5 descendants of John and Theodocia Nicholas of Whitehook, Bletherston, Pembrokeshire, Wales emigrated to various parts of the United States between 1881 and 1913.
1881
1. Benjamin Lewis Nicholas (1856-1939)
Benjamin and his wife Margaret Beynon were the first members of the Nicholas family to emigrate to the USA in 1881.
Emigration: 7thApril 1881 (Age 25 years), Liverpool – New York, SS Bothnia
Birth: 12 March 1856, Holloway, Penfford, Pembrokeshire, Wales
Marriage: Margaret BEYNON, 28thFebruary 1881, Merthyr Tydfil, Glamorganshire, England
Death: 3 March 1939 (Age 82 years)Mason City, Custer County, Nebraska, United States
Note: Margaret’s older brother Edward Beynon had immigrated to Hyde Park, Scranton, PA, USA in about 1869 (Edward returned with his wife Elizabeth and 2 children in about 1876).
1892
2. John Nicholas THOMAS, 1869–1949
John Nicholas Thomas was Benjamin’s nephew
(his mother was Benjamin’s sister Sarah and his father was Benjamin Thomas).
Birth: 28 March 1869, Whitland, Carmarthen, Wales
Emigration: 10 September 1892 (Age 23 years), Missouri via New York City, NY, United States (Manifest Line Number : 0024)
First Name : John N.
Last Name : Thomas
Nationality : England, English
Last Place of Residence : South Wales
Date of Arrival : September 10th, 1892
Age at Arrival : 23y
Gender : Male
Ship of Travel : Britannic
Port of Departure : LiverpoolManifest Line Number : 0462
Marriage: Evie Mae Scrutchfield, 6 May 1900, Randolph County, Missouri, USA
Marriage: Ida Irene Scheuneman, 14 January 1903 (Age 33 years), Moberly, Randolph County, Missouri, USA
Death: 13 January 1949 (Age 79 years), Laclede County, Missouri, United States
Burial: 1949 (Age 79 years), Prosperine, Laclede, Missouri, United States of America
1895
3. Thomas John NICHOLAS 1875–
Thomas John Nicholas was also one of Benjamin’s nephews (his mother was Benjamin’s sister Martha who married Evan Nicholas of Swansea, Glamorganshire, Wales ).
Emigration: 19 January 1895 (Age 19 years), Baltimore, Maryland, United States
Birth: 18 October 1875, Swansea, Glamorgan, Wales
Residence: 1881 (Age 5 years), 85, Baptist Well Street, Swansea (Town), Swansea, Glamorganshire, Wales
Residence: 1891 (Age 15 years), Address: Pentre, St John, Swansea, Glamorganshire, Wales
Thomas J. Nicholas, arrived in New York City on January 19th, 1895, aged19y
Ship of Travel : Lucania Port of Departure : Liverpool & Queenstown.
Residence: about 1917, (Age 41 years), Address: 77 Monitor St, Brooklyn, Kings, NY
Occupation: Metal (Copper) Inspector, , about 1910 (Age 34 years), Address: Laurel Hill, Queens, NY,USA
Employer: Phelps Dodge Co at Nichols Copper Co and Company
1901
4. John Bowen NICHOLAS, 1873–1950
John Bowen NICHOLAS was another of Benjamin’s nephews
(his father was Benjamin’s brother Evan and his mother was Eleanor Bowen).
Emigration: about May 1901 (Age 27 years), CUMRO CUSTER COUNTY NEBRASKA, USA
Birth: 28 June 1873 29, St Michaels, Pembrokeshire, Wales
Marriage: Elizabeth Marie Ghude, 3 March 1908 (Age 24 years), Otoe, Nebraska, United States
Military: WWI Draft, between 1917 and 1918 (Age 41 years), New York City no 55, Address: New York, United States
Death: 9 January 1950 (Age 76 years), Summerfield Marshall County Kansas, USA
1913
5. William Evan NICHOLAS, 1887–
The younger brother of Thomas John Nicholas and one of Benjamin’s nephews (his mother was Benjamin’s sister Martha who married Evan Nicholas of Swansea, Glamorganshire, Wales ).
Emigration: June 14, 1913 (Age 26 years), Brooklyn, New York, NY, United States (Manifest Line Number : 0013)
According to the passenger list: Wm. Evan Nicholas, from Swansea, Wales arrived in New York City on June 14th, 1913. He travelled on the RMS Campania (Cunard) departing from Liverpool. Aged 26 with tattoos on both arms 5′ 9′ tall with fair hair and grey eyes. He gave his destination as his brother Thomas John Nicholas (arrived in Baltimore, Maryland, USA 18 years earlier in 1895) who lived at 77 Monitor Street, Brooklyn, NY, USA. William finally settled in Casper, Wyoming, USA
Birth: about June 1887, Swansea, Glamorgan, Wales
Lewis L. Nicholas, 94 of Pawnee City passed away on Saturday, June 8, 2013 at the Pawnee Manor in Pawnee City, Nebraska. He was born on December 15, 1918 in Cumro, Nebraska. Lewis was born to immigrant parents John Bowen Nicholas and Elizabeth Marie Ghude. They both entered the U.S. through Ellis Island. John came in 1901 and Elizabeth in 1886. They met in Custer County and were married in 1908. They had 5 children Eleanor, Evan, Lloyd, Lewis and Doris. Due to his fathers poor health they left the ranch and moved near Summerfield, Kansas when Lewis was about 7 years old. Moving by train they brought a cow and some chickens with them.Lewis attended Summerfield School, graduating from 12th grade in 1936. He worked for area farmers until drafted in 1943. He was honorably discharged from the Navy in 1946 after serving in the Pacific Theatre during World War II. When asked why he choose the Navy he said he discussed it with his father. His father told him in the Navy, if you had a bed it would be a dry one.Lewis married Thelma Babcock on June 1st of 1946. They had 3 children Wanda Rae, John Benjamin and Norma Jean.The first 5 years of marriage they lived on a farm 5 miles west of Summerfield, Kansas. They moved to Pawnee County and farmed west of town moving to Pawnee City in 1979. Lewis also worked at the Beatrice State Development Center in Beatrice while farming.When Lewis was 12 years old he got his first bicycle by trading a calf for it. His dad had given him permission for the trade. Lewis was blessed with a fantastic memory to the very end. If you ever needed anything, he could tell you what building it would be in and on what hook or nail and what was lined beside it.He knew the year everyone was born starting with his parents and siblings, his wife’s parents and siblings. He knew when all the spouses and children were born. Adding to the list he knew when all of his grandchildren and great grands were born. As well he knew the year many friends were born.