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Mrs Ann NICKOLS (c.1792–1853)
St Michael’s section: Row 10, Grave C50

Ann was born in Faringdon, Berkshire in c.1795 (date varies), and her husband William Nickols was born in Kidlington in c.1788.

They may be the Ann Rankling of Faringdon and William Nickols of Wantage who were married at Wantage on 23 May 1814 (with William signing his name with a cross)

William and Ann Nickols had the following children:

• Richard Nickols (born in Oxford on 9 November 1816 and baptised at Wantage on 9 November 1817)
• Harriet Nickols (born in Oxford in c.1820: probably the Harriet Nichols, daughter of William and Ann, coachman, King Street, baptised at St Peter-in-the-East Church on 21 May 1820)
• William Nickols (born in Oxford in 1822 and baptised at St Aldate's Church on 10 November)
• Charles Nickols (born in Oxford in 1827 and baptised at St Ebbe's Church on 4 March)
• Henry Nickols (born in Oxford in 1831/2)
• Ann Nickols (born in Oxford in 1834 and baptised at St Martin's Church on 30 November).
  

Ann's husband William was variously described as a coachman, a chaise driver, a servant, and a postboy.

Their eldest son Richard (who consistently spelt his surname as Nichols) became a tailor. He was married in 1838:

• On 19 June 1838 at St Andrew's Church in Headington, the tailor Richard Nichols married Eliza Langston: they were both then living in Headington.

By the time of the 1841 census William Nickols was landlord of the Star & Garter inn at 20 Cornmarket (on the site of the left part of the modern block to the north of Market Street), which was in in St Michael's parish. Living there with him were his wife and children Harriet, (20), William (17), Charles (12), Henry (8), and Ann (6); and in a separate part of the inn were Jane Roberts and four servants.

Their son Charles was married in 1850:

• In the second quarter of 1850 in Oxford, Charles Nickols married Ellen Wilsdon.

In 1851 William (63) and Ann (55) were still at the Star & Garter with their children Harriet (28), William (26), Henry (19), and Ann (16). Henry was apprenticed from home, while his wife and other children all helped in running the inn. Also living with William and Ann was Jane Roberts (30), who was a dressmaker and now identified as their London-born niece, plus an ostler and a house servant. His son Charles (23) was already married and living at Union Street, St Thomas.

Mrs Nickols died less than two years later:

† Mrs Ann Nickols died at the Star & Garter, 20 Cornmarket Street at the age of 58 on 27 January 1853 and was buried at St Sepulchre’s Cemetery on 4 February (burial recorded in the parish register of St Michael’s Church, with surname spelt Nicholls).

Her death notice in Jackson’s Oxford Journal of 29 January 1853 read simply: “Jan. 27, aged 58, Mrs. Nickolls [sic], wife of Mr. Nickolls, of the Star and Garter Inn, Cornmarket Street.”

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William Nickols senior, husband of Mrs Ann Nickols

Not long after his wife’s death, William Nickols took over the Anchor Inn at 25A (or 25½) Cornmarket Street: its entrance was between Nos. 25 and 26, and its name was sometimes lengthened to the Blue Anchor.

Three of his children were married before the next census:

• In the fourth quarter of 1855 in Oxford, Henry Nickols married Ann Jones;
• In the fourth quarter of 1856 in Camberwell, Harriet Nickols married William Boucher;
• In the third quarter of 1860 in the Thame district, Ann Nickols married James Norcott.

His son William Nickols junior died at Cornmarket Street at the age of 37 on 26 October 1860 and was buried on 2 November: a death notice was inserted in Jackson’s Oxford Journal stating: “Oct. 26, after a long and painful illness, aged 37, Mr. William Nickols, jun., of the Corn Market.” It is likely that he was buried in this grave, but there is no indication on this gravestone that he is here.

William Nickols (74) is described in the 1861 census as the innkeeper at the Anchor, and his daughter Mrs Harriet Boucher (37) also lived there with her daughter Emily Boucher (2) and was the barmaid. There was also a house servant, an ostler, and a nursemaid who presumably looked after Emily while her mother was working. Meanwhile her husband William Boucher (25) was a groom at the Wheatsheaf in Oxford and claimed that he was unmarried: he probably had to lie to keep his job.

William Nickols senior died at Cornmarket Street on 8 January 1866 at the age of 77 and was buried on 14 January 1866. His death notice in the paper read: “Jan 8, aged 77, Mr. William Nickolls [sic], of the Anchor Inn, Corn Market-street; much respected by all who knew him.” Again it is uncertain where he is buried: he too may be in this grave.

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Surviving children of William & Ann Nickols

• Richard Nickols (born 1815/16): see separate grave
• Harriet Nickols, Mrs Boucher (born 1822/3) was living on the corner of 4 Rewley Road and 1 Norman Passage at the time of the 1871 census with her husband William Boucher (40), who was described as a licensed victualler, and their daughter Emily Boucher (12). In 1881 she was a 60-year-old widow, living at 71 Cranham Street with her daughter Emily (22) and was in charge of a working men’s club. In 1891 she was lodging at 27 London Place, St Clement’s. She died at the age of 74 in 1893. Harriet Boucher died at Sandford-on-Thames at the age of 71 on 18 February 1901. Her effects came to £610 12s., and her executor was retired baker and grocer John Roberts.
• Charles Nickols (born in Oxford in 1827/8) was a cabinet maker. At the time of the 1851 census he was living at Union Street in Jericho with his first wife Ellen and son Henry C. Nickols. In 1861 they were living at 14 St Ebbe’s Street and had three more sons: Ann (7), George (4), and Jesse (1). His wife Ellen died in Oxford at the age of 41 in 1869, and on 9 July 1871 at St Ebbe's Church Charles married his second wife Jane Payton, a widow of Beef Lane and the daughter of Thomas Thatcher. At the time of the 1881 census he and Jane were living at St Ebbe's Street, and the only child of Charles still at home was Jesse (20). The three of them were still there in 1891. In 1901 Charles (72) was a general dealer living at 2 Church Street, St Ebbe's with his wife Jane (77). Charles died at 9 Beef Lane on 21 June 1904, and was described as a cabinet maker. His effects came to £27 8s., and his executor was George Henry Payton.
• Henry Nickols (born 1831/2): see separate grave
• Ann Nickols, Mrs Norcott (born 1834/5) was living at 10 Albert Street, St Thomas’s in 1861 with her husband James, who was working as a groom. In 1871 she was a widow of 36, working as a dressmaker and living at Radcliffe Row (which ran off the west side of the Woodstock Road, leading on from Cock's Row, between the present Nos. 17 and 19: : map) with her children Laura (8), William (6), and Sarah (7). In 1881 she was at West Court, St Giles with her children Laura (18), who was a general servant); William (16), who was a porter; and George (13), who was an errand boy.