William Nicoll Jr. Explained

Office1:Speaker of the New York General Assembly
Term Start1:January 31, 1759
Term End1:February 6, 1768
Predecessor1:David Jones
Successor1:Philip Livingston
Birth Date:1702
Birth Place:Province of New York, British America
Death Place:Province of New York, British America
Parents:William Nicoll
Anna Van Rensselaer Nicoll
Children:Matthias Nicoll (grandfather)
Jeremias van Rensselaer (grandfather)

William Nicoll Jr. (1702 – 1768) was an English-American colonial merchant and politician who served as the Speaker of the New York General Assembly.

Early life

He was a son of English-born politician William Nicoll (1657–1723) (who is remembered for his vehement opposition to the Leisler Rebellion) and Anna (née Van Rensselaer) Nicoll (1665–1723), widow of the patroon Kiliaen van Rensselaer, and daughter of Jeremias van Rensselaer and Maria (née Van Cortlandt) Van Rensselaer.[1] Among his siblings was Mary Nicoll, wife of Robert Watts; Benjamin Nicoll, husband of Charity Floyd; Catherine Nicoll, wife of Jonathan Havens;[2] and Frances Nicoll, wife of Edward Holland, the 40th mayor of New York City.[3]

His paternal grandparents were Abigail (née Johns) Nicoll and Matthias Nicoll, who served as the 6th Mayor of New York City from 1672 to 1673. His grand-uncle was Richard Nicolls, the 1st Colonial governor of the Province of New York. His paternal aunt, Margaret Nicoll, was married to Col. Richard Floyd Jr., the colonel of provincial troops of Suffolk County and judge of the Court of Common Pleas and grandfather of William Floyd.[4]

Career

His father was granted a royal patent of 50,000 acres on the Long Island by Governor Thomas Dongan in November 1683, later receiving further land grants making Plandome Manor the largest on Long Island totaling 100sqmi.[5]

Nicoll was elected a member of the New York General Assembly, representing Suffolk County, in 1739 and, like his father, served until his death in 1768. From January 31, 1759 until February 6, 1768, he also served as the Speaker of the Assembly.[6] During his service as Speaker, the 18th Assembly was dissolved for a short period of time upon the death of George II which occurred on October 25, 1760.[7]

Personal life

As Nicoll died unmarried and without issue, the Nicoll estate was inherited by his nephew, William Nicoll III (d. 1778), the eldest son of Benjamin, who became the third family member to be elected to the General Assembly where he served from 1768 until 1769.[8]

Notes and References

  1. Book: Genealogical Record . 1916 . . 37 . 26 September 2018 . en.
  2. Book: The Journal of American History Vol. 12, First Quarter, Number 1 January, February, March. 1918. National Historical Society. September 8, 2017. en.
  3. Web site: Bielinski. Stefan. Frances Nicoll Holland. exhibitions.nysm.nysed.gov. New York State Museum. September 8, 2017.
  4. Book: Cutter . William Richard . New England Families, Genealogical and Memorial: A Record of the Achievements of Her People in the Making of Commonwealths and the Founding of a Nation . 1913 . Lewis Historical Publishing Company . 1209 . 26 September 2018 . en.
  5. News: Toy . Vivian S. . Endangered: Historic Preservation . 26 September 2018 . . June 12, 2005 . en.
  6. Book: Murlin . Edgar L. . The New York Red Book . 1908 . J. B. Lyon Company . 356–365 . 22 September 2018 . en.
  7. Book: Hough, A.M., M.D. . Franklin B. . The New York Civil List: Containing The Names And Origin Of The Civil Divisions, And The Names And Dates Of Election Or Appointment Of The Principal State And County Officers From The Revolution To The Present Time . 1858 . Weed, Parsons and Co. . Albany . 19 September 2018 . en.
  8. Book: Thompson . Benjamin Franklin . The History of Long Island, from Its Discovery to the Present Time: With Many Important and Interesting Matters, Including Notices of Numerous Individuals and Families, Also a Particular Account of the Different Churches and Ministers . 1843 . Gould, Banks & Company . 368–9 . 26 September 2018 . en.