Six years after William Draper’s marriage to Lucy Walter his second wife in 1742, Mary the only surviving child of his first marriage to Judith Horn by married William Nicholas Esq. of Basingstoke.

The marriage took place at Froyle on 15th September 1748 and in the Parish Register both are described as of Froyle. This was a link with the illustrious Nicholas family whose pedigree is attached also showing the Nicholas -Moody link up revealing a coat of Arms of some 15 quarterings greatly assisting in the identification of coats of arms depicted in the Hatchments in Froyle church.

William Nicholas was the son of Edward Nicholas of Stoneham Park, Co. Hants, who was a commissioner of the Privy Seal in 1711, with Sir George Beaumont and Robert Byerly Esq. in the absence of the Bishop of Bristol at the Treaty of Utrecht. He married Anne Rachael daughter and heir of Clement Newsham Esq. of Titchfield Co. Hants. In an old memorandum book of this Edward the marriage is said to have been solemnised 16 October 1711 at Titchfield Chapel! This chapel had been desecrated some time before Gough’s publication (Gough’s Sepulchral Monuments 1786-96). It is not known what has become of the Registry which ought to have been kept if it was lawfully used for marriages at least after the dissolution. Anne Rachael married 2ndly ……….. Abernethy.

Of the first marriage was born William, Elizabeth and other children. Elizabeth married 1st -Whalley secondly William Draper to become his third wife. This marriage was solemnized at St. Pauls, Covent Garden, where she is described as Elizabeth Whalley, widow. So here we have an unusual example of a daughter marrying a brother and her father marrying a sister.

William Nicholas was twice married. His first wife was Harriet Boyle, dau of George first Earl of Cork and Orrery. They had two children, Robert Boyle Nicholas post-capt. of the Thunderer, commanded by Commodore Boyle Walsingham, lost off St. Domingo, 1780 S.P. and a daughter Charlotte, married Dr. Warton, Master of Winchester College.

William Nicholas’ second wife was Mary, daughter and co-heir of William Draper of Froyle Co. Rants. Of this second marriage rr: were born John Nicholas, William Draper Nicholas, Anne,
Elizabeth, Mary-Annabella married Richard Vernon Moody Esq. of Southampton. (Mary-Annabella first Nicholas bapt recorded at Froyle). Judith Horn by, Clement Avery Nicholas, Harriet Sophia Charlotte. (These last three died in infancy).

Nicholas Monumental Inscription in the Church at Froyle

(On South wall of Nave) In memory of JOHN NICHOLAS, son of WILLIAM and MARY NICHOLAS of Froyle in the county of Hants. Lieutenant of His Majesty’s Ship “Aurora”, who departed this life at sea December 1778 aged 26 years, whose remains are deposited in the island of Barbadoes.

Also in memory of WILLIAM DRAPER NICHOLAS, son of WILLIAM and MARY NICHOLAS of Froyle in the county of Hants, Captain in His MAJESTY’S 11th Regiment of Infantry, who died January the 17th 1786 aged 34 years, whose remains are deposited near this place.

(On North wall of Nave) Sacred to the memory of ANNABELLA MOODY, widow of the late RICHARD VERNON MOODY Esq. of Southampton, who died December 2nd 1829 aged 73 years. Youngest daughter of WILLIAM NICHOLAS, lord of the manor of Froyle, and MARY his wife. This tablet is erected at the particular request of the most beloved and affectionate of
daughters MARY ELIZABETH MOODY by her surviving sister REBECCA ANNABELLA MOODY.

Also to the memory of MARY ELIZABETH MOODY, Eldest daughter of RICHARD VERNON MOODY Esq. and MARY ANNABELLA MOODY, who died July 29th 1855 aged 67 years.

Also to the memory of REBECCA ANNABELLA MOODY who died April 2nd 1860 aged 69 years.

(Wall tablet on South wall of singing gallery) Ann NICHOLAS daughter of WILLIAM NICHOLAS, Lord of this Manor, and MARY, who died July 21st 1826 aged 70 years.

Monumental Inscriptions in Churchyard.

(Altar tomb) ANN NICHOLAS, died July 211826 aged 70 years.

(Low Altar tomb) Here lies the remains of CHARLOTTE WARTON, daughter of WILLIAM NICHOLAS Esq. and widow of JOSEPH WARTON D.D. headmaster of Winchester College. Died December 2 1806 aged 64 years.

(Chest tombs) …………. lyeth the body of WILL NICHOLAS Esq., who departed this life June 11 in the year of our Lord 1764 in the 47 year of his age.

(Low tomb, top broken) Sacred to the memory of MARY NICHOLAS, relict of WILLIAM NICHOLAS Esq. of Froyle in the county of Hants, daughter of WILLIAM DRAPER Esq. late Lord of this Manor, who departed this life on the 1 of May 1794 aged 63 years.

(Altar tomb) W.D. (in large capital letters) NICHOLAS (in script, below the letters W.D.) (There is no further inscription). This must mark the grave of William Draper Nicholas ob. 1786.

(Triple stone) In memory of HARRIOT SOPHIA CHARLOTTE NICHOLAS, aged 3 months, 1764.
In memory of CLEMENT AVERY NICHOLAS, aged 18 months, 1764.
In memory of JUDITH HORN BY NICHOLAS, aged 9 months, 1759.

(Altar tomb) MARY ELIZABETH MOODY, died July 29 1855 aged 67 years.

Notes.

William Nicholas Esq. (see above) on the upper surface of this tomb is carved a fine Rococo cartouche with the arms of Nicholas impaling Newsham (see pedigree) died June 111764 aged 47.