per son Harold’s funeral record

??1850 United States Federal Census > Massachusetts > Essex > Haverhill; image 65 of 141 @ancestry.com; Source Citation: Year: 1850; Census Place: Haverhill, Essex, Massachusetts; Roll M432_313; Page: 108; Image: 552.
Moses Nichols 51
Abby Nichols 51
Charles A Nichols 25
Frank P Nichols 20
George Nichols 19
James Nichols 15
Walter Nichols 10
Mary Putman 44

????1860 United States Federal Census; Massachusetts > Essex > Haverhill > 145; image 145 of 250 @ancestry.com; Source Citation: Year: 1860; Census Place: Haverhill, Essex, Massachusetts; Roll M653_500; Page: 878; Image: 233; Family History Library Film: 803500.
Moses Nichols 61 shoe manufacturer
Adda B Nichols 62
James M Nichols 24
Walter Nichols 19
Mary Batman 52
Ann Kempel 16
this is also ancestry’s suggestion
But
there is another James Nichols right age born in Mass, though not Haverhill
1860 United States Federal Census; Massachusetts > Barnstable > Yarmouth > 50; image 50 of 69 @ancestry.com; Source Citation: Year: 1860; Census Place: Yarmouth, Barnstable, Massachusetts; Roll M653_486; Page: 241; Image: 241; Family History Library Film: 803486.
James Nichols 53 mariner
Sarah Nichols 45
Priscilla Nichols 18
Rachel Nichols 16
Sarah Bassatt 18
James Nichols 23
Chs Nichols 10
Carnie Nichols 20
Wm P D Nichols 6