The Nelson family is a family of English origin from New York. unlike other branches of the family, The New York Nelsons have been fortunate in keeping an unbroken line of descent.^[1] The first known ancestor was John Nelson, who settled first in Flat Lands and later in Mamaroneck.^[2] He was of Puritan stock and is believed to have traveled from Norfolk to New York between 1660 and 1665.^[3] Descendents of the Nelson family include Gouverneur K. Warren,^[4] Emily Warren Roebling,^[4] Lily James, and Helen Horton, as well as various government officials and businessmen.

The Nelson family has spread across the United States and Canada and has married into families including Gedney, Secord, and Henderson.

Notable descendants

Polycarpus Nelson was the son of John Nelson. He was a landowner and leading citizen in Colonial New York, and, in 1738, was bludgeoned to death while acting as constable for Mamaroneck. He married Ruth Gedney of the Gedney family and had 18 children.^[5]

William Nelson was the great-great-grandson of John Nelson. He was a lawyer and politician who represented New York in the US Congress from 1847 to 1851.^[6] He was a, old time, Whig and a friend of Henry Clay, Daniel Webster, and Abraham Lincoln.^[7]

Cornelius Warren was the great-great-grandson of John Nelson. He represented New York's 8th district in the United States House of Representatives from 1847 to 1849.^[8]

Thomas Nelson was the son the William Nelson and a 5th generation descendent. He was the 2nd chief justice of the Oregon Supreme Court.^[9]

Isaac De Groff Nelson was a 5th generation descendent. He was an Indiana pioneer, politician, and businessman who held several political offices.^[10]

William Rockhill Nelson was the son of Isaac Nelson and a 6th generation descendent. He was a real estate developer and founder of The Kansas City Star. His estate is now the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art.^[11]

Sir Richard Nelson was a 7th generation descendent. He was a Canadian-born Air marshal in the RAF who served as Director-General of the RAF Medical Services and as honorary physician to the Queen.^[12]

M.O. Nelson was a 7th generation descendent and the brother of Richard Nelson. He was a Canadian businessman.^[13]

Homer Augustus Nelson was a 6th generation descendent. He was a Union officer during the American Civil War and served one time in the House of Representatives.^[14]

Gouverneur K. Warren was a 5th generation descendant.^[4] He was a Union general during the American Civil War and is often referred to as "The Hero of Little Round Top".^[15]

Emily Warren Roebling was the sister of Gouverneur K. Warren and a 5th generation descendent. She was an engineer known for her contributions to the completion of the Brooklyn Bridge after her husband, Washington Roebling, became ill.^[16]

John A. Roebling II was the son of Emily Roebling and a 6th generation descendent. He was an engineer and philanthropist who took over his family's business.^[17]

Donald Roebling was the son of John Roebling II and a 7th generation descendent. He was a philanthropist, engineer, and inventor who built the Donald Roebling Estate^[18]

Helen Horton was a 9th generation descendent of John Nelson. She was an American actress.^[19]

Lily James is the granddaughter of Helen Horton and an 11th generation descendent. She is an English actress.^[20]

References

Bibliography

Cortez] [Nelson (2022-10-27). The Nelson Family. Creative Media Partners, LLC. ISBN 978-1-01-701625-3.