D. Nicholson & Co. (aka Nicholson’s Ltd): History

 

The Company

According to most of this company’s advertisements in the last three decades of the 19th century[1] and a listing in the 1914[2] Who’s Who directory, D. Nicholson & Co. of St. Paul’s Churchyard was established in 1843 by Daniel Nicholson.  However, this cannot be true because Daniel was only seven years old that year.  It seems more likely that the business was started around that time by someone else and Daniel became the owner at a later date.  The first time a company with a similar name and address appeared in city directories was 1850[3] when it was recorded as “Nicholson & Holladay, cloak, &c. wa. 51 & 52 St. Paul’s chyd”.  Also, in 1850[4]  an advertisement for the sale of shawls, mantles, etc appeared in local newspapers with the same name “Nicholson & Holladay’s, 51 and 52, St. Paul’s, three doors from Cheapside”.   According to old maps of the area, the street known as St. Paul’s Churchyard meets a street named Cheapside on the northeast side of St. Paul’s Cathedral[5].  It wasn’t until 1854[6] that a company known as D. Nicholson & Co. placed several advertisements in local newspapers regarding their “morning attire”, however their address was 246 & 248 Regent Street.  Daniel Nicholson & Co. wasn’t listed in city directories until 1860[7] when it was recorded as warehouseman at 50, 51 and 52 St. Paul’s Churchyard.  Exactly how these businesses were possibly related is unknown.  In the 1861[8] census there was a Daniel Nicholson age 25 living at 51 St. Paul’s Churchyard with his wife, 2 sons and 11 servants.  That year he was listed as a warehouseman employing 7 men and 7 women and the servant’s occupations were listed as 3 saleswomen, 2 salesmen, 1 clerk, 2 porters, 1 cook and 2 house servants.  Clearly Daniel was in charge of the Nicholson business by that year which means he probably acquired it from one of the other companies sometime around 1857[9].  Presumably, because Daniel was rather young at that time to be operating a new business on his own, he most likely acquired it from a relative or someone he knew.

 

By 1865[10] the firm was listed as “silk mercers, mantle, shawl, & juvenile dress warehouse” and by 1875[11] the words “india & colonial outfitters” were added to their product description. Then in 1880[12] the company expanded to include 50, 51, 52 & 53 St. Paul’s Churchyard and 66A Paternoster Row which was located next door.  An 1884[13] drawing of the company’s warehouse at St. Paul’s Churchyard is seen here. 

The firm’s product line is best visualized in this 1880’s[14] advertisement.

Charles Lamprey joined the Nicholson business around 1871 and became a clerk by 1881.  Daniel’s son, Augustus Henry Nicholson, also joined his father’s business at first as a clerk in 1881 later becoming a buyer by 1891.  Sometime between 1890[15] and 1895 the firm became a limited liability company as it was recorded in 1895[16] as D. Nicholson & Co. Ltd., however, by 1900[17] it became Nicholsons Limited.  As a result, Daniel became the chairman, Charles and Augustus became directors and their warehouse was rebuilt and expanded to include 50 to 53 St. Paul’s Churchyard and 63 to 68 Paternoster Row as described in the 1914[18] notice shown here.  Two post cards with photographs of the new Nicholson building, taken some time during the early 20th century, can be found below.

 

Nicholson’s Ltd. continued operations at this location until their building next to St. Paul’s Cathedral was destroyed in 1940/41[19] during the Blitz of World War II.  The firm must have recovered after the war because it continued to be listed in newspapers until 1959[20], however, no record of it after that date has been found. 

 

Only one Avery style needle case has been discovered with the D. Nicholson & Co. name.  The Stella Golden needle, pictured below, was registered by William Avery and Albert Fenton of Redditch in 1869[21].

 

 

 

 

 

Post cards of the intersection of St. Paul’s Churchyard and Cheapside[22] before the area was destroyed during World War II.

Left: The Nicholson building is the second one on the right with the flag on the top.  Right: Closeup of the Nicolson's Ltd business.

The Nicholson Owners

Daniel Nicholson, who established D. Nicholson and Co., was the twelfth child and tenth son born to William and Charlotte Nicholson.  His father, William Nicolson, was born c1787 in Great Clacton located in the Tendring section of Essex, a town about 77 miles northeast of London.  In 1815 William married Charlotte Pells, who was also born in that area.  William and Charlotte had 14 children born between 1817 and 1841 who were all baptized at St. John the Baptist Church in Great Clacton: William Jr., Mary Susanna, George Henry, Charles, Martha Maria, John Barnard, Thomas who died in infancy, Robert, Thomas, Benjamin Barnard, Henry, Daniel, Herbert Hayward and Alfred.  The family lived on a 235-acre farm which employed 16 men and 2 servants.  William spent his entire working life as a farmer.  Charlotte died in Great Clacton in 1858 at age 60 and three years later William was living in Tunbridge Wells in Kent, 95 miles southwest of Great Clacton.  He later returned to northern Essex settling in Walton-on-the-Naze, 7 miles northeast of Great Clacton.  William died at age 80 in 1867 at Charles Street near Manchester Square in the London area presumably while visiting family or friends.  He left an estate of £9,000 equivalent to £563,481[23] today which was proved by his two sons who were also farmers in the Great Clacton area.

 

To better understand Daniel Nicholson’s degree of success a quick look at his brother’s lives is necessary.  Of the 12 Nicholson brothers, information about the lives of 9 has been found: 4 became farmers, 1 was a leather dresser, 1 a coal merchant, 1 a hosier, 1 immigrated to another country and 1 became a warehouseman/draper.  The eldest was William Jr. who was born c1817 and became a farmer like his father.  He married a woman from Lincolnshire and by 1871 owned 500 acres of land in Thorpe, a town near Great Clacton and employed 31 men and 10 boys.  William died there in 1876 at age 59.  To date his probate has not been found.  The second son, George Henry, was born c1820 and in 1842 he married a woman in Henley, Oxfordshire, 125 miles west of Great Clacton.  By 1891 he became a leather dresser employer and lived in the Woodford Green section of northeast London.  George died there in 1894 at age 74 and was recorded as a gentleman leaving an estate of £14,317.  Charles, the third son, was born c1822 and married in London in 1844.  Charles became a coal merchant who was living in Brighton, Kent in 1871.  The fourth son, John Barnard, was born c1825.  By 1856 he was living on Ludgate Street near St. Paul’s Cathedral in London working as a hosier.  In 1861 his business employed 2 men and his younger brother Herbert lived with him working as an assistant.  When John died in 1869 at age 44 his estate of £5,000 was proved by the oaths of his brother’s Charles and Daniel.  The fifth son, named Thomas, was born c1828 and died in 1829 at age 11 months.  The sixth son was Robert who was born c1829.  He married a woman from Thorpe in London in 1857 and they returned to the Great Clacton area where Robert worked as a farmer in neighboring Weeley where he died in 1901.  Thomas the seventh son was born c1830 and married a woman from neighboring Great Holland, Essex in 1858.  He also became a farmer and by 1881 owned 600 acres employing 14 men and 8 boys.  Thomas died at age 70 at a hospital in the London area and left an estate of £9,668.  The eight son was Benjamin Barnard born c1832.  Benjamin immigrated to Australia where he married in 1859 and died in 1867.  No information after 1841 has been found regarding the ninth son Henry who was born c1834.  Details about Daniel who was the tenth son can be found in the next paragraph.  Herbert Hayward the eleventh son never married and remained in the Great Clacton area where he owned a farm and work as a seed merchant employer.  When Herbert died in 1914 at age 75 he left an estate of £115 to his nephew Augustus Henry Nicholson, a director of Nicholson’s Limited.   Additional information about the twelfth son Alfred who was born in 1841 has been found after 1851.   

 

Daniel Nicholson was born c1836 at Great Clacton in Essex.  His parents were William and Charlotte Nicholson, and his father was a farmer.  Daniel had eleven brothers and two sisters.  Sometime before 1857 he moved to the London area and married Fanny Hearn that year at St. George in Hanover Square.  Because St. George was considered a fashionable place from weddings at that time, it seems most likely that Daniel was from an upper class family.  Although he was only 21 years old on his wedding day, Daniel was recorded at that time as a warehouseman living at the same address as the Nicholson business and his wife’s father was a linen draper.  Also, Fanny was born in Taunton, Somerset, a town 152 miles southwest of London.  During those years it was nearly impossible for a lower-class young man to move to London, marry at a fancy place and start a business by age 21, further evidence that Daniel’s family had a certain degree of wealth and perhaps the marriage was arranged.  In the 1861 census Daniel was listed as a warehouseman employing 7 men and 7 women living at 51 St. Paul’s Churchyard with his wife and 2 children.  Daniel and Fanny had 6 children between 1857 and 1867: Frederick Daniel, Horace William, Frank Congdon, Augustus Henry, Beatrice Fanny and Malcom Grant.  Their first child, Frederick Daniel, may have been born shortly before or shortly after their marriage or perhaps was originally the child of another man who was adopted by Daniel because his 1857[24] birth record has not been found.  The relationship between Daniel and Fanny must have deteriorated over the years because in 1870 Daniel filed for divorce accusing Fanny of having an adulterous relationship with a man named William Apthorpe.  In 1871 Daniel was living with his son Malcolm while the other four surviving children were at school in the London area. The whereabouts of Fanny that year have not been found.  When the divorce was finalized in 1872, Mr. Apthrope was required to pay a fine of £1,000 (equivalent to approximately £62,609[25] today) in damages to Daniel.

 

At some point between 1871 and 1881 Daniel and his two youngest children moved to Marylebone and then to the Hampstead section of London, both areas where well to do families lived.  In late 1881 Daniel married his second wife Eleanor Elizabeth Sinclair at St. Peter’s Church in Hampstead.  Because he was listed as a widower in the 1881 census and on his second marriage record, it seems likely that his first wife died shortly after their divorce.  Daniel and Elizabeth had 2 children born in 1883: Joseph Sinclair and Daniel Howard Sinclair.  The family continued to live in the Hampstead area for a number of years and Daniel was listed as a Manchester warehouseman or draper employer in 1881 and 1891.  Then at some point around 1897[26] they moved to the Isle of Wight where they established their new home called the Rocklands, pictured here[27], at Ventnor, 96 miles southwest of London.  Although not in the London area, Daniel continued to be involved with the Nicholson company as a director in 1901 and later as chairman.  Daniel died at the Rocklands in 1914 at age 78 and left as estate valued at £33,596 (£1,981,902 today[28]) to his wife and another gentleman.  At some point after his death, Eleanor moved to Caterham in Surrey, 19 miles south of London where she died in 1935 at age 91.  Her estate of £6,810 was administered by her two sons.  Daniel’s 1914[29] obituary reads as follows:

 

“MR. DANIEL NICHOLSON

   One of the oldest City tradesmen passed away on Wednesday in the person of Mr. Daniel Nicholson, founder of the well-known Paternoster-row firm of general drapers.  Mr. Nicholson was found dead in his bed at his residence at Ventnor, and the sad news was telephoned to the City in time for the announcement to be made at the meeting of Nicholson (Limited).  Mr. Nicholson founded the business in 1848[30], and was 79 years of age.  He was a member of the Spectaclemakers’ Company, and was a well-known Freemason.  He resided at Ventnor for the past 17 years, and during the last fortnight had suffered from heart trouble.”

 

What follows are some details regarding the lives of Daniel Nicholson’s seven sons.  No information after 1871 has been found regarding his eldest son Frederick Daniel who was born c1857.  The second son Horace William died in 1859, a year after his birth in 1858.  The third son was Frank Congdon who was born in 1859.  At some point Frank moved to Durban Natal in South Africa where he died in 1931 leaving an estate of £3,955.  Details about the fourth son Augustus Henry who joined his father’s business can be found in the next paragraph.  The youngest son from Daniel’s first wife was Malcolm Grant, born in 1867.  Malcolm married Lily Maud Nicholls who was six years younger than him in 1895 in Camberwell.  By 1901 they were living in Camberwell but had no children and Malcolm was working as a commercial traveler possibly for his father’s business.  He died unexpectedly of pneumonia and heart disease at age 37 in 1905.  The two sons Daniel had with his second wife were more successful than the others.  Joseph Sinclair was born in 1883.  He married Gertrude Sylvia Sealy in 1910 in Abbotsham, Devon, 210 miles east of London, the area where Gertrude was born.  At first they lived in the Lambeth section of London where Joseph worked as an investigator for unemployment insurance for the Labor Dept Board of Trade.  Later they moved to Caterham Valley, Surrey about 19 miles south of London where Joseph died in 1968 at age 85.  He left an estate of £40,898.  The youngest son Daniel Howard Sinclair was born in 1883.  While living with his parents at the Rocklands, Daniel married a French woman named Blanche Jenny Koopman who was eight years older than him in 1909 on the Isle of Wight.  At first Daniel worked as a solicitor, but later became an author.  By 1911 Daniel and Blanche were living in Leatherhead, Surrey, 21 miles southwest of London, where they lived for some time before moving to Farnham Common in Buckinghamshire, 27 miles west of London.  Daniel died at age 52 in 1936 in Marylebone while visiting London and left an estate valued at £37,151.

 

Augustus Henry Nicholson was the third surviving son of Daniel Nicholson and Fanny Hearn.  At the time of his birth in 1861 he was named William Henry Nicholson, as that is the name of the son born on July 4, 1861 to parents Daniel Nicholson and Fanny Nicholson formerly Hearn.  His forename was changed to Augustus at some point prior to 1870 as he was listed that way in the 1871 census at age 9 and in one of his parent’s 1870 divorce documents he was recorded as Augustus Henry Nicholson born July 4, 1861.  By the time Augustus was 19 years old in 1881 he was living at 50-53 St. Paul’s Churchyard and was working as a drapery clerk with 22 boarders most who were assistant drapers. In 1889 he married Robena Catherine Spence in the Hendon district of North London where the young couple lived for a few years while Augustus worked as mercer and a draper’s buyer.  Augustus and Robena had 6 children born between 1892 and 1906: Rubena Spence, Margaret Eleanor, Danial Augustus William, Beryl Sinclair, Lesley Christine and Eleanor Margaret.  At some time between 1897 and 1898 the family moved to Enfield in the Edmonton section of north London, 13 miles north of the city center.  By 1901 Augustus became a director at Nicholson Ltd.  In the 1911 census his wife and 3 of their children were visiting Ventnor presumably so the children could spend time with their grandparents Daniel and Eleanor Nicholson who lived nearby.  Robena died in 1934 at age 70 at Frinton-on-Sea in the Tendring area of Essex near Great Clacton where the Nicholson family originated.  She left as estate of £869.  Augustus moved to Kenley, Surrey, about 14 miles south of London, and died there three years later in 1938 at a hospital in the Croydon section of south London.  His estate was valued at £9,128.

 

The Lamprey Owners

Charles Lamprey, the son of a corn and coal dealer, was born in 1845 in Banbury, Oxfordshire, 78 miles northwest of London.  By age 25 in 1871 he was living at 51 St. Paul’s Churchyard working as a draper’s assistant for D. Nicholson & Co.  In 1879 he married Charlotte Maria Ellsley at St, Mary’s, Battersea in the Wandsworth section of south London.  Charles and Charlotte had 2 children: Anne Maud and Lottie May and the family remained in the southern section of London, Camberwell, Clapham and Wandsworth for most of their lives.  During those years Charles was listed as a merchant’s clerk, or a clerk in a Manchester warehouse, or a draper’s clerk until he became a company director at Nicholson’s Ltd prior to 1901.  Charles and Charlotte eventually moved to Herne Bay in Kent, 67 miles southeast of London where Charles died in 1930 at age 85 leaving an estate of £33,912.   Four years later Charlotte was living in neighboring Tankerton, Kent but died at a hotel while visiting Cheltenham in 1939 at age 83.  She left as estate valued at £3,688.

 

D. Nicolson & Co. (aka Nicholson’s Ltd): Images

 

North side of St. Paul’s Churchyard with the Temple Bar in the center, 2015.

 

Paternoster Square, 2015.

 

Cheapside street looking toward the east, 2015.

 

Northeast side of St. Paul’s Churchyard where the Nicholson warehouse was originally located, 2015.

 

John Wesley statue at St. Paul’s Churchyard, 2015.

 

Northeast side of St. Paul’s Churchyard where it meets New Change Street and Cheapside Street with St. Paul’s Cathedral on the left side, 2023.

 

Closeup view of the northeast side of St. Paul’s Churchyard, 2023.  The orange brick building is where D. Nicholson & Co. was originally located.

 

The southeast side of Paternoster Square, 2023.  The building on the left is where D. Nicholson & Co. originally had its warehouse.  St. Paul’s Cathedral is seen behind the building in the center.

 

The Temple Bar at Paternoster Square with St. Paul’s Cathedral in the background, 2023.

 

D. Nicholson & Co. (aka Nicholson’s Ltd):  Genealogy

 

Nicholson Generation 1: William Nicholson (c1787-1867) and Charlotte Pells (c1798-1858)

(Note:  according to a search on ancestry.com for individuals with the name William Nicholson living in the Great Clacton area from 1841-1871, only one was found with a wife named Charlotte).

·       Born: not found.

·       Baptized: not found.

·       Marriage: November 13, 1815 St. John the Baptist, Great Clacton, Essex (S1m).  Listed as William Nicholson and Charlotte Pells.

·       1841 Census: Sladburies. Great Clacton, Essex (S4). Listed as  William Nicolson age 50 a farmer born in the county, Charlotte age 40 born in the county and 10 children all born in the county: William, Mary, Maria, Robert, Thomas, Benjamin, Henry, Daniel, Herbert and Alfred and 2 servants.  (Note: the census index incorrectly lists Herbert as Hubert).

·       1851 Census: 81 Gt Holland Rd, Great Clacton, Essex (S4).  Listed as William Nicholson age 64 a farmer of 235 acres employing 16 men born in Great Clacton with wife Charlotte age 53 born in Great Clacton, 3 children: Robert, Herbert and Alfred and 2 servants.

·       Wife’s Death: March 2, 1858 Saint Osyth, Tendring, Essex (S8d).  Listed as Charlotte Nicholson age 60 the wife of William Nicholson a farmer who died of heart disease at Great Clacton with William Nicholson present at her death.

·       Wife’s Burial: not found.

·       Wife’s Probate: not found.

·       1861 Census: 2 Park Place, Tonbridge, Tunbridge Wells, Kent (S4).  Listed as William Nicholson a widower age 74 a retired farmer born in Great Cloton, Essex with 1 housekeeper.  (Note: William’s birth place seems to be a census taker misspelling of Great Clacton).

·       Death: January 28 1867 The Rectory Marylebone, Middlesex (S8d).  Listed as William Nicholson age 80 formerly a farmer who died of calculus one week after a cystitis operation at 6 Charles Street.  January 28, 1867 at 6 Charles-street, Manchester-square, Middlesex (S6).

·       Burial: not found.

·       Probate: March 6, 1867 Ipswich (S6).  Listed as William Nicolson late of Walton-on-the-Naze, Essex a farmer with effects of £9,000 proved by the oaths of William Nicholson of Thorp-le-Soken, Essex a farmer and Thomas Nicholson of Great Clacton, Essex a farmer, the sons and executors.

·       Children:

1.     William Nicholson (c1817-1876). Baptized: July 4, 1817 St. John the Baptist, Great Clacton, Essex (S1c), listed as William Nicholson with parents William and Charlotte Nicholson. 1841 Census: with parents (S4).  1871 Census: 123 Landermere New Hill, Thorpe, Tendring, Essex, listed as William Nicholson age 53 a farmer of 500 acres employing 31 men and 10 boys born in Great Clacton with wife Sarah age 27 born in Lincoln, 1 son William and 1 housemaid.  Death: 1st QTR 1876 Tendring, Essex (S5d), listed as William Nicholson age 59.  Probate: not found.

2.     Mary Susanna Nicholson (c1819-??).  Baptized: August 17, 1819 St. John the Baptist, Great Clacton, Essex (S1c), listed as Mary Susanna Nicholson with parents William and Charlotte Nicholson.  1841 Census: with parents (S4). 

3.     George Henry Nicholson (c1820-1894).  Baptized: December 13, 1820 St. John the Baptist, Great Clacton, Essex (S1c), listed as George Henry Nicholson with parents William and Charlotte Nicholson.  Marriage: November 6, 1842 Henley, Oxfordshire (S8m), listed as George Henry Nicholson age 22 a bachelor and currier who resided at Market Place, Henley on Thames whose father was William Nicholson a farmer and Rebecca Shelton age 23 a spinster.  1891 Census: 56 Bromhill Park, Woodford, Essex (S4), listed as George H. Nicholson age 70 a leather dresser employer born in Gt. Clacton, Essex with wife Rebecca age 71 birthplace undecipherable, 1 son: William, 1 granddaughter: Maud, 1 companion and 2 servants.  Death: October 31, 1894 (S6).  Probate: November 30, 1894 London (S6), listed as George Henry Nicholson of Woodford Green, Essex a gentleman with effects of £14,317 to William Nicholson a tanner and leather merchant and Edward Daniels a gentleman.  (Note: the probate index incorrectly lists George’s death date as October 30, 1894).

4.     Charles Nicholson (c1822-??).  Baptized: July 1, 1822 St. John the Baptist, Great Clacton, Essex (S1c), listed as Charles Nicholson with parents William and Charlotte Nicholson.  Marriage: September 12, 1844 St. James, Westminster, Middlesex (S8m), listed as Charles Nicholson a bachelor and linen draper who resided at Old Compton St, Soho whose father was William Nicholson a farmer and Mary Ring a spinster.  1871 Census: 8 New Stone, Brighton, Sussex (S4), listed as Charles Nicholson age 49 a coal merchant born in Gt. Clacton, Essex with wife Mary age 49 born in Hull, 2 children: Arthur E. and Duncan R.  (Note: the census index incorrectly lists Charles as a servant).  Listed in brother John Barnard Nicholson’s 1869 probate.  Death and Probate: not found.

5.     Martha Maria Nicholson (c1823-1905). Baptized: August 28, 1823 St. John the Baptist, Great Clacton, Essex (S1c), listed as Martha Maria Nicholson with parents William and Charlotte Nicholson.  1841 Census: with parents (S4).  Second Marriage: September 26, 1867 St. Martin Ludgate, London (S3), listed as Martha Maria Bayner age 44 a widow whose father was William Nicholson a farmer and Thomas Bowling age 53.  Death: January 6, 1905 (S6). Probate: February 1, 1905 London (S6), listed as Martha Maria Bowling of Beaumont-hill, Clacton-on-Sea, Essex widow with effects £1,014 to Danial Nicholson esquire.

6.     John Barnard Nicholson (c1825-1869).  Baptized: February 3, 1825 St. John the Baptist, Great Clacton, Essex (S1c), listed as John Barnard Nicholson with parents William and Charlotte Nicholson.  Freedom of the City of London #14983 dated October 18, 1856 (S=London, England, Freedom of the City Admission Papers, 1681-1920 available at ancestry.com), listed as John Barnard Nicholson, the son of William Nicholson of Great Clacton, Essex a farmer, occupying premises at 29 Ludgate Street as a hosier.  1861 Census: 29 Ludgate St, St. Martin Ludgate, London (S4), listed as John B. Nicholson age 36 a hosier employing 2 men born in Gt Clacton, Essex with brother Herbert age 22 and 3 servants.  Death: March 13, 1869 at 18 Ludgate-Hill (S6).  Probate: April 17, 1869 Principal Registry (S6), listed John Barnard Nicholson late of 18 Ludgate, London a hosier with effects of £5,000 proved by the oaths of Charles Nicholson of Gresham-buildings, Basinghall-street in the city an accountant and Daniel Nicholson of 51 St. Paul’s Churchyard a silk mercer, the brothers and executors.

7.     Thomas Nicholson (c1828-1829).  Baptized: June 11, 1829 St. John the Baptist, Great Clacton, Essex (S1c), listed as Thomas Nicholson with parents William and Charlotte Nicholson.  Burial: November 30, 1829 John the Baptist, Great Clacton, Essex (S1b), listed as Thomas Nicholson who was Born: abt 1828, Death Age: 11/12.

8.     Robert Nicholson (c1829-1901).  Baptized: June 15, 1829 St. John the Baptist, Great Clacton, Essex (S1c), listed as Robert Nicholson with parents William and Charlotte Nicholson.  1841 and 1851 Censuses: with parents (S4).  Marriage: September 29, 1857 St. Dunstan in the West, London (S3), listed as Robert Nicholson a bachelor and farmer who resided at Fleet Street whose father was William Nicholson a farmer and Rebecca Nicholson a spinster who resided at Thorpe, Essex.  1901 Census:  43 High St, Weeley, Essex (S4), listed as Robert Nicholson a widower age 70 a retired farmer born in Gt Clacton, Essex.  Death: October 30, 1901 Thorpe, Tendering, Essex (S8d), listed as Robert Nicholson age 76 a retired farmer who died of cirrhosis of the liver and dropsy at The Street, Weeley.  Probate: not found.

9.     Thomas Nicholson (c1830-1900).  Baptized: December 29, 1830 St. John the Baptist, Great Clacton, Essex (S1c), listed as Thomas Nicholson with parents William and Charlotte Nicholson.  1841 Census: with parents (S4).  Marriage: June 17, 1858 All Saints, Great Holland, Essex (S1m), listed as Thomas Nicholson age 28 whose father was William Nicholson and Emily Mills. 1881 Census:  170 Ladburys Farm, Great Clacton, Essex (S4), listed as Thomas Nicolson age 51 a farmer of 600 acres employing 14 men and 8 boys born in Gt. Clacton, Essex with wife Emily age 41 born in Gt Holland, Essex, 5 children: Edwin, Emily, Kate, Herbert H. and Constance and 1 servant.  Death: August 1, 1900 at Bethlehem Royal-hospital, Southwark, Surrey (S6).  Probate: August 25, 1900 London (S4), listed as Thomas Nicholson of Sladbury, Great Clacton, Essex with effects £9,668 to John Barnard Nicholson farmer.

10.  Benjamin Barnard Nicholson (c1832-1867).  Baptized: October 18, 1832 St. John the Baptist, Great Clacton, Essex, listed as Benjamin Nicholson with parents William and Charlotte Nicholson.  1841 Census: with parents (S4).  Marriage: 1859 Victoria, Australia (S=Australia, Marriage Index, 1788-1950 available at ancestry.com), listed as Benjamin Barnard Nicholson and Mary Edge Rostron.  Death: 1867 Australia (S=Australia, Death Index, 1787-1985 available at ancestry.com), listed as Benjamin Barnard Nicholson age 34 whose parents were William and Charlotte Nicholson.  Probate: not found.

11.  Henry Nicholson (c1834-??).  Baptized: May 28, 1834 St. John the Baptist, Great Clacton, Essex (S1c), listed as Henry Nicholson with parents William and Charlotte Nicholson.  1841 Census: with parents (S4).  Information after 1841 not found.

12.  Daniel Nicholson (c1836-1914). – See Nicholson Generation 2

13.  Herbert Hayward Nicholson (1839-1914).  Baptized: July 14, 1839 St. John the Baptist, Great Clacton, Essex (S1c), listed as Herbert Heyward Nicholson with parents William and Charlotte Nicholson. 1841 and 1851 Censuses: with parents (S4).  1861 Census: with brother John Barnard Nicholson (S4).  1911 Census:  Bull Hill, Bull Hill Farm, Holland Rd, Great Clatcon, Essex (S4), listed as Herbert Hayward Nicholson single age 72 a seed merchant employer born in Great Clacton and 2 servants. Death:  June 5, 1914 (S6).  Probate: July 8, 1914 Ipswich (S6), listed as Herbert Hayward Nicholson of Bull Hill Farm, Great Clacton a retired farmer with Effects of £115 to Augustus Henry Nicholson director of a public company.

14.  Alfred Nicholson (c1841-??).  Baptized: September 19, 1841 St. John the Baptist, Great Clacton, Essex (S1c), listed as Alfred Nicholson with parents William and Charlotte Nicholson.  1841 and 1851 Censuses: with parents (S4).  Information after 1841 not found.

 

Nicholson Generation 2:  Daniel Nicholson (c1836-1914) and Fanny Hearn (c1835-??) and Eleanor Elizabeth Sinclair (c1844-1935)

·       Born: c1836 (S4), (S5d), (S7)

·       Baptized:  June 8, 1836 St. John the Baptist, Great Clacton, Essex (S1c).  Listed as Daniel Nicholson with parents William and Charlotte Nicholson. (Note: the baptism index incorrectly lists his forename as Dan Iel.)

·       1841 Census: with parents (S4). Listed as Daniel Nicholson age 5 born in the county.

·       1851 Census: not found.

·       Marriage #1: 3rd QTR 1857 St. George Hanover Square, London (S5m), listed as Fanny Hearn. July 21, 1857 St. George Hanover Square, Middlesex (1872 S=Divorce documents: a certified copy of the marriage license obtained on October 29, 1870 is included), listed as Daniel Nicholson a bachelor and warehouseman who resided at 51 St. Paul’s Ch. Yard whose father was William a farmer and Fanny Hearn a spinster whose father was a linen draper.

·       1861 Census: 51 St. Paul’s Churchyard, London (S4).  Listed as Daniel Nicholson age 25 a warehouseman employing 7 men and 7 women born in Gt Clacton, Essex with wife Fanny age 26 born in Taunton, Somerset, 2 children: Frederick Daniel and Frank Congden and 11 servants of which 2 were salesmen, 3 were saleswomen, 1 was a clerk and 5 others.

·       1870-1872: Divorce Documents, 18 pages (S=England & Wales Civil Divorce Records, 1858-1918 available at ancestry.com).   Petition was filed by Danial Nicholson on November 2, 1870 with the Final Decree dated January 23, 1872.  Nicholson v Nicholson v Apthorpe which accused Fanny Nicholson of committing adultery with William Apthorpe requiring Apthrope to pay £1,000 in damages to Daniel Nicholson. 

·       1871 Census:  51 St. Paul’s Ch Yd, London (S4).  Listed as Daniel Nicholson married age 35 a silk mercer born in Gt Clacton, Essex with 1 child: Malcom G. and 13 servants (4 milliners, 5 drapers assistants, 1 nurse, 1 drapers porter and 2 servants).

·       1871 Census Wife: not found.

·       1871 Census Sons:  91 Mitcham Lodge Academy Private School, Mitcham, Croydon, Surrey (S4).  Listed as Fredk Nicholson age 14, Frank Nicholson age 11 and Augustus Nicholson age 9 all born in the city of Westminster.

·       1871 Census Daughter: 62 High St Ladies School, Mitcham, Croydon, Surrey (S4).   Listed as Beatrice Nicholson age 7 a pupil and scholar born in London.

·       Death of Wife #1:  not found.

·       1881 Census:  No. 28 Park Road, Marylebone, London (S4).  Listed as Daniel Nicolson a widow age 45 a Manchester warehouseman born in Gt. Clacton, Essex with 2 children: Beatrice F, and Malcolm G. and 2 servants.

·       Marriage #2: 3rd QTR 1881 Hampstead, London (S5d), listed as Daniel Nicholson and Eleanor Elizabeth Sinclair.   August 24, 1881 St. Peters Church, Hampstead, Middlesex (S3), listed as Daniel Nicholson a widower and gentleman who resides at 76 Finchley Road, Hampstead whose father was William Nicholson a farmer and Eleanor Elizabeth Sinclair a spinster.

·       1891 Census:  1 Oak Hill Pk, Hampstead, London (S4).  Listed as Daniel Nicholson age 55 a draper employer born in G Clacton with wife Eleanor E. age 48 born at St. Martin Trafalgar Square, London, 2 children: Joseph S. and Daniel H. S. and 3 servants.  (Noter: Eleanor’s forename is incorrectly listed in the census index as Cleann).

·       1901 Census: 174 Rocklands, St. Lawrence, Isle of Wight (S4).  Listed as Daniel Nicholson age 65 a director of public company (drapery) employer born in Gt Clacton with wife Eleanor E. age 57 born at St. Martins, London, 1 boarded Ellen J. Freeman and 3 servants.

·       1911 Census: not found.

·       Death:  1st QTR 1914 Isle of Wight, Hampshire.  Listed as Daniel Nicholson age 78.  March 25, 1914 at Rocklands (S6).

·       Burial:  March 22, 1914 Isle of Wight, Southampton (S7).  Listed as Daniel Nicholson age 78 birth date: 1836, death: abt 1914. (Note: the burial date appears to be a transcription error as according to his probate he died on March 25, 1914).

·       Probate: May 4, 1914, London (S6).  Listed as Daniel Nicholson of St. Paul’s Church Yard, London and Rocklands, Ventnor, Isle of Wight with effects £33,596 to Eleanor Elizabeth Nicholson widow and Edward Henry Bartlett gentleman. (Note: the probate index incorrectly lists the death place as London).

·       Wife #2’s Death: 2nd QTR 1935 Surrey South-Eastern (GRO online index), listed as Eleanor Elizabeth Nicholson age 91.  April 2, 1935 (S6).

·       Wife#2’s Burial: April 5, 1935 St. Mary’s Caterham, Surrey (S7).  Listed as Eleanor Elizabeth Nicholson who lived at Russeltings, Tupwood Lane, Caterham Valley age 91.

·       Wife #2’s Probate: July 8, 1935 London (S6).  Listed as Eleanor Elizabeth Nicholson of Russeltings, Caterham Valley, Surrey a widow with effects £6,949, Resworn £6,810 to Joseph Sinclair Nicholson civil servant and Daniel Howard Sinclair Nicholson author.

·       Children:

1.     Frederick Daniel Nicholson (c1857-??).  Born: not found.  1861 Census: with parents (S4).  1871 Census: with brother Augustus (S4).  Information after 1871 not found.

2.     Horace William Nicholson (1858-1859).  Born: 2nd QTR 1858 City of London (S=GRO online index), listed as Horace William Nicholson with mother’s maiden name Hearn.  Death: 4th QTR 1859 City of London (GRO online index), listed as Horace William Nicolson age 1.

3.     Frank Congdon Nicholson (1859-1931).   Born: 4th QTR 1859 City of London (S=GRO online index), listed as Frank Congdon Nicholson with mother’s maiden name Hearn.  1861 Census: with parents (S4).  Listed in his parent’s 1870-72 divorce records.  Death: June 4, 1931 (S6).  Probate: March 25, 1938 London (S6), listed as Frank Congdon Nicholson of Durban Natal, South Africa with effects of £3,955 to Jeanie Gibson Nicholson widow. 

4.     Augustus Henry Nicholson (1861-1938).  - See Nicholson Generation 3.

5.     Beatrice Fanny Nicholson (1863-??).  Born: 3rd QTR 1863 Marylebone (S=GRO online index), listed as Beatrice Fanny Nicholson with mother’s maiden name Hearn.  Listed in her parent’s 1870-72 divorce records.  1871 Census: 62 High St Ladies School, Mitcham, Croydon, Surrey (S4), listed as Beatrice Nicholson age 7 a pupil and scholar born in London.  1881 Census: with father. (S4). 

6.     Malcolm Grant Nicholson (1867-1905).  Born: 1st QTR 1867 London City (S=GRO online index), listed as Malcolm Grant Nicholson with mother’s maiden name Hearn.  Listed in his parent’s 1870-72 divorce records.  1871 and 1881 Censuses: with father (S4).   Marriage: June 12, 1895 St. Stephens, South Dulwich, Camberwell (S8m), listed as Malcolm Grant Nicholson age 28 a bachelor and traveler who resided at Twisden Road, Highgate Road whose father was Daniel Nicholson a warehouseman and Lily Maud Nicholls age 22 a spinster.  1901 Census: No 8 Croxled Rd, Camberwell, London (S4), listed as Malcom G. Nicholson age 34 a commercial traveler worker born in London with wife Lily M. age 28 born in Mitcham, Surrey.  Death: January 7, 1905 Kingston, Surrey (S8d), listed as Malcom Grant Nicholson age 37 a commercial traveler who died of pneumonia and heart failure at Buniton Rodney Road, New Malden with his wife L. M. Nicolson present at his death.  Probate not found.

7.     Joseph Sinclair Nicholson (1883-1968).   Born: 1st QTR 1883 Hampstead (S=GRO online index), listed as Joseph Sinclair Nicholson with mother’s maiden name Sinclair.  1891 Census: with parents (S4).  Marriage: March 30, 1910 Abbotsham, Bideford, Devon (S8m), listed as Joseph Sinclair Nicholson age 27 a bachelor and civil servant who resided at Toynber Hill, Whitechapel whose father was Danial Nicholson a merchant and Gertrude Sylvia Sealy age 19 a spinster.  1911 Census: 11 St. Thomas Mansions, Stangate, Lambeth (S4), listed as Joseph Sinclair Nicolson age 28 an investigator for unemployment insurance with the Labor Dept Board of Trade born in Hampstead with wife Gertrude Sylvia age 20 born in Abbotsham, Devonshire, 1 son Devis Sinclair Sealy and 1 servant, indicates Joseph and Gertrude were married 1 year and had 1 child still living.  Death: April 9, 1968 (S6) (S7).  Burial: St. Helen Churchyard cemetery, Abbotsham, Torridge, Devon (S7), listed as Joseph Sinclair Nicholson born October 23, 1883 died April 9, 1868 with spouse listed as Gertrude Sylvia Nicholson.  Probate: December 10, 1968 London (S6), listed as Joseph Sinclair Nicholson of 18 Tupwood La, Caterham Valley, Sy with Effects of £40,898.

8.     Daniel Howard Sinclair Nicholson (1883-1936).   Born: 4th QTR 1883 Hampstead (S=GRO online index), listed as Daniel Sinclair Nicholson with mother’s maiden name Sinclair.  1891 Census: with parents (S4).  Marriage: October 14, 1909 Isle of Wight (S8m), listed as Daniel Howard Sinclair Nicholson age 25 a bachelor and solicitor whose father was Daniel Nicholson a retired silk mercer and Blanche Jenny Koopman age 34 a widow.  1911 Census: Nelson Road, Gt. Bookham, Leatherhead, Surrey (S4) listed as Daniel Howard Sinclair Nicholson age 27 living on private means born in Hampstead with wife Blanch Jenny Nicholson age 35 born in France British by marriage and 1 visitor, indicated they were married 1 year and had no children.  Death: January 25, 1936 Saint Mary, St. Marylebone (S8d), listed as Daniel Howard Sinclair Nicholson age 52 an author of Clare Cottage, Farnham Common, Bucks who died of a cerebral tumor at 82 Gloucester Place with J. S. Nicholson a brother as the informant, January 25, 1936 at 82 Gloucester-place, St. Marylebone, Middlesex (S6). Probate:  March 24, 1936 London (S6), listed as Daniel Howard Sinclair Nicholson of Clare Cottage, Farnham Common, Buckinghamshire with Effects of £37,151 to the Pubic Trustee.  (Note: the probate index incorrectly lists the death place as Buckinghamshire).

 

Nicholson Generation 3:  Augustus Henry Nicholson (c1861-1938) and Robena Catherine Turnbull Spence (c1864-1934).

·       Born:  July 4, 1861 North West, City of London (S8d), listed as William Henry the son of Daniel Nicholson and Fanny Nicholson formerly Hearn who was born at 51 St. Paul’s Churchyard with father’s occupation listed as a shawl & mantle warehouseman.  July 4, 1861 (S=parent’s 1870-72 divorce records available at ancestry.com), listed as Augustus Henry Nicholas.

·       Baptized:  not found.

·       1871 Census:  91 Mitcham Lodge Academy Private School, Mitcham, Croydon, Surrey (S4).  Listed as Augustus Nicholson age 9 born in the city of Westminster listed with Fredk Nicholson age 14 and Frank Nicholson age 11.

·       1881 Census: 50, 51, 52, 53 St. Paul’s Churchyard, London (S4).  Listed as Augustus H. Nicholson son unmarried age 19 a clerk drapery born at St. Paul’s Churchyard with 22 boarders (2 domestic servants, 1 housekeeper, 19 assistant drapers).

·       Marriage: April 11, 1889 Hendon, Middlesex (S3).  Listed as Augustus Henry Nicholson age 28 a bachelor and mercer who resided at St. Paul’s Churchyard, London whose father was Daniel Nicholson a mercer and Robena Catherine Spence age 24 a spinster.  (Note: the marriage band index lists their marriage at St. Mary, Finchley, Barnet, however the actual document says the parish church in Hendon, Middlesex).

·       1891 Census: 3 Westcroft Villas, Hendon, Middlesex (S4).  Listed as Augustus H. Nicholson age 29 a drapers buyer employed born at St. Faith’s, London with wife Robena C. age 26 born in Hendon, Middlesex and 1 servant.

·       1901 Census: 9 Village Rd Woodlane Copthrone, Enfield, Middlesex (S4).   Listed as Augustus H. Nicholson age 39 managing director drapery warehouse employer born in EC London with wife Robena C. age 36 born in Hendon, Middlesex, 4 children: Rubena S., Margaret E., Daniel A., and Beryl S.  and 4 servants.

·       1911 Census:  Copthorne, 16 Village Rd, Enfield, Middlesex (S4).  Listed as Augustus Henry Nicholson married age 49 managing director of Nicholson’s Ltd drapery co employer born in EC London with 1 visitor Augusta Boot and 2 servants.

·       1911 Census Wife: West View Steephill Cove, Ventor, Isle of Wight (S4).  Listed as Robena Catherine Nicholson a visitor age 46 married born in Hendon with 3 children: Daniel, Beryl and Eleanor and 1 governess living in the Henry James Blake age 58 a fisherman’s household.  Indicated she was married 22 years and had 6 children of which 4 were still living.

·       Wife’s Death: 4th QTR 1934 Tendring, Essex (S5d), listed as Robena C. Nicholson age 70. December 27, 1934 (S6).

·       Wife’s Burial: not found.

·       Wife’s Probate: February 25, 1935 London (S6).  Listed as Robena Catherine otherwise Robena of Copthorne Third-avenue, Frimton-on-Sea, Essex (wife of Augustus Henry Nicholson) with effects £869 to Selby Travers Robson engineer.  (Note: Frimton-on-Sea is a transaction error and should be Frinton-on-Sea).

·       Death:  1st QTR 1938 Croydon, Surrey (S5d). listed as Augustus H. Nicholson age 76.  February 25, 1938  at Purely Cottage Hospital, Croydon, Surrey (S6).

·       Burial:  not found.

·       Probate: June 15, 1938 London (S6).  Listed as Augustus Henry Nicholson of Eastcott Valley-road, Kenley, Surrey with effects of £9,128 to the Public Trustee.

·       Children:

1.     Rubena Spence Nicholson (1892-??).  Born: 2nd QTR 1892 Hendron (S=GRO online index), listed as Rubena Spence Nicholson with mother’s maiden name Spence.  1901 Census with parents (S4).

2.     Margaret Eleanor Nicholson (1894-??).   Born: 3rd QTR 1894 Hendron (S=GRO online index), listed as Margaret Eleanor Nicholson with mother’s maiden name Spence.  1901 Census with parents (S4).

3.     Daniel Augustus William Nicholson (1897-1927). Born: 1st QTR 1897 Hendron (S=GRO online index), listed as Daniel Augustus William Nicholson with mother’s maiden name Spence, December 5, 1896 (S1c).  Baptized: March 21, 1897 Holy Trinity, Kilburn, Brent, Middlesex (S1c), listed as Daniel Augustus William with parents Augustus Henry and Robina Catherine Nicholson of Westcroft Villas, Cricklewood with father’s occupation listed as draper.  1901 Census with parents (S4).  Death: November 29, 1927 Christchurch, New Zealand (S6).  Probate: November 23, 1928 London (S6), listed as Daniel Augustus William Nicholson of Copthorne Village-road, Enfield, Middlesex with effects of £2,000 to Enid Margaret Nicholson widow (Note: the baptism index incorrectly lists the surname as Nickolson and the probate index incorrectly lists his death place as Middlesex).

4.     Beryl Sinclair Nicholson (1898-??).  Born: 4th QTR 1898 Edmonton (S=GRO online index), listed as Beryl Sinclair Nicholson with mother’s maiden name Spence.  1901 Census with parents (S4).

5.     Lesley Christine Nicholson (1900-1901).   Born: 3rd QTR 1900 Edmonton (S=GRO online index), listed as Lesley Christine Nicholson with mother’s maiden name Spence.  Death: 1st QTR 1901 Edmonton (S=GRO online index), listed as Lesley Christine Nicholson age 0.

6.     Eleanor Margaret Nicholson (1906-??).  Born: 1st QTR 1906 Edmonton (S=GRO online index), listed as Eleanor Margaret Nicholson with mother’s maiden name Spence.

 

Lamprey Generation 1:  Charles Lamprey (1845-1930) and Charlotte Maria Ellsley (c1854-1939)

·       Born:  2nd QTR 1845 Banbury Union (S=GRO online index), listed as Charles Lamprey with mother’s maiden name Linnell.

·       Baptized:  June 15, 1845 St. Mary, Banbury, Oxfordshire (S1c).  Listed as Charles Lamprey whose parents were John Barret Lamprey and Ann Lamprey of Bridge St with father’s occupation listed as corn dealer.

·       1851 Census: 158 Lower Churell Street, Neithrop, Banbury, Oxfordshire (S4).  Listed as Charles Lamprey age 5  a scholar born in Neithrop living with parents John B. Lamprey age 34 a corn and coal merchant born in Neithrop and Anne age 35 born in Kirlingbury, Northampton and 3 siblings: William L., John Henry and John A and 1 servant.

·       1861 Census:  not found.

·       1871 Census:  51 St. Paul’s Ch Yd, London (S4).  Listed as Charles Lamprey age 25 a drapers assistance born in Banbury living with Daniel Nicholson age 35 a silk mercer and other workers.

·       Marriage: June 5, 1879 St. Mary, Battersea, Wandsworth, Surrey (S3).  Listed as Charles Lamprey age 33 a bachelor and merchants clerk who resided at Claremont Brodwich Road whose father was John Barrett Lamprey a coal merchant and Charlotte Maria Ellsley age 26 a spinster.

·       1881 Census: 31 Deuman Rd, Camberwell, Lambeth (S4).  Listed as Chas. Lamprey age 35 a clerk Manchester warehouse born in Banbury with wife Charlotte age 27 born in Pimlico, 1 child: Anne M. and 1 servant.

·       1891 Census: 4 Dents Road, Battersea, Clapham, London (S4).  Listed as Charles Lamprey age 45 a clerk drapers employed born in Banbury with wife Charlotte M. age 37 born in Pimlico, London, 2 children: Anne M. and Lottie M. and 1 servant.

·       1901 Census: 190 Trinity Rd., St. Mary Magdalene, Wandsworth (S4).   Listed as Charles Lamprey age 56 company director born in Banbury with wife Charlotte M. age 48 born in London, 2 children: Anne M. and Lottie M. and 2 servants. 

·       1911 Census: 19 Bolingbroke Grove, Battersea (S4).  Listed as Charles Lamprey age 65 a director drapery employer born in Banbury with wife Charlotte M. age 56 born in Pimlico, London and 2 servants.  Charles and Charlotte were married 31 year and had 2 children both still living.

·       Death:  3rd QTR 1930 Blean, Kent IS5d), listed as Charles Lamprey age 85.   July 21, 1930 (S6).

·       Burial: not found.

·       Probate: August 26, 1930 London (S6).  Listed as Charles Lamprey of Brooklyn Canterbury-road, Herne Bay, Kent with effects of £33,285 resworn £33,912 to Arnold Leeming and Ernest William Witney physicians and Gertrude Maria Pritchard widow.

·       Wife’s Death:  4th QTR 1939 Cheltenham, Gloucestershire (S5d), listed as Charlotte M. Lamprey age 83.  October 5, 1939 at Hotel Majestic, Cheltenham (S6).

·       Wife’s Burial: not found.

·       Wife’s Probate: December 28, 1939 Lewes (S6).  Listed as Charlotte Maria Lamprey of Graystones Ellis-road, Tankerton, Kent a widow with effects £3,688 to Lottie May Witney married woman.

·       Children:

1.     Anne Maud Lamprey (1880-??).  Born: 2nd QTR 1880 Lambeth (S=GRO online index), listed as Anne Maud Lamprey with mother’s maiden name Ellsley.  1881, 1891 and 1901 Census with parents (S4).

2.     Lottie May Lamprey (1882-??).   Born: 2nd QTR 1882 Camberwell (S=GRO online index), listed as Lottie May Lamprey with mother’s maiden name Ellsley.  1891 and 1901 Census with parents (S4).

 

 

 

Avery style needle case with the D. Nicholson & Co. 50 to 53 St. Paul’s Churchyard name stamped on it.

1.     Stella Golden needle case: Mechanical patent 2998 registered October 14, 1869 by William Avery and Albert Fenton of Redditch (S=British Library - Business and Intellectual Property Centre, London).