After a trip to the netherlands in 1665 to report on his term as governor, he returned to new york city and lived out his life on his farm, named the great bouwerie, outside of the city. Introduction when colonel richard nicolls, the first english governor of new york, arrived in the fall of 1664, two quite different legal systems confronted him. Nicolls, sir richard, first english governor of new york, born in ampthill, bedfordshire, england, in 1624. True to his word, nicolls took peaceful possession of the town, renamed both it and the surrounding colony new york after his master, and walked into the newly renamed fort james as the first british governor of new york. Richard nicolls born 1624 in ampthill, bedfordshire. She examined original documents proving that francis of stratford was not the son of francis and margaret bruce nichols. He served from 1664, when the english won control of the province from the dutch, to 1668. Nicolls, richard 162428 may 1672, the first english governor of new york, was born in ampthill, bedfordshire, england, the son of francis nicolls, a lawyer, and margaret bruce. The son of a barrister, nicolls was a stalwart royalist who. Richard nicoll historical society of the new york courts. New amsterdam becomes new york, and peter stuyvesant gets. Nicolls remained in office in new york until his resignation as governor, which took effect in august 1668. The top ten reallife characters from the mercia blakewood.
Nicolls, richard 16241672, first english governor of new york, fourth son of francis nicolls and margaret, daughter of sir george bruce of carnock, was born in 1624 according to his epitaph at ampthill church, bedfordshire, and began his military career relictis musarum castris. Nicolls, sir richard, first english governor of new york, b. New amsterdam becomes new york, and peter stuyvesant gets over it. This series contains patents granted since 1664 by either the governor of the province of new york in the name of the king of england or the state of new york. He set up the new colonial government and treated the dutch well.
Against the backdrop of the 17th century anglodutch wars fought to gain supremacy in shipping and trade charles ii of england in 1664 authorized his brother, james, duke of york to send an armed force to new netherland to enforce englands land claim. Richard nicolls 1624 in ampthill, bedfordshire 28 may 1672 on the north sea, off suffolk was the first english colonial governor of new york province. Richard nicolls 16241672, american colonial governor, was born probably at. Richard nicolls 16241672, american colonial governor, was born probably at ampthill, bedfordshire, england, in 1624. New york state department of state bureau of miscellaneous records letters patent. Colonel richard nicolls, first governor of the new york colony 16641668. From the guide to the richard nicolls breuckelen patent, 1667, brooklyn historical society governor of new york state and british army officer. Francis nichols aka nicholls of stratford, ct, was the son of of francis nicolls and margaret bruce and the brother of new york governor richard nicolls continues to circulate across the internet as well as appearing in. Once more in england, he resumed his place as groom of the bedchamber to the duke of york. As told in mercias first adventure birthright, colonel richard nicolls was the commander of the fleet king charles ii dispatches to seize new amsterdam from the dutch, the same fleet with which mercia and the other civilians sail to america under the protection of the kings soldiers. The son of a barrister, nicolls was a stalwart royalist who served in the army during the english civil wars and followed the stuarts into exile, where. Historical timeline of early new jersey descendants of. Richard nicolls 16241672 was the first english colonial governor of new york.
Proprietary government and the nicolls grants following the assumption of english control, richard nicollsnow established as governoradministered the new colony from new york and granted land rights to two groups. Although convincingly disproved years ago, the claim that sgt. James commissioned richard nicoll to lead the attack. It was intended before its departure that the commission would remain in the new world to establish englands claim on behalf of the duke of york. He commanded a royalist troop of horse during the civil war, and on the defeat of the king went into exile. Background richard nicolls was born in 1624 ampthill, bedfordshire, england. He commanded a royalist troop of horse during the english civil war, and when the king was defeated, nicolls went into exile. New amsterdam was renamed new york city and richard nicolls was declared the new english governor. Nicolls, richard 16241672, first english governor of new york, fourth son of francis nicolls and margaret, daughter of sir george.
Why should an test charge be of negligibly smaller magnitude. Money that people pay to the government so that it can perform services. When colonel richard nicolls appeared with four shipsofwar and 450 soldiers operated by the government of that nation in front of new amsterdam august, 1664 and demanded the surrender of the province aug. How did richard nicolls become governor of new york answers. New york, macmillan mcgrawhill, chapter 4, lesson 3. Richard nicolls, the first english governor of the province of new york in the american colonies.
Nicolls, richard dnb00 wikisource, the free online library. Colonel richard nicolls set sail in june 1664 from portsmouth with four frigates and about 300 soldiers, and on the 27th of august received the submission of the dutch capital of new amsterdam. His departure was accompanied with every evidence of the high regard in which the colonists held him. Colonel richard nicoll was to become the governor, and matthias nicoll ii was appointed secretary of the future province of new york. In 1993, barbara nichols wrote francis nichols of stratford, connecticut was not a brother of deputy governor richard nicolls of new york. Giovanni da verrazano, under french flag explored eastern coast of new jersey and new york bay. Henry hudson and john colman, dutch west india company, explored hudson river and the west side of staten island and discovered newark bay and the passaic and hackensack rivers. First governor of new york, 16641668 montgomery order of colonial lords of manors in america. Apparently, richard nicolls, the military commander who gave new york its name and was its first british governor, is not mary ellens uncle, 10 generations removed.
Whereas the inhabitants of long island, have for a long time groaned under many grievous inconveniences, and discouragements occasioned partly from their subjection, partly from their opposition to a forraigne power, in which distracted condition, few or no lawes could bee putt in due execution, bounds and titles to lands disputed, civill libertyes interrupted, and from this. He was the fourth son and youngest child of francis nicolls, of the middle temple, and of ampthill. The legal history of the british colony of new york may be said to have begun on august 26 1664, when colonel richard nicolls anchored his little. Historical society of the new york courts new york legal. The manifold problems of government incident to a change of sovereignty probably afforded more than sufficient scope for a testimony of the governors zeal in behalf of his royal protector. Handpicked by charless brother james, duke of york to be the first british. New amsterdam becomes new york dutch governor peter stuyvesant surrenders new amsterdam, the capital of new netherland, to. A letter from governor richard nicolls to the inhabitants. See more ideas about running the gauntlet, historical fiction authors and anglo dutch wars. For the next 156 years, the mayor will be appointed and have limited power. Although again, another account says that newtown was formally purchased by governor richard nicolls in 1666 after the english had won control over all of the new netherlands, and that account even mentions the 3 indians it was purchased from by name, so ya gotta think it might be truer those names were rocero, westcoe and pomwamken by the. Richard nicolls was the first english governor of new york in the american colonies.
Richard nicholls was the first english colonial governor of new york province. Nicolls, richard 16241672, the first english governor. Richard nicolls 1624 may 28, 1672, english governor. Nicolls, richard, 16241672 social networks and archival. He served in the english civil war as a royalist and.
Nicolls, richard, 162472, first english governor of new york, b. Soon after the restoration he became groom of the bedchamber to the duke of york, through whose influence he was appointed in 1664 on a. His father, one of the squires of the bath to sir edward bruce, died the year nicolls was born. I look at a man at the heart of royal government who became the first british governor of new york. I should also mention that richard nicolls mother, margaret bruce, was a direct. The son of a barrister, nicolls was a stalwart royalist who served in the army during the english civil wars and followed. The dutch governor of new amsterdam that would later be new york, peter stuyvesant, surrendered it to an english naval squadron under colonel richard nicolls. Proprietary governor of the province of new york 16681672 succeeded by anthony colve as directorgeneral of new netherland. Nicholls was born in 1624 in ampthill in bedfordshire, england. It is agreed that the lenape indians who are the current owners of the area receive in exchange 750 ft. December, 1664 governor of new york richard nicolls allows a group of people from long island to purchase a land in the new jersey colony to found a new city. Richard nicolls 1624, ampthill, bedfordshire 28 may 1672 north sea off suffolk, was the first english governor of the province of new york in. Abaa brooklyn ferry in 1666 british royal governor. When was richard nicolls governor of new york answers.
The first english governor of new york, richard nicolls, does not appear to have greatly concerned himself with matters of reli gion. Governor of new york state and british army officer. He served in the english civil war as a royalist and followed the stuarts into exile, where he entered the service of the duke of york later king james ii. Richard nicolls esq 16241672 wikitree free family tree. Colonel richard nicolls first governor of new york state. Richard nicholls 1624 in ampthill, bedfordshire 28 may 1672 on the north sea, off suffolk was the first english colonial governor of new york province early life. Richard nicoll was 1st governor of new york colony, formerly new netherland, and received praise for his handling of the colony when he left to england in 1668. Richard nicolls, first governor of new york, 16641668. Initially, the dukes laws applied in the three ridings of yorkshire long island, staten island, and westchester but on june 12, 1665, governor nicolls promulgated the new york city charter that extended the code to new york city and set up a system of government there consisting of a mayor, aldermen and sheriff. He commanded a royalist troop of horse during the english civil war, and on the defeat of the king went into exile. From the description of commission of richard nicolls, 1664. Francis is not margaret bruces son by carol tilson july 16, 2001 at 01. Within days of the bloodless transfer of new netherlands from the dutch to the english in 1664, the duke of york s new deputy governor colonel richard nicolls was waited upon by a delegation of six men from towns in the connecticut and long island representing an association wishing to colonize lands in what was then known by the dutch name albania. Richard nicolls, 162472, first english governor of new york, b.
Richard nicolls 16241672 was the first english colonial governor of new york from 1664 to 1668. Governor richard nicolls appoints thomas willett the first mayor of new york. Nicolls, richard, 16241672 social networks and archival context. On september 16, when seven members of the sitting city court wrote as loyal. The new english governor initiated a more enlightened policy toward the natives. In 1664, charles ii laid claim to the dutch colony in america and gave it to the duke of york, who appointed nicolls governor. Richard nicholls 1624 in ampthill, bedfordshire 28 may 1672 on the north sea, off suffolk was the first english colonial governor of new york province.
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