The Nelsons were among the pioneer families of Pendleton County. Early records show that 90 acres of land were surveyed on Sugar Lick, North Fork of Augusta County (now Pendleton) for Jacob Nelson in 1771. The name Nelson is Norse in origin and can still be found in Scandinavian Countries as Neilson, Nilson, and Nelzen. During the ninth century it was brought to the British Isles.
In America one of the earliest settlers bearing the name was John Nelson who came and settled in New England in 1680. About the same time Nelsons were prominent in Conlonial Virginia, serving on the Council, in the House of Burgesses, in the Continental Congress, as Governor, and signer of the Declaration of Independence.
Since we've found no other information on Jacob or John Nelson, mentioned above, and have not been able to make definite connection with the Nelsons of Yorktown, Virginia, our ancestors must begin with Thomas (Morton's History of Pendleton County--p 270). The dates of his birth and death are unknown, but he was considered old in 1794. His son John was the father of 13 children. Our immediate family comes through the line of his second son, Isaac (1773-1850) and his second wife, the former Kate Pennington. Isaac was the father of 14 children, nine of them by Kate.
Isaac's seventh son, Job (1819-1894) married Amanda Wilfong, and they had eight children, one of which was Stewart (1846-1931). Rev. Stewart Nelson married Mary E. Wilfong (1/16/1846-2/20/24) and they had seven children, four sons and three daughters.
Charles Cecil Nelson (1871-1962) was the second son of Stewart and Mary, and like his ancestors, spent most of his life on his farm in what is known as Nelson Gap. Cecil was the father of three children who lived to be adults. Mamie Marie and Charles Shannon were by his first wife, Lorella Lee Johnston, and John Edwin by his second wife, Cora Belle Stautamyer, (1874-1963). Six other children died in infancy.
During our brief research we have not located Sugar Lick to determine where on North Fork Jacob Nelson owned land. However records in the Pendleton County Courthouse show that John Nelson, the son of Thomas, owned land in Nelson Gap and four of the seven farms, which originally were one, are still owned by Nelson heirs.
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N > Nelson > Isaac K. Nelson Sr.
Categories: Virginia Appalachians