 |
||
2008 Nickerson Family Association 111th Reunion “Togethering” Weekend
After arriving in the “New World” in 1637, William and Anne lived in Salem and Boston. In 1641, they moved to what is now Yarmouth and settled in an area identified as Follin’s Pond at the head of Bass River. It wasn’t until 1656, 15 years after settling in Yarmouth, that they moved to today’s Chatham – then Monomoit – and were the first English settlers of today’s Chatham. Their first son, Nicholas, did not relocate with his parents and continued to live in Yarmouth, where he died in 1681.
For those who have attended the annual Togethering in the past, you know that we will keep you busy with events and Nickerson-related activities all weekend. Some of the events will be scheduled as selections, so that people can choose to attend or decide to do something else on their own. And while people may participate in as many or as few events as they wish, we believe we have created a menu of activities that will tantalize. Friday is the official kick-off of the Togethering. However, if you arrive to Cape Cod on Thursday, September 4, or if you are a local resident, the Board of Directors meeting is on Thursday and any member is welcome to attend as an observer. The meeting is traditionally held at the “Nick House” on the NFA property in North Chatham and seating is limited if you plan to attend. If you are interested in becoming more involved in the NFA, it would be a good thing to attend the meeting and express your interests. On Friday, the Nick House is open all day for those of you wishing to do some genealogical research, meet many of your extended cousins or merely browse the NFA property. If you do, make sure you walk along the path to the rear of the property and view the new bronze marker commemorating the site of William & Anne’s first Chatham homestead. On Friday afternoon, we will be organizing a boat tour for those of you interested in seeing Cape Cod as Captain Bartholomew Gosnold did in 1602 (or probably as the Vikings did 600 years earlier – or maybe the Irish monks many years before the Vikings). Cape Cod will look different than it did to the first European explorers, but one can always use his or her imagination. Given that our Friday evening “Welcoming Party” will be at the Bass River Golf Club, we will try to arrange tee times for The Bass River Golf Club is owned by the Town of Yarmouth and is perched on a bluff overlooking Bass River toward its outlet to Nantucket Sound. The club house will have completed its renovations by the time of our Togethering and it will be a spectacular place for our Welcome Party Friday evening. If the weather is warm and dry (as the odds say it should be) many of us will be out on the patio or strolling along the bluff above the river. Here’s hoping a beautiful sunset will light up the sky. A cash bar will be available along with hors d’oeuvres. Dinner plans with cousins can be made individually at the party should folks feel they require additional sustenance.
The First Congregational Church of Yarmouth was formed in 1639, about the time William and Anne were living in Yarmouth. While the current building is not the one from 1639, its white clapboard and shuttered turn-of-the-century architecture firmly identifies it as an historic New England church. It will be a perfect site for our annual meeting later on Saturday morning. After a lunch we will embark onto buses for a historical tour of Yarmouth. The Historical Society of Old Yarmouth will play an important role in our afternoon. The Society is caretaker of a number of buildings in Yarmouth and we will tour as many as our schedule will permit. Both the Yarmouthport and Bass River areas of Yarmouth contain numerous historical sites. Foremost, for us, will be the location of William & Anne’s first home on Cape Cod, before they moved to Chatham. Because Yarmouth has shoreline on both Cape Cod Bay and Nantucket Sound, water will play a big role in our tour. We will end the tour in enough time for our cousins to rest, relax and get ready of the evening events. Saturday night dinner will be at the newly renovated Cultural Center of Cape Cod, the former Bass River Savings Bank Sunday activities will traditionally center on Chatham. We traditionally attend church services at the First Congregational Church on Main Street, the church founded by William and Anne. The Nick House and the Caleb House will be open all day for genealogy and general browsing. Noontime means the annual Togethering cookout on the NFA grounds. A new tradition since the opening of the Caleb House Museum is open hearth cooking with colonial recipes prepared by Maureen Leavenworth in period costume. After a grand – but informal – cookout feed, there will be a presentation about NFA goings-on and other Nickerson-related subjects. Following the cookout and festivities, more genealogical research can be undertaken by those with an interest. Also, self-guided cemetery tour information will be available for those people wishing to pay respects to ancestors. Some of the old cemeteries are rather scenic and worth a casual stroll just for the scenic beauty and peace of mind. We do hope you will join us this year for the 111th Annual Nickerson Family Association Togethering on Cape Cod. You will receive information about the details of the Togethering in early summer along with registration materials. For now, please mark your calendar for September 5-8, 2008.
|
||
|
|
|
Nickerson Family Association, Inc., P.O. Box 296, North Chatham, MA, 02650-0296 |
||
Because of this extended residence in Yarmouth, the Nickerson Family Association celebrates the Town of Yarmouth by bringing William & Anne’s descendents to Yarmouth for its 111th Annual Togethering.
those who express and interest in golfing for the afternoon. For those interested in viewing where their ancestor or ancestors were finally laid to rest, there will be self-guided information sheets available at the Nick House identifying the locations of cemeteries in the Chatham area where Nickerson’s are buried as well as a list of Nickerson’s at each cemetery. 
Saturday morning starts bright and early with registration at the First Congregational Church of Yarmouth in Yarmouthport on Route 6A. Route 6A is colloquially known as the “Old King’s Highway” and is one of the oldest roads in continued existence in the country. It was one of the early bay paths that led out to remote locations from the original Massachusetts Bay Colony. Because it winds through old villages blessed with beautiful 17th and 18th century buildings, it is considered one of the most scenic roads in New England.
in historic Bass River. This magnificent early 20th century brick structure has recently been renovated for community cultural use and will be an elegant venue for our signature dinner and presentation.