Brief Life History of James Alexander
When James Alexander Nelson was born on 27 December 1827, in Huntingdon, Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, United States, his father, Niles Nicholas Nelson, was 21 and his mother, Catherine Lightner, was 27. He married Vanelia Rodgers on 16 January 1862, in Pennsylvania, United States. They were the parents of at least 2 sons. He lived in Springfield Township, Mercer, Pennsylvania, United States in 1850 and Wolf Creek Township, Mercer, Pennsylvania, United States in 1860. He died on 1 October 1908, in Liberty Township, Mercer, Pennsylvania, United States, at the age of 80, and was buried in Pine Township, Mercer, Pennsylvania, United States.
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Family Time Line
Sources (6)
- James A Nelson, "United States Census, 1870"
- James Alexander Nelson, "Find A Grave Index"
- James Nelson in household of Nicholas Nelson, "United States Census, 1860"
Spouse and Children
1827–1908 Male
1838–1913 Female
Children (2)
1864–1935 Male
1868–1946 Male
Parents and Siblings
1806–1884 Male
1800–1853 Female
Siblings (7)
1827–1908 Male
1830–1919 Male
1832–1900 Male
1836–1849 Female
1837–1862 Male
+2 More Children
World Events (8)
1830 · The Second Great Awakening
Age 3
1830 · The Oregon Trail
Age 3
1863
Age 36
Name Meaning
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.
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