Mary  NICHOLS

daughter of George Nichols

m. (1) William Downing

Mary Nichols was the widow of William Downing, whose brothe r John was married to Elizabeth Hughlett, the sister of th e John Hughlett who married Mary. The Northumberland Cour t Orders for December 17, 1683, page 215, states, "John Hug hlett, Jr. who married Mary, ye Relict of Wm. Downing indeb ted to Wm. Bonoway."

The Index to Marriages of Old Rappahannock and Essex Counti es, Virginia, page131, states that "1691, Hewlett, John, No rthumberland Co., married Mary, daugher of Mr. George Nicho ls, Book D8, page 294." The 1991 date cannot be supported g iven the court records. This late date suggests that Joh n Jr. was married previously. That first marriage in other sources (eg., the Mears report), that Mary was Mary Nich las Yarrett, daugher of William Yarrett and Jane Unknown, s on of Adam Yarrett and Rachel Rhodes, and brother of Alice Yarrett. This name and birth - marriage information come s from LDS films 1903938 and 1903978. Note that this scenario makes Mary Nicholas Yarrett and John Hughlett first cousins. Again, this scenario cannot be reconciled with the court records.

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