​Wicocomico Indian

Taptico/Tapp Nickens and Pinn
A Genealogy Site In Progress

My great grandfather Reuben, a direct descendant of Richard Yoconohanocon, was born between 1835 and 1840 in Fauquier County, Virginia. His parents were Richard Nickens and Margaret (whose last name is unknown).

The surname “Nickens” is an anglicized version of Yoconohanocon, believed to have first been used in Lancaster County, Virginia in or around 1709 and is believed to have referred to Richard Yoconohanocon. Richard was named in the will of John Carter dated 1690.  His will granted emancipation to his slaves, “Black Dick and his wife Criss,” as evidenced in this excerpt from Carter’s will:

​​​​​​​​​​​​​First. I doe give Black Dick and Chriss his Wife after the finishing of the Crop that is now on the Grounde their Freedom, and I doe give each of them a Cow and Calfe and three barrells of Corn a peece, and I doe likewise give them so much ground upon the Land I bought of Nicholas Wren and old Clapham, for their lives so they may tend with houses convenient for them and timber for casques. And Likewise Chrisses youngest Daughter, I set free along with her, and likewise, I doe give Diana and Little Chriss their Freedom when they come to the age of Eighteen yeres, and that they in the meantime remaine with my Wife, And I doe give each of them a yearling heifer with their encrease until they come to halfe a dozen to run along with my Wifes stock of cattle, and all the rest of theire encrease I give unto my Wife. (Lancaster County Will Book 8:5).

As for the shortening of the Yoconohanocon name, Lancaster County tax records show a man with various names such as free Dick, Black Dick, and free Richard for the next few years.  He was taxed in Christ Church Parish, the same parish where John Carter had lived and where his heir Robert Carter continued to live. Then, in 1704  Richard “Yoconohawcon” was on the tax list, listed near the same individuals as Dick was in previous years, instead of the previously named variations of the name “Dick.”

So fast forward to Reuben - my grandmother Rosie was one of five children born to Reuben and his third wife Mary Page. Armistead Nickens, Reuben and his first wife Jane Wells’ first child, was born around 1860, ironically resulting in Grandmother Rosie’s first sibling being at least 50 years older than she. Great grandfather Reuben was a Farmer and stone fencer, and later became a Baptist preacher. He died in 1929 in Loudoun County, Virginia.

Since he died before I was born, regretfully, I never got to meet him but because my grandmother Rosie was fifteen when he died, she shared wonderful stories about him. She always said both her father and mother were Native American mixed with other races and said they experienced many hardships because of that. She said they were well known in the community and she remembers Reuben telling her he fought in the civil war. She said her parents taught her about her culture and her mother used to cook big meals which consisted of fried bread. Grandma always had big gatherings at her house and during the summer when it was really hot she would always tell us grandkids to go outside and dance to try and bring on rain. Grandma passed down her traditions to her children and grandchildren, especially that of having fried bread at every big meal. She always told us to never tell a bad dream because it would come true. She told us not to whistle at night and we never threw our hair out when we had a hair cut because it was bad luck. Our family held true to our beliefs and passed them down to our children and grandchildren. Most importantly, Grandma taught us that family means everything and with that being said I aim to find any family that we never got to meet due to migration or displacement.