When John Nelson was born about 1850, in Hancock, Illinois, United States, his father, Benjamin Baker Nelson, was 39 and his mother, Nancy Runyon Nelson, was 25. He married Phoebe Elvira Bennett about 1868, in Illinois, United States. They were the parents of at least 1 daughter. He lived in Arkansas, United States in 1870 and Richland Township, Crawford, Arkansas, United States in 1880. He died in February 1870, at the age of 21.
Do you know John? Do you have a story about him that you would like to share? Sign In or Create a FREE Account
1850–1870 Male
1854–1916 Female
1870–1911 Female
1812–1897 Male
1826–1849 Female
1844–1923 Male
1846–1907 Male
1850–1870 Male
English: patronymic from the personal name Nell or Nele, either of which might be a pet form of Elias or less commonly of Niel (from Latin Nigellus). See also Neal .
Americanized form of Swedish Nilsson and also of the Danish, Norwegian, and North German cognates Nielsen and Nilsen (compare Nelsen ). Compare also Neilson and Nielson .
History: The Nelson name was an important one in 18th-century VA, starting with Thomas ‘Scotch Tom’ Nelson, who emigrated to VA at the close of the 17th century from Penrith, Cumbria, where the Nelsons were numerous. Scotch Tom settled c. 1700 at Yorktown, VA, where he became a successful merchant and landholder. His son was sheriff and a member of the VA Council, and his grandson, Thomas Nelson (1738–89), a signer of the Declaration of Independence, was governor of VA.
Dictionary of American Family Names © Patrick Hanks 2003, 2006.
As a nonprofit, we offer free help to those looking to learn the details of their family story.