First Generation

John Royce. Born 1797 - 1800 in Vermont or New Hampshire. The 1855 census says that they had lived in Belfast for 17 years. Died 6 January 1876 in either Angelica or Belfast, NY. Buried in the Chamberlain Cem., Belfast, NY.

He married Lydia ------. Born 1797 - 1799 in Conn. Died 19 August 1873 in either Angelica or Belfast, NY. She is also buried in the Chamberlain Cemetery (see tombstone on right).

They had the following children:

1. Alma Royce; Born 29 December 1821 in Washington, Orange Co., VT. Died 6 April 1883 in NY. Buried in the Chamberlain Cemetery.
2. Mary Royce. Born 24 Jan. 1822 in Washington, VT.
3. Orrin H. Royce; Born 13 December 1825 in VT. He married Lucy -----. He died 3 March 1899 in NY and is buried in the Chamberlain Cemetery.
4. Alonzo Royce; Born about 1833. He married Mary Chamberlain (21 March 1833 - 22 February 1902). She is buried in the Chamberlain Cem. but Alonzo's death date and burial are unknown.
5. Lydia Royce; Born about 1833.
6. Galusha Royce; Born about 1835 in VT. Died 21 September 1863 in NY and is buried in the Chamberlain Cemetery..

Census records:
1850 Belfast, NY John 53, Lydia 53, Alma 26, Alonzo 17, Galusha 13
1855 Belfast, NY John 60, Lydia 60, Alma 28, Galusha 17
1860 Belfast, NY John 60, Lydia 61, Alma 37, Lydia 27, Galusha 23
1865 Belfast, NY John 65, Lydia 64, Isabell J. Nicholson 13, Mary Nicholson 3, John W. Nicholson 8
1870 Angelica, NY John 71, Lydia 73, Mary Nicholson 8, John W. Nicholson 13
1875 Angelica, NY John 77, Alonzo 42

Second Generation

Mary Royce, daughter of John Royce & Lydia ------. Born 24 January 1822 in Washington, Orange Co., VT.

She married John Nicholson. Born ca. 1807 in Carlisle, England. In 1850 John was listed as an innkeeper in Belfast. He bought 1.51 acres of land in Belfast for $250 from his father-in-law, John Royce, on March 16, 1850 and sold it back to him on Dec. 14, 1851 for $600. John was a Deputy Sherrif for a short time. The Nicholsons moved Caneadea in 1852 where John bought one acre of land in Oramel (town of Caneadea), NY for $200 on May 13, 1853. He sold that property on Sept. 6, 1856 for $450. Also in 1856, they moved to the town of Butternut Valley in Minnesota. John bought 160 acres in town lot 22 on what was called "The Little Prarie." He sold this land in 1860 and took up residence on 160 acres of land on lot 17, also in the town of Butternut Valley. John had bought this land at an auction in 1859. In 1861 John sold the eastern half of this section and they remained on the other portion until there were many indian raids in 1862. Letters back to the Royce family show the terrible conditions at the time of those indian raids. The Nicholsons returned to the Belfast, NY area. Family tradition says that John Nicholson later returned to Minnesota to sell the land there and never returned. Land records show that he did indeed sell the land on Nov. 8, 1864, more than a year after the family had returned to New York State.

They had the following children:

1. William A. Nicholson; Born ca. 1845 in NY. Died 1862 in Minn. in an indian raid.
2. Francis Marion Nicholson. Born 15 July 1847 in Elmira, NY.
3. John Nicholson; Born 1850 in NY. Died 1850 - 1855 in NY.
4. Isabel Nicholson; Born ca. 1852 in NY.
5. Mary Nicholson; Born ca. 1854 in NY. Died 1860 - 1862.
6. John Wallace Nicholson; Born ca. 1858 in Minn. Usually called Walter. He was living in Hunt, NY in 1881.
7. Mary Nicholson; Born ca. 1862 in Minn.

Census records:
1850 Belfast, NY John 43, Mary 28, William 5, Francis 3, John 4m
1855 Caneadea, NY John 48, Mary 32, William 10, Frank 7, Isabel 3
1860 Judson, MN John 55, Mary 38, William 14, Frank 12, Isabel 8, Mary 6, John W. 2
1865 Belfast, NY Isabel J. 13, Mary 3, John W. 8, John Royce 65, Lydia Royce 64
1870 Angelica, NY Frank 23, Isabella 18, Orin Royce 43, Lucy Royce 43, Addison Royce 18
1870 Angelica, NY Wallace 13, Mary 8, John Royce 71, Lydia Royce 73

Third Generation

Francis Marion Nicholson, son of John Nicholson & Mary Royce. Born 15 July 1847 in Elmira, Chemung Co., NY. Died 29 March 1929 in Warsaw, Wyoming Co., NY. Buried in Belfast, NY.

Frank was wagon maker and carpenter. He learned his trade from his uncle, Orin Royce. He built the pulpit and rail for the Baptist Church in Belfast. Late in life, he was bothered by asthma and moved to Isabel, South Dakota for a while.

He first married Almeda Angeline Stockweather, daughter of Stockweather & Mehetable Wells, 28 August 1871. She was born 15 April 1849 in Granger, NY. Died 7 February 1900 in Belfast, Allegany Co., NY.

They had the following children:

1. Maude Isabelle Nicholson; Born 14 February 1873. Died 17 June 1961.
2. William J. Nicholson; Born 30 March 1878. Died 15 October 1947.
3. Harry H. Nicholson. Born 17 March 1887. Died 13 October 1963. He first married Bertha Weinhauer. Born 26 July . They had a daughter named Fern Nicholson. He second married Estelle Mae Durfee. Died 1918. They had a daughter named Meda Estelle Nicholson.
4. Jessie Ada Nicholson. Born 25 May 1890 in Granger, Allegany Co., NY.

Frank second married Belle ------. Born 1863. Died 1946.

Census records:
1875 Belfast, NY Frank 27, Medea 27, Maude 2.5, Mary 13,
1880 Portage, NY F.M. 33, Meda 27, Maude 7, William 2, Bell 28, Adison Royce 28
1900 Belfast, NY Frank 52, Maude 27, Harry 13, Jessie A. 10
1905 Belfast, NY Frank 58, Belle 44, Jessie 14, Faith Maxon 13
1910 Chapel St., Belfast, NY Frank M. 61, Belle 47, Jessie 19, Faith Maxon 17
1915 Chapel St., Belfast, NY Belle G. 52 (with her dau., Faith and son-in-law Ernest C. Gleason
1925 Belfast, NY Bell 62 (with her dau. and son-in-law)