Migration and Settlement of Nickens Branches in Middle Tennessee
The Nickens families of North Carolina who migrated to Middle Tennessee in the early 19th century were primarily descendants of two brothers, James Nickens (settled in Hertford County, NC, around 1750) and Richard Nickens (settled in Currituck County, NC, around the same time). These lines trace back further to the original free family of Richard "Black Dick" Nickens in Lancaster County, Virginia (freed in 1690), with migrations southward to North Carolina by the mid-18th century. All Nickens families in Tennessee during the 1800s descended from these related North Carolina branches, forming a tight-knit, often endogamous community with allied families like Archer, Shoecraft, Manly, Collins, and Barnes.Reasons for MigrationBetween 1806 and 1808, several Nickens families left Hertford and Currituck Counties, North Carolina, for Middle Tennessee, traveling over 500 miles in family groups—likely on foot, by wagon, horseback, or partially by boat along rivers. The migration involved descendants of James and Richard Nickens, including grandsons who had sold land in Currituck in the 1790s and relocated to Hertford to join kin. They traveled with intermarried families such as Manlys, Shoecrafts, and Archers, suggesting coordinated moves for mutual support.
Specific reasons are not explicitly documented in primary records, but contextual factors align with broader historical patterns for free people of color (FPOC) in the South. North Carolina's increasing legal restrictions on FPOC—such as limits on voting, court testimony, and freedoms—likely played a role, as did economic pressures from declining tobacco economies in eastern NC. Tennessee offered new opportunities after the 1796 statehood and treaties like the 1805 Cherokee cession, which opened Middle Tennessee for settlement. Pre-emption rights and affordable land entries (often 12.5 cents per acre) attracted migrants, especially for farming on fertile lands near rivers like the Cumberland. Some Nickens kin, like Absalom Hall (married to Rachael Nickens, daughter of Richard) and Richard Rail (son of Leah Nickens Rail), arrived earlier around 1800, purchasing land in Sumner County and possibly scouting for family. Y-DNA evidence confirms these migrants were closely related, supporting a familial push for better prospects.Key Branches and SettlementsThe migrants initially appeared on the 1809 Sumner County tax list (Captain Watkins' Company), including James, William, and Prescott Nickens, along with Richard Rail, Cottons, McCormack, and King. By 1810, most shifted south of the Cumberland River to Wilson County, near Lebanon, forming a compact settlement of adjoining farms (less than 1 square mile) between Spring and Barton Creeks, east of the Lebanon-Sparta Turnpike. This area was in District 10, with families taxed together in the 1820s. They were often enumerated as FPOC or mulatto in censuses, reflecting mixed African, European, and possibly Native ancestry, though some petitioned for recognition as "Portuguese" to gain white privileges.
These were modest farms for subsistence, with estate inventories showing livestock, tools, and household goods. Heirs sold portions in the 1830s-1850s as families dispersed.
Specific reasons are not explicitly documented in primary records, but contextual factors align with broader historical patterns for free people of color (FPOC) in the South. North Carolina's increasing legal restrictions on FPOC—such as limits on voting, court testimony, and freedoms—likely played a role, as did economic pressures from declining tobacco economies in eastern NC. Tennessee offered new opportunities after the 1796 statehood and treaties like the 1805 Cherokee cession, which opened Middle Tennessee for settlement. Pre-emption rights and affordable land entries (often 12.5 cents per acre) attracted migrants, especially for farming on fertile lands near rivers like the Cumberland. Some Nickens kin, like Absalom Hall (married to Rachael Nickens, daughter of Richard) and Richard Rail (son of Leah Nickens Rail), arrived earlier around 1800, purchasing land in Sumner County and possibly scouting for family. Y-DNA evidence confirms these migrants were closely related, supporting a familial push for better prospects.Key Branches and SettlementsThe migrants initially appeared on the 1809 Sumner County tax list (Captain Watkins' Company), including James, William, and Prescott Nickens, along with Richard Rail, Cottons, McCormack, and King. By 1810, most shifted south of the Cumberland River to Wilson County, near Lebanon, forming a compact settlement of adjoining farms (less than 1 square mile) between Spring and Barton Creeks, east of the Lebanon-Sparta Turnpike. This area was in District 10, with families taxed together in the 1820s. They were often enumerated as FPOC or mulatto in censuses, reflecting mixed African, European, and possibly Native ancestry, though some petitioned for recognition as "Portuguese" to gain white privileges.
- William Nickens Sr. Branch (b. ~1775 NC, d. 1820 Wilson TN): Likely brother to Prescott and James Sr. Married Frances "Franky" Shoecraft; seven sons: Marcus, Calvin, John, Andrew, W. Cordy, Joseph, William Jr. Settled in Wilson Co.; descendants spread to Davidson (Bell's Bend) and Rutherford Counties by 1850s, with post-Civil War migrations out of TN. Y-DNA matches confirm ties to Currituck line.
- James Nickens Sr. Branch (b. ~1775 NC, d. 1835 Wilson TN): Married Rhoda (possibly Archer); served in War of 1812. Seven children, including James Jr., George, Lovina (m. Calvin Nickens), Sarah (m. John Nickens). Extended household in 1830 census (14 people); descendants intermarried with Archers and formed enclaves in Davidson and Rutherford.
- Prescott Nickens Branch (b. ~1763-1768 Currituck/Hertford NC, d. ~1833-1836 Wilson TN): Married Frances Shoecraft; migrated ~1808. Children included Samuel/Lemuel (b.1794 NC), Elizabeth (b.1819-1824 Wilson TN), and others. Settled Wilson Co.; some descendants to Williamson and Davidson. Y-DNA links to William Sr.'s line.
- Other Branches: A separate cousin, William Nickens (d.1826 Sumner TN), son of Richard (d.1815 Hertford NC), stayed in Sumner Co.; descendants to LA. Absalom Hall's sons to Bedford Co. By 1855, most left Wilson for surrounding counties; only one family in 1860, then to Rutherford.
Family Member | Land Details | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
Prescott Nickens | Entry for 20 acres near Jacob Archer's SW corner; purchase 25 acres from Martin Tally; survey witnessed by Jonah and Samuel Nickens. | 1815 | |
William Nickens Sr. | Entry for 15 acres adjoining his 40 acres (source unknown) and Prescott's SE corner; total ~55 acres divided among heirs post-1820. | 1818 | |
James Nickens Sr. | Purchase 32 acres on Barton's Creek from Jeremiah Tucker; 100 acres from Jesse Pemberton; sold 32.5 acres; retained 100 acres until death. | 1817-1832 | |
Samuel Nickens | Entry for 25 acres adjoining Prescott and Jacob Archer; sold in 1829. | 1826 |
The 1833 Nickens Family Petition to the Tennessee General AssemblyIn the early 19th century, free people of color (FPOC) in Tennessee faced increasing legal restrictions under the state's constitution and laws, particularly after the 1834 constitution explicitly limited voting and other civil rights to white males. These restrictions included prohibitions on voting, serving on juries, testifying against whites in court, and sometimes even owning firearms or remaining in the state after emancipation. To circumvent such barriers, some mixed-ancestry families petitioned the General Assembly for special legislative acts granting them the privileges of white citizenship, often by claiming non-African heritage such as Portuguese, Indian, or "Mediterranean" origins. This was a common strategy among groups like the Melungeons in Tennessee, who sought to distance themselves from African ancestry to avoid the stigma and legal disabilities associated with "Negro" or "mulatto" classification.
The Nickens petition fits this pattern. Filed in 1833 (officially Petition #72-1833 from Wilson County), it was submitted by the children of William Nickens Sr. (died 1820) and his wife Frances "Franky" Shoecraft Nickens (died before 1833). The family, who had migrated from North Carolina to Wilson County around 1808–1809, were consistently enumerated as "free colored" or "mulatto" in censuses (e.g., 1820–1840), reflecting their mixed African, European, and possibly Native American ancestry. They were part of a tight-knit FPOC community in District 10, near Lebanon, intermarried with families like Archer, Shoecraft, and Manly.Details of the PetitionThe petition was drafted as a proposed bill titled "A Bill for the relief of Marcus Nickings & others of Wilson County." It sought to declare the siblings "of the Portugees descent and emigrants from Portugal" and grant them full citizenship rights, overriding any contrary laws. The full proposed bill text reads:
The Nickens petition fits this pattern. Filed in 1833 (officially Petition #72-1833 from Wilson County), it was submitted by the children of William Nickens Sr. (died 1820) and his wife Frances "Franky" Shoecraft Nickens (died before 1833). The family, who had migrated from North Carolina to Wilson County around 1808–1809, were consistently enumerated as "free colored" or "mulatto" in censuses (e.g., 1820–1840), reflecting their mixed African, European, and possibly Native American ancestry. They were part of a tight-knit FPOC community in District 10, near Lebanon, intermarried with families like Archer, Shoecraft, and Manly.Details of the PetitionThe petition was drafted as a proposed bill titled "A Bill for the relief of Marcus Nickings & others of Wilson County." It sought to declare the siblings "of the Portugees descent and emigrants from Portugal" and grant them full citizenship rights, overriding any contrary laws. The full proposed bill text reads:
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Tennessee, that Marcus Nickings, John Nickings, Andrew Nickings, Cordy Nickings, Calvin Nickings, William Nickings, Joseph Nickings, Rutha Nickings, Malinda Nickings, & Nancy Nickings heirs of William and Fanny Nickings dec’d of the Portugees descent and emigrants from Portugal be and they are entitled to citizenship in the State of Tennessee and entitled to have hold and enjoy all the rights and privileges of other free citizens of this State, any law usage or custom to the contrary notwithstanding.
The main petition body, signed by the siblings, acknowledged their "mixed blood by appearance" and complained of being "refused many of the privileges of citizenship." It claimed their parents were "Portugees" who "settled in the United States many years since." The full text states:
The undersigned citizens of the County of Wilson beg leave to represent unto your honourable body that they are the heirs of William Nickings and his wife Francis who were Portugees and settled in the United States many years since, that their colour is rather of the mixed blood by appearance and as they are refused many of the privileges of citizenship which they think they are entitled to, and to prevent any further difficulty they prey your honorable body to pass a special act of the Gen’l Assembly authorizing to have hold enjoy all the rights and privileges of citizenship in the state of tenessee and that they be permitted to have all the legal rights and privileges of other citizens of this state.
Signers included: Calvin Nickings, Marcus Nickins, John Nickings, Andrew J. Nickings, W. Cordy Nickings, Ruthy Nickings, Malinda Nickings, Nancy Nickings, William Nickings, and Joseph Nickings.
An accompanying oath, sworn on October 31, 1833, before Justice of the Peace G.G. Washington in Davidson County, was made by John, Andrew, and Mark Nickings (likely a variant of Marcus). It reiterated that they "have always understood" their parents were "Portugees and from Portugal" and sought equality for all siblings.
Supporting statements were minimal and inconsistent. One (possibly from Richard Rail, a family associate) claimed the grandparents were from Portugal, while another vaguely stated the father "bore the name of a desent of the Portagee." Genealogical analysis notes discrepancies: the parents were actually born in North Carolina (not Portugal), and the claim appears fabricated to explain their darker complexion while avoiding African ancestry. Additionally, document edits crossed out "Ann" (possibly a second wife) and inserted "Francis," suggesting family complexities.OutcomeThe petition was rejected by the Tennessee General Assembly. No special act was passed granting the requested relief, as evidenced by the lack of corresponding legislation in assembly records and the family's continued classification as "mulatto" in subsequent censuses (e.g., 1840–1850). The weak and contradictory evidence—parents' North Carolina origins, inconsistent supporting claims, and admission of "mixed blood"—likely contributed to its failure. This outcome aligned with the era's tightening restrictions on FPOC, exacerbated by the 1834 constitution. Similar petitions from other families sometimes succeeded if evidence was stronger, but the Nickens case did not.
Post-petition, the family dispersed, with some moving to Davidson, Rutherford, and Williamson Counties, and later generations identifying variably as white, mulatto, or Black. The petition remains a key document highlighting the precarious status of FPOC in antebellum Tennessee and their strategies for social mobility.
It should be noted that record research relating to Nickens genealogy is quite convoluted, and researchers are not in agreement with every generational connection. For example, Elizabeth's father is identified as Prescott Nickens by some researchers, while others maintain that it was William Bennett Nickens. There seems to be universal agreement, however, that all of these Tennessee Nickens lines link back to Richard Nickens, the slave of Corotoman who was freed in 1690. This explains the small presence of West African DNA, less than one percent, in myself and several others Jeanette cousins who participated in testing.
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| Richard Hezekiah "Dick" Jeannette (1857-1945) |
Links:
Follow this link for more about the Nickens line back to the Corotoman Plantation: The Richard Nickens Story
Follow this link to explore the Jennett migrations and the descendants of Richard Hezekiah Jeanette: A Study in "Jennettics"
Sources:
Disclaimer: This article was written primarily through prompts to Grok AI.
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