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.
Would you like to learn how to trace your ancestors? Have a look at my Step-by-Step Beginner’s Course.
My mother was Jane Nelson. Her brother was Lord Peter Nelson. His son, my cousin, is Simon Nelson, who holds the hereditary title.
My 4 time great grandfather Rev Thomas Bolton was the Uncle of the Thomas Bolton who marries Susannah Nelson. With his 3rd wife, he had children named Horatio Nelson Bolton and Suckling Bolton.
We are related on my dad side to him via william nelson born in 1654. He is my 8th great granfather and lord nelson is my 2nd cousin 7 x removed. Do you know if there is any ancestor of this nelson line who have taken a DNA test? My sister and dad have taken one so would be good to match up. My nelson line ended up in liverpool and there were several captains and higher in this line.
Hi Julia – thanks for your post. I don’t know the answer to your question, but if you use one of the DNA services (such as 23&me or Ancestry) they will automatically find matches with anyone else who has taken the test.
Ros
Hi, my great-great-great grandmother was Mary Betsey Nelson, mother of Royal sculptor Francis John Williamson and a great niece of Admiral Nelson, apparently. Do you know who her parents were please?
Was told that I’m a decendent of nelson, an uncle many times removed. My grandfather, my father, myself and my son all have nelson in our names. My grandfather’s last name was Tyler but I was also told that Taylor might have been as well. I’ve tried researching this but cant find anything. Have these names come up in your research? Both my grandfather and father were born outside of London
Hi Kristen. I know very little other than what’s in the post, so I’m afraid I can’t help at present. However, if you want any professional help with your research, do email me at info@tracingancestors-uk.com.
Best wishes
Ros
My great grandfather was Joseph Suckling & my grandfather Howard James Suckling. He always said he was related to Maurice Suckling , Nelson’s maternal uncle.
My grandmother told us that we were related to Lord Nelson, illegitimately from a time when he was recruiting in Lancashire. Can this be true? I have had my DNA tested.
Hi Susan. I’d be interested to know whether the DNA can prove anything. Unfortunately, with documentary records it is usually very difficult to prove paternity in these cases unless the father is actually named on the baptism records (very rare), or if the mother applied to the parish to get the father to pay maintenance. These will be in the parish records of the local record office – but again, you’ll usually be lucky to find one, though it’s always worth looking.
Ros
A family name of Olley gets mentioned in family circles as having some connection to Nelson. I can’t find it myself but has anyone come across it?
When I started years ago looking for a link to Lord Nelson I thought it would easily done. My grandfathers in line are Orio Wayne Nelson, Joseph Decker Nelson, Kenyon Horatio Nelson, William Horatio Nelson, and Jacob Nelson. Are we related and where do I go for further research.
Thanks, David Nelson
Hi David. Trying to link up two families is never as easy as it sounds! The only way is to research your family tree as you would normally – using original documentary evidence as much as possible and going back generation by generation. If you find your tree going back to Norfolk, there may be a possibility of connection – or the connection might be further up the line, perhaps Lancashire, and may never be proved. Don’t forget that Nelson was such a hero, many people (especially those with Nelson as a surname) gave their children the middle or first name of Horatio in remembrance, so having this name in your ancestors does not necessarily prove a link. But it’s always worth doing the research. Look at the information on my courses (the ‘Courses’ tab at the top of this page) if you need help with the research – or if you’d like some professional help, email me at info@tracingancestors-uk.com.
Ros
To Julia Nelson post 2 Feb 20 @ 11.13
William Nelson born 1654 is also my 8th x Great grandfather. What site have you done your DNA on. What child from him are you descended from ?
I am looking for any info on Lucy Epsy Nelson. Some have claimed that she was of the line of Horatio Nelson. But she was born in 1750 which would make her either a sibling or a cousin of Horatio. I wonder if anyone knows where I might find a list of siblings of Horatio. I believe there were 11 all together.
Hi Rozanne. There is a list of Nelson’s siblings in the original post above – though I have to admit, I had difficulty finding – and I wrote it! It starts under the sentence: ‘Nelson’s father Edmund married Catherine SUCKLING (see below). Nelson’s siblings were:’ – and then it goes on to list the other children of Nelson’s parents, with their descendants. Lucy is not one of the siblings, so if she is connected, she may be descended from someone further back. Where was she born? There is evidence to suggest that the family originally came from Lancashire – where there is a large cluster of the Nelson name around the Lancashire and Cumbria borders.
Cheers – Ros
Hi, do you know if there was is descendant information on Alice Nelson (1717-1802) Little Dunham, Breckland Borough, Norfolk, ENGLAND, who married a Robert Nelson (1719-1792) and he came to North Carolina, USA?
I believe her to be the mother of my wife’s ancestor Major John Nelson.
My great grandfather, David Hamilton Henry from Sheyenne, ND, would not speak about his family he was born in County Tyrone, married Mary O’Neill and both settled on a big farm in Sheyenne.. My aunt always suspected that he was a descendent of Lady Hamilton and Horatio Nelson. Perhaps a grandson of Horatia?
Hi Edwidge – thanks for your contribution. I think your aunt’s theory would be extremely difficult to prove, and would take some detailed research. But there’s very little evidence to go on here, so I’m a little dubious. Have you tried tracing the family line?
Ros
My late father said we are related to Lord Nelson but I can’t find anything, he had his family tree done but unfortunately we don’t have access to it
Massive amount of info, but nothing there that helps me. My wife tells me that her family line is linked in some way to Horatio Nelson, via her fathers mothers side. Therefore has anyone come across the surname of Spencer / Jolly / Dunderdale or Hunter.
Many thanks
My family descends from the one twin daughter that Emma put into care at St Pancrass. Evidence shows Nelson provided means for her care there and visited. An overwhelmed Emma said the one daughter she kept was her sister’s child. The stories they used changed over time and Nelson finally asked that she use the name Nelson. Our branch has always carried the truth of who the foundling daughter really was. Her son went on to become a headmaster in South Grafton Australia. His son was my great grandfather who changed his name from Frank Nelson, to Oliver Bainbridge after a falling out with his father. I would dearly love to participate in a DNA test with recognized descendants of Lord Nelson. It would be good to have scientific proof one way or the other on the validity of our branch. Does anyone know if this might be possible or whom I should contact?
Hi I’m 21 and I’m searching for my background family the Nelson’s from my dads side.
Are there any known connections between the Admiral’s family in the Norfolk region and Nelsons in Bath? My paternal line traces (11 generations) to John Nelson, b. 1648 in Bath, who eventually crossed the pond and died in another Bath (North Carolina) in 1708.
Nelson is also rumoured to have been an illegitimate son, raised as Horatio Spencer in Gotham, Nottinghamshire. Is there any evidence of this?
Hi Deborah – Not that I know of. All the evidence we have points to him being born in Norfolk one of the eleven children of Edmund and Catherine, and so it would seem odd for anything else to be the case, and would be extremely difficult to prove as illegitimacy was often hushed up at the time. But I think it is probably just a rumour in this case.
Ros
Hi Ros,
My great great grand father was
Horatio Nelson Lay. Born in 1832 to Tradescant Lay. There are Wikipedia entries on both. We have always been told that we are related to Nelson but I cannot find why. Its noteworthy that Lay was Christened Horatio Nelson as early as 1832.
Hi Edward. Interesting ancestors! The problem is, because Nelson was such a hero, many children were named after him even though they were not related, and then future descendants then come to believe there is a family connection. I can’t say whether or not this is the case here, but I see that your great great grandfather was born in Forest Hill (now in SE London – I used to live there!) – and Nelson’s family were from Norfolk, and before that, possibly Lancashire. From this, it seems unlikely, and you would need to do a lot of research to find if there was a link, and try and find a common ancestor but if there was a link it might be very far back, and difficult to find or prove. It’s always worth trying though! Let me know if you’d like any help.
Ros
My maternal grandmother told me Lord H Nelson is my 7th great uncle. Her name is Carolyn. She has some old scroll handed down to her from her mom, my great grandmother. Not sure if it’s significant at all, just here to share.
Through marriage I allegedly have a link though I’ve never found it. It’s through either the Waller or Spooner families
Susan Oxenborrow Spooner—Charles Waller
Married 10 Mar 1812 Wells next the Sea, Norfolk
Children
1 F
Harriet Waller
Born 07 Nov 1819 Holkham, Norfolk
2 F
Maria Waller
Born 11 Nov 1821 Holkham Norfolk
Spouse George Hay
Married 08 Dec 1871 The Register Office,District of Walsingnam
Died 25 Aug 1897 Walsingham,Norfolk
3 M
John Waller
Born 1824 Holkham, Norfolk
4 F
Caroline Waller
Born 1827 Holkham, Norfolk
Hi David Nelson,
I would like to know if you are David Nelson on Ancestry.ca or .com? I am hoping you check this site more often then Ancestry if you are.
Hello Tracing Ancestors, I would like to know if you could find more information on George Nelson-born possibly 1733 and dies 1776 or 78. He married Jane Head. George was Mason of South Sheilds-Chalelry of St. Hild or Hilda Co, Durham. George was a Salt Officer in Durham under King George the 2nd and 3rd. This is where my starts from on the Family tree provided by a cousin.
The line then goes to William-1750-1834 and Married Jane Dies or Dies (M-24th, May, 1785): Jane-B-1765-1846. Their Son Alpherey is my 3rd Great grandfather and has famous brothers: George (fur trade canada), Wolfred and Robert, who were exiled to Bermuda but were allowed to return to Canada.
Any information you could provide were be greatly appreciated.
Thank you,
Susan ELi Nelson
Hi Susan – I have sent you an email.
Ros
Thank you.
Hi There from New Zealand – Im a direct descentant of Mary Nelson & William Clague, my family tree is on ancestry.
I have been looking at my family tree on ancestry and I have found a Horatio Nelson born 1854 and his father Gordon Nelson born 1829 says they are from Dumfries Scotland I was wondering if these are relatives of Admiral Horatio Nelson. If anyone has any information please let me know.
Email address is lukejamesmagrath@hotmail.co.uk
Thanks Luke
Could any body help me find out if these names are related to Horatio Nelson. Horatio Nelson born 1854 and Gordon Nelson 1829 born in Dumfries, Dumfries-shire, Scotland.
Where may I submit my DNA to determine linkage
to Admiral Nelson?
You can try Ancestry, or 123andme.com. However, I don’t think it’s quite that easy. I believe you would need to match with someone who can definitely prove their own lineage back to Nelson. I’m not an expert, so if anyone can help with this, please leave a comment.
Ros
Relation here, were aware that Nelson was linked somehow but luckily enough, the BBC contacted me and did alot of research then created a documentary. Which was aired and it seems that are family is alot bigger than we thought on my mums side.
we have recently found out that we are related to nelson and samuel pepys through the surnames paten and brackstone but we are now stuck in which direction to go
Hi Andy. Email me (info@tracingancestors-uk.com) if you need any professional help.
Cheers
Ros
My grandfather is related to lord Nelson somehow James Nelson living in Canada
Hi, My family claims there is a connection to Admiral Nelson. I attended a lecture a few years ago about the Admiral and spoke to the presenter. When I mentioned his possible ancestry to me, he said ‘Well, he was a sailor.’ This made me think that he possibly was considered a rock star of his time and was attractive to women. Do you know of any other illegitimate claimants? Even the Admiral’s contemporaries may have claimed him as a relative even if not legitimate because of his status so I’m wondering if that may be my connection. Just wondering. Thanks, Janis Cortese
Thanks for your input Janis. It’s always possible – but the trouble with illegitimacy claims is that they are rarely able to be proved because at that time having a child outside of marriage was usually kept quiet, and therefore there is no documentary evidence (unless the woman claimed for maintenance payments, and the paperwork has survived in court records).
Probably the only way of proving this may be through DNA testing, so you might try looking into that – though in order to prove connection with a specific person, you would have to match with a known descendant who has recorded their own DNA.
Good luck!
Ros
I have been able to trace back to Mary Ann Nelson who married William Woolhouse they had 2 sons Leonard (my grandfather) and Bernard.
Leonard went on to mary Helen Borthwick Riddell in 1993 The had 2 daughters
Victoria and Jean (my mother)
Leonard was born in 1906 in Fulham
I am trying a complete the family tree for my grandchild and was informed by an uncle that he told by his mother that they were related to Lord Nelson through Lady Hamilton. I was to get find my uncle’s mothers grandmother Alice Mary Hamilton born in Cornwall in 1867. Is this a possibility
Hi Gill
Looking at the names, dates and places, it seems unlikely. Lady Hamilton had at least two illegitimate children – only one is definitely known to be Nelson’s daughter – Horatia Nelson. There was another daughter called Emma Carew – but it is not known who her father was and she was born before Lady Hamilton’s affair with Nelson. Horatia married Philip Ward and lived in Norfolk. So any children related to Emma Hamilton and Lord Nelson would not have been named Hamilton.
Lady Hamilton and her husband William did not have any children, so there are no direct descendants from this couple.
It would be interesting to try and find out how this belief developed. I have been approached by several people who have had supposed connections with Nelson, but research has not been able to prove anything so far. Nelson was so popular that many families imagined connections if they had a similar name – and these legends have come down through the generations.
However, it would certainly be interesting to look at Alice Mary Hamilton’s ancestry and see whether there is anything that could have sparked off such belief – but I certainly don’t think there would be any blood connection with Nelson. Let me know if you would like help with any research – email me at info@tracingancestors-uk.com.
Ros
My Grandmother from Birkenhead was some how related to Lord Nelson through her Grandmother. Her name was Marion Nelson.
My grandmother is a decendant of samuel pepys,lord nelson and the 1st earl of sandwich her mother come from scotland and she was payed an award every year from pepys estate for using the name douglas i would appreciate any help any one can give me im researching my family tree and this is part of the puzzle that i would love to no more about
Hi Andy – that’s very interesting! If you would like any professional help, please email me at info@tracingancestors-uk.com.
Ros