Nickerson, Freeman

5 Feb. 1779–22 Jan. 1847. Seaman. Born at South Dennis, Barnstable Co., Massachusetts. Son of Eleazer Nickerson and Thankful Chase. Moved to Cavendish, Windsor Co., Vermont, 1800. Married Huldah Chapman, 19 Jan. 1801, at Cavendish. Served as officer in Vermont infantry in War of 1812. Located near Dayton, Cattaraugus Co., New York, mid-1820s. Living in Perrysburg, Cattaraugus Co., in 1830. Baptized by Zerubbabel Snow, Apr. 1833, near Dayton; ordained a deacon by Edmund Fisher soon after. Visited JS, Sept. 1833, at Kirtland, Geauga Co., Ohio, and persuaded JS and Sidney Rigdon to accompany him to Mount Pleasant, Brantford Township, Wentworth Co., Gore District (later in Brant Co., Ontario), Upper Canada, to proselytize among his children. Ordained an elder, by 1834. Along with two sons, Uriel and Levi, participated in Camp of Israel expedition to Missouri, 1834. Served mission to Massachusetts, 1835–1836. Journeyed to Missouri, 1839, only to find that Latter-day Saints had been driven out. Located at Quincy, Adams Co., Illinois, 1839, and then at Nauvoo, Hancock Co., Nov. 1840. Served mission to Vermont and Massachusetts, 1841–1844. Served missions to eastern states and Canada, 1844 and 1846. Left Nauvoo for the West during Latter-day Saint exodus, Sept. 1846. Died at Chariton River, Iowa.