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Mary Ann (McKay) Nicholl lived in Gracehill, which is located between Ballymena and Ahoghill. Her parents were Robert McKay from Argyle, Scotland and Jane (Kilpatrick) McKay from Braid, Scotland. They conducted a bleachery in Graceland. The McKays were Moravian in religion and took a leading part in Church matters.
In 1987 Pearl Nichol Thomas (1332) and her nephew, Howard Nichol (13331), traveled through the Ahoghill/Gracehill area. The photos below show some of the highlights of their visit.
The information concerning the birth and marriage details of the Nicholl family is recorded in the Registers of the First Presbyterian Church, Ahoghill, County Antrim, Northern Ireland. The name in each case was recorded with two "l's." The three sons dropped one "l' after emigrating to America. | The Gracehill settlement was begun in 1759. Gracehill is regarded as the "Mother Church" in Ireland as it is the only full scale Moravian settlement built in the country. It consists of a centrally located church surrounded by dwellings for the church members and all the necessary complements of a self-contained and self-supporting community. Pearl inside the Moravian Church at Gracehill.
An interesting Web Site about your
Irish Nichol Roots can be viewed
by Clicking Here.
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In 1885 Robert and Hugh II moved their families to Bottineau County, Dakota Territory.
For the first year they lived in teepee-like structures made of poles while they built log houses on their
homesteaded land. They prospered through honest, hard work. By 1903 Hugh was able to build a large two-story home like
the ones he had admired in Washington County. He also built a large, well-equipt barn. Both of these structures are
shown below. Unfortunately, two weeks after Maria moved into her new house she passed away. The chair on the
porch in the picture on the left was placed there in Maria's honor.
The poem below, honoring Bottineau Count pioneers, was written by Flora Cameron Burr a good friend of the Nichol family.
It was attached to Hugh Nichol's Obituary in the June 28, 1938 edition of the Bottineau Courant.
| Passing from us, our Pioneers Yes, passing one by one Who knew the scent of the first turned sod In the early morning hours with God They left their work well done The love and the hope of our Pioneers
Say you will keep the faith with them
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