One of England’s greatest heroes, Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson was responsible for numerous naval victories during the Napoleonic Wars, wounded several times, and finally killed during the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805.
I have attempted to find as many descendants as possible of Nelson, his parents and grandparents. However, this is a large family, and there are some gaps. If you find anything missing, please do let me know.
(By the way – if you’d like to learn how to trace your ancestors – have a look at my step-by-step beginner’s course)
Horatio Nelson was born at Burnham Thorpe, Norfolk on September 29th 1758, the son of the Reverend Edmund Nelson and his wife Catherine Nelson (nee Suckling). His grandfather was also Edmund Nelson, the son of William, the son of another Edmund, all clergymen. At this point the line gets a little dodgy. It is thought that this Edmund was born in about 1610, the son of a Thomas and Elizabeth, and the line may go back to 16th century London and 15th century Lancashire, but I have been unable to substantiate these earlier records.
If you are a descendant of Nelson (the only living descendants will be via his illegitimate daughter, Horatia), you are likely to already know about it as the name Nelson was carried though the generations in well documented families.
If you are wondering whether you are connected to Nelson via a less well known family link, then you will need to scroll down to see details of his siblings and his parents’ siblings.
If you are tracing your Nelson family name in Norfolk, great care needs to be taken, as there are several families with this name, so you should not assume a close link with the Admiral unless you can prove it without doubt using original sources
(Surnames that may have living descendants: WARD, SOMERSET, WEEKES, and JOHNSON)
Nelson married Frances Herbert WOOLWARD, the daughter of William WOOLWARD in 1787 at Montpelier in St. Nevis, but the marriage produced no surviving issue.
However, Nelson’s famous ongoing affair with Emma Hamilton (nee LYON) did produce a daughter, from whom there were descendants. This child was Horatia Nelson, and she married the Reverend Philip WARD in 1822. The WARD family is as follows:
Horatio Nelson WARD. Married Elizabeth Martha BLANDY in 1856 in Tooting, Surrey. Their children were:
Elizabeth Horatia Anne NELSON-WARD – Married Raglan Turberville Henry SOMERSET and had issue.
Horatio Nelson NELSON-WARD – No marriage.
Marmaduke Philip Blandy NELSON-WARD – No marriage found.
Hugh Herbert Edward NELSON-WARD – No marriage found
Admiral Philip NELSON-WARD – Married Hon. Dorothy CAULFIELD. No issue.
Rupert William NELSON-WARD – Died in infancy.
Eleanor Philippa WARD – did not marry. Died in 1872
Marmaduke Philip Smyth WARD – No marriage
John James Stephen WARD (died in childhood)
Nelson WARD – Married Jessie WARD. Their children were:
Nelson WARD – No marriage
Rose Nelson WARD – No marriage
Florence Nelson WARD – No marriage
Jessie Nelson WARD – Married Arthur WEEKES in 1888 and had issue in India and England.
Mary WARD – No marriage found
Kathleen Nelson WARD – No marriage
Agnes WARD – No marriage found
Maurice Suckling WARD – No marriage found
William George WARD – Married Toriana BLANCKLEY. Not sure if there was issue – please let me know if you have further information.
ADDENDUM – (Added 14th September 2016) – a descendant of William George Ward has very kindly emailed me with the following information:
“Lieutenant Colonel William George Ward married Catherine Parker Toriana Blanckley (the only daughter of Captain Edward Blanckley RN and Harriet Matcham, Lord Nelson’s niece) on 15 Nov 1864 •Clevedon, Somerset, England.
They had six daughters (great-granddaughters of Nelson & Emma Hamilton and Nelson’s sister, Catherine and George Matcham). Their first five daughters were born in India, where William Ward was stationed. The first five daughters were:
Ellen Catherine Ward 1865 – 1938
Ethel Mary Ward 1866 – 1946
Caroline Gertrude Ward 1868 – 1941
Evelyn Hervey Ward 1870 – 1961
Ada Blanche Ward 1871 – 1911
Their sixth daughter was born in Pinner, Middlesex in a house near William’s mother, Horatia. She was:
Alice Lilian Ward 1873 – 1911
William Ward died in Hastings on 10 Au 1878.
My 2nd great-grandmother, Tori, took her six daughters to live in Lutton House, a country house her father, Edward Blanckley had built near the village of South Brent in Dartmoor, Devon.
Of these six sisters, the only one to marry was the youngest, Alice. She married the village doctor, Frederick William Style on 24 Jun 1903 (please see attached Exeter and Plymouth Gazette announcement).
Alice and Dr Frederick Style had two children:
Professor Derrick William Style 1904 – 1979
Phyllis Horatia Style 1907 – 1987
Phyllis remained a spinster, but my grandfather, Derrick married:
1) Lilian Langford (1903 – 1946) in Sept 1940 in Westminster. They had one child: my mother, Ray Vanda Style (1942 – still living)
2) Hilde Frönwiesser (1918 – 1967) in Dec 1946 in Paddington. They had one child, Eric Frank Style (1948 – 1964)
3) Mary Whittaker (1923 – 2013) in Sep 1969 in Wandsworth, Surrey. They had no issue.”
(If anyone would like to see the copy of the marriage announcement in the Exeter & Plymouth Gazette, please email me at info@tracingancestors-uk.com).
Edmund Nelson WARD (died in infancy)
Horatia WARD – Married William JOHNSON in 1858. Their children were:
William Horatio JOHNSON – Married Mary Tress CURTEIS and had issue (Kent)
Margaret JOHNSON – No marriage found as far as I know.
Philip WARD – No marriage found
Caroline Mary WARD – No marriage.
Nelson’s Paternal Family – Surnames include NELSON, BLAND, ROLFE, GOULTY, HOOD, ROCHFORT, LAW, COOK, WILLIAMS, STILWELL, SHIRLEY, PURVIS, BENDYSHE, WALDY, CROWTHER, MASON, BOLTON, GIRDLESTONE and possibly the name CLAGUE and BUSSELL.
Nelson’s grandfather was Edmund NELSON. He was married to Mary BLAND (see below), and his other children were:
Thomas Bland NELSON (1719). No marriage found.
Martha NELSON (1726) Died in childhood.
Alice Bland NELSON (1730). Married Robert ROLFE. Their children were:
Ellen ROLFE(1761), Edmund ROLFE(1763) and Robert ROLFE (1767). If you can find links to these children you can claim to be a cousin of Nelson.
Thomasin NELSON (1732). Married John GOULTY. Their children (all born in Norwich) were:
Edmund GOULTY (1758) – No marriage found
Thomasin GOULTY (1759) – No marriage found.
William GOULTY (1763) – Married a Sarah WALLIS in 1785. Anyone tracing lineage back to this couple could claim to be cousins of Nelson.
John NELSON (1736). Possibly married Mary INANS in Hingham, 1758 – though needs further evidence.
Mary NELSON (date unknown). Several possible marriages – needs further research.
Nelson’s father Edmund married Catherine SUCKLING (see below). Nelson’s siblings were:
Maurice NELSON (1753). No marriage.
William NELSON (1757) – Married Sarah YONGE. Their children were:
Charlotte Mary NELSON – Married Samuel HOOD, 2nd Baron Bridport, in Marylebone in 1810, and became Duchess of Bronte. Her children were:
Frances Caroline HOOD – Married Sir John WALROND MP. Their children were:
William Hood WALROND (1st Baron Waleran) (1849)
Arthur Melville Hood WALROND.
Charlotte WALROND – Married Horace ROCHFORT in 1845 (probably in Ireland) and their children were:
Amy ROCHFORT – married Thomas P LAW and their living descendants may be found in Ireland and possibly in Northumberland.
William ROCHFORT – No information available.
Alexander Nelson ROCHFORT (Major General) – Did not marry.
Henry ROCHFORT – No information available.
Alexander ROCHFORT – married Mary Penelope, Viscount Bridport and they had the following children:
Mary ROCHFORT – No information at present.
Harriet ROCHFORT– No information found
Jane Sarah ROCHFORT – married Sir Charles HOTHAM KCB but there was no issue.
Arthur Wellington Alexander Nelson HOOD, 2nd Viscount Bridport – married Lady Maria Georgiana Julia Fox-Strangways and their descendants should be found in the London area. I do know that their daughter, Mary Nelson HOOD, married married Sir Herbert Frederick COOK, 3rd Baronet, and became Marchioness of Hertford. Their son was the artist, Sir Francis Ferdinand Maurice Cook, 4th Baronet, who married 7 times, with children still living.
Suckling NELSON (1764) Died without issue.
Edmund NELSON (1764). Died 1799 without issue.
Catherine NELSON – married George MATCHAM. Their children are as follows:
George MATCHAM – married Harriet EYRE in 1817. Their children were:
Horatio Nelson Eyre MATCHAM (died without issue)
Catherine Eyre MATCHAM – married Henry Blackstone WILLIAMS. They had 10 children and descendants will originate in Wiltshire and Dorset, and will include the surnames STILWELL and SHIRLEY.
George Simon Eyre MATCHAM (died young)
William Eyre MATCHAM – married Mary Elizabeth LONG. Their descendants can be found in Wiltshire and Oxfordshire.
Louisa Harriet Eyre MATCHAM – married Fortescue Richard PURVIS. Their descendants may be found in Essex, Hampshire, Shropshire and Wiltshire.
Henry Savage MATCHAM – I have no further information about him.
Catherine Anne MATCHAM – married John BENDYSHE and their children were:
John BENDYSHE (died without issue)
Richard BENDYSHE (died without issue)
Nelson BENDYSHE – married Charlotte BRODRICK. Their descendants may be found in Australia and Devon.
Caroline BENDYSHE – married John GIBSON (not sure if they had children)
Laura BENDYSHE – married Charles Richard William WALDY and their descendants may be found in Surrey and Essex.
Thomas BENDYSHE – no issue
Susannah BENDYSHE – married William CROWTHER Their children were born in Worcestershire.
Edward Nelson MATCHAM – I have no further information.
Elizabeth MATCHAM – I cannot find a definite marriage or death for her.
Francis Griffith MATCHAM – Died in 1808.
Horatio Nelson MATCHAM – Died in 1821 without issue.
Nelson MATCHAM – Did not marry. Died 1886.
Horatia MATCHAM – She married Henry William MASON. Their children were:
Mary Eliza MASON – no marriage or children
George Nelson Pomeroy MASON – married Marian ROUSE. Their children were born in Kent.
Susan MASON – I have no further information.
Horatia Nelson MASON – no marriage or children
Charlotte MASON – No further information
Augusta P MASON – No further information – probably did not marry.
Anne L MASON – no marriage or children
Frank MATCHAM – no further information
Harriet MATCHAM – No further information.
Anne NELSON – Possibly marriage William CLAGUE – but I have found no evidence. Please let me know if you have further information about this. (Added 04/01/2019 – See note in Comments below)
Susannah NELSON – married Thomas BOLTON. Descendants of this line also have the name NELSON, as their son Thomas took on the famous surname (see below). Their children were:
Catharine BOLTON – Did not marry, no issue.
Jemima Susanna BOLTON – Did not marry, no issue. Died 1864.
Anne Nelson BOLTON – As far as I know, she did not marry, and died in 1830.
Thomas BOLTON (NELSON) Esq. (later 2nd Earl Nelson) – Married Frances Elizabeth EYRE, and their children were:
Horatio NELSON (3rd Earl Nelson) – Married Lady Mary Jane Diana AGAR. Their children were born in Wiltshire. Their son Herbert was the Viscount Trafalgar.
Rev. John Horatio NELSON – Married Susan Spencer-Churchill. Their two children were born in Scottow, Norfolk.
Frances Catherine NELSON – Married Robert John BUSSELL – I have found no children for them and have no further information.
Susannah NELSON – Married Alexander Calvin BLUNT – but there seems to be no issue from this marriage.
Maurice Horatio NELSON – Married Emily BURRARD. Their children were born in Hampshire and Wiltshire.
Edward Foyle NELSON – Died young in 1859 without issue.
Henry NELSON – Died young in 1863.
Elizabeth Anne BOLTON – Married the Rev. Henry GIRDLESTONE. Their children, all bon in Earlham, Norfolk, were:
Henry GIRDLESTONE – Married (1) Caroline Warren PIGOT and (2) Eliza MASON. He emigrated to Australia in 1872, and their children were born in Queensland.
Elizabeth Ann GIRDLESTONE – Did not marry, no issue.
Horatio GIRDLESTONE – Married Ellen Catherine BOLTON. Their children were all born in Norfolk.
Charles GIRDLESTONE – Probably unmarried.
Nelson GIRDLESTONE – Married Caroline Warner (surname unknown) – probably in Nova Scotia. Their children were born in Norfolk, Gloucestershire and London.
Maurice Nelson GIRDLESTONE – Married Katherine Alice LINKLATER. They had just one son, Arthur Nelson, born in Streatham Hill, London.
Susanna Catharine GIRDLESTONE – no further information.
Eliza Nelson BOLTON – No further information.
George BOLTON – Died at sea in 1799. No issue.
Susannah BOLTON – Did not marry, no issue.
BLAND
Nelson’s paternal grandmother was Mary BLAND, the daughter of John (a baker) and Thomasin, born in 1698 in Cambridge. Her siblings may have been Thomazin (1706), Alice (1708) and Thomas (1711), though there may have been more, and they were probably non-conformists. If you have BLAND ancestors going back to these dates in Cambridge, then you may be able to find a connection.
Nelson’s Maternal Family – Surnames include SUCKLING, TURNER, WODEHOUSE and WALPOLE
SUCKLING
Nelson’s mother, Catherine Suckling, was the daughter of the Reverend Maurice Suckling and Mary Ann TURNER, and the sister of Captain Maurice Suckling who became Comptroller of the Navy in 1775. He was married to his cousin, Mary Walpole, the daughter of Robert Walpole, Earl of Oxford, but she died in 1766 and they had no children.
The only other sibling of Catherine’s who may have survived, was William, but I can find no marriage for him. There are therefore no descendants from Catherine’s generation. However, the father, Maurice had at least 13 siblings, most of whom seem to have survived to adulthood, so there may well be Suckling families who could be traced back to the parents, Robert Suckling and Ann WODEHOUSE of Norfolk in the late 17th and early 18th centuries.
TURNER
Nelson’s maternal grandmother was Mary Ann TURNER, the daughter of Sir Charles TURNER, 1st Bt., and Mary WALPOLE. Her only sibling was John TURNER, who died without issue. There does not seem to be much information about Charles’s parentage, but possibly if you can trace a TURNER line to Norfolk of the late 17th century you may have a chance of finding a connection there.
If you think you may have connections to Nelson’s tree and would like some professional help, please view my services on my Services Page before contacting me.
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Hi there, thanks for this post. Our family has a story that we are descended from one of Lord Horatio Nelson’s aunts, a Sarah Nelson, born 1717. The story goes that she, along with other members of the Nelson family, were presented with medals to commemorate Nelson’s victory in the Battle of the Nile. I am trying to discover this old family story is true or not. That’s why your post about Nelson’s family has caught my eye! Is there any help you can offer? I know Nelsons’s parents and his grandfather, but I’m not sure of all his aunt’s names. It would be wonderful to know the truth, one way or the other. All help would be greatfully received. Regards Liz
Hi Liz. Thanks for posting. I am not aware of an aunt of Nelson’s named Sarah – but his grandparents married in that year, so whether there is an early child that was not recorded, I am not sure.
I would like to help you to try and find out whether there is any truth in this story – I am sending you an email with more details.
Ros
Hi I’m supposed to be defended from the Rev Edmund nelson brother William who married mary Lathbury there father was also a William ?
Thanks Dawn. I am presuming you mean Nelson’s grandfather Edmund, whose father was William? That’s interesting – I haven’t looked at that previous generation. If you have any information, please post here – or if you need any help with proving the line, let me know.
Ros
Hi, I’m direct descendant of Horatio Nelson and Emma Hamilton via William George WARD. I can perhaps fill in some blanks for you regarding that line. Incidentally so far I have found 32 living descendants in my research. It would be good to pool resources. If you can PM me (not sure if that is possible here) I can give you more details.
Thanks David – that’s very interesting. If you could include your email address I could email you – I think only I can see it as administrator. I tried your facebook profile, but it said it was unavailable.
Cheers
Ros
OK I have added my email address this time I hope you can see it.
Rosamund,
You may not be aware that Admiral Lord Nelson & Emma Hamilton had two illegitimate children:
The 1st – a boy born at sea on Nelson’s ship circa 1799/1800 who was adopted by Thomas Spencer(Nelson’s steward) and his wife Mary Hever;
Note: see http://www.sbpra.com/howardgeorge/.
The 2nd – a girl Horatio. Her genealogy is described on your website.
We believe the “Spencer/Hever ancestry” is inter-linked to the “Nelson/Emma Hamilton/Emma Lyon ancestry” via both Horatia and Horatio, William Spencer(1800-1889) from Nottinghamshire and Horatia(as defined on your website).
Note: As well as the book reference we have William Spencer/Mary Hever’s marriage certificate from Palermo, Italy – this marriage certificate was signed by both Lord Nelson and William Hamilton who were witnesses at the wedding of Lord Nelson’s steward William Spencer.
One way to solve this genealogy issue is to confirm the Nelson birth connection via DNA – do you have experience in corroborating genealogical connections using DNA?
Can you comment?
Hi Roy
I was not aware of this other child. How plausible is the information? I notice that your link is to a historical novel, which could be based on rumour/speculation rather than fact, and the signing of the marriage certificate is not proof.
I wrote a blog post about DNA testing, which you can see here: http://tracingancestors-uk.com/uncategorized/genetic-testing-ancestry. It might be possible to use DNA testing, as long as there are people who have also tested on the Nelson side, who you could be matched with. There is a link on my blog post to 23andMe who deal with DNA testing – and you might like to go to their website to find out more.
Let me know how you get on.
Ros
Rosbot,
We have a lots of other information to support the existence of the 1st Nelson/Emma Hamilton child being Horatio William, a boy born at sea as noted on his birth & baptism certificate registered in Gotham, England – which is the ancestral village/town of the Spencer clan.
The above certificate was also witnessed by both Nelson & Sir William Hamilton who traveled from London & Oxfordshire to be present at the baptism – which, in our’s & other’s opinion, is further evidence of the emotional bond with the child. Also, on the birth certificate the vicar wrote the name Emma indicating who the real mother’s name. Obviously the vicar was uncomfortable with forging a document by indicating the parents were persons other than their real mother & father.
Note: This birth registration procedure is exactly the procedure Nelson used with Horatia by having her parents be a “naval friend & his wife” as noted on yours & other websites?
Payments & Support given to William Spencer By Admiral Lord Nelson were as follows:
Before his death (1801 to 1805) ….. Admiral Nelson:
1) paid a weekly stipend to William Spencer for Horatio Williams upbringing.
2) arranged for the Spencer’s to rent a farm in Gotham owned by Lord Howe a friend of Admiral Lord Nelson.
We assume the stipend & farm rental arrangements were financial support for Horatio William – Nelson & Emma’s first born son.
Hi Roy
That is certainly very interesting. Are there direct descendants of this child? This would make a very interesting article for one of the family tree magazines.
Ros
Rosbot,
Yes, Horatio William had 8 children.
I’m wondering whether David Bullock(person listed on your website as being a descendant of Horatia would be agreeable to genetic testing.
Would you be willing to ask him – via the email address he sent you after one of his posts?
Yes, Horatio William had 8 children.
I’m wondering whether David Bullock(person listed on your website as being a descendant of Horatia would be agreeable to genetic testing.
Would you be willing to ask him – via the email address he sent you after one of his posts?
Hi Roy
I have emailed David and will let you know if he is willing to let you have his email address so you can contact him directly.
Ros
“Roy Spencer
Yes, Horatio William had 8 children.
I’m wondering whether David Bullock(person listed on your website as being a descendant of Horatia would be agreeable to genetic testing.”
I am David’s half sister through our mother, Ray Style, and also directly descended from Horatia and her son William. I am interested to be involved in any research as I am currently colaberating with David to research our direct ancestors and their close kin.
Hello all. My name is Simon Nelson. I currently reside in Andover, Hampshire. Our family is based in York, Yorkshire and has been for hundreds of years. I have undertaken about 3 years of family research through a professional genealogy company and have got back to circa 1680 where we were based in Ripon, Yorkshire. We appear to have an extremely large family and there are also various different branches of Nelson in and around York/Leeds research is ongoing and will be for some time. I have no doubt that there may be a common ancestor further back which connects ALL Nelson’s together. I have stacks of information and reports and a large pedigree which is updated every time my next round of research is completed. I am happy to share this with any interested parties. Just drop me an email to the above thanks Simon
Just a copy of some more interesting information I have found about the Nelson family in York. See below. Simon Nelson
Constituency
Dates
YORK
1504
YORK1
1510
YORK2
1512
YORK3
1515
Family and Education
b. by 1462, 2nd s. of Thomas Nelson of York. m. Joan, da. of John Norton of Bilbrough, at least 3s. 3da.4
Offices Held
Member, Corpus Christi guild, York 1483, senior chamberlain 1489-90, sheriff 1495-6, member of the Twenty-Four 1496, master, merchants’ guild 1499-1500 alderman 1499-1517, mayor 1500-1; commr. subsidy 1512, 1514, 1515.5
Biography
William Nelson followed his father, a merchant who was twice mayor of York, by becoming a freeman in 1488-89 and master of the merchants’ guild in 1499. He is known to have dealt in the Richmondshire lead which was shipped through York, while the taunt of ‘false extortioner’ may mean that he was also a money-lender. Having inherited some of his father’s property in York and in neighbouring Poppleton, Riccall and Sherburn, in 1500 and again in 1503 he was adjudged eligible for knighthood as having a landed income of over £40 a year. It was in the course of a property dispute with the city in 1503-4 that he was fined for threatening the mayor, Sir John Gilliot, and in 1503 he acquired further adjacent land at Acaster Malbis.6
Nelson’s election to four Parliaments in succession—which no York Member was to repeat throughout the century—bespeaks his ascendancy in the city during these years. On the last occasion, however, he was chosen only after the delivery of Henry VIII’s letter requesting the return of the previous Members, the city having first elected Alan Staveley and William Wright: Nelson replaced Staveley but the election of Wright was allowed to stand, perhaps because Nelson’s former partner Thomas Drawswerd was mayor-designate. Yet all was not harmony in York. In 1504 the King sent Nelson and his fellow-Member Richard Thornton back from Parliament with instructions to the city to keep the peace after an election riot, and on their arrival they discussed the situation with Archbishop Savage, head of the council in the north, who was ‘best acquainted’ with them; it is also likely that Nelson’s two journeys south after the dissolution of Parliament in 1514, one of them on the order of the Council, were connected with the disturbances in the city and its surroundings which called forth a proclamation in November of that year. In 1516 Nelson himself became involved in the aftermath of a contested aldermanic election, when he and Drawswerd, who had been on opposite sides, were summoned before the Council and he himself was committed to the Fleet. He was still in custody when, in January 1517, he was elected mayor, to the anger of the King who had the election annulled; later in the year Nelson, by then a free man, resigned his aldermanship. He seems to have taken no further part in civic life and may have retired to his country house at Riccall, although it was as a parishioner of St. Mary, Bishophill, that he was assessed for subsidy in 1524 on goods valued at 40 marks.7
Nelson prefaced his will of 21 Mar. 1525 with a vigorous declaration of his faith. He asked to be buried in Holy Trinity church, Micklegate, near his father; he had already endowed a chantry there to the tune of £100, and he made bequests to that church and to the York friaries, leper houses and maisons dieu, to the poor, and to certain guilds. He left to his wife and family four houses in the city and property at Acaster Malbis, Grimston, Kelfield, Riccall and ‘Welehows’. He complained at length of the gifts, worth over £90, which he had made to William Gascoigne (perhaps one of the two sons of Sir William Gascoigne so christened), who had married one of his daughters and then deserted her. He made his wife and his son and heir Christopher his executors and residuary legatees, and William Coke, priest, his supervisor. The will was proved on 12 Apr. 1525.8
Ref Volumes: 1509-1558
Author: D. M. Palliser
Notes
1. York Civic Recs. iii (Yorks. Arch. Soc. rec. ser. cvi), 31.
2. Ibid. 37; York archs. B9, f. 62.
3. York Civic Recs. iii. 42-46.
4. Date of birth estimated from first reference. HP, ed. Wedgwood 1439-1509 (Biogs.), 625; Reg. Corpus Christi Guild, York (Surtees Soc. lvii), 114n; York wills 9, f. 305.
5. Reg. Corpus Christi Guild, York, 114, 184; Reg. Freemen, York, i (Surtees Soc. xcvi), 213; York archs. B6-B9 passim; E179/279/1 m. 7; Statutes, iii. 85, 112, 175.
6. York Mercers and Merchant Adventurers (Surtees Soc. cxxix), 323; York archs. B8, ff. 95, 103; B9, ff. 2v, 9, 10, 33; York Civic Recs. iii. 38; Test. Ebor. v. (Surtees Soc. lxxix), 198n; Yorks. Arch. Jnl. xxxvi, 362, 364; Yorks. Deeds, x (Yorks. Arch. Soc. rec. ser. cxx), 8.
7. York Civic Recs. ii. 142-3, 145-65; iii. 3, 4, 28-51 passim; Tudor R. Proclamations, ed. Hughes and Larkin, i. 125-6; D. M. Palliser, ‘York in the 16th cent.’ (Oxf. Univ. D.Phil. thesis, 1968), 164; Yorks. Arch. Jnl. iv. 188.
8. York wills 9, f. 305; Test. Ebor. v. 198-201; York pub. lib. R. H. Skaife ms, civic officials, ii. 527-9; W. K. Jordan, Charities of Rural Eng. 370.
Thank you Simon – that’s very helpful.
Ros
Thanks Rosbot.
I will update the website with any further information I find, in the meantime If you are interested in any of our pedigree or information please don’t hesitate to ask. Thanks Simon
Catherine Bolton c1781 did marry. She married her 1st cousin, Sir William Bolton in 1803. They married in Lady Hamilton’s Piccadilly residence. See records/images on Ancestry. Catherine’s father Thomas Bolton and Sir William’s father (Rev.William Bolton) were brothers, sons of Samuel Bolton. Regards, Deborah.
I am most interested in all the information on Nelson’s ancestors. I was brought up to believe that there was a “connection” and this is why I was given the name Nelson. If there is a connection, I am sure it will be a long way back. The earliest trace of my family is around the 1720s when William Nelson was in Little Dunham. There is also an Edmund in the family at about that time so I do wonder. Each generation since has a William. We have not been able to trace the family further back because as you mention there are so many “Nelsons” and also the family do not appear to have been local. I fear that we will never know the truth as the links are now so unreliable.
Hi David – thank you for your comment. It is frustrating that many possible links to famous people such as Nelson are a few generations before the birth of the person in question, and therefore is very difficult, if not impossible, to prove. One is left with ‘possibilities’ such as yours – but it’s nice to speculate! I’d be interested to know what sources you have looked at just in case I can help you with anything you might have missed.
Cheers
Ros
I am a direct descendant of Horatio spencer and would be interested in finding out whether there is any proof in the rumours
Hi Chris. I have sent you an email.
Ros
As the author of “The Wayward Son:A story of Nelson and Emma Hamilton’s secret son,” I wish to correct one slight misconception about the nearly 90 years life of Horatio William Spencer. Until his “uncle” William Spencer died in 1855, he always gave his age as one year younger than he subsequently gave. William’s children having predeceased him, Horatio, with two local gentlemen as guarantors was granted the administration of William’s estate and William’s agricultural tenancy was continued by Richard Curzon, 1st Earl Howe in the guise of “Representantives of William Spencer deceased.” What Horatio recovered from the deceased, and family lore down more than one line of descent says an inscribed bible removed after Horatio’s death in 1889 by an unidentified lady in a private carriage, it seems he could have been (and more likely was) born in the final quarter of 1799. Nelson’s flag flown in the Whitby merchantman “Samuel and Jane” in the first half of November 1799 looks to line up rather well. Read my book – I think you will find it chronologically accurate throughout!
Thanks very much for your contribution, Howard.
Hi, my family are the “missing” Wiiliam Ward/Toriana Blanckley direct descendants of Lord Nelson: Lt Col William Ward and (Catherine Nelson Parker) Toriana Blanckley were my 2nd great grandparents. I can send you a family tree and documents (birth and marriage, etc records) if you need further proof. I featured in a recent local newspaper article for my family history also: Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman
Hi, my husbands grandfather is a “direct” descendant of Lord Horatio Nelson. I am currently trying to do his family tree, but having difficulty because we are in Australia and public records here don’t cover the dates I need to get started properly..
After reading here I think the link is from the son of Horatio and Emma because my husbands grandfathers name is “WILLIAM EDWARD NELSON GARLICK” born in Australia.. The family talk a lot about the direct descendancy of lord Horatio Nelson, and after reading this I am leaning toward the son as he has all the names William, Edward, Nelson.. My husbands great uncle and uncle also named directly after him.. I have no doubt whatsoever that my husbands grandfather is a direct descendant, it’s just very confusing trying to find the link.. However, because this is the first website I have come to finding info about a first child (male) and the first name and in the order, first William, then Edward then Nelson.. His surname is Garlick but I am inclined to think the link could be through the son, because of “William?..
I would really really appreciate any assistance, as the family are adamant that he was not a distant but direct descendant, and I really do believe that he is direct as the facial features of lord Horatio are identicle from the bridge of the nose down..
I have absolutely no doubt, I am just very daunted by the size of the family, and don’t know where to start from here in Australia..
Any help by anyone experienced would be greatly appreciated.. I am assuming that with surname garlic, somewhere along the direct line a female direct descendant has married a man with the name Garlick.. Help please, greatly appreciated, as my husband lost his mother early to cancer and his brother 12 months after that, and it his mothers father who is descendant, so my husband and our daughters are the remains from this line
Hi! My dad’s family is also supposed to be descended from Lord Nelson via an illegitimate line. Horatio William Spencer fits our timeline but it’s a long shot. I’d love to get any more information and possibly connect with anyone who may be able to confirm a connection via DNA comparison with other Horatio Spencer descendants.
I have an old children’s scrapbook (upto 1883). Label attached says ‘NELSON – descendant of brother, lived at Brockenhurst’. It contains cards, Valentine’s and a few childrens pictures. Could this be true?
Hi David. Looking at the family tree, the only brothers of Nelson who may have had descendants are William, whose descendants are well documented, or Maurice. Maurice was unmarried, but there is always the possibility he had illegitimate children.
Do you have any idea how the scrapbook came to be in your ownership? Did it come through family, or was it acquired another way? It might be worth looking for any Nelsons in Brockenhurst (e.g. in the 19th century census records) and see if you can trace back that way.
Do let me know if you find out anything!
Ros
Our Family is distantly related – Apparently Lord Nelson’s Sister, Catherine married a George Matcham, and George was Cousin to Mary Matcham, who married someone named “Pitt”, who died, and she decided to emigrate to Australia along with several kids. Based on the relationship to Nelson she was gifted some land. WHat I am trying to find is the “back detail of the “cousins” relationship – i.e. detail on parents, and/or grand parents in the matchams, if relevant.
Hi, I have just learned that my family are related to Horatio Nelson, via his daughter Horatia who married my descendant Rev Phillip Ward. I am trying to trace them back through the years to make the connection. They are connected via my Ward family from Killamarsh. I have been sent a copy of pages from the Burkes Landed Gentry 1952 which have lots of information about the Ward family and Nelson. Is anyone else researching this part of the family? Any info would be a great help. Great site you have here. Many thanks Helen.
Thanks Helen. I hope you find what you’re looking for. Let me know if you have any questions.
Ros
The Plethora of Matchams has me intrigued – I am a descendant of Mary MAtcham, who married Robert Pitt – he died, and she decided to emigrate to Australia with about 5-6 kids in tow. She was given lands based on her “relationship” to Nelson. The Description is, “that Mary’s First Cousin George MAtcham, was Married to Admiral Horatio Nelson’s younger sister, Catherine. What I am tryig to find is the “link” between MAry and George in More detail. Being First Cousins, they would have COmmon Grand parents. Mary’s Father was Jospeh Matcham b 1722, and her grandfather was Thomas Matcham, b 1674, but I have yet to find any record of any brothers to Joseph, who would be Marys Uncles, ergo father to he first cousin… (Surname propogation would not occur with Aunts/Sisters of Joseph) – can anyone fill in that blank?
Hello – I have some information about the Matchams, which may interest Peter (and you). Mary Pitt (nee Matcham) was my four times great grandmother, who emigrated to Australia in 1801. She was first cousin to George Matcham, who married Nelson’s sister Catherine. I wrote a book about it called ‘The Worst Country in the World’. and I also created a family website about Mary and her descendants at marymatchampitt.wordpress.com. It seems George Matcham – who was a close friend of Horatio Nelson’s and lent him money to buy property and arranged his father Edmund’s funeral – was responsible for Mary’s migration with her five children. And yes, the Nelson connection was useful for her in her adopted country.
According to my version of the Matcham family tree (and I’m afraid I created it so long ago I can’t remember where some of the information came from): Henry Savage Matcham died aged one year old. Elizabeth Matcham married Captain Arthur Davies and they migrated to Tasmania – there’s a town called Bronte named after them (which I’ve been to). There was a Mary Ann in 1797, who may have died at birth, and Harriet Matcham married Captain Ed Blanckley. There was also a Susannah, 1805-1832. Charles Horatio Nelson also emigrated to New South Wales but wasn’t very happy there. There is a district north of Sydney named Matcham after him, and he is buried in a churchyard in Yass in New South Wales, a couple of hours out of Sydney (he never married) I told the local information office Nelson’s nephew was buried nearby, which was news to them I think. Australia is dotted all over with ‘Brontes’, named after the Admiral, Duke of Bronte, including my own ancestral home in Richmond, on the Hawkesbury River north of Sydney.
Thanks Patsy – that’s really useful.
Ros
Hi Liz, my family are connected to Lord Nelson on my fathers side.my Great, Great Grandfather was Rev Crowther of Cragg Vale Yorkshire. His picture is in the Church & close friend of ours is now vicar there. I would love to know the connection with Nelson
My Great Great Grandmother was called Isabella Nelson. She married my Great Great Grandfather William Aynsley in Heworth County Durham in 1812 I believe – without checking my records and Heworth was then in county Durham but not now. I believe she moved to Northumberland and farmed some land in Tritlington. She employed servants. 2 of her sons were called William – my Great Grandfather and Jacob his brother. According to my information she came from the same village in Norfolk as Admiral Viscount Nelson and may have been his Great niece. Can anyone confirm this ? I would be so grateful. My phone number is : 0191 5671620
Kindest Regards,
Trevor Anthony Ainsley
Hi. I am (according to my grandfather) descended from Nelson although through marriage. I would love to email you concerning this topic, if this is not of any inconvenience to you. Thank you!
Hi Amy
You can email me at info@tracingancestors-uk.com.
Thanks
Ros
Hi. My Grandmother was Hanna Suckling, who’s grandfather(or great grandfather) was I believe John Elvy Suckling – related to Captain Suckling. Just a few facts that I remember from childhood.
Regards
For anyone interested in the descendants of William George WARD, I have just added some information in the main post, kindly sent to me by a descendant.
We have a family connection to an Andrew Nelson supposedly married Mary Elizabeth Montgomery daughter of Thomas Montgomery & Mary Franklin. They were parents of General Richard Montgomery born 1738 in Swords, Dublin, Ireland. Andrew Nelson was listed on the Clan Montgomery database but no further info. Any idea who his family was? We think there is a possible family connection to Lord Horatio Nelson. Thanks
My grandmother’s three cousins claimed that they were related to Lord Nelson through Lucy Epsy Nelson. b. somewhere between 1790 and 1800. She married Adam Snell (1742-1820) they lived in Orangeburg, SC. I’ve found nothing to back this up, and the dates for Adam seem stranage. What do you think?
Hi Nancy
There certainly seems to be a very small ‘window’ for that marriage to take place, so while not impossible, you are right to query that and check it out. Where did the original information come from? Was it an original source?
Do you know where Lucy was born? You will need to check where her family links with the UK, and then go back from there, if possible. Make sure you view original documents where possible, and don’t follow other published trees – you need to check everything and go back each generation slowly and carefully.
Let me know if you have any further questions.
Ros
As a lifelong Nelson student – I found this comment and information fascinating . I was particularly interested in Simon Nelson’s contribution and wonder if his email address is available .
Hi Peter. If you are happy for me to do so, I could email Simon for you, and send him your email address.
Ros
The Revd John Gibson married Caroline Bendyshe on 28 Jan 1864. Both their wills do not mention any children (unless they died young which I doubt) so they left things to their families. Gibson also left pictures to the National Gallery and the National Portrait Gallery in London. I have not been able to find a picture of Gibson or his wife; he died in 1892 and she in 1908 so if anyone knows of a photo or picture I would be interested. He and his wife (and Gibson’s mother ) were buried in a vault in Hove which is now under tarmac in Tesco’s car park!