Nicholson, Otto -1622)

Otto Nicholson, gentleman of London, was the son of Thomas Nicholson, and both were Examiners in the Court of Chancery. Otto also acted as Receiver of Fines to the Commission set up by James I in 1604 to exploit the financial possibilities of the assart lands. It was an unpopular post, as it was his duty to extract money from the reluctant owners of the lands. However, he made his fortune from it, and so was able to spend lavishly on good works. In 1616, Nicholson, who had served in 1605 on the commission to consider the supply of clean water to London, proposed a similar, though less ambitious plan to bring water to Oxford to a conduit at Carfax. This was done at Nicholson's expence under the supervision of Hugh Justyce, a member of the Plumbers Company of London. In 1613 he gave Christ Church £800 to restore the fabric of their library, and in the following year £100 to be spent on books. The books are decorated with these two blocks of his arms. The arms and crest were granted to the father, Thomas Nicholson, in 27 Elizabeth (1584 1585) and confirmed to his son in 1596.