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, my great great grandparents were named Nelson Overton and my paternal grandmother came from Norfolk. My great aunt, who died almost twenty years ago was convinced that we were descended from the man himself. I have been trying to ascertain any link between our current family and HN. I’m not holding out much hope but it’s fun trying to find out.
By the way there is a spooky resemblance in family portraits.
Hi Simon
It is more difficult than it sounds trying to establish a definite link to a historical figure. However, it may be that you are not directly descended from Nelson himself, but from another branch of the family – so from a cousin of Nelson’s. In other words, the link might be from one of his ancestors, rather than from him himself. How far have you got – and can I answer any questions?
Hi, My family line says that we are related to Lorda Horatio Nelson through another mistress Harriet Rhees. The child’s name was Horation Nelson Rhees born 1802 in Bath, England. I would like to compare our Y-DNA to see if this in fact true. How can we go about doing this?
Hi Marianne – I have replied to your email. But for anyone else who is interested in this, I would suggest looking at 123andme.com
I’m a descendant of the Horatio Girdlestone in this family:
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.
–
and also up the Catherine Suckling line.
I’ve built up most of these branches on Geni.com so please contact me if you’re interested in getting the links.
Thank you Melanie.
I don’t think your email address will be shown here, except to me, so if anyone is interested in contacting Melanie, please let me know and I will pass your message on.
My Nelsons were from London – my 3 x gt.Grandfather was James Bennett Nelson, son of William Nelson and Mary Ann Sharp. He had at least 3 brothers, one of whom was named Horatio [born 1808 St. Marylebone] There may have been a younger brother named Nugent, though I havent found a birth for him as yet. I doubt they are connected to the Norfolk family, but will continue my search! Very interesting article though – thank you
Thank you Sue. You are right to be cautious. Many people named their children Horatio after the national hero in the early 19th century, and I am sure a family with the Nelson surname would easily be tempted to do so to suggest a closer association. It does not mean they are definietly related, though. That being said, it is always worth continuing the search – you never know – and it’s fun in the meantime!
Ros
Hi I come down the line from George Matcham the first child of George Matcham and Catherine Nelson. My mother was Agnes Matcham born 8/4/1916 died 1/1/2015, her father was James Matcham. One of my cousins researched the family tree about twenty years ago.
My grandmother Elsie May Sample of Little Cressingham, Norfolk told the family that we are related to Nelson and wonder if you are aware of any links with the Sample family
Hi, I’m from New Zealand but my father (Harry Harrison) was from Melbourne Australia and My Grandmother(Amy Seamer, not sure of the spelling of the last name) was from a place called Monbulk that is just out of Melbourne. My Grandmother said we were descended from Nelson and she had a official invite to his funeral. Thought you might be intrested
Interesting. But could you check dates – surely your grandmother could not have been alive in 1805??
I am a descendant of the Rev Maurice Suckling’s brother Robert.
I am in South Africa.
https://www.myheritage.com/site-family-tree-381064671/culligan-family-tree?rootIndivudalID=1500513&familyTreeID=1#!profile-1500549-infog's brother Robert.
My Grandfather had job as Chauffeur from approx 1920 up until 1950 for who he said was Lord Nelsons Great Great Neice. When she died only relative who got her estate was Nephew from USA.. She lived in huge 90 Room House in Eastbourne East Sussex. Now Pulled down & Flats.. But only reason I consider it True is the House was Called Hamilton House & they found snuff Box as far as I can remember given Nelson from Hardy inscribe. Silver box inside Carved Timber Box Pocket Size : Knew someone who studied Nelson & he was never surposed to have been to Eastbourne.. But then Maybe Lady Hamilton did Hence name of Hous
I’ve just started working on our family tree. My mother has always said that her mother said we were somehow related to Nelson, and that a cousin called Milly, daughter of Annie (nee Groves) Hamey, married to a Frank O’Flanahan (not sure of spelling) had done a family tree which showed the relationship. As I haven’t got to them yet on the family tree, I’ve not figured out if there’s anyone contactable on that side. It’s quite a lark this, isn’t it? Only on day 3, and only got to the first names of one set of great grand parents…….Will keep you posted should I hear anything further.
My Husband, Richard Weekes, and his siblings Peter John Hampton Weekes and Elizabeth Hampton Weekes, and our two children Eleanor and Michael Weekes are directly descended from Jessie Nelson Ward who married Arthur Weekes in 1888. Arthur and Jessie’s son was Nelson Ward Hampton Weekes and his son was Arthur Nelson Hampton Weekes, He was my husband’s Father and Arthur also had two brothers David Ormsby Hampton Weekes and Robert Richard Hampton Weekes. David died recently ( September 2016). My husband is Richard Michael Hampton Weekes b. 1959
I am trying to contact a ROSBOT but do not have her email address re the name Nelson. Memorial in Skipwith church to Rev Joseph Nelson vicar in 1737, he had a son died young named Horatio but son died before the admiral was born-was the admiral named after the son?
Is there a connection to the Admiral’s family we wonder?
Hi Gordon
Names often run in families, and as this is well before Admiral Nelson was born, it certainly is interesting. However, Nelson’s family seem to have originated from Lancashire, rather than Yorkshire – so it could be a coincidence, or just another branch of the family.
If you wish to email me you can do so at info@tracingancestors-uk.com.
Thanks
Ros
My Grandmother was a Suckling she had 7 brothers and 3 sisters. My Grandparents Charles and Mary Suckling lived in Essex. My Great Great Grandfather is said to have originated from the Norfolk/Suffolk area. We did have a copy of a family tree that a Reverend Peter Suckling contacted an Uncle with that connected our family to Nelsons mothers family – but unfortunately we could not find it after the Uncles death. We tried to reach the Reverend through the Diocese to no avail. I would one day like to take up the quest again to trace the tree.
My 3rd cousin 3 x removed Colin Andrew MacPherson married Louisa Katherine Campbell Davis, the granddaughter of Catherine Nelson, Lord Nelsons sister, of interest is my 1st cousin 6 x removed was on the Victory at Trafalgar, he is depicted in the famous painting of Nelsons death, he was Asst Surgeon Neil Smith MD
the firm I worked for sold the house of Nelson-Weeks many years ago there were two sons remaining in the family. Some artifacts from the property were sent to the museum in Portsmouth. A letter from Emma regarding Nelson’s pigtail was sent to be sold in London at Sothebys
Hi,
Maybe a slip of the finger, but Maria Georgiana Julia FOX-STRANGWAYS did not marry Viscount Arthur Wellington Alexander Nelson ROCHFORT, but Viscount A.W.A.N. HOOD. Their daughter Mary Nelson HOOD married Herbert Frederick COOK, who was my Grandfather. Their son Francis was my father.
Could you possibly put this right as it may mislead other people in their research?
I can let you have much more info on the COOK side of the family if you want…
By the way do you have the exact date of birth for Maria Georgiana Julia FOX-STRANGWAYS in Edinburgh, Scotland? I have been searching for it since 2002!. ScotlandsPeople do not have it, presumably because it was not registered as she was born before 1855 when registration was made compulsory. All I know is she was born in 1846. A few people on Ancestry have her date as 23 April, but they do not have any documentary evidence. One person probably put that date for their own purpose and the rest just followed in copying it!
Kind regards,
Christopher COOK
Hi Christopher. Many thanks for this. I will adjust the information as you suggest.
I have deleted your email address from your comment, as it will be seen by anyone viewing this page. I have access to your email as moderator, so I will contact you later.
Cheers
Ros
Hi, fascinating thread. I have managed to get very close to being related to Horatio! My 4th great grandmother (Ann Bolton 1756-1805) is sister-in-law to Susanna, Horatio’s sister. So I am not his blood relative, but I believe I am a blood relative to the second and subsequent Earl Nelsons (I make it 5th cousin to the current Earl). That part of my family lived in and around Wells-next-the-Sea, very close to Burnham Thorpe, in the decades before and after 1805, the men being mostly either clergymen or surgeons; one a generation later being both. Quite a few intermarriages between the Girdlestone and Bolton families, both main lines seemingly traceable back to the mid 16th century. Quite a bit of marriage of first cousins too, including my 3rd great grandfather, James Young, who first married Anne Girdlestone (my 3rd great grandmother and Ann Bolton’s daughter), and when she died took a second wife in his late wife’s first cousin Frances Bolton (both then in their 40s), Frances Bolton also being a first cousin of the Second Earl. Anne Girdlestone is also the brother of William Girdlestone who married Elizabeth Anne Bolton, and they appeared to be first cousins too.
Hi,
I have been given a family tree by a late great aunt, which charts the Nelson family from Colkirk, Norfolk. The first entry is the marriage of Edward Nelson and Jane Parks in 1723 and follows the link to my great grandmother Effie Frances Nelson, born 1876. There is no evidence on the tree of the names mentioned in you research, but there is mention of the names Buck and Tissington. I wonder if there is any distant link along these lines? There is mention of one Horatio M Nelson in 1874, brother of my great grandmother.
Hello, my family tree and genealogy show that Lord Horatio Nelson is my 5th Great Grandfather through Horatio Rhees (mother shows as Harriet Rhees). Willing to connect with other relatives / descendants interested in connecting. Feel free to email me at dallltho@gmail.com if interested in connecting or providing more info or groups where our fellow descendants are found.
Hi, I too am like Simon. I would like to find out if we are DNA related to Horatio Nelson. I have had my grandmother tested and we found male member who has been DNA tested. We are hoping to get him Y-DNA tested to see if his Y-DNA matches any of these lines. I would like to find Simon Chapman to compare notes. Thanks.
Hi My name is Mark Kennell, I’m a descendant from George and Catherine. We had our family tree researched back to Rev Edmond Nelson and Catherine Suckling.
I have an oil painitng which is by a Rear Admiral C.B.Nelson of Sopley (Just North of Christchurch) dated 1859. I have paperwork which claims it is by the Nephew of Lord Nelson. Could you shed any more light on who C.B.Nelson is?
Hi Rob
I’m presuming that’s Rear Admiral Charles Beresford Nelson, who seems to have written a book ‘Nelson and His Times’, but I can’t find much else about him. Perhaps someone else here has more details?
My great grand mother used to say all the ashton family related to lord nelson and not one of them a sailor
This,is my path, Jimmie nelson me, Charles nelson,my father, Jonathan nelson, Gand father ,soloman kinkead nelson, great Gand father,samel nelson, great grand father, Elijah Nelson great grand father, John nelson great grand father, Thomas nelson, great grand father, Reverend Edmund Nelson vicar of sporie his brother, Reverend Edmund Nelson,rector pf Burnham,his son, admiral Horatio nelson 1st viscount kb his son,my DNA E-L117 his is my second cousin 5 ,, time s removed
In 1982 my great aunt approached Somerset House and asked them to look at her family tree and was told there was a link to Lord Nelson.
A year and a half ago I started an attempt to find it and realised that what I had recalled was incorrect, but the link was to Susannah Nelson and her descendent Henry Girdlestone and via South Africa (one of Henry’s sons got married in Durban in 1906).
We have not been able to connect the dots to Lord H. Nelson. But our relative from New England and Nova Scotia the 19 century claimed to be related.Both Mahalia Nelson Falt. and Sadie May Nelson,
4 cousins from different parts of Australia met in Newcastle NSW 2013 and when discussing the family tree, all told that their parents/grandparents had told them they were related to Lord Nelson. My grandmother told me many times we were related to Lord Nelson. She died in 1992. The name Nelson has come down through the generations in my Parsons tree (my grandmother’s brother was Nelson William Parsons (1903-1977))..there are many more Nelsons. My 3x great grandfather Thomas John Parsons (1814-1894) married Hannah Nelson (1811-1899) 31 July 1835 at St Marys Church in Aylesbury. My 2x great grandfather (son of Thomas John and Hannah Parsons) was Thomas Nelson Parsons (1847-1942) and his second son was William Nelson Parsons (1875-1949) and so on. The sister of Thomas Nelson Parsons (Emma Elizabeth Parsons 1837-1924) married Ninian John Scouller in Sydney in 1857 and the name Nelson continued down through the generations in the Scouller family also. Since that 2013 meeting I have contacted and been contacted by other cousins who also tell the same story of being related to Lord Nelson (including the granddaughter of William Nelson Parsons). I have tried to find the link but haven’t to date. I will be going to Aylesbury in August to try and find more about Hannah Nelson and her family. 1835 is prior to the on-line indexed unfortunately. If anyone has information on Hannah’s family, I would appreciate contact. We have a relationship through marriage with Charles Speedwell Tilly (1776-1845) who is said to have served with Lord Nelson who wrote his Commission to make him a Commander.
Hello, I am in the same position as Marianne Stanford. I am trying to ascertain whether or not Lord Nelson is my relative via Harriet Rhees who was in service in Bath around 1800. I have done my DNA thru 23andme and was wondering if you could help me try and see if anything pulls up. thanks for your help.
i am one of the Bendyshe Crowther descendents…… they got entangled with the Wildman/Lushingtons……and my granddad Guy was born in Ceylon and ended up in Australia…
My grandfather name is Nelson, my grandmother maiden name is Marx, they had a large farm in southafrica, I believe they had five daughters and one son, I’am not one hundred percent sure, but I can find out, my mother is one of the daughters, Alice Nelson, she married my dad, James groves, I was born in Southafrica Captown, they were on there way to England, when we got here a woman I think she was a Lady, or a title of some sort, she used to send my mum woman’s cloths, as the money my mum might have had, she was not allowed to bring it out of Southafrica, as my grandfather married a Marx, did he disgrace the family, and was shipped to Southafrica, that is what they did in those days, these are thought that as alway been in mind, I wondered if you might know anything about my family. Thank you, James Groves
Hi James – thanks for your post. Unless someone here has any personal knowledge of your family, then this is the kind of question that can only usually be answered by lengthy, detailed research. If you know Alice’s approximate date and place of birth, it might be possible to find out who her family was.
Best wishes
Ros
My nana Agnes Royal Pickering who is deceased claimed she was the 42nd cousin of Lord Nelson does that make any sense.
Hi Debra. The only way to answer your question would be to carry out research on your grandmother’s ancestors.
Cheers
Ros
Trying to trace my family tree is getting annoying, there’s no definitive answers. Anyone know other places where i can find info
Hi Brandon
Welcome to the world of genealogy! It can be incredibly frustrating at times. Where have you looked already?
Hello, I believe I’m a desendant of sort… my grandfather is from Nova Scotia and had settled there after immigrating from the UK… I’m not sure of the whole story but I would love some inside!
Hi Kaitlyn
You will need to do some research into your family history to find out where the connection is. Let me know if you need any help – though I am tied up with work until about January.
Ros
My grandfather was Henry Nelson and he was born in Banbury in and 1888 and died in 1975.
I only know that he had a brother residing in Yorkshire in the 1960’s who owned a large farm near Lutterworth.
hi i like to find out if my late adopted farher edward george nelson born 17 th september 1934 from hammersmith married jean valerie nelson in 1966 .maden name gard .
Hi! I’ve been working with my mother on our family tree and came across this website. My Gran (mother’s mother) is a Nelson, and according to what she has said, she has a direct line to Horatio Nelson through her father, George Gustav Adolf Nelson, who we believe was born in around 1907/1908. If I do a quick calculation, this make George the Great Great Grandson of Horatio (assuming my Gran is correct in the direct line part!). The interesting part is the Gustav Adolf part which to me suggests some German influence in the family tree. Are you aware of anything like this? Unfortunately my Gran was sent to an orphanage when she was very young so does not have any details on her family tree – hence our research. All we know is her mothers name is Bessie (Elizabeth) Nelson (nee Vickery).
The family of Nelson Ward and Jessie Ward (nee Bird) is more extensive than shown. Daughter Mary married Alexander Brodie Mackintosh Dallas at Northwood on 8/12/1898; they had one daughter Audrey who never married. Daughter Agnes married Campbell Cameron Forster Dickson at Belsize Park in July 1895; they had one son William Forster (24/9/1898) who became Marshall of the RAF and died in 1980’s.