Charles Nelson of Cummaquid, MA and Rumford, Maine and his father William Nelson
In March 1861, William Nelson of Barnstable, MA posts a Notice in the local newspaper announcing he will not be responsible for any debts charged on behalf of his wife Olive and son Charles W. as they have left home without consent.
Charles W. Nelson
Charles W. Nelson of Cummaquid died 24 June 1926. He was a veteran of the Civil War, serving in the 20th Maine. His obituary is interesting in that his service in the war sounds very illustrious, and also mentions that he was not wounded. The obituary also informs that he enlisted in Portland, Maine and removed to Massachusetts once his enlistment had ended. I have acquired a copy of his service record and pension files which, despite being very large, do not confirm much other than he did claim a debilitating disability due to his service. Most of the file contains depositions from fellow regiment soldiers who either do not remember him, or cannot recall if his wounds were battle related. In all probability, he suffered from the common ailment of many civil war veterans - related issues due to dysentery - and may have been hospitalized during the war due to its severity. Several items in the file do help confirm some genealogical information and records, and provide direction for research.
Charles was born 19 September 1840. While many documents provide his place of birth as Bath, Maine, Charles also offers Rumford, Oxford County, Maine as place of birth. A letter included in his pension file shows that in 1850 Charles was living with his parents William and Olive (Fessenden) Nelson in Boston, Massachusetts, and was living in Rumford, Maine in 1860. He has a sister named Mary Jane.
In the 1850 Federal Census William Nelson and family are enumerated at Charlestown, Massachusetts: William Nelson, aged 36, a carpenter, wife Olive, aged 34, Mary J. aged 12, Charles aged 10, and Harriet S. aged 8. Harriet S. Nelson, youngest child of William and Olive dies of a fever at Charlestown, Massachusetts in 1852.
In June 1860, Charles W., age 20, is living in Abington, Massachusetts in the home of David B. Torrey, merchant, and his family including wife Mary J., aged 22. Records will show that Mary J. is Charles Nelson's sister, Mary Jane (Nelson) Torrey. Mother and father, William and Olive Nelson, are residing in Barnstable where William is a carpenter. As shown above, we know that in February 1861 Charles and his mother have left William.
Amanda T. Poland married Charles W. Nelson on 5 Sep 1866 at Rumford, Oxford County, Maine. Marriage intentions filed 31 Aug, 1866; they were married by Albion K. Knapp, Trial Justice of Rumford, ME. No parents are listed for either of them.
Charles (laborer and farmer) and his wife Amanda are enumerated at Barnstable in the 1870 census with children Frank (7), Mary J. (3), and David B. (10/12). By the 1880 census they have four more children: Sarah, Rosa, John and Lotta. In 1890 Charles is listed on the Veterans Schedule at Barnstable, Private in 20th Maine. In 1900, Charles and Amanda are again at Barnstable, along with daughters Charlotta and Minnie F., as well as married son William J. and his wife Mary from Ireland. In 1920 Charles and Amanda live in Barnstable in the household of daughter Minnie and her husband, Clifford Paulding.
William Nelson
Father of Charles W. Nelson
Marriage intentions are filed in Portland, Cumberland County, Maine on 6 July 1833 for William Nelson and Olive Fessenden, both residents of Portland. Given his age at time of death and as presented in various records, a birth date for William is estimated at approximately 1814. His gravestone in Lothrop Hill Cemetery in Barnstable, Massachusetts identifies a death date of 11 November 1879 at age 65 years. He is buried with his wife Rosanna. One online Barnstable record of William's death is torn off on the edge making it impossible to ascertain a mother's name. It is clear his father's name was given as William. Another Barnstable death record identifies Nelson of Barnstable as a carpenter, born in Brunswick, Maine; his father William identified as also being from Brunswick. Unfortunately "no name given" for his mother. William died of a fall from atop a house he was building at Common Fields, Barnstable, Massachusetts for his sister. Further research into who his sister was, may help provide more information on William's parents and background.
William married first Olive Fessenden, probably second Rosanna Stout. I have found no divorce records from Olive nor record of his second marriage to Rosanna. William and Rosanna did have several children together. William and Olive are enumerated together with children from 1850 through 1860 either in Boston or Barnstable. From a previous record shown above, Olive and her son Charles are noted as having left the home of William in approximately 1861. In 1870 William is enumerated in Boston with Rosanne and one year old child Anna.
This 1855 census record for the Nelson's in Charlestown, Massachusetts has first name of wife as Nancy which is an error.
In 1866, there is a Tax Collector's Sale of William Nelson's property (a non resident owner) where he "formerly" resided in Common Fields area of Barnstable for apparent unpaid taxes. William's wife Olive of Barnstable is the highest bidder on the property. This property is probably part of the land and dwellings that ultimately Charles Nelson and family end up occupying. (See Barnstable County Registry of Deeds, 89-485).
1870 in Boston with wife Rosanna and child Anna:
William dies 18 November 1879 from a fall from a house he is building in Barnstable for his sister. A month later, Olive Nelson of Lynn applies for a letter of administration in William's estate. Rosanna Nelson dies in 1887.
Comments
Post a Comment
Please feel free to comment and make suggestions, however all comments are subject to blog author approval before being posted.