Jump to content

Robert Nelles: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Content deleted Content added
m Disambiguating links to Quebec expedition (link changed to Quebec expedition (1711)) using DisamAssist.
 
(8 intermediate revisions by 5 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Short description|Canadian politician (1761–1842)}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=January 2023}}

'''Robert Nelles''' (October 6, 1761 – July 27, 1842) was a businessman and political figure in [[Upper Canada]].
'''Robert Nelles''' (October 6, 1761 – July 27, 1842) was a businessman and political figure in [[Upper Canada]].


He was born in Stone Arabia, now known as [[Nelliston]], in [[Tryon County, New York]] in 1761. His father served in the Indian Department. Robert was made a lieutenant in the department in 1780 and served during the [[American Revolution]], leading around 60 raids into the interior of [[New York (state)|New York]] state in 1781.<ref>{{cite news |title=Dedication held for Engagement of Frankstown Monument |url=https://www.altoonamirror.com/life/community/2021/08/dedication-held-for-engagement-of-frankstown-monument/}}</ref> After the war, father and son settled in the [[Grand River (Ontario)|Grand River]] valley as [[United Empire Loyalist|United Empire Loyalists]] and received several large land grants in the [[Niagara District, Upper Canada|Niagara District]]. Nelles built mills and a store on the current site of the town of [[Grimsby, Ontario|Grimsby]]. He also built an early Georgian style manor, which was completed in 1798 (now Nelles Manor Museum). {{Plain image with caption|Nelles-manor-sign.jpg|Sign in front of Nelles Manor|220px|right|bottom}}
He was born in Stone Arabia, now known as [[Nelliston]], in [[Tryon County, New York]] in 1761. His father, Hendrick William Nelles, served in the Indian Department from 1759-1760, during the [[French and Indian War]] and his grandfather, William Nelles, arrived in New York in 1710, and enlisted in the colonial forces for the [[Quebec expedition (1711)|Quebec Expedition]] in 1711. Robert was made a lieutenant in the department in 1780 and served during the [[American Revolution]], leading around 60 raids into the interior of [[New York (state)|New York]] state in 1781.<ref>{{cite news |title=Dedication held for Engagement of Frankstown Monument |url=https://www.altoonamirror.com/life/community/2021/08/dedication-held-for-engagement-of-frankstown-monument/}}</ref> After the war, father and son settled in the [[Grand River (Ontario)|Grand River]] valley as [[United Empire Loyalist]]s and received several large land grants in the [[Niagara District, Upper Canada|Niagara District]]. Nelles built mills and a store on the current site of the town of [[Grimsby, Ontario|Grimsby]]. He also built an early Georgian style manor, which was completed in 1798 (now Nelles Manor Museum). {{Plain image with caption|Nelles-manor-sign.jpg|Sign in front of Nelles Manor|220px|right|bottom}}


In 1797, Robert was appointed Indian agent in the region for a brief time. In 1800, he was elected to the [[Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada]] in West [[York County, Ontario|York]], 1st [[Lincoln County, Ontario|Lincoln]] & [[Haldimand County, Ontario|Haldimand]] and served until 1808. He joined the local militia during the [[War of 1812]], eventually becoming lieutenant-colonel. In 1814, he replaced [[Joseph Willcocks]] in the legislative assembly in a by-election for 1st Lincoln and Haldimand, serving until 1820.
In 1797, Robert was appointed Indian agent in the region for a brief time. In 1800, he was elected to the [[Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada]] in West [[York County, Ontario|York]], 1st [[Lincoln County, Ontario|Lincoln]] & [[Haldimand County, Ontario|Haldimand]] and served until 1808. He joined the local militia during the [[War of 1812]], eventually becoming lieutenant-colonel. In 1814, he replaced [[Joseph Willcocks]] in the legislative assembly in a by-election for 1st Lincoln and Haldimand, serving until 1820.
Line 12: Line 15:
Robert married Elizabeth Moore in 1788. She was the daughter of John Moore and Dinah Pettit, who were United Empire Loyalists in New Jersey.
Robert married Elizabeth Moore in 1788. She was the daughter of John Moore and Dinah Pettit, who were United Empire Loyalists in New Jersey.
With Elizabeth, Robert had seven children:
With Elizabeth, Robert had seven children:
{{bulleted list |Henry Nelles (December 8, 1789 - July 22, 1841) |Margaret Dinah Nelles (December 12, 1793 - November 22, 1862) |Robert Nelles II (November 13, 1798 - November 2, 1812) |William Robert Nelles (December 19, 1800 - March 13, 1839) |Elizabeth Augusta Nelles (June 11, 1803 - December 9, 1880) |Abraham Nelles (December 25 1805 - December 20, 1884) |Mary Ann Nelles (April 19, 1808 - April 27, 1886) |George Nelles (December 5, 1810 - April 19, 1883)}}
{{bulleted list |Henry Nelles (December 8, 1789 - July 22, 1841) |Margaret Dinah Nelles (December 12, 1793 - November 22, 1862) |Robert Nelles II (November 13, 1798 - November 2, 1812) |William Robert Nelles (December 19, 1800 - March 13, 1839) |Elizabeth Augusta Nelles (June 11, 1803 - December 9, 1880) |Abraham Nelles (December 25, 1805 - December 20, 1884) great grandfather of [[Percy W. Nelles]]|Mary Ann Nelles (April 19, 1808 - April 27, 1886) |George Nelles (December 5, 1810 - April 19, 1883)}}
Robert's second wife, Maria nee Waddell Bingle (May 9, 1783 - Jan 2, 1848) was a widow. She had two children from her first marriage: Thomas and Catherine Bingle. Together with Robert, Maria had another six children:
Robert's second wife, Maria nee Waddell Bingle (May 9, 1783 - Jan 2, 1848) was a widow. She had two children from her first marriage: Thomas and Catherine Bingle. Together with Robert, Maria had another six children:
{{bulleted list |Jane Clare Nelles (July 4, 1815 - April 4, 1890) |Frances Matilda Nelles (September 21, 1817 - February 15, 1880) |Charles Lenox Nelles (March 6, 1819 - August 23, 1886) |Sarah Maria Nelles (May 1, 1821 - June 12, 1823) |Emilia Maria Nelles (July 23, 1823 - September 9, 1914) |Robert Waddell Nelles (September 25, 1825 - October 23, 1825)}}
{{bulleted list |Jane Clare Nelles (July 4, 1815 - April 4, 1890) |Frances Matilda Nelles (September 21, 1817 - February 15, 1880) |Charles Lenox Nelles (March 6, 1819 - August 23, 1886) |Sarah Maria Nelles (May 1, 1821 - June 12, 1823) |Emilia Maria Nelles (July 23, 1823 - September 9, 1914) |Robert Waddell Nelles (September 25, 1825 - October 23, 1825)}}
Line 26: Line 29:
== External links ==
== External links ==
*[http://www.biographi.ca/009004-119.01-e.php?&id_nbr=3580 Biography at the ''Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online'']
*[http://www.biographi.ca/009004-119.01-e.php?&id_nbr=3580 Biography at the ''Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online'']
*{{Find a grave|67313472}}
* {{Find a Grave|67313472}}
* [https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Nelles-22 Robert Nelles UE] at [https://www.wikitree.com WikiTree]


{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}

Latest revision as of 08:58, 27 August 2023

Robert Nelles (October 6, 1761 – July 27, 1842) was a businessman and political figure in Upper Canada.

He was born in Stone Arabia, now known as Nelliston, in Tryon County, New York in 1761. His father, Hendrick William Nelles, served in the Indian Department from 1759-1760, during the French and Indian War and his grandfather, William Nelles, arrived in New York in 1710, and enlisted in the colonial forces for the Quebec Expedition in 1711. Robert was made a lieutenant in the department in 1780 and served during the American Revolution, leading around 60 raids into the interior of New York state in 1781.[1] After the war, father and son settled in the Grand River valley as United Empire Loyalists and received several large land grants in the Niagara District. Nelles built mills and a store on the current site of the town of Grimsby. He also built an early Georgian style manor, which was completed in 1798 (now Nelles Manor Museum).

Sign in front of Nelles Manor
Sign in front of Nelles Manor

In 1797, Robert was appointed Indian agent in the region for a brief time. In 1800, he was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada in West York, 1st Lincoln & Haldimand and served until 1808. He joined the local militia during the War of 1812, eventually becoming lieutenant-colonel. In 1814, he replaced Joseph Willcocks in the legislative assembly in a by-election for 1st Lincoln and Haldimand, serving until 1820.

There are a number of places named after the Nelles family in Grimsby, namely Nelles Public School, Nelles Beach Park, Nelles Boulevard, Nelles Road (North and South), the Nelles Fitch House, and Nelles Manor.

He died in Grimsby in 1842.

Personal life

[edit]

Robert married Elizabeth Moore in 1788. She was the daughter of John Moore and Dinah Pettit, who were United Empire Loyalists in New Jersey. With Elizabeth, Robert had seven children:

  • Henry Nelles (December 8, 1789 - July 22, 1841)
  • Margaret Dinah Nelles (December 12, 1793 - November 22, 1862)
  • Robert Nelles II (November 13, 1798 - November 2, 1812)
  • William Robert Nelles (December 19, 1800 - March 13, 1839)
  • Elizabeth Augusta Nelles (June 11, 1803 - December 9, 1880)
  • Abraham Nelles (December 25, 1805 - December 20, 1884) great grandfather of Percy W. Nelles
  • Mary Ann Nelles (April 19, 1808 - April 27, 1886)
  • George Nelles (December 5, 1810 - April 19, 1883)

Robert's second wife, Maria nee Waddell Bingle (May 9, 1783 - Jan 2, 1848) was a widow. She had two children from her first marriage: Thomas and Catherine Bingle. Together with Robert, Maria had another six children:

  • Jane Clare Nelles (July 4, 1815 - April 4, 1890)
  • Frances Matilda Nelles (September 21, 1817 - February 15, 1880)
  • Charles Lenox Nelles (March 6, 1819 - August 23, 1886)
  • Sarah Maria Nelles (May 1, 1821 - June 12, 1823)
  • Emilia Maria Nelles (July 23, 1823 - September 9, 1914)
  • Robert Waddell Nelles (September 25, 1825 - October 23, 1825)

Further reading

[edit]
  • Legacy: The Nelles Story by Dorothy Turcotte
  • Annals of the Forty NO. 1 - 1783 - 1818 by R. Janet Powell
  • Nellis - Nelles - Immigrants from the Palatinate 1710 - Volume One - The First Eight Generations 1997 - Compiled by Nellis and Nelles Family Associations
  • From Stone Arabia Volume 1 - by Charles Nelles
  • Niagara! Volume 2 - by Charles Nelles
Nelles Manor
Nelles Manor

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Dedication held for Engagement of Frankstown Monument".
[edit]