1732/31, Feb 16: Samuel Batchelder Cordswainer of Hampton and his wife Elizabeth to John Swett 35 acres (60/159) Bounded southerly by the River Merrimac, southwesterly by 12 road way, northwesterly on road that runs from Haverhill to Amesbury, North easterly by highway or road by the side of Swett’s land. This looks like land south of east main street.
1733, Oct 20: John Swett to Enoch Brown (64/169). 1/4 of acre bounded east by river 7R20″, north by John Swett 5R, 10′, 8″, west by 2 rod way leading to 12Rod way 6R20″
1740, March 11: Enoch Brown to Barnabus Bradbury (82/91) Lately belong to Samuel Batchelder bounded southeasterly by River 7R20″, southwesterly by land of George Santeclar 6R, North east by land of John Swett 5R10’8″ and northwesterly by two rod way leading to twelve rod way 7R20″. Including Edifices, buildings, and fences.
1742, Mar 23: Barnabus Brabury (Blacksmith) to Simeon Brown (83/135) That which Bradbury bought from Enoch Brown at a place commonly known as Swett’s Ferry. Including Buildings or buildings
1743: house burns down
1744, June 5th Simeon Brown to Barnabus Bradbury (Blacksmith from Biddeford) (89/113) 65 pounds for 1/4 acre that which Barnabus bought from Enoch Brown and where the house burned down. Bounded by River on east, southerly by George Santeclar, Northerly by Bradbury land, westerly on land that lays as road from landing to Swett’s Ferry leading to the bound rock.
1752, Dec 10: Bradbury to Joseph Nichols (120/239) bounded on road 4R9′, north 5R 10′ to river, 4R 10′ to land of Burrill, along Burrill back to beginning.
1759, April 24: Phineas Nichols marries Ann Saunders. (Morse, Bradbury, Saunders all related)
1761, Oct 29: (119/226) Joseph sells to Phineas. Bounded by Burrill on south, River on East 4R10′, Two Rod way 4R9′ (laid out by John Swett), north 5R10′. Including house and barn but not including land owned by Simeon Brown that has Nichol’s Blacksmith shop.
1761, Feb 27: (119/226) Joseph Burrill to Phineas Nichols. North by Nichols 25′, east by Burrill 14′, south by Burrill 25′, West by road 19′.
1808, Oct 20: Aaron Peasley to John Brown (204/167). 350 Sq ft of land. South by Brown 25’, east by Brown 14’, North by Poyen 25’, West by road 14’.
The Deacon Phineas Nichols House at 21 River Road, Rocks Village, was built in 1760 or ‘61.4 bay house (1743) (22)
The house stands on the land where Dr. Simeon Brown’s house (brother of Edmund Brown representative of East Parish in 1782 (32)) was before it was destroyed by fire Jan 23, 1743. His 23 years old daughter and fiance (Currier) were burned to death. The young man was the son of D. Currier of the Parish. They were buried across the road in the field on the side of the hill a short distance from the “old back lane”. A way laid out to Holt’s Rocks from the 12 rod way to the river in 1665. The field, later owned by Col. John Johnson is bounded by the “old back lane” and Amesbury lane. Headstones were set up to the graves but in time fell over, became covered with sod and forgotten. Years later they were ploughed up by A. J. Young who owned the field in 1870 – 1880. The inscriptions were not decipherable. Parts of the headstones may still be found in the wall that boarders along the lane, a few rods from Amesbury Road. (history of haverhill, page 323) Dr. Brown moved to Fryberg Me.
Deacon Phineas Nichols, a blacksmith, was born in Amesbury October 12, 1740 the son of Joseph and Martha and died July 30, 1838 at the age of 98.
His daybook is at Winterthur in Delaware.
1444. Nichols, Phineas.
Account book. 1782–1835.
342 p.; 31 cm.
Phineas Nichols was a blacksmith from Haverhill, Massachusetts. In 1799 his son, Benjamin, became his business partner.
References are made to mending pitchforks and shoeing horses and crafting iron into gates, tools, butcher knives, and plane irons.
Document 617.
1770: Phineas Nichols
He purchased land where the house of a Dr. Brown stood before it was destroyed by fire in 1743, and built his new home (1760/1), in which he lived until he died July 30, 1838 at the age of 98. (26)
He and Ezra Chase were in "Colo Johnson's Regt. of Militia which marched on ye alarm April 19, 1775, from ye Town of Haverhill to Cambridge." (26) Deacon Phineas Nichols lived and kept a grocery store in the house lately the home of Miss Eliza Nichols, .... Mr. Nichols sold molasses, which was brought up river in gondolas, and rolled in hogsheads to the door. Mr. Nichols sold pins, needles, and other useful articles. (26)
Gondolas referenced by Noyes where mostly likely gundolows (a flat bottomed sailing barge that would come up and down to the river.)
Phineas’ first son was killed at bunker hill at the age of 15.
Phineas (son) owned it and wills it to his brother Jacob. Jacob was the father of Eliza Ann and John Bartlett Nichols, 2nd.
1782, : Phineas Nichols and Anne (Saunders) Nichols to Zebulon Ingersoll (141/101). 10R along River Road, Northerly 5R 10′, southerly on River 9R 6′, Southerly by Samuel Esterbrook SE land to Road 4R 3.5′, then southerly 14′, then westerly 25′ to road again. Except for land with Blacksmith shop.
1798: Zeb Ingersoll and Ruth (Ingersoll) to Enos Bartlett (164/6). 9R 3′ on River, 5R 10′ on north by Samuel Woodbury, and 10R on road. From River on SE land to Road 4R 3.5′, then southerly 14′, then westerly 25′ to road again.
1799, Sep 18: Enos Bartlett
Enos Bartlett Probate dated 1808: #1868 (William Pillsbury administrator)
Wife seems to be Sarah. Most land in Newbury.
Enos dies in 1800. Son’s John, Jonas, Isaac, and Enos (dies 1807).
Several Deeds in 1810 190/250 ish seem to sell off his land.
Missing how it gets from Enos Bartlett to Simeon Copps
Molly Noyes married Simeon Copps, Dec 24, 1794 could be his second wife (first Sarah Fellows)
Simeon is son of Josiah Copps and Mary Swett.
1802, Apr 26: Simeon Copps and Mary (Noyes) to Silas Pilsbury (170/288) same land as (177/49)
1805, Apr 25: Silas and Abigail Pilsbury to Moses Copps (177/049). Highway 9r2′, North by Suil Short 5R10′, River 9R6′, South Aaron Peasley and John Brown 5r12′
1805, Sep 16: Moses and Mary (George) Copps to Joseph de Poyen (177/49). Land and buildings bounded by Highway 9R2′, north by Sewell Short 5R 10′, River 9R 6′, John Brown and Aaron Peasley on south.
1822, Nov 11: Joseph and Sarah (Elliott) de Poyen to Edward S. Moody (Brother of Cutting)(232/73). Land and buildings bounded by Highway 9R2′, north by Cutting Moody 5R 10′, River 9R 6′, John Brown on south.
1823, Sept 23: Edward S. Moody and Abigail (George) Moody to Cutting Moody (234/10). Same as above
Moody gives to wife and kids in will
1835, July 13: Mary Ann Moody to Theodore and Mary C. Ordway (286/242) . Beginning at the road and widows 3rd and running south 7R, then easterly 1R16L, southerly 9R3L by fence to land of Samuel Estabrook, then easterly 10R to river, 10R north on river to Widow’s 3rd to bound first mentioned. (this could be 21 River Road or if this is 35 River then maybe estabrook owns this)
1835, July 13: Theodore and Mary C. Ordway (286/242) to Mary Ann Moody (same land looks like mortgage).
1839, May 6: Moses B. Moody (Cutting Moody’s son) to Mary Ann Moody (Cutting Moody’s Daughter) (311/251) Beginning at the road and widows 3rd and running south 7R, then easterly 1R16L, southerly 9R3L by fence to land of Samuel Estabrook, then easterly 10R to river, 10R north on river to Widow’s 3rd to bound first mentioned. (
Missing how it gets to Jacob Nichols (Mary Ann Moody dies in 1877)
This Jacob, s. Phineas and Anna (Sanders), Oct. 4, 1778. married Betsey Bartlett (daughter of Lieut. Moses Bartlett)
823-1041 Jacob NICHOLS, 71, shoemaker, $600
Elizabeth ", 68, NH
1856: Listed a J. Nichols on Map
1855 Census:
Jacob Nichols (78) Shoemaker
Elizabeth Nichols (74)
Ann A. Nichols (42)
1870 Census:
Ann Nichols (51) keeps house
Elizabeth (88) no employment (Wife of Jacob (Phineas, Joseph, John))
Elisa (55) no employment
1872, Feb 10: Heirs of Elizabeth Nichols (Harman S. Nichols by J.B. Nichols, J. B. Nichols, 2nd, Maryette Chase and Eustis Chase, Abby Prescott(James L. Prescott), Nancy J. Phelps and Albert Phelps, Sarah Leonora Nichols, William Green, Charles Green, Hannah S. Green, Phebe A. Green, Abbie A. Woodlin and W. H. B. Woodlin, and Laura A. Jaquith and Newton Jaquith) to Eliza and Ann Nichols (Maidens) for $350.00 bounded by land of John Bartlett Nichols, Charles Ramsey (948/88)
1872, Feb 10: (948/89): Heirs of Elizabeth Nichols sells off small piece of land to John Bartlett Nichols. (See Toll Keeper’s house) 29′ by 29′ by 25′ along Eliza and Ann’s, 27′ by road.
1899: Miss Eliza Nichols owner
1899, Jan 26: Charles Greene of Andover (this is Anne’s Nephew through Sally and Eaton Greene) (administrator of Anne M. Nichols) to John B. Nichols 2nd (1580/268) $125.00 29′ by 29′ by 25′ along Eliza and Ann’s, 27′ by road.
1900 Census (or is this 35 River Road)??
John B. Nichols (79) retired (b 1821)
Lizzie M. True (37) servant, house keeper
Paul L. True (15) boarder, shoe cutter
Mary True (11) boarder at school
1904, Sept 13: George M. S. Nichols (administrator of John B. Nichols, 2nd) to Charles Woodbridge (1755/359). A certain parcel of land with buildings bounded as follows: West by River Road, North and East by land of John B. Nichols 2nd, south by Ramsey. (no measurements)
Eliza and her sister Ann (both maiden ladies) were the last of the family to live there. 1865 – 1895/96
1904, Sept 21: Charles G. Woodbridge (wife: J. Ursula M. Woodbridge) to Emma S. Moulton (1756/5) bounded by Ramsey Estate, 103′ along River, Woodbridge to north (previously Nichols), and Road.
1910, April 1: Emma S. Moulton to A.V. Crawford (2014/567) 210′ by 103′
1913, July 23: Archibald V. Crawford to Richard Crawford (2222/494). bounded by southerly by Ramsey land 210′, easterly by River 103′, Northerly by Woodbridge 210′, west by road 103′.
1917, Aug 13: Richard F. Crawford to Archibald V. Crawford (2373/110). bounded by southerly by Ramsey land 210′, easterly by River 103′, Northerly by Woodbridge 210′, west by road 103′.
1917, Aug 16: Archibald V. Crawford to Franc A. Smith (2373/111) Bounded by Ramsey and Charles Woodbridge. bounded by southerly by Ramsey land 210′, easterly by River 103′, Northerly by Woodbridge 210′, west by road 103′.
1920, June 10: Harold H. Sawyer and Alice E. Sawyer to Franc Elizabeth Smith (2373/111). bounded by southerly by Ramsey land 210′, easterly by River 103′, Northerly by Woodbridge 210′, west by road 103′.
1921, June 23: Frank Albert Smith and Franc E Smith to Lydia A. Short (2485/481) bounded by southerly by Ramsey land 210′, easterly by River 103′, Northerly by Woodbridge 210′, west by road 103′.
1939: Mrs. Lydia Short died and willed it to her nephew, Charles Twombley (who owned it in 1941)
1940 Census: Charles Twombly – 36, Lydia (Lycina)?) – 35
1940 – 1943: Vacant
1943-50: Roswell Stratton
1950: William and Vera Leary (Vera continued to own after her husband died)
The two story, ‘dark reddish brown’ house stands high on the Merrimack River bank on the low side of River Road. Early accounts of the house point out that Nichols, who fathered 12 children, at one time maintained a grocery store in an unfinished room on the first floor. In the ceiling just inside the front door a stoutly placed hook can still be seen, and Nichols is supposed to have lowered heavy merchandise, including hogshead of molasses, through a trap door in the floor with the aid of a rope rigged through the hook.
Another account relates that Harriet Livermore, the “not un-feared, half welcome guest” of Whittier’s “Snow Bound” once taught school in a room of the house.
Floors throughout the house are constructed of random width pumpkin pine boards. Doors are hung with H and L hinges installed with handmade nails, and there is paneling in the dining room that Henry Ford once tried unsuccessfully to buy for his historic restoration projects. Several pegs on which former occupants hung their clothes can be seen high on the wall of an upstairs bedroom.
Five of the six rooms have fireplaces, all of which are attached to a big central chimney. The kitchen and living room fireplaces still have their big brick ovens.
The house was built in 1740 and is a classic example of pre-revolutionary architecture. It has a central chimney with five fire places. The flooring is pumpkin pine and some of the boards are 24″ wide. Before my parents purchased it, the house had served a store and school-house as well as a family home.
1738 - David Nichols had a house on the Merrimack River.
1775 - Phineas Nichols in Col. Johnson's regiment.
1798 - Dwelling Houses owned by Phineas Nichols ($500), Dorothy ($100) and Jacob Nichols ($500).
1821 - Phineas Nichols, Deacon of Second Baptist Church.
1837 - Moses Nichols & Co., shoe manufacturer.
1840 - Henry M. Nichols ordained as minister of West Parish.
1848 - James R. Nichols involved with Pentucket Navigation Co.
1852 - John B. Nichols representative of Haverhill.
Phineas Nichols died at 98 (The American Almanac and Repository of Useful Knowledge, for …)
Other owners:
Memphis TN attorney
