| Notes |
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/82469708/thomas-nuzum Biography by Tom Brocher: Thomas's parentage is currently not known. From A Circuit Rider's Story by Mary Nuzum Foulkes and Rev. Willard O. Nuzum, "There is a family tradition that the NUZUMs were Huguenots, French Protestants (Calvinists) who fled to England because of religious persecution, that they at first settled near London, but after Cromwell's conquest of Ireland three brothers went to Ireland in the service of the English lords as overseers," perhaps to Ulster, Ireland, starting in 1660.
Some Ancestry family and GEDCOM trees show Thomas's father as John NUZUM. This John NUZUM is said to have been born in 1680 in County Wexford, Ireland, and to have died there. I have not seen the evidence for this identification of Thomas's father. Thomas's son Richard named his first born son John, perhaps in honor of Richard's grandfather. So, more research into this John NUZUM may be productive.
Thomas was born at Co. Wexford, Ireland on 29 September 1706; died at Nether Providence, Chester, Delaware Co., Pennsylvania before 28 July 1791 when his will was proved; was buried at Sandy Bank Cemetery, Berwyn, Delaware Co., Pennsylvania [Charles E. Haggerty, The Nuzum Family History Revised, David G. Nuzum, Publisher, Keyser, West Virginia, p. 1-2, 1983].
Thomas married in Ireland, before 1734, Elizabeth ____; Elizabeth died circa 1775.
In 1752 Thomas Nuzum and wife, living in Dublin, Ireland, became dissatisfied because of the heavy taxation and decided to come to America, sailed on a vessel for America, and after six months landed at Philadelphia [The Fairmont West Virginian, 16 Aug. 1920, page 1]. One of their grandsons, John Nuzum, came to Nuzum's Mills, now Hammond, in 1779.
Thomas leased his farm near Dublin in 1752 to a gardener (farmer) for sixty guineas annually for three generations, as it was illegal at that time to sell real estate in Great Britain, and came to America with his wife and only child Richard. They settled at Nether Providence, Delaware Co., Pennsylvania, amongst Quakers, near the families of the Worralls, Kirks, and Taylors, all of which marry into the Nuzum family. Here Thomas engaged in farming, probably selling his produce in Chester and Philadelphia [Charles E. Haggerty, The Nuzum Family History Revised, David G. Nuzum, Publisher, Keyser, West Virginia, p. 1-2, 1983].
From Joseph Dickinson and Family pg. 114-116: Thomas Nuzum and family settled in Nether Providence, Delaware County, PA. and in the year 1752 took out his naturalization papers (?) the same being in possession of Mrs. Mary Kauffman of Berwyn, Pa. (1921). There lived on an adjoining farm John Worall and his wife, Hannah (Taylor). They had three daughters who became part of the history of the Nuzum family, taken up in their proper places. Also, John Kirk lived nearby.
Thomas and his son Richard witnessed a will in Delaware Co. Pennsylvania in 1764. BRIGGS, RICHARD. Upper Providence. Cordtwiner. November 4, 1762. February 13, 1764. To wife Mary and son Thomas Briggs all real estate during her life and at her death to Thomas, paying to son John £10. Also to Richard, Agabus, Elizabeth and William Briggs and my daughter Mary Briggs £10 each as they arrive to the age of 21. Executors: Wife and son Thomas. Witnesses: Thomas Nuzum, John Moore, Richard Nuzum. [Pennsylvania Wills, 1682-1834].
Even though Thomas NUZUM settled in the midst of Quakers he was not a member of that society.
His Will
Thomas's will, dated 7 April 1789 at Nether Providence, Chester Co., Pennsylvania, was proven 28 July 1791. The will mentions son Richard, grandson Thomas, and James KERR, weaver [Will Book A, Chester Co., Pennsylvania, page 63].
With an Awfull Reverence to the Almighty Being, I, Thomas Nuzum, of the township of Nether Providence, and County of Chester, being weak in Body but of Sound and well disposing mind and memory-Blessed be God for the Same, and all other of His mercies and favors, Considering the Certainty of Death and the uncertainty of the time thereof. As for Settleing such temporall estate as the Lord in His mercy hath been pleased to Bless me with-Make and publish this my last will and testament in the manner and form following:
Imprimis-My will and mind is that all my just debts and funeral expenses be paid and Satisfied by my executors hereinafter named as soon as may be after my decease.
Item-I give and bequeath to my son Richard Nuzum and to his heirs and Assigns the plantation which I now live on with my personal estate excepting such things that are hereinafter excepted. First, I except the Stone House-the Smith shop and coal house-the Dutch fan in the Barn-the coals and shop tools and all the unwrought iron-the wagon and all my gears-a pair of a Chest of drawers-my Coat with the Silver buttons-a plow and Harrow-my Silver spoons two horses, two cows-the Brass Kettle and large Iron Pott-half the Pewter-the Bed Bedding and bedsteads which I commonly layupon myself-also half the sheep-a Diaper Table Cloth-three of the Best Chairs-all of which I except these Articles and do give the above excepted Articles to my Grandson Thomas Nuzum and to his heirs and Assigns forever.
Item-I give and bequeath also to my grandson Thomas Nuzum his heirs and Assigns forever, fifty acres of Land which I bought of Andrew Johnson, be the same more or less.
Item-My will is that James Kerr, weaver, shall have the weavers Shop as long as he pleases to work in or occupy the same-and he the said James Kerr to have free ingress & regress to and from the same without any hindrance or molestation.
And I do hereby make and Constitute my grandson Thomas Nuzum my whole and Sole executor of this my last will and Testament hereby revoking all other will or wills made by me and declaring this to be my last will and testament-In witness whereof I the said Thomas Nuzum have hereunto set my hand and seal in the year of our Lord one thousand and seven hundred and eighty nine 1789.
Thomas Nuzum, (Seal)
Signed sealed and published and declared by the said Thomas Nuzum the testator as & for his last will and testament in the presence of us who have subscribed our names as witnesses thereunto in the presence and at the request of the testator.
William Walton April the seventh in the year of our
Isaac Taylor Lord one thousand seven hundred
Jacob Dingee eighty nine 1789.
This day viz. 29th day of July Anno Dom. 1791 came before me William Walton and Isaac Taylor two of the witnesses to the foregoing will, who being severally sworn and affirmed did declare & say they were present at and saw the same will Executed and Signed Sealed and published & that to the best of their understanding and belief he was at the time of Sound & disposing mind and memory.
Wm. R. Atlee-Regr.
I do hereby certify that the within is a true copy of Thomas Nuzums will taken from the Compared with the original filed in the Registers office. Witness my hand and seal of office.
Jas. Barnard, Reg.
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The next two paragraphs are from a geocaching site:
https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC41T2E_hammonds-ghost?guid=bfb2a3ae-da34-4576-a0cf-8bdd18690f89
The Hammond area [of West Virginia] was settled in 1802 and was originally called “Nuzum's Mill,” after Mr. Richard Nuzum [Thomas's son] who was its first inhabitant. In the mid-1860’s Nuzum sold almost 400 acres of his land to a Mr. James Watson. Watson built a brick factory and used the clay along the river bank to make his bricks.
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1706 - 1791 (84 years)
