Blog

Part II available

Part II of The Pine Knoll Story is now accessible via this website. It has been uploaded in two segments: Pages 199-348 (covering 1861 to through 1870) and pages 349-619 (covering 1871 to 1880). I had to divide it into smaller files to comply with the upload restrictions on this WP site.

You’ll find the links to these pdfs under tab for Janet’s book.

Sandy

I am a granddaughter of William Stanley Nichols, and great-granddaughter of Andrew Nichols. I grew up in Danvers, Mass., in the 1940's and 1950's and often visited Pine Knoll, an easy walk from our house. At Pine Knoll I played with kittens, learned to knit from cousin Marion, took piano lessons from cousin Annie, and visited with great aunts May and Margaret.

This Post Has 3 Comments

  1. Amanda Nichols September 29, 2020 Reply

    Dear Sandy,
    I came across your blog looking for some Info on my great great grandfather. What a surprise!
    I know almost nothing of my family; thank you for this detailed account.
    I was just looking at a photo of one of the letters and Andrew’s sign off- that’s a Masonic alphabet cipher. Strangely, when translated, it’s not his name but “APKRCV.” Looks like he double ciphered the sign off!

    1. Sandy February 23, 2022 Reply

      Hi Amanda,
      You had commented (in Sept 2020) on my Pine Knoll Story website about a cipher that your great-great grandfather had used. I had replied about the cipher, but didn’t think to ask you more about your connection to Andrew Nichols of Danvers, MA. Today I was re-visiting the comments section, and wished I had asked. We must be cousins, of course. I’m descended from Andrew’s youngest son (William S. Nichols).
      I hope you’ll be notified now of this reply (if your email address is still the same). I look forward to hearing from you.
      Thanks,
      Sandy

  2. Sandy September 29, 2020 Reply

    Hi Amanda,
    I’m glad you found this website helpful. I want to respond to your comment about Andrew’s coded signoff. My cousin Janet Derouin called this “mystery writing” when she first read those love letters. Years later she showed the codes to Andrew’s grandson John Nichols, who responded, “That’s easy; I learned that as a kid.” It is a simple substitution code. Maybe it was derived from, or has some relation to, a Masonic cipher code, since your translation matches for the “A” and the “R” of ANDREW.
    THANK YOU for bringing my attention to Masonic cipher codes. I’ve now read several online sources, and l like this one, which has good graphics and explanation:
    http://www.themasonictrowel.com/Articles/General/other_files/masonic_cyphers_and_symbols/masonic_cyphers_and_symbols.htm
    Quite fascinating! Now I understand how easily Andrew’s grandson John could have learned and remembered the pattern of coding, which had been a mystery to me.
    Sandy Nichols Ward

Leave a Reply