until his death in 1723. From October 20, 1702 until May 27, 1718, when he resigned due to ill health, he also served as the Speaker of the Assembly. Personal life On November 29, 1683, Governor Thomas Dongan granted Nicoll a royal patent of 50,000 acres on the Long Island. In later years, received further land grants and his manor became the largest on Long Island totaling . In 1701, he built a mansion on the Great South Bay in present-day Islip, New York in honor of his birthplace in England. In 1718, Nicoll sold his father's estate, Plandome Manor, then over 1,000 acres. The manor house on his father's estate was torn down in 1998 by its new owner. Nicoll was married to Anna van Rensselaer (1665-1723). She was the widow of the patroon Kiliaen van Rensselaer, and the daughter of Jeremias van Rensselaer and Maria (née Van Cortlandt) Van Rensselaer. Among her large family were uncles Stephanus Van Cortlandt and Jacobus Van Cortlandt, both of whom served as mayor of New York City. Together, William and Anna were the parents of: Mary Nicoll (b. 1689), who married Scottish immigrant Robert Watts (1678–1750). Benjamin Nicoll (1694–1724), who married his cousin, Charity Floyd (1692–1758). After his death, she married Samuel Johnson and became the mother of William Samuel Johnson. Catherine Nicoll (1700–1779), who married Jonathan Havens. William Nicoll Jr. (1702–1768), who was elected to the General Assembly in 1739 (until 1769), and served as its Speaker from January 31, 1759 until February 6, 1768. Frances Nicoll (1704–1787), who married Edward Holland, the 40th mayor of New York City. Nicoll died at his home, the manor of Islip Grange, on November 20, 1723. Descendants As William Nicoll Jr. died unmarried and without issue, the Nicoll estate was inherited by William's grandson, William Nicoll III (d. 1778), the eldest son of Benjamin, who became the third family member to be elected to the General Assembly where he served from 1768 until 1769. Through his daughter Mary, he was the grandfather of John Watts, himself the father of U.S. Representative John Watts. Through his daughter Catherine, he was the grandfather of Nicoll Havens (1733–1783), who married Sarah Fosdick (1730–1767), parents of Yale graduate and U.S. Representative Jonathan Nicoll Havens. References 1657 births 1723 deaths Members of the New York General Assembly Speakers of the New York General Assembly William 1657