The Lincoln Connection

On March 10, 1875 Thomas Simon Yakey married Eliza James. The Yakey family has long roots in the Taylorstown, Va area, stretching back to the mid-1700s. As for Eliza, both sets of her maternal 3rd Great-Grandparents arrived in Loudoun in 1744. Isaac & Margery Nichols settled in Lincoln, Va (formally known as Goose Creek) from Chester Co, Pennsylvania about the same time that William & Ann Hatcher arrived in Lincoln from Buck Co, Pa. Both families were Quakers, and were instrumental at the beginning of the Goose Creek Monthly Meeting. In 1766 the Hatcher’s son James married the Nichols’ daughter Catherine. 

Isaac Nichols Information
William Hatcher Information
Margery Cox Nichols’ Family

In 1983 Dave and Lynne Updegrove purchased a three acre property south of Round Hill, Virginia. In the early 2000’s they sold that property and purchased three lots (40 acres) just south of Lincoln, Virginia. Around 1744 Isaac Nichols received a land grant for 560 acres, located south of Round Hill. Also around 1744 William Hatcher received a land grant for 300 acres, located south of Lincoln. In 2024 our family became aware that we (Dave, Craig & Bob and our descendants) were direct descendants of Isaac and William. After more research we also became aware that both of Dave & Lynne’s properties were located within Isaac and William’s land grants. Being land grants, Isaac and William, and their families, were the first legal owners of those two land holdings. Some nine generations later their 7x great-grandson (Dave), unbeknownst to him, would one day own part of those two original properties.

Our family has one more connection with Lincoln, Virginia. Our grandfather, Charles Graham, and his many siblings all attended Lincoln High School during the 1910’s. Our mother, Katherine “Bonnie” Graham Updegrove, and her brother Charlie also graduated from Lincoln High School.

Interesting Information Regarding Our Lincoln/Loudoun Family Roots

1. Loudoun County was established in 1757. In the very first Deed Book (A) at the Courthouse, one of the first deeds recorded (page 25) was a transaction where William Hatcher transferred to Isaac Nichols, Jacob Janney and Thomas Clows ten acres of land “to suffer and permit such of the people called Quakers, inhabiting the county of Loudoun such and so many meeting houses, schoolhouses and yards as they shall from time to time forever think necessary and convenient for the worship of God, the instruction of youth and burial of the dead.” This is the area in Lincoln that presently holds the stone house, the brick meeting house across the street, and the Goose Creek Burying Ground.


2. A few days before Christmas 1914, Edward Enoch NIchols opened Nichols Hardware in Purcellville. Edward’s 5x great-grandparents were Isaac & Margery Nichols. His 4x great-grandfather was William Nichols, older brother of Catherine Nichols Hatcher.


3. Between Isaac Nichols and William Hatcher, it is estimated that they owned over 4,500 acres in western Loudoun County.


4. James and Catherine (Nichols) Hatcher’s daughter Ann married Richard Tavenner in 1792. After having ten children (including our ancestor Sarah Margaret Tavenner), Ann died in 1817 at the age of 43. Richard then married Nancy Willett around 1821. In 1833 Richard and Nancy donated one and a half acres for the site of Harmony United Methodist in Hamilton, Virginia. Associated with the Goose Creek Monthly Meeting when he was born in 1769, Richard was buried at Harmony UMC. Daughter Sarah Tavenner would go on to marry Elijah James, and they would become Eliza James Yakey’s grandparents.

Nichols/Hatcher Family Tree


This is a single timeline. Once you go through the first five generations, skip back to the left of the bottom line to follow the next five generations.


Click on red framed boxes to view cemetery tombstones.

Isaac and Margery (Cox) Nichols

Eliza James’ Maternal 3rd Great-Grandparents


Isaac Nichols was born in 1720 in Chester County, Pennsylvania. He married Margery Cox on May 26, 1742 at the Hockessin Friends Meeting House in New Castle County, Delaware. Shortly after the marriage, the family made arrangements to join the new Quaker settlement on the North Fork of Goose Creek, in what was then Fairfax County, Virginia (since 1757 in Loudoun County). The community was known as "Goose Creek" for over a century, but was renamed "Lincoln" about the time of the Civil War.


Isaac Nichols received a grant from Lord Fairfax for 560 acres of land (on the North Fork of Goose Creek) on March 25th, 1743. He was received at Waterford Preparatory Meeting (then a branch of Hopewell Monthly Meeting) on a certificate from Kennett Monthly Meeting November 9, 1743 for him, his wife and Herman Cox. About four years later, Friends living in the Goose Creek area were granted permission to hold meetings in the homes of members, with a log meeting house built about 1750. Isaac and Margery Nichols’ home was used for many of these first meetings.


Isaac Nichols was one of the trustees of the Goose Creek Monthly Meeting for purposes of the formal acquisition in 1757 from William Hatcher of the five acre tract on which the successor structure (a stone meeting house) and the later brick meeting house and school would be erected; this tract also including the burying ground.


Quoting from "Legends of Loudoun Valley" by Joseph V. Nichols, Isaac Nichols "was a successful business man and was the father of nine children, all of whom lived to mature years. He was uncompromising in his Quaker doctrine and unswerving in his observance of the more sombre side of the Quaker discipline." Isaac died in Loudoun County, VA, in 1802 and Margery in 1806, both leaving wills. Isaac owned several thousand acres of land near Lincoln, VA, and left a considerable estate.


Isaac was the son of Thomas Nichols and Mary Ludford, who came to Virginia from Staffordshire, England. 


Eliza James’ lineage follows Isaac and Margery Nichols’ daughter Catherine.


Above information from the following sources: Wikitree and Find A Grave


The Isaac & Margery Nichols House

Nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Meeting House Farm encompasses 90 acres of Middleburg Hunt Territory in Loudoun County. The Quaker-style stone house was built in 1744 by Isaac Nichols, one of the original trustees of the Goose Creek Friends' Meeting. Beam ceilings, large fireplaces and tightly fitted stonework, which are characteristic of Quaker design, appear throughout. The house was totally reconstructed in 1987 and received the Loudoun County Historic Preservation Award in 1988.

The first floor has an entrance hall, a living room with window seats , a dining room with a stone fireplace, a kitchen and break fast room and a two-story solarium. Upstairs, the master suite has a study with custom-built bookcases. The two additional bedrooms have corner fireplaces. A long hall leads to a covered porch, which steps down to the tiered terraces and the pool. The residence is surrounded by flagstone terraces, wisteria-covered porches and expansive lawns. Pastures are enclosed by four-board fencing, and six horses can be accommodated in the centuries-old stone barn.


The handsome stone house that Isaac Nichols built beginning in 1744 about a mile west of the meeting is still standing, in an excellent state of preservation / restoration.

SOURCE: Extract from September 1999 Architectural Digest, 'Extraordinary Properties on the Market.'

The Will of Isaac Nichols

Loudoun Co., VA Will Book G, pp 27-32
Will Written, 22 Oct 1800; Codicil Added, 13 Dec 1802; Executed, 1803

Click here to view Isaac Nichols’ Original Will

 Be it remembered this twenty-second day of the tenth month in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred that I Isaac Nichols of the County of Loudoun and the state of Virginia being advanced in age and weak in Body But of sound disposing mind and memory and calling to mind the uncertainty of him in this World do make and publish this my last Will and testament in manner and form following

First I give and Bequeath to my beloved Wife Margery Nickols the sum of Six hundred pounds and the mare and saddle which she commonly rides, also the room which usually lodge in and the privilege of the Kitchen and Celler and as much of the Household furniture as she shall judge necessary, one Cow and my Executors shall furnish her with a sufficient quantity of Hay Grain and Pasture for her said horse and Cow and likewise what fire wood she wants cut and hauled to the door.

[Secondly] I give and devise to my son William the tract of land whereon he lives to him his Heirs and Assigns forever and also one hundred pounds to be paid out of my personal Estate.

[Thirdly] I give and devise to my eldest daughter Mary Hoage wife of Solomon Hoge two hundred Acres of my land lying in Fauquier and Loudoun County which I purchased of John Rector and Robert Scott joining Robert Donaldson's to her her heirs and Assigns forever, also the sum of one hundred and fifty pounds to be paid out of my personal Estate.

[Fourth] I give and devise to my Daughter Catherine Hatcher her Heirs and Assigns forever a tract of Land lying in Campbell County Virginia that was purchased of Andrew Bryan and also the sum of Three hundred pounds to be paid out of personal Estate.

[Fifth] I give and devise to my daughter Rebekah Hatcher two hundred Acres of my land lying in Fauquier and Loudoun County which I purchased of John Rector, Stephen McPherson and Robert Scott to her her Heirs and Assigns forever and also the sum of One hundred and eighty pounds.

[Sixth] I give and Bequeath to my Daughter Lydia the sum of one hundred and fifty pounds. Also a lot of ground lyind the town of Alexandria the same where one Samuel Crage now lives and is Tennant the same to remain in the hands of my Executers during her derangement and by them the annual interest from Rent drawing therefrom be applied for her [ ? ] during her Derangement. If through divine favour she should be restored to her perfect understanding the above mentioned sum of money and Lot of land shall by my Executors be restored for her her heirs and Assigns forever, Otherwise at her death the same shall be equally divided between her three sisters, Mary Hoge, Caty Hatcher, Rebekah Hatcher and my three sons Isaac, Samuel, William and Children of Ruth Pancoast deceased one share divided among [ ? ]

[Seventh] I give and devise to my son in Law John Pancoast two hundred Acres of Land to him his Heirs and Assigns forever to be laid off three men chose by my Executors and himself and to be the same Land whereon he now lives in consideration wherof I order him to pay his two sons Joshua and John Pancoast one hundred and fifty pounds each as they arrive at full age to demand it and unto my Grandaughter Lydia Pancoat I give and bequeath the sum of seventy five pounds. And to my grandaughter Ann Pancoast I give and bequeath the sum of seventy five pounds to be paid by my Executors when they shall arrive at lawful age to demand the same and in case either of the two before mentioned sons of of John Pancoast or either of their sisters die at nonage I direct their shares to be equally divided among the surviving Brothers or sisters.

[Eighth] I give and devise to my two grandsons Isaac and Samuel Nickols sons of William and their Heirs and Assigns forever four hundred Acres of Land to be laid off in two separate surveys each - and of supposed equal quantity of my other adjoining lands to be laid off by five Juditious men chosed by my Executors and legatees each survey being the same whereon they now live.

[Ninth] I give and Devise to my two sons Isaac and Samuel Nickols all the remainder of my Lands lying in Loudoun County and Elsewhere with all my Mills and appurtenances therunto belonging which hath not before been devised to them their Heirs and Assigns forever and also my lot of Land in the Town of Alexandria with all the Buildings theron which I purchased of Caleb Whitacre.

[Tenth] I likewise divise to my said son Isaac and Samuel and their Heirs and Assigns all the remaining part of my personal Estate after paying just Debts and the before mentioned legacies. I give and bequeath to my two sons Isaac and Samuel to be equally divided between them and if luck so happen that any part of Debts due me from Josiah Watson shall be recovered it I direct my Executors to divide it between my children William, Mary, Catharine, Rebekah, Isaac, Samuel and my GranDaughters Lydia and Anne Pancoast equally according to the former partion of my personal Estate devised to them.

Lastly I do hereby constitute nominate and appoint my two sons Isaac and Samuel Nickols Executors of this my last Will and Testament hereby revoking and disannulling all former Wills or [ ? ] by me made.

Signed sealed Published and Declared by the said Isaac Nickols the day and year first above written to by his last Will and Testament In the presence of

Isaac Nickols

Isaac Hatcher
Abiah Myer
Mary McCullah
Edith Gaither


Be it remembered this thirteenth day of the twelfth Month in the Year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and two that I Isaac Nickols of Loudoun County and state of Virginia do make and publish this as an after cluase and a certain and necessary alteration as far as Relates to the clause or devise made in the forepart of the above instrument in behalf of my Eldest son William Nichols deceased I lock by two seals to my last Will as it now stands meaning only the Revoke and disannul the clause or paragraph of giving by Will the Tract or parcel of land to my Eldest son William now deceased the circumstance being changed makes it necessary that my Will be altered. Therefore I give and devise all that tract or parcel of Land whereon my above said son William Nickols lived in hs life time to his the said William Nickols Youngest son William my Grandson to him his Heirs and Assigns forever with all the Houses and profits thereunto belonging but do withold from the latter William Nickols the sum or part of personal Estate devised to my above said son William and in lieu thereof do cancel all bonds or other debts against my avove siad son William in favor of the later William my Grandson he the said William Nickols my grandson yielding and paying to his Mother Sarah Nickols widow of my deceased son William the sum of fifteen pounds a year and every year during her natural life and no langer also that Sarah the said Widow shall be and remain to be in possession of that Room in the stone dwelling House called her where she had used to lodge without let or molestation as long as she may live. I likewise devise and order that William my grandson furnish his mother the above said [ ? ] widow with a sufficient portion of meat and Grain for each year also her Horse and Cow summering and wintering with her fire wood cut and hauled to her room door with every other accommodation necessary for his Mothers care and comfort.

Signed sealed and acknowledged by the said Isaac Nickols to the his Will as far as relates to the changing of that tract of land from his son William to his Grandson William Nickols.

In the presence of

Isaac Nickols

Nathan Spencer
Isaac Nickols
Robert McCullah

The Court held for Loudoun County May the 9th 1803 this last Will and testament of Isaac Nickols decd. was proved by the affirmation of Isaac Hatcher and Abiah Myer two of the subscribing witnesses thereto and the codicil therto annexed was also proved by Nathan Spencer and Isaac Nickols the subscribing witnesses thereto and together with the Will aforesaid are ordered to be Recorded

And on the motion of Isaac and Samuel Nickols the Executors therin named who made oath thereto and together with Blackstone Janney and Joshua Gore their Executor securities entered into and acknowledged their Bond in the penalty of twenty thousand dollars with Condition as the Law directs certificates granted them for Obrtaining a Probate thereof in due form.

Click here to view Isaac Nichols’ Inventory 1803

   

William and Ann (Van Sandt) Hatcher

Eliza James’ Maternal 3rd Great-Grandparents


William Hatcher was born in the spring of 1700 in Marnhull, Dorset, England to John and Dina (Loyte) Hatcher. He was christened there on 14 May 1700 as William "Hacher." This parentage has been conclusively established by DNA testing as reported in the Hatcher Families Genealogical Association Newsletter for the second quarter of 2022 (https://hatcherfamilyassn.com/2022Q2NL/dorset.html).


William Hatcher was orphaned prior to his eighth birthday. His mother, "Dina widow of John Hatcher," wrote her will on 13 February 1707/8. She was buried just nine days later, on 22 February. William's father had died in 1706.


The first American document that can be tied to the subject William Hatcher with certainty is the listing of a William Hatcher, wheelwright, on the tax list for Bensalem, Bucks County, Pennsylvania in 1724.


The largest original proprietors of Bensalem Township had been Joseph Growther and his father Lawrence Growther, owners of mines in Cornwall. They came to Pennsylvania practically at the founding of the Colony. Joseph served as member of the colonial Assembly for numerous terms between 1684 and 1723, and as Chief Justice of the Provincial Court between 1707 and 1715. Joseph's daughter Grace Growther married David Lloyd, Attorney General of Pennsylvania at various times between 1686 and 1700.


The Growthers maintained some ties to England. Joseph Growther's son Lawrence (namesake of his grandfather) married Elizabeth Nicholls in 1724 in Bridport, Dorset. These connections are noted here because of the appearance of the names "Crowthe" and "Loyte" (perhaps a variant of Lloyd?) in William Hatcher's family tree.


William purchased a ten acre tract of land in Middletown, Bucks County, on 5 September 1726, from Joseph Thatcher.


A year later, he married Anne Van Sandt, daughter of Johannes "John" Van Sandt and his wife Leah Groesbeck. The marriage took place at Burlington, New Jersey, immediately across the Delaware River from Bensalem, pursuant to a license dated 13 Nov 1727.


In 1728, he sold the Middletown tract to Ruth Croasdale. (See below under "Court Records" for a more detailed discussion of this deed.) He was the plaintiff in several lawsuits in Bucks County before and after that date against those for whom he made or repaired wheels but failed to pay him. It appears that he moved to northern Virginia in or about 1744.


His original purchase of a tract of land in what is now Loudoun County was from the proprietor of the Northern Neck (Lord Fairfax). He was granted 300 acres adjoining Abel Janney, Thomas Janney and Jacob Janney (blacksmith) on 23 Jun 1744 in Fairfax (now Loudoun), Virginia. He effectively donated a parcel of ten acres for the meeting house, burial ground and school at Goose Creek (now Lincoln), Virginia through a set of transactions with the leaders of the Meeting:


In July 1757 he leased ten acres of land for a new Quaker meeting house for thirty shillings sterling and "one peppercorn in and upon the feast of Saint Michael the Archangel if demanded."


"At Loudoun County Court, 11 October 1757: Indentures of Lease and Release between William Hatcher of the one part and Isaac Nichols, Jacob Janney and Thomas Clowes of the other part were acknowledged by the said Hatcher and ordered to be recorded."


Loudoun County Court, 13 June 1758, Page 111. Ordered that the Churchwardens of Cameron Parish bind out Diana Sample (an Infant of four years old last March) to William Hatcher according to Law.


Loudoun County Court, 23 September 1760, Page 401. Indenture of Lease and Release made 15/16 Oct 1760 between Abel Janney of Springfield in co. of Chester & province of Pennsylvania Sadler, and Elizabeth his Wife, Isaac Pearson and John Smith, both of said county, Gentlemen, of one part and William Hatcher, wheelwright, of Loudoun Co. of the other part, per patent granted 17 Mar 1741 to Abel Janney for a parcel of waste land lying in Prince William Co. bounded by a survey thereof made by Amos Janney …east side of a drain of NW fork Goose Creek which heads near the Water Lick…containing 626 acres…said patent registered in Proprietors office in Book E, Folio 427. Sold for 100 lbs. lawful money of VA. Wit: Nathan Spencer, James Hatcher, Joseph (x) Clowes. At a court held 11 nov 1760. Indenture & receipt endorsed proved by affirmations of James Hatcher, Joseph Clowes and Nathan Spencer (Quakers)..and ordered to be recorded.


Loudoun County Court, 12 February 1761, Page 424. William Hatcher, Plt. agt. Thomas Phillips, Deft. In Debt. The Defendent being arrested and not appearing, on motion of Plt. by Hugh West his Attorney, it is ordered that unless the Deft. shall appear here at the next Court and answer Plt.'s action, Judgment shall be then given for Plt. against him, the said Deft., and Jenkin Phillips, who is returned Security for his appearance, for the Debt in the Declaration mentioned and costs.


Loudoun County Court, 10 March 1761, Page 427. Indentures of Lease and Release between William Hatcher of the one part and James Hatcher, his Son, of the other part, for love & affection he bears to his son & in consideration of sum of 30 lbs. current money..sold all that parcel of land lying in Loudoun Co. containing 226 acres of land…beginning at a Spanish and white oak on a stony knowl corner to said William Hatcher’s land and to Jeremiah Fairhurst…being part of a tract of land granted Abel Janney . . . Wit: John Hough, George Hatcher, Mary Hatcher.


Loudoun County Court, 10 September 1761. William Hatcher, Plt. agt. Thomas Phillips, Deft. In Debt. The Deft. not appearing tho' again solemnly called, on motion of Plt. by his Attorney, it is considered the Plt. recover against Deft. and Jenkins Phillips, the Security for his appearance, eight pounds, ten shillings current money of Virginia, the Debt in the Declaration mentioned, with lawful Interest thereon from the nineteenth day of August 1760 till paid, and his costs by him in this behalf expended, and the Deft. in mercy, &c.


Loudoun County Court, 12 November 1761. Upon the Petition of ....... William Hatcher...... praying that a Road may be opened from Jacob Janney's to Andrew Adam's Mill on Sekelon; It is ordered that William Mead, William Ross, John Moss and Thomas Sorrell or any three thereof being first sworn before a Justice of this County, do view the most convenient way for the same and make report of the conveniency and inconveniency that will attend the same to the Court between 1757 and 1761 at Loudoun, Virginia.


The Friends' minutes recorded in 1758 that he was alleged to have "violated the chastity" of Rachel Tanner (the nature of such "violation" not having been recorded, but likely a drunken insult); reinstated for membership 1761; January 1764 he was disowned for "abusing his family, drinking and fighting." He was reinstated January 1773; disowned July 1773 for "walking contrary to discipline".


William moved to Loudoun Co, VA where Goose Creek MM recorded as follows: William Hatcher & younger children recrq (received on certificate by request) 29 August 1754; his wife Ann and daughter Mary recrq 31 October 1754.


William Hatcher Land Grant 1744

The William and Ann Hatcher House

When Lord Fairfax owned what would become Loudoun County, he granted land there to William Hatcher, a Quaker who moved to the area from Pennsylvania. By 1765, Hatcher had built a house on the land as required by Fairfax as a condition of the deed, or patent. That stone patent house has been home to generations of farmers.


Like most Quakers who came to Loudoun County, Hatcher was drawn to its fertile pastureland. Stone Eden Farm was typical of the small farms owned by Quakers in the 18th century. Because of their religious beliefs, Quakers did not rely on enslaved labor, and their farms tended to be smaller than the plantations in eastern and southern Loudoun.


Hatcher was a founding member of the Goose Creek Meeting House, a place of Quaker worship. Goose Creek, a village southwest of Hamilton, was later renamed Lincoln, for the president, following the Civil War. The National Register of Historic Places nomination form for the Goose Creek Historic District declares, “No other section of Northern Virginia contains more examples of stone architecture and few other settled rural areas of the Commonwealth possess such a high degree of unspoiled pastoral beauty.”


Washington Post June 3, 2022

The Will of William Hatcher

Written on January 19, 1780




"I William Hatcher of the County of Loudoun in the Colony of Virginia being in reasonable good health and sound mind and memory thanks be given to the Almighty for the same but calling to mind the Mortality of my body I therefore do order this my last will and Testament in manner and form following. Viz:


First, I will that all my just debts and funeral expenses first be paid and discharged by my executors hereafter named.


Second, I give and bequeath unto my son John two equal shares of my personal estate that is to be divided into four equal shares after my son William's part is taken out.


Third, I give and bequeath unto my son James one equal share of that part of my personal estate which is to be divided.


Fourth, I give and bequeath unto my son William my Plantation that I now live on to him his Heirs and Assigns forever, and his choice of my horses to take four of them, and his choice of my cattle to take four of them, and his choice of twelve sheep and twelve hogs, and all my beds and furniture, and all my cash, all bills and bonds and Book accounts, a pair of chest of drawers two chests, and a walnut box, two tables, and a dough troff, and all my pewter crockery ware and hetchel, the choice of three iron pots and Dutch oven and teakettle, one potracon and tongs, tubs, and all the wooden ware and stilliards, and my share of the pump tools, and all the wheelrites and turning tools, and wagon and gears, and all the husbandery eutensels, and all my grains that shall be in and about the house or in and about my barn and in the ground, and his choice of my guns, and the grindstone.


Fifth, I give and bequeath to my son George two hundred acres of land joining my son James, Jeremiah Fairhust and others, to him his natural life and after his decease I give it to his children and their Heirs and Assigns forever equally to be divided among them.


Sixth, I give and bequeath to my son Thomas the Plantation he now lives on joining lands with John Pickett, William Nichols and others containing two hundred acres more or less to him his Heirs and Assings forever.


Seventh, I give and bequeath to my daughter Mary Gibson one equal share of that part of my estate which is to be divided.


Eighth, I give unto my daughter Sarah Russell the sum of ten shillings currency.


Ninthly and lastly, I nominate my son William Hatcher to be sole executor of this my last will and testament hereby revoking and disanulling all former and other wills by me in any wise made ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my last will and testament. In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand and seal this nineteenth day of the first month in the year of our Lord one thousand seventeen hundred and eighty.


William Hatcher


Signed sealed and delivered by said William Hatcher as and for his last will and testament in the presence of us who were present at the signing and sealing thereof. Witnesses: Solomon Hoge, Israel Janney, Joseph Janney.


At a court held for Loudoun County the 14th day of May 1781. The will was proved by the affirmation of Solomon Hoge and Joseph Janney (Quakers), two of the subscribing witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded and certificate is granted him for obtaining a probate in due form.


He died in Apr 1781 at Loudoun, Virginia.

Click here to view William Hatcher’s Will 1780
James Hatcher’s Will 1816
Catherine Nichols Hatcher’s Will 1829