James Nelson (abt. 1816 - 1849)

Born about 1816 in Staffordshire, England, United Kingdom [uncertain]

Descendants

Died 12 Nov 1849 at about age 33 in St. Martin, Tipton, Staffordshire, England, United Kingdom

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Biography

James was born about 1816. He passed away in 1849. ^[1][2][3]

James Nelson and Eliza Nelson welcomed the marriage of son Benjamin to Maria Fell on 30 Nov 1863.^[4]

The family of James and Eliza Nelson were enumerated in the 1841 Census as living in Tipton. Staffordshire.^[5]

Sometime after the death of James Nelson, widow Eliza married John Whitehouse, and was recorded as living on Camp Street in Wednesbury, Staffordshire, along with stepsons Benjamin and Henry. "England and Wales Census, Wednesbury, Staffordshire, 1861", shows Benjamin Nelson Nelson-20513, age 17, a coal miner, single, born in 1844 in Tipton, Staffordshire, a stepson in the household of John and Eliza Whitehouse Whitehouse-1582, living on Camp Street. This seems to indicate that Benjamin's biological father James was no longer acting as Benjamin's father, and had been replaced by John Whitehouse, who is now Benjamin's step-father.

Research Notes

• James' daughter Ann was born in 1850, after the death of her father in 1849, indicating that she was in early pregnancy when James died. It is curious that Ann did not go to live in the household of John Whitehouse but her brothers Benjamin and Henry did. It is possible that Ann died after giving birth.
• Since James Nelson's son Benjamin declared his father James to be deceased at his 1863 marriage to Maria Fell, James was not alive at that time. Since son Benjamin was born in 1844, his father must have died between 1844 and 1863. We now know that James died on 12 Nov 1849. From the 1861 England and Wales census it is known that Benjamin's wife Eliza married John Whitehouse Whitehouse-1771 on 28 May 1849, and that her sons Benjamin and Henry are now shown as stepsons in the John Whitehouse household. This faces us with a conundrum that has to be faced, since Eliza married John Whitehouse 6 months before James Nelson's death. The quoted sources are credible, and I can only explain this by assuming that at an earlier time James and Eliza separated, and eventually Eliza and John became acquainted and married. Since James was living in Tipton, Staffordshire, and Eliza and John were living in Birmingham, Warwickshire, it is entirely conceivable that James and Eliza simply lost touch with each other.

Sources

1. ↑ "England, Staffordshire, Church Records, 1538-1944", St. Martin Parish, Tipton, Staffordshire, England, United Kingdom, burial of James Nelson, age 36, 12 Nov 1849, year of birth 1813. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QL7W-JMN6
2. ↑ "England Deaths and Burials, 1538-1944", James Nelson death, age 36, 12 Nov 1849, Tipton, Staffordshire, England, United Kingdom, St. Martins Parish, birth year (est) 1813.
3. ↑ James Nelson, "England and Wales Death Registration Index 1837-2007", death, 1849, Dudley, Staffordshire, England.
4. ↑ Certified copy of an entry of marriage, no.614784, Dudley Parish, Worcestershire, marriage of bachelor Benjamin Nelson, son of James Nelson, a miner, deceased, to spinster Maria Fell, daughter of Andrew Fell on 30 Nov 1863.
5. ↑ "England and Wales Census, 1841", Tipton. Staffordshire, England, United Kingdom, Dudley Registration District, Residence Chapel St:
   • James Nelson, age 25
   • Eliza Nelson, age 20, born Staffordshire
   • John Nelson, age 5, born Staffordshire
   • William Nelson, age 2
   • Daniel Nelson, age 0, born Staffordshire
   • https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MQT3-1TL