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- Nicholas Holt came to Boston alone, on the James from England arrivingJune 3, 1635. He is listed at age 27, "of Romsey, county Hants, tanner"and bound for Newbury. He was a resident of Newbury for about 10 years.He had a house and lot in Newbury, also two field lots, one of 300 acres,and one of 40 acres, "over the little river."
The first book of Newbury church records is lost, but he was undoubtedlya member, or he could not have become a freeman. In 1637 he was one often Newbury men who in order to prevent the re-election of Sir Henry Vaneas governor, and to strengthen the friends of John Winthrop, traveledforty miles on foot to Boston, and qualified themselves to vote by takingthe freeman's oath there on May 17th. Winthrop was later chosen governor.
Nicholas removed to Andover, residing there in 1644. He is one of theOriginalSettlers, 6th on the list of Householders. He was one of thefounders of the church there in 1645.
He was one of the ten male members composing the church at the ordinationof Reverend John Woodbridge in 1645. In 1647 he was appointed to lay outthe way from Reading to the "new town, and to view the river and reportto the next court of the necessity and charge of a bridge." In 1652 hewas appointed with two others to lay out the bounds of Andover and in1653 to lay out the highway to Reading (the "way" by that time havingbecome inadequate). He sold his Newbury property in 1652. He had ahouselot of fifteen acres in Andover, also 160 acres meadow and 360 acreson Stoney Plain.
He deposed in a court case on 11 April 1671, giving his age as aboutsixty-three, which is probably correct. In 1680 he conveyed land "forlove and affection I bear to my daughter Sarah, not long since married toRoger Marks." He disposed of the rest of his estate among his childrenbefore his death and did not leave a will.
Nicholas' first wife was Elizabeth or Priscilla, believed to be ElizabethShort of Newbury, sister of Henry Short who settled at Ipswich and latermoved to Newbury. Her name has not been confirmed.
He married secondly, Hannah Bradstreet who was the widow of DanielRofe/Rolfe. He married thirdly, Martha, widow of Roger Preston.
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