Francis Nichols

  Noted events in his life were:

• Dates & Events. ⁵⁵⁵
From A History of the Old Town of Stratford..., pg. 129
Francis Nichols from England was in Stratford among the very first settlers. The General Court, on 10 Oct 1639 assigned "Sergeant Nicholls to train a group of local men and exercise them in military discipline." Francis Nichols was the first military officer in the plantation, which, in those days, was "a matter of considerable distinction."

Francis Nichols died in 1650 and the inventory of his estate in 1655 according to the Stratford records was twenty-nine pounds and nine shillings. His sons were Isaac, Caleb and John, all born in England. His widown Anne was the daughter of Barnabas Wines of Southold, Island and she married as her second husband John Elton.

• Background Information. ⁵⁸⁷
Since Francis Nicolas is referred to as "Sergeant" in the first mention of him in the Connecticut records, indicates that he gained this rank while in the service before he came to the colonies. There are some evidences that he was part of the famous regiment of "The Royal Horse Guards of Charles," in London, many who are known to have come to Boston about the same time that Francis Nichols arrived there.

There is little doubt that Sergeant Nichols was closely related to Sir Richard Nicoll, the first English Governor of New York State. Sir Richard was younger than Francis, and Sir Richard remained in the service of the King, while Francis did not. The difference in the spelling of the name is of little consequence since, in the various records of Stratford we can find the spealling of Francis's surname as Nicolls, Nicols, and Nicolls.
~History of Stratford, Connecticut : 1639-1939, pg. 121