Biography - Samuel Nicholas
- Craig Stevenson
- Jun 6, 2024
- 5 min read
Major of Marines
The only son of Anthony, a blacksmith, and Mary (Shute) Nicholas, he was born in Philadelphia about 1744. His father died in 1751. From 1 January 1752 to 17 December 1759, he received his education at the Academy of Philadelphia, forerunner to the University of Pennsylvania. After his graduation, he was apparently admitted into the society of the city, becoming member No. 102 of the State in Schuylkill (the Schuylkill Fishing Company of the State in Schuylkill) in May 1760, and 1766 he became a member of the Gloucester Fox Hunting Club. One source assert that he sailed as supercargo on the colonial merchant vessels of Robert Morris.
On 10 November 1775, Continental Congress authorized two battalions of Marines for the Continental service. The first officer commissioned for these Marines was Captain Samuel Nicholas on 28 November 1775, thus, he was the first officer commissioned in the naval service. He proceeded to enlist his company in Philadelphia between 6 December 1775 and 14 January 1776, signing up 62 men in 40 days for service on board the ship Alfred.
At New Providence Island, the Marines of the squadron landed on 3 March 1776 under the command of Captain Nicholas, the senior Marine officer, capturing Forts Montagu and Nassau.
Leaving New Providence for New England on 17 March 1776, the squadron was off the coast of Rhode Island when it was intercepted by HMS Glasgow, and Alfred, among others, engaged her in combat. Two days later, on 8 April, Alfred reached port at New London, Connecticut. Nicholas account of the expedition added much to the annals of the Marines' first amphibious landing.
Nicholas was sent by Commodore Esek Hopkins with dispatches from New London to Congress in Philadelphia. On reporting there, he was detached from Alfred and promoted to major of Marines on 25 June 1776. His orders were to remain in Philadelphia and to recruit and discipline four new companies of Marines for frigates then on the stocks. On 13 August and again on 16 September, the Pennsylvania Council of Safety asked to substitute Nicholas' Marines as guards for the frigates, in relief of units of the Philadelphia Associators. In December 1776, three of the four companies of Marines were ordered to join General Washington for his projected campaign in New Jersey.
Major Nicholas and his small battalion of 80 men joined Washington and participated in the Second Battle of Trenton (Assunpink Creek) and in the Battle of Princeton, 2-3 January 1777.
Nicholas returned to Philadelphia from service with the Army about 1 March 1777. In September 1777, he was on special duty at Lebanon, Connecticut, obtaining arms and lead for the Army. Between July 1777 and the year 1780, he executed orders for the Marine Committee and the Board of Admiralty as major of Marines and as muster master.
He married Mary Jenkins, of Jenkintown, Pennsylvania, believed to have been the daughter of Dr. Charles Jenkins, at Friends Meeting in 1778. They had three Sons: Samuel, Charles Jenkins, and William, and two daughters, Sarah, and Mary. He was recorded in 1778 as a member of the "Patriotic Association of Philadelphia”.
Following the British evacuation of Philadelphia in 1778, the Americans reoccupied the city. The Marine Barracks were reestablished, and recruiting was renewed by Major Nicholas and Captain Robert Mullan. In March 1777, the "Marine Barracks" was a house on the east side of Second Street, between Mulberry (now Arch) and Sassafras (now Race) Streets, owned by one Abraham Wilt. Although extant Philadelphia records show neither leases nor rentals, deeds therein indicate this site as its location. Perhaps in 1778 the Marine Barracks" was again located there.
An additional duty was given Major Nicholas on 8 August 1778 when he was elected an authorized signer of Continental currency, on the recommendation of the Board of Treasury. About this time, it also appears that he was sent to Boston to transport specie just arrived from France, carefully avoiding British-held New York, to Philadelphia. The mission was accomplished. He was again sent to Boston in September 1778 to convoy clothing from France for the use of the army. He was recommended for an additional assignment on 29 May 1779 as a signer of Continental bills of credit.
His services as a Marine officer were revived on 7 August 1779 when the Navy Board, Middle District, directed him to raise a company of 50 Marines at Philadelphia "as expeditiously as possible" although the reason therefore is not apparent. Captain Robert Mullan, assigned as company commander, recruited these men from 9 August 1779 into 1780. Nicholas made an effort to return to sea on 10 August 1781 when he requested assignment to the new ship-of-the-line America. He also asked Congress for pay and prize money, pointing out his promotion to major had deprived him of all opportunity to obtain the latter in the land service.
After some consideration Congress resolved that his accounts be “settled” up to 25 August 1781, at which time he would be considered as retiring from the service. Although technically retired, he was appointed on 30 November 1781 to a court to inquire into the loss of the frigate Trumbull. On 25 April 1783, he joined in a memorial to the Continental Congress concerning pay, describing himself as a "late Major of Marines."
In the fall of 1782, Nicholas stood for election as Sheriff of the City and County of Philadelphia, but the results of the election are unknown. lt may be worthy of note here to relate that his sister-in-law, Sarah Jenkins, was married to General Josiah Harmar, U. S. Army, at Swedes' Church, Philadelphia, on 10 October 1784.
As a citizen, both before and after the Revolution, he was a tavernkeeper at the "Sign of the Conestogoe Waggon" located at No. 78 Market (or High) Street, between Fourth and Fifth Streets, owned by his mother-in-law. One source states that it was the meeting place of the Society of the Cincinnati. His residence appears to have been adjacent or at least in the same block. General Harmar purchased the tavern on 19 September 1798.
Nicholas also speculated in considerable tracts of land in the area which is now adjacent to South Broad Street in the heart of midtown, modern Philadelphia. Between 1785 and 1788, he served on the Standing Committee of the State Society of the Cincinnati of Pennsylvania. There are indications that the revived Schuylkill Fishing Company held its social meetings at the "Connostogoe" as late as March 1789. Nicholas was also a member of Lodge No. 13, A.Y.M. (Masonic) according to its 1783 records.
Samuel Nicholas died in Philadelphia on 27 August 1790 at the early age of 46 years. He was buried in the Friends Burial Ground, Fifth and Arch Streets, Philadelphia. in an unmarked grave, as is the custom of the Society of Friends. His burial is recorded in their records.
Papers were granted on 8 September 1790, for the administration of will to his widow, Mary Nicholas, for the settlement of his estate. No inventory of his belongings accompanies the Court records, but some of his holdings are accounted for in the will of his widow, dated 28 September 1818.
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