Biography 5
Commissioner of Excise 1790-1822; chairman of Board of Excise 1802-22.
The Nicholas family were originally settled at Roundway near Devizes, and one of them, John Nicholas, represented the borough 1713-15. But 'Robert sold Roundway about 1780 and went to live at Ashton Keynes', which came to him through his maternal grandmother. In April 1782 he declared his candidature for Cricklade should the proposed reform pass, and asked for support from Lord Shelburne, and from the Members for the county, whose property lay in the Cricklade Hundreds. Isaac Hawkins Browne, when recommending him to Shelburne, 15 Apr. 1782, described him as 'of an ancient family in Wiltshire, and of independent fortune ... He signed the Wiltshire petition, and is a warm friend to the popular cause. I have no doubt he would always support the Administration, which we have at last been so happy to obtain.'... Shelburne gave Nicholas his support, but in view of superior strength against him, Nicholas declined the contest.
At the general election of 1784, Nicholas and John Walker Heneage stood jointly as supporters of Pitt; were defeated on the poll but seated on petition. Nicholas voted with Pitt over parliamentary reform, 18 Apr. 1785, and during the Regency crisis, 1788-9, but against Richmond's fortifications plan, 27 Feb. 1786. Apparently he never spoke in the House.
On 19 Mar. 1788 Nicholas wrote to Pitt asking on a vacancy to be appointed receiver of the land tax for North Wilts. The 'severe contest at the last general election' and the further expense of the petition, 'though it has not involved me in any debt, has occasioned a diminution of my property which I could not justify to my family, except from those public principles upon which I acted'. A commissionership of Excise or Customs would be even more agreeable to him.
He was appointed commissioner of the Excise in March 1790, which vacated his seat. He died 27 Dec. 1826.
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In 1817 Robert Nicholas of Ashton Keynes was named as a beneficiary in the Will of his aunt, Elizabeth Neate of Devizes, spinster.
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At Clifton, on the 27th ult. in his 69th year, Robert Nicholas, Esq. F.S.A. of Ashton Keynes, in the county of Wilts, formerly member for Cricklade, and many years chairman of the Board of Excise.
Morning Herald (London), 1 Jan 1827, p. 4
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Buried 3rd January 1827 in his Family Vault Robert Nicholas Esqr of Ashton Keynes Wilts, second son of Edward Richmond Nicholas M.D. of Devizes Wilts and Dame Jenny his Wife, born at Devizes 22 April 1758 and died at Clifton near Bristol on 27 December 1826, aged 68¾ years (burial record)
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Abstract of the Will of Robert Nicholas of Ashton Keynes in the County of Wilts, Esquire, written , proved 6 Apr 1827. 6
Wills that his body be buried in the family vault in the chancel of the Church of Ashton Keynes besides his late wife Charlotte.
Gives and devises all his manors, tenements, farms, lands, hereditaments and premises in trust to Thomas Frankland Lewis of Stapleton Court in the county of Radnor, esquire, to the use of his brother-in-law the Rev. Roger Frankland, Canon of the Cathedral Church of Wells, and to his brother the Rev. John Nicholas, Doctor of Laws and Vicar of Charlton and Westport in Wiltshire.
Gives and devises to his wife Anne an annuity of £200 so long as she remains a widow.
Gives and devises to his daughters Charlotte, Sophia, Frances, Harriet and Maria annuities of £125 each.
Gives and devises to his son Charles an annuity of £225.
Gives and devises annuities to his daughters Anne, Elizabeth, Emily and Clara, and to his son Griffin.....
Marriage Information:
Robert married Charlotte Frankland, daughter of Sir Thomas Frankland and Sarah Moseley, on 28 May 1778 in St. Swithin, Walcot, Somerset, England. (Charlotte Frankland was born on 9 Mar 1760 in Westminster, London, England, christened 16 Apr 1760 in St. George Hanover Square, London, England, died on 28 Jan 1800 in Ashton Keynes, Wiltshire, England and was buried there 6 Feb 1800.)
Marriage Notes:
Robert Nicholas of the parish of The Devizes in the County of Wilts, batchelor, and Charlotte Frankland of this parish
Married by Licence
Witnesses: Thos. Frankland, Sarah Frankland
Marriage Information:
Robert also married Ann Clark, daughter of John Shepherd Clark and Sarah, on 2 Aug 1805 in St. Mary's Church, St. Marylebone Rd., St. Marylebone, London, England. (Ann Clark was born about 1787 in Stanmore, Middlesex, England, christened 20 Apr 1788 in Great Stanmore, London, England, and died on 9 Dec 1873 in Hounslow, Middlesex, England, aged 86 years.)
Marriage Notes:
Robert Nicholas, Esquire, of this parish, widower, and Ann Clark of the parish of Great Stanmore in the county of Middlesex, spinster, a minor
Married by Licence by & with the consent of John Shepherd Clark, the natural and lawful father of the said minor
Witnesses: Sarah Ann Clark, H. Jones
