In the "Register of Black, Mulatto and Poor Families in Four Ohio Counties....1791-1861" by Joan Turpin, Heritage Books, Inc. 1985 there is reference to Nickins/Nickens Families settling in Ross County, Ohio as early as 1804.

These "original" records of registration are on file at the office of origin in Chillicothe, Ross County, OH.

Land was granted to solider's who served in the Revolutionary War, some of that land was in the Northwest Territory (1787) part of which became the State of Ohio when it (OHIO) was admitted to the Union in 1803.

While not sure if the Nickens Families referenced in the above named book are the "same" families in Lloyd's post, it is interesting to note that their area of "re-location" was in a new/recently organized FREE state. Below is an abstract of those records.

Certificate of Residency - spring 1804 - Amlick NICKEN'S, his wife Serah and children, James, Agness, Lot, Easter, Amlick and Moses.

Ceritficate of Residency - 5 Sep 1812 - William NICKENS, a black man, his wife Rose and four or five children came into this county (Ross) at least four or five years previously.

Certificate of Residency - Joseph Gardner and James Kilgore testified that David NICKENS was brought to the state by Edward NICKENS, a coloured man in 1804 or 1805.

If interested, I have a copy of the book and would be happy to give a more detailed account on these records.

Art Thomas