB.
2) William H. Nicholson born 12 Apr 1784 at Maugerville, Sunbury County, NB.
. 1822 Apr 9, Estate of Arthur Nicholson, Wakefield, Carleton Co., NB.
Administration of Will, Arthur Nicholson, Jr, & Wm P. Nicholson dated 25 Mar 1822.
Ref: NB Royal Gazette Newspaper, Fredericton, York Co., NB.
. Will Probated on 2 March 1822. York County NB. Yeoman, Instate Administration to his sons Arthur P Nicholson & William Nicholson, both of Wakefield.
Bondsmen to the WILL: Wm. Orser, Wakefield & Wm. Bishop, Parish of Kent. Certificate that he was a reduced Coronet, Reg. of Kings Am. Dragoons, half-pay in 1783.
File contains a certificate signed, by the Administrator that Arthur Nicholson, late a reduced Coronet in the Regiment of Kings American Dragoons, placed on half-pay in 1783. Died Wakefield, day & month of death were blank, only the year 1821 has been inserted.
Ref: Early New Brunswick Probate, 1785-1835, by Wallace Hale.
. 1822 Mar 25, Notice concerning his estate was dated for publication in The Royal Gazette.
Biographies & notes on early settlers, Mrs. Winniston, 1947 MC300
. 1788 - Nicholson was appointed collector of customs at Miramichi, as well as a deputy & land surveyor & Justice of the Peace. He was one of the 7 magistrates present at the first session of the Northumberland County Court of Quarter Sessions in 1789 & one of only 2 justices to attend all sessions of the court between 1789 & 1793. During this period he acted as county clerk, but he did not become a permanent settler.
Nicholson Family, NB Museum, vertical Files # RS184, fiche F11088.
Ref: Dictionary of Miramichi Biography, W D Hamilton, Microfiche MC80 /2184. - - - [1]
- Part Two:
Nicholson, Arthur. This is the young officer who, it is said, fought a duel near the deep ravine facing Garretsons*, during the war. His antagonist was so badly wounded that he died in the course of a few days. The encounter was the result of a romance. The 2 officers had sought the hand of a Staten Island girl, who was so shocked at the news of the encounter that she died.
Nicholson was born in the town of Sligo, County of Leitrim, Ireland, in 1716, and was appointed cornet in the Seventeenth Light Dragoons - now the Seventeenth Lancers - while that regiment was serving in Ireland. On the breaking out of hostilities in 1775, the high character of that regiment occasioned it to be the first cavalry corps selected to proceed across the Atlantic. It embarked from Ireland, and landed at Boston on the 24th of May, 1775. During the engagement at Bunker Hill a party of the Seventeenth volunteered to proceed dismounted with the reinforcements sent from Boston to support the troops engaged.
Lieutenant Nicholson, who was adjutant of the regiment, accompanied the party, and became a participant in that battle. In March, 1776, the British army evacuated Boston, and sailed for Halifax, Nova Scotia, where the 17th landed and remained about two months. In the early part of June they embarked again and landed on Staten Island, and were actively engaged in all the important movements around New York. At one time the 17th was encamped for a time at Marshland, near the entrance to the Fresh Kill bridge. It was also General Clinton's body guard at New Dorp. The Seventeenth Dragoons was the only British regular cavalry regiment that served in America during the Revolution. It was largely composed of Irishmen, and the arduous services in which it was constantly employed, rapidly depleted its ranks.
In 1781, Lieutenant Nicholson was transferred from the Seventeenth to the King's American Dragoons, and became the adjutant. This regiment was encamped near the present Oakwood station, and its headquarters were in the old Britain homestead, recently demolished. With this regiment he served until the termination of the war, and in 1783, went to the Province of New Brunswick, where the regiment was disbanded. A large block of land was granted to the officers and men, upon which many of them settled. It is known as the grant to the " King's American Dragoons," and is located on the River St. John, about 20 miles from Fredericton. Lieutenant Nicholson settled at Kingsclear, York County. In 1786, his wife, Ellen Henry, whom he married at Southampton, Long Island, died at Kingsclear. There are many stories told of this officer while on Staten Island.
Ref: Morris Memorial History of Staten Island, New York, Ira K Morris, 1898. Page 349.
Note4: GARRETSON'S BAR. Near (above) where the old Garretson or Fresh Kills bridge crossed Richmond Creek on Staten Island, NY, directly opposite the junction of the road from Garretson's station with the old Richmond Road, then called the King's Highway, in a deep ravine, penetrating some distance into Todd Hill. This is still one of the most beautiful spots on the Island; the hill sides are mostly wooded, a pleasant meadow with old apple trees occupies the bottom of the valley and the perennial spring flows as in the days of the Revolution. The neighbors and local historians had no name for this place and so the writer of this article, some years ago, called it Mersereau's Valley. It is there called the Valley of the Iron Hill, the Iron Hill being an old name for Todt Hill.
Ref: Morris Memorial History of Staten Island, New York, Ira K Morris, 1898. Page 349.
- On the arrival of his Majesty's instructions relative to the disposal of the troops at New York, dated the 9th of June, the principal Loyalist regiments were ordered to hold themselves in readiness to embark for Nova Scotia,
where on their arrival they were to be disbanded. Before the royal orders and instructions reached America the King's American Dragoons arrived at St. John under the command of Major Daniel Munay. They encamped at Manawagonish expecting to settle in the Township of Conway. On the 6th of July, Col. Edward Winslow wrote to Major Upham of the corps (who was in New York acting as an aide-de-camp to Sir Guy Carleton): "I am gratified excessively at the situation and behaviour of your regiment. I never saw more cheerfulness and good humor than appears among the men. They are encamped on one of the pleasantest spots I ever beheld, and they are enjoying a great variety of what you New Yorkers call luxuries, such as partridges, salmon, bass, trout, pigeons, etc. The whole regiment are this day employed in cutting and clearing a road to the river, and Major Murray and T intend to ride tomorrow where man never rode before. "
The day following Winslow writes to Ward Chipman, "I am at present at Murray's head quarters in a township which we shall lay out for the provincials, and we have already' cut a road from his camp to the river, about three miles. We cut yesterday, with about 12 men, more than a mile through a forest hitherto deemed impenetrable. When we emerged from it there opened a prospect superior to anything in the world I believe. A magnificent view of the immense Bay of Fundy on the one side, and a very extensive view of the River St. John, with the Falls, Grand Falls and Islands, on the other: in front the Fort, which is a beautiful object on a high hill, and all the settlements about the town, with the ships, boats, etc., in the harbor - 'twas positively the most magnificent and romantic scene I ever beheld. "
The stay of the King's American Dragoons at " Camp Manawaugonish " was brief, for about the end of August they were sent up the St. John river to be disbanded in what is now the Parish of Prince William. Chaplain Odell was for years Provincial Secretary; Lieut. John Davidson was a member for York County in the provincial legislature and a leading land surveyor in the early days of the country, of St. John; Cornet Arthur Nicholson was a prominent man on the upper St. John in early times as commander of the military post at Presquile.
Ref. The River St. John, its physical features, Wm. Raymond, 1853.
Research & transcriptions by PJ Ahlberg. Thank you.- - -
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1746 - 1821 (75 years)