Hicks & Joyce family: Ireland, VA & NC

Julie’s notes: This was originally shared as a blog post on this site 8 Mar 2020. Re-shared as a webpage 7 Dec 2024. It was written and submitted by Pat Ritchie a descendant of Nicholas & Margaret. Nicholas’s mother was born in County Armagh, Ireland, and moved with her family to the present day Bracey area, at the Brunswick-Mecklenburg county boder. Thank you Pat for sharing your picture and story!

Charles P. Hicks married Margaret Joyce in 1840. They moved from Mecklenburg, VA to Catawba, NC, where they were farmers. Children were Robert, William, Nicholas Franklin, Mary, and John Joseph. Robert and William fought in the Civil War and served under Captain Mull.  (Note from Pat Ritchie:  Nicholas told my father, John Hicks, Sr. that he served in the Civil War, but records cannot be found.) Nicholas married Margaret Elizabeth Roxanna Jane Sain on 9-1-1879 and they had seven children: Martha, b. Dec 1882; Anner Feb 1884; Ed Jan 1886; Halda Feb 1888; Bertha Apr 1890; George Nov 1893; Charles Gordon b. 1901. 

Nicholas was a farmer.  Between 1900 and 1910 Nicholas and brother John J. Hicks ran an academy, South Fork Academy, in Catawba County.

Nicholas died in March, 1927 of a heart lesion and was buried at Ebenezer United Methodist Church Cemetery, Hickory, N. C.  His wife died 3 months later and was buried beside him.