Lt. in the British Royal Navy Nicholas Wilson CURLE^[1]

1725 - 1771  (45 years)

• Name	Nicholas Wilson CURLE
  Title	Lt. in the British Royal Navy
  Prefix	Lt. in the British Royal Navy
  Birth	After 15 Dec 1725	Virginia Colony   [1]
  	His father's 15 December 1746 will stated that Nicholas was under Legal Age and directed that he was to be bound out by the Executors "...to Such Trades or Imployment as they shall Judge proper..." until he reached 21 years of age.
  Gender	Male
  Occupation	Before 1764  [2, 3]
  	A letter dated 21 April 1764 from the Secretary of the British Board of Admiralty states that Nicholas has been granted "a further twelve months leave to deal with his affairs in Virginia." A subsequent letter to the Board dated 5 February 1765 states that "Lieutenant Curle has returned form his leave in Virginia" and "is in town." Information included in the Probate of Nicholas' will by the Prerogative Court of Canterbury in December 1771 stated that the deceased was "formerly Lieutenant of His Majesty's Ship Bellona but late of the County of Elizabeth City in the Province of Virginia".
  OFFH	1767	Elizabeth City Co, Virginia Colony   [4]
  	Nicholas had, apparently, resigned his naval commission and returned to Virginia by 1767 when he served as an Elizabeth City County Justice.
  Will	31 May 1768	Elizabeth City Co, Virginia Colony   [5]
  	Nicholas appointed his brother William Roscow Wilson Curle as his sole Executor. He signed his will by written signature, witnessed by James Armistead, Francis Mallory and William Face.
  Death	Between 1 Jan 1771 and 27 Jun 1771  [6]
  	Nicholas died after 1 January 1771, when he signed an indenture to Joseph Selden concerning the use of a Slave called Rebecca, but before 27 June 1771, when his will was presented to the Court for probate.
  Will proved	27 Jun 1771	Elizabeth City Co, Virginia Colony   [5]
  	The will was proved in Elizabeth City County Court on 27 December 1771 by the Oaths of Francis Mallory and William Face, two of the witnesses. On the motion of William Roscow Wilson Curle, Executor, a Certificate was granted him for obtaining Probate upon his giving Security to insure the Estate.
  probate	12 Dec 1772	London, England   [3]
  	Personal estates remaining in England of colonists dying abroad or at sea were handled by the Prerogative Court of Canterbury in London. On 12 Dec 1772, a copy of Nicholas' will was presented at the Prerogatory Court by Samuel Gist of America Square, St. Botolphs Aldgate Parish, London on behalf of William Roscow Wilson Curle as Executor of his brother's Estate. Gist requested orders from the Court for the recovery of debts due Nicholas' Estate from Mr. Daniel Hales of Fenchurch Street, London.
  Person ID	I1345	mason
  Last Modified	22 Jul 2026

  
  

  Father	Wilson CURLE,   b. 18 Dec 1709   d. Before Jun 1748 (Age 38 years)
  Mother	Priscilla MEADE   d. c. 1785
  Family ID	F38	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Mary (UNKNOWN)   d. After 1 Jan 1771
  Marriage	Between 31 May 1768 and 1 Jan 1771  [5, 6]
  	It appears that Nicholas was unmarried on 31 May 1768 when by his will he gave "all my Estate real and personal and mixt to my Bro Will. Roscow Wilson Curl to have and hold the same dur'g my Mothers life for her sole Use and behest the remainder that is after my Mothers death I give ........to my said Bro. Will. Roscow Wilson Curl". However, by 1 January 1771, when Nicholas signed an indenture to Joseph Selden concerning the use of a Slave called Rebecca, he had married as is shown by the following: "...and for the use of my Wife Mary during her Natural life...".
  Family ID	F5140	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	22 Jul 2026

  
  

• Sources

  [S4990] Wilson Curle, Elizabeth City Co, VA will (1748). [S951] Virginia Colonial Records Project, online (http://www.lva.lib.va.us/). Survey Report No. 8363, p. 193 & Survey Report No. 8364, p. 145. [S952] PCC wills, online (http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/wills.asp)., Prob 11/983. [S11] Blanche Adams Chapman, Chapman, Wills and Administrations of Elizabeth City County, Virginia 1688-1800, ((Berryville, VA: Virginia Book Company, 1980)), p. 154., ISBN 0-8063-0909-1. [S4770] Nicholas Wilson Curle, Elizabeth City Co, VA will (1771). [S4996] Nicholas Wilson Curle to Joseph Selden, Elizabeth City Co, VA deed (1771).