Cormack Nickelson
Cormack Nickleson
1771-1831
We believe Cormack was born around 1771 based on the age reported at his death. We have records of Cormack being in Lower Makefield as early as 1802. We have seen his name spelled multiple ways - Cormac, Cormack, Cormic…
In 1810 Cormack (39) appears to be living with his wife, 4 children and one “free black.” (1)
Come 1830, Cormack (59) appears to be the head of a house of 8 people, including himself. This includes 1 white male child under 5, another male white child under 10, 2 white males between 20-30 years old, and 1 male 60-70 years old. There were 2 white women in the house, one being 20-30 & the other aged 60-70. It seems a safe assumption would be a child of his with their family as well as possibly a sibling or other contemporary living with them. The 1830 Federal Census reveals a number of names familiar around the grounds of Slate HIll and this history of Lower Makefield who were clearly Cormack’s neighbors- Stockton, White, Stradling, Bayley, Vansant & Yardley. (2)
Cormack was tragically killed 12/16/1831 (3) at “about 60 years of age.” While driving his wagon back from Philadelphia he fell off and was run over by it. His “black man” who was driving another wagon behind him stopped and tried to render aid but sadly nothing could be done and he died the next day (4).
