Genealogical History of the Town of Reading, Mass. including the present towns of Wakefield, Reading, and North Reading, with Chronological and historical Sketches, from 1639 to 1874. by Hon. Lilley Eaton. Alfred Mudge & son, Boston, 1874.

Pages 97-100

Nichols, Richard; came from Ipswich; lived in the westerly part of the South Parish, on he place subequently known as the Lambert farm. He d. 1764. His wid. Annas d. 1692. Their chil. were: Mary, Thomas, James, John, Richard, and Hannah.

Nichols, Capt. Thomas, son of Richard and Annas, m. 1680, Rebecca, dau. of John and Elizabeth Eaton; was selectman from 1691 to 1722; was deacon and representative, and d. 1737. Chil: Thomas, b. 1682; Rebecca, . 1684, and m. 1st, in 1700, Nicholas Brown, and m., 2d, De. Jona. Barrett; Ebenezer, b. 1686; Judith, b. 1688; Abigail, b. 1693, and m. 1711, Jacob Hersey, or Hussey; Elizabeth, b. 1699; Timothy, b. 1702; Daniel, b. 1707.

Nichols, James, son of Richard and Annas, m. 1682, Mary Poole, probably dau. of Jona. and Judith. She d. 1711, and he d. 1745, aged 87. Chil.: James, b. 1683; Mary, b. 1685, and m. 1707, Benjamin Wiley; Jona., b. 1691; William, b. 1696; Sarah, b. 1699, and m. 1722, Joseph Burnap; Ebenezer, b. 1703.

Nichols, John, son of Richard and Annas, b. 1651; m. Abigail, dau. of Dea. Tho. Kendall. They both d. 1721, aged, he 70, she 66. Chil.: John, b. 1677, and d. 1721; Richard, b. 1679, and d. soon; Richard, b. 1682; Thomas Kendall, b. 1686; James, b. 1688; Nathaniel, b. 1691; Abog.[1], b. 1694, and m. 1713, Wm. Flint; Samuel, b. 1696; Benj., b. 1699; Joseph, b. 1702. This family settled in the West Parish.

Nichols, Richard, son of Richard and Annas; m. 1706, Abig[1], dau. of Samuel and Mary Damon. He d. 1732. Chil.: Abigail, b. 1708, and d. 1732; John, b. 1711; Mary, b. 1713; Richard, b. 1715; Joshua, b. 1718; Hepzi., b. 1721; Mehitabel, b. 1723; Joacob, b. 1726. This family settled in the West Parish.

Nichols, Dea. Thomas, son of Capt. Tho. and Rebecca, b. 1682; m. Mary, dau. of Capt. John Herbert, and succeeded to his father-in-law's place. His wife was granddau. of Rev. Samuel Haugh. Dea. Thomas, d. 1745, aged 63. Chil.: Herbert, b. 1705; John, b. 1708, and d. soon; John, b. 1712, and m. 1734, Ruth, dau. of Capt. Tho. Eaton; Samuel, b. 1714; Jacob, b. 1719.

Nichols, James, son of James and Mary (Poole), b. 1683; m. 1707, Joanna, dau. of Samuel and Mary Lamson. Chil: James, b. 1708; Joanna, b. 1712; Mary, b. 1713, and d. 1741; James, b. 1719; Zechariah, b. 1721.

Nichols, Nathaniel, son of John and Abigail, b. 1691; m. 1715, Isabel Hay, of Charlestown (now Stoneham). Chil.: Mary, b. 1717; Nathaniel, b. 1719; Abigail, b. 1721.

Nichols, Ebenezer, son of Capt. Thomas and Rebecca, b. 1686; m., 1st, Abigail, and m., 2d, Anna. He lived in the South Parish, near the Pond, on the place now ocupied by Mrs. F. B. Eaton. Chil.: Mary, b. 1719; Anna, b. about 1720; Rebecca, b. 1724; Ebenezer, b. 1733, and perhaps Lydia and Eunice.

Nichols, Col. Ebenezer, son of James and Mary (Poole), b. 1703; m. Susanna; was selectman, justice of the peace, representative, colonel, etc. he lived on the place long known afterwards as the "Rayner place," and his house stood near where now stands the residence of Mrs. Dr. J. G. Brown. Chil.: Ebenezer, b. 1725, and d. soon; Edmund, b. 1727, and d. 1729; Susanna, b. 1729; Elizabeth, b. 1732, and m. 1749, Jeremiah Bancroft; Katherine, b. 1734, and m. Dr. Wm. Stimpson; Edmund, b. and d. 1741; Wm., b. 1743, and d. 1745; Susanna, b. 1748;   Ebenezer, b. 1750, and perhaps Richard.

Nichols, Wm., son of James and Mary (Poole), b. 1696; by wife Abigail had chil.: Wm., b. 1721, and m. 1754, Phebe Stimpson; Joshua, b. 1724; Abigail, b. 1726; Samuel, b. 1729.

Nichols, Samuel, son of John and Abigail (Kendall), b. 1696; m. 1st, Rebecca, and m., 2d, Abigail. Chil.: Samuel, b. 1723; Abigail, b. 1726, and other children, among whom was James, b. 1735, and he (James) was grandfather of the late Rev. Samuel Nichols, the present heir W. Nichols, James Eustis, etc. He d. 1810, aged 75.

Nichols, Samuel, son of Thomas and Mary (Herbert), b. 1714; m. 1736, Mary Bancroft, and had Sarah, b. 1739.

Nichols, Richard, son of John and Abigail, b. 1682; m. 1706, Abigail Damon, and had chil.: Abigail, b. 1708; John, b. 1711; Mary, b. 1713; Richard, b. 1715; Joshua, b. 1718; Hepzi., b. 1721; Mehitabel, b. 1723; Jacob, b. 1726.

Nichols, Jona., son of James and Mary (Poole), b. 1691; m., 1st, 1713 Elizabeth Boutwell; she d. 1715; m., 2d, 1716, Phebe, dau. of John and Dorcas Eaton. Chil.: Jona., b. 1715, and d. soon; Jona., b. 1717; Elizabeth, b. 1719; Phebe, b. 1721, and d., 1749; Benja., b. 1723; Hepzi., b. 1726; Joseph, b. 1728; Wm., b. 1731, and d. 1737; Abigail, b. 1734, and d. 1737.

Nichols, Timothy, son of Capt. Thos and Rebecca, b. 1702; by wife Hannah, had chil.: Hepzibeth, b. 1727; Hannah, b. 1729; Timothy and Thomas (twins), b. 1731; Sarah, b. 1737; Moses, b. 1740; Lucy, b. 1743.

Nichols, Daniel, son of Capt. Thos. and Rebecca, b. 1707; m. 1729, Elizabeth Barchelder, and haf chil.: Daniel, b. 1703; Elizabeth, b. 1732; Didimus, b. 1734; Amos, b. 1736; Esther, vb. 1738; Abigail, b. 1741.

Nichols, John, son of Richard and Abigail, b. 1711; m. 1733, Joanna, dau. of John and Mary Nichols. Chil.: Hannah, b. 1734; John, b. 1736; Abigail, b. 1738; David[1], b. 1741; Kandall, b. 1743; Simon, b. 1745; William, b. 1747, and was grandfather of Wm. Nichols, Esq., late counsellor-at-law in South Reading.

[1] David Nichols, son of John and Joanna, settled in Gardner, was father of Isaac, of Gardner, and grandfather of Lyman Nichols, Esq., of Boston, president of Boston National Bank.

Pages 106-109

Poole, John; came here from Lynn; was at Cambridge in 1632; was one of the earliest settlers of Reading, and probably the wealthiest. He lived on the present site of Wakefield's rattan factory, where he buil the first grist-mill and fulling-mill of the town. He also owned much land at the north end of the Great Pond, includeing the farm lately owned by Dea. Caleb Wakefield, and extending easterly, included the late Newcomb mill, where said Poole erected the first saw-mill, and included also the present farm of heirs of Benjamin Cox, of Lynnfield. He divided his estate between his son Jonathan and his grandson John. His wife Margaret d. in 1662, and he d. in 1667/ Chil.: Jona., b. 1634, and succeeded to the homestead; Mary, who m. 1657, Matthew Edwards, and perhaps Sarah, wife of Wm. Barrett.

Poole, Capt. Jonathon, son of John and Margaret, b. 1634, probably at Cambridge. Succeeded his father on the homestead, and also owned, in conjunction with his son John, much land at the north end of the pond. Was the second captain of the Reading company. "Was much valued in Philip's Indian war;" "was a Captain under Major Appleton, at Hadley;" "was President of a Council of War in the winter of 1675-6;" was selectman, justice of the peace, and representative, and d. 1678, aged 44. By wife Judith had chil.: Sarah, b. 1656, and m. 1673, Thomas Bancroft; Judith, b. 1658, and m. 1681, Wm. Hescy; Mary, b. 1660, and d. 1661; Mary, b. 1662, and m. 1682, James Nichols; John, b. 1665; Jonathan, b. 1667; Thomas, b. 1673, and m. 1695, Rebecca -----; William, b. 1677; Elizabeth, b. 1678.

Poole, John, son of Capt. Jonathan and Judith, b. 1665; lived at the north end of the Great Pond. His grandfather John Poole bequeathed him one half of his estate in that vicinity, including the late residence and famr of Dea. Caleb Wakefield, the "Newcomb Mill," and the "Benja. Cox Farm in Lynnfield." Was a lieutenant; d. 1721, aged 56. By wife Mary had chil.: John, b. 1688; Nathaniel, b. 1691.

Poole, Jonathan, Esq., son of Capt. Jona. and Judith, b. 1667; succeeded his father on the place now occupied by the Rattan Works; m. 1691 or '92, Bridget Fitch. They both died in 1723, he at the age of 56. He was selectman and justice of the peace. Chil.: Jona., b. 1692; Benja., b. 1694; Zachariah, b. 1696, and d. 1698; Elizabeth, b. 1698, and m. 1729, Nicholas Belknap, of Boston; Samuel, b. 1700; Wm., b. 1702; Zachariah[2d], b. 1708, and lived on the place formerly owned by Dea. Jacob Eaton, at the corner of Crescent and Eaton Streets;  sold and removed to Medford; Mary, b. 1711; Judith, b. 1714, and d. 1713; Bridget. His will, made 1723, divided his real estate among his sons Benjamin, Samuel, and Zachariah; and after providing or his wife Bridget, and remembering his duahgers Elizabeth (Belknap), Bridget, and Mary, goes on to say:--
 " I give to Jonathan (the eldest son), my cloak and cane, and this is over and above what I had given him before, by Deed, which I count was more than a double portion -- that I gave by Deed."

Poole, John, son of Lieut. John and Mary, b. 1688. He succeeded his father on his homestead at the north end of the Pond. By wife Sarah had chil.: John, b. 1713; Nathaniel; James; Jonathan, b. 1720; Sarah, b. 1721, and Elizabeth, b. 1724. He d. 1758, aged 70.

Poole, Jonathan, son of Esq. Jona. and Bridget, b. 1692; by wife Esther, had Esther, b. 1717; lived on the place now occupied by the Rattan Works; sold out his paternal homestead and removed to Lynnfield, retaining, it is hoped, the old "cloak and cane" which he inherited from his father.

Poole, Benja., son of Esq. Jona. and Bridget, b. 1694; m. Mehetibel, dau. of Benja. Gibson, of Boston. Lived on the place now owned by heirs of late Leonard Wiley; was selectman and justice of the peace, and d. 1732, aged 38, much lamented. Chil.: benjamin, b. 1725; removed to Woburn; William, b. 1726; removed to Danvers, and was ancestor of Fitch Poole, Esq., of Danvers; Mehitabel, b. 1728, and m. Capt. Joseph Fitch, of Boston; Jamesb. 1729; Bridget, b. 1731.

Poole, Samuel, son of Esq. and Bridget, b. 1700; lived on the Common on the old Tavern place; by wife Rebecca, had chil.: Rebecca, b. 1731, and d. 1737; Samuel, b. 1733; Jonathan, b. 1737, and m. 1760, Sarah Eaton, and succeeded his uncle Benj. Poole, on the place recently occupied by his grandson Leonard Wiley; Mary, b. 1740; Thomas, b. 1744, and d. soon; Thomas, b. 1749, and m. 1771, Mary Parker. Mr. Samuel d. 1752.

Poole, Jonathan, son of John and Sarah, b. 1720; lived on the place recently sold by Dea. Caleb Wakefield; was grandfather of Dea. Wakefield's first wife. By wife Mary Leman, whom he m. at Charlestown in 1741, had chil.: Jonathan, b. 1747, and m. 1769, Anne Bancroft, and was grandfather of Hon. H. Poole Wakefield; Sarah, b. 1749; Samuel Sheldon, b. 1751, and removed to Nova Scotia; Timothy, b. 1753, and d. soon; Timothy, b. 1762; m., 1st, Lucy Pope, and m., 2d, Jerusha Richardson, and was father of Dr. Alexander Poole and of Franklin Poole, Esq., now residing in Wakefield.

Note. -- The Poole family, for several of the early generations, were leather-dressers, and eminent for wealth, talents, and influence.

Poole, Samuel, 2d, son of Samuel and Rebecca, b. 1733, by wife Elizabeth had chil.: Joseph Eaton, b. 1759; Rebecca, b. 1761, and m. 1780, Charles Eaton, and d. 1836, aged 76.

Poole, Thomas, son of Samuel and Rebecca, b. 1749, and m. 1771, Mary Parker, had chil.: Polly, b. 1772; Thomas, b. 1773; Lucy, b. 1775; William, b. 1778; Nancy, b. 1781; Archibald, b. 1783; and Samuel.