Robert Nelson

Brief Life History of Robert

When Robert Nelson was born on 4 September 1818, in Muff, County Donegal, Ireland, his father, Samuel Nelson, was 34 and his mother, Martha Burns, was 29. He married Elizabeth Joseph on 12 December 1842, in Muff, County Donegal, Ireland. They were the parents of at least 6 sons and 4 daughters. He immigrated to United States in 1850. He died on 11 February 1902, in Smithfield, Cache, Utah, United States, at the age of 83, and was buried in Smithfield City Cemetery, Smithfield, Cache, Utah, United States.

Photos and Memories (28)

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Family Time Line

Robert Nelson
1818–1902
Elizabeth Joseph
1818–1902
Marriage: 12 December 1842
Samuel Nelson
1844–1937
Robert Nelson
1847–1849
Joseph Nelson
1850–1934
Mary Elizabeth Nelson
1852–1934
John Alexander Nelson
1854–1942
Robert James Nelson
1856–1906
David William Nelson
1858–1891
Ann Nelson
1859–1862
Eliza Jane Nelson
1860–1860
Jane Margaret Nelson
1862–1956

Sources (48)

  • Robert Nelson, "United States Census, 1870"
  • Legacy NFS Source: Robert Nelson - Individual or family possessions: birth: 4 September 1818; Muff, Donegal, Ireland
  • Robert Nelson, "Find A Grave Index"

World Events (8)

1819 · Panic! of 1819

With the Aftermath of the Napoleonic Wars the global market for trade was down. During this time, America had its first financial crisis and it lasted for only two years. 

1839

The Night of the BIG WIND. In Killarney and its neighborhood there was a terrible hurricane. The town sustained much damage and many houses were shattered.

1845

The Irish Potato Famine. Many Irish emigrate to America. Irish population drops from 8 million to 6 million due to death from starvation or emigration.

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.

Possible Related Names

Story Highlight

Elizabeth Joseph

Elizabeth Joseph born 16 September 1818 at Donegal Ireland. Parents: John Joseph (1793-1867), Martha Carr (1797-1865). Siblings: Richard (1820), John (1822), Jane (1829). Spouse: Robert Nelson Ma …

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